Sunday 29 June 2014

Running up the hill or walking up at a more acceptable pace.

Good morning everyone (or afternoon or evening to any readers elsewhere in space or time, I don't discriminate). It's that time of the week where I come at you with some inane chatter about something I did this week! YAY!! And this week is sponsored by the letter A (totally not a hint about things to come – Ed) as I spilled an entire pot of dirt over my laptop this weekend and now the A key doesn't work properly...along with several other keys. I've been challenged when writing posts but not really physically before. Oh well, I do enjoy a challenge.

So what am I going to chat about this week? Not much actually, as I have some pictures for you! It's just like when the teachers rolled the tv into the classroom, isn't it? You get to put your head on the desk and go to sleep for a few minutes!  A couple of weekends ago, I went home to see my parents (and Ollie, of course. Please see obligatory picture below. He is available for work – Ollie's Agent) and went a little bit of a stroll with Derek and Colin up Cairns Table, a hill near where I live.


Having lived in cities for so long, I often forget how nice the area I grew up in is and this served as a great reminder for me. Having planned this for a while, Colin, Derek and I packed up our gear...ok they brought shoes and water and I brought enough equipment for a 10 day trek through the Andes, and we set off up the hill! And it was beautiful...the hills of Scotland really are stunning when you get near them or on them....just rolling hills as far as you can see, with tranquility all around. Following what is supposedly called a path (though is little more than slightly stepped down grass) we climbed up the hill to the cairn which then gave a beautiful view of the surrounding area despite it being slightly overcast. Finally, we headed back down the hill through what can only be described as 'sodden marshland' and only got slightly lost...result! Below are the pictures from the walk, so enjoy the scenery or nap on your desks.  Your choice.






















Having earned it, the rest of the afternoon was then spent sitting in the garden with a couple of lagers which then resulted in me getting a little bit burnt. Oops...you forget that the Scottish sun can still burn, so use sun cream!

So, in honour of this walk and to help us remember how great the places we live actually are, I officially (unofficially – Law ed) declare today (29th June) as 'Love where you are day'! The queen gets two birthdays, so why can't I declare a day like this? Exactly! So, on the 29th of June, go out and explore where you live or where you grew up and just remember the good things about it!  Though you do need to wit for an entire year now, so maybe just do it anyway.


Pick of the Week

Avenue Q – Have you ever been sitting on the couch, just sitting thinking that you wish Sesame Street was a little bit more offensive and racy? No? Er me neither...but if you ever have, then Avenue Q is for you! Even if you haven't, Avenue Q is still for you (if you like good comedy). A mix of humans, puppets and singing, this show covers everything: humour, love, emotions and puppet sex? If you get the chance, check it out...it's hugely funny: it had me in stitches from the start. I mean, how can a show with a set of characters called 'The Bad Idea Bears' be bad?

Music of the Week

This week is the turn of A Perfect Circle - Let's Have a War.  It's a little bit more alternative but it's a great track!


Well, that's it from me for this week!  Tune in next week for, well who knows?  See you then!

Sunday 22 June 2014

What can you buy for 40p?

*Warning: This post is firmly tongue in cheek but 40p? How can I not be outraged*

Now then, I've always aimed for this blog to be a happy place on the internet, sharing my adventures and thoughts and hopefully bringing a smile to, at least, one person's face. I believe there is enough anger and vitriol online without me adding to it (though plenty of positive as well – Ed). However, today is a day my blog turns down the dark path, if just for a while. The hero becomes the villain (the definition of delusional – reality check ed). Light becomes dark.  Night becomes day etc etc.  And what caused this shift? The newly opened toilets in Glasgow Central have raised their prices by 10p, to 40p. It's an outrage!

Does 10p mean much to you? It didn't really mean much to me I thought to be honest but I might have been wrong, as I discovered after visiting Glasgow Central's toilets (though when living in Nepal, it meant more but different situation, so meh). However, the fact that they feel the need to charge me more to 'answer nature's call' is horrific. The fact that they charge me in the first place is bad enough but 30p was fair.  It was acceptable; I could live with it. But 40p? That's outrageous. It's robbery.  Think of all the things I could do with 40p!  Like uh...so what can you buy for 40p these days? I had a think about this and decided to do some research so that you don't have to!  Let's have a look:
  • A 10 pence mix up (Oh inflation, you)
  • 1kg of Tesco value rice
  • Multiple own-brand noodles (for all the young students)
  • About 1/3rd a litre of petrol
  • A couple of bananas
  • A school meal
  • A curly wurly (Used to go nuts for these as a child)
  • Any number of things from a charity shop
  • My silence
  • One hug from Ollie (send fees to me please)
  • 0.0000002% of sending a man to the moon 
So not much but that isn't the point! We need to make a stand here and now before it's too late! Let's hold it in until we get home or get on the train! Sneak into a restaurants toilet but do not pay the 40p! Find a dark alley (Ok, don't)!  If you do, who knows what will happen next! Over-priced train tic...expensive bottles of wa...marked-up food you can get che...oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.


Pick of the Week

The Hairy Bikers' Asian Adventure - OK, the title could be a little misleading but this is actually a cookbook (and a TV show - Media ed) and a great one at that.  If you've known me for more than 5 minutes, you will probably know that I love Asia and particularly, Asian food.  I also love the Hairy Bikers as chefs as well.  A match made in cooking heaven.  This is a great book with recipes from Japan (both rural and urban), Thailand., South Korea and China so you get a great mix plus they suggest ingredients that you can actually find without difficulty as well!  If you like Asian food and enjoy cooking, get this or even if you're not, why not try it?


Music of the Week

Today and in honour of my recent purchase, my music of the week is the London Philharmonic Orchestra playing the main theme of Final Fantasy.  Enjoy!


Well, that's it from me for this week!  Fight the man and pee at home!  See you next week.

Sunday 8 June 2014

Sleep Cartridge Empty, Please Replace

*Yawn*

I am so tired today that it isn't even funny (not that being tired is particularly funny – Ed) so it's another short blog update from me...mostly so I don't miss two weeks in a row. Yes, yes, I know that I suck. I make this big noise about being more awesome in my blog then miss several weeks but I didn't account for one thing: a social life! I mean seriously! How do people get things done whilst having one? I mean, I'm going out on Tuesday evening! That's a school night What am I, a rock star?!?

On a serious note though, I've been doing various things that have demanded my attention and kept me busy but on the plus side, I have actually finalised my trip to America and Canada after around 5 hours of umming and awwing and I am now off to New York, Boston, Edmonton/Lloydminster, Calgary and Banff! It's going to be awesome! I'm even getting to meet up with my old friend Cara in New York before attending my other old friend Matt's wedding in Canada! It's going to be a blast, ay!

So that has been planned and ticked off my list (though the borderline obsessive planning of the trip still needs to be done - Travel Ed), and this week, I'm off to see the lovable and offensive puppets in Avenue Q this week, so that should be something new and exciting as well! After this, my free time should settle down again and I'll be back to making my more normal and nonsensical posts next week.


Pick of the Week

The Colditz Story – This is a book I was given many years ago which follows the ingenious, courageous and true attempted (and successful, of course) escapes of Allied World War 2 officers who were locked up at Coldizt. The book highlights just how inventive some of these escapes were (home-made glass screws anyone?) but more importantly, it shows how they kept their spirits up throughout their imprisonment. A great read, especially for anyone who enjoys history.


Music of the Week

I've just started listening to these guys again and they are still as good as the first time I listened to their CD. It's the Backyard Babies with Colours.  Enjoy


Yay, I actually managed to type together some words to create a post this week!  I'm not completely useless!  Woo!  See you next week folks.