My Ear Candy #4 Bryan Duncan

We had our serious faces on for the first hour of last nights Mearns FM radio show, devoting it to the issue of substance misuse and addiction. I attend an alcohol recovery support group every Wednesday (6.30-8.00pm at Stonehaven Community Centre if you want to join us) and Bryan Duncan, the group facilitator for want of a better description, joined me on the show to tell us about his work. The message that came across loud and clear was that anyone in this community of ours who's dealing with substance misuse should know that help is at hand, not only for them but their families and friends too. Nobody with a dependency on alcohol or drugs need travel this road alone, there are good people around to help you on a road to recovery, all you need do is put the first foot forward.

Bryan works for Alcohol & Drug Action (ADA) which is an Aberdeen based organisation that supports people the breadth of Aberdeenshire. He spends his working life getting alongside those seeking a road to recovery and he assists families of these people too, it can be even more of a torment for onlookers feeling helpless watching their loved one sink into oblivion. You can listen to our conversation here if you feel it could help you...http://www.mearnsfm.org.uk/listen-again

The second hour of the show had Bryan sharing six of his favourite tracks. I'd received his list a couple of days prior and given them a listen before broadcast, I like to check they're listenable and not profanity strewn in case the station's boss is listening in. They were indeed broadcastable but in one case only just, not because of bad language but the awfulness of the song, a slow paced jazz style dirge during which even the vocalist appeared to lose the will to live. I'm talking of course of Bobby McFerrin and his insufferable song 'Peace'. Thankfully the remaining tracks ranged from acceptable to excellent, the pick of the bunch being 'Blackbird' by The Beatles, pure gold.

My thanks to Bryan for two very pleasurable hours (aside from the five minute McFerrin farago) and a reminder again to anyone reading this who is in despair with alcohol or any other substance misuse, help is at hand. Bryan, myself and plenty of others besides, are here for you, just reach out and your road to recovery can begin.

Bryan's selections
1. Eton Rifles - The Jam
2. Throw Down Your Arms - Burning Spear
3. Feeling Good - Nina Simone
4. Blackbird - The Beatles
5. Peace - Bobby McFerrin
6. Love What You Do - Divine Comedy