Lost Ticker Tape

I am finding less time to get absorbed in things which are not political at present. I fear that normal service of whimsy and nonsense will never be resumed as life changes and priorities shift. I could write for hours about this but I have strike action to prepare for, I will be there on my picket line and at the rally in George Square in Glasgow on Thursday June 30th. If you are free on Thursday please try to make it to a local rally or picket line and show your support to PCS, NUT, ATL and UCU strikers.

The orange bike above is mine, bought from Glasgow Bike Shed, it is old and a little flaky, the seat squeaks and the breaks scream (so much so that everyone within 100 yards turns to stare) but I love it! It has no name other than 'my lovely orange bike' so suggestions are welcome. Spring sunshine, bike rides and reading in the park were the main features of last weekend. Getting somewhere under your own steam by bike is remarkably satisfying , even more than if you were to walk that same distance. I forget just how much I love being on a bike just enjoying the sunshine, the breeze and the sense of freedom it allows. I like the idea of cycling to work however I reckon I would be squished by a Glasgow bus within a week as the drivers seem to have an almost pathological hatred of cyclists. So, it will be leisurely trips via scenic routes to parks and gardens around Glasgow. Any takers for bike rides in the sunshine?

So, as time goes on this blog reveals a little more about me. Apart from my love of music, dancing and whimsy I do have other things on the radar. Some of you will already know this however a few of you may be surprised to hear that I am a trade union rep. With my diminutive stature, being female and under 30 I'm not exactly what you picture when you think of a union rep, however it is something I am fiercely proud of. I won't go on extolling the virtues of unionism as this isn't the forum for it however I did want to post about what I will be doing next weekend. I will be joining hundreds of thousands of people in London to march for the alternatives to the cuts the Conservative government is making (see http://www.pcs.org.uk/ for more info or google March for the Alternative). It has been proven that these are ideological, unnecessary cuts and I for one will be adding my voice to the call for the alternative. I can post line after line of anti-cuts rhetoric but if ...

There is something about 'the nights fair drawing in' that makes me nostalgic for the winters and bonfire nights of childhood. I know the history behind Guy Fawkes night but for me it's all about being 5 again and standing in my Aunt's garden all snug and warm, wooly jumpers having being dug out for the winter ahead, watching the fireworks explode over her garden and jumping every time a really loud one went off! When I was older it was the muddy walks in the dark to Crawl Park, with wellies and waterproofs where there would be a huge bonfire and us kids would be allowed sweets and sparklers (not at the same time mind) and we would watch the display with huge grins on our faces. I would stand with my head tipped skyward and watch a woven gold brocade falling towards me and fountains of coloured sparks that are bright only for a moment. Stars burst and light up the dark then drift slowly to earth, fading as they fall. Beautiful tracer trails fill the night ...

I know it's such a damn cliche but I couldn't imagine my life without music, I play it, I sing it, I (try to) write it, I listen to it at every opportunity and now I seem to consume it faster than ever before which is why I take time out to write about it once in a while. I have previously written a little here about music and how I still love it the same way I did when I was 15 years old. This is the reason why I can't describe the feeling I get when I discover a beautiful piece of music, that first spark of realisation that what you are listening to is something special, something affecting and truly beautiful. I don't review music, I simply post about new-to-me music that I love and hope that other people will also discover and fall in love with too, so here goes....... First off are Honeybear, utterly beguiling music and beautiful illustrations.....I need say no more: http://www.therealhoneybear.com/ Some perfect indie pop in the form of ...

I need to head west and get some sand in-between my toes before the seasons change. I need to look out on water that that shimmers in the summer sun and goes further than the eye can see before the sky is cobalt at 3pm with a sea to match. The city is starting to wear me down like a weight on my shoulders I can't shift and I think this feeling has a lot to do with not making music. I have this feeling of being adrift without Incrediboy & The Forget Me Nots as we had 18 months of making something fun and quite often beautiful. But times change, there are things brewing and directions to be chosen and decisions to be made so watch this space for something new.

It's been.....well......erm......months. I am rubbish at this blogging lark but I will persevere! I saw Open Swimmer again recently and once again was totally enthralled (see previous post). If you can see them then please do! You can hear Canyon here: http://www.facebook.com/openswimmer?ref=ts