Alice Maplefield’s eyes shine. The gleam reflects in her silver framed spectacles creating a certain essence, one which you may be forgiven for thinking is the essence of intelligence. But this aura secretes not from Alice. She sees it in other people, when alert enough, which isn’t always the case with her fading powers ofContinue reading “Alice Maplefield’s Battle With Authority”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Who Do You Think You Are
‘The search (for forebears) can gather its own unstoppable momentum.’ ‘Our ancestors may not have been famous or made appearances in the history books, but they are the stuff of real history.’ As quoted from Dan Waddell’s book Who Do You Think You Are. Unless you are Josh Widdicombe, you have little chance of boastingContinue reading “Who Do You Think You Are”
Silent night
Be early, they say. Play them in with carols. Hark the Herald. Being the eager brass players we are, we comply. My instrument is slung over my shoulder, my glittering Santa hat slants zappily as I climb the stairs to the hall. Familiar stairs, familiar hall, familiar people. They nod, and smile, complacent in theContinue reading “Silent night”
on impulse
There’s no writing class today. No notes to take, no notebook to exercise. I scan my bookshelves instead, for inspirational reads. Muriel Spark jumps out. This wonderful Scottish author from Edinburgh, of Prime of Miss Jean Brodie fame, picked up her pen every day, spinning colourful threads in her notebook, a canvas of intrigue developing. Her notebooks teemed with scribblingsContinue reading “on impulse”
Cradle Song
It was a Monday, the rush of the weekend over, the senses slowed. I wasn’t sure what to do with my time, as a result I sat staring at my mobile, scrolling, my eyelids drooping, delving into pockets of tedium. I couldn’t give in to shut eye, I wasn’t long up, so I had aContinue reading “Cradle Song”
Lost Lens
Some months ago, I winced when the optician said, ‘you’ve got dry eye.’ ‘Is it serious?’ I asked. It turns out it’s not immediately serious as I’ve become neither non sighted or blighted by disease. It occurs in many women who stride into their sixties, losing their reserves of oestrogen on the way. They callContinue reading “Lost Lens”
Anxiety
It’s another morning. A bright one. The branches on the tree sway one way, then another, my anxieties shivering along with them. Anxiety is not a new condition. It’s life span is timeless, the casualties from all walks of life, from the schoolchild to the Octogenarian. What causes anxiety? Trauma is the obvious one. Mental health issues, illness, drugs and alcohol, allContinue reading “Anxiety”
Progression Continued
20th May 2023 The blue arched doors gape, welcoming me into the holy dwelling. I enter the North Church of Penicuik, spying my fellow band members through the glass backed vestibule. We’re here to perform a Celtic Concert for the people of the town and beyond. Alloway Tales, Brave, Danny Boy, Farewell to Stromness to name a few andContinue reading “Progression Continued”
Progression
March 2023 The road into Perth was clear. The day was cloudy but dry. A perfect day for the Regional Scottish Championship. My band, Penicuik Silver Band, a band who can trace their roots back as far as the 1830’s, were competing. There were four of us in the car, two bass players, a trombone player and me.Continue reading “Progression”
A Cycle Through Life – Visits
Visits to the Waterworks Once my friendship with Babs grew stronger, I went to visit her at her home. She lived quite a distance from me, across a valley, but that didn’t bother me. I liked to walk. She lived in a mill town, like the one I’d moved from. Did I not tell youContinue reading “A Cycle Through Life – Visits”
Jimjan's Journal 