Fell asleep after work and only just coming to life now. Toasting the new year at last with some tunes from the glorious Rufus💚🍾

Happy January everyone! Let's keep standing up for each other through 2026 - show love to those closest to you, build your communities and organise to fight the shit that will continue to be thrown at us. I'm away to work with a new packet of strepsils First tune of the new year -

Music that I've bought in 2025 (no downloady things incl.) Most of it was released this year but a couple of things I already had in a different format & also some older releases from artists that I only discovered this year. Not a massive pile but everything gives me the feels at different times.

Sure, you've seen hundreds of birds on land take flight, but have you seen hundreds of pelicans on the OCEAN take flight? 🦑 🪶

Chuffing along 🚂 heading west

There's nothing better than a walk down the beach with a loved one..😁

Really easy to slip into Doves after listening to Dean Parrish Hear it Comes live is always a much bigger buzz than the wonderful album version.

Remembering Dean Parrish on his birthday. Here he is performing his Northern Soul anthem "I'm On My Way" in Berlin in 2020 - still sounding great when he was 77 youtu.be/ca69OWggwTk

This is the kind of thing that cheers me up during these dreary end of December days. I was disappointed when I realised I couldn't make his January show in Glasgow but now very chuffed he's coming to Stirling 🥳

Mmmmmmm - afternoon tunes

Preorder my new album and make me rich. gargleblastrecords.bandcamp.com/album/early-...

Midday tunes for making soup

David Attenborough [whispering]: “Like a grain of sand in a vast desert, the predator blends seamlessly into its environment, nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.”

First Sunday morning tune

The @poptartsbowl.com "honored the legacy" of the previously eaten pop tarts at the last 2 bowl games by giving jackets to cardboard pictures of them, poorly. Greatest thing ever streamed poorly to the internet. A+. Sports is back. www.instagram.com/poptartsbowl...

Here's a shot I got in May of a Cliff Swallow colony on the central coast. There were so many nests I lost count and I can't wait to get back there in 2026! #Birds #Photography #Nature

Happy boxing day! Have opened a bottle - couldn't face whisky so on the wine. On YT and Simple Minds. Not sure if this is a punishment watch or what. I've loved SM since 80/81 but have never seen them live ... had tickets for Bellahouston this year & didn't go for reasons 🤷

Home from work to breakfast, jammies and a very long coorie with Frank - now I need something to watch - a wee thriller or a bit of murdering - but can't find anything. Still on the strepsils but might swap them for a wee dram once it starts to get dark.

11 hours to go - then I have 6 lovely days off. Hoping tomorrow is a - more energy less strepsils - kind of day

Merry Christmas everyone ! Special wishes to everyone working today and, as ever, big love to all my colleagues in the care sector who are on shift today - I'll be joining you in a couple of hours. xxx

Christmas eve tune - ding dong merrily ...

Afternoon sky watching with Frank earlier.

Home from work to find this braw thing. I think it's the last of my Bandcamp Friday purchases from a couple of weeks ago (& another @robertdallasgray.com recommendation - he kens his stuff!)

First tunes of this very grey Christmas eve ☁️

Filling the 'waiting for Santa' time at work with Christmas movies, Quality Street and getting ahead with the rotas. Imagine how much daylight we'll have by the middle of March ☀️💐

Have been awake for most of the night coughing my insides out 🤢 - but watched a lot of ballet including this clip from The Nutcracker. How wonderful is Ashley Bouder 🩷 - I would have loved to have seen her on stage.

I always loved this one

I managed 19 gigs this year - not bad for me. My 5 faves in alphabetical order - @dovesofficial.bsky.social - La Belle Angele @kathrynjoseph11.bsky.social - Tolbooth @mogwai.scot - Barras(2nd night) @tommcraemusic.bsky.social - Tuts @untruth-band.bsky.social - Hug & Pint 💚💚💚💚💚

Up early to do the food shopping for work - before I start work 🙃 . First tune of the day -

Antifascist stickers spotted in Dundee, Scotland

When a favourite band covers a favourite band - magical 💚

First tune of the day - one of my dad's favourites on what would have been his 102nd birthday. youtu.be/cCYGyg1H56s?... I always bought him walnut whips for his birthday and have kept up the tradition since he died - 11 walnut whip days without him! Miss you auld yin 💚

Wee bat-dug in the van next to me in the carpark. I think I'm in love 🐶

Chartres house's in the distance...

Having a sleepover at my sister's in West Lothian to do the christmas exchange stuff. She made me do the thing I never do -and we've been on the wine all night and then switched to whisky 🙃 - now I cannae sleep. Silly o'clock tunes -

Morning (just) tunes

My last gig of the year and the December boost I needed - @tommcraemusic.bsky.social at King Tuts. Just wonderful and with Radhika and Boo Hewerdine as guests - a beautiful night.

M. John Henry + Gillian Fleetwood The Glad Cafe, Glasgow (Celtic Connections show) Sat 17.Jan.26 Solo set of my early De Rosa songs with some special guest performers helping me launch the new album. Tickets: www.thegladcafe.co.uk/events/2026-... M x

Afternoon tunes whiteflowersssss.bandcamp.com/album/day-by...

It’s frustrating seeing journalists reporting on the Unison General Secretary election primarily in party political instead of trade union terms. Andrea Egan won promising to raise the expectations of public sector workers. That could well have a big industrial relations impact very soon.

Another delivery I can't play yet - but I have my old CD. Going to see @tommcraemusic.bsky.social at King Tuts tonight - my last gig of the year. I've been to so many of Tom's gigs , & loads at Tuts, that I've lost count. And yet, every time is very special 💚

Fantastic news!

First tune of the day.

Absolutely thrilled that @mimmymum.bsky.social managed a shout-out for @nionwomen.bsky.social at the live recording of the incredible @theguiltyfeminist.bsky.social podcast. If that doesn’t persuade you to sign our letter, I don’t know what will! Find us here: notinourname.org.uk/petition/not...

Home to find this lovely from @mjohnhenry.bsky.social Will this be the day that I go out and buy a machine to play all my recently acquired vinyl on? I'm in full December demotivation mode - so probably not.

First tune of the day - ELP

Had a nice wee l lie-in there but I need to find some energy and kick myself down the road to work. First tunes of this sleepy Sunday morning -

Afternoon tunes for putting the twig up 🌲😭 Really enjoying the latest Midlake midlakeband.bandcamp.com/album/a-brid...

Doves in Dundee last night💚💚