“The Scottish Cup Fuck Quarter Finals” ??? 😎😎😎

🎼”Don’t Fear The Pruner” 🎼 #Gardening

Pruning! #ThingsYouDoInYour60s

Back in The Bridge Inn, Peebles for the first time in a while, drinking the only citrus infused brew I can tolerate. I know it looks like a pint of fresh orange but it’s actually “Long White Cloud” by nearby brewers the Tempest Brewing Co. It’s more than decent. 👍🍺👍

This is fantastic news! For any Richard Thompson fans who haven’t seen or even heard of Hamish Hawk ( @hamishhawk.bsky.social ) you’re in for a sizeable treat! Can’t wait!

Absolutely delighted to have bumped into lovely Simone Lahbib at the BBC Scotland studios today. Haven’t seen her in 32 years. Still looks very much like her 15 year old self when I first met her back in 1979. Me on the other hand….Well, I haven’t weathered quite so well. 🎭😎🎭

I think I’ve just discovered my favourite new pub….

Another day, another “costume” change. I’ve brought pretty much all of my admittedly limited wardrobe selection. To be fair “man in pub” doesn’t really require Danny La Rue type threads…

Sunday dinner at Kebab Mahal before heading to Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms to see Gordon Buchanan talking about his wildlife escapades. Then it’s off west pronto to prepare for filming tomorrow. Booked a hotel near the studio because I can’t be arsed facing Glasgow’s ballache roadworks at 6am.

Celebrating the 51st anniversary (a day late) of this epic live album’s release. It’s “On Your Feet Or On Your Knees” by my favourite band when I was 15 - Blue Öyster Cult. Saw a very recent video of them playing and they’re still great, but this featured the classic line up.

11 years gone. He lived long and prospered. Leonard Nimoy.

It’s 30 years since I started doing film & TV extra work. I’m nowhere near as busy as I was back then but it’s still great fun to do the odd, sometimes very odd, shoot. Today I’m doing a secret thing at a secret location. 5 am rise. 90 mile drive. Multiple roadworks. Fun though!

Song Of The Day is “Fool To Cry” by The Rolling Stones. One of very few singles I bought twice as I wore the first copy out after buying it on first release. Special mention for Nicky Hopkins smashing it out of the park on this one. youtu.be/Hx1AD-htGMU?...

In the excellent film “I Swear” John Davidson is seen “road testing” a special bracelet designed to reduce tics and involuntary outbursts in Tourette’s sufferers. I was curious to discover what progress had been made since and now I know. #Baftas neupulse.co

Watching the @bafta.org awards and hoping that “I Swear” completely sweeps the board. #SpunkForMilk #BAFTA’s

If you see this, post a drummer that starts with B.

For anyone interested this is the hoard of military memorabilia I sold yesterday. Anything unsold is on up eBay right now!

Did my homework then took my parents’ military memorabilia to these guys. Did considerably better than I’d anticipated. Done and dusted by 10am. There are no Nazis in my attic now. And that feels good.

Thinking about Robert Duvall passing and reminded of the time I was an extra in a film he starred in back in 1999. “A Shot At Glory”. Oh…and Batman was also there. To avoid any confusion…I’m the one on the left. 😎

Man I love Friday nights when I’m not gigging. Warm at home, strong ale in hand, listening to Grant Stott’s superb *all vinyl* radio show. Then it’s straight over to Sky Arts for Guy Garvey of Elbow’s equally excellent “From The Vaults” music TV show. Slainte!

*** The Nonceinator *** Most likely getting out of jail free sometime soon.

Happy Birthday to Nonce Andrew! Must’ve been quite a surprise getting a singing telegram from some folks dressed in Police uniforms today. Hats off to whoever organised the timing of this one. 👍😎👍

I hate Brew Dog and have done since tasting their truly appalling “77 Lager” around 2006. Feel sorry for the staff but will be glad to see the company nosedive. Their brews were shit imo. And “Punks?” As Johnny Rotten once said, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” Roll ‘em in manure!

Sad to hear about the passing of Robert Duvall. Of course there was “Apocalypse Now” and other huge films, but there was also this very small movie filmed in Scotland in 1999. I got a couple of days work on it and was delighted to have met RD and briefly chatted to him off-set. RIP

I wonder how many hours of our lives are wasted by queuing for things or being stuck at road works and traffic lights? If today was anything to go by then it’s a substantial amount. I have to admit I went “full Basil Fawlty” on North Bridge. #Edinburgh #Roadworks #GetItRightUpYe

These days when I look in the mirror I can’t help saying to myself, “Well, the “Still Game” ageing process is well underway.” Truth is, it’s almost complete. youtu.be/zQNrafn0Efg?...

Playing live today in the “Gig Room” at Bannerman’s Bar, 212 Cowgate, Edinburgh, from 3:30-5:30pm. Free Entry. Maximum rock’n’roll. Come on down if you’re out and about in the Old Town today…and you don’t care much for rugby!

A memory flashed up of this *Fandango of Freddies* at our local Beltane Festival a few years ago. Excellent effort from the lads right there! #FreddieMercury #Queen

I consider this to be *THE BEST ALE IN THE WORLD*. I may not have tried every ale available globally, but I’ve had a good kick of the ball around the UK, Europe and America. Even better that it’s readily available and brewed a mere 12 miles from my house. ‘Mon the Broughton Ales’ “Old Jock”. 🍺👍🍺

New compact electronic drum kit set up for smaller gigs. Sounds immense and so easy to transport. @Roland_VDrums.

Sifting through a folder of old band posters and artwork and came across a few sheets of Letraset. The hours I spent applying these letters in my drawing office day job and at home in the evenings were considerable. Tell the kids about it these days and they won’t believe you!

Sorting through a folder containing posters for bands I’ve been in and gigs I’ve attended through the years and came across this memory of a great show from 1985. I seem to recall MS wearing a lounge suit with “Live Bear” painted on the back. @remhq.bsky.social 🎼👍🎼

“Faded By The Sun” by The Legendary Hearts. #NowPlaying #MusicSky youtu.be/JxecJVWIuNM?...

A band I regularly play in celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Saturday afternoon residency this year. Here’s a bit of info for anyone interested. Feel free to check us out in Bannerman’s, 212 Cowgate, Edinburgh every Saturday from 3:30-5:30pm. Free Entry! Maximum rock’n’roll!

Today’s vinyl delivery. A rare Italian promo copy of R.Dean Taylor’s “Indiana Wants Me” in a tasty picture sleeve. That takes my tally up to 15 copies of the single and 4 on LP. There are apparently over 40 versions of the single but that’s me done. I’m buying no more…ever…maybe.

Yesterday I spent £55.50 on diesel from Lothianburn Service Station near Edinburgh and this is what they took from my bank account. I really hope this gets sorted out soon because if it’s a widespread occurrence then ESSO need to get their app fixed pronto. I’m one very unhappy customer today.

Had a blast celebrating No.1 son’s 32nd birthday on the *Alpine Rollercoaster* at Hillend Ski Centre, Edinburgh today. It was out of this world…

Half cerveza…half Smurf!

So it’s goodbye to *Dry January* which, due to a technicality, ended for me yesterday 4th February. I’m now rehearsing for a long overdue trip to the watering holes of Chuckletown tomorrow.

@chrisgpackham.bsky.social Hello. We’re delighted to have had this Greater Spotted Woodpecker regularly visiting us these past few weeks. He’s magnificent! #PeckerCam

A photo I took 9 years ago of an Edinburgh street sign. Even more relevant today than it was back then I reckon. ☹️

‘What are “Brothel Creepers” asks Mrs $linger? “You’ve never heard of “Brothel Creepers?” I reply with some level of astonishment. Turns out she genuinely has never heard of “Brothel Creepers”. Not in over 6 decades of exposure to literature, films, television, art, radio and TV.

“Coney Island Rain” by @thelegendaryhearts.bsky.social #MusicSky

Ah…1972 was such a great year. Here’s a chart from September, just before my 10th birthday. Not the official U.K. chart though as “Children Of The Revolution” only reached #2. Some absolute gems in here…and the odd turkey too! 🎼👍🎼

And so a mere 58 years after its release I am finally, and indeed thoroughly, enjoying The Small Faces’ “Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake” LP. I love hearing “new” music. So much music…so little time.

Sex Pistols’ “God Save The Queen” promotional poster. Virgin Records, 1977. Same as those in the background in the video. I got this free when I bought my copy of the 7” single from Virgin’s shop on Edinburgh’s Frederick Street in May ‘77. Now apparently very valuable. #PunkRock

For anyone who’s only just got around to listening to Mercury Rev’s “Deserter’s Songs “ LP 28 years after its release. The crackling and scratches on Side 2, Track 4 are intentional. They’re part of the recording. Don’t take the LP back to your record shop or phone to complain! 😎

🎼”Feed the birds, twelve quid a bag, twelve quid, twelve quid, twelve quid a bag…”🎼 #ModernPoppins

Previously only available via Bandcamp, we are happy to announce that our “classic janglepop” tune “Find Yourself (Don’t Fight The Feeling)” has been given a global release. It’s now available to stream, download etc from all the usual platforms and on YouTube here: youtu.be/UfSydsRoGi4?...

When you buy a copy of Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures” LP in 2019 then almost 7 years later you mistakenly buy it again because your 63 year old brain is telling you your previous purchase was JD’s “Closer” LP when in fact it wasn’t! That.