Uses For Snow.

We have just had the coldest Christmas for twenty years here in Scotland.

I was thinking of all the various benefits that snow brings. Looks great, you can build snowmen, go sledging but most important of all, keeps the beers at the right temperature.

Sign Of The Times.

I have been asked by a journalist colleague, to look out for signs where the message is clear but taken literally, make no sense at all.

It didn't take me long to find one.

Christmas Eve.

Well it's here again and this year we've got snow, lots of it.

For you bloggers who are in sunnier climes this is how cold it is here right now. Spiders must have built in anti freeze at least I hope they do the forecast is for -10C over the next few days. The coldest it's been here for twenty years.

I hope you all have a great time over the festive season.

New Kid On The Bloc.

A few months ago, I got a familiar phone call from a doting mother telling me that her daughter was the best looking young lady in the world. I know what she meant as my two sons are the most handsome young men on the planet.

When young Robyn arrived at the studio, I immediately knew she would be great to photograph. In her case it was a bit more serious though. She was here to get a portfolio of photos that she would be submitting to become the "Face of Sophie Teenwear"
a UK wide competition run by high street fashion chain Internacionale.
They were looking for young, attractive, cool hip girls to promote their brand image.

It was difficult to believe that she had never been in a studio before and to cut a long story short, she won. Another interesting fact that came out of the competition was the other two winners were from Inverness. A hat trick for Scotland.

Robyn has now been signed up by top agency Superior Model Management and is looking to pursue a career in beauty therapy or hairdressing.

Not a bad wee start I'd say.

Tam O' Shanter.

I left a foggy Glasgow en route for a job in Ayr earlier today. On arrival, the sun was splitting the sky and the town centre was buzzing.

It got me thinking about the last time I had been in the town centre and I worked out that it must have been over twenty years ago at least.

The high street is now one way and there is the obligatory shopping centre with multi - story car parking.

I was glad to see that the Tam O'Shanter pub was still the same. It must be the only pub in Scotland with a thatched roof.

I'm always saying that nothing is forever but it is nice to see some things are determined to buck the trend.

Acupuncture For Doggies.

Last month, I had a couple of friends staying for a while with their old dog Jack.

Jack has a bit of arthritis as he's getting on a bit and to my astonishment his owner Irene, has been getting him some acupuncture.

Veterinary Rosemary Fitzgerald will visit your house and do her stuff with your ailing animal.



Old Jack didn't seem to mind one bit and he was certainly in a much better mood
after his treatment.

You learn something new every day right enough.

UFO's, Maybe Not.

A few weeks ago on the way back from a gig by my son Andrew's band The Fix, there was a really spooky moon lurking behind the clouds over Loch Lomond.

Not only that, but I spotted about fourteen lights in the sky in what looked like close formation. At first I thought they must be helicopters as they were moving quite slowly. I stopped at the side of the road to take some photographs and there was no noise whatsoever.

Alien invasion came to mind, maybe not.

Mind you, there were several other car loads of people who had stopped to take it all in as well.






Here's a shot of Andrew "giving it welly"!

A phrase made famous by one Billy Connolly.

Never Again.

I've not posted a blog for ages, this one will explain why not.

At the beginning of November, work started on my roof here in Clydebank. One hundred and fourteen years later, it was time for a new one. Not the best time of the year I hear you ask to be doing this. Well that's the way of it.

To say it was stressful would be an understatement as not only do all the slates have to come off, so does all the lead and there was lots of it. This leaves you open to the elements and of course we had the wettest November in the history of the weather forecast. I'll just not go into it.

Now, 10,000 slates later, I have a new roof, new lead and piece of mind.