I have embraced the Edinburgh Festival this last week and its been a fun time. A few of us from the team went to see 'The Blues Brothers Banned', a rip roaring 60 minutes of classic songs from the film plus a few more added in for good measure. They added humour, as they searched for the cowbell, and showed a range of musical and athletic skills which were top class.
The two of us who try to go to the gym most nights decided we should join their ranks as they were running up the aisles playing guitar, leaping speaker stacks and jumping around keyboards.
As well as Jake and Elwood there were two doo wap girls, each of whom belted out their own solo, a trumpet and sax, two guitars, two keyboards and a drummer, eleven people in all. The lead guitar probably had a better voice than the two front men.
We then hit the town and went for a curry in a well regarded local restaurant. The food was a disappointment, very bland and small portions, so we won't try that again.Luckily the bar over the road stayed open so we staggered back to the hotel in the wee small hours.
The festival continues this week with more fringe acts, and then the Mela and book festival take over until the end of the month, after which hotel room should come back to their normal prices!!
Still its a sound place to be, I just wish it would stop raining, its been bucketing down for weeks. i feel sorry for the tourists as the City is very easy to walk round, but there are still a few bars we have yet to visit which we can take shelter in...hic!
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Sunday, 10 August 2008
A Little Something for the Weekend
Now there is a phrase to bring a smile to the faces of the older generation,A phrase which has been mouthed by barbers to their clientele for many years. I must admit though, that the young busty wench who cuts my hair in Scouseland has yet to mutter the phrase. She is more likely to say would you like a tissue sir, another phrase which taken out of context would indicate that extras have been provided alongside the hair cut.
Now where is this all leading you may be asking. Well actually it all about my experience yesterday in Boots the Chemist. There I was standing in line behind a bit of fit, when she asked for the morning after pill. Blimey I thought there is a question you don't hear every day of the week, but it just went to confirm one of the greatest lines I have ever heard at the cinema.
The Likely Lads, Bob and Terry, in the film of the same name were on holiday in Gosforth and looking for a bit of action. The weather is awful and Bob is getting a bit down in the dumps. 'E, we will never cope off on a day like this' he said. 'Don't be so sure' says Terry with a glint in his eye, ' lets go to Boots, there are always women in Boots'
Its as true today as it was then.......now must go and get my haircut!
Now where is this all leading you may be asking. Well actually it all about my experience yesterday in Boots the Chemist. There I was standing in line behind a bit of fit, when she asked for the morning after pill. Blimey I thought there is a question you don't hear every day of the week, but it just went to confirm one of the greatest lines I have ever heard at the cinema.
The Likely Lads, Bob and Terry, in the film of the same name were on holiday in Gosforth and looking for a bit of action. The weather is awful and Bob is getting a bit down in the dumps. 'E, we will never cope off on a day like this' he said. 'Don't be so sure' says Terry with a glint in his eye, ' lets go to Boots, there are always women in Boots'
Its as true today as it was then.......now must go and get my haircut!
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Don't get shirty with me matey......
I am concerned about a worrying trend which is very evident here in Edinburgh, although Ii have seen symptoms of it all over the Country. it started many years ago as a youthful trend, but is now being embraced by men of all ages.
Why do they wear their shirt outside their trousers?
I have been analysing this to try to find an answer.......OK so the world population are becoming obese, and this particular mode of dressing may well hide the beer belly in the manner of a maternity gown for men. We do tend to be more slothful these days as well, so are we just too lazy to tuck ourselves in?
I am not aware of any major fashion advertising campaign which has extolled the virtue of free flowing shirts, and no iconic figures who started the trend. So all in all I am at a loss to explain it.
I, for one, just cannot embrace the style, and continue to spread my shirt fabric over my tum as tightly as it will go........the Buddha would be a good marketing name for that sort of style, after all my body is a temple!!
Why do they wear their shirt outside their trousers?
I have been analysing this to try to find an answer.......OK so the world population are becoming obese, and this particular mode of dressing may well hide the beer belly in the manner of a maternity gown for men. We do tend to be more slothful these days as well, so are we just too lazy to tuck ourselves in?
I am not aware of any major fashion advertising campaign which has extolled the virtue of free flowing shirts, and no iconic figures who started the trend. So all in all I am at a loss to explain it.
I, for one, just cannot embrace the style, and continue to spread my shirt fabric over my tum as tightly as it will go........the Buddha would be a good marketing name for that sort of style, after all my body is a temple!!
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
I'll get you Butler
Edinburgh is a tremendously impressive City. Its road are flecked with granite chips which make the surfaces resolute and durable, its road system in the centre is laid out in a grid , with the Royal Mile linking the castle to Holyroyd House. Alleyways and paths wind between shops and bars, and the natives scurry about like ants on a rose bush.
It is rather sad, therefore, to witness the devastation which is surrounding the construction of the new tram system.
Many cities have embraced the idea of introducing trams as a fast and convenient mode of transport. Croydon was a building site for years as they struggled to join the high society of Wimbledon Village with the rather less appealing New Addington council estate, via the city centre, Purley and Merton. In their case, however, there was no heritage to protect. Manchester managed to integrate their system with little or no change to the architecture and tradition of the City, and it has been a huge success.
Edinburgh, however, is suffering. The aforementioned roads are being dug up because all the main services run down the centre of the road, and this is where the tram lines are to go. Consequently the services are being moved to the kerb side, roads are being blocked off or made one-way, and worst of all ,a number of old traditional buildings, pubs, houses and so on, are being demolished.
They are only building one line at present. It will run from Leith in the North to the airport, via Princes Street and Haymarket where it will follow the railway lines. There are already worries though that the funding will run out and the tram line will terminal at Gogarburn, about a mile short......
Still when its built they will be able to illuminate the trams at Christmas like they do in Blackpool, and I can't wait until the rugger chaps at Murrayfield see how many people they can have hanging off the side.
It is rather sad, therefore, to witness the devastation which is surrounding the construction of the new tram system.
Many cities have embraced the idea of introducing trams as a fast and convenient mode of transport. Croydon was a building site for years as they struggled to join the high society of Wimbledon Village with the rather less appealing New Addington council estate, via the city centre, Purley and Merton. In their case, however, there was no heritage to protect. Manchester managed to integrate their system with little or no change to the architecture and tradition of the City, and it has been a huge success.
Edinburgh, however, is suffering. The aforementioned roads are being dug up because all the main services run down the centre of the road, and this is where the tram lines are to go. Consequently the services are being moved to the kerb side, roads are being blocked off or made one-way, and worst of all ,a number of old traditional buildings, pubs, houses and so on, are being demolished.
They are only building one line at present. It will run from Leith in the North to the airport, via Princes Street and Haymarket where it will follow the railway lines. There are already worries though that the funding will run out and the tram line will terminal at Gogarburn, about a mile short......
Still when its built they will be able to illuminate the trams at Christmas like they do in Blackpool, and I can't wait until the rugger chaps at Murrayfield see how many people they can have hanging off the side.
Monday, 28 July 2008
Sweatie socks
Its been a while since my last post, a situation which has been created by the need to do some real work at last. On Monday, just past, I was in London, got a phone call in the morning, and promptly ended up in Edinburgh where I am likely to be for the remainder of the year........that said the client has yet to sign the contract, so it might all change again shortly.
The travel up here has been a bit stressful though, missed my flight last week due to roadworks overruns on the M4, then today I was stuck on the tarmac for 2 hours as Edinburgh was fog bound and we were restricted from taking off.
Still I am here now, and this week its the warm up to the Edinburgh Festival. Its the jazz and blues week until Sunday when the main festival and the comedy fringe kicks in. Hotels are upping their prices, but we are well catered for so hopefully it will be a bit of a giggle.
The only trouble with proper work is that four day weekends become a thing of the past, oh well, just have to get used to it I guess.....
The travel up here has been a bit stressful though, missed my flight last week due to roadworks overruns on the M4, then today I was stuck on the tarmac for 2 hours as Edinburgh was fog bound and we were restricted from taking off.
Still I am here now, and this week its the warm up to the Edinburgh Festival. Its the jazz and blues week until Sunday when the main festival and the comedy fringe kicks in. Hotels are upping their prices, but we are well catered for so hopefully it will be a bit of a giggle.
The only trouble with proper work is that four day weekends become a thing of the past, oh well, just have to get used to it I guess.....
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Hello ello ello
Our cruise was part of SHMBO significant birthday celebrations, and was preceded by a bit of a bash at the house up North. Lee J Harris, international vocalist, banged out a couple of live sets in the garden, and that prompted a 22;:30 visit from the local constabulary. Two WPCs turned up to say they had had a few complaints about the noise. Now what saddo complains about a bit of noise at that time of night on a Saturday eh! and what does it say about the area when they send two WPCs round. The outdoor activity terminated at about midnight, and a great time was had by all.
Contrast our plod experience in Oxton, with what then happened in Chiswick two nights later. In Oxton there must have been instant attendance for a noise pollution problem which is actually a council matter. In Chis SHMBO and I are strolling back from a libation on the High Road at about 23:00, when we notice a shop door open. Hmmm we think, bit strange, so I venture in shout a bit and find nobody there. So what do Ido, its an interior designers and full of good stuff, loot it or call the Bills?
Of course, like a good citizen, I call the local cop shop. 'We will get a car to you soonest' they say. 30 minutes later I ring back to say I can't wait any longer and they indicate it is not a priority and they have no cars available anyway. Luckily when we popped in today the owner indicated noithing went missing and thanked us for our trouble.
Interesting aspect of the way the two constabularies work. I wonder if somebody else had rung and reported me as an intruder on the premises how quicly the twos and blues would have been there.
Evening all!
Contrast our plod experience in Oxton, with what then happened in Chiswick two nights later. In Oxton there must have been instant attendance for a noise pollution problem which is actually a council matter. In Chis SHMBO and I are strolling back from a libation on the High Road at about 23:00, when we notice a shop door open. Hmmm we think, bit strange, so I venture in shout a bit and find nobody there. So what do Ido, its an interior designers and full of good stuff, loot it or call the Bills?
Of course, like a good citizen, I call the local cop shop. 'We will get a car to you soonest' they say. 30 minutes later I ring back to say I can't wait any longer and they indicate it is not a priority and they have no cars available anyway. Luckily when we popped in today the owner indicated noithing went missing and thanked us for our trouble.
Interesting aspect of the way the two constabularies work. I wonder if somebody else had rung and reported me as an intruder on the premises how quicly the twos and blues would have been there.
Evening all!
Island Escape
We have just returned from a cruise around the Eastern Mediterranean and the Tyrrhenian Sea, taking in Majorca, Menorca, Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia, quite a little island hop in fact. Given we have already been to Cyprus this year, and plan to visit Jersey in September, this must be the year of the island.
Our plan was to visit Corsica and Sardinia with a view to seeing if they were worth a longer one centre trip, and we both thought they were. Sardinia is the second largest Mediterranean island after Sicily and Corsica is the most mountainous. Both have wonderful beaches and very picturesque towns and villages. The food reflects the French influence in Corsica and the Italian in Sardinia. All in all a good time was had by all.
Unfortunately we did not find our property sold on our return, but there still appears to be interest, so we have started to look around at the apartment market again to see whats on offer. I was going to say flat market, but then that's what it is innit?
Our plan was to visit Corsica and Sardinia with a view to seeing if they were worth a longer one centre trip, and we both thought they were. Sardinia is the second largest Mediterranean island after Sicily and Corsica is the most mountainous. Both have wonderful beaches and very picturesque towns and villages. The food reflects the French influence in Corsica and the Italian in Sardinia. All in all a good time was had by all.
Unfortunately we did not find our property sold on our return, but there still appears to be interest, so we have started to look around at the apartment market again to see whats on offer. I was going to say flat market, but then that's what it is innit?
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