The first reviews of #ToBeHereSomeday, the new book I’ve written with ⁦@deaconbluemusic⁩, are in. (From ⁦@reallorraine⁩, another real (gone) Lorraine and ⁦@rickyaross⁩).

In today’s @Sunday_Post, I’m in Port Glasgow to find out about the return of The Comet, the revolutionary little paddle steamer which changed the world, and put a Clydeside town on the maritime history map. #buyapaper

Scotland winning their first game in a World Cup for 36 years, at the first World Cup Scotland qualify for in 28 years being greeted by a round of ‘aye but we were absolutely shite’ from pundits and analysts talking about what Scotland need to do to be better against two teams who are much better than Scotland is buttoned-up-the-back. Overhead kicks and 50 yard goals lost to the memory. Midfield rotten. Defence abysmal. Possession terrible. XG rank. Steve Clark got it wrong. Again. Chain up the swings. Hair shirts for all. They know the script when they get nothing, go nowhere, but the Tartan Army play keepy uppy with a cop or go down a chute in a kilt playing bagpipes. It’s an affliction to be better at moaning than winning. And it’s a total beamer.

From concept to curtain-up, Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit In, which I conceived for @NTSonline and @TronTheatre with playwright Frances Poet, has been an epic experience in all senses of the word. Carrying the story of these Inverclyde women (and men) who successfully took on ‘The Man’ onto the national stage, touring the country, has been a long road, and one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever been part of. I first met these women over a decade ago for an interview in the @Daily_Record, and took their story to NTS with an idea for a play. We didn’t need to look far for role models when it came to keeping the end of a long haul in sight. Working with writer Frances and director @jemimalevick, as well as the most talented cast of actors you could dream of to carry such an important story, has been an unforgettable experience. This week’s finale, at Beacon Arts Centre, was performed to several full houses, featuring many of the women from the factory. The atmosphere was hard to describe - having toured around the country, this emotional story of determination, loss, empowerment and community came home to the most unique vibe I’ve ever known in a theatre. The multi-talented cast, Aron Dochard, Chara Sparkes, Jo Freer, Maddie Grieve, Shonagh Murray and Hannah Jarret-Scott played, sang and delivered every moment brilliantly, ‘Greenock’s no bad fae up here.’ They’re all Inverclyders, now. Takes one to know one. #standanddeliver #theleejeanssitin

In today’s @Daily_Record my story about comedy stars Sanjeev Kohli @govindajeggy and Tom Urie on their Scottish World Cup song…

Seeing the story of the Lee Jeans sit-in touring the country has been brilliant, especially seeing audiences’ reactions to the incredible story of Helen Monaghan, Maggie Wallace and the hundreds of workers who fought The Man for their jobs in 1981. The play, which I conceived with writer Frances Poet, directed by Jemima Levick, is heading home for a grand finale in Greenock this week at @thebeaconarts. In today’s @Sunday_Mail, I speak to the cast, as well as Helen and Maggie, about taking one of the most important stories of Clydeside industry back to where it all began. #standanddeliver #leejeans @NTSonline @TronTheatre

Cup final weekend in Glasgow, and two former stars of Notre Dame High School team in Greenock are facing off against each other. Josh Cooper and Luke McCowan’s teachers spoke to me for this report ahead of Dunfermline v Celtic at Hampden for @BBCRadioScot

When I interviewed Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson for this @BigIssue piece about The High Life’s triumphant return on the @NTSonline stage, I was intrigued by this claim. Now that I’ve seen it, I understand completely. It’s in Glasgow for a few days yet.

‘My voice and his hands worked together.’ Ad he returns to Edinburgh to sing in a new play, @deaconbluemusic’s Ricky Ross spoke to me about football, community and the last time he performed in the city with the band’s keyboard player Jim Prime. For @thetimes thetimes.com/uk/scotland/art…

‘James Watt’s steam engine, Henry Bell’s Comet, the QE2 fit-out, Abraham ‘Tate &’ Lyle, Auld’s rolls, Morton. And the women from the Lee Jeans sit-in.’ When you start your journalism career back on home turf at @greenocktele there are certain Inverclyde legends you learn about quickly. As Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit In begins its run at @TronTheatre before touring Scotland for @NTSonline, I wound back the clock to the point where the thought that this should be a stage show struck me, in this piece for today’s @heraldscotland. heraldscotland.com/life_styl…

On the final day of filming on River City, I spoke to executive producer Martin McCardie about the team’s plans to transition to minute-long ‘vertical dramas.’ In today’s @thetimes. thetimes.com/uk/scotland/art…

Tune in to @BBCPM tonight from 7.15pm. Frances Poet & I will be talking about Stand & Deliver: The Lee Jeans Sit It, the play we’ve worked on for @NTSonline & @TronTheatre

I walked the West Island Way across and around Bute in memory of my dad. Wrote about it in The Scots magazine. I kept the @Beatson_Charity fundraising page open until the article was published, which it has been. It’s a great walk, but not without its challenges. Having done it, my main advice is try not to miss the last Sunday ferry off the island. The link is active for a couple of weeks more if anyone would like to help with the fundraiser. The Beatson gave my dad 17 great years after his diagnosis. It wouldn’t have happened without them. gofundme.com/f/west-island-w… #westislandway #bute

‘He’s pretty unremitting with me sometimes. His character’s not afraid, he’s not likeable. And he delivers that bang on.’ Brian Cox spoke to me about why he chose his son to play his on-screen father, for this interview in @Sunday_Mail. dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainm…

In today’s @sunday_mail Brian Cox tells me how he drew on his son’s character to play Hannibal Lecter, and why he cast him to play his father in new Scottish whisky flick Glenrothan. #buyapaper