June 2025

  • St Ronans, the nits of Troon and corporal punishment in the Scottish education system

    The psychopathic administration of the Lochgelly tawse… Mrs Kemmet came from Hell She had a foul and smoky smell Her voice rasped like an electric drill I heard mum say that she was ill But she was assuredly alive When she hit me at the age of five The sorest blow I ever felt A…

  • In the simmer dim: men of a certain age…

    Text and audio, with a midsummer playlist inspired by recent reading and viewing. From recent records by Wet Leg, Leaf Rapids and Miley Cyrus to more elderly fare by AC/DC, Zeppelin and Floyd Dixon, The first Spotify link is me reading the text below, and is six minutes long. The second lasts two hours and…

  • In the woods

    When childhood was all about risk You can listen to me reading the text below (the real me, no AI involved) by clicking on the play button above. It lasts about seven minutes. I once found a gun, propped against a tree in Fullerton Woods. It was an American air rifle designed not to fire…