Shorter posts, links, or thoughts. No schedule, not heavily considered.
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Breathe and stop
It’s easy to get swept along by life, to grab on to things and go where the current takes you but that’s different from choosing where you want to go, even if that means you have to let go of some things and work hard to keep to your own course. Breathe. The above sentence…
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Why I am not quitting Facebook
Sometimes when I’m writing for this blog, it feels like there is a conspiracy going on to make me think about, and write about, a particular topic. So with that in mind I will happily concede that this post was inspired by Lipstick Lori (who is writing some great stuff at the moment!) writing about…
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Six by Nico: Childhood
Six weeks have past, and it’s time for a new menu at Six by Nico! They announced this menu the same night we visited last time, and after such a stellar start I was keen to get back but a little nervous in case it wasn’t quite up to the same standard. Mind you, it’s…
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My First Kiss
The names have been changed to protect the innocent I was eleven when I had my first kiss. Eleven going on eight, as all boys are at that age, our childishness thrown into stark relief against the maturity of the girls in our class. Eleven going on sixteen as we faked our way to maturity.…
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Bits and bobs
AKA stuff that should probably be tweets. The restorative powers of hanging out with a toddler should not be underestimated. Even is she is currently, essentially, a tiny drunk shouty dictator. She is also as cute as a button. Since moving to a flat with a west facing living room window, I seem to have…
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Rose Royce
Every now and then I get the notion to wash my car by hand. However as it doesn’t happen very often that equates to taking it to one of those DIY car washes with the high pressure hose and soapy brush (ohhh I do like a soapy brush!) option. So that was how I found…
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The Dark Side of the gym
View this post on Instagram “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” It was a chilly Wednesday evening. The clouds overhead muted the world to dull colours and greys. I can remember driving their on the first night, the churning in the…
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April in review
Lived Highlights Six by Nico New sofa arrived Bought a new car Hung out with a rock star Survived more Boot Camp and lost some weight Stepcount: 285,483. Read Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee I only read one book last month, and this was it. The choice of book club and it was…
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I want choices and I want them now
Modern life is consumption. Modern life is the internet. Modern life is choice. Choose everything. Get exactly what you want. When you want. At a cost. This is where we are as consumers. If I can find something online, and it’s what I want, I can order it and it arrives at my door in…
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Contemplation
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gordon McLean (@gmclean) Crisp morning air snaps at my exposed legs, gravel scrunches under my feet. I start the timer and head off, full of purpose on this bright Sunday morning. It’s cold in the shade of the trees but I know I will warm soon…
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Write way forward
This year I’ve deliberately kept to a schedule here on this blog. Tuesdays and Thursdays I post something, Saturdays are for the Weekend Reading compilations, so aside from monthly roundups, I’ve gotten into a routine of writing. That was the point, to make myself write more. Sometimes it’s a bit forced, but sometimes it feels…
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Happily Downsized
My recent move to a smaller flat was prompted by a few factors but I decided to use it as a chance to downsize and minimise my belongings. Moving from a large roomed two bedroom flat to a small roomed one bedroom flat made more sense financially, and enforced a level of de-cluttering . That…
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Six by Nico: The Chippie
TL;DR – my tweet from last night: I'm not sure I have the superlatives to describe that meal from @SixbyNico. Suffice to say we've already booked for the next menu! — Gordon McLean (@Gordonnnnn11) April 11, 2017 Despite the fact the ‘parent’ restaurant (111 by Nico) was a 2 minute walk from my last flat,…
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Boot Camp
Two down, eighteen to go! I wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into when I signed up for the Summer Boot Camp at AG Fitness, but with the first week complete I’m (already) glad I did. The sessions – run on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings – are HIIT based (oh yeah, I’ve…
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An iPad is not a computer
Last year I bought a 12.9″ iPad Pro to replace an ageing 2012 MacBook Air which, like its owner, is noticeably slowing as time passes. I did my usual round of research before making the jump. I love my MacBook, is does everything I need but the screen is a shortcoming, especially these days switching…
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Getting Help
I’m not depressed. I’m not suicidal. I’m not unhappy. I just felt a bit stuck. So I’m getting some help and have been going to counselling the past few weeks. I’m not going into much/any detail here, that’s not what this post is about. This post is about me saying that I am receiving counselling,…
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March In Review
Lived Highlights Moved into my new flat. Saw Russell Howard on his current tour Was at a comedy gig (see above) where a fight broke out! Got some major tattoo envy at the Scottish Tattoo Convention (but no tattoo) Stepcount: 314,071. Read Highlight – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Bachman No idea why I…
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Tick Tock
Tick tock I have a clock in every room. Apparently this is a bit weird, at least according to my colleagues at work. I’m not sure exactly when it became weird though; I don’t think it was mentioning the fact I have a clock in the living room, or the one in the bedroom, but…
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Laugh like no-one is listening
The older I get the fewer fucks I give. I know I will be whatever old man I end up being, but part of me hopes I’ll be an eccentric. Another part of me thinks I’ll just be a bit grumpy, and yet another part of me hopes I’ll expand my tendency towards silliness. This…
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Fast Food
OK, confession time. I have a go to, super quick meal that I eat about once a month. It’s not the healthiest, but it’s not bad for you*, and it can be ready in a few mins (depending on how long your kettle takes to boil). Gosh, I feel quite nervous about this, this is…