Not enough time in the day

Seriously, there isn't.
I've got an idea for a short story that I want to write and send in to the BFS, who will (of course) fall over themselves to print it, seeing as it's wonderful and all, but I can't find the time to sit down and put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).  I know, I could be typing it up instead of typing this, but then my non-existant followers would have no idea that I was actually a writer. (ok, not having put pen to paper, technically I'm not, but you get my drift).

There's also a pile of the last five issues of New Scientist sitting in front of me that I promise, I WILL get round to reading - preferably before the next issue comes out!

Then there's all the other stuff, and I still have to find time to eat and sleep.

Oh well there's always the next life......

Saxon

Went to see Saxon at the ABC last night, and what a gig.  A great mix of old and new songs, and when you've been on the go as long as they have, that's a hell of a lot of songs to choose from.

Met some old friends that I haven't seen in years, which was pretty cool.

Here's a wee pic of Biff in action.

This weekend

Tomorrow we're off through to Edinburgh for the day.  The plan is hit Edinburgh early and go to the independence march/rally, then hit the castle, grab a late lunch in the Thai place we like, and then we're off on a ghost tour at 5.30.

Somewhere in among all that, there should be beer, and then it's back to Glasgow.

The only downside to this is that there's a karate course that I'm going to miss tomorrow. Ah well, can't have everything.

Weekend bargins

I didn't plan to buy anything, but then again, I never do when I go into charity shops, I just go in for a browse.  Anyway, this time round, I came out with the 3 core Rolemaster rulebooks (£1.99 each) and a Moorcock book that I didn't have (£2.49).

That's a result and also shows remarkable restraint, as there was a couple of Poppy Z Brite books I could have bought as well.

*swoosh*

*swoosh* - the sound of a kilt in full flight.

The ceilidh on Friday was a blast.  I was thoroughly knackered and a tad dehydrated the next day, and not because of  an over-indulgence, no, because I danced my arse off :-)  Yup, a great night was had by all.  I'll definately make a point of going there again.

And the winner is......

Me.

I've just won four tickets to a ceilidh on Friday night.  So I'm guessing there will be a little bit of pain on Saturday, especially if the strip the willow is particularly energetic.  The kilt might get an airing, we'll see, so Glasgow beware, the knees could be on display.

Disorganisation

Aaaargh!!!!  If you are in charge of running a project, and you are the one responsible for organising a rota, PLEASE make sure you stick to the rota that YOU have come up with and don't email the next day asking to swap dates because there "might be a meeting you probably should attend".  How vague is that?  Seriously, I've other stuff to do other than fit round your inability to avoid double booking yourself.  Especially when the rota is obviously designed round your childcare.

If you choose to have kids, don't expect the childless not to have anything else to do other than cover for you.

Rant over.

5a+ ? I think not

Was down at the climbing wall last night where there was a completely evil route that was graded at 5a+.  Everyone that tried was struggling/failing/cheating to get up.  Basically there were very few holds, and the only way you could get up was bridging between two walls, smearing, and (pretty much) swearing under your breath.
It was fun to fail on this, because it was just so different.  I know I won't get up it (despite regularly nailing 6a's and even the odd 6b), but I totally want to keep giving this one a go.

I also discovered that going climbing after going to a knackering karate class, possibly isn't the wisest thing to do.  Especially if you want to push yourself at the climbing.

Is it spring again yet?

Well the snow of yesterday has gone (thankfully), so I can get back on the bike tomorrow hopefully - karate today, so I have a bag of gear to lug in/take home.

Got a table booked at a tapas place for Saturday, so that should be good.  Got a voucher for £30 worth of tapas.  Between two of us, that's probably not as much as it sounds.  We'll see.

With the Middle East in an uproar, and the disaster in Japan, I'm frankly surprised that the end-of-the-world prophets haven't reared their ugly heads.  Thankfully they haven't, the last thing we need is sandwich board carrying religious zealots claim "the end is nigh" and using these incidents as examples of "the sins of man".  I say I'm surprised, but that's because they're not usually this slow off the mark.

FFS!

It's snowing again in Glasgow.  Thought we'd seen the last of this !

Bit windy

It's a tad blustery today, with gale force winds doing their best to ruin the hairdo's of pensioners throughout Glasgow.  It 's also ruined my cycling to work, as there's not a snowball's chance in hell that I'm cycling in this weather.  A death wish I do not have.

Planning to go see The Big Sleep after work.  Never seen it before.

That week flew in (literally)

Well, last weekend, I should have been down in Coventry at Redemption, but due to the car needing replaced and a few other unexpected expenses, I'd had to cancel it, but never fear thought I, as Frightfest is on in Glasgow, EXCEPT, the friends who said they'd go bailed, so I didn't either.
Actually it was a good thing, as I ended up floored with snot for 48 hours over Sunday and Monday, so would have spent most of Redemption/Frightfest sneezing like a deranged loon, so I suppose it was fortunate that I had to cancel.

Last Thursday, I headed over to another karate club.  This is the one we go to for day courses.  K decided that she fancied trying it too, and came along.  I got a good session, and she got a one to one introduction from one of the instructors, and loved it, so it's back over there again tonight.  While I sort of enjoyed getting my Friday night back when the instructor taking over the work club could only do the Wednesday, but I really need to do two practices a week (at least).

Other than that, I've got The Stranglers to go and see on Saturday.  Should be good.

last night - karate practice

Well, I avoided the booze as a stress relief, and headed to karate instead.  Brilliant practice.  Stevie and Pat are great to train with, and since me and K were the only non black belts (last night was K's first time), then she got a one to one with one instructor, while I joined in the main practice, and got lots of good advice.

Definately going to keep going to the two clubs.

karate practice

Was at the lunchtime karate practice yesterday.  I really need to do two practices at week (at least), so with that in mind, I'm off to Pat's club in Whiteinch tonight.  Karen is supposedly coming along too, as she fancies seeing if she likes it.  I think she will.

I'm just back from lunch with my mum, which as usual is exhausting, as she talks talks talks.  It's either karate or drink.  I need some stress relief.

Can I go back to bed please?

Woke up this morning about 5:20am totally wide awake.  This wasn't good, as the alarm doesn't go off until 6:30am and I wasn't about to get up and sit around for an extra hour just because I woke up, so I forced myself to roll over and go back to sleep.
One hour later, I'm in the middle of a deep sleep, and a dream involving skateboards, waste water samplers, and cycling during a marathon (the details are hazy and fading fast), when the alarm goes off, and I have to get up, except now, I'm shattered.  I'm in work and on my second coffee, but it doesn't seem to be helping much.

Motivational issues

Struggling to get motivated today, which considering that I've been busy this morning, is a bit of a contradiction.  Basically, I'm getting through the stuff that needs done, but without any enthusiasm for it.  Think I'm still a bit knackered mentally, after yesterdays' jaunt to the borders and back.  Four hours driving is a bit meh to be honest.

Never mind, got a lunchtime karate class, so hopefully, that'll wake me up a bit.

Theatrical goodness

Last night we went to see The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Heart, by the National Theatre of Scotland, at the Tron in Glasgow.  It was excellent.  A story staged in a bar, about a lock in, or what happens after a lock in, in Kelso in the Borders.  It's also about the folkloric traditions, and is just brilliant.

It's touring now, and there's a wee trailer for it as well.  If you get a chance to check it out, I highly recommend you do.

9.00 for 9.30am

Had a 9.00am dentists appointment this morning.  I should know better, as I've never known my dentist to actually be in on time, but there I was half an hour later waiting for him to show up.  As it was, it was in, look, and out, with nothing needing done.  These are the type of dental appointments I like, even if he does turn up half an hour late.

Quiet weekend

Didn't get up to much this weekend.  Did a bit of a clear-out in the spare room and the shed.  Took a fair bit down to the recycling center.  Virtually nothing ended up in the bin.

On Sunday, we did a wee bit of a shop, and went to see the new film directed by Clint Eastwood - Hereafter.  Well worth a look.

Thinking about entering the BFS short story competition again. Entered last year for the first time, on a whim, and this time I've a wee ghost story that's been itching to get put on paper, running round my head.  I've started jotting it down already, so I think getting it typed up and sorted out might be an idea.  We'll see.

Comics re-visited

Picked up a couple of new comic titles this week.  Firstly, Daredevil: Reborn, a four part mini-series.  I never usually went in for supes, but DD was one of the few I occasionally read.  Ironically I love superhero movies, including the X-Men movies.

The other is called Scarlet, and is awesome.  Think female Punisher, without the costume, and going up against a corrupt system, and you're sort of almost there.  It's damn good.

Check them out, especially Scarlet.