John Mackie

An Absent Friend

It was the good old, bad old days. I had been introduced to MyT by my wife’s godson who sat fairly close to Ped at the launch in the DT offices. Still got the online photo to prove it. I arrived at the MyT party in due course and have enjoyed the frivolity and gadflying therein and hereon ever since. I have mainly kept my anonymity.

Proper name disclosed by e-mail to hmb, Brendano, Ferret, Bearsy and Boadicea. I have met the aforementioned uxorial godson and Ferret in person. I have heard the voices of Ara and Bilby chatting in their garden in an audio posting and I have spoken on the phone to godson and Ferret. Continue reading “An Absent Friend”

Another Entry for for CO’s Cornucopia of Fruits

I’m in the same boat as Soutie with little possibility of being able to offer photos of actual fruit on the bough in Caledonia (stern and wild) at this time of year unless I visit greenhouse or poly tunnel.

So, given that the rule is, as Soutie says, “Fruits – on a twig, stem, branch etc.”, here’s my entry.

It’s fruit at the front of a branch of an Israeli supermarket in the German Quarter of Jerusalem.

It’s a Worry No 2 – George Galloway

You have to understand that I really do not like George Galloway. Never have ever since I first read about his venal activities in Dundee Labour Party. In his time, he has ripped off the charity he worked for, grovelled shamelessly to Saddam Hussein, ruthlessly exploited the Muslim vote and done so much more for his own ends and for self aggrandisement. He was also a totally rubbish cat in ‘Big Brother’. Continue reading “It’s a Worry No 2 – George Galloway”

It’s A Worry No 1 – The Open

In 1986 or thereby, four of us flew to Malaga for a week’s golf at Sotogrande. We flew from Newcastle and enjoyed the trip down listening to the designated driver’s audio tapes of the Masters tournament of bygone years. I remember one fondly. Fred Couples was leading in the final round by a couple of shots when he hit his ball into the stream at Amen Corner. The commentator asked ‘I wonder what’s going through his mind right now’. There followed a very audible and heartfelt ‘Oh F—!’ from the boy Fred. Continue reading “It’s A Worry No 1 – The Open”

1966 and All That

In case you had forgotten, I have rules about the countries that I support to beat England. In cricket, it’s Scotland. For rugby it’s Scotland, Wales, Ireland and South Africa. At football I will happily cheer on my Sassenach cousins except against Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales (unless that diving bastard Bale is playing for the Taffs).
Continue reading “1966 and All That”

Serendipity and Sadness

I have been a fan of serendipity ever since I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the word. I think that might be one of the reasons why I struggle to be a conspiracy theorist. For me, there are always too many loose ends and too many people who have to be in on it for any such theory to hold its water. I’m an Occam fan.

It follows that it is a joy when I happen upon a classic serendipitiaceous incident. Continue reading “Serendipity and Sadness”

Third Photographic Competition 2014 – Result

The subject was William Shakespeare and anything that inspired you from his life, his works or his many famous quotations. The closing date was 23rd April 2014. For the avoidance of doubt, my choice of closing date was always intended to be a celebration of the 450th anniversary of his birth on or around 23rd April 1564.

Thank you for the entries. Continue reading “Third Photographic Competition 2014 – Result”

On Your Mark! Get Set! Don’t Blow!

In case you missed it, the upcoming Weegie Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony ran into a wee bit of controversy recently. Obviously, we in Caledonia were never going have anything like the same amount of money as the reactionary Westminster junta gave to the 2012 Olympic Games. A classic example of our being starved of proper funding by the English oppressor.

We were having to make do with a miserly £14m out of the pittance which the UK Government grudgingly doles out to us. Our Great Leader has now managed to increase that to £21m, presumably by cutting back on his utterly justifiable and reasonable expenses at great personal sacrifice. Continue reading “On Your Mark! Get Set! Don’t Blow!”

Third Photograph Competition of 2014

Thanks to the Judgment of Araminta I have the honour of setting the next subject.

You have to understand that I am just a wee thing obsessed at the moment. I may find on 19 September 2014 that I am no longer a full member of my country of origin.

I’ll still be a UK citizen and able to call myself British until I die but I could have been forced to be a Scottish citizen as well, living on a divided island and sundered from my Southron kith and kin.

Which is why said subject is the Bard. Continue reading “Third Photograph Competition of 2014”

Here’s tae us. Wha likes us? Part 1

Just to reassure Sheona before she corrects me. I know that is not the toast.

It is, of course, ‘Here’s tae us. Wha’s like us? Damn few and they’re a’ deid.’ A typically modest, unassuming, totally correct and utterly justifiable sentiment used when we foregather to celebrate our good fortune in being Scots. But, it would seem that the title version of this post might be the right one for some of those not so blessed.

Continue reading “Here’s tae us. Wha likes us? Part 1”