Writing

The Pomodoro Technique is a simple and effective way to help concentrate on tasks for intense bursts of time. It’s named after the tomato (‘pomodoro’ in Italian) shaped kitchen timer the technique’s inventor used. The average concentration span has seen a steep decrease in recent years with many studies citing Continue Reading

Published in Shetland Life magazine in February 2018 entitled “Count your blessings” Editorial: Bryan Peterson is perhaps better known as a party animal than a self-help guru. In recent years, however, he has developed a more reflective approach to life which he will be sharing with our readers over the Continue Reading

Published in Shetland Life magazine, December 2016 I don’t want to come across as a grinchy humbugger. I really do like Christmas. What could be a finer way to spend time than relaxing with friends and family with good food and some drams when the weather is fierce outside? But Continue Reading

Published in Shetland Life magazine in November 2016 During my stint as an electrician on Glaswegian building sites I was party to several conversations with colleagues who had an even shallower appreciation of food than I did. Debates included, “Why does milk hae a cow as a logo. Is there Continue Reading

Between moonwalking ponies and murderous primetime drama, Shetland has had a very high media profile of late. Whilst the TV two-parter ‘Shetland’ has had a mixed reception locally and critically, Socks the prancing pony in the 3 Mobile advert has received almost universal praise. What’s not to like about a Continue Reading

As someone who has been a supporter of Mareel for many years, firstly as a local musician then as Shetland Arts’ Music Development Officer, I’ve seen the project being blamed for all manner of local ills. School closures, cutbacks in road gritting, music tuition charges – you name it, Mareel Continue Reading

If you’re reading this, then we’ve survived the ‘end of the world’ prophesied for 21st December 2012 by apocalyptic Mayan calendar misinterpreters. I’m writing this article towards the tail end of the day and we seem to have got away with it. I was starting to think there was maybe Continue Reading

I’m delighted to be sitting in Mareel’s cafe bar as I write this month’s article. I’ve just finished work here for the day, which today mostly comprised delivering lectures to NC and HNC music students, working through some event bookings with a local promoter and helping organise an exchange visit Continue Reading

When the editor let me know that there would be a bit of cycling theme this month, I thought that would be the push I needed to dust off my old bike and take her for a hurl. I had grand visions of my cycling companions and I effortlessly gliding Continue Reading