Hello 2026, Goodbye 2025
- Gayle Ramage
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Let's start with the more interesting things in this post: all the things coming up in 2026!
New Book!
Yes, I'm finally bringing out a new book, my first since 2021. Jockula, the first in a trilogy of a contemporary Scottish vampire from Edinburgh. Features randy ghosts, bubble bath-obsessed legends, and lazy chosen ones. It's not going to win any literary prizes but I don't much care. As long as it entertains people, I'll be chuffed!
Anniversary Posts!
In my own wee world, I seem to have decided 2026 is the year of XTC. The first of two related projects I'm doing will be a series of blog posts loosely reviewing each track on the band's twelve studio albums on the anniversary of their release. And yes, the band's alter egos, The Dukes of Stratosphear, will be featured, too. Expect the first post on 20th January!
Listening Parties!
The second XTC project - or "XTC Project 2: Electric Boogaloo" - is a series of Listening Parties on Bluesky which I'm organising. Similar to Tim's Twitter Listening Parties which occurred on that site during lockdown (everyone presses Play on an agreed album at the same time and then post about it using an agreed hashtag). Follow @xtclisteningparty for more details!
More First-Time Album Listens!
Well, since I discovered XTC and duo, Barbara, via this New To Me Music series, I'd be a fool to stop now in case I find more music acts whose music I fall in love with! Just like this year, these will be posted near the end of each month.
Choppy Bob!
"Who?" I hear you ask. Choppy Bob is the new moniker under which I'll be creating my own original music. My current/former moniker, The Dandy's Boutique, consisted mostly of instrumentals. Choppy Bob will definitely have vocals. Not brilliant vocals, but vocals nonetheless. Besides, I wrote a scary amount of lyrics in the latter half of 2025, and I need to do something with them! If I can find the time to record acoustic demos of the songs by the end of 2026, I'll be happy!
Goodbye Amazon?
I've been an indie author since 2011 and always published my books via Kindle Direct Publishing, as there were very few publishing options for non-trad authors back then; not that much has changed even now. But due to my amazingly awful self-marketing skills I barely make any paid sales there, and with more and more people boycotting Amazon altogether, I think it might be time to take my books down from there in 2026. They will still be available on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, etc (I even have a couple of books on Waterstones). I'll also be selling signed books, and fun, related merch on Ko-Fi.
Gigs and Theatre!
I've already got a few events booked for 2026, including comedy (Phil Ellis, Dara O'Briain), theatre (Inspector Morse) and music (EXTC, Peter Capaldi, Barbara, and Squeeze), so no doubt subsequent reviews will appear on the site in due course!
Now the briefest round-up of my 2025.
Personal Highlights
Attending the XTC fan festival in Swindon and meeting Lovely Dave Gregory and lots of lovely fellow fans, as well! The only downside was finding out the festival is generally every three years.
Going to London for the first time ever. So what if I ended up being sick and missing the event I was there for? What did I think of London? When we were in Regent Street, I thought it was just like being in Edinburgh... but a bigger Edinburgh. I also rode the tube a few times, too, which turned out to be a doddle (I'd watched a YouTube video about using it, which helped)!
Building confidence through singing, both via 1:1 singing lessons (sadly, my tutor is no longer teaching for a while which I'm gutted about) and joining a newly-formed Rock Choir (not to be confused with the Rock Choir franchise - this one is very much independent)!
The various gigs and events I attended:
Personal Lowlights
Breaking my arm - do not recommend
Since this is my last post of the year, I want to thank you for stopping by - whether this is your first visit or umpteenth visit to this site. Have a great Hogmanay and 2026!
Comments