running.

The process of writing lyrics has taken place as thus - running, writing down ideas, accumulating the results then arranging them in concept and rhyme. Quite a long process. 

Murakami  and Gladwell have both recently spoken of the benefits of running as catharsis, and personally I agree - most ideas come naturally to me when running (or walking), particularly when the direction is aimless. 

My favourite time of day is twilight, or, as I recently read Terrence Malick calls it, "the Magic Hour". Nesto Almendros wrote of it on the set of "Days of Heaven", hailing it "a euphemism, because it's not an hour but around 25 minutes at the most. It is the moment when the sun sets, and after the sun sets and before it is night. The sky has light, but there is no actual sun. The light is very soft, and there is something magic about it. It limited us to around twenty minutes a day, but it did pay on the screen. It gave some kind of magic look, a beauty and romanticism." This is the best time of year to experience this, when the sun is furthest away and the light refracts round the earth at strained angle. 

The other day I ran up Arthur's Seat at this time, thinking I was alone, only to find a fox at the top. A fox atop the summit! The hanging valley between the two hilltops is incredible, where at one time assumedly a glacier slid down and carved out the land. If I were a fox, I'd hang out up there too. 

christmas.

Moving home for Christmas to avoid working and being miserable. Also a chance to finish the album. For good.

Recording studio - shed.

Running/catharsis - old railway line.

Listening: Fennesz new album. 

haunted church.

Having heard footsteps going up and down a staircase somewhere in Viewforth Church, when all alone, I became convinced it was haunted. I'm not even sure I believe in ghosts, but the place has always had a strange atmosphere. It was initially the sounds from the balcony, as if someone was periodically standing there, that made me feel uneasy. I was also locked out of the church on the same day as the footsteps, with bolt, which could be easily explained but was very unusual. 

It was only last night when someone I met told me his girlfriend wouldn't walk past the church, positively hated having to go near it... anyway I've always suspected spectres could be figments, or projections of our imaginations. I was told that the site of the church had a previous history of paganism, but I have no idea, nor care if this rings true. 

I've been planning on recording an album called "Most Haunted" for a while. Maybe I'll make this the next one.

travel to jesus h gigs

horrible. in a dark, cold van on the motorway. alone.

church recording at dusk is beautiful.