Having Irvine Welsh as one of your best mates was not without its problems. Sandy Macnair and Irvine Welsh were friends long before fame and fortune arrived by train, and their adventures and Welsh’s novels have obvious parallels. Their adventures were certainly extraordinary. Irvine Welsh was always the instigator, the free spirit who would act on a whim and deal with the consequences later. Sandy Macnair was his loyal wing man, there to enjoy the ride and to help pick up the pieces when things, as they usually did, went wrong. In Carspotting , Sandy Macnair now presents an affectionate portrayal of their adventures together and the highs and lows of the rollercoaster ride that was their late teens and twenties. As well as a highly entertaining read, Sandy also reveals nuggets that will fascinate all Irvine Welsh fans, like the real role model for Begbie, the true Gorgie/Dalry Oyster Bar, the real location of various scenes from Trainspotting and the story behind Marabou Stork Nightmares that none of the critics spotted, which makes this a fascinating and entertaining account of one of our best-loved authors.