The Psychic Scone

Ken Gordon lives in Scotland, land of everything wonderful. He is interested in travel and people and is uneasy talking about himself in the third person, but does so anyway because he's edgy. Join me. On the edge ... of (cough) something.

Last refreshed: July 28th, 2025 at 11:05 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Sleep in the Park - Where's Zeb?

We (Ken Gordon and Zeb Ahmed) signed up to sleep outside on Sat 9th December in Edinburgh along with a lot of other people to raise money for SocialBite to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland. Details of how to join us and sponsor us are at the bottom of this page. We are making a series of podcasts about our experience to help get sponsors and to raise awareness for the event. In this episode, Ken looks for Zeb. Every door he opens (like an advent calendar) has something written on it and t...

Dec 03, 2017•8 min

Sleep in The Park - Vaseline your nose? Really?

We (Ken Gordon and Zeb Ahmed) signed up to sleep outside on Sat 9th December in Edinburgh along with a lot of other people to raise money for SocialBite to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland. Details of how to join us and sponsor us are at the bottom of this page. We are making a series of podcasts about our experience to help get sponsors and to raise awareness for the event. In this episode, we just purchased sleeping bags and mats and found a cafe to sit and gather our thoughts, talk abo...

Nov 18, 2017•8 min

Sleep in The Park - Zeb's secret plan to keep warm

We (Ken Gordon and Zeb Ahmed) signed up to sleep out on a cold winters night on Sat 9th December in Edinburgh along with 8998 other people. We need sponsors. The money raised will be focused on eradicating homelessness in Scotland within a 5 year period. And it can be done, read this Heriot-Watt University report http://ow.ly/Zmp630gwuw2 We decided to make a series of podcasts to help raise funds. In this episode, we realise the enormity of the challenge and Zeb reveals her secret strategy to ke...

Nov 12, 2017•10 min

Episode 9 My Dad's Kilt Went to China Omnibus edition

Welcome to all of the eight episodes of “My Dad’s Kilt went to China” together in one omnibus edition. I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year and from the moment I landed and the plane taxied at Beijing airport to returning to the same airport to return to Scotland, I recorded sounds and noted my adventures. These included watching firemen in chains, business banquet etiquette and KFC, the ladies of perpetual Jasmine tea and their mystical ways. Precision meetings and meals an...

May 19, 2013•39 min

Episode 8 - My Dad's kilt went to China - Being in Blade Runner

Heading to the airport i had time to reflect on how much I had experienced and how interesting everything was. One of my final conversations was with a Swedish engineer who hates working in China. I managed to compress a lot into a few days. The resources I used were the kindle versions of the Lonely Planet Guide to beijing, Lonely Planet guide to Tianjin & Hebei, China Road by Rob Gifford and the Android Apps : CamDictionary and China Subway . A big thanks to all my colleagues and in partic...

Apr 29, 2013•5 min

Episode 7 - My Dad's Kilt went to China - Sucking yogurt through a straw

Freezing cold from 5 hours of sightseeing, I head to a restaurant called RBT for food. Was my understanding of menus correct? I discover sweet dumplings at breakfast (difficult to tell which ones are sweet and which are savoury) and see stars trying to suck yoghurt through a straw. My first time seeing Red Guard members, but would my Sheep Dip Whisky T shirt cause offence? Sad to be going home, I observed the graceful morning Tai Chi (or Chi-Gong) groups in the freezing cold. My photos are here....

Apr 15, 2013•5 min

Episode 6 My Dad's kilt went to China - Kidnapped

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In Beijing I found my sleep was synchronising and I observed cleaning time. I finally converted to chinese breakfast and after the business meetings I crammed as much sight seeing as i could on that cold day. The Lonely Planet Guide recommendations were fantastic and very helpful. I visited the Forbidden City and while making my way...

Mar 31, 2013•5 min

Episode 5 My dad's kilt went to China -Superman

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. My insomnia meant that I noticed nothing was moving in Tianjin city in the early hours. I mean nothing. Traffic lights changing on their own .... because they can. I found out the reasoning behind the English names that my Chinese colleagues adopted and that got me thinking about a Chinese name for me.Who would I choose? The Tianjin...

Mar 17, 2013•5 min

Episode 4 My dad's kilt went to China - You could eat your dinner off it .

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this episode with the guidance of my valued colleague Simon Poulson, we take some time out from meeting Chinese businesses and head for Tianjin city centre on the Metro, a task made much simpler for the signs and a very helpful lady. We saw fake Apple stores, rested in an authentic Starbucks and more. Interesting fact : Starbucks...

Mar 03, 2013•5 min

Episode 3 My dad's kilt went to China - Jasmination

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this third episode I visit the Tianjin Eye, a wonderful circular ride built on top of a bridge. Walking along the riverside with my colleague Jiri, we heard a lonely lady singing in the darkness. We never saw her. The morning smog in Tianjin was really thick and I discovered the benefits of having sequential translation. a snooze...

Feb 25, 2013•4 min

Episode 2 My dad's kilt went to China - Emperor Ming's Handmaiden

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this second episode my first morning breakfast options included dried meat floss bread. At the big meetings I discovered the ladies of perpetual Jasmine tea and their methodical ways. Meetings were so precisely timed as was the next big business dinner. Abandoned cake for pudding? I am afraid so... My photos are here Coming soon ...

Feb 18, 2013•5 min

Episode 1 My dad's kilt went to China - Nancy Reagan

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this first episode as the plane taxied at Beijing airport, I watched the firemen in chains from the window. The drive to Tianjin took 3 long hours and en-route I was treated to my first meal in China - a KFC! The first important business banquet was a real eye opener. Food was delicious, etiquette fascinating and I met Nancy our ...

Feb 10, 2013•5 min

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