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Well, at least Ol’ Lennie won’t have to worry too much about his retirement fund any more(Leonard Cohen, writer of Hallelujah, has infamously been forced to return to performing after losing almost all his lifetime earnings in a management scam). As battle rages between supporters of Ms Alexandra Cowell-Burke and those of the late Jeff…

From the Drinking for Scotland blog: Below is the press release from Bruichladdich, announcing the release of the 63.5 per cent alcohol Octomore (five years old, £79 a bottle). I have (what remains of) a bottle of Bruichladdich”s 3D3 Norrie Campbell Tribute bottling, which is nice enough but peculiar. It’s as if the phenols have…

How good is this?

The ferries to and from Shetland have been cancelled for another night…it’s force nine gusting A LOT higher. A friend’s son was on one of the flights that did make it in to Sumburgh – two attempts, people vomiting and screaming. What a relief not to have any more trips away before the new year.…

This is an old picture, but I don’t think I’ve ever blogged it before. Lulu in full flight, before the wind took the trampoline away…

…This is the track listing and sleevenotes for a wee best-of-2008 mix-tape/CD I’ve put together for family and friends. I know, I know: Some tracks are from 2007 or earlier, and there should be some Hello Saferide. But on the whole I think it’s pretty good stuff. Elbow and Ry Cooder really shine for me.…

The news that Robertson’s Jam is to disappear from our shelves means that an icon of my childhood will vanish forever. The Robertson’s Golly has, of course, already gone amid much controversy, but somehow Hartley’s, which Premier Foods will concentrate on when Robertson’s disappears, has always been an English jam to me. Something to do…

Working with the editor Jennie Renton today on the manuscript, which I think she’s improved manyfold…publication date is 4 June next year, but if you want a sneak preview, click here.

…read all about it here.

…Tour just announced. Tickets are on sale NOW for the SECC gig, but there’s some delay regarding the really hot one, the Playhouse in Edinburgh. Tomorrow or the day after, according to Ticketmaster. The chance to see Dylan (as previously with Waits and Young) in a small, seated venue is too good to miss. Meanwhile,…