My cherry, I planted at 10 Scotland Street 50 years ago, is a joy in spring - but in autumn it is truly beautiful. But it is being elbowed out here, on the right, by my beautiful rowan. It feels improbable that I planted them as, basically, twigs in sour and unloved ground.

I’ve just seen a narrowboat that looks like it’s entirely crewed by cats, and it’s not even 10am

Some of the gargoyles and carvings on Walter Douglas Campbell's eccentric vSt Conan's Kirk, in Lochawe. The rabbit looks particularly rabid with the weed choked mouth. Or mad March hares?

forgot to say last week I picked up a signed paperback of @peteralanross.bsky.social Steeple Chasing. Bit sad that its not hardback (to match tomb with a view and Upon a white horse) but is signed and has an extra chapter so despite not having all hardbacks I cant be too sad!

Autumnal Applecross

"Ross has a poetic, meditative style, with a sharp eye for detail and a keen sense of humour." Many thanks to @shafikmeghji.bsky.social for this review of Upon A White Horse in the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society. I'm pleased that people are picking up on the humour of the book.

+++ On this day, the 5th of November 1982, Siouxsie and the Banshees, released their 5th studio album, 'A Kiss In The Dreamhouse' +++ #siouxsie #siouxsieandthebanshees #postpunk #otd #siouxsiesioux #thebanshees #altrock #goth

A glimpse of my fledgling TV career that never quite fledged…

"This is not a fragile re-emergence." LOVE this review of Radiohead's first gig in seven years, by Stephen Phelan in Madrid. Also: what an amazing run of songs in the encore. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

We're kinda new to #HillfortsWednesday. Are we doing it right? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scot...

I saw a small murmuration last night in the dying light off the M77 and was so excited I nearly crashed the car. Does anyone know if there’s somewhere closer to Glasgow than Gretna where you are likely to see one?

Thrilled to win Travel Narrative Book of the Year for #SmallEarthquakes at last night’s @travwriters.bsky.social awards 🎉 An honour to be up against the brilliant Ash Bhardwaj and Simon Parker 🙌🏽 📖 @hurstpublishers.bsky.social bgtw.org/awards/membe...

Ok, this is magic. As the music fades away on my headphones, and I come off the field edge and onto a farm road, I can just hear the saxophonist who practises on a rural lane near here. I happened upon him last year and took his photo. But that was summer, and this time the world is yellow and gold.

Looking forward to chairing this with irrepressible duo Claire Mitchell & Zoe Venditozzi, whose company I love, & Steven Veerapen, whom I'm excited to meet. Their books are terrific and I'm sure it will be a lively event. Please come if you can: Sunday (Nov 9), 6pm, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Had a great gig as TV reviewer for The Lady Magazine earlier this year which I enjoyed immensely. However, this institution first published in 1885 folded suddenly back in the spring just when I was getting into my stride. Never even got paid! Still, if anyone needs a TV reviewer - I’m available!

New on the Writer’s Bookshelf: eight questions about writers, books, and reading with the wonderful @philipwomack.bsky.social.

"So here we have a forest bison..." Excellent longread in which Stephen Phelan travels deep into Axturra, a cave system in the Basque Country, to see and reflect upon the extraordinary prehistoric art. stephenphelan.co.uk/articles/cav...

Only the world’s tallest hedge in its autumn garb. A cliff face of golden foliage.

Oh this is such a treasure

Twelve o'clock on a fine autumn day, and nothing to worry about. Some money to spend and nothing to worry about.

Apropos of the Sighthill Stone Circle, here's an excellent half an hour of audio all about it (including the person who created it). Also features @urbanprehistorian.bsky.social It seems as though the Stone Me podcast has ended now, which is a great shame. shows.acast.com/stone-me/epi...

“The circle sits beautifully within a vertical landscape. Tower blocks, the cathedral spire..the obelisks of the Victorian cemetery, even the wind turbines on surrounding hills, all seem to mirror the stones." A lovely read on Sighthill's nod to prehistory from Peter Ross' book Upon a White Horse.

@peteralanross.bsky.social have just finished Upon a White Horse. Thank you for writing such an intelligent, enchanting & moving book. I have learned so much, am keen to discover more and to visit the places that you describe. Am honestly feeling quite bereft now that the read is over.

"As for the monarchy, it will end not with a bang but a whimper. Giuffre’s book, with all its harrowing details, is one more wave battering against its cliff face, eroding the public’s faith." My @heraldscotland.bsky.social column. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

I've long had the feeling of Glasgow as a very old thing with something much larger and younger sitting on its chest. The post-war development feels as if it could be washed away in a downpour and even the Victorian grandeur has all the tenure of an off-the-books lodger.

@plasmatron.bsky.social @urbanprehistorian.bsky.social FYI. That article is in the Herald today, as I mentioned. Thanks again for being part of it.

"Weird things like the standing stones give the city its soul." There's an extract from Upon A White Horse in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social. It's about Glasgow's only stone circle. I'll be talking about the book at the Aye Write book festival on Nov 15. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2558912...

Three Just Stop Oil activists cleared over Stonehenge protest

Behind this door lies an absolutely unique piece of English church art. It is an extraordinary survivor of the dark days of the Elizabethan persecution of Catholics, and I’ve longed to see it for years

My pick of history and non-fiction books for October, featuring slave rebellions, the Weimar Republic, elves and fairies, espionage in the two world wars, snow, graveyards and more!

The day to show some love to these beautiful bats #Halloween Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton Sea and Air Mammals, 1972

Many thanks to Wanderlust magazine for including Upon A White Horse among their six travel books to look out for this winter. www.wanderlustmagazine.com/inspiration/...

Sexy Hallowe’en costume ideas: Slutty Michael Hordern Sexy Hill House Wallpaper Skintight PVC Black Phillip Hot Bernard Hepton in sexy glasses Flirty Sadako’s well

A third of people in England believe in ghosts, survey finds

A one-day North Sea Poets workshop with myself, if you fancy it? Details at www.northseapoets.com/studios1dayw...

"When I first became aware of gargoyles carved upon churches and illustrated in manuscripts, I recognised ... scaled, clawed, horned, winged beasts, which were as familiar as animals in the natural world" Immaculate asll ever from @thegentleauthor.bsky.social spitalfieldslife.com/2025/10/30/u...

#5DebutAlbums1014 Lightships - Electric Cables (2012) A formula for a new heaven: Love + O'Hare + McGowan - Blake - McGinley + Crossley + Kildea

‘It’s more about life than death’: the growing popularity of Berlin’s cemetery cafes

Kula Shaker have a new album out. It's called Wormslayer. I'm not joking.

Once saw a man by the river doing a sort of Mortal Kombat stance, squaring up to a massive hissing swan & he kept shouting “I won’t fucking back down pal” at it, as it advanced on him, wings outstretched like a terrible, vengeful angel & sometimes it seems like that is basically the entire world now

Many thanks to Waterstones for including Upon A White Horse in their best travel books of 2025 list. Lovely to see @megaheid.bsky.social and @stonelands.bsky.social in there, too. www.waterstones.com/blog/the-bes...

Pisa from the walls at sunset

Two old ladies overheard in a charity shop "Did you have a nice holiday" "Oh yes, we did, it was lovely" "Where did you go again?" "Medieval Spain"

I know nothing about Dr Who, but, for Londoners, the phrase "Going For Dinner With Billie Piper" is the absolute best way to remember the order of the vertical streets running east to west in Soho (Greek, Frith, Dean, Wardour, Berwick, Poland) and has saved many a late night out

Late sun, autumn, sure suits Glssgow Necropolis

What the world needs now. New music from The Twilight Sad 🔥❤️ soundcloud.com/rock-action-...

Hallowe'en special up now. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, with guests Andrew Male and Laura Varnam in conversation with Una McCormack and Andy Miller. 🌬️🎃🧟 @andrewmale.bsky.social @drlauravarnam.bsky.social @unamccormack.bsky.social @iammilliam.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/0Zde...