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That has to be one of Springsteen’s more ridiculous lines…’the dogs on Main Street howl, ’cause they understand…’ But then so much of what I once loved and was thrilled by in early-to-mid-period Bruce now seems like the most cringe-inducing, breast-beating romantic posturing. And yet he remains capable of astonishing feats…notably the Suicide cover you…

…though in fact, over the summer this was both The Radiocroft, home of BBC Radio Scotland’s Tom Morton Show (2-4 pm weekdays, Zetland Time) and The Bookcroft, officially the UK’s most northerly second hand bookshop. The Bookcroft is now closed for the winter, and slowly but surely The Radiocroft is expanding…new equipment is arriving all…

‘Let them have builders’ is allegedly an ancient Chinese curse, but for us, having brothers Donald and Tom completely re-roof the L-shaped (and B-listed) steading in the grounds of the manse has been a pleasure and a privilege. They came from Cromarty in the Black Isle, and in five straight weeks they removed all the…

…is the name of an old We Free Kings song, and it seems appropriate that, after publicly declaring my motorbikin’ career over, it should be gloweringly, viciously, Shetlandicly soaking the day I pick up a 1980 BMW R80/7, 26 years old and only 28,500 miles on the clock. However, Shetland weather being what it is,…

Alas, the Bog Museum in Coalisland was shut when Martha and I passed through on the way to Sandy and Elaine’s wedding. We did have a coffee in one of the local cafes, and checked out some of the, ahem, somewhat interesting murals before heading to Stewartstown and a truly lovely service. The wedding was…

Bob Holyoak’s funeral in Ollaberry yesterday was incredibly moving. It’s still very hard to believe that we’ll no longer see him in that old blue anorak, coming round the house at tax-return-time, parked up in that wee Saxo with binoculars to his eyes, noting another bird sighting. The old kirk at Ollaberry was more than…

Phew, that 6.30 am flight from Aberdeen is certainly not for wimps….but given the Shetland residents’ Air Discount Card, it’s amazingly cheap. Well, it would be if it wasn’t for Gordon Brown’s iniquitous tax on anyone travelling by air within Scotland: £16 for the one-way ticket, which is great; an additional £24 to Gordon. Insane…

Bruce proves he’s still got the magic Lindsay Hutton (not the world’s biggest Brooooooce fan) first sent me an MP3 of this (originally recorded in 1979 by the electronic duo Suicide) being performed live, and then forwarded this (camera phone) video of the song. Amazing. It makes you realise that despite the horrid autocue folk…

Terrible news yesterday that our friend, neighbour and accountant Bob Holyoak had died suddenly. He was a crucial part of not only our lives, but of the Northmavine community, and everyone is very shocked. Up at 5.00 am to catch the early Saab aeroplane for Aberdeen, wondering if I should cancel the planned trip to…

Mother and eight puppies still doing well…