HAPPY New Year to everyone – 2010 is here, Christmas has come and gone and already we yearn for its return.
Best wishes to all.
I have a really good feeling about this year. It sounds cooler for a start than its predecessor and rolls off the tongue with much less effort – “twenty-ten”.
I’d like to say thanks to the good folks of Stirling who were in attendance at their magnificent and ancient castle for the Hogmanay Show.
My band and I had a blast on stage, it was by far the coolest gig ever, made all the more enjoyable by a banging crowd.
I’ll be returning north in a few weeks time for a gig at Oran Mor in Glasgow as part of the Celtic Connections Festival, so keep ’em peeled for that!
Before that, however, I’m fleeing the cold, wintry shores of Blighty for a few days and making for the sun-soaked City of Angels to record a track for my new album with Joe Bonamassa.
Also like to give a big shout out to my Great Aunt Jessie in Banff who recently celebrated her 101st birthday.
What an achievement; what a life; what a century to have lived through.
Most of us can remember facets of 1970s or 1980s culture and compare it to life today, but to have 100 years of time at your command to reflect upon can only provide one with a far more learned perspective of the present.
And my Granny May is hot on her sibling’s heels, fast approaching her own century milestone.
Me and my mum were in Macduff the other day as it happens, visiting said Grandmama and assorted Buchan relatives.
Our smiles didn’t last long, however, as we got a flat tyre on our way back, outside Dyce.
Fortunately the AA man came to our rescue and all was well in Thom Town once again.
The New Year also heralds the dawn of a fresh decade.
What lies ahead for the people of Scotland and the wider world, I wonder? Will we see our beautiful country become a republic? Will we see an end to corruption in Parliament and will our brave troops return home never again to fight wars based on lies?
There is a General Election this year in the UK. I’ve advocated before to abandon party support altogether as I feel they’re all as bad as each other.
But the one ubiquitous issue everyone feels for is the environment.
So I say vote Green, for whatever your views may be on climate change, a harmonious relationship with Mother Nature can only be good for the soul.
Besides, just think how annoyed the other parties will be! Democracy in action, ta very much – the people have spoken!