Barry Chapman

Talking about Leonard Cohen made me think about this love letter I wrote to mark his death which came hours before Trump's 1st election. I think the sentiments hold up 10 years on, even if we had no idea what was coming. His work still reminds us to look for beauty & good amidst ugliness and evil.

Quite the October day to head up a hill

Drug-related harm is changing and pharmacy must be ready to respond. Laura Wilson, our Director for Scotland, explores how pharmacy can play a greater role in preventing harm and improving support for people affected by drug-related harm: https://bit.ly/4jfVxbQ

Aurora glow over Leith Links

Just a Thursday night with Bill Callahan going full Veedon Fleece (with added Jim White) over a couple of hours at the Queens Hall. And great to see Nathan Bowles again (last seen in the drone with Pelt at Tusk festival, a long time ago)

Between 2019 and 2025, export volumes slumped 31 per cent as Brexit added border checks and trade complexity, pushing up costs for businesses. www.ft.com/content/82b3...

Golden morning.

We have published an updated position setting out new expectations for pharmacists providing non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including the clinical experience, supervised practice and competence needed to practise safely. Read more: https://bit.ly/4AqguqB

Good description of the changes seen in the drug market in Scotland over the past couple of years www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

📣 Important PSA! 📽️ I'll be screening and talking about the wonderful 1951 short film "The Singing Street" on next 2 weekends. 📅 19th & 20th, 10AM, Abbeyhill School with Colony of Artists 📆 26th, 12 Noon, Norton Park Centre with Doors Open Day 🎫 Free, unticketed, arrive early to avoid disappointment

This is really sad news. Thinking of all the staff and also the future artists and musicians who’ll never benefit from the coverage The Skinny offered

An evening with my absolute faves #stereolab

Absolutely welcome article on the effects and risks of polypharmacy. Would like to see more mention of the role of clinical pharmacists (across all sectors) in reducing this harm - through structured and opportunistic reviews, patient and MDT education etc

New book - Gaelic in Edinburgh Through the Centuries ‘Never spoken here’? Our new book looks at the role of Gaelic in Edinburgh from the Middle Ages to the present day, including history, demography, place-names,literature & education Available from ionaddhuneideann.org or @leughleabhar.bsky.social

Stunning day at the festival curated by a pal who knows best about these things. John Kearns, Lara Ricote and Abandoman. All bangers with nice food and some mediocre drinks in between.

dolly parton taught millions of children to read dolly parton raised millions of dollars for cancer research and disaster relief dolly parton stood by the lgbtq community her entire life dolly parton personally helped fund the moderna vaccine if there was a right side of something she was on it

Dolly Parton 👏 👏 👏

Finally saw The Cure

Gold and silver in 30 mins. Amazing night in the athletics

There's not long to go until the RCPharm Scotland Conference 2026. This year’s powerful theme, Leading Change, will explore how pharmacy is shaping the future of healthcare and how transformation in pharmacy practice will improve patient care. Book your place: https://ow.ly/qWO250Znrnj

Anyone have any suggestions on where to get solar glasses in Edinburgh? The few places I’ve tried today were out of stock

Missed the All Ireland but managed to catch the Flemish handball

David Byrne at the Playhouse. So, so good

It’s been one of those great days, and I got lucky tonight

England up 1 deciding to sit back and do nothing with 9 in the box for a half hour against Argentina in the World Cup

Vamos Cabo Verde and Pico Lopes.

My colleague Vicky and I did a podcast with CPPE about stigma in pharmacies towards people who use drugs and how we can get rid of it. Interviewed by a former student of mine! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...

I’m firmly ensconced within the reach of the bbc these days but concur with this for my days growing up in Longford. BBC LW on the dial was transportational

An emerging class of synthetic opioids, nitazenes, is now coming into focus in the US. These drugs can be 40 times more potent than fentanyl and are difficult to track. The investigative group @bellingcat.com has found nitazenes spreading across the US and uncovered links to Chinese suppliers.