There’s an Irish jig called, ‘I Buried My Wife and Danced On Her Grave’. Awful, isn't it? Lovely tune though. There’s another called, ‘Get Up Old Woman and Shake Yourself’, and then there’s, ‘When Sick is it Tea You Want?’ Tunes are normally played in sets of three; I’m thinking those three would be quite … Continue reading The Happy Mistake
That’s Edinburgh’s festival season wrapped up for another year. I walked down George Street last night at dusk as teams of William Wallace lookalikes - shaggy-bearded, strong types, strung with leather tool belts - disassembled the pop up street bars and stages. All twenty-two temporary venues that took weeks to piece together will be popped … Continue reading Our Revels Now Are Ended
“I just don't get it. Never did. Does nothing for me. Can’t read it, can't write it, can't understand it.” J. and I were out on the dock with his guitar, singing; exchanging songs, old and new, and in between times we’d chat about this and that. ‘This’ was why I liked to write, and … Continue reading Lyrics of Life
Last night it was 34 degrees at 6pm (feeling more like 40 with the humidex) as I walked through downtown Ottawa on my way to the opening night of Bluesfest. I arrived here two days after Canada Day, just missing out on the day of national pride. But, aside from waving the red and white … Continue reading Straight From The Heart
I love living in a flat where I’m tucked in like the flaps of an envelope by those who live around me: on either side, above and below, I feel as though I am bubble-wrapped by my neighbours. “And what about noise?” one friend asked me, “can’t you hear everything that goes on?” Yes and … Continue reading Music and Fairies
Own up: how many of you, when alone in the car, or the kitchen, or the bath, take to an imaginary stage and sing along to whatever song is playing on the radio (or inside your head) with fluent, free flowing nonsensical lyrics that you valiantly make up on the spot? Thank goodness it’s not … Continue reading Singing Along
Is there anything more powerful than music to take you back to a moment, or a place, or a person, or a feeling? Yes, there are certain smells that may transport us through time, and flicking through an old photo album can trigger memories, but, for me, there is nothing quite like the sudden jolt, … Continue reading Music Takes Me Back
Happy Birthday to E., to R. and to L. To the two of you who live here in Edinburgh, I hope to see you both soon. (I know it will be a little after the event, but there is cake and a cup of tea - maybe more - going at mine next month on … Continue reading Happy Birthday
Today is the twelfth day of Christmas, the end of the season, the Epiphany, marking the arrival of the three Kings to the birth of Jesus. In Ireland, this day is known as ‘Little Christmas’ - also called Nollaig na mBan, which translates as Women’s Christmas. It used to be quite widely celebrated and apparently … Continue reading The Dead
I had brunch with my lovely niece on New Year’s Eve and, inevitably, the talk turned to New Year’s resolutions. We composed our lists independently of each other and then shared what we wanted of them. It turned out we had a few that were the same – one being to go to bed earlier … Continue reading Sensible
My Edinburgh Press 