Where’s that phone? Check email. Check messages. Check the news. Check the weather. Check Amazon. Check eBay. Check Facebook. Check Istigram. Twitter. What’s app. LinkedIn. Check the bank – shit.

5am. Check email.⏰

If I were a watchmaker I might choose Automaton as the name for my 2021 model.

It would measure exactly each movement of my day. It would check my pulse repeatedly whilst I hung on every word in the daily Covid briefing.

It would measure my length of stride when on my daily exercise walks and squawk if someone got too near.

The tick would match my heartbeat when I woke in the middle of the night, as now, and force me to my phone, as if predictive. ⏰

Just a wee thumbs up for those interested in creative writing and self-publishing, it is my intention to run a series of 6 webinars on writing for self-publishing.

The 6 x 1hr sessions (1 per week) will begin in April and be held on Zoom for webinar.

There will be a detailed programme published in February and participants will be able to book for one session or for all six at a reduced cost. There will also be a short You-Tube video introduction to give interested parties an insight into the course.

Please continue to check my social media for information or email me at alanfpaddison@gmail.com for updates.

Thank you, Alan

What a year. Did you hear the music? That steady down beat so sad music of humanity.

That song, that lullaby of the soul. The one the sends our souls to sleep.

No more your torturous cords, quite down you sirens of disquiet.

A New Year is coming! Sing out you human choir and drown that dreadful sound.

Let love and life abound.

Of all the words I could use to describe the build up to this Christmas, words that describe isolation, frustration, hopelessness, fear and bewilderment, the one that continually comes to mind is kindness.

Whether on walks in the park, distanced from others by the two metre obligation, or when meeting delivery drivers at the front door I am constantly struck by their genuine smile and greeting. No word can describe these events more to me than kindness.

Meeting neighbours across a fence or finding a plate of mince pies or chocolates lying at the door as the echo of the doorbell dies away, and no sign of the giver.

With all we have to cope with, which might have made this the worst Christmas ever, it becomes more manageable, more human, more profound by that action we describe as kindness.

If Santa delivers Working for Josh this Christmas, does that mean that sales will go through the roof?

Dear Readers, it pleases me no end to announce that the paperback version of Working for Josh is now live and for sale on the Amazon bookshelf.

Wishing you all a safe winter and a joyous and peaceful festive season! Alan😊

Dear loyal and patient readers, at last I can announce that Working for Josh is out Kindle version on Amazon.

The paperback should follow in the next few days, all being well.

I do hope you enjoy the story and find it worth waiting for.

Alan

As some of you will know, many of my characters are prone to a Scotch pie or two.
Well the news last week that a pie shop in Leith has produced a chicken, haggis and Irn-Bru pie has really got them talking.
Even Rebecca was heard comparing it to Chicken Balmoral. Though she did say she’ll be sticking with Sushi for the foreseeable future.
For the rest of the crew the verdict is out, but only until they can meet up again in the office.
Tracey said she cannae concentrate on anything while working from home, let alone pies, as Harry is daen her heid in.
But with the easing of lockdown approaching I hope to be able to let you know the result of their coming taster session soon enough.
Bet ye cannae wait.