It’s the first day of October ’26. I’m a writer for fun and profit. I live in Glasgow where today the sun shines brightly.
Projects
I’m working on Issue 20 of New Escapologist, my magazine for likeminded wastrels with unearned aristocratic sensibilities.
I’m tinkering with a secret American side project. Shhhh.
And Stewart Lee is saying extraordinary things about our film.
Travel
We’re planning to spend the end of the year at our volcano lair (in-laws’ spare room) in Montreal. 🌋
Friend J just asked me to join him for some days meandering at Berlin Jazz Fest. Shall I go? The money would be better spent going somewhere I haven’t been before, I think, but it would be so much fun. Thinking about it
Reading
I’m reading some high-brow stuff at the moment: Chris Claremont’s yonks-long X-Men tenure and Stephen King’s Christine as part of my madcap project to read every Kingler.
You can see what I’m reading at any given minute here.
Culture
My X-Men readin’ is accompanied by the very funny Ex-Men podscarf. 🎸 “TRANS GIRLS! / EX-MEN! / REBORN AND CHEATING DEATH! / TRANS GIRLS! / MUTANTS! / CIS-GENDER’S FINAL DEATH! / NOW / WE’RE / EX-MEN!” 🤘
Spooky Season is here, which means its time for Samara and me to munch our way through the candy corn that is our 2026 horror hit list. There’s some obvious stuff in there like Backrooms (2026), but there’s plenty of weirdness including a 1966 Shatner flick presented entirely in Esperanto.
Speaking of film, I just saw Bad Apples at the GFT, which was great, but whenever I type “apples” I inadvertently type “applies.” This guy recommends Bad Applies. 🍎🍏🍏
Off to see Jon Ronson on Saturday.
Physical Form
This is me (right) with Mark Carwright and Michael Cumming on 19th September for our Melt It! screening at Brewery Arts Kendal.
And this is also me (right) with Samara at the Sparkle Horse pub in Glasgow this week. Pic by Alan.
