A Quick chat with Nichola Dougan - The Scarlett Fund

I have been really fortunate to meet some incredible people as part of fundraising activities over the last few years.   You can't help but feel inspired listening to the unique stories from people from all walks of life, and how it impacts them or those that they care for.

Attending a BHF function a number of years ago, I was introduced to an incredible family who fundraise on for the BHF Scotland and The Glasgow Children's Hospital charities.  The Dougan family (Peter and Nichola) were left in shock when their daughter Scarlett was diagnosed with an extremely rare and serious heart defect when she was only 5 months old.   Watching the dedication and skill of the hospital staff caring for their child inspired the family to focus much of their efforts on raising funds and awareness of the phenomenal work of both charities.

I chatted with Nichola Dougan to understand how she has navigated 2020

Q. How did you cope with home schooling in your dual life as a parent & teacher during the initial lockdown period?  

A. I have to admit that I am pretty rubbish at home schooling. Peter was far better. He took on most of the fun research activities. I actually think our children did really well. Their school was great at providing a variety of lessons every day and keeping the children engaged. They all worked really hard and I think they have improved a lot in some areas.  As a teacher, I found teaching virtually a real struggle. It was so hard to gauge how the children in my class were doing. I really, really missed seeing them. 

 

Q  How have you been keeping yourself busy?  

A. We are never “not busy”,  4 children will always find a way to keep you busy  

And home improvements! So chuffed with some of the projects we have managed to complete. I have to admit though that as much as I loved getting the house in order in the beginning the novelty has well and truly worn off. 

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?  

My biggest challenge has been trying to make celebrations special. We like a good celebration in our family and we have traditions that we look forward to. Scarlett's First Holy Communion is the perfect example- How do you make the day as special as it should be when it happens at 7pm on a dreich Wednesday evening?  I have to say, I think we managed it. Each celebration has been great in it's own way. I think it's just the feeling of not being able to share it with others that makes it so challenging.    

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?  

My family. Whenever I have found things difficult, I have found comfort in taking a step back and realising what a privileged position I am in. We have so much to be grateful for, not least our health and financial security, something that is so uncertain for many, many others. When I think about it like that I feel incredibly lucky, I pick myself up and get on with it!!  

The children always entertain, and they keep me going. We have had loads of invaluable family time and I am so grateful to have had this. I have also enjoyed attending Mass virtually, which has surprised me as I usually avoid technology when I can.   

Q. If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?  

A. I would tell myself that this will be a marathon not a sprint. Oh and I’d make much more of an effort to keep the children practising the piano!!!!

 

Q. What have you learned about yourself?  

A. Even when it feels like I have all the time in the world there are some tasks I will avoid, mainly ones that involve using the computer!  

Days don’t need to be crazy busy, sometimes doing very little is exactly what I need. Allowing the children to have a “lazy day “ isn’t the end of the world!  

I’ve also realised that I am much more social person than I thought.

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?  

A. I had loads of plans to get stuck in to our charity website and get it updated, I am ashamed to admit I haven't. Technology really isn't my strength. I get bored with staring at a screen and lose patience easily! Not sure I picked up any skills successfully, I did try out lots of bits and pieces. Having more time at home meant teaching the children new skills (does that count)?

 

Q. What have you missed most?  

A. Without a doubt, my family and friends are what I missed most. I wouldn't have described myself as someone who was out socialising a lot however I do have lots of fabulous people that I pop in to see, go for a coffee with, meet for lunch or dinner. Actually, even just stopping for chats when I am out and about in my area too is something I have missed. I would always be pottering about at weekends, popping into local shops and passing the time while dropping/picking up children from clubs. All that has stopped, everything feels very rigid and distant.  

Q. The Scarlett fund has made significant contributions to the British Heart Foundation and Glasgow Children's hospital charities over a number of years, with an uncertain future around large scale fundraising events - how do you see this affecting charities and fundraisers hosting marquee events?  

A. I am worried about the future for charities. We host Scarlett's Ball each year and it really is like one massive party. We fill the room with lots of supporters and party all night. I honestly can’t see it happening again any time soon.  I am generally a very positive and motivated person however I don’t feel like that these days. My motivation is driven by thoughts of my daughter’s future and so I worry, hugely, that if I have lost my motivation then there really is not much to hope for.  

That said, I do see wonderful people doing amazing things for charity, I don’t believe people have changed and so I know that if the events are there then the support will be too.

I think that the charities need people that can think outside the box in order to hold events that fit into today’s world. The way we live today is unrecognisable from how it was at the beginning of the year so in reality this way of life is really very new and requires  huge adjustments for everyone. I am hopefully that as this becomes less new, things will become clearer and less complicated, future will be less uncertain, people will once again flock to help and support charities just as much as they did in the past.  

A Quick chat with David Linden - MP for Glasgow East

I contacted my local MP David Linden a number of weeks ago to chat about the impact of the pandemic on his parliamentary work and the effects in the local community.    I've got to admit I was surprised at how quickly David got back to me and how open our chat was about local life and the many good deeds and amazing initiatives that go unnoticed by many in the city.

An e-mail, phone call and a (socially distant) face to face chat only confirmed to me the passion David has for the local community and his focus on delivering a better future for his constituents.

Hope you enjoy my Q&A with David Linden MP for Glasgow East

Q. know you're a football fan, so my first question has to be around fans in stadiums - how can this be progressed to help big & small clubs to welcome fans back & provide much needed input into the local economy?

A. Good question!  For my sins, I’ve been an Airdrieonians fan for the last 19 years and it feels totally alien not to be in my usual season ticket seat in the Jack Dalziel stand these days.

The reality is, the spread of the virus is still rising just now – so now would not be the time to return fans to stadiums en masse.

We have, however, seen areas where the prevalence rate is lower able to open smaller stadiums, e.g. Elgin City FC in Moray, and I think we are all hoping that we can end up in a similar situation at some point but realistically, I’m not expecting to be back at football any time soon.

Q.  How have you been keeping yourself busy away from Parliament?

A. Work!  The challenges Glasgow East faces are well known and documented, e.g. an unemployment rate that runs at roughly double that of the UK national average – even at the best of times/pre-pandemic.  Unfortunately, at its peak around 12,000 folk locally were furloughed and that has led to a number of job losses already.  So even when I’m not in Parliament, I’m almost certainly only the phone speaking to a local business and trying to protect jobs.

I’ve tried to carve out a bit of time on Sundays to go walking with my best mate, Dougie.  He’s a fellow long-suffering Airdrie fan so what in effect is meant to be a relaxing walk tends to end up with us getting worked up about the woes of Airdrie’s performance the previous day!

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

A. Like a lot of people, I found the initial and most stringent part of lockdown really tough going in terms of my mental health.  I was used to travelling a lot for work and being stuck in the house – albeit working from home – 23 hours a day was quite a challenge.

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

A. My faith has helped me through a lot, no doubt about that.  Hope is one of the central parts of the Christian faith, so I’ve been clinging to that a lot… and praying for a vaccine!

Q. What have you learned about yourself / local community?

A. I always knew the people of Glasgow East were pretty generous and kind hearted but the community response has been absolutely phenomenal. 

Literally at one point of the early days of lockdown, there was actually some frustrating levels of duplication in terms of providing food parcels being delivered to people but that’s probably a measure of how well-meaning folk are.  It’s true: East End = Best End.

Q.      Did you pick up any new skills?

A. I wouldn’t say operating IT was always my strong point but I’ve become a little more confident at using technology during lockdown, though I won’t be sad to see the back of Zoom!  I much prefer meeting people face-to-face…

Q.      What are you looking forward to most when it's safe to do so?

A. Giving my Mum a hug.  It’s simple things like that I’ve missed and our family has been through a pretty tough time so I’m definitely looking forward binning the social distancing when it’s safe to do so!

Q.      What are your political hopes when the country begins to move out of restrictions & faces a new norm/ world?

A. At the moment, if I’m being honest, I just want to get to the other side when folk aren’t being diagnosed or dying from this awful virus.  Politically, there are big questions to be asked about where we go next but I think most politicians – on a cross party basis – are genuinely just trying to get us through this.

Q.      hopefully you are allowed to give an honest opinion on this one..............Recent polls have support for Scottish independence at an all-time high, do you think this is in light of the leadership shown by our first minister Nicola Sturgeon or the perceived lack of governance from Downing street?

A. I’ve been asked this question before but I don’t think it’s just the First Minister’s handling of the pandemic which has shown a difference with Downing Street (though I think Nicola has probably communicated better than Boris which has been a big factor in winning public trust).  A lot of this, I think, goes back to Brexit and even beyond – people had a glimpse in 2014 of what independence might be like.  I understand folk were a bit cautious and voted No but I think the glimpse they’ve had into Brexit Britain since 2014 has probably led to many people changing their mind.

And when the facts change, people should have the right to change their mind! 

In my view, Scottish independence is now when – not if.

 

A Quick Chat With Dental Practice Owner - Frederico Do Rego

With the NHS stretched to capacity at the height of the pandemic, most non-essential care was postponed to allow medics to focus on the growing number of cases in hospitals.   Out with the hospital corridors other parts of the NHS service was also suspended.   Dentists up and down the country closed their doors, focusing purely on emergency treatments and tooth extractions.   As restrictions started to be lifted some dental services became available, but frustratingly for most it came at a cost with the added waiting times under new guidelines.

I spoke with principal Dentist and owner Mr Frederico Do Rego at Oaktree Dental Centre in Kilsyth to get an idea what the Covid restrictions have meant for his business, staff and community he serves.   I’ve known Rico most of my life and feel fortunate to be able to call him my brother-in-law and friend.   I know how passionate he is about dentistry and see how his manor and approach make even the most nervous patients feel very much at ease in the dentist chair.   I also see the positive outlook he has with life and work in general which rubs off on people he is in contact with.

Hope you enjoy the next in my quick chats series.

Q. How has dental treatment changed since the complete lockdown was introduced in March - do you feel it has gone backwards?

A. Dentistry has worked on the current fee scale through seeing as many patients as possible and long working days . With Covid restrictions the time factor has meant longer appointments and therefore less patients being seen . This has had an adverse effect on wages and also running a practice . However, some in the dental industry will see this as a positive, with many dentists unlikely to return to those long days.   Perhaps,  a new normal will result  for the better I believe for dentists; unfortunately this will also mean greatly increased costs to patients.

Q. How have you been keeping yourself busy?

A. We have never really stopped as we still deal with emergencies . From a hundred patients a day at our surgery down to ten means a huge waiting list 

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

A. Trying to keep my costs down and hold on to my staff . We have a recoverable debt but time will tell but I am in the fortunate position of selling to a corporate who are more capable of coping.   It may result in many dental surgeries closing or going private.

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

A. Certain members of the team have stepped up and beyond their duties to cover those that were unable to come in.  This has been really encouraging for me and the wider team.

Q. If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?

A. I really haven’t found the answer to that . Staff and myself now have issues with mental health and we are no where near a recovery route . Personally my life plan was the make sure my family were secure . Coming from a background of hardship and uncertainty I wanted to make sure the future generations have an easier more predictable future.

Q. What have you learned about yourself?

I am not as strong mentally as I imagined and I definitely less tolerant as a result.  I don’t like this 

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?

No but I use the extra time on procedures to raise my standards 

Q. What have you missed most?

A. People faces family 

Q. What will be the biggest challenge facing Dentistry when we start to move out of lockdown?

A. Dealing with the backlog and also telling patients costs have now rocketed and waiting times are months for routine  work .   Most dentists are an integral part of the communities they serve, but with extra costs and waiting times for patients we may not be seen as an accommodating friend anymore.

My reception staff have been brought to tears on a daily basis when explaining to patients that waiting times & costs have increased significantly.  It is difficult for staff to deal with, especially with patients in pain and feeling the financial strain.

A quick chat with the Glasgow Illustrator - Adrian McCmurchie

The Glasgow landscape is steeped in history and design.    From the grand structures of Kelvingrove and the University in the west end to the Greek Thompson and Charles Rennie Mackintosh constructions of the city centre, the city has inspired generations of architects and designers to compliment our dear green place with incredible examples of creativity.

The Glasgow Illustrator Adrian McMurchie pays homage to our distinguished past and confident modern outlook in his creative city scenes, maps and watercolours.   The contrast of vibrant colours and architectural lines allow you to still feel the beating heart of the city in his innovative designs.   Adrian has been a strong supporter of a number of charities in the city, perhaps most notably with his design for the Glasgow Oor Wullie trail which sat in the banks of the river Clyde beside the Tall Ship and Riverside Museum.  

Adrian and I spoke about the very different challenges he has faced during 2020 and what has kept him going.   Hope you enjoy.

Q. What advice would you like to go back & give yourself at the start of lockdown?

A. Although it's been tough, I'd like to think we've done our best as a family since lockdown started in Scotland.

Q.  How have you been keeping yourself busy?

A. As lockdown began I started an exhibition piece for The Riverside Museum. Normally this would have taken a month or so but due to the nature of everything generally going at a slower pace we could take our time with it and subsequently I produced a series of roughs evolving every time. Without the tie given we wouldn't have produced as good a finished artwork as we did. The job was to illustrate a map of Glasgow record shops from the 1980's to roughly 1995. It was due to go on display in June but we'll be holding off until any form of lockdown is gone along with the virus so as many people as possible can visit.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

A. I'm used to working from home on my own with my daughter being at school and my wife working away for half of the month so initially it was a bit of a challenge having more people at home and with that, more distractions.

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

Q.  Maybe, rediscovering my love for cycling. I used to go out daily in my 20s and 30s but this dropped off over the last decade. I'm back on it 6 days a week. Great for body and mind and I'm finding different routes all the time I never knew existed.

Q. How did you find home schooling?

A. Home schooling wasn't too strenuous, especiallywith the support of the teachers at school. Our daughter was in P6 and now P7. They were fortunate enough to have ipads from the school so the teachers could send work remotely and have a group facetime meeting once a week. 

Q.  What have you learned about yourself?

To slow down. Previous to the virus I'd be up at 6am working for a couple of hours before taking Grace to school then back to work. Now, I go out on my bike either first thing or after the school run and get to the drawing board a little later. I feel far more relaxed and chilled out due to this change of routine. Also, to not put off for another day what you can and want to do.

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?

No new skills as such. As before, loving the cycling and enjoying long walks with the family.

Q. What have you missed most?

What a lot of people have missed no doubt. The ease of movement. Wandering into shops/cafes etc and having a random pint when the notion takes me.

Q. What will be the biggest challenge artists & designers will face when we start to move out of lockdown?

A. Throughout the years any form of art has been seen as a luxury despite significant periods in history being remembered and punctuated by great art, theatre, film etc. The concern is Governments will let the arts flounder unlike other so called vital sectors of business. What is worth noting and remembering is that artists of all variety are always creating through recessions, pandemics or any other worldwide affected scenario whilst others may grind to a halt such as construction, finance etc.

A quick chat with Murray Easton - Fundraising Manager and Blogger

When the nation stood at their front doors and back gardens every Thursday night to show appreciation for the NHS staff &  front line key workers there was a strong feeling of solidarity amongst neighbours and the community.    When time was called on the weekly event fundraising manager Murray Easton still looked for ways to build on the community spirit that had been critical during the early weeks of lockdown.   As he put it -  “I wanted to keep spirits up, so I booked a mobile coffee van (the Flat White) to park in our driveway a few times. So it was great to socialise safely outside and adhere to social distancing with friends and family”

I’ve known Murray for a few years now and his passion in making the best of situations has always amazed me.    From working with him on fundraising activities at the British Heart Foundation and Pancreatic Cancer Scotland to grabbing a beer or coffee when time allowed we’ve built up a good friendship.   Earlier this year when I was dealing with mental health problems , Murray was a constant source of help and input for me and for that I am very grateful.

With thousands of gigs and blogs under his belt Murray has a wonderful insight into the live music scene and recently guested on Desert Island Disco with Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6.    It was nice to catch up with him and chat about working though 2020.

Q. How have you been keeping yourself busy?

A. I have 2 young daughters who keep me busy! In addition I've been playing tennis after semi-retirement from 7-a-sides and I am loving it. Getting lost in game for a couple of hours is a great form of escapism, as well as exercise!

I have also continued to write my blog, although it now has more of a focus on older music that I have loved for a long time, but the odd new band / release features.

Q. Has social media been good or bad for you since March?

A. It's largely been good, but I have blocked/unfollowed some people.

But by-in-large I follow or I am friends with like minded people. So there is plenty of chat about music and football, plus the odd bit on politics and news.   In addition I've had zoom calls with friends I have made through the band Teenage Fanclub which have been great fun. It's been good to get a perspective on things from various places across the world before going on to get drunk and talk about the band!

Q. What has been your biggest challenge ?

A. Hmmm home schooling, no date night, no gigs, working from home, staying positive ....I am definitely a glass half full person, but this is testing!

The biggest has probably not been seeing my Mum as often. She used to pick up the kids from school a couple of times a week, so that has been off since March and I know what a big thing it was for my Mum and the kids. They all got so much out of it. Then my Mum had a mild stroke in the summer and can no longer drive, so she can't just nip to the shops or nip over to see us in the garden. Not being able to visit her in hospital was challenging.

Thankfully she is on the mend and might even resume driving, although she'll stay local.

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

A. Definitely in family and friends. I remember the first time our friends and neighbours Clare & Robbie came and sat on our garden wall and we chatted for 20-minutes after not seeing them for a while, this was maybe after the hard lockdown. I felt elated afterwards, just to have some social interaction.

The kids definitely keep us going. They make us smile and laugh and if we can do the same in return then it keeps our spirits up. 

 

Q. How did you cope with home schooling?

A. Initially it was a buzz for us all. We would try and do a couple of hours a day and also make sure there was time for exercise. It got tougher!

One of our friends and neighbours quit his job last year to do a year of teacher training. After the hard lockdown ended he came round to our summer house to do 2-hours a week with the kids and the difference between our teaching and his was amazing!

We did OK but I think everyone has newly added respect for teachers.

Q. What have you learned about yourself?

A. Good question! I guess through the coffee van and the Fanclub zooms, I'm good at bringing people together!

I love a good chat with people from all walks of life!

I'm pretty resilient, but that's being tested!

And I guess I've learned (or clarified) that it is simple things in life that keep me happy; family, friends, socialising .. health.

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?

A. I did download Football Manager for the first time in a long time! It's been another good escapism, just to switch off and listen to music while taking Motherwell to within touching distance of the league!

Q. What have you missed most?

A. Gigs and all the socialising that goes with them. They tend to be (or they were) my main excuse/reason these days for getting friends together or getting a night out with my wife. And I miss Glasgow and really worry what the city will look and feel like this time next year.

A few beers pre-show in a pub like McChuills and then on to the Barrowland and maybe a cheeky couple afterwards with good company. What I'd give for a night like that. I can't wait to experience loud music with loads of people and the opportunity to sing and dance and I get anxious when I think of how long it might be before we do that again.

Q. What are your hopes for the charity sector when we begin to move out of lockdown?

A. That we survive! The sector has lost an estimated £10 billion since March. That is £10 billion taken away from research, care, support, campaigning and awareness plus all the other amazing things charities do.

But we have to learn from this. We were too reliant on events and people getting sponsorship. We need to really focus on why charities are needed and the difference that they make. We need to be more transparent about what we want to do and the cost involved in doing it. 

People haven't lost their passion or determination to support a cause or make a difference. We, as charities, need to get them involved in a different way and sometimes that will be a direct ask for money in support of a project.

My own charity, Pancreatic Cancer Scotland, merged with Pancreatic Cancer Action (we're now Pancreatic Cancer Action Scotland) at the start of lockdown. So our hopes and dreams took a little turn as everything changed overnight! We're ready to come out fighting and the merger has made us stronger.

I just hope that charities continue to make a difference. We are a resilient, passionate and creative bunch of people. We're being sorely tested and many people have been made redundant. I hope that the sector begins to flourish again and ultimately the research, care, support, campaigning and awareness that charities help with gets back to the levels they were pre COVID.

A Quick Chat with Caroline Wright - Jinty McGintys Manager

For over 20 years my brother George was a resident performer in Jinty McGintys bar on Ashton lane. I have so many fabulous memories of the venue, spent many Sunday afternoons, Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights enjoying the live music and talking with the staff and regulars. It was very much part of my life moving from a teenager, to getting married to my wife Linda & becoming a dad.  Catching up with the friends we made there is still a thrill, even though the time between visits seems to be getting longer.   

The unimaginable changes brought on this year has impacted the hospitality industry to a critical level.    I caught up with my good friend Caroline Wright, manager at Jinty McGintys to talk about what the future might hold for bars in the city and what’s kept her going during this year.

Q. Jintys never reopened as restrictions started to lift over the summer, what was the thinking behind that?

A. Jintys is leasing out restaurant upstairs and serving lunches only between 12-3.

Unfortunately the shape and dimensions of the bar would have allowed very few people in and with only 4 booths holding 4-5 people seated with no one allowed to stand anywhere.   In and around shelving areas would have again limited the amount of people with social distancing being a failure for us.    Logistics of the bar and toilets even with the beer garden, we decided it was too costly to staff toilets on such a narrow staircase one in one out. 

More importantly with no Live music, which is a major part of the business we would not have survived. 

Q. How have you been keeping yourself busy?

A. Cooking walking painting even inside of cupboards. Few jobs always planned to do, i.e. boxes of old photographs organised into families ages individuals, but just got round to them all yet

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

A. Learning to relax, I found this really difficult in early lockdown. 

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

A. I found strength in knowing there is survival, looking at how others navigated pandemics before this.   Also, thinking of parents and relatives making it through the 2nd world war people going through loss illness any disaster.   Made me feel how fortunate and blessed we are with food on our table clothes on our back and being loved by family and friends. 

Living in a digital age means family and friends are so much more accessible  

Q, If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?

A.  Arranging some kind of rota system for spending time with friends, having structure.

Q. What have you learned about yourself?

A. I’ve learned how to slow down and realised the pace I lived was too fast and did not appreciate life. Also learned to relax without stressing. As simple as some things can be, everything doesn’t need to be finished today, it’s alright for some things to be finished tomorrow.   A bit of me time is alright.

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?

A. Truthfully No new skills, I’ve been too busy slowing down enjoying relaxation with my new boyfriend Netflix.  We only met when lockdown started. 

Q. What have you missed most?

8. I've missed my family and still do, with my son, daughter in law & grandchild in New York, they seem so much further away.   My daughter lives 30 mins away but her job too risky to come see me. 

With grandchildren in Dundee and Aberdeen, siblings living in Edinburgh I’ve not really been able to see them, social media and technology has been great for staying in touch.

Q. What will be the biggest challenge facing the hospitality and bar industry as we attempt to move out of lockdown?

A. Really difficult question and not sure which way this will go, staying afloat, has to be a starting place.  Opening your doors is about making some profit, otherwise there is no point in opening in first place. 

Some bars and restaurants will not being able to survive as costs rise prices will for customers too.

Peoples habits will change perhaps going out will become more of a treat

Going to bars and being allowed to stand interacting with people, have a few libations enjoy the company.......its all about the socialising.    If you have to pay extra for pint who in there right mind would even consider this.   It seems to be driven towards healthier lifestyle staying fit seems to be the way forward. 

Quick Q & A With Bobby Bluebell

Social media has frequently been a shining light  during this long period of restrictions and lockdown.   Finding that glimmer of positivity from Twitter users and Facebook friends has certainly help to lift my mood at times.

I've been a longtime follower of Bobby Bluebell on Twitter & enjoy the interaction he has with so many people about sport, music and politics.   The optimism, energy & enthusiasm Bobby shares is infectious, so I wanted to find out how he has kept that going through 2020 & was delighted when agreed to a quick catch up.

Q. Are you working on any new material?

A. Always... new bluebells album .. new fat cops album.. possibly new best picture record and writing with other artists.

Q. How have you been keeping yourself busy?

A. Focussing on new tracks for these albums has been a big help.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

The same as nearly everyone in the music business learning to cope with an uncertain future.

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

Family and friends.. being inspired by so many great people on twitter...golf for getting me out of the house ..Glasgow’s a big help .. its a beautiful place in every way.

Q. If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?

I think I realised early we were in this for a long time ..nothing has surprised me

Q. What have you learned about yourself?

A. I'm stoic and less lazy than I imagined...

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?

A. Mostly on Logic Pro X .. i like taking pictures ...and got a little better at golf

Q.. What have you missed most?

A. Everything involving people.. contact  

Q. What will be the biggest challenge facing the live music scene when we start to move out of lockdown?

A. Nothing it will explode if its safe .. the biggest challenge facing music is the tory government.. and the ridiculously low steaming payment rates 

Quick Q&A With Jack Stoddart - Medical Researcher

The science behind medical research has been thrust into the spotlight throughout this year.    While a unified response to the covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the collaboration of governments, scientists and researchers around the world, many labs have continued to work on critical research that delivers hope to so many people suffering from life changing conditions.

While my nephew Jack was studying in Australia a few years ago, our family would receive regular updates on the progress being made as part of his medical research team in Sydney.    Now back in Scotland Jack is at the forefront of the advances being made in Genetics and Molecular Medicine at Edinburgh university.    I caught up with him to see how the researchers have had to adapt during the prolonged restrictions and what has kept him motivated during this time.

Q. How has the pandemic affected medical research & how it will be funded in future - has any focus shifted from your research to Covid?

A. For us, we need to be in the lab.  Being a scientist is about as 'hands-on' as you can get so the lockdown was really tough.  The university and independent funding bodies allow us to do our research and they have supported us during this period and going forward.  It was heartening to see such a fantastic response from scientists at the institute and across the university who put their names forward to help out with Covid testing.  A number of labs were repurposed to increase the testing capacity in Scotland, which is a testament to the versatility of the labs and the drive of the scientific community to make a difference and do our part.

Q. How have you been keeping busy away from the lab?

A. We maintained the structure of the 'working week' with regular group and individual meetings, as well as seminars (all virtually, of course).  There was plenty of data to analyse and we wrote a review, which has just recently been accepted for publication!  So we kept busy, for sure.  Away from the lab, I managed to keep fit with regular exercise and intermittent periods of healthy eating!  Trying to keep as active as possible was really important.

Q. What has been your biggest challenge?

A. Not being able to be in the same room as my family, celebrate birthdays or look forward to seeing them on a weekend has been really hard. 

Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?

A. Myself and my partner, Alicia have gotten each other through the lockdown and subsequent restrictions.  We've been a solid unit, which has given me all the strength I need.

Q. If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?

A. Don't watch the news so often.

Q. What have you learned about yourself?

A. I think the same as many people, that we can go through something like this and keep on moving.  Resilience, I'd say. 

Q. Did you pick up any new skills?

A. I tried to pick up the guitar and re-teach myself.  It didn't last long.  I think my conversational skills have dwindled but I hope that'll sort itself out.

Q. What have you missed most?

A. I've missed the football.  It might not sound like the most important thing but, for me, it's everything that comes with it.   Catching up with friends and family at the stadium and pulling the match apart over a couple of beers afterwards.

Q. What will be the biggest challenge facing medical research when we start to move out of lockdown?

A. Other than finding a 'cure' for the virus?  I would say holding onto good scientists through tough times.  It is and will be a struggle across the board, in all industries and disciplines but the biggest challenge has to be keeping people employed. People's livelihoods are the most important thing.

9 Questions with Chris McQueer

I was first introduced to the works of Chris McQueer a couple of years ago when he served up a number of his short stories in the poetry club at SWG3 in Glasgow.   Since that night the Glasgow writer has gone from strength to strength with the success of his books Hings and HWFG, including a collection of these tales commissioned as short stories for BBC with Chris appearing as narrator.     Presenting the BBC documentary Noteworthy we were given an insight in Chris’s influences as he explored the changing face of bank notes and those famous mug shots who appear on them.

I caught up with Chris to talk about life during lockdown and how he has navigated through these uncertain times.

Are you working on new material?

Aye I’ve been working away on my new novel but it’s been slow going. Think I’ve been at it for two and a half years now. I thought when the lockdown was announced I’d have it finished in a few weeks with nothing else to do really but that hasn’t been the case. I’ve also been writing a weekly column for the Glasgow Times and I’ve got a couple of new short stories on the go.

How have you been keeping yourself busy?

I’ve been trying to keep busy by writing but I feel like my attention span has been shot to bits and I’m struggling to concentrate on things. I think it’s just down to reading and watching the news all the time, constantly feeding bad news into my brain to the point where it’s all I can think about. I’ve been reading a lot which provides a nice wee escape from it all, spending time with my girlfriend and trying to do as many of the things we used to do before lockdown to try and keep things feeling as normal as we can and getting out and about with the dug has been magic.

What has been your biggest challenge?

I think it’s been trying to keep myself motivated to write. Early on in lockdown, all the days sort of felt the same, the tight deadlines I’d been working to kept getting pushed back and I found I’d lost my routine and had basically no structure to my days. Trying to get out of that rut early on was a bit of a nightmare, especially when you’re feeling lonely and not able to go and see your family or your pals to cheer yourself up.

Where have you found strength at difficult times?

Me and my girlfriend both looked to each other for support through all this and sort of pulled each other through it. We both had spells where we were quite down and frustrated, a bit of cabin fever I think, but we both know how to cheer each other up and now we’re both doing a lot better.

If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?

I’d say to myself, ‘Get the heid doon, try and ignore everything else and finish this novel. Nae excuses. Get it done.’

What have you learned about yourself?

I think I’ve learned that I’m never really bored. There’s always something to do, somewhere to go, something to write or something to watch or read.

Did you pick up any new skills?

I got really into crosswords at the start of lockdown. Then I got really into the cryptic crosswords. I found that a really  good thing to learn, looking for the hidden meanings in the clues and all that. I taught the dug a few new tricks as well. Sadly he’s too wee to be able to go and get me a can from the fridge though.

What have you missed most?

Definitely my family. I really miss being able to cut in and see my granny and granda when I’m out and about for a cup of tea and a piece and a blether. I miss going to the pub with my mates as well, don’t think I’ll ever turn down a night out ever again.

What are your hopes for the arts when we start to move out of lockdown?

Hopefully everything will be back to the way it was before lockdown, and hopefully it’ll be even better with more people wanting to get back to going to gigs and all that. I’ve saw some discussions about the lack of funding and support people working in the arts have received and it does feel we’ve kind of been hung to dry by the government but I think a lot of people have a new found appreciation for the things we do and I think the arts will become a booming industry once again when all this is over and done.

 

Celtic 2 Lazio 1. Memories of football under the floodlights

A year ago I endured & enjoyed a pulsating night of football in a stadium filled with passion and everything that makes football a magical spectacle across the world.   Celtic 2 Lazio 1 at Celtic Park.

That magical feeling of a big European win under the lights returned with interest in a pulsating 90+ minutes of action at Celtic Park.  

There was just an extra edge to this match long before a ball was kicked. They say football and politics should not mix, but the vast differences in cultural and social beliefs of both sets of fans ensured the atmosphere stayed electric all night while the gladiators fought for three points on the field.

Celtic could not capitalise on a strong first-half performance, often failing at the final phase of attack. In typical Euro style we fell behind to a sucker-punch counter-attack goal and fine finish from Lazzari. 1-0 down at half-time, the question was could we rise again?

The match swung from end to end as Celtic looked to get back on level terms and Lazio tried to net a second. Fraser Forster saved at close range and the post came to our rescue in a breathless second-half.

When the equaliser came it was fitting – two of our stand-out performers of the season combined as Edouard slipped the ball to Christie to fire over the keeper into the net.

With time running out and the prospect of a draw growing, the star man of the night delivered the wining goal to set the stadium rocking in wild celebration. Christie swung in a corner which was met perfectly by the head of the formidable figure of Christopher Jullien.

The drama continued for five more minutes in injury time, but by that point, I’m not going to lie, I was watching reactions on people’s faces instead of the action on the pitch. That to me is the beauty of football – you love the team but sometimes you just can’t watch.

In that moment when I was watching my feet, I heard that millisecond of silence as 60,000 people took a sharp intake of breath and then let out a cheer followed up by cries of “WHAT A SAVE”. The great wall had returned to ensure our night of celebration was not left in ruin.

An incredible night at Celtic Park capped off with a fantastic win.

Spanish Civil War Tour - Barcelona

As a proud Glaswegian I have always had a keen interest in the historic links to the cities Red Clydesiders and the social change that they tried so hard to achieve.  From the events of Black Friday 1919 in George Square to the Poll Tax and Gulf War demonstrations, Glasgow has never hidden from its right to protest or challenge oppression here in the UK or abroad.   There are a number of reminders around our great city that keep those passions burning brightly, including the Visions of the City display at the Peoples Palace, the controversially renamed  Nelson Mandela place and the monuments to the volunteers of the International Brigades who left the city to fight for democracy in the Spanish Civil War.

 

Those stories of the International Brigaders who travelled to Barcelona to help the fledgling rainbow government of Spain in their time of need has always resonated with me.   In 2014 I made the journey to Madrid for the annual commemoration of the battle of Jarama, touring the battle sites of the protracted war for control the Spanish capital.   I had to wait another 3 years before making my pilgrimage to the Catalan capital to walk amongst the echoes of the struggle that scar the cities architecture.

 

I joined a Spanish Civil War tour of the city during a summer break to Barcelona.   The tour is led by writer and military historian Nick Lloyd.   Starting from the Placa Catalunya a multicultural group hailing from America, Germany, Sweden & Scotland congregated for an early morning reminder of the origins of the struggle for Spain.  Amongst the traffic noise and hum of a confident modern megacity I began to recognise the iconic landmarks of the many pictures captured during the battle, perhaps most famously the image of Marina Ginesta standing with rifle strapped to her back overlooking the fragile city.

 

The tour takes you on a wander around the old streets and lanes which straddle the magnificent La Rambla.  Moving from the busy thoroughfare to the beautiful hidden cobbled lanes the wounds from the close quarter clashes can be seen on buildings and churches.   We are reminded of the propaganda so heavily used during the conflict & the power that these images and stories still hold today.

 

Exploring the area surrounding La Rambla taking in many of the sites critical to the Civil War in Barcelona, Nick provides a deep insight into the complicated and deadly make up of the different factions of the Republican movement, which although at war with the nationalist fascist forces, could still find time to inflict greater damage on their allies in the struggle.

 

The excursion comes to an end at Bar La Llibertària, which displays posters & pictures of the war.   There is plenty of time to chat over a beer or a coffee and to gain a better understanding of the power of the female influence on the conflict as well as the ultimate fall of the new government in Spain.

 

It is easy to visit Barcelona and enjoy the shopping, architecture, cafes and of course the Camp Nou, but the Civil War tour offers a different view on a wonderful city and a clear understanding of the continued desire for an alternative future for Catalonia.

The Tea Street Band - Frequency Album Review

The Tea Street Band released their 2nd studio album earlier this month.    Frequency follows up on the bands self titled release from 2014.     The 4 year gap between albums definitely hasn't made the band lose any of their edge, but just maybe they have gained a little extra swagger with this dazzling  electronic soundtrack.     The 4 friends from Merseyside have delivered an 11 track kaleidoscopic musical feast layering synth based hooks, dance beats & indie guitar riffs, all rounded off with a Mantra like calling on vocals.

The band made up of Timo Tierney on Vocals & Guitar, Nick Otaegui on Bass & Vocals, Lee Smith  on guitar & synth & Dom Allen on Drums spent almost a year in the studio.   This time has allowed them to play with new sounds & effects that are on full display throughout the album.   The output of their efforts is a sound fusion that leads you on a dream like sequence from one track to the next.

Put the album on & close your eyes & you could either be in the middle of a strobe lighting filled  club session, kicking back in the chill out room, rocking centre stage or on the neon light lined car journey home from a night of delirium.

The album is laced with some fabulous tracks that could have easily been used as singles & that is what is so appealing about this release.   Where we might find some albums maybe dip after track 6 or 7, Frequency delivers from start to finish.

From the opening track Givin it Back you are slowly reeled in with a haunting synthesizer & electric guitar arrangement which develops in to a dance beat & melody, from there the album doesn't let go.

Frequency has already delivered three singles with Feel it, Marseille Blues & Only Love.  These tracks are testimony to the time spent in the studio perfecting the full range of what this new album offers.   It also gives an insight to the collaboration between the band members & the progression from their debut album.

If the first single released Feel it were to appear on a Ministry of Sound chill out playlist it wouldn't be out of place & you would then spend time working out which DJ produced it.      Marseille Blues leads with an electronica sound that quickly transforms into a euphoric indie/ dance track.     The most recent single Only Love has the feel of a club mix with more then a hint of Indie riffs & vocals.  

The seamless blend of these tracks is an indication of the new confidence that the band have found.   When you add in tracks like Hearts Collide, Taken it All, Coming Up & BFYH the album genuinely hits all the right notes.

As part of this release the 4 lads from Liverpool will be back on the road performing live & doing what they love best.    A 14 night tour of the UK through November & December will see them travel the length & breadth of the land putting on a show & spreading their new Mersey beat away from their heartlands of Liverpool & Manchester.      Based on what I’ve heard from the album these shows are not to be missed.

The Zutons on the Road Again

After a break of almost 9 years it’s time to get that Zuton Fever back in your head, those Indie Blues revival Rockers from Liverpool will be back on the road after a 10 year absence.    The tour will coincide with the 15th anniversary of the release of their debut album “Who killed......The Zutons”.

With 8 nights already confirmed the renaissance kicks off  in Birmingham on 26th March & culminates in the their hometown of Liverpool on Friday 5th April.  The Zutons will be hoping to put the spring back into the step of fans who have been longing for another iconic live performance since the band quietly went their separate ways in 2009.

Following up from a number of impressive live performances throughout the festival season of 2004, The Zutons found themselves in the running for the coveted Mercury Prize, this is where I first found them.   An advert for the album came on the T.V & gave a short sound bite from a couple of the album tracks.   With more than a passing reference to the Jimi Hendrix classic Cross Town Traffic, the intro to You Will You Won't electrified my eardrums & that was enough for me to drift into HMV the very next day to add their CD  to my collection, I don’t think I listened to another album for about 3 months, it was intoxicating.     

The tracks were incredible.   The album was a boisterous blend of raw vitality.   From the infectious beats, harmonies & melodies served up by Boyan Chowdhury on guitar, Sean Payne on Drums and Russell Pritchard on bass, to the vulnerable voice of Dave McCabe, entwined with golden tone of Abi Harding on saxophone together they delivered a confident blend of indie rock with a healthy helping of soulful blues......Did I already say it was intoxicating?   

Although the Scouse 5 piece would fall short in the Mercury Music prize giving, their stock had already risen significantly through the U.K & they were soon headlining their own shows to bigger crowds.      I was fortunate enough to catch them at the Glasgow Barrowlands some months later where that raw sound from the album was reproduced to amazing effect.

Maybe I look back on this album with a large slice of nostalgia in mind, my daughter would sing away to this CD word for word in her car seat when I was out driving.    It was also just around that time when we (certainly I) started to change how we listened to music, moving from physical CDs to digital.    The progression to digital was great & helped reduce the amount of space taken up in the house for albums, CDs & stereos, but it also took away the enjoyment of an album cover.      Oh yeah, the album cover......A fold out comic strip style story of the mystery behind Who Killed The Zutons with shadowy figures & falling rocks & those four words you miss so much with digital music “See inlay for details”.

Nostalgia or not, Who Killed The Zutons is still an astounding album you can listen to again & again.     Now I just need to work out how I can secure tickets for their performance in our very own Dirty Dance Hall at the Barrowlands in 2019, where the band will play the album in its entirety.

The Tea Street Band Live Glasgow 2018

The Tea Street band are wrapping up their early winter road trip promoting the recent LP release Frequency.   The tour may have been in the closing stages by the time the band rolled into Glasgow, but the 4 lads from Merseyside certainly weren't winding down as they lit up the stage at King Tuts on a crisp December night.

Perched at the top of Glasgow's financial services district sits “The best UK live venue" according to the sign outside anyway.      Over the years King Tuts has played host to some of the best loved bands in world music.  This is where the universe started to change for Oasis back in the mid 1990s, but it’s not all about breakthrough artists though, some well established acts still come back & play at the Wah Wah Hut  just to be part of the legendary venue.

The quiet Sunday night streets are in contrast to the live music on offer behind the double doors of the Hut, being serenaded to the bar with 6 string melodies & the voices of the King Tuts Sunday night open mic sessions was a welcome treat before the doors to the main gig were opened for business.

With 2 support acts on we moved up stairs early to hear what was on offer.    First up were 4 piece band Nineteen Canteen playing a good selection of melodic rock tracks, they were followed by the energetic 5 piece skate rockers Forrest Can't Run.    Two variations in style before the main act took the stage.

A wee refresh of the stage & the unveiling of the magical box of tricks at guitarist Lee Smith’s disposal is the cue for the designer clad Pretty Green, Adidas wearing followers to make their way to the front of the stage.    With 2 albums in the bank, the band have enough to keep the tunes going into the night, but unfortunately I’ve already spotted the curfew is just over an hour away.

Opening the set with Summer Dreaming from their first album before propelling into 3 tracks from the new album Givin'it back, Sacre Coeur & single Marseille Blues is enough to get the revellers in full swing & acclaim from Nick that Glasgow might be the best dancers of the tour.

An unscheduled break to rewire Lee's box of tricks holds up the gig momentarily, but it’s not long before Timo gets the set moving again with the haunting melody laden Taken it All before blasting out  the Disco lights.   The synth mixing & classic dance beats from Dom are leading the night into a full club session.    Two more singles from the album Only Love & Feel It raise the temperature before Fiesta has revellers moving to the front of the stage to dance in the strobe infused musical euphoria.

The set finishes up with more arms in air to the Donna Summer Classic I feel Love, but with an extra bit of gold dust thrown in from the MCs on stage.

A quick chat with Timo & a set list to take home as a trophy from a mesmerising nights entertainment from a group you've just got to see live.

The Story of the Blues with Pete Wylie - Live 2019

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Wah! & launching his brand new album Pete Sounds, Pete Wylie put on a show for his fans at Glasgow's  King Tuts.     Armed with more than 4 decades of stories, songs & struggles, Pete pulled together a cabaret of over 2 hours entertainment for his fans nestled in the famous wee venue.

Choosing to tour without the backing of a full band, Pete was joined on stage by Anders Johnson who helped Pete mix his new album & provided the extra backing tracks on the night.    The stage was set up with a video of the Clash & Bowie in their prime playing on a loop &  cut-outs of famous faces of Liverpool, Shankleys famous outstretched arms in celebration, Elvis & Liberace!

Decked in a Tupac / Makaveli shirt the set kicks off with his very first single Better Scream, Pete set the tone for a nostalgic look back not only at his hits of the 80s, but those people & friends he has lost over the years.   Every story had a song, as he talked us through each of the tracks in his set.    For each older song played, there was a peek at the new ones appearing on the Pete Sounds album too.

As a campaigner for justice politics was never far from his agenda.   Brexit, Trump,  May & the Justice for the 96 campaign so he knew the people of Glasgow would be more than happy to hear & join him in his anthem “The day that Margaret Thatcher dies".     The  first half of his set finished with Sinful, where everybody was in the mood for a singalong.   An expected Q&A between sets had to be cancelled due to technical issues with a talking Elvis doll (yeah you read that right)

Pete kept the songs coming as he strolled back on stage for the 2nd part of the night in a sparkling gold suit, retelling the story of how he met Eric Cantona & trying to plan a night out in Liverpool with him.   The sight of a mechanical Elvis head on stage wasn’t out of place amongst the legendary tales from Pete's encounters with the good, bad & crazy aspects of his life.

New single People was sandwiched by the classics Come Back & Seven minutes to Midnight before Heart as Big as Liverpool, Pete's tribute to the people of his hometown & their fight for justice for the 96 people who lost their lives at Hillsborough.

There was still time for The Story of the Blues to send everyone home happy, & although I was too young to enjoy the songs from Wah! all those years ago, it was great to hear them live, even if the night was a little surreal at times!

The McCann Takeover - 25 years on

Six years on from our memorable Centenary celebrations Celtic found themselves in a footballing wilderness.  The families that had been associated  with Celtic since their inception still continued to control the destiny of the club.   The difficulty our custodians faced was a modern version of the game we love was in full bloom.    European club football had been revamped which had introduced the riches of Champions League football & Celtic weren't invited, worse than that we also had watch on as our city rivals spent big money on big names on their way to five league titles in a row.

March 1994 saw the culmination of a long grass roots battle to wrestle ownership of the club away from a family dynasty.  Celts for Change, Gerald Weisfeld, Stadiums in Cambuslang & a certain Canadian business man.   The story is well documented & there are some fascinating accounts out there in print format to enjoy.

“The war is over..........The rebels have won”.

Twenty five years on from those rousing words and the heated, passionate struggle for control of the boardroom at Celtic Park, fans of the club can look back with the confidence & knowledge that they took the necessary steps to breath life back into the then ageing footballing institution, but back then the club & fans would need more than rousing speeches to welcome Celtic into the new footballing world.     Investment in stadium infrastructure was a necessity after the tragic events at Hillsborough & the output of the Taylor report.    The squad & management structure also needed an overhaul, so any hope of a quick turnaround in fortunes on the pitch would need to be tempered against the stability & growth of the business.

“We have new people, a new plan, a new vision & the strength to go forward"


Success in terms of silverware in the immediate years after the takeover was scarce, performances on the pitch improved & fans returned in numbers not only to support the changes in & around the new stadium, but also on the stock exchange.    The hugely marketable brand name of Celtic was now being shared as a global trademark.

McCann stayed for his agreed 5 year stint at the club, just enough time to build a 60000 seated arena, the envy of many clubs all over Europe at the time.   He watched over an increase in turnover, profit, season ticket holders & perhaps most importantly to fans, witness our first league championship in 10 years.    Leaving the club to return  to Canada, he has delivered success to a starved fanbase & stability & structure to allow the club to continue to grow into the new millennium.

The traditional success of a Football Club is measured by fans with the results on the pitch; in the 25 years prior to the takeover at Celtic Park, Celtic had won 12 league titles, 11 Scottish Cups, 3 League Cups & appeared in a European final.

In the 25 years since the events in March 1994 our honours won are, 14 League titles, 9 Scottish Cups, 9 league cups & a European final.

A winning team has been delivered on the pitch thanks to a well oiled & disciplined business model first introduced under Fergus  McCann this allows us to maintain our place as the leading club in Scotland & in the wider reaches of the global football economy.

“....I can tell you that we have every intention of reaching the objectives that you want, which is Celtic at the very top"

I along with many other fans see Fergus McCann as the man responsible for the birth of the modern day Celtic Football Club & although the argument still exists that he left with huge profits on his original investment, he never hid that was part of his plan.    His plan allowed the bills to get paid, the lights to be kept on & ensured further generations of fans could enjoy being part of a club celebrating being 132 years young this year.

Scott Brown - The Art of Gamesmanship

Sporting greats throughout the years have made the most of this very unique talent.  It’s not taught on the training ground nor is it learned by running a drill over & over again.    Only by understanding your opponents strengths & weaknesses can this art form produce the desired effect, well that & the confidence in your own ability & the knowledge that you have the backing of your team around you are critical in using Gamesmanship to full advantage.

Not confined to football, gamesmanship plays a pivotal role in all of the biggest sporting events across the globe.   Muhammad Ali wore down opponents before they even met in the ring by getting in their heads.      Legendary cricketers Merv Hughes & Shane Warne amongst others used “sledging” to gain an advantage when on the field.   Footballers & coaches are no different in using this talent, some fail, but others like Scott Brown continue to produce a masterclass in working every advantage to deliver the results for his team.

The now legendary tale of Bertie Auld in the tunnel of the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon on the glorious night in 1967 starts our look back at winning or losing a match not on the pitch but in the minds of the protagonists.

With the Celtic & Inter Milan teams lined up in the tunnel there was a short pause before entering the arena, this could have caused nerves to grow in the Celtic team, but for Bertie Auld it was the perfect moment for him to galvanise that team spirit that had been so crucial in conquering all in front if them that season.   With both teams waiting the signal to make their entrance Bertie started to sing the Celtic Song & was soon joined by the rest of the team in the rendition.    In that moment the superstars of Inter would have witnessed the unbreakable spirit of a team united as one.    Without a ball being kicked Bertie had planted another seed in the heads of our opponents.

Jock Stein wasn’t only a master tactician, coach & manager he also had the knowhow in working his way into opponents thought processes.    In the days prior to his untimely death in 1985 Jock appeared on Grandstand along with the other home nation managers.   The discussion was on the crucial Scotland versus Wales match 3 days later.   Jock slowly & methodically smiled, nodded & spoke about how Wales had already lost some advantage by moving the match to Cardiff instead of playing it in Wrexham.    The Wales manager Mike England in his response is animated & agitated, before Jock gently reminds him it will be the players on the pitch that will settle the result.  Again in that moment the psychological seed was planted.

Even the richest league in the world is no stranger to getting one over an opponent without taking the field.    We watched Kevin Keegan buckle on T.V under the pressure of Alex Ferguson mind games, Jose Mourinho famously announced his own Chelsea team & that of opponents Barcelona in the days leading up to their Champions League match.    Mourinho was in control, took the pressure off his own team & placed it squarely on to Frank Riijkaard.

Back in Scotland many pretenders have presented their petitions to the public on how they will topple Celtic & Brown from their perch at the top of the Scottish game.    Joey Barton & Bruno Alves have come with big ambitions & words, but both have left empty handed.   All the while Scott Brown has cemented his role as tormentor in chief.   He continues to take the hits as the focal point of our opponents frustration & this let’s his fellow teammates weave their own piece of magic elsewhere in the match.

Brown does his talking on the pitch in more ways than one, what he dishes out he receives in equal & often more crude measures but he takes the hit gets up & continues with the plan.  He perfectly demonstrates the benefits of gaining a psychological edge.    The opposition fans & players might loathe him & his actions but everyone of them would have his artistry in a heartbeat so that they might dictate the physical & emotional pace of the game the way only Scott Brown can.

So here’s to gamesmanship - the art of winning games by using various ploys and tactics to gain a psychological advantage.

Stevie Chalmers - A tribute to a Celtic Hero

A little over 20 years after Celtic’s glorious night of triumph in Lisbon, I stood on the edge of a building site at the top of Kerrydale Street with my dad.     The building behind us had witnessed some iconic moments over the previous 58 years since it was originally complete & our custodians were modernising the old place  as part of the clubs wider centenary celebrations.    The rebuilding process outside the stadium was matched on the pitch as Billy McNeill constructed a team that would deliver league & cup double in the spring of 1988.

Our visit to Celtic park was not to inspect the plans of the rebuilding process, instead my dad had arranged for a special visit for me to meet the players & have a look round the stadium.     As we waited outside I could see my dad’s eyes light up as a well dressed gentleman approached us.

“Mr Donaldson” the gentleman said, my dad replied “Hello Stevie".

Stevie turned to me & said “you must be Martin, pleased to meet you.  I am Stevie Chalmers"

Walking through the corridors & rooms of the main stand we were led out the tunnel to views of the famous jungle on the opposite side of the pitch.   My dad snapped a few pictures of me sitting in the Celtic dugout & stopped for a quick chat pitch side with our host before heading back into the club trophy room & players lounge where we were joined by Neilly Mochan.

Neilly & Stevie told me all about the trophies on display, swapping stories about the Empire Exhibition Cup & the Coronation Cup.    There was also time to talk about the huge matches that both of them had played & scored in 10 years apart.    Neilly shared details of his goal in the 7-1 demolition of Rangers in the 1957 league cup final then Stevie spoke about the victory in Lisbon & his winning goal against Inter Milan that secured the European Cup for Celtic.

We moved into a room at the top of the tunnel, the floor had a huge Celtic Crest in the middle & all around the walls were the pennants of some of the clubs Celtic had played in European competition over the years.   One wall was dedicated to the Lisbon Lions campaign in 1967 in which Stevie played in all 9 matches, scoring 5 times.

Stevie will always be a hero of mine, not only because of the goal in Lisbon & his breathtaking scoring record for Celtic , but more for how he; a man who achieved so much took the time give me a personal insight in to his life as a Celtic player.   He may have scored the  most important goal in the history of Celtic Football Club, but he remained humble with his achievements & took great pride in representing Celtic in many different ways as player, employee & ambassador.

That was the Goal that was - The King of Kings.

The arrival of Henrik Larsson at Celtic Park came after a protracted  wrangle over his contract with his former club Feyenoord.    New manager Wim Jansen was building a team that he hoped could wrestle the title away from our old rivals on the other side of the city.   Larsson was worth the wait, maybe not noticeable in the first couple of matches, but over the next seven years we witnessed the talents of a truly world class striker at the peak of his footballing ability, making him the greatest modern day striker to have worn the hoops.

Henrik finished his spell at Celtic racking up 242 goals ranging from close range finishes to sublimely wonderful headers, free kicks & the occasional lob.    With every goal he carved his name deeper into the history of the club & into the hearts of the fans who had the thrill of watching him.  Everyone will have a favourite, but mine is a one off, 43 years in the making.


Venue - Estádio do Bessa
Date - 24th April 2003
Match - Boavista 0 Celtic 1

When Celtic arrived in the Iberian peninsula for the 2nd leg of their UEFA Cup Semi-Final they knew they needed to keep it tight in defence & score at least one goal.    After a nervous 90 minutes at Celtic Park in the late spring sunshine Celtic had some work to do following a 1 each draw.   A missed penalty from Larsson in the 1st leg making the trip that little more daunting.   However, this was a Celtic side who had already come through some difficult obstacles in visits to Spain, England  & Germany.


In what was a match full of tension & nerves the hosts seemed happy to hold on to their away goals advantage from the first leg.    Half chances & snatched shots were traded as neither team could find a positive commanding rhythm.    With time running out & desperation creeping into the prayers being offered by fans the special moment arrived as the ball was diverted into the path of our talismanic striker.    Larsson scooped the ball passed the despairing arms of goalkeeper Ricardo into the Boavista net.   


The goal wasn't a classic, it wasn't spectacular but in that instant a 43 year wait to reach a European final was coming to an end.    The ball crossing the line in what felt like a slow motion replay is etched in Celtic fans minds in every corner of the world.   The celebrations from the goal lasted for weeks as fans made their plans to travel to our first European final since 1970.   Larsson scored goals that helped us win league titles, cups & trebles, but the magnitude of that moment for me was the most euphoric.

Mull Historical Society - Celtic Connections 2019

Now in its 25th year, Celtic Connections has been warming up the opening weeks of January  with its wide ranging events & shows throughout Glasgow.   From traditional folk & ceilidh nights to music acts from around the world, the festival brings a lively start to the year for music lovers.     Thursday night it was the turn of Mull Historical Society to take the stage at the Centre for Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street.

Fronted by proud islander Colin MacIntyre, Mull Historical Society dipped into their back catalogue of albums as well as the new release “Wakelines" to deliver a fantastic nights entertainment for the cosily assembled fans in the CCA.    Colin was joined on stage by a strings section, Piano, drums & bass player.   Bernard Butler who produced the most recent album completed the line-up as guitarist of the 7 piece band.

I first heard the songs of MHS 15 years ago when Colin joined Eddie Reader, Justin Currie & Blazing Fiddles on stage at the Royal Concert Hall for an unforgettable performance.    Colin matched anything the more established Glasgow bards recited & shone brightest in my memory of that gig, but back to 2019 & 8 studio albums later Colin is back on stage with his very own MHS.

As an author, play write & songwriter Colin weaved his storytelling magic  throughout the night.   From 12 & 6 string acoustic to electric guitars he orchestrated his arrangements with the rest of the band on stage creating a perfect celebration of his works.    The new tracks blend in perfectly with those early hits & the sometimes fragile sounding voice still lifts your spirit.   Wakelines & Clementine provide the traditional MHS energy, while Little Bird & Somewhere in Scotland show the more sensitive vulnerability from the new album   Colin’s ability to integrate sounds to maximum effect are highlighted perfectly in Wetlands Urban Fox as the track is introduced by his late grandfather reading poetry, which continues throughout the track.

With the rest of the band taking a breather Colin reads from his book to introduce another track form the new album “14 Year Old Boy”, telling the story of the song & his early Christmas present of a Fender guitar from his father, which he then plays on stage.

All too quickly the night is heading into the final few songs of the set,  fans breathe in the poignant “Put your Arms around me” before the band finish the set with This is not who we are & Peculiar.     Then the lights come up, the doors open & its time to leave.    You can't help but notice the wide demographics of the audience young & old, all of whom positively buzzing after a fabulous night with our host.