I had a much more productive and pleasant trip up town yesterday morning. Just like the day before, I was up early but this time I took the chance of a quiet house to enjoy a slow breakfast in the garden and catch up with the latest news and my email. After enough time had passed, I woke up my daughter and took her into Edinburgh with me.

We headed out to Corstorphine and nipped into PC World; no purchases made because they never had what I wanted despite their website advertising they did. No problem, though, as I was going to Pets At Home next door to them regardless, in order to stock up on rabbit supplies. They had a couple of lovely wee critters in; two jet black mini-lops you just wanted to take away there and then.

From there we went into the nearby Tesco and bought a magazine and newspaper each then nipped into Costa Coffee for pastries and coffee/hot chocolate. Most enjoyable.

Back home I had the house all to myself for the day and took advantage of it by writing in the living room on my Netbook. It made a nice change from the confines of my office (I do enjoy having the ability to retreat and close the door) but the change of scenery was nice.

The family returned home at 6pm for dinner that I’d cooked up: home-made chicken curry with rice. They all then left me to my own devices for the night; Gail to her studio to work on yesterday’s wedding pictures, and my daughter to a sleepover. Normally I would have moaned a bit about being left alone again so soon, but with the World Cup Final between Holland and Spain on the telly, I wasn’t going to complain about an uncontested TV set with which I to watch the game undisturbed.

I’d tipped Holland to win before the competition kicked off, and as regular readers will know I quite like the Dutch, so I was behind them all the way. Unfortunately they never played like themselves and they dragged the game into a kicking match. The referee did well to keep order as long as he did and resist sending players off in favour of making it a better contest for the fans. That could last only so long, though, and after a 0-0 draw Holland lost a player in extra time, with Spain scoring a great winner near the end.

Not the most satisfying end to a month long celebration of the cream of world football but I suppose I have St. Mirren Park to look forward to next season to make up for it.

Peace and out!

Yesterday was a blast. I spent some of the morning up in town doing some shopping for my parent’s visit later in the day, which naturally included a stop off in the coffee shop and a read of the paper. When I got home I sat in the sunny paradise of my back garden for the rest of the morning and read a book. It was bliss.

My parent’s arrived around lunchtime and we spent most of our time sitting it in the garden soaking up the sun, alcohol and some wide ranging chit chat. I’d spent the whole of Saturday getting the house cleaned up and tidy for their arrival only to spend most of the time sitting in the garden—go figure, eh?

Later, we enjoyed a wholesome roast beef dinner (cooked on my Dad’s request—kind of) and followed that up with fresh coffee and a choice of lime cheesecake or trifle. Lovely jubbly. I was totally stuffed and am still struggling to walk if the truth be told.

We got really lucky with the weather over the weekend. It was great being able to enjoy the garden for the day but it made the house cleaning on Saturday a bit of a droll affair. There was much panting and sweating as I worked the rooms. The house needed it, though, and having it look so clean is quite satisfying now it’s all done.

Yesterday was Father’s Day here in the UK. My daughter gave me a crime novel by a new writer she’s found for me along with a massive block of Galaxy chocolate. I’ll enjoy that over a film some night. To my own dad I gave a vocal card of a cheeky monkey, and I had planned to take him out to the aquarium centre in Tranent so he could select my new stock of tropical fish, but after he’d had a couple of beers he was too tired to go. Another time.

Despite using Factor 30 lotion all day yesterday, I’ve still managed to get burnt. Not my head this time, it was protected by a cap, but I have a large V shape on my neck and chest where my shirt was lying open. Against my blue work shirt it makes for quite a patriotic display of British colours.

I hardly spent any time on the internet over the whole weekend until last night. It felt good to be away from it for a few hours and not feel bothered about email checking or anything like that. There’s a certain freedom to be gained from gong into my workspace and closing the door, but equally, after a while, there’s a certain amount of freedom also to be gained from closing the door and not entering.

And so another new week is here. Yesterday was good for me because I got to spend time with my folks as well as my own family. I think Gail badly needed the rest, too, and soaking up the sun and wine in the garden on a sunny is the perfect tonic for recharging the batteries. All work and no play and all that jazz.

I am having a good month with my workload—my GDRs are turning over nicely—and I intend to have met another two, maybe three monthly goals by the end of the week. GDRs, for those of you who have been reading this blog unaware of the acronym, stands for Goals, Dreams and Resolutions. It’s an expanded form of the traditional New Year’s resolution list with the aim of providing consistent targets and desires within your working life, in my case writing, which can also be used as motivation and for looking to see how far you’ve come. It was designed by Devon Ellington and I recommend it to loads of people. I recommend it to you.

There’s a special offer running on my books at the moment. If you head over to my website (or the BOOKS page on this blog) and purchase any of them, when you are directed to Lulu simply enter the code FREEGROUND305 to get free ground shipping up to the value of £25. Offer ends 30th June.

STELLA is also available now to purchase from Kindle. Click here to buy a copy priced $5.29.

Gail Galbraith Photography is offering portrait shoots for £25 (knocked down from £40) if you book before 31st August 2010 and you use the word “Leith” in your query. For that you get a 1 hour session in her new studio in Leith, 1 free 8×6 print, an online gallery to show off to friends and family and where images can be purchase direct from, and all images from the shoot on a free low-resolution CD. (Subject to max of 4 people per session; each additional person is £5 each). You can contact Gail at gail@gailgalbraith.co.uk and view her website at: www.gailgalbraith.co.uk

That’s all for me just now. Peace out!

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I was a bit of a pig at work yesterday. After indulging in a black pudding and fried egg roll for breakfast, I then proceeded to eat a jumbo hot dog with BBQ onions and chips for my lunch. This was swiftly followed up with a cappuccino and a slice of Millionaire’s shortbread for afters. Stuffed? I couldn’t see my feet!

The weather has turned again. It happened yesterday afternoon, so because I had gone to work in the cool morning wearing my Harrington, I had to endure the blazing sun when I left. I was shattered after this week. It’s been a long one.

I spent my whole evening tying down the June issue of the Ranfurly Review. With all boxes ticked it was finished late last night and is now available. Click here to download a free copy.

I caught up on the outstanding submissions and the September issue is now full—it only needed one piece of flash to get there—so the December issue began to slowly fill up, too. There’s even one piece in for March next year, the author in question a 78-year old and in the reply to his acceptance hinted that he hopes he is still around to read it!

Looking out my window this morning it looks like it’s going to be another shorts, t-shirt and shades kinda day! If I’m lucky I’ll get some time in the garden, maybe get myself a little sun burn to go. Best get on.

Peace out!

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Voting Day has arrived. The political parties have ceased their rounds, the leaders have returned home, the television has returned to normal (they aren’t allowed to run political reports on voting day because of impartiality rules) and the polls have opened. Everything that happens from this point on will be decided by the public, probably the only moment in any western democracy when real democracy is actually achieved.

My experience and memories of previous general election campaigns have all been pretty much the same: apathy and boredom during the campaign, a buzz while voting, then a touch of excitement watching the seat winners being announced at night.

But this time it’s different. This time it’s more intense and relevant, and with so many permutations between three leading parties still so close in the polls, it promises to be a fascinating day and night ahead.

More of the nation seems to have been engaged in the whole process and for for very different reasons, whether through Clegg Mania, Brown’s Bluffs or Cameron’s Challenge, and that can only be a good thing. I suspect the normal 40% turn out rate will be much higher this time round, and it will be fascinating to see what the final figure is. To put it in perspective, there are teenagers who want to vote today but are unable to because they are not old enough yet!

I’ll cast my vote later this morning. Our polling station is in a different location this year so I’ve a bit further to walk but I always enjoy doing it. It’s not like it’s anything spectacular: walk in, show your card, take your ballot paper and pull the curtain, make a cross then stick it folded in the big black box. It’s just the fact of knowing that I took part and got involved, and that the freedom I have to even do such a simple, yet magnificent thing, is not a freedom afforded to many other millions of people around the world. It’s one of the benefits of being a British Subject living in the United Kingdom and I urge everyone to do the same no matter how little you feel involved.

Yesterday was a cracker. I left Waverly on the 11:35 train to Perth and had a most relaxing journey north. I always enjoy going over the Forth Rail Bridge (scene of my abseil a couple of years ago) and the countryside of Fife looked beautiful as I passed through it in the sun.

My sister picked me up from the station. We bought sandwiches and coffee and sat in a park by the River Tay and next to the car, inside which my niece, baby Charlotte, snored peacefully away. From there we headed back to my sister’s home on the outskirts of the town and spent the afternoon playing with Charlotte on her swing, rocking horse, sand pit and slide in the back garden while catching up. It’s been a while since I spent time with Fiona, the older of my two younger sisters, so we had much to talk about and it was a fantastic afternoon.

I gave Charlotte a copy of SILLY POEMS FOR WEE PEOPLE VOL.2 as a gift, which for those of you who already own one will now realise who the book is dedicated to. Then after she went to bed, Fiona made a delicious home-made north Indian classic curry for dinner, which was followed up by home-grown rhubarb and ice-cream. All in all a delicious meal and a truly great day.

Back at Perth station I jumped on the almost deserted 21:02 train back to Edinburgh and read my book all the way home, finally stepping back in the door around half past ten, tired and with a pink head thanks to an afternoon spent playing in a sunny garden. Within an hour I was glowing and had to go to bed lathered in After Sun lotion!

To today then and the one thing not to forget is to vote. Other than that, the weather isn’t too hot (probably just as well where my napper is concerned) then I have some errands to run, chores to do, and then it’s back to the page.

Have a free, great and democracy laden day. Peace and out!

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I think one of the best albums to listen to on a Friday morning on the way to work is Shed Seven’s 1994 album, Change Giver. It’s a work of art. It’s the kind of album that uplifts one’s heart—you can feel it beating faster as the guitar kicks in—and it injects adrenalin into the system.

Walking down Dundas Street in Edinburgh this morning I had just that sensation; iPod on at full blast, I recommend you do what I did and begin with track number 7: Dolphin, and as you listen, imagine yourself jumping up and down in a mosh pit, beer soaked through your hair (sic), and a thousand appreciators around you who also know that maybe, just maybe, Shed Seven top Oasis with ease. The last song to listen to before you arrive at your destination is Chasing Rainbows. A titan of a song, it will stir passion in you that will make you want to scream.

On the theme of chasing rainbows, last night saw the first ever live televised ministerial debate in the United Kingdom. It was history in the making and the event caught the nation’s attention.

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, looked nervous from the outset, his big chance at being able to challenge the two main party leaders in front of the public having finally arrived. He repeated himself several times in the early stages, which lost him some interest I felt but he eventually settled to deliver some good blows against Cameron and Brown.

Conservative leader, David Cameron, looked solid and confident from the get-go, although I felt he was perhaps lacking in answers of substance to some key questions. He came across as passionate and compassionate, but what will always affect his party, in Scotland particularly, is Thatcher’s legacy so he still has a lot to do.

Gordon Brown, Labour party leader and Prime Minister, gave a poor performance. He came across as having rehearsed way too much, delivering obvious sound bites to try and come across as spontaneous and witty—it didn’t work. As expected, he relied on his record in office but he seemed oblivious to the fact that this is what is driving down his popularity in the first place, so I think it back-fired on him big style.

The debate was lame at first until Alastair Stewart forced Cameron and Brown into more concentrated debate by interrupting them after each question to get the others direct response. It worked, and some mild sparring between the two kicked off. Meanwhile Clegg did what he came to do and take advantage of their arguments, his best line being: “when these two argue it’s hard to tell the differences between them.”

The outcome of polling conducted by various outlets has been largely the same: Clegg won the overall debate by a mile, with Cameron coming a healthy second and Brown languishing behind on almost all topics.

However, I am more convinced now that the general election will go to Cameron’s Conservative party. He’s young, fresh and has ideas, but more importantly, he comes across as a potential leader with energy and passion. He looks the part. Brown on the other hand seems worn down, jaded and empty of new ideas. And Nick Clegg, while performing admirably and outstripping his two opponents at times, just isn’t ready to be PM.

Finally, what that heck was going on with Gordon Brown’s tie? Where Clegg and Cameron wore party-coloured ties—gold and blue—Brown wore bright pink! I thought my television was on the blink at first, but now I think it was strategic to take attention away from his shifting eyes and worn down exterior. It certainly worked, because I for one could hardly take my eyes away from it as he delivered his rhetoric.

Briefly, some other stuff. I think I went a touch overboard at lunchtime yesterday because I knew I wasn’t going to have a dinner in the evening, so I opted for my main meal of the day to be a subsidised one from the staff canteen. For a little over £2 I enjoyed a healthy plateful of cheese macaroni and chips, which I then followed up with, purely because I couldn’t walk past it without tasting it, a bowl containing a sugared donut smothered with custard.

I could hardly move.

What with the TV debate in the evening the rest of time outside the day job was spent reading. Albert Camus is doing it to me again. Oh, and the country is covered in ash thanks to an Icelandic volcano. Go figure.

My Friday vid this week is an absolute classic if you are into the weird and wonderfully insane. It’s called Morgan Freeman’s Big Sneeze—enjoy, and until tomorrow, peace and out!

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Edinburgh bathed in warm sunshine yesterday making it a grand end to a turbulent week on the weather front. We’ve gone from heavy snow and sleet to glorious sunshine in the space of hours. Remarkable, but when people lose their lives over it, it makes an odd paradox when attempting to understand the Scottish weather.

I took advantage of the shiny end of my nine days off to head up town and do some book browsing. Paul Auster’s new book looks great and I saw one I really must get from Quintin Jardin: Skinner’s Festival. I’ve got too many on my “to-read” list for now but since it is set during the Fringe festival in August I’ll buy and read it nearer then for some atmospheric influence.

This past week I’ve noticed several people in Leith stopping to pick up cigarette butts from the ground and put them in their pocket, or on one occasion, light it there and then. My first reaction is how disgusting a thing that is, but my secondary thought is just how much has the duty gone up on a packet of fags after last week’s budget?

This trend is an old trick that used to be performed by prisoners and soldiers in the army—could still be so far as I know. The idea is to collect as many cigarette butts as possible then empty the tobacco into a Rizla, roll it up and smoke as new. This practice was also mentioned in the Madness song, Land of Hope and Glory:

I get so bored as time goes by,
I think I’ll do something dirty,
I pick at the floor for juicy butts,
And I make myself a smoke.

Anyway, I stopped off at Nero’s Coffee Shop on Rose Street and spent an hour reading The Guardian over a giant cappuccino and muffin (the coffee was giant; the muffin was soft and blueberry) before heading back home and stopping in to see Gail in her new photographic studio as it takes shape. She was cleaning up Lucozade from the floor, spilled by her dad only moments before so it looks like things are going well.

With BACCARA BURNING finally down on paper I spent most of the afternoon doing what I’d been putting off most of the week: cleaning and tidying the house. Mentally, I was getting myself prepared to get stuck into polishing off the final draft of GREENER IS THE GRASS. I’m still in the void that follows the completion of a large piece of fiction, but the sooner I get into GREENER the sooner I can get it out.

I made a chicken/pasta dish for dinner, which was both filling and healthy, then blew it with the large Galaxy bar I ate for afters. C’est la vie.

Happy Easter if you’re into all that, and the the rest of you have a great weekend with what’s remaining. Me, I’m off to do some reading, some writing and enjoy the final day of my holidays. I have two Easter Eggs downstairs, so I’m sure they will play a part at some point, too.

Until tomorrow, peace and out!

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Lately I’ve been re-ordering albums I used to listen to when I was younger but only ever had on cassette tape. Vinyl is covered since I got my USB Turntable, which I use to convert singles and LPs into MP3 so I can listen on the iPod, but cassette tape is a different ball game.

One of these albums arrived in the post yesterday, an iconic album from 1989 that changed the face of pop music and influenced thousands of songwriters. It’s as entertaining as it is melodic, and holds many, many memories for me. It is, of course, Three Feet High and Rising by De La Soul.

I’ve had it on repeat practically the whole time I’ve not been at the day job. As well as being terrific journey down memory lane, I’d forgotten just how good some of the tracks are. Not only that, but the digital age has meant there’s more to the album than I ever noticed before. It always happens; turn the volume up with a good pair of headphones on and suddenly the tiny intricacies of the recording become noticeable. It’s like taking a magnifying glass to a Constable.

I had some great ideas for poems yesterday. Spending so much time in their company seems to have triggered a wave of natural connection with my poetry side. I keep getting these wee ideas or great lines to use while I’m doing other things. I’m still behind on my overall GDR goal for the year, so this is helping to make up for it as well as boosting my options for forthcoming chapbooks.

I spent quite a while on family duty last night so the only other thing I got done was the polishing of some of the poems in the SILLY POEMS FOR WEE PEOPLE VOL.2 manuscript. The best of the poems from VOL.1 are in there—some of which have been re-written or polished—and the rest of the book will be brand new kids’ poems. I’m even toying with the idea of writing a wee short story to add in at the last minute but I’ve not fully decided if I’ll do that yet.

Beans on wholemeal toast for dinner last night, to which I woke up to a thunderous reception when I rose out of bed this morning. Not sure that Gail was too impressed but that’s married life for you. Gail calls it a disgusting male habit; I call it an idiosyncrasy.

The day job is going well just now. I’m down to 10 hours per day so that’s not bad.

Till tomorrow—peace out!

The Scruffy Dog Review – Winter Issue OUT NOW!!

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Welcome back to ‘Freedom from the Mundane’, in what is arguably my first post of the new decade (by name), but is most definitely the start of a brand new year.

Twenty-Ten, Two Thousand and Ten, Two-Oh-One-Oh; by whatever way suits I hope you all had a fabulous Hogmanay and have since had a great start to the year. I wish you all the best of luck and prosperity and that 2010 is the best of all that you wish!

As for me, I am shifting gears. Well, it’s more like a cranking of rusty steel but the turn of the year has pushed me into a much better zone, a place where there is more room to manoeuvre and breath, a place where creativity has begun to sprout like the first shoots of spring, which is kind of ironic, because it has been the coldest and whitest Christmas and New Year period Scotland has seen since I was a toddler!

We left for our break at lunchtime on Wednesday and headed north-west from Edinburgh to The Trossachs. With the weather having been so bad up until then we had worried over whether we would make it or not, but there was no need for panic as the roads had been very well cleared all the way through to our destination.

Our home for the nest few days was a cabin overlooking Loch Ard, behind which the Royal Forest sprawled out over mountains and snow-covered peaks. The temperature during the day was around minus 2 degrees at best, but at night we experienced minus 11 degrees centigrade—all good fun and not really noticeable after a few sherbets!

That first night was Party Night with all our families together for the first time; Mikey and Elaine with their children, Abby and Tomas; Craig and his mother, sister and her kids, Isla and Lewis; the Group Captain and his wife, Fiona; and us lot making up the rest of the numbers.

It made for a great night with lots of food, drink, and games being played including a murder mystery where we all had to act out different characters. I was Terence Shrimp, a dodgy photographer not dissimilar in style to Kenneth Williams, so my part suited me perfectly as I could camp it right up! Beer turned to vodka and it was 4am before I got to bed that night.

Hogmanay (Thursday) and a very relaxing day indeed. Miraculously I felt no hangover despite being woken at 7:30am by Mikey’s kids having breakfast (I slept in the kitchen/lounge), and for the rest of the day everyone relaxed, played games, dozed, drank some beers and ate. Gail, Laura and I went for a walk along the banks of Loch Ard before returning to make dinner for everyone.

We all shared a few more drinks and seasonal episodes of Still Game and Only An Excuse, then we saw in the Bells to the sound of the chimes of Big Ben on the stroke of midnight. Much hugging and kissing ensued before the kids went to bed and the rest of us stayed up until 4am, once again with help of old Mr Smirnoff.

If Hogmanay was relaxing, the First Day of the Year (Friday) was a positive sleep walk. A late rise followed by a full English breakfast was then followed by dozing around, watching various films, munching crisps and drinking the odd beer. That pretty much sums it up although an early game of Monopoly followed by a late game of Trivial Pursuit got the party moving again, and yet again we found ourselves drinknig vodka at 4am on the -11 degree balcony.

The 2nd of January (Saturday) was departure day so after packing we all got in our cars and drove into Aberfoyle. There, we rendezvoused at a local tea shop for a brunch of hot filled rolls, soup, paninis and coffee, before we all went our separate ways.

Our next mission was the postponed Christmas Day Clan Gathering at my parent’s house near Glasgow. We arrived around 1pm and got tore into my Father’s hastily opened bottles of Champagne, which was accompanied by lots of present swapping and a most exciting level of noise. Everyone was there; my folks, my sister Lindsay, my other sister Fiona with hubby Nolon and her wee baby Charlotte.

From there we moved into the dining room and cracked open the wine to go down with a superb home-cooked meal consisting of a smoked salmon starter, roast beef with all the trimmings, chocolate gateau or Banoffee Pie for dessert (I had both) and a cheese board with coffee ( I had lots) afterwards.

To appease my father who had purchased several cans of the Black Stuff, I moved onto Guinness soon afterwards and soon I was back in the Land of the Half Cut.

Our original plan had been to leave for home that evening but with heavy snow in West Lothian, a car crash on the M8 and no more room in my parent’s house, we found ourselves more or less stranded. Cue the man of the moment, my mate Mikey, who we had just spent the last few days along with his family up in The Trossachs. He lives up the road from my parents and was only too happy to take us in for the night. We got there around 11pm and with Laura put to bed we sat up and had a few more beers in his kitchen!

Sunday morning and with the partying all but done, we headed back to my parent’s house to say goodbye to everyone but not before I cooked a massive fry-up for everyone. It went down a treat after the day/night before, and soon we were on our way home to Edinburgh.

Conditions were pretty bad but the roads themselves fair enough to cope with if we took things easy. The journey took us twice as long as normal but we got there in the end, and by 4pm I was getting into trouble for snoring in front of the television, such was my exhaustion brought about mainly from excessive lazing about, alcohol and food. Relaxation, in other words!

The heavy snow that had caused us to be stranded out West meant new problems getting work today but I suppose my lateness could be more attributed to my accidentally sleeping in and not being down to any non-running public transport. If it weren’t for a lone taxi on Leith Walk I may never have made it in before 11am, but I did and all is well.

As I sit here tired and with heavy eyes I reflect on what was a wonderful Christmas and New Year. And as I think towards the new year I do so with a glimmer of hope that things are looking much better in a lot of areas. I’m not one to count my chickens before they hatch, but the start of 2010 is looking much better than the end of 2009.

I’ve not had time to upload my holiday snaps just yet but they will be on display tomorrow. Also up tomorrow will be my GDR for January. If you’ve managed to read this far then I thank you and with you once again my wishes for you to have a totally spiffing 2010!

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We have here a brief interlude in my Christmas/New Year holidays. Freshly passed is the Christmas holidays, packed with fun, food and frolics, and beyond today we have a real break away from home to let our hair down with friends, family, food and frolics. Lots of frolics—I like frolics.

Christmas was packed with tradition, mostly the kind that have developed over the years and passed form one generation to another, such as leaving out carrots, cookies and wine, hanging up the stocking, shouting up the Christmas tree, and of course, waiting until Dad goes down to turn the lights on and “see if Santa has been.”

Laura had a great Christmas Day, as did we all. After the initial explosion of gift swapping and unwrapping—I got some delights including a brand new coffee maker (with timer), a couple of books and CDs, and the immense box set of the entire collection of Only Fools and Horses shows—we got ready and headed round to Gail’s folks for the day.

My Mother in Law went over the top yet again, cooking way too much food than any of us could ever finish. It was a mammoth meal of sublime portions of turkey, roast and mashed tatties, sprouts, stuffing, pigs in blankets and more than I can actually remember. That came after a starter that included fresh prawns, smoked salmon and salad, and before a choice of two awesome desserts. I was absolutely stuffed but managed a few glasses of wine and cans of lager along the way.

Boxing Day was a slow and relaxed affair. Most of it was spent just being a family, enjoying several Christmas films while eating chocolates, and then the obligatory nip out to the sales to see if there were any bargains to be had. I returned with a bird table, a 2010 diary (1 page per day), and a MacDonalds for dinner.

The snow, which had provided me with my first proper White Christmas since the late 70s, began to be dissolved overnight into the 27th with rain and a much milder climate. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case in West Lothian where parts of the M8 were in pearl, and Perthshire where a foot of snow had fallen overnight. Both of these events meant we had to postpone the annual Galbraith Clan gathering at my parent’s house. It was very disappointing for everyone because we had all been looking forward to it so much but we postponed for next Saturday and look forward to it with much excitement.

Laura stayed at a friend’s house overnight so Gail and I bought a nice dinner for ourselves and watched a couple of films. However, there was more to it than that. On Christmas Day a couple of Nintendo DS Lites found their way into the proceedings and various games of Scrabble were had throughout the day. I got a bit carried away and on Sunday ended up rushing out and buying one for myself. So I could have someone to play Scrabble with I also bought one for Gail. Now we are Nintendo buddies and I seem to have developed a flash addiction to Scrabble.

Yesterday was a Bank Holiday so I was off while Gail worked. I spent the day tidying up and then with Laura when she returned. A few games of Scrabble were also had in between.

Today I am back at work but only until 3.30pm this afternoon. We’re heading off for our annual trip up north to the Trossachs tomorrow and I have yet to pack a thing for going away. On our way back on Saturday we will stop off at my parent’s house for the postponed Clan gathering. It should be a most relaxing and enjoyable journey through to the New Year, and one I know everyone under my roof needs.

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I began the mammoth task of sifting through my email yesterday. I’m still missing several days from last week despite being assured they will come through once all the data is copied over, but I remain dubious. AM – can you resend your email please? It looks like it’s got lost and I may never get it now.

I received a rejection for my short story, Foreign Object, yesterday. A wee acceptance right about now would have been just the thing to give me a boost, but the rejection came with two personal notes of feedback from the two editors who reviewed it. Both were positive and both very useful, something one hardly ever sees but is always extremely grateful for.

Day job was tiring but I think it’s down to the fact I have been loaded with a chesty cold since I got back from Spain. I’ve tried vitamin supplements, hot toddies and steam treatment but it seems to only want to shift at its own rate. Slowly. It makes me feel very lethargic during the day; heavy eyes, phlegm-filled coughs and a sore head. And with Thursday night approaching I must shed as much of it as possible.

There’s a possibility that the League Cup semi final between St Mirren and Hearts could be played at Easter Road Stadium in Edinburgh. Gus McPherson the Buddies manager has publicly pleaded for common sense, because the only person that a decision of that nature would suit is me. It would mean I could go to the game on foot! Fingers crossed, because I think the last place Hearts would want to go is the Hibs ground.

Did quite a lot of reading in the evening and wrote out a couple of lengthy emails to friends. Also nipped out to Costco with Gail so she could pick up some photography stuff. We stopped in their “canteen” for a bite to eat. I had the Shepherd’s Pie, which was surprisingly nice other than the ball of fluff I discovered in it near the end. How could I complain though? If one is going to eat in a warehouse what else can one expect?

However, the trip was not all wasted for me. I came home with a membership card and a tray of a dozen mixed muffins, two of which, have already bit the dust.

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Happy birthday to me! Yes, yesterday was my birthday, not that they are very exciting affairs any more once you get to 36–just another year to tick off—but it had all the ingredients I look for in my birthday: good food, family, and a whale!

Up and out the door early, it wasn’t until I got home after the day job that any of the celebrations really began. I took part in the customary buying of sweets for the staff, leaving boxes of Celebrations and Quality Street in the middle of the office. I ate very little during the day, though, for last night saw my annual trip to Newhaven to tackle the mighty whale.

When the girls got back from school/work they gave me all my gifts and cards. As well as being replenished with socks, shirts and jammies, I can also look forward to a new pair of glasses, a trip to see St Mirren playing Motherwell on the 24th October, and a night out with both my sisters and brother-in-law to see the comedian Michael McIntyre. Best of the bunch was the SpongeBob Squarepants apron and matching oven glove I got from Laura. She knows me so well!

Out to Newhaven then, and destination Peacock Inn. Since I first discovered this place I’ve been going back for the fabulously fresh fish. They do a wonderful fresh trout, simply grilled with fresh vegetables, but the haddock fillet is their most popular and famous option. Cooked in crispy batter or breadcrumbs, it comes served with chips and peas. But there is one other option on the menu for the braver among us.

‘The Whale’ as it is described on the menu is perfect for the larger man. With your 1lb (that’s one pound) of haddock you get a (very) small bowl of chips. Nothing else is needed; it’s all about the fish. And it was wonderful. The batter can sometimes get too much, but the fish, when drawn from within the crispy golden shell, is simply the best fish this side of Harthill.

Back home, with my buckle hanging by my side and belly swollen to an unfeasible size, I sat down to a nice cup of tea and slice of birthday cake. I had to blow out the candles first—I’m still a big kid, you know—and then the telly beckoned. Gail’s pal Samantha came round to visit with her wee pooch, Gracie, and she gave me a large Toblerone as a gift. Maybe eat that another day!

Quote of the day to my daughter, Laura: “How does it feel to be 35, then?”

Me: “I’m 36.”

Laura: “That’s dead old!”

A nice day—a filling day—another year older.

Fiction
* Complete writing Baccara Burning
* Complete editing on Greener is the Grass
* Positively work towards clearing away fiction backlog
* Re-submit any rejected/recalled short stories
* Enter more fiction/poetry competitions
* Meet fiction/poetry e-zine deadlines

Poetry
* Write at least one poem per week
* Finish developing ideas for new chapbook

Editing
* Stay on top of RR submissions
* Prepare RR issue 9 for December 2009
* Start preparing RR issue 10 for March 2010

Freelance
* Get a few more gigs to review for NotW
* Work with new client for driving instructor site
* Complete SDR website for 1st November launch
* Keep up all websites updated and relevant

Marketing and Promotion
* Publish October newsletter
* Bring Podcast idea to life

Reading & Learning
* The Butt by Will Self – IP; not much reading
* Try and fit more reading time in

Non-Writing
* Re-launch diet

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Pretty tired this morning. Not from being up extraordinarily late last night but from a very early start this morning. There’s a lot happening today ranging from training courses to writing and a fair bit of website work, so I wanted to get a head start on everything.

I’ve just wolfed down a roll with egg and black pudding in it along with a strong coffee, so I’m feeling pretty damn good for now.

Speaking of food, I found myself in the canteen for lunch again yesterday, and it was worth it because it was the infamous, glorious and infinitesimally orgasmic Cheese Macaroni Day. I had a big plate with a pile of chips on the side for good measure. Stuffed I was—stuffed!

I almost finished writing PAINT last night, a short story initially intended for a cover design competition, except I’m not quite sure how to end it. I have, for the first time ever, a final line that I want to use, I’m just not sure how to get there and I went to bed last night feeling confused and trying to visualise the best ending. Oh, the trials!

I’ve taken on a new roll in my capacity as Assistant Editor at The Scruffy Dog Review and am now the “website bloke”. I’ve been in discussions with the Editor-in-Chief and we came to the decision that we should use my website skills to free up more of her time to do more actual editorial tasks as opposed to website maintenance.

The magazine has gone through a tough time lately and I feel like this change could breathe new life into it. A re-launch was discussed and communications will be sent out to the other editors today about the change. One of the first things I’m going to look at is a revamp of the site to make it more web friendly and modern.

The gig listings for this week have been pretty poor, though if I get the chance I might pop up to the Citrus Club tonight to see punk band The Vibrators and get a review in for Sunday’s NotW online edition. Also might pop along for The Black Seeds gig at the Picture House next week, which would make it through in time to be a contender for next week’s print edition.

My old man phoned from outside a pub on Tottenham Court Road in the evening. He had just discovered Hairspray has cross-dressing in it and wanted to let me know how happy he was to have been stitched up again. “It’ll do you good,” I told him with a loud guffaw. Sounds like they are both having a great time in Landahn Tahn, though.

Remember I mentioned the guy from Leith who works for the Scottish Parliament and submitted some poetry to the Ranfurly Review after reading my interview in The Leither Magazine while lunching in far flung Beju? It turns out he got he can’t spell and what he really meant was Bijou, the small coffee shop at the bottom of Restalrig Road! Oh, well!

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Glasgow was brilliant this weekend; family, laughter, food, drinks, and the weather held up, too. Not that it mattered once my posterior found its way onto my sister’s couch. It could have snowed a blizzard and I wouldn’t have noticed.

It was a relaxing journey through on the bus early on Saturday, listening to various Book Fest podcasts and a selection of reggae and rock tracks, and landed in good old Glasgow at around 11am. I took a walk through city streets, taking in that feeling one only ever gets while in the Dear Green Place, and then hopped a train out to Mount Florida on the south side. Even that train journey holds memories, as it was a train I often got while heading home if I’d missed my usual one, and it was also the train I would get when visiting my Gran on my mother’s side.

My folks soon joined us at my sister’s flat and we headed out for a pub lunch. I didn’t want to eat too much what with a big dinner impending for the evening, so I kept myself to a lean plate of macaroni and cheese with garlic bread and salad, with a pint of Guinness to wash it all down. Nothing heavy you understand.

It was a hilarious lunch; my parents were in fine form and much laughter emanated from our table for the couple of hours we were there.What we would term a “typical Galbraith gathering”.

Back at my sister’s flat we had coffee before my parents headed home, leaving my sister and I to chill out for the rest of the day. We watched a couple of movies and some West Wing on DVD, and later on tucked into a mighty Chinese meal. I had my old favourite of Chicken Maryland (chicken breast in breadcrumbs, pineapple fritter, banana fritter, onion rings, tomato and large portion of chips) with Irn-Bru.

Something tells me a Glaswegian had an influence in that particular Chinese meal. One might safely say my digestive system was pretty much defucked—sorry, defunct—after eating all that, but I still had some room for a bag of popcorn later on.

Eventually it became too much and I keeled over and fell asleep on the couch, where I remained until 11am yesterday morning; such a delight as hardly every do I get such an unbroken, long, and undisturbed sleep. It was bliss!

We got ready and headed round for lunch to the new-look Ludovic’s Cafe. It has moved to new premises since we were last there and is much more modern, large and slick in appearance and service. But to me it’s lost that Glasgow charm. It’s now on it’s way to becoming a chain, and one of the reasons I loved it (apart from the food) was the traditional Glasgow sensation when you were inside it. Gone is the intimacy, the homely feel and the rawness; in is professionalism, cleanliness, and top class service. Change isn’t always a good thing, but the food was still great and it still has a very friendly feeling. I think I might just need time to get over it.

My journey back through to Edinburgh was eventful thanks to Scotrail diverting us to the Forth (yes, the river). I had got on the 3pm train, due into Edinburgh at 3:45, but the conductor sent my blood pressure soaring when he announced: “due to a diversion and subsequent delay, we are due into Waverly at 16:50”. I could have screamed, but it turned out he said “16” instead of “15”. Lucky for him.

Back home and with Laura at her Gran’s, Gail and me spent the rest of the day together. I took part in a photo shoot under her new studio lights; not something I particularly enjoy after about five minutes but the results were worth it. Then we just chilled and watched some TV with a pizza (not a good weekend for the diet).

I’ve got a lot on this week, from deadlines, to website work, to potential gig reviews, to other GDR tie-ups. I’m going to be busy, or rather I need to be busy, and with it being my quiet week at work I should be able to get through a lot of it.

Later today my interview with Blazing Trailers will be online on their website. You will be able to view it here: http://blazingtrailers.blogspot.com

Also, if you missed it, check out my gig review in yesterday’s News of the World, this week Theoretical Girl.

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It’s the first morning I’ve felt like autumn really is on its way. The sky is clear, it’s chilly but fresh, and the normally prevalent early morning birds remained huddled in their nests to keep warm. Yes, autumn is approaching and the motivational refill I got from the Edinburgh Book Festival now moves into the most inspiring part of the year for me.

I don’t quite know why autumn is so pleasurable. It could be the colours, the sounds, the pattern of dark mornings and early nights, but something about it appeals to my life rythm. The moon always seems so much more alive during autumn, burning brighter and enjoying the sky, like a silver painting device weaving its way across a clear canvass.

Nature, too, seems to be a lot more active, a lot more noticeable. During the summer everything seems to get lazy, then the drop in temperature and promise of winter sees all the wee animals getting ready for the cold months—me included, though I’m hardly small and furry.

I went to bed early last night because I was really feeling it after a week of late nights. I feel much better this morning, but being so tired last night meant I got less done than I wanted to.

I had a few minor things to tie off for a couple of web clients. One of them, a Bed and Breakfast in the Borders, is having to sell their business due to family illness and has probably only got another year left as a going concern. I’m very sad for them because the couple in question are good friends and it’s a sad thing to happen. Running a guest house had always been their dream so to lose it must be very disheartening. We’ll be going to visit them soon, and maybe do a wee bottle of wine or two with them.

Some poetry found its way onto the page. I’m experimenting with a new form that involved digging into a character’s psyche and personal history. I don’t normally characterise in a poem—usually that’s fiction territory—which is where the exploring comes in.

The results so far are very, very rough. I’ve been working long hand because it’s requiring a lot of thought I simply can’t do at my desk in front of a PC. Also, there’s a LOT of scoring and editing, and doing that kind of work on a monitor just doesn’t help.

I’m enjoynig it, though. I think I can learn a lot through this form of poetry and take my writing to a new level. I’ve been inspired a lot by a lot of poetry I’ve been listening to on Podcasts and at the Book Fest.

A couple of last things. I’ve moved the time that these blog posts are emailed to subscribers from 08:00-10:00BST to 11:00-13:00BST. This is so I can accomodate morning updates and bring the email into line with breakfast time for the many US readers I have. Optimum publicity!

Finally, if my mother is reading this, here is a list of everything I ate yesterday:

• Breakfast: Roll & bacon, cup of coffee
• Mid-morning: Cup of coffee and a couple of Celebrations
• Lunch: Small cup of pea & ham soup and tuna & onion sesame seed roll
• Dinner: Couple slices cheese on plain bread toast, cup of tea

See you all tomorrow!

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