One of those writers you would read with enjoyment and no little envy at how good she was.

Hmm, Radio Scotland's music output one of the station's stronger cards. Not to prejudge, but replacement plan doesn't sound thrilling www.heraldscotland.com/news/2562072...

Spent the afternoon with the new Bryan Talbot GN: Holmes if he was a trigger-happy eagle. Time well spent. An entertainment and a work of art

Ah, go well Gilson Lavis. Squeeze, the first band I ever saw live. Their "farewell" tour, 1982. Always loved their storytelling youtu.be/tJ7mGcQE1Mw?...

Creeping Bent: A Leap Into The Void (LNFG Books). Appearing at book festivals in Glasgow (Aye Write) on Thursday 13th Nov and Manchester (Louder Than Words) on Friday 14th Nov. Tickets and information at the respective book festivals websites.

Stuart Mitchell in Stirling: finding comedy in tragedy www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2... @heraldscotland.bsky.social

RiP Archie Fisher. A colossal figure in Scottish music. With his partner, Jill Doyle they gave Bert Jansch guitar lessons. His Reynardineis my favourite, with a nice textural nod to the evolving nature of folk music which he was undoubtedly a big part of www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abcq...

Peter Watkins has died - perhaps the least-appreciated great British filmmaker (and you sense he wouldn't have wanted it any other way). www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

For any interested parties who couldn't get to the recent Our Secrets Are The Same in-person events, on his radio show tonight Billy Sloan is broadcasting excerpts from his recent conversation with Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, recorded live at the Citizens Theatre. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Edith Bowman takes over Radio 3's Sound of Cinema this afternoon. Good luck to her, but I'm going to miss Matthew Sweet. I wrote about his last show: @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

The story behind Two Doors Down, the stage show. In The Herald Magazine today Online here: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2557485... (They've just announced more dates) @heraldscotland.bsky.social

You mean we are not going to find out the result of the competition?

Tony maybe going through a few things, I'm thinking #SimonMay #TOTP #RecordoftheWeek

November 1 you say? With the Post Office the way it is these days, no chance #TOTP

As heard in an episode of Shoestring. (Why do brains hold onto this stuff?) #LoveandAffection #TOTP

I quite like Blue Zoo's ineffable 1982iness #TOTP

So Young at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. Fresh, funny & clear-eyed on grief. On til November 8. Worth your time

Anyway, This Mortal Coil on Stereo Underground just now

Quiet night in Scottish football, I see

Andy was very forthcoming when I spoke to him in 2014 #Erasure #TOTP Erasure's Andy Bell on his Fringe show, finding love again and living with HIV | The Herald share.google/yCaCSSJeQbcN...

When will we find out the name the viewers chose for the dancers, by the way? #TOTP

The other week #DeaconBlue #TOTP REVIEW: Crowd laps up dignified outing for Deacon Blue in Glasgow | The Herald share.google/eXBzMErcA5ot...

Is it too late for an "Ange Postecoglou Sings Demis Roussos" album now? #TOTP

Straight off the set of a John Carpenter movie #FooFighters #TOTP

Dry run for Nizlopi #Babybirdacoustic #TOTP

"There's no feeling at all" feels dangerously self-aware #Babybird #TOTP

That's not how you play Twister #TOTP

Mick Hucknall uniting the country in condemnation. #TOTP

Why am I hearing the Reform take on 6Music news & not Plaid Cymru's? Jeez.

We are so sad to hear that Dave Ball, the keyboard genius of Soft Cell, has died. He was an electronic pop pioneer and with Marc Almond made a unique catalogue of songs, completely original in sound and content. Our love and condolences go to Marc and all those close to Dave. Neil and Chris xx

I hope Dave Ball knew how much Soft Cell meant to so many.

Here's @claregrogan.bsky.social being a proper pop star at @thegladcafe.bsky.social for the wonderful @tinychanges.bsky.social charity tonight

1998 probably feeling a bit smug now. #TOTP

The Pet Shop Boys now seem a long, long time ago #TOTP

Martin chose Bowie Saint Saens & The Goons among her Desert Island Discs. Nothing by Lloyd Webber #TOTP

The middle eight is a proper "isn't pop music great?" moment #Suburbua #TOTP

1986 playing its ace straight away then #PSB #TOTP

That bow tie is particularly vexing #Sting #TOTP

Sue Lawley, Sue Lawley... Oh wait, wrong one #TOTP

Still think the Devil was better than Johnny. Who was judging, that's what I want to know? #TOTP

Kept Music Sounds Better With You at number two hence damned to...well, not quite hell, but maybe Basingstoke...for eternity.

Nile Rodgers in Glasgow in August was one of the best things I've ever seen (& heard) #TOTP www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

Ronan really sells that "attack". #TOTP

Brian Molko bought Thriller in John Menzies in Dundee in 1982, I read. He was 10. #Placebo #TOTP

Turns out hearing it a second time doesn't make it sound any better #Apollo440 #TOTP

Excellent day for a bit of Vita Sackville-West inspired "throughleavery" in Scotland today (as mentioned in the latest @heraldscotland.bsky.social Radio Review) www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/2...

"cause that's just love" line in People Watching gets me every time #SamFender #Mercury

Tish Murtha mention #MercuryMusicPrize www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/...

For anyone watching BBC Four's time-delayed #MercuryMusicPrize coverage here's more about Jacob Alon. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2482107...

The English leg of my book tour begins on Saturday with a sold-out event in Sheffield. Tickets remain for the other dates: Guildford, Dorchester, Bath, Norwich & Whitby. I'm also doing a special London event in the evening of October 20, as part of @stoneclub.bsky.social. Please do come, if you can.