From the Shortbread Tin - April 10
Musings from Our Scotland podcast host Alison
I should be packing my bags but I’ve turned into the world’s biggest procrastinator!
Next week I’m flying from New Zealand to the UK for a three month sabbatical, I’ll be visiting Scotland a few times on this adventure, including a couple of places new to me. You can expect to see more about this trip in future newsletters.
Before we do head off though I had one final interview for Our Scotland, I say final, I will be recording a few more when I’m in the same timezone as my guests.
Yesterday I spoke with author Barry Hutchison. Barry is a prolific author and he also writes as JD Kirk. As JD Kirk he’s the creator of DCI Jack Logan, and the spin-off series featuring Bob Hoon and Heather Filson.
I discovered the Jack Logan series after I’d finished re-reading Rebus for the nth time. I did a search on Kindle, can’t remember what for but maybe Scottish crime fiction, and up popped JD Kirk. That was three years ago and as they say, the rest is history.
I had a bagpiping breakthrough this week. I picked up the chanter just over a year ago and have been making great progress learning new tunes, but the transition to the full pipes has been a challenge.
My current homework is to be able to play a low A (with the drones corked) for five minutes. For the last two weeks I’ve struggled to get 20 seconds, however on Sunday, out of nowhere, I was able to get 90 seconds, and then just shy of three minutes.
It’s all in the technique, as well as the blowing the squeezing also has to be done right.
That’s filled me with some confidence :-)
What I’ve been reading:
Since my last update I’ve finished two more Agatha Christie Miss Marple books (Sleeping Murder, A Murder is Announced) and two by Ann Cleeves (The Seagull and The Darkest Evening, both Vera books).
I’ve a goal to finish the Vera series this year and to read a dozen Miss Marples. I’ve got a couple more Vera books to go (The Rising Tide and in August The Dark Wives is published), but I’m only three books in for Miss Marple.
The new Jack Logan book, Where The Pieces Lie, is out next week, so I’ll have that read soon.
What I’ve been listening to:
I’m going to see Tide Lines next Friday, I own a couple of their CDs but not their full discography so on Sunday I opened up my Spotify library and enjoyed their new single Homeward Bound and some other lesser known (by me) tunes.
Spotify also included some Manran, which was kind of them as I’ve tickets to see them too.
The premise for Our Scotland will be your perfect day in Scotland and in that weaving stories of life in Scotland.
Who would you like to hear from?
Email me with your guest suggestions.