Things of late

Not been up to anything post-worthy of late.  I've actually managed to get back to the Wednesday lunchtime karate a couple of times, which is great.  I've really missed it, and although I've been de-motivated, and on a couple of occasions, I didn't go, because I felt like I couldn't face it, I seem to have got some kind of martial arts mojo back, which is great.

While this was all (not) going on, the only thing that I was really enjoying (hobby-wise) was the guitar lessons, which I'm still totally into.  As well as going over what I need to for the lessons, I'm also looking out for things that I think I might be able to have a go at.  The latest being Fear of the Dark by Iron Maiden.  I was chuffed to bits this morning, when I managed to pick out the little section just after the initial intro, but just before (and during) the first verse.  It's do-able at the level I'm at, just.  I need to knuckle down and practice it.  A lot.

Productive weekend despite the weather.

With weather predictions for Sunday being stormy, when I got up on Saturday morning, and saw it was nice, there was only one thing for it.  Paint the garden seat with the weatherproofing stain that I'd bought but not been able to use because of the weather, and then put the new felt on the shed roof.
A word of warning for those attempting to put felt on a shed roof.  Felt paste, isn't like any other paste I've encountered.  Think treacle, and you're getting close.  I did manage to get some on a pair of shorts, and my legs (sitting on the shed roof on drips that I never noticed).  After two days, the stuff I got on my hands has finally washed off - it stains like you wouldn't believe - but I've still got a patch behind my knee that seems to be putting up a valiant effort not to come off.

After all that hard work, it was off to Pollok park to see the Highland Cattle Show, before walking to Shawlands for a beer, and then returning back past the Highland cattle, and home again.

Sunday, was as predicted, stormy.  We headed out in the car to the David Livingstone Memorial in Blantyre, where we discovered that the statue of him fending off an attacking lion was designed and paid for by Ray Harryhousen the man famous for his stop motion animation of monsters in numerous movies.  Turns out his wife was Harryhousen's great-granddaughter.

The Memorial is a really nice place.  The grounds are beautiful, and the museum is really interesting.  Well worth a visit if you're in the area.

Friday the 13th

Ok, I don't usually go for Friday 13th being unlucky, but so far today, I've cycled into work - I did manage to avoid the rain - and forgot my work keys, so I had to wait for someone else to show up and unlock the room, and after getting showered and changed, I noticed that my jeans have managed to get dust on them from the pastel chalks I was trying out last night, so I have a lime/yellow left thigh today.

Hope no-one thinks it's a fashion statement!

That's 2 -1 in favour of F13.

Then I find out that the friend I was supposed to be meeting for lunch can't make it as he has a meeting to go to, 3 - 1 to fate.

EXCEPT - it's chucking it down, so missing lunch with him means not getting soaked, so I'm claiming that as a win.

3 - 2 to fate then.

Largs Viking Festival

On Saturday, the annual Largs Viking Festival kicked off.  As we'd never been before, we decided to go along and check out the opening parade.

Vikings in the main street of Largs

Giant Viking at the Viking Village on the seafront

Some beer I picked up from the food tent 

(It would have been rude not to)

Me, ready to defend Largs from the Viking hordes

All that defending Largs is tiring.  Time for a wee sit down

The fair maiden, rescued from the Vikings.

There were lots of things happening on the sidelines.  There was a rubber duck race in the local burn, a drumming group playing, pipe bands, lots of bikers on Harley's, trikes and Goldwings.  Then there was the Viking village and the Scots village, the food, drink and crafts stalls, the birds of prey, the list goes on.

It culminates after a week with the burning of a longship.  I'd love to be there for that, but we have a ceilidh to go to.  Ah well, there's always next year.