I am a fifty year old resident of the west of Scotland and live near the magnificent scene you can see at the top of my blog, a photo I took myself. I’m happily married with two kids. I have my own retail business which I have been involved in since starting from scratch in 1985. I am chairman of the local business group Business For Dumbarton who try to fight for a little fairness for local businesses. A hard job sometimes.
I love music (particularly blues) and hate it in equal measure. I wish I read more but I always fall asleep.
I play in a band (blues/R&B) called Harmonica Lewinsky. We gig on an occasional basis (usually about once a month) but make no money as it is all consumed by 1) doing gigs for nothing 2) paying for rehearsals (and gear) and 3) drink.
I like nothing more than a good laugh (other than perhaps a good single malt whisky) and always try to have a positive outlook despite the way the world is going (we’re doomed Captain)
I enjoy songwriting and write (attempted) funny and serious ones in equal measure.
Here’s one I wrote about that charming fellow Kelvin McKenzie last year.
I enjoy my blog. I hope you do too.
Nice to find this Blog as I now live in the Vale although born a son of the rock.
Being a good bit older than you I recall great days at Boghead with Hughie Gallacher etc.
Also recall seeing Muddy Watters band for less than fifty pence(ten bob) in Scott street in Glasgow in about
1971. Never seen better. Had to leave early for last train.
Derek
Welcome aboard and thanks for your comment. I wish I’d seen Muddy play. Can you remember the venue’s name?
it was “the maryland” originally jazz club but became beat club
You might be interested in checking out cyrilsgleans.com.
i am having quite a bit of fun exploring your web.
Nice to see there are some working brains abouts..
Thank You..
Don.. Charleston, SC.. USA
Kirkwood Elementry, Swingset Major
Great Blog here. Love the name of your band, Harmonica Lewinskys. I worked with a great Harmonica player in one of my films. He is called Don Baker and is Ireland’s greatest blues singer and harmonica player who also happens to be an excellent actor. More on him at donbaker.ie or see him act in my film Underworld at ironmountainmovies.com
I just came back from a weekend in Scotland at the Loch Lomond youth soccer festival in Stirling University. Had a great time with my Gallic brothers! In my opinion an independent Scotland would be of great benefit to Europe.
Don Baker is great Ronan.
I’ve had a wee look at your blog too and I’ll be a visitor now.
Welcome aboard!
november 14-2009
I grew up in Ben Lomond,California.
wikipedia says that it means “beacon peak” in Gaelic.
I wonder if that’s true.
I always thought Ben was a man with the last name of Lomond,oops!
I would appreciate your knowledge,opinion.
I’m writing about my early years.I would like to be correct on what I write about.
Thanks
Denise Aldelia Ward
Soquel, California
Lovely to hear from you Denise. I never knew that there was a Ben Lomond in California but I’ve just checked and it seems it’s a fairly small place.
I imagine settlers from these parts would have given your town its charming name which more accurately translates to Beacon Hill or Mountain.
Loch (Lake) Lomond, one of the most scenic and beautiful in Scotland takes its name from the hill.
You may be surprised to learn that the Ben is only about 25 minutes by car from Scotland’s biggest city Glasgow. It is a “Munro” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munro which is the name given to any hill or mountain over 3,000 feet in Scotland.
There is plenty info and pictures on the net but please contact me if you need further info.