iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 19h

This morning finds us at Lady Knox’s Geyser. Here’s a photo of the geyser relaxing along with all the geezers waiting for the geyser to erupt at 10:15am local time.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Well now…It had never crossed my mind until I read the sign, but now I have an uncontrollable urge to climb all over Mr Jelly Belly. #RotoruaSkyline

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Hobbiton Social Housing. Ceilings are a bit low but I’d still put my name down for one.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Well, I thought “Hobbiton” might be a bit shit but it was actually great. “The Green Dragon” is right up there with the best boozers in my book. Decent Amber Ale and cozy log fires burning. Oh, and the rest of the “movie set tour” was way better than I’d anticipated. Mon the wee Hobbits!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Share someone who looks stylish posing with or next to a car... 😎😎😎

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

In “Nikki’s Kitchen”. A cafe in Huntly. A quick coffee and a stack of pancakes then we’re off to Hobbiton. Yes. Hobbiton. Doesn’t look like I’m gonna make it to the “Mad Max Museum” in Oz, so Hobbiton will have to do.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Peculiar restaurant pricing in Auckland. Compare the prices of top left and right. Left is ok. Right is 2 pieces for $15. 3 for $25. That’s not a deal. I queried it and the fella says. “I dunno why. It’s always been like that.” Which doesn’t make it ok in my book. 😡

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This is apparently a “Parrotdog Birdseye Hazy IPA”. A local Auckland brew. I’m getting mango with a hint of mango with added “more mango than you could shake a feckin’ stick at”! Not really my “cup of tea” but I’ll drink it anyway. 👍🍺👍 #Mango #JustGiveMeADecentDarkAle

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

My favourite shop in Auckland so far!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

First delayed flight of our South Pacific tour. 2 hours extra at Santiago airport. Nice farewell view of the Andes. Airline gave us £15 each to buy a meal which we spent in a half decent Chilean burger joint. A 12.5 hour flight awaits us. I’ll be watching a Michael Jackson film.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Bumped into this fella today. Local folks are saying it’s Jesus but clearly they’re mistaken. I mean…come on…Surely it’s Ginger Baker from power trio Cream? 🎼😎🎼

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Friday afternoon is traditionally *beer time* back home. Incredibly there is a craft beer pub and bistro directly across the road from our excellent “boutique” hotel. They have a couple of locally brewed “Scotch Ales” and they are genuinely outstanding. I’m on the “Wee Heavy 8%”.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Farewell Rapa Nui. Hugely interesting and lots of fun. Back in Santiago for a couple of nights then next stop Auckland, NZ and 3 weeks of touring around the North & South Islands. My aim is to achieve my late mother’s unfulfilled desire to get “as far away from here as possible!”

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

To be honest I *do* actually like Pina Coladas and indeed “getting caught in the rain”…but only very occasionally. And only ever when in some far away beach bar… 👍🎼🍹😎🍹🎼👍

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Just bumped into this fella in a restaurant in Hanga Roa. I never caught his name but I strongly suspect it might be *Boaby*. 😳

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Still spending time with the “Heids of Rapa Nui”. Took well over 200 photos today. Fascinating. I love these guys!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

“It’s a pint Jim…but not as we know it.” Some kind of chili frosting available with all ales for an extra £2. Tried it and it’s a fun type garnish but I don’t need to try it again. I’m back on the local “cooking lager”…from Patagonia!. Quite nice. £7 a pint. Not too bad really.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My Top 10 Scottish Bands Off the top of my head… The Sensational Alex Harvey Band The Incredible String Band Hamish Hawk Goodbye Mr Mackenzie Another Pretty Face Withered Hand The Big Dish His Lstest Flame The Lost Soul Band The Legendary Hearts

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Right we’re off to see the *big heids* and whatever else Rapa Nui has to offer…

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

🎼”I left my pants…in Santiago…” 🎼 NEXT underwear certainly isn’t what it used to be. The first casualty of the South Pacific trip. As Bon Jovi once sang, ‘Oh, half way there, Oh ho, ripped my underwear…” Now, onwards.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Ooooh…this looks interesting. Might check it out seeing as I’m here…

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Just nipping out for some bread & milk. Back in a bit…

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Two copies of my old band’s single from 1986 are up on eBay at very different prices. I’m now reminded of the time circa 2007 when I threw 200 new copies, unplayed and still boxed, into a skip at my local recycling centre, oblivious to the fact they were selling for £60+ online. A sore one for sure!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I don’t read many books but when I do they tend to be about bands and musicians I find interesting. Sometimes I start but never finish reading them. Some remain unread. This one arrived recently, jumped the queue, and I dived in. 17 years late to the party but I rather enjoyed it.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

For anyone out and about in the Tweed Valley later today. 13/09 We’ll be playing some classic tunes at the Bridge Inn, Peebles from 6-9pm. Beatles, Stones, Prince, T-Rex, Small Faces, The Who…that sort of thing. Free Entry. Reasonably priced ales and spirits. Well behaved dogs welcome. Come on down!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Pretty pissed off. I spent an hour in the gym today burning up 300-400 calories and I found it pretty bloody tough. However, I can consume 300-400 calories of Borders biscuits in under a minute and I find that incredibly easy. Anyway, it’s week 6 back in the gym and it’s pretty shite.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Exhibit A (left): A tube of Pringles weighing 185g bought from my local Tesco last week for £1.85. Exhibit B (right): A tube of Pringles weighing 165g bought from the same Tesco today for £2.50 So we now get 11% less Pringles per tube for 65p more. 🤬 @martinlewis.moneysavingexpert.com #Bravewallet

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

1/2 A recent Amazon purchase was £33.50. Postage was another £4.99 unless I spent another £1.50 to make the total £35, then delivery is free. So I spent another £1.50, expecting the items to arrive together. But no, items arrived separately, two days apart, on two different vans.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I’m at a *Classical Concert* where orchestral types are playing “Verdi’s Requiem”. I have no idea what’s going on. I feel like the Borders’ equivalent of the *White Man In Hammersmith Palais*. To be fair it sounds immense…and bloody loud. Even for this rock’ ‘roll drummer!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Friday! Had a busy week doing next to nothing so I thought I’d celebrate with a couple of bottles of decent discounted beer. I’ve had a soft spot for Staropramen since I was introduced to it at the quiz nights in Edinburgh’s excellent The Golden Rule pub in Polwarth around 1991.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It’s just occurred to me that it’s now *50 years* since I joined my first band. I was almost 14. We rehearsed in bass player Nick Koyman’s garage. Nick on bass with Alistair Watt and Nigel Scott on guitars and myself on drums. Set list was Free, Quo, Frampton and suchlike. Photo c.1974.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Come and have a go if you think you’re *pink enough*! #Glasgow

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Well, Mother India’s Cafe in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove area knocked it right out the park tonight. We had no reservations but they made space for us and the food was truly outstanding. 5 Star Trip Advisor review incoming. #Glasgow

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Good afternoon Glasgow! Had a pain in the arse 2 hour drive to get here plus £22 to park the car (which we believed was included in the hotel price), but there you go and here we are.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

I’ve really been enjoying @thebeatcroft.bsky.social’s new show on Mixcloud these past couple of months. You’d be hard pushed to find a better playlist anywhere. Episode 10 is up now but dive in and give your ears a treat to the previous 9 shows also. www.mixcloud.com/tom-morton2/...

mixcloud.com

Tom Morton's Pollokshaws Cadillac, Volume 10: Little Sparrows In The Coney Island Rain

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Ooh! “Fake Or Fortune” is on BBC1 right now. They’re trying to find out if an old @RickenbackerInt Lap Steel actually belonged to Ronnie Wood of @RollingStones and if an elderly piano was actually played by John Lennon. Makes a change from authenticating paintings!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Quite possibly my first musical ‘hero”. “The Songs Of Marc Bolan And T-Rex” is on Sky Arts right now.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Took a walk from Silverknowes to Cramond. Lovely evening for it. A mere 3 miles from the chaos that is the Edinburgh Festival. It’s like another world entirely. However, sadly I must now head directly into the centre of the chaos. George Street is beckoning…

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Some say this was the first ever “punk” record to be released. It arrived in September 1976. 50 years ago next month. I still have my original copy and it remains the worst pressing of any record I’ve ever owned but a great song nonetheless. It’s “(I’m) Stranded” by The Saints.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

3rd week back at the gym. I don’t really want to be here but I feel it’ll probably do me good. Or it’ll kill me. Let’s see which it is then eh!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

A quick change of venue to see “Seorus & Frank” at the Findra Cafe. The sticky ginger cake is outstanding. The coffee is welcome after “several” pints of Hobgoblin Beer! Oh, and Frank was John Martyn’s guitarist of choice for several decades. It’s all good man!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The current Jason Arday controversy reminds me of Brian MacKinnon, aka “Brandon Lee”, who aged 31, went back to his old school and became a pupil again, claiming to be a 16 year old Canadian. Check out the film “My Old School”. Bizarre to say the least!

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We’ve been putting up some older tracks and fan favourites on @thelegendaryhearts.bsky.social’s YouTube page recently with lots more to come. Dive in here if you have a spare few minutes: youtube.com/@thelegendar...

youtube.com

The Legendary Hearts (Scotland)

An alternative rock'n'roll band established in 1987 in Edinburgh, Scotland, who continue to record and perform almost 40 years on.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I’m staying away from the Edinburgh Festival this year (apart from nipping in and out to play a few gigs). It’s too expensive to gamble money on random shows these days. Plus £7 or more for beers. So I’m going here instead. A much more relaxed and reasonably priced affair. 🎼👍

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Well, the eclipse didn’t get any better round these parts. I remember the 1999 one being excellent, but this was a weak *tribute eclipse*. Disappointing and irritating. Like going to see Queen with Alan Carr on vocals and some random Traffic Warden on bass. 🎼☹️🎼

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Nothing I can say, a total eclipse of the…complete and utter bollocks! Fake news etc… 😎l

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Just been on Radio 4’s “You And Yours” discussing *haggling* in my guise of “Bravewallet”, A nickname given to me by my former flatmates in the mid-1990s as I was always trying to get good deals on things. Mainly as I was regularly pretty skint.

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Ali Wilson @drumslinger.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Massive career blow received today. Never mind. I’m gonna pick myself up, dust myself down and carry on. Now. Onwards! 🎭😎🎭

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