Outwith My Comfort Zone

I thought Jimmy McGovern's "Time" was amazing. Tense isn't quite the word.

Sean Bean was great and Stephen Graham just burns up the screen.

I recently discovered that "outwith" is a Scottish word. Do people outwith Scotland not say it?

I am reading the charmingly splendid Comrade Don Camillo. 

I do wish I could rewatch the BBC series "The Little World Of Don Camillo" with Brian Blessed chewing the scenery as the local communist mayor Peppone.

On the subject of 'the good ol' days', I wonder if anyone knows whatever became of erstwhile resident Glasgow Pavilion hypnotist - and Tav Falco lookalike - Robert Halpern? No reason. He just popped into my head the other day *beat* as I was eating into a raw onion... (thank you, thank you). 

I've been listening to Alex Chilton - Live on Beale Street. "Maybelline" brought back memories of perhaps my least finest moment onstage (and that includes screwing up the drum intro to "Dumb Dumb Dumb" at my first gig with Teenage Fanclub at a festival in Santiago de Compostela, Summer 2000).

We dissolve to.... Sometime in Glasgow at the old 13th Note Club, Clyde Street. Some pals in the audience. Davie Scott on bass. Me thumping the tubs. We got to 'the end' of "Maybelline" (maybe our first song of the set?) and I so came to a halt, whacking the crash cymbal, snare and bass drum, letting it all ring out. Job done. Or so I thought.

Alex (into the mic, still strumming): "I'll tell you when I want you to stop playing - OK, Francis?"

It's jolly nice to be shortlisted in the New Music Scotland Awards 2021 for some TV composing work.

Still glad to have worked on the titles music for Inside Culture - latest episode is on i-player now.

I pre-recorded an interview for BBC Radio 4's "A Good Read". I reckon I successfully managed to lower the tone. Judge for yourself on 6th July.

Here are some frescoes in an abandoned church.

I've had reason to revisit We're On The March With Ally's Army (shut it):

"...We had to get a man who could make all Scotland proud,
He's our Muhammad Ali; he's Alistair MacLeod..."

They don't write them like that anymore.

Cheese of the week is Comté.

Au revoir.

Love Him Till Your Arms Break

I read one page of this (page 33 if you must know) and had to get it. 

And I was glad I did. Should I try Cider With Rosie?

Now reading Marcovaldo by Italo Calvino cos I dug the 5 x stories dramatised by Toby Jones for BBC Radio 4:

Every time I read any dialogue from Marcovaldo I hear the voice of Mackenzie Crook...

I've been watching good ol' Ripping Yarns.

Wonder if I could rock an Inverness cape the way Iain Cuthbertson does in Murder At Moorstones Manor? Probably not.

I'm enjoying the latest series of Inside Number 9 (d'uh). Adrian Dunbar's turn was especially spiffing.

Pat Nevin on Camera Obscura is a nice read.

Hooray for Alexei Sayle on Desert Island Discs.

This doc is a hoot:

And as for this...

...I'm not usually one for swearing but - blinkin' heck!

This is on i-player...

...in case you missed my titles music. I mean, why else would you watch it, right? Kidding!! Jackie Kay's poem about friendship is grand.

Laura Cantrell covering Bonnie Tyler? Don't mind if I do....

Glad of all the positive feedback for Teenage Fanclub "Endless Arcade" Be nice to play live again...

I've been writing some dub reggae-ish music for a thing. No really. I'll tell you later.

Fare thee well, my jo.