New books

Picked up some new books recently.  In a charity shop in Troon I snagged a copy of Whit by Ian Banks (sans M), in Largs - again in a charity shop - I got a copy of Sahara by Michael Palin, and this morning, thanks to a promotion by SFX magazine and Waterstones, I got a free copy of House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds.

The last one is a result and a half, as I really like his books, and am currently reading Absolution Gap, the last book in his Revelation Space trilogy.

If you haven't read any of his books, the Revelation Space books are fantastic.  It's an epic space opera like no other I've read.  When you've got a physicist writing sf though, it should be pretty damn good.

Thinking of changing my user pic

To the pic below.  Dunno though.  Any thoughts? 

Packed weekend

Saturday we picked up Robster, and headed off to Largs.  On the way we stopped off at Newark Castle, before going bagging the trip pillar at Craigs Top, overlooking the Clyde and Greenock.

Moving on to Largs, we hit the charity shops, as I raked through the second hand books and cd's.  I came away with a copy of Michael Palin's Sahara, and a cd of hippy-folky stuff by Melenie.  A pint in a beer garden was followed up with a really nice curry, in an Indian's overlooking the promenade.
After eating, I bumped into one of my old physics lecturers on the seafront.

Leaving Largs, we headed to Portencross, to see the castle.  It was closed when we got there, but the place itself is really nice.  Sort of tiny little hamlet I'd love to live in (if only it had a pub!).

Sunday morning was reserved for climbing, and in the afternoon, we watched England get knocked out of the World Cup by Germany (snigger), then vegged out watching Zulu.

All in, a packed weekend.  Roll on the next one.

Labouring the point

Just off the phone to my mum.  It ended with me stressing again.  She asks you something and you answer.  She says "are you sure?" you give her the same answer and she asks AGAIN!!!!.  When I start to get ratty about it she comes back with the "you don't have to speak like that" line.

I tried explaining that I shouldn't have to keep repeating myself, and her need to ask the same thing half a dozen times is grating.  She's then got the nerve to come over as if you've insulted her.

FFS!!!  Parents!

Dammit

This feels like a Friday.  That means that (A) since I finish at 4.00pm on  Friday, the last hour today will drag in.  That's the law when you get the days confused, and (B) tomorrow, the REAL Friday, will seriously drag in.
At least I get to nip out to do some work on a water sampler tomorrow, so I won't be stuck in front of the pc all day.

Chuffed

Upped the ante at the local climbing wall last night on both the slabs, where I moved on to 6A's, and the bouldering wall where after completing the V0's and V1's at the weekend, I did a couple of V2's.

It might not be that impressive to hardcore climbers, but it's an improvement on where I was at, and Im pretty chuffed with myself.

On the downside, I'm knackered :o)

Latest celeb death....

Frank Sidebottom.  He of the paper mache head is dead.
Didn't see that one coming.

Into the Wild

Last night I watched the movie Into the Wild.  I'd come across it by accident, but once I'd read about it, I had to see it.  It's the true story of a guy who graduates, and his parents have his life mapped out  for him.  There's also family issues in the background and in his past, which make him unhappy, the only person understanding him is his sister.

Instead of going on to university, he clears his bank account, gives all his money to charity, and goes on the road as a hobo, with his ultimate aim of getting to Alaska.  He's searching for some kind if idealised existence, and thinks he's going to find it in the wilds of Alaska.

It's a very touching movie.  If you don't find his story moving, then you're probably already dead.  There's also a book, and the soundtrack contains songs by Eddie Vedder.  Well worth checking out.

Paddling and other weekend pursuits

Yesterday since it was scorchio again, we took advantage of the weather and headed to Troon again. I like Troon. It reminds me a wee bit of what Girvan was like when I was a kid, and we went there for holidays, although it seems a bit smaller, but that could just be my memory playing tricks.

Ice cream was eaten, pub lunch was eaten, and paddling, YES PADDLING on the beach done.

This morning was a bit more energetic, as I went bouldering at the climbing wall, for an hour, before heading out and picking up a couple of dvd's (The Bank Job and Into The Wild)

Coming up for Air

A few months ago, Dan Reed toured the UK for the first time since the Network tours in the 90's.  It was a sort-of-acousticy affair.  The new songs being more spiritual and the old Network songs taking on a new (for me) life, especially "I'm so Sorry".  Anyway, the new album is Coming up for Air, and I've never connected with the lyrics in an album the way I have with this one.  It's incredible.

Dan played again recently, and there was a fantastic sing-a-long of the song "Closer".  This is a deeply moving song, and the whole crowd singing along just added to it.  It was as if everyone connected in a very special, magical, moment.

Coming up for Air is a very special album.

Time

All we have is time.  We have a finite amount, and when it runs out, that's it.  Game over.  So, with that in mind I've been trying lately to waste less of it.  I've been going road trips at the weekend with K, and seeing places I've (a) never seen, or (b) not been to for way too long, and it's been good so far.  We're going to keep it up.

This has got me thinking about the time that was (possibly) wasted in my 20's, when I could and should have been out going places, seeing things and doing.  Instead I was sitting (admittedly with friends and girlfriends) in bars listening to rock/blues bands.  But the thing is, that's the sort of thing that made me who I am.  If I hadn't done that, would I be as appreciative now, when I'm out seeing my own country.  Would I enjoy travelling to other countries as much?  If I'd married my ex, I'd have been to Spain every year for beach holidays.  I'd never have met K and gone to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Sri Lanka etc.  I'd have looked and photos in National Geographic, and yearned, but would I have got off my arse and actually GONE ?  Probably not.

Maybe the time wasn't wasted after all.  Anyway, it was fun at the time.

Tired legs and that's before excercising

Don't know what's going on today.  My legs feel tired, day after the marathon tired.  I haven't cycled to work for a couple of days (perhaps I should have) so no excuses.  Tonight, it's off to the climbing center for a bit of hanging/falling off walls.

Starting to feel like I need to take a couple of days off just for the hell of it, and maybe get out on the bike, or get on a bus and trudge up a hill for a bit.

Knowing my luck, I'll take the time off and it'll pour down!

More castles visited

The weekend was pretty good.  Weather wise, Saturday was excellent, so we headed to Troon, via Irvine.  At Irvine, we had a wander round the huge shopping center, before wandering down a wee street and unexpectedly coming across Seagate Castle.  There was a plaque on the wall telling how the castle was the site of the signing of a declaration in the 13th Century, and how it was visited by Mary Queen of Scots it the 16th Century.

  Further along the coast, we spend some time in Troon, where we had a game of crazy golf, and stopped off for lunch in the Postage Stamp pub.  Excellent food.

  On the way home, we stopped off at Dundonald Castle.  It's a pay to get in castle, and closes at 5.00pm, so we arrived too late to get in and visit the castle, but we did get to walk round the outside and get some decent photos.
Next time we'll make sure we get there early enough to actually get into the castle.

Not supporting England in the World cup is NOT racist

Over on Facebook, some people are getting hot under the collar about Scots not supporting England during the World Cup.  One poster has gone as far as calling it "thinly veiled racism".  WTF!!  I am not English, and I don't live in England.  I live in SCOTLAND.  It's a different culture, we're from different backgrounds.  We're of Celtic/Viking descent, while the English are Anglo-Saxon with a bit of whoever else invaded thrown in.  The Irish are also Celts, but for some reason, it's the Scots who are accused of being racist for not supporting England.

Why would be?

If I was a Rangers supporter, I wouldn't support Celtic in a tournament because they had got through and Rangers hadn't.

This sprang up because of a FB group boycotting Mars bars in England coloured wrappers, designed to show support for England.  Sorry, I don't support England, so I won't buy one.  It's not rocket science.
Would I buy one with a Saltire on it.  I wouldn't go out my way to, but I will not buy something to show support for a team I don't support.  And if some people think that's racist, then that's their problem.

Visit to the vet

Had to take one of the cats (Rosie) to the vet last night.  She was there a couple of months ago with impacted anal glands (messy).  This time I noticed there was a faint smell of wee from her and she's licking her backside a fair bit.

The vet didn't get a urine sample, but basically assumed that she had a urine infection and gave her an antibiotic shot, that will last two weeks.  If things haven't improved by then, we'll have to take her back.

She's a happy enough cat, she just isn't too keen on me at the moment for taking her to the vet.

Mini clear out

I've managed to accumulate a wee pile of cd's in work, so today I had a wee rake through them and took some to the 2nd hand record shop.  Didn't trade, as there's nothing I'm interested in getting at the moment, so took cash instead.  Payed me what I'd have asked for, so no need to haggle.

I want to de-clutter badly.

Be like water

Karate on Friday night was good.  For various reasons there was just three of us (including sensei), so we got some in depth practice.
We were concentrating on someone grabbing your wrists, and the fact that if you turned your hips, you could off-balance them.  If you used your arms, nothing happened, but if you relaxed your arms, and kept a strong stomach, when they grabbed, it only took a sllight movement to send them on their way.

Reminded me of Bruce Lee's quotes about being like water and flowing, and that trees that are rigid break when a force is applied, whereas saplings that bend in the breeze wont.

Quite a zen-like class.

Ripples

When I woke up this morning, or more realistically, when the alarm wrenched me from the deep sleep I was in, I was shattered.  How is it possible to feel like you'd had a skinfull the night before, when in reality you haven't had any alcohol for about 4 days?  Anyway, I digress.  It was so bad that even though it was Friday, it felt like a Monday.

When I got into town, I headed in to see if a coffee would make me feel better/wake me up.  I occasionally grab a coffee when I cycle to work, so a few of the staff know I like a mocha and a muffin. Today, I was served by the manageress, who shouted my coffee order and put a muffin on the tray for me.  As I handed her my money, she said "Coffee on the house for you today".  Instant smile on my part.

By the time I got into work my spirits had raised.  A random act of kindness when I was feeling run down, and I perked right up.  This will have an ongoing effect.  I truly believe that things like this ripple outwards, and one person giving me a free coffee, will result in someone neither of us have met, having a better day.

advert weirdness

I'm not sure why I went in for the monetise programme with this blog, lets face it, it's not like anyone actually reads it, anyway, today was the weirdest ad yet.  After posting about ending up unexpectedly in the pub, I get an ad for colonic irrigation.  Yes folks, by some bizarre train of thought which I can't fathom, ad-sense seems t link going to the pub with colonic irrigation.

Go figure.

Unexpected afternoon in pub

Yesterday I went out for a lunchtime wander round GOMA (Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art).  It's usually quite good, but the main hall was taken up with a video installation which was, to be honest, a bit wanky.
After perusing the pretentiousness of it all (and don't get me wrong, I like a bit of pretention), I headed back up to work to find that there had been a wee bit of a fire.  So, once it was over, they let us collect personal belongings and told us to go home.

If work =closed due to fire
Then home=pub

:-D