Just bought a skimboard

In an attempt to find a new and exciting way to take myself out the gene pool, I've bought a skimboard.  This isn't as daft an idea as you may think, as and ex skateboarder and snowboarder, it's just an aquatic progression.  I'm thinking Troon, or the quieter end of Ayr beach should be cool for this. (Or even Girvan given that it's not the tourist mecca it once was)

For those who don't know what skimboarding is, check out this video.

Walk 26 miles.....maybe next year

The registration is open for the 2013 kiltwalk.   A work collegue told me about this, and it's quite appealing, I think I might go for it.
There's no way I'll run a marathon again, so this seems like it could be an alternative, and it's for good causes.

Anyone up for it then?

Back on the bike

Yesterday I finally got back on the bike.  Me and Karen cycled over to the Riverside Museum and had a wee wander round.  It's the first time in years that Karen's cycled on the road, so we cut through Bellahouston Park,   the quieter (dodgier) streets in Ibrox (on in particular along the back of the wee training ground is seriously dodgy), along Govan Road and over the Bells Bridge.
The dual cycle/foot path from the helipad to the museum could do with actually being finished.  There's a stretch of tarmac followed by loose gravel, then tarmac again.  Doesn't look nice for any tourists walking to the museum.

The museum itself is a pretty cool building.  Got a few dislikes about it as a museum though.  The cars up on 3 levels of shelving - you really can't get a decent look at the cars on the top two levels.  Another thing is that there's a lot of non transport items.  I'm probably wrong, but I thought this was the Transport Museum?  There's a lot of things that should probably be in the Peoples Palace.  If the remit of the museum is more than just transport, then fair enough, but that isn't made clear, so these exhibits seem a bit out of place.

I forgot to take a camera, and I hadn't picked up my phone when I left, so no photos.  Then again, it's an excuse to head over again.

I was pleasantly surprised to see there's a wee ferry running between the museum and Govan, and the river bus seems to be running again - we had to wait both going and coming back, for the Bells Bridge to swing into place again after letting the boat through.  Glasgow using the Clyde in the same way Paris uses the Seine, is long overdue.  There's a fantastic river that has plenty of tourist potential.  The riverside should be upmarket, not run down.

Begging must be paying well......

Today I went for lunch with my mum.  We went into the Atholl, not expensive, but not the cheapest pub in Glasgow.

Standing at the bar was a guy who regularly begs outside the bus station.  Now, if he can afford to spend £3.50+ on a pint, and feed the jukebox the way he was (Robbie Williams in case your interested), then either (a) the begging is paying well, or (b) he's a lying chancing scumbag who deserves to get a karmic kicking (as opposed to a physical one).

I'm not for one minute suggesting that all beggars are at it, far from it, but it's gits like this that make the general populace think they're all at it.

I'll stick to my usual tried and trusted routine of giving a Big Issue seller the occasional £1, and refusing to take a magazine.  (In fact, it's that long since I've bought a BI that I'm not sure what the current price is).

Stunning (watch full screen)

Goodbye weekend, hello Monday

So the weekend is over.  On Friday, I took a half day and went to GOMA and Kelvingrove Art Galleries.
There's a new installation that takes up the entire ground floor of GOMA (WARNING - If you've a dust allergy you may want to avoid it) that's made up of sawdust.  It's bloody huge.
To be honest, I don't get it.  I looked at the comments book, and a lot of people nailed it.  It looks like a gigantic cake.
There must be some statement it's (trying) to make, but I just.don't.get.it.  Anyway, onwards to the art galleries, and it was hoaching with schoolkids who seemed to be getting their art class there. (here's paper and pencils, go draw something).  There was some primary kids getting shown round the Egyptian room - cue female outrage that only men could be scribes in ancient Egypt - who seemed to love it.  I admit, I did listen in on the talk they were being given, and it was brilliant.
Below is a statue of the goddess Sekhmet, the warrior goddess and goddess of healing for upper Egypt.

Saturday we nipped into town and spent the credit note I had for Missing Records.  The resultant hall was a couple of dvd's, The Adjustment Bureau, Hostel III and some cd's, Levellers, SRV Live Alive, and Robert Plant - Principle of Moments (currently jammed in the cd drive of the Streamium).

Yesterday, we were determined to go out despite the rain, so picked up a couple of friends, and went for a walk in the Linn Park, with a pause in the middle for lunch in the Old Smiddy.

So, that was that.  My plan for this week is to (finally) dismantle and dispose of the computer desk in the spare room.  When that's done I'll reward myself by digging out the LoTR miniatures, and get set painting them.

Big company bully boy tactics

Disgusting behaviour from a global company to small local one.  They should be ashamed.

http://www.brewdog.com/blog-article/diageo-v-brewdog

In other news...

I saw a wonderful sight yesterday morning.  A young deer running down my street.  Must have crossed the bridge over the M77 that leads into Pollok Estate.
It didn't seem scared.  By that I mean is wasn't bolting hell for leather down the road, but is was out of sight before I managed to grab a camera and get to the door.
Considering where we live is bordered on 2 sides by the estate, on one by a road and on the other by a railway, I reckon it's chances of heading back into the estate were pretty good.

Work as an extra

Well, after doing no extra work since World War Z last August, I've received a text about 11 hours on Monday for the BBC.  I've got back saying yes, so I just need to wait and see if I'm picked now.
Fingers crossed.