After savoring Still Game over three years, rationing out episodes like a fine whiskey, I finally watched the finale (Series 9, Episode 6 - Over the Hill) a few nights ago. Friends and fellow fans of the show warned me it was one of the saddest endings they’d seen, but I found it utterly brilliant.
Without spoiling it, the way it mirrors life’s fleeting roles—how we shine, then fade—hit me hard. Jack, Victor, Tam, Winston, Isa, Boabby, and the colorful recurring cast have become like old friends. I haven’t loved a show this much since the warm, fuzzy, cathode-ray TV days of my 1970s/’80s childhood. There’s only one sensible move now. Start the series from the beginning and relive the old Craiglang magic.
Light It Up
I’ve dusted off my DIY hat and have been getting used to this homeownership-role again. There’s never a dull moment or a week where there isn’t some kind of project to work on. Recently I’ve been replacing the exterior lighting on the house.
The main challenge for me has been I got rid of a majority of my tools when we sold our last house in 2015, thinking I’d never need them again. I managed to install these lights with a Leatherman multitool and have to say it worked better than I imagined. This was a good reminder that I don’t need a toolbox full of expensive tools for most of the jobs I’ll be doing around here.
We had a very tough time finding mission-style lights with an oil rubbed bronze finish. It seems both the style and the bronze finish have fallen out of fashion. To my surprise, it’s equally as difficult finding ceiling light fixtures that you can replace the light bulbs in. We discovered an increasing number of home improvement stores sell light fixtures that are sealed so when the LEDs stop working you have to throw away the entire fixture and buy a new one. It seems ridiculous to me and a huge step backwards in terms of the environment.
Post-Birthday Shenanigans
Our son, very generously, gave me gift cards for my birthday. Gift cards are so much fun for me because I spend them more freely than I do with my own money.
I was glancing at these two cards as I was eating breakfast this morning and it struck me how even as we age we still have that younger version of ourselves that whispers in our ears from time-to-time who thinks only about fun (trouble). It can be conflicting at times. I smiled as I thought to myself, these two gift cards are my passport to post-birthday shenanigans. Then my older, more rational, and wiser self reminded me of how excruciatingly bad hangovers feel at this age. Only time will tell which of these versions of myself I'll listen to.
I have $100 to spend at Total Wine so I’m thinking a good bottle of whiskey is in order—suggestions for a good bottle would be welcomed. Also, for those of you who are unaware, White Castles happen to be the world's most perfect food to have after a few drinks. These little burgers are a small (and very oniony) slice of culinary bliss.
Speaking of my birthday…
I found this quote that perfectly captures how I feel about this next year of my life. It’s time to slow down a bit, have more fun, and bask in the re-energizing glow of the sun. They'll be lots of everything mentioned in the photo below on the agenda for me this year. I'm starting this weekend by having lunch with a friend I haven't seen in over a month.
All for now. Thanks for reading and enjoy the weekend!
