Tom Morton
@thebeatcroft.bsky.social
Writer, talker, wanderer. Shetland, Scotland.
Reposted by Tom Morton
Thanks to Campbell for pointing me in the direction of John Moreland. What an achingly relevant song this is. youtu.be/Fsnqt7GKR9g
John Moreland "One Man Holds The World Hostage"//North Country Song Sessions
YouTube video by North Country Song Sessions
youtu.be
March 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Thanks to Campbell for pointing me in the direction of John Moreland. What an achingly relevant song this is. youtu.be/Fsnqt7GKR9g
I Vow To Thee My Country on BBC Radio 3. At 6.00am. Thought we were at war with the USA.
January 19, 2026 at 6:29 AM
I Vow To Thee My Country on BBC Radio 3. At 6.00am. Thought we were at war with the USA.
Musings on a lovely day: the Rector of Stiffkey may have sat in this room; otters will bite your hand off; Henry Williamson’s still-visible swastika, Hugo the rescue hound and Rayburn control for beginners…with pictures. Free to read and subscribe over at beatcroft.com beatcroft.com/2026/01/16/o...
On the sea-ground ‘atween wadders’, thinking about otters, fascists and the perils of lion taming in Skegness
It is a beautiful, still winter’s day here on Shetland’s sea-ground. Atween wadders, between weathers, as the saying goes, because we’re not heading into spring yet and there’s bad Scandinavian stu…
beatcroft.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Musings on a lovely day: the Rector of Stiffkey may have sat in this room; otters will bite your hand off; Henry Williamson’s still-visible swastika, Hugo the rescue hound and Rayburn control for beginners…with pictures. Free to read and subscribe over at beatcroft.com beatcroft.com/2026/01/16/o...
Despite an abiding love for the Mackendrick original, I have a great deal of time for the 2016 remake of #WhiskyGalore. Splendid performances, particularly from Gregor Fisher and Eddie Izzard. And the knitwear is note perfect. On BBC2 now
December 13, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Despite an abiding love for the Mackendrick original, I have a great deal of time for the 2016 remake of #WhiskyGalore. Splendid performances, particularly from Gregor Fisher and Eddie Izzard. And the knitwear is note perfect. On BBC2 now
Many thanks to The Sunday Mail and Paul English for this. Not many books left and only at the Beatcroft Shop on Etsy
December 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Many thanks to The Sunday Mail and Paul English for this. Not many books left and only at the Beatcroft Shop on Etsy
Recognise anyone? From Stuart Spence's Strait/Rocket 88 Glasgow fanzine, published in 1986, drawn by (Kaiser) George Miller. A time celebrated in the wee book Big Rhythm by me and Stewart Cunningham, launching next weekend. Full comic strip, over at beatcroft.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Recognise anyone? From Stuart Spence's Strait/Rocket 88 Glasgow fanzine, published in 1986, drawn by (Kaiser) George Miller. A time celebrated in the wee book Big Rhythm by me and Stewart Cunningham, launching next weekend. Full comic strip, over at beatcroft.com
Finished the first four #JackTaylor books by the late #KenBruen. Brilliant but darker I think than any other detective series. Erudite, unflinching on alcohol, Galway and religion. Just 14 to go!
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Finished the first four #JackTaylor books by the late #KenBruen. Brilliant but darker I think than any other detective series. Erudite, unflinching on alcohol, Galway and religion. Just 14 to go!
#EdgeofDarkness remains the pinnacle of UK TV drama after 40 years. And the BBC making something today as directly political is unthinkable. That Clapton theme tune rips off Roy Buchanan something ridiculous though.
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 PM
#EdgeofDarkness remains the pinnacle of UK TV drama after 40 years. And the BBC making something today as directly political is unthinkable. That Clapton theme tune rips off Roy Buchanan something ridiculous though.
If post-modernism is still a thing, it has just spooled a million metaphorical feet of tape from the Blaupunkt dashboards of a ghost fleet of Escort XR3is amzn.eu/d/fzsWxSf
Cassette Style Case for the FiiO M21 DAP (Titanium Gold)
To give your M21 player a retro style FiiO have created this cassette style protective case, with precise fit and magnetic opening and closing. It is light weight, stylish and made of tough materials. Specially developed with exclusive retro UI and matched with special retro sound effects to take you on a nostalgic journey. When the DAP is in the case the touch screen operation is suspended and key operation is instead supported, when removed from the case the player seamlessly switching back to original system.
amzn.eu
November 23, 2025 at 7:48 AM
If post-modernism is still a thing, it has just spooled a million metaphorical feet of tape from the Blaupunkt dashboards of a ghost fleet of Escort XR3is amzn.eu/d/fzsWxSf
“First, they came for our Sensational Alex Harvey Band records…” Wordpress Beatcrofting on the culling of late night Radio Scotland. beatcroft.com/2025/11/21/f...
First, they came for our Sensational Alex Harvey Band records…
The culling of late night BBC Radio Scotland. “The Bauerisation of Scottish public broadcasting.”
beatcroft.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
“First, they came for our Sensational Alex Harvey Band records…” Wordpress Beatcrofting on the culling of late night Radio Scotland. beatcroft.com/2025/11/21/f...
99p on Kindle for the first four Galway/Jack Taylor books by the late Ken Bruen. That’s ALL FOUR, 99p the lot. The Guards is a stone cold classic of the drunk intellectual detective genre
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 AM
99p on Kindle for the first four Galway/Jack Taylor books by the late Ken Bruen. That’s ALL FOUR, 99p the lot. The Guards is a stone cold classic of the drunk intellectual detective genre
Read all the Zoë Boehm books in gaps waiting for the next Slough House from Mick Herron. If anything, the TV adaptation of Down Cemetery Road is even better than Slow Horses. Adeel Akhtar’s presence brought Utopia (UK version) to mind.
November 3, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Read all the Zoë Boehm books in gaps waiting for the next Slough House from Mick Herron. If anything, the TV adaptation of Down Cemetery Road is even better than Slow Horses. Adeel Akhtar’s presence brought Utopia (UK version) to mind.
Puts the whole Boorman/McGregor cavalcade in perspective. #Itchyboots really is awe-inspiring. “I left Afghanistan🇦🇫 - how this motorcycle journey changed me forever.” youtu.be/xqZMZpgeALM?... via @YouTube
I left Afghanistan 🇦🇫 - how this motorcycle journey changed me forever.
YouTube video by Itchy Boots
youtu.be
November 3, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Puts the whole Boorman/McGregor cavalcade in perspective. #Itchyboots really is awe-inspiring. “I left Afghanistan🇦🇫 - how this motorcycle journey changed me forever.” youtu.be/xqZMZpgeALM?... via @YouTube
Original Mackendrick version of #WhiskyGalore on TV. Joy. Watched it on a big screen in Strontian at the Ardgour book festival years ago. Audience singing along in Gaelic. 2016 remake is perfectly OK but this is wondrous.
November 2, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Original Mackendrick version of #WhiskyGalore on TV. Joy. Watched it on a big screen in Strontian at the Ardgour book festival years ago. Audience singing along in Gaelic. 2016 remake is perfectly OK but this is wondrous.
Railway station roofs. They are undoubtedly deep spiritual codes. Transcendence beckons.
October 30, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Railway station roofs. They are undoubtedly deep spiritual codes. Transcendence beckons.
If you've never read/are addicted to @adrianmckinty's Northern Ireland-set #SeanDuffy thrillers, he's got some stories on Substack for free. This is great. open.substack.com/pub/adrianmc...
Murder In The Red Barn - A Sean Duffy Story
Murder in the Red Barn - A Sean Duffy Story
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
If you've never read/are addicted to @adrianmckinty's Northern Ireland-set #SeanDuffy thrillers, he's got some stories on Substack for free. This is great. open.substack.com/pub/adrianmc...
The Ballad of Memory Foam Insoles (Wellington Boot Version)
beatcroft.com/2025/10/23/t...
beatcroft.com/2025/10/23/t...
The Ballad of Memory Foam Insoles (Wellington Boot Version)
I don’t want a Hermes tie or a Paul Smith suit I just want a decent pair of Wellington boots So that through the deepest mud I can easily trudge Ones that sit secure on my feet, so they never…
beatcroft.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The Ballad of Memory Foam Insoles (Wellington Boot Version)
beatcroft.com/2025/10/23/t...
beatcroft.com/2025/10/23/t...
Shetland-the-series is coming back. Unofficial merch! utter-tosh.teemill.com/product/no-s...
No scratchy gansies
All soft and cosy…
utter-tosh.teemill.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Shetland-the-series is coming back. Unofficial merch! utter-tosh.teemill.com/product/no-s...
I think this weekend saw Deacon Blue and Wet Wet Wet playing major gigs in Glasgow with Hue And Cry in The City of Paisley, and Edwyn Collins in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Caught Up In This Big Rhythm, - 72-pages of 80s Scottish pop snapshots and memories by me and Stewart Cunningham - is coming soon
October 12, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I think this weekend saw Deacon Blue and Wet Wet Wet playing major gigs in Glasgow with Hue And Cry in The City of Paisley, and Edwyn Collins in Edinburgh. Meanwhile, Caught Up In This Big Rhythm, - 72-pages of 80s Scottish pop snapshots and memories by me and Stewart Cunningham - is coming soon
Perfect in tone but somehow lacking in space. Feels dense, crammed. Always that sense of both lightness and movement in Le Carré’s prose. Fascinating though.
October 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Perfect in tone but somehow lacking in space. Feels dense, crammed. Always that sense of both lightness and movement in Le Carré’s prose. Fascinating though.
Hilux, baby!
"Sheepdogs in the back
With a shotgun rack
A rocket launcher if you insist
Regime change is right on track
No weak government is gonna resist
A Hilux baby
Toyota Hilux!"
Latest Beatcroft newsletter with song by Scar Quilse beatcroft.com/2025/10/10/n...
"Sheepdogs in the back
With a shotgun rack
A rocket launcher if you insist
Regime change is right on track
No weak government is gonna resist
A Hilux baby
Toyota Hilux!"
Latest Beatcroft newsletter with song by Scar Quilse beatcroft.com/2025/10/10/n...
No truck: the mysterious Toyota ‘customer satisfaction campaign’ that most definitely isn’t a recall. And a new company song…
The grey beast of Hillswick, now somewhere in Derbyshire Hilux, Baby! Lyrics after the main article, but play the song here. The rumours began last year, on internet forums for farmers and Toyota H…
beatcroft.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Hilux, baby!
"Sheepdogs in the back
With a shotgun rack
A rocket launcher if you insist
Regime change is right on track
No weak government is gonna resist
A Hilux baby
Toyota Hilux!"
Latest Beatcroft newsletter with song by Scar Quilse beatcroft.com/2025/10/10/n...
"Sheepdogs in the back
With a shotgun rack
A rocket launcher if you insist
Regime change is right on track
No weak government is gonna resist
A Hilux baby
Toyota Hilux!"
Latest Beatcroft newsletter with song by Scar Quilse beatcroft.com/2025/10/10/n...
Latest weekly Beatcroft newsletter. As we prepare for a battering by Amy, the ferries are off and every scrap of sooth bread has been snatched from the supermarket shelves. There is a Dearth of Warburtons in the Zetlandics… beatcroft.com/2025/10/03/t...
Ten things I can do in Shetland that are illegal or at least difficult in Glasgow
The view from our old front room. Currently occupied by Italian tourists stranded due to the ferries being cancelled. Hmm…activities or substances that would be frowned upon, if not ruled completel…
beatcroft.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Latest weekly Beatcroft newsletter. As we prepare for a battering by Amy, the ferries are off and every scrap of sooth bread has been snatched from the supermarket shelves. There is a Dearth of Warburtons in the Zetlandics… beatcroft.com/2025/10/03/t...
This week's Beatcroft newsletter. Free to read or subscribe.
"Autumn in Glasgow’s west end is where I came in. Freshers Week, 1973. I came up from Ayrshire with a Framus guitar and my dad’s old RAF greatcoat, complete with illegal buttons..."
beatcroft.com/2025/09/28/w...
"Autumn in Glasgow’s west end is where I came in. Freshers Week, 1973. I came up from Ayrshire with a Framus guitar and my dad’s old RAF greatcoat, complete with illegal buttons..."
beatcroft.com/2025/09/28/w...
Wild West End: triumphing over ‘curation syndrome’ at Kelvingrove
A long stay in Glasgow, the Covid comeback that began it finally receding. It’s the curse that keeps on giving, this plague, isn’t it? Malevolent in its ever-changing variety of symptoms, this time…
beatcroft.com
September 28, 2025 at 10:34 AM
This week's Beatcroft newsletter. Free to read or subscribe.
"Autumn in Glasgow’s west end is where I came in. Freshers Week, 1973. I came up from Ayrshire with a Framus guitar and my dad’s old RAF greatcoat, complete with illegal buttons..."
beatcroft.com/2025/09/28/w...
"Autumn in Glasgow’s west end is where I came in. Freshers Week, 1973. I came up from Ayrshire with a Framus guitar and my dad’s old RAF greatcoat, complete with illegal buttons..."
beatcroft.com/2025/09/28/w...