Family men of folk
MUSIC festival Celtic Connections ended yesterday after another great year.
Our contact tells us that Irish bodhran player Eamon Murray from the group Beoga took his three-month-old daughter to a Glasgow cafe for breakfast where the lovely local behind the counter found the little one so adorable that she waived the bill.
As Eaomon later described it: “It’s great. Twelve weeks old and she’s already earning her keep.”
And Mike Ritchie passes on: “Excellent American singer/songwriter Nathan Bell told his Oran Mor audience that his guitar strap, specially made for him, has the words ‘Family Man’ on it. Nathan added, ‘In Holland, one gentleman said it was a good strap as it would keep the young women at bay. Strangely enough a plain brown leather one did that as well’.”
Groaning over greens
WE mentioned the vegetable shortage due to a bad winter in Spain, and it led to the daftness of a reader emailing: “This European lettuce shortage is exactly why I voted Romaine.”
A question of size
OUR tales about Glasgow sports shop Greaves reminds David Muirie: “Years ago, when a hockey goalkeeper, I went to Greaves to buy a goalkeeper’s box – a garment designed to protect the family jewels. I was somewhat nonplussed when the pretty young assistant asked what size I wanted. I replied, ‘Large of course’. To which she responded, ‘Sir, large is the smallest size we stock’.”
Boozy booksellers
WRITER Deedee Cuddihy tells us that the Sauchiehall Street branch of booksellers Waterstone’s is applying for an alcohol licence so that it can sell booze at future book events, although not every day, more’s the pity. Seems the staff are looking forward to it.
Says Deedee: “One of the staff had a previous life as a mixologist and is looking forward to making Great Gatsby cocktails if they decide to have an F. Scott Fitzgerald event.”
I’m hoping for a Buckfast night when the next Glasgow crime novel is launched.
Amazon recommends...
TALKING of books, do you ever get annoyed with Amazon sending you constant suggestions after you buy something from them?
Says Martin Morrison: “I’ve just received another pointless email from Amazon enticing me to buy something I don’t want. This time the subject field said ‘Amazon recommends Dirk Gently’. Nah, I prefer to give it a good firm push and twist.”
Hospital radio request
WE really have to bring our hospital radio stories to an end after Norrie Christie felt the need to remind us: “There was the fellow who was in hospital having his toes amputated due to severe frostbite. He was an Al Jolson fan and put in a request for any song by his favourite artiste. Unknowingly, the DJ played, ‘Toot, toot tootsie, goodbye.”
Trump the Musical songs
WE asked what songs should appear in Trump the Musical if it was ever made and readers responded with gusto: l The Drifters: Comb over to my place (Douglas Kirkham) l Pink Floyd: Another brick in the wall (David McMillan) l Tom Jones: What’s New Pussy Cat? (Maureen Hutchison) l Mary Martin: I’m Gonna Wash That Dye Right Outa My Hair (Christine Brooks).
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