His Master's Voice

    I've grown out of standing in front of my bedroom mirror, singing along to a Madonna track, into my hairbrush. Yeah, it's hard to believe, I know. However, I don't think I could write a single word if I couldn't listen to music while working.

    I listen to the radio, other times downloaded music which is so cheap to access and a great way to keep up with new releases. The music, the lyrics and most importantly the sound of the voice can set our mood, stir our emotions and the heartfelt messages just hit my creative spot. 

    Whether the recordings are digital, or on vinyl which has seen a revival in the few years, with approximately 2 million vinyl records being sold in the UK in the last year, we all love listening to human voices singing. They make us laugh, they make us cry, they make us happy and on occasion patriotic; they connect with our psyche. 

    April 16th 2015 is Worldwide Voice Day and April 18th is, Record Store Day, they have something hugely in common and that is a celebration of the voice. A celebration that we can all relate to, whatever age, creed, or colour.

Game, Set and Love Match!

Dunblane Cathedral

    It's Sunday afternoon and the swollen, River Allan, is the only thing that is in a hurry to pass through the small Scottish city of Dunblane.

    The cameras continue to take photographs and the locals are still chattering about the events of the last 24 hours, while picking up their Sunday papers from the newsagent. As I point my camera at my chosen subject, a woman tells me, "Not to forget to take a snap of the golden post box."

    I was glad she wanted to share the pride she has for her home place with strangers, otherwise I might have walked by the gold painted box, that celebrates an Olympic gold medallist born in her neighbourhood.
  

Town Celebrated the Occasion

     But, this day has the air of something special about it, not because there is fairy dust blowing in the wind rather than rain. No, the population of less than ten thousand people, want  to hold onto their happy memories for just one more day.

Golden Post Box

 
        The day that they will never forget is the day tennis ace, Andy Murray, married his long term girlfriend, Kim Sears, amongst his 'ain kin' and one that will beat any match he plays on court.

River Allan

Sculpting our Culture

    Wherever we live in the world, the natural landscape that surrounds us very much dictates as to how our individual cultures have developed over the years.

    The indigenous population have settled where they can grow their crops, be near a source of drinking water and keep their animals. But to do so, mankind has also had to work hand in hand with the terrain that surrounds him.

    To sustain human life we know we will have to continue to do so and help others who struggle to work within their landscape, that's if we want to continue to remain residents and the custodians of this planet.

   
    There are times I take a sharp intake of breath when I look around the two places I spend most of my time, Scotland and the Canaries,  and if I could thank my fellow human beings who have helped carve these parts of the world I most certainly would. But, that's impossible so I just want to thank them  here and now. Thank you .

A Feathered Tribute

   There are so many beautiful creatures in our world and  one species are our feathered friends. On April 8th it's, Draw a Picture of a Bird Day, and as I'm a little better at writing with a pen, or pencil I'll stick to taking photographs.    

   

    So, here are a few tributes of my own.

Apologies

    I've spent the last few weeks in the Canary Islands and up until ten days ago, I managed to regularly update my blog. I have no idea why I consistently have technical hitches here; but I do have and it sucks.

    Luckily the glitches just seem to effect my blog, and twitter. The upside of the gremlin in the works is that I was able to give the final edits on my new book my full attention.

    Moan over, well maybe not quite, I was unable to drag the photograph to the beginning of this piece, so that's why I've finished the post with a solitary picture. I had hoped to write about, Semana Santa, which started yesterday, yeah, that's why the picture is of a church.However I think I'll just apologise and close off. Hey, and have a great Holy Week.

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

 

    You like to-may-toes and I like to-mah-toes, go the words of the song by George and Ira Gershwin. But not only does the English language differ in pronunciation in the UK and the USA, our spellings and meanings cause more than a little confusion.

    Normally when writing day to day, I use USA English because I have now gotten into this way of writing and using Americanisms. However, my work in progress is based in Glasgow, so spell-check and grammar has been working overtime.

    But, unlike Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film, Shall we Dance, I'm not about to call the whole thing off.

In Very Few Words

    

Kelpies, Helix Park

     Storytelling is something to laud and we know that a story can be told in very few words, if the words are chosen carefully.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

   With the view to attract more Chinese visitors to our country, the UK tourist board is telling the story of some of our famous Scottish landmarks in Mandarin  and I thought I would share a few of the translations with you. 

Kelpie

    Kai Poju ma: 

    Glorious armoured giant horses - Kelpies.

    Shan Hu Huai Bao Zui meng Xiang:

    Mountains, lakes get you drunk on dreams - Loch

    Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

    Others:

    Monument to Brave Heart - The Wallace Monument.

    Strong-man skirt party - Highland Games.

    Haggis - Baa - baa pudding.

    Yes, the words do say it all.