This weeks theme of "memories" has me excited to play a Doc Watson song called "The Greenville Trestle High".

In this song the author is reminsicing about his youth and the sounds of trains going over the The Greenville Trestle
which is a railway bridge.

The song normally only has 3 verse but I wanted to make my version a little longer since its just my nylon guitar and vocals.
Ive combined the first half of the first verse with the second half of the second verse to make a 4th verse....that line that goes...

"With the black smoke trailing back
As they moved along the track
That runs across that Greenville trestle high"

Is to much fun to only sing once so yeah I sing it agian to end out the song.

I hope you guys enjoy my version of this old train song.

"The Greenville Trestle High"

I remember as a boy
How In wonderment and joy
I'd watch the trains as they'd go by
And the whistle's lonesome sound
You could hear for miles around
As they rolled across that Greenville trestle high

… But the whistles don't sound like they used to
Lately not many trains go by
Hard times across the land
Mean no work for a railroad man
And the Greenville trestle now don't seem so high

… On the river bank I'd stand
With a cane pole in my hand
Watch the freight trains up against the sky
With the black smoke trailing back
As they moved along the track
That runs across that Greenville trestle high

… But the whistles don't sound like they used to
Lately not many trains go by
Hard times across this land
Mean no work for a railroad man
And the Greenville trestle now don't seem so high

… When the lonesome whistles whine
I get ramblin' on my mind
And, I wish they still sounded that way
As I turned to head for home
Lord, she'd rumble low and long
Toward the sunset at the close of day

… No, the whistles don't sound like they used to
Lately not many trains go by
Hard times across the land
Mean no work for a railroad man
And the Greenville trestle now don't seem so high
No, the Greenville trestle now don't seem so high

I remember as a boy
How In wonderment and joy
I'd watch the trains as they'd go by
With the black smoke trailing back
As they moved along the track
That runs across that Greenville trestle high

But, the whistles don't sound like they used to
Lately not many trains go by
Hard times across the land
Mean no work for a railroad man
And the Greenville trestle now don't seem so high
No, the Greenville trestle now don't seem so high

This is my video for HIVE Open Mic 172 , the theme of Family inspired me to take a shot at this song by Tyler Childers called "Follow You To Virgie"

The song was written by Tyler for his friend Cody when his grandmother past away.

When thier group of friends were all high school aged and learning to play guitars and banjos Cody's grandmother would sit
and listen to them and sing along.

I guess at some point Cody moved from Kentucky to Virginia and when the Grandmother passed away Tyler went to visit his friend
and attend the funeral. Thats the theme of this song.

"Follow You To Virgie"
Tyler Childers

Back before these calloused hands and all this work
We used to sit up at the flats
Acting like we'd live forever
Getting high and skipping class

Yeah, I reckon we were heathens
But in her eyes, we were saints
Now you're calling all the boys home
'Cause heaven's angels carried her away

So, I will follow you to Virgie
Although it hurts me so
To lay to rest this mountain beauty
That the Lord's called home
And I can't see her up in glory
I can see her through the pines

Back when all us boys were tryin'
To make sense of all these strings
I can see her in the corner
Singing along to all our crazy dreams

So, I will follow you to Virgie
Although it hurts me so
To lay to rest this mountain beauty
That the Lord's called home
And I can see her up in glory
I can see her through the pines

So, I will follow you to Virgie
Although it hurts me so
To lay to rest this mountain beauty
That the Lord's called home
And I can see her up in glory
I can see her through the pines

At the weekend I found myself wandering along the Tay Estuary in Dundee not far from the Victoria & Albert Museum.

While wandering along the riverside looking for photography opportunities I noticed this little patch of lavender and purple thistles that had attracted a dozen or more bees.

I saw more bees buzzing around this little flower patch than I have seen in many years.

Almost 90% of wild plants and 75% of leading global crops depend on animal pollination. One out of every three mouthfuls of our food depends on pollinators such as bees, so its good to see such thriving bee activity in a big city.

For this weeks theme of "In Love With Mother Nature"
I thought it would be worth revisting one of my favorite songs.

"The Island's" by Ralph Mctell is a song wrriten in the mid ninties ,it paints vivid images of life on The Shetland
Islands which lie of the far North east coast of Scotland.

On January the 5th 1993 an oil tanker named "The Braer" ran aground of the southern tip of Shetland. The ship had been on a course from Norway to Canada when it was hit by a storm and lost power.After drifting for a few hours it eventually ran aground spilling 85,000 tons of crude oil into the sea.

What should have been a significant evironmental disaster was avoided due to the extreme weather which washed most of the crude oil far out into the north sea.

It was a miracle of nature and mother earth that such devastation was prevented by wind and waves.

Im using a chord progression for this song which I made up to suit the lyrics.

I hope you guys enjoy my tune this week.

"The Island's"
Ralph McTell

We do not fear the long ships
We've seen long ships before
Men sailed here from the north land
And hauled their boats ashore
They brought with them the music
The language and the lore
And burned their boats and stayed here
On the islands

It's midday in the wintertime
Before the moon does pale
The winter songs are very long
The storm winds and the gales
The midnight sun's as distant
As the ca'ing of the whales
Till spring returns again
To paint the islands

The grey seals and the otter
The salmon and the charr
The land bound and the sea trapped
The free birds of the air
The shepherd and the farmer
And all those in their care
Harmonise the music of the islands

We never feared the long ships
Till the coming of the "Braer"
The roaring sea in anger
Washed that broken boat ashore
Spilled fuel enough to take that ship
Twice round the world or more
And filled the air with oil
To paint the islands

As if the sea had realized
The tragedy in store
Its waves continued pounding
About a week or more
Most of the crude was washed away
And never came ashore
The sea regained it's temper
'Round the islands

Oh, let this be a warning
To those who's faceless greed
Would sail close to the shoreline
To save both fuel and speed
The sea is our protector
Provider of our needs
A jealous guard and keeper of the islands

We do not fear the long ships
We've seen long ships before
Men sailed here from the north land
And hauled their boats ashore
They brought with them the music
The language and the lore
And burned their boats and stayed here
On the islands

This week for the theme of "Passion for art" I have chosen a song titled "When The Boys Are On Parade" which was written by the late Marcus Turner, and incredibly talented song writer from New Zealand.

I think I first heard this song maybe sometime around 2017 or 2018 as part of an Andy Irvine concert. Andy is a legendery Irish folk musician who plays the bouzouki and mandolin as well as the harmonica.

For a long time I have been unable to find someone who has written up a chord progression for this song. Im not a skilled enough musician to watch a song played on the bouzouki and figure out what chords are being played , bouzouki playing still seems like musical sorcery to me.

So in this version of the song I have tried to find a way to use basic C,G,D chords to do justice to this fantastical well wrtien anti-war/anti enlistment song.

I was truly blown away by the world play of this song when I first heard it and for several years now I have wanted to try and find my own version.
Remering this whole song is a feat of memoery in itself , its long articulate, intricate and is delivery in a rapid fire manner

So for this week my passion for the art is to find away to accompany these outstanding lyrics with my simple guitar playing.

The first 5 verses of this song are written by Marcus Turner , the last line is wonderful addition by Andy Irvine.

"When The Boys Are On Parade"
Marcus Turner with new words by Andy Irvine.

*Here they come marching past the houses, shiny boots and khaki blouses
Stiff as the creases in their trousers standing tall and straight and strong
And they all keep in step together glint of steel and flash of leather
Braving every kind of weather as they boldly march along
You may dismiss it as a ploy for the enlistment of the boys
Who’ll be impressed to see the toys and play the games that can be played
And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

*Look at your sons before they’re older they’ll be stronger they’ll be bolder
Just the thing to make a soldier and we’ll turn them into men
And they’ll be taught to follow orders, keep the peace and guard the borders
To protect us from marauders and defend us to the end.
But the position they’ll be filling is to be able and be willing
To be killed or do the killing when there’s a price that must be paid
And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

*In the pursuit of a community of decency and unity
And equal opportunity we stand prepared to fight
And if there’s a threat to our position from aggressive opposition
The with guns and ammunition we’ll defend with all our might.
We’ll dehumanise and hate them send in the troops to decimate them
As in the name of the Nation all it stands for is betrayed
And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

*Merely the whim or intuition of an elected politician
Makes a melee without conditions as the monster quits the cage
Its a machine that knows no quarter dealing death and sowing slaughter
Raping mothers, wives and daughters in an all consuming rage
We may well decide we need it and we’ll pay to arm and feed it
But can you tell me who will lead it when the decisions must be made
And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

*Some will wonder what’s to fear and say there is no danger here
But there has never been a year when Soldiers haven’t been at war
And the eternal executions and the bloody revolutions
And the ultimate solutions too have all been seen before.
And there’s always someone scheming and sometimes at night when dreaming
In the distance I hear screaming and in my heart I feel afraid
And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

*See them come marching past the houses ,shiny boots and khaki blouses
Stiff as the creases in thier trousers standing tall and straight and strong
Is it any cause of pride that now the women march beside them
Will they have wiser gods to guide them in decerning right from wrong
For every step is a reminder ,of the threat that lies behind
If we forget the ties that bind us when the decisive game is played
And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

*And you may well prefer abstention but I feel compelled to mention
You’d do well to pay attention when the Boys are on Parade.

This week I have been playing around with the 1991 hit R and B song End Of The Road by Boyz II Men.

My version is more of a country version using simple "cowboy chords" and a capo on the 5th fret.

I thought this one might work well for this weeks theme so I took at shot at recording this.

Hopefully you guys enjoy what I have come up with.

"End Of The Road"
Boyz II Men

We belong together
And you know that I'm right
Why do you play with my heart?
Why do you play with my mind?

Said we'd be forever
Said it'd never die
How could you love me and leave me
And never say goodbye?

When I can't sleep at night
Without holding you tight
Girl, each time I try
I just break down and cry
Pain in my head
Oh, I'd rather be dead
Spinning around and around

Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you

Although we've come
to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you

Girl, I know you really love me
You just don't realize
You've never been there before
It's only your first time

Maybe I'll forgive you
Maybe you'll try
We should be happy together forever
You and I

Will you love me again
Like you loved me before?
This time I want you to love me much more
This time instead
Baby come to my bed
And baby just don't let me go

Although we've come
To the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you

Although we've come
to the end of the road
Still I can't let go
It's unnatural
You belong to me
I belong to you

This is a song I have recently picked up which I feel works well as a set closer.

I love this line " O the voyage is done and the winds do blow and its time for us to leave her"

This song is an old sea shanty the earliest known evidence of it is found in W.B. Whall's autobiography School and Sea Days (1901), which places it in the 1860's.

Let me know what you think of this one?

"Leave Her ,Johnny , Leave Her"
Traditional Sea Shanty.

I thought I heard the Old Man say
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
You can go ashore and take your pay
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow
And it's time for us to leave her

Oh the times are tough and the wages low
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
And the grub was bad and the gales did blow
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow
And it's time for us to leave her

Oh her storm was foul and the voyage was long
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
The waves hit hard and the gales hit strong
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow
And it's time for us to leave her

Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her with a grin
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
For there's many a worser we've sailed in
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow
And it's time for us to leave her

And now it's time to say goodbye
Leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the old pier-head's a-drawing nigh
And it's time for us to leave her

Leave her, Johnny, leave her
Oh, leave her, Johnny, leave her
For the voyage is done and the winds do blow
And it's time for us to leave her

In the video above we are checking out some of the sights of Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh.

On this particular visit, I was heading to Civirinos slice bar on Forest Road . This place is a New York-style pizza slice bar that sells some of the best pizza I have ever eaten. I had a job interview here at 12 o'clock in the afternoon after which the owner let me choose a slice of pizza to check out for free.

I decided to go for their Detroit slice which just looked to good to be true.Just look at that thing,its a thick Detroit base with cheese, tomato, double-decker pepperoni, and a honey chili drizzle. These slices cost £6.50 which I feel is a little pricey this made me even more excited that it was free, even if I don't get the job I got free pizza!

I kinda feel like this pizza has spoiled me now, like if I ever see pepperoni on a pizza that's not charred and cupped from the fire in the oven Im gonna be disappointed. Also for any of you thinking it's swimming in grease that's actually the honey chili drizzle which I underestimated. It lit up my mouth like the 4th of July and I didn't have a drink on hand, lesson learned this stuff is like a slice of fire.

Forest Road is an interesting part of the city, heading north along the street for a few minutes we come to The National Museum of Scotland and Greyfriars Kirkyard.If we head South we find ourselves on the Meadows. This small part of the city is home to dozens of different high-quality restaurants, it's hard to know where to go, you are truly spoiled for choice.

Before heading in the direction of the National Museum and Greyfriars Kirkyard I decide to wander around The Meadows. This open green space has a very impressive cherry blossom-lined pathway that is particularly beautiful at this time of year.

Far of in the distance, we can see a hill known as Arthurs Seat towering over the landscape.

As I finish walking the length of the cherry blossom-lined pathway we come back to the entrance of The Meadows where we see some interesting artwork.

Our next stop of the day is The National Museum Of Scotland, a place I haven't been to since before the pandemic. The museum originated in 1780 and was originally called "The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland". In 1851 this collection of antiquities and archeological artifacts passed into the hands of the public and became known as "The National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland".

The museum's collection consists of countless artifacts representing Scottish history, international cultures, natural and physical sciences, and decorative art for Scotland.

As is the case with any large museum in any large city it would be impossible to cover the entirety of the National Museum in one post.I could easily make a 3+ hour-long video of this place. In the video above I have highlighted some of the exhibits I found interesting.

One of the most noteworthy items at the entrance to the museum is this Millenium clock. This work of art was installed in 1999, its design is inspired by a medieval cathedral.

The designs and figurines inside it represent the best and worst of the 20th century. Constructed from a combination of wood, glass, and metal, five master artisans contributed their skills to making the clock: Tim Stead (furniture maker), Eduard Besudsky (kinetic sculpture) Annica Sandström (glass artist), Jürgen Tübbecke (clockmaker) and Maggy Lenert (illustrator).

After walking around the museum for a couple of hours we had built up a bit of an appetite and decided it was time to grab some dinner. I should make a note of saying even tho we have been to this labyrinthinely huge museum a few times before we struggled to find the exit from the 3rd floor. I wonder if many tourists end up getting lost here, the scale of the place is insane.

When we do finally make it out of the warm environment of the museum out onto the cold wet Edinburgh streets, I breathe a sigh of relief and feel incredibly refreshed by the afternoon raindrops.

Walking back towards the meadows along Forest Road we notice a sign for a Malaysian restaurant named Nanyang.

By Edinburgh standards, I thought the prices in this restaurant were very fair and would highly recommend the place to someone who finds themselves in this neck of the woods looking for good Asian cuisine.

I decided to try their standard chicken curry which cost £12.95 and was served in a portion that could easily feed 2 people. The curry consisted of chicken, cashew nuts, potatoes, and green beans.

My dad decided to try a sweet and sour king prawn dish which was also served in a portion large enough to share. This dish cost £13.95.

I guess it's worth noting that the curry doesn't come with a side dish, and rice is extra, I got a portion of egg fried rice which cost £3.50.

I find the best beer to accompany Asian food is Tsing Tao , a bottle of this was £4.00

The total for 2 people including drinks was just over £41 which again I feel is very good value for this city. It's also the first time in a long time that I have had a Fox's glacier mint.

Onwards to our next destination, Greyfriars Kirkyard.

This place has many a scary tale to tell but out of all the spooky and chilling stories rises a rather heartwarming account, that of "Greyfriars Bobby"

Bobby was the name of a Skye Terrier who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his master John Gray.

John Gray is thought to have been a night watchman for the Edinburgh Police. When he was laid to rest in the Kirkyard Bobby wouldn't leave the graveside. At first, he was regularly evicted from the graveyard at night but in time the caretaker of the church and his wife took pity on the dog and built him and shelter and fed him. He was even awarded the key to the city by the Lord Provost Sir William Chambers.

On this visit to Greyfriars, I went inside the church for the first time.I didn't take any photographs but I did shoot some footage which you can see in the video. There is a very interesting little museum inside.The church itself was founded in 1598. The name comes from the Observantine Franciscans or "Grey Friars" who arrived in Edinburgh from the Netherlands in the mid-15th century and were granted land for a Friary at the south-western edge of the city.

Each time I visit this place there is a portion of the cemetery which is locked of to the public. This area is known as "The Covenanters Prison" and is thought to be among the most haunted sites in all of Scotland and the UK. The reason its not open to the public is due to an alarming number of incidents involving violent poltergeist activity. People get scratched,punched,kicked, faint or vomit due to the angry spirits which haunt this place. If you want to go in you can do so as part of one of many haunted Edinburgh tours but you do so at your own risk and I would bet you need to sign some sort of waiver if you do.Maybe one day ill be brave enough to see what lies behind these ominous-looking gates.

Beside the gates you see a small plaque which tells the story of the Covenanters.

"THE COVENANTERS' PRISON
Behind these gates lies part of the southern section of Greyfriars Kirkyard which was used in 1679 as a prison for over one thousand supporters of the National Covenant who had been defeated by Government forces at the battle of Bothwell Brig on 22 June. For over four months these men were held here without any shelter, each man being allowed 4 ounces of bread a day. Kindly citizens were sometimes able to give them more food.

Some of the prisoners died here, some were tried and executed for treason, some escaped, and some were freed after signing a bond of loyalty to the Crown. All those who were persecuted and died for their support of the National Covenant in the reigns of Charles II and James VII are commemorated by the Martyrs' Memorial on the north-eastern wall of the kirkyard. The Covenant, which was first signed in Greyfriars Kirk in 1638, promised to defend Presbyterianism from intervention by the Crown.

In November 1679 the remaining 257 men, who had been sentenced to transportation overseas, were taken to Leith and placed on board a ship bound for the American colonies; nearly all were drowned when this ship was wrecked in the Orkney islands (where there is a monument in their
memory), but 48 of the prisoners survived.

The section of the kirkyard used to imprison the Covenanters lay outside the existing south wall, and included the area now covered by buildings on Forrest Row. The area behind the gate was laid out for burials in 1705 and contains many fine monuments, but these did not exist at the time of the prison.

This plaque has been provided by the Greyfriars Kirkyard Trust with the support of the Scottish Covenanter Memorials Association. "

Another infamous part of the kirkyard is the tomb of George McKensize

George Mackenzie was born in Dundee in 1636, and was made Scotland’s Lord Advocate in 1677, he was responsible for the imprisonment of 1,200 Covenanters.

It's the restless spirit of this man who is thought to be mostly responsible for the paranormal activity in the Covenanters Prison. His ghost has been spotted wandering that part of the kirkyard. Sometime in the 1990s a homeless many broke into this tomb and fell through into the crypt below.It is thought that is one of the things that angered the spirit when the violent poltergeist activity intensified.

Then in 2004 two teenagers broke into the crypt and used a penknife to cut of the skull of Mackensise's corpse. They then proceeded to use the skull as a sort of hand puppet until members of the public spotted them and contacted the police.They were the first people in over 100 years to be charged with the ancient crime of "violation of sepulchre" – disturbing a dead person.

Its no wonder this guys spirit is so restless, take a look at the top of the mausoleum.This looks straight out of a horror movie set.

I don't know what this thing is , perhaps it was once the face of the deceased which has been worn away by 400 years of Edinburgh weather and is now a terrifying and unsettling sight , eternally gazing with its ominous eyes out over the kirkyard. It gives me the chills standing in front of this place.

A strange thing happened as I was photographing a mausoleum near the Mackenzie tomb.I took this photograph and my camera froze on this image. It's the mausoleum of Clement Litill (1527-1580) the founder of Edinburgh University Library. Even when I tried to switch the camera of the image wouldn't leave the viewfinder. I had to take the batteries out to reset the camera. Fearing it was the work of the vengeful Lord Mackensize I promptly left the Kirkyard!

As we head back to the bus station we decide to see what's playing in the cinema at the Banshees Labyrinth.

This place is found not too far from the Kirkyard on Niddry Street. Its one of Scotland's oldest and most haunted pubs.Here it's Halloween 24/7.I love this place and its spooky-themed cocktails.No trip to the city is complete without a visit this incredibly unique spot.


A couple of shots of the underground part of the labyrinth taken last October while I was showing a Hammer Horror Dracula Movie in the Cinema

The cinema is free , they show 3 movies each day starting at 5pm weekdays and 7pm at weekends. On this particular day the 5pm showing was Finding Nemo. We decided we didn't want to watch a Disney/Pixar production in a haunted cinema and kept heading toward the bus station

Above Princess Street mall,on what is most likely the busiest street in all of Scotland we find this place called "The Secret Gin Garden"

This seems like the least secretive place in all of the country but it is a good place to get a bite to eat or a drink before getting back on your bus or train and heading home.

The beer-battered fish and chips in this place are outstanding and cost only £11.95 which is great value for the city, especially after the cost of living crisis price hike's. A pint of Heverlee Belgian Beer is £6 which is a little pricey but the open-air venue is much preferred to any of the many overcrowded noisey pubs.A highly recommended spot to stop and watch city life go by.

Well, that's all folks hopefully you have enjoyed this little virtual tour of some of the sights and sounds of Scotland's capital city. There is still a lot more to show and tell so stay tuned for more in the coming weeks :D.

This week for the theme of fraternity Im bringing you a song that tells of a battle fought during the Irish rebellion of 1798.

The Irish Rebellion was a major uprising against British rule in Ireland. The main organising force was the Society of United Irishmen, a republican revolutionary group influenced by the ideas of the American and French revolutions.

The song tells of an army lead by Theobald Wolfe Tone ,one of the founding members of The United Irishmen as the head of the fight the English.

I hope you guys enjoy my song this week.

The Rising Of The Moon

"Oh come tell me Sean O'Farrell, tell me why you hurry so"
"Wont you hush a while and listen," for you cheeks are all aglow
"I bear orders from the captain, to get ready quick and soon
For the pikes must be together by the rising of the moon"

"And come tell me Sean O'Farrell, where the gathering is to be"
"At the old spot by the river; quite well known to you and me"
"One more word for signal token; whistle out the marching tune
With your pike upon your shoulder at the rising of the moon"

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon

Out from many a mud wall cabin; eyes were watching through the night
Many a manly heart was beating for the blessed warning light
Murmurs rang along the valleys to the banshee's lonely croon
And a thousand pikes were flashing by the rising of the moon

By the rising of the moon, by the rising of the moon
And a thousand pikes were flashing by the rising of the moon

All along that singing river that black mass of men was seen
Weapons high and shining through their own beloved green
Death to every foe and traitor! Whistle out the marching tune
With your pike upon your shoulder by the rising of the moon

'Tis the rising of the moon, 'tis the rising of the moon
Get your pike upon your shoulder tis the rising of the moon

*Lyrics are traditional modified by me

In this video and post, we are taking a look at one of the oldest buildings here in Fife and one of the newest hipster hotspots.

Let's start with this beautiful old building, fondly referred to as the "Kirkcaldy Auld Kirk". Auld is the Scottish word for old and kirk means church. The exact date of this building's origin is unknown although the earliest reference to it dates back to the year 1244 when it was consecrated by the Roman Catholic Bishop de Bernham to St. Patrick and St. Brisse (St. Bryce).

The impressive clock tower is a more recent addition to the main body of the church, having been built sometime in the 15th century. It is possible to access and climb the tower on Sundays and at other times during school holidays. This is something I have yet to do but will make a point of doing it during the summer. The view from the top of the tower will offer some impressive photo opportunities looking over the town towards Edinburgh on the other side of the Forth Estuary.

Although the stone tower dates back to the 15th century the clock is of more modern origin, and has been replaced several times.

The houses beside the church grounds also have some wonderful aesthetics.

I love this "wizard's hat" steeple, it gives this building an enchanted fairy tale look to it.

I imagine this seal on the building is the seal of some important Freemasonic lodge.It looks incredibly well-weathered.

This is the building shot from the front in all its Freemasonic fairytale grandeur. Surprisingly I cant find to much information on this building other than it was built sometime in the 18th century.

Let's head inside and take a look at the interior of the Church.

One of the first things we notice is the impressive stained glass windows that adorn all sides of the church and flood the building with light and color. Some of these windows date back to the late 1800s but most of them are much more modern adornments.

To the left of the stage, we see a model of the church. Im unsure of its origin but it makes for a pretty cool focal point.

Another noteworthy sight in the interior of the church is this impressive late 19th-century organ.

In 1885, the church was being equipped with a new oak pulpit which had to be brought forward to allow the organ to be located behind it. The organ was built and installed by August Gern in the same year 1885. August Gern was a German trained by the famous French organ-builders of Cavaille-Coll. He came to Britain to build one organ but stayed on to build many more, only about ten of which were built in Scotland.

One noteworthy story about the church is the disaster that happened in the Summer of 1828.

As a crowd of 1500 rose and leaned forward to see the now famous preacher Rev . Edward Irving the beams supporting the gallery collapsed, 2 people were killed during the fall and a further 26 died in the chaos that ensued.In total 150 people were injured. The church is said to be haunted by a few phantoms,some of which are thought to have been linked to this tragic event.

On this particular visit to the Old Kirk, I was attending an event hosted by my mother. She is a founding member of the Langtoun Jazz committee and on this evening they were hosting a band from Dundee called SCuba which is a Latin Jazz quintet.I like to think the spirits that haunt the church get to enjoy these concerts for free :).

As the band was setting up and rehearsing I was busy taking photographs and filming the church and surrounding area.

Lets head back outside and take a look at some of the historic gravestones in the churchyard.
Outside in the churchyard, we find this map that highlights some historically important graves.

As I am learning fun facts about Kirkcaldys famous deceased the sun starts setting over the churchyard.

I take a few minutes to take shots of the more photogenic stones in the churchyard.

This grave has an interesting design. Can you guess why the stone is elevated above the grave like this?

It was a method of deterring graverobbers back when fresh corpses were worth a lot of money to Universities.

As I am heading out of the churchyard towards the stairs that lead to the street known as Kirkwynd I spot a rather curious grave next to this house.

The stone simply reads "The Burying Ground of A & E Simpson" and I cant help but think of Grandpa Abe Simpson from the TV Show.

At the bottom of the stairs that lead onto Kirkwynd we come to the location of the new hipster hotspot in town.

Jock's Grill House ,home to what many folks are calling the best burgers in Fife.

This place opened in the spring of 2022 ,I have been meaning to visit it since and finally got a chance to do so while the band was setting up and rehearsing in the church.

The decor here is very eye-catching and undeniably hipster.

On this occasion, both my father and I decided to try "Jock's Rarebit Burger" the cheapest burger on the menu at £13.95. The beef from these burgers comes from a renowned butcher's which is located just around the corner from the grillhouse. This Puddledub beef is something I need to acquire for my own burger creations this summer.

The next time I visit this grill house I want to try the Black Magic Burger, I gotta see that Black charcoal brioche bun and see if this offering is worth the staggering £17.95 asking price.

While we wait for our rarebit burgers we order some drinks. Its worth noting that the grill house doesn't have an alcohol license, they only serve soft drinks and mocktails. However, they have a partnership with Kraft Wines which is situated next door.

You can bring drinks into the grill house from Kraftys if you want a fancy up-market beverage with your burger. On this occasion, I settle for a J20 Orange and passionfruit, and my father orders a Victorian Lemonade.

The fries here are delicious,I guess they have a beef dripping coating that makes them extra crispy. They are served with chilli and herb mayo which tastes fantastic,a perfect chip dip.

The burger certainly has the looks of a gourmet hipster burger. This is the first time I have had a pretzel bun .I feel this is going to be the standard I judge all burgers by from now on. It gets a solid 9/10 from me.

I open the burger up to show that it's loaded with toppings. Romain lettuce on the bottom is a touch of class, a good burger chef knows its always lettuce on the bottom.3 nice chunky pickles is also a neccesitie of a good burger. The Arann cheddar sauce is certainly preferred over the standard sliced burger cheese.

The extra thick Puddledub beef pattie seals the deal, this certainly is a very tasty gourmet burger.

On this occasion, we didn't have time or room in our stomachs for dessert but I did get this shot of some of their offerings.

Take note of the skull full of complementary chocolate-mint coins.

We picked up a bottle of wine from Krafys which cost a staggering £12.99 , a bit pricey in my opinion but Latin Jazz needs to be accompanied by red wine so we picked this bottle up.

At the end of the video above I have included a few minutes of the Jazz Quintets set so you get an idea of the atmosphere that evening.

Overall this evening was a good end to the Spring break season.I hoped you guys enjoyed the post and the video. :)

This weekend I have been trying to come up with a version of Micheal Jacksons "You are not alone".
Its a song I have to challenge myself to sing way high up with the capo on the 8th fret.

I thought it can work well for this weeks theme of "A Good Friend".
If we have at least one good friend in this increasingly strange world than we truly are not alone.

I hope you guys will enjoy my version of this beautiful song.

I took inspiration for the chords and lyrics for my version here.
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/michael-jackson/you-are-not-alone-chords-657042
Ive changed a few things around as the key change was proving difficult but I have had fun trying a version of the song this week.

"You Are Not Alone"

Song by Michael Jackson

Another day has gone
I'm still all alone
How could this be?
You're not here with me
You never said goodbye
Someone tell me why
Did you have to go?
And leave my world so cold

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away?
Something whispers in my ear and says

That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone

All alone, why?
All alone

Just the other night
I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come
And hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers
Your burdens I will bear
But first I need your hand
Then forever can begin

Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away?
Something whispers in my ear and says
That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you're far away
I am here to stay
But you are not alone
I am here with you
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart
But you are not alone

All alone, why?
All alone

All alone, why?
All alone

All alone, why?

The video above is a collection of footage shot on 3 separate days while staying in the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire.

The area highlighted here starts at the stone bridge which crosses the River Skell. This particular area of the city was a short stroll from the market square where my hotel was located and as such I found myself wandering down this beautiful riverside walk a few times during my week-long stay.

This is a shot taken on Bondgate Green,the road that crosses the bridge

A shot looking up the river from the top of the bridge.

As we walk under the bridge and along the riverside I stop to take some shots of the surrounding area.

The ducks seem to love this area, every time I passed there were many ducks frolicking in the river water.

These shots were all taken in the first week of April when the surrounding flora is blossoming and attracting the local wildlife.

Right next to the stone bridge lies the remains of what looks like an even older crossing. Much of what is left appears to have been washed away.

The people who own property here are truly blessed with their location. Take a minute to appreciate these shots of back gardens that have seating areas looking onto the river.

In the first garden, we can see this incredible piece of driftwood which I imagine has been pulled from the river. It almost looks like some sort of prehistoric avian creature or sea monster!

At many points on this stretch of the river, we are treated to stunning views of the nearby Ripon Cathedral. The presence of this Cathedral is what grants Ripon its status as a city.

Strolling along the riverside for a few more minutes we come to a more modern wooden bridge that offers more fantastic views of the Cathedral

When crossing the wooden bridge from the Cathedral side we see this rather inviting riverside eatery.

This wonderfully located little place is called The Water Rat Restaurant & Bar

The front room which looks out over the outdoor seating area has a beautiful little fireplace that instantly gives the whole building a wonderful feeling of coziness and homeliness, it is very welcoming indeed.

The decor inside adds to this warm and welcoming feeling, especially on a rainy day.

On my first visit here I only had a cup of tea , it was mid-afternoon and I wasn't all that hungry.

Its worth mentioning that I made the mistake of thinking this pot of white powder in a mason jar was sugar when it is in fact salt. When do you normally use a teaspoon to get salt out of a mason jar? I have a feeling Im, not the first person to make this mistake. I put salt in my tea and wondered why it tasted terrible,I had to get the waitress to add more water to the teapot after explaining what I had done.

-One could be forgiven for thinking this is white and brown sugar when its actually salt and pepper-

There is an assortment of baked goods on offer.

It really is a wonderful place to sit for an afternoon, relaxing with coffee and cake and watching life and the river flow by.

In the evening it's a great place to watch the sunset light up the sky during the magic hour.

On my second visit while waiting for our food to arrive I became fascinated with the magic hour light reflection in some windows on the other side of the river.

The menu is well-priced for most of the main courses and sides.

My Dad decided to try the Fish Pie with Parmesan Mash and Garden Peas which he felt was overpriced and not quite worth the £15.95

My mother went for the Fish & Chips which all 3 of us agreed is the best value of the 3 mains we tried. This dish cost a very respectable £12.95, the haddock was delicious, the batter was ridiculously crispy and tasty and it was served with a generous portion of hand-cut chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. If you are ever in the area this dish is certainly worth stopping by to check out.


Just look at those devilishly good chunky chips!

I decided to try the Gourmet Burger which is served with Monterey Jack Cheese, Bacon, and fries for £13.95

Although a little on the expensive side I did enjoy the burger here.I did however feel it would have been better with some ketchup, mustard and mayo as it was a little on the dry side due to how thick the beef pattie is.

Still on presentation and the sheer size of this thing I have to give it a solid score of 8/10.

An Italian Morretti beer will always be my go-to accompaniment of such a nice burger.

As we were finishing our meal and getting ready to leave ,the sunset lit up the sky over the cathedral which I ran out to get footage and pictures of.

The Cathedral looked so pretty bathed in the pink and orange skies , almost like something out of a fairytale.

Well folks , that is the end of this chapter of our adventures in North Yorkshire. Stay tuned for more Ripon adventures real soon.I shot around 16 gigabytes worth of footage and photographs which I will be working through over the coming weeks.

I think this theme of ""Al Dios Que Adoramos" (The God We Worship)" is well timed considering yesterday was Easter Sunday.

All around us now we are seeing new growth and the rebirth of nature exploding all around us.

I look forward to seeing what songs of worship the community will bring out this week.

For my entry I wanted to sing "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" on my nylon guitar Sundown.

Sundowns been feeling a wee bit neglected since I restrung my Takimine guitar, so I figure she should be the one to sing this song with me.

This song is a traditional gospel and jazz standard song that has been performed by many artists over the years including Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline.

I tried editing in some footage of St Drostans church which I have a clear view of from my rooftop window. The tower of this church was built in the Norman era of the late 12th century, the rest of the church dating to the 17 and 18th centuries.I figured an over rooftops zoom shot of the church would suit the song.

I hope you guys enjoy my version of this wonderful little gospel tune.

"Just A Closer Walk With Thee"

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied just as long
As I walk, dear lord close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, its my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Thro' this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, its my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, its my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied just as long
As I walk, dear lord close to Thee.

So Spring is in the air once agian , the nights are getting longer ,the air is sweet with the scent of blossoming flowers and live music nights are coming back to my neck of the woods.

A few weeks ago I went for a Sunday pub lunch at a place called th Balgonie Arms which is a short walk from my house

While there I learned they plan to hold open mic Sunday sessions starting today , April 9th. I plan to check out these live sessions soon , this week I am to broke to go along to the pub.I just got back from a week long stay in the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire which has depleted most of my cash. I will likely need a week or 2 to build some money up before I can head along to the Sunday session.

So in the mean time I figured I would dig through my old song book and try playing some songs I havent played in a while in an attempt to find some inspiration to make a couple of new sets to take to one of these sessions.

The song Im playing in this video is my version of "Brennan On The Moor" an old Irish folk song that tells the tale of William "Willy" Brennan who was a real historical figure.Brennan was an infamous outlaw much like Robin Hood in England, he would steal from rich noblemen and give to the poor.

He was caught by the authorities and hung in Cork ,Ireland sometime in the early 19th centuary.

This song which is of unknown authorship is though to date to sometime between 1830 and the late 1850's.

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem made the song popular while giging in New York City in the late 1950's and early 1960's.A young Bob Dylan used to attend these Clany brothers concerts and ended up writing a version of the song which he titled "Rambling Gambling Willie".
Dylan change the lyrics of the song to be about a gambler known as Will 'O' Connelly but he kept the same melodic structure as the origigal tune.

This is my version of this wonderful old ballad of the life and times of a legendary outlaw.

"Brennan On The Moor"

Oh it's of a brave young highway man this story we will tell
His name was Willie Brennan and in Ireland he did dwell
'Twas on the Kilwood Mountains he commenced his wild career
And many a wealthy noble man before him shook with fear.

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

One day upon the highway as Willie went down
He met the Mayor of Cashel, a mile outside the town
The Mayor, he knew his features, and he said, 'young man', said he
'Your name is Willie Brennan you must come along with me.

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

Now Brennan's wife had gone to town, provisions for to buy
And when she saw young Brennan she commenced to weep and cry
He said, "Hand to me that tenpenny", as soon as Willie spoke
She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak.

For young Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

Then with this loaded Blunderbuss, the truth I will unfold
He made the Mayor to tremble and robbed him of his gold
One hundred pounds was offered for his apprehension there
So he with horse and saddle to the mountains did repair.

Did young Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

Now Brennan being an outlaw upon the mountain high
With cavalry and infantry to take him they did try
He Laughed at them with scorn until at last 'twas said
By a falsehearted he was cruelly betrayed.

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor

They took Brennan to the crossroads and there he hung and died
But its to this day in the moonlight theres folks that see him ride
They see him with his bluderbuss all in the midnight chill
All along the kingshighway rides Willy Brennan still!

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor

While roaming the streets of Ripon in North Yorkshire this past Tuesday night I happened to find a bar and restaurant called So! Bar & Eats which is not far from the market square in the center of the city.

In this fine establishment, I discovered the elusive Beavertown Neck Oil.I have been hearing stories about this craft IPA from a couple of my friends who play music at the Captains Rest Bar on Edinburgh Royal Mile. At the Captains they have this on tap, it's a place I have yet to visit although I have a feeling I will find myself there at some point this year.

I was delighted to find this cozy little North Yorkshire pub offered me the opportunity to finally sample this hard-to-find nectar.I felt compelled to document this finding by recording some footage which is nicely accompanied by Phil Collins "Par Time Lover" coming on the jukebox.

I got acquainted with this refreshing beverage in the candlelight of the bar. The taste here is very much a citrus situation with wonderful orange and pineapple flavors coming through. It is incredibly smooth and easy to drink which is what I assume gives it the "neck oil" moniker.

This was one of the more expensive beers available here at £5.80 a pint. The only higher-priced option is something called Gamma Ray at £6.25.

As I was leaving the bar I stopped to take a shot of this unusual sight, a plexiglass window in the floor offers us a view of the kegs of ale in the cellar below

If ever you find this elusive specimen in the wild be sure to have one for me...bottoms up!