I have a 30th birthday party tonight that is going to involve a lot of drinking, some ten pin bowling, a pub crawl, a tour of Edinburgh's lap-dancing establishments and probably a nightclub or two.
Some of the attendees are 'larger than life' characters to put it mildly so I am slightly nervous but nevertheless extremely excited about the evening ahead.
I haven't been out on the piss much over the last three months so it's probably best that I start things off relatively slowly tonight.
With that in mind I will be taking a bottle of gin, mixers, ice and limes round to the rendezvous in order to get the paaaaarty started.
We have lanes booked at the local Megabowl and then who knows what will happen after that.
Tomorrow the rugby club are having a BBQ so it will be a case of 'hair of the dog' and then I have another birthday party in the evening. I'm hoping that this party will be slightly more reserved than what is going to happen tonight.
Either way, I have Monday off work so that should be sufficient time to recover.
There will be plenty to report on Tuesday. Enjoy your weekend.
Friday, 31 July 2009
Thursday, 30 July 2009
The White Blizzard
I cycled along to Stockbridge today in my lunch break and it was pure pleasure.
I am still using my old bike, the DiamondBack Topanga, aka 'The White Blizzard' as the insurance payout for my stolen Marin has not come through yet.
I was dreading going back to 'the White Blizzard' but in all honesty, she has got better with age.
At lunchtime today, the sun was shining and the roads were quiet.
The birds tweeting and the gentle whirr of my wheels were the sounds I could hear as I sped along Henderson Row.
I had almost entered a trance-like state.
Unfortunately this was soon shattered as I slipped the key into the door of the office once again.
I am still using my old bike, the DiamondBack Topanga, aka 'The White Blizzard' as the insurance payout for my stolen Marin has not come through yet.
I was dreading going back to 'the White Blizzard' but in all honesty, she has got better with age.
At lunchtime today, the sun was shining and the roads were quiet.
The birds tweeting and the gentle whirr of my wheels were the sounds I could hear as I sped along Henderson Row.
I had almost entered a trance-like state.
Unfortunately this was soon shattered as I slipped the key into the door of the office once again.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Sycophant
My last post used the word 'sycophant' and I am going to give it 'word of the week' status. Here is the definition - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sycophant
It still doesn't quite describe how I feel about some people however.
It still doesn't quite describe how I feel about some people however.
Rugby
I was dreading rugby training last night as I had heard on the grapevine that we were going to be doing the 'coffin'.
This involves sprinting and jogging over 4km around a rugby pitch. It operates on a pyramid system so the hardest part is doing 2 x 80 metre sprints, 4 x 100 metre sprints and then 2 x 80 metre sprints.
I was dreading it as I found it pretty hard going when we did it a few weeks ago but last night it was much easier. I reckon I shaved off around three minutes from my previous time.
After that we played touch rugby and it looked like the Head Coach was up to his old tricks by not including me with the so-called 'Senior Squad'. They played on the lower half of the pitch while I was left with the misfits on the upper half.
The Head Coach doesn't realise that if this discrimination continues to occur then some of his sycophantic brown-nosers are going to get seriously injured when I resort to such tactics as to get my rightful place back in the 1st team.
Full contact starts next week so let the fun and games begin!
This involves sprinting and jogging over 4km around a rugby pitch. It operates on a pyramid system so the hardest part is doing 2 x 80 metre sprints, 4 x 100 metre sprints and then 2 x 80 metre sprints.
I was dreading it as I found it pretty hard going when we did it a few weeks ago but last night it was much easier. I reckon I shaved off around three minutes from my previous time.
After that we played touch rugby and it looked like the Head Coach was up to his old tricks by not including me with the so-called 'Senior Squad'. They played on the lower half of the pitch while I was left with the misfits on the upper half.
The Head Coach doesn't realise that if this discrimination continues to occur then some of his sycophantic brown-nosers are going to get seriously injured when I resort to such tactics as to get my rightful place back in the 1st team.
Full contact starts next week so let the fun and games begin!
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Spiegle Tent
There is to be no Spiegle Tent at the Edinburgh Festival this year due to it being refurbished. This is disappointing as I have been known to dominate said Tent during the month of August.
However, all is not lost as the Spiegle Tent will be replaced by this -
http://www.underbelly.co.uk/webpages/edinburgh/edinburghvenuedetail.php?venuename=underbelly'shullabaloo&id=3
See you there!
However, all is not lost as the Spiegle Tent will be replaced by this -
http://www.underbelly.co.uk/webpages/edinburgh/edinburghvenuedetail.php?venuename=underbelly'shullabaloo&id=3
See you there!
Weekend 2
Sunday was a very enjoyable day. A sleep in and then off to the Gathering 2009 - http://www.clangathering.org/
We got the bus to the Royal Mile and then walked down to Holyrood Park and entered the arena. Firstly, I watched fell runners complete the Nairn's Fell Run - a 7km run up and around Arthur's Seat - all finishers received a years supply of oatcakes from Nairn's!
From there I went to the Talisker Whisky Tasting tent. This was good. I was intoxicated from the whisky fumes before I even had a chance to sample any of the drams on offer.
I tried three different Taliskers - 10 year old, Distillers Edition and the 57 degrees - www.taliskerwhisky.com - they were all particularly good. If I were to choose my favourite then it would certainly have been the Distillers Edition.
I left the Talisker tent feeling slightly pished and we then had a look round the rest of the Gathering. Some venison biltong from the food zone sobered me up a bit!
We watched some of the Highland Dancing and then the Caber Tossing from the World Championship Highland Games. I thought that Sinky might have been competing but I didn't see him.
I was disappointed to see that some chump called Neighbour from Australia won the Highland Games! I wonder if he lived in Ramsey Street...
After the Gathering had ended, we headed back up the Royal Mile, stopping at Canongate Kirk - http://www.canongatekirk.org.uk/ - and for some fudge at one of the fudge kitchens.
It was the first time that I had walked up the Royal Mile for a long time. It would make some pub crawl! Starting at Jenny Ha's and having a pint in every pub until the Ensign Ewart - 20 + pubs maybe?
We then walked down Victoria Street and had a couple of steaks, al fresco, at Petit Paris - http://www.petitparis-restaurant.co.uk/ - in the Grassmarket. The unbearable American tourists sitting next to us almost ruined it but the food was good so big deal.
From there we walked to Cineworld at FountainPark and watched Bruno, easily one of the most offensive films ever made.
Here's a taster if you haven't seen it (Bruno to a mother auditioning her baby for fashion shoots);
Brüno: We have chosen your baby to be dressed as a Nazi Officer, pushing a wheelbarrow, with a Jewish baby, into an oven!
Wow.
We got the bus to the Royal Mile and then walked down to Holyrood Park and entered the arena. Firstly, I watched fell runners complete the Nairn's Fell Run - a 7km run up and around Arthur's Seat - all finishers received a years supply of oatcakes from Nairn's!
From there I went to the Talisker Whisky Tasting tent. This was good. I was intoxicated from the whisky fumes before I even had a chance to sample any of the drams on offer.
I tried three different Taliskers - 10 year old, Distillers Edition and the 57 degrees - www.taliskerwhisky.com - they were all particularly good. If I were to choose my favourite then it would certainly have been the Distillers Edition.
I left the Talisker tent feeling slightly pished and we then had a look round the rest of the Gathering. Some venison biltong from the food zone sobered me up a bit!
We watched some of the Highland Dancing and then the Caber Tossing from the World Championship Highland Games. I thought that Sinky might have been competing but I didn't see him.
I was disappointed to see that some chump called Neighbour from Australia won the Highland Games! I wonder if he lived in Ramsey Street...
After the Gathering had ended, we headed back up the Royal Mile, stopping at Canongate Kirk - http://www.canongatekirk.org.uk/ - and for some fudge at one of the fudge kitchens.
It was the first time that I had walked up the Royal Mile for a long time. It would make some pub crawl! Starting at Jenny Ha's and having a pint in every pub until the Ensign Ewart - 20 + pubs maybe?
We then walked down Victoria Street and had a couple of steaks, al fresco, at Petit Paris - http://www.petitparis-restaurant.co.uk/ - in the Grassmarket. The unbearable American tourists sitting next to us almost ruined it but the food was good so big deal.
From there we walked to Cineworld at FountainPark and watched Bruno, easily one of the most offensive films ever made.
Here's a taster if you haven't seen it (Bruno to a mother auditioning her baby for fashion shoots);
Brüno: We have chosen your baby to be dressed as a Nazi Officer, pushing a wheelbarrow, with a Jewish baby, into an oven!
Wow.
Monday, 27 July 2009
Weekend Part 1
Friday night gym was a bit of a washout. I couldn't do my regular legs session due to the gaggle of fists hogging the squat rack. One pair were using the rack to do bench press; to do so they actually had to climb into the rack between sets so that they could spot their partner.
I enquired as to when they would be finished at the circus and was told that a pathetic pair of cretins had already reserved the rack so I would have to wait even longer.
Infuriated, I consoled myself by doing chest and triceps.
Then it was off to the cinema to watch the Proposal. I went in fearing the worst: a soppy, boring romcom that I would have to endure for the best part of two hours. However I actually really enjoyed it and it's definitely worth seeing.
On Saturday morning I had rugby training again and it was different to what we had done previously, but again, really enjoyable. It involved lifting, wrestling, hitting rucking shields, sprinting and sit ups.
After that my partner and I drove to Falkland Palace in Fife for the Big Tent festival - http://www.bigtentfestival.co.uk/ . My partner had some work to do at this festival and as I had missed out on T in the Park this year, I thought that I would head along too.
Needless to say, it was nothing like T in the Park. The Big Tent is supposed to be an eco-festival so I felt pretty aggrieved to see just about everyone hacking trees up whilst listening to recordings of the sounds of whales mating and making furniture / bird boxes / other odd implements.
Trees are our friends aren't they?
I stuck out like a sore thumb - walking around in jeans, trainers and a bright pink Gant polo shirt, sipping a can of Diet Coke. Everyone else seemed to be wearing hemp sarongs, jesus sandals, eating vegan snacks and drinking fruit wine fermented through crusty dreadlocks.
The weather was good though and I learnt how to grow mushrooms and I tried some Black Isle Brewery Beer - http://www.blackislebrewery.com/ - AND it was nice to get out of Edinburgh so I can't complain.
On the way back to the car we stopped and watched a local cricket match. Basking in the sun was very relaxing after a week of work and training.
We drove back to Edinburgh and went round to BG's for dinner which was great as I was exhausted! I couldn't have been bothered to cook and tidy up etc. It was a good feed and I just spent the rest of the evening sprawled on the sofa only speaking when spoken to.
I enquired as to when they would be finished at the circus and was told that a pathetic pair of cretins had already reserved the rack so I would have to wait even longer.
Infuriated, I consoled myself by doing chest and triceps.
Then it was off to the cinema to watch the Proposal. I went in fearing the worst: a soppy, boring romcom that I would have to endure for the best part of two hours. However I actually really enjoyed it and it's definitely worth seeing.
On Saturday morning I had rugby training again and it was different to what we had done previously, but again, really enjoyable. It involved lifting, wrestling, hitting rucking shields, sprinting and sit ups.
After that my partner and I drove to Falkland Palace in Fife for the Big Tent festival - http://www.bigtentfestival.co.uk/ . My partner had some work to do at this festival and as I had missed out on T in the Park this year, I thought that I would head along too.
Needless to say, it was nothing like T in the Park. The Big Tent is supposed to be an eco-festival so I felt pretty aggrieved to see just about everyone hacking trees up whilst listening to recordings of the sounds of whales mating and making furniture / bird boxes / other odd implements.
Trees are our friends aren't they?
I stuck out like a sore thumb - walking around in jeans, trainers and a bright pink Gant polo shirt, sipping a can of Diet Coke. Everyone else seemed to be wearing hemp sarongs, jesus sandals, eating vegan snacks and drinking fruit wine fermented through crusty dreadlocks.
The weather was good though and I learnt how to grow mushrooms and I tried some Black Isle Brewery Beer - http://www.blackislebrewery.com/ - AND it was nice to get out of Edinburgh so I can't complain.
On the way back to the car we stopped and watched a local cricket match. Basking in the sun was very relaxing after a week of work and training.
We drove back to Edinburgh and went round to BG's for dinner which was great as I was exhausted! I couldn't have been bothered to cook and tidy up etc. It was a good feed and I just spent the rest of the evening sprawled on the sofa only speaking when spoken to.
Friday, 24 July 2009
Friday
It's Friday lunchtime. Motivation to work is low and anticipation for the weekend is high.
I had an interesting lunch to get me through. The office manager fancied some scran from Cafe Latte - http://www.caffe-latte.co.uk/ - so I slipped him a fiver and asked him to get me some too.
He returned with a toasted ciabatta filled with meatballs, jalapenos and mozzarella and a piece of white chocolate caramel shortcake for me.
Both items were very, very tasty and I am now washing them down with a coffee and tapping this out.
I thought that I would mention a top secret project that I am conducting in my work place. I am currently collecting the necessary data and a report will be published on this blog soon.
What are you all doing this weekend?
I had an interesting lunch to get me through. The office manager fancied some scran from Cafe Latte - http://www.caffe-latte.co.uk/ - so I slipped him a fiver and asked him to get me some too.
He returned with a toasted ciabatta filled with meatballs, jalapenos and mozzarella and a piece of white chocolate caramel shortcake for me.
Both items were very, very tasty and I am now washing them down with a coffee and tapping this out.
I thought that I would mention a top secret project that I am conducting in my work place. I am currently collecting the necessary data and a report will be published on this blog soon.
What are you all doing this weekend?
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Nike Chalkbot / Wear Yellow
Too cool - send your message of support to Lance via http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/livestrong/en_US/ and the Nike Chalkbot will write it on the road along the Tour de France route so that Lance can read it in the race.
I recently signed up on Twitter and my mate suggested that I follow Lance Armstrong. I am now addicted to following his updates about the Tour de France, Livestrong and his bikes. Please see the following links -
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/stages/hirst/ - a few nice pushbikes
http://www.livestrong.org/ - livestrong
http://www.store-laf.org/ - i'm going to get a t-shirt
http://www.stages09.com/stages/ - art inspired by Lance and Livestrong
I'm delighted that my mate told me about Lance on Twitter and I found the above.
Cheers C!
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/stages/hirst/ - a few nice pushbikes
http://www.livestrong.org/ - livestrong
http://www.store-laf.org/ - i'm going to get a t-shirt
http://www.stages09.com/stages/ - art inspired by Lance and Livestrong
I'm delighted that my mate told me about Lance on Twitter and I found the above.
Cheers C!
Fire Funeral
An excellent turnout for Ewan Williamson and some emotional comments - http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/City--comes-to-a.5485856.jp
Nandos
After the gym I had a double protein shot Strawberry shake made with ice and skimmed milk. The Strawberry protein at VirginActive in Fountain Park is the best that I have ever tasted.
I then met the burd who had come straight from work and we went to Nandos - http://www.nandos.co.uk/index.cfm - for supper.
I like Nandos because I like chicken, chicken livers and hot and spicy food. We shared hot and spicy nuts, olives, garlic bread, hot peri-peri chicken livers, an extra hot peri-peri chicken couscous salad and an extra hot peri-peri half chicken.
At the end of the day, and after the gym, that lot went down like a homesick mole.
I then met the burd who had come straight from work and we went to Nandos - http://www.nandos.co.uk/index.cfm - for supper.
I like Nandos because I like chicken, chicken livers and hot and spicy food. We shared hot and spicy nuts, olives, garlic bread, hot peri-peri chicken livers, an extra hot peri-peri chicken couscous salad and an extra hot peri-peri half chicken.
At the end of the day, and after the gym, that lot went down like a homesick mole.
Kite Club
Last night at the gym was 'Kite Club'. I am currently the only member of Kite Club but anyone is free to join.
There are three rules of Kite Club;
1 - You must have a kite.
2 - You must want to get rid of it.
3 - If someone says stop, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over.
For anyone that doesn't know, 'kite' is slang for your stomach or belly. Please see http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/durhamdialect/geordie2003.htm and press CTRL+F and enter kite.
You have a kite unless you have a visibly rippling set of abdominal muscles thus - http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pcimagenetwork.com/muscle/p11.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pcimagenetwork.com/muscle/p11.html&usg=__GB302wy2PxQ1W2sTVh8emHU4eHo=&h=543&w=360&sz=43&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=UFLWVEN6SQONfM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dabdominal%2Bmuscles%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
There are a few kites on show here - http://www.ogband.org/Crop/2002/BeerBelly1.jpg
Small kites can look quite sexy on females - no pics I'm afraid - use your imagination...
Kite Club last night consisted of repetitive sets of;
Swiss Ball Caterpillars
Powerplate Plank
Kneeling Balance on Swiss Ball
Russian Twists with 5kg medicine ball
Sit ups with 5kg medicine ball
After that I felt like I had given myself a double hernia but my kite feels ok now.
I think that I am going to set up http://www.kite-club.com/ ...
There are three rules of Kite Club;
1 - You must have a kite.
2 - You must want to get rid of it.
3 - If someone says stop, goes limp, taps out, the fight is over.
For anyone that doesn't know, 'kite' is slang for your stomach or belly. Please see http://www.indigogroup.co.uk/durhamdialect/geordie2003.htm and press CTRL+F and enter kite.
You have a kite unless you have a visibly rippling set of abdominal muscles thus - http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pcimagenetwork.com/muscle/p11.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pcimagenetwork.com/muscle/p11.html&usg=__GB302wy2PxQ1W2sTVh8emHU4eHo=&h=543&w=360&sz=43&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=UFLWVEN6SQONfM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dabdominal%2Bmuscles%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
There are a few kites on show here - http://www.ogband.org/Crop/2002/BeerBelly1.jpg
Small kites can look quite sexy on females - no pics I'm afraid - use your imagination...
Kite Club last night consisted of repetitive sets of;
Swiss Ball Caterpillars
Powerplate Plank
Kneeling Balance on Swiss Ball
Russian Twists with 5kg medicine ball
Sit ups with 5kg medicine ball
After that I felt like I had given myself a double hernia but my kite feels ok now.
I think that I am going to set up http://www.kite-club.com/ ...
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Rugby
Rugby training is still going well but it isn't getting any easier!! Another marathon session of running and wrestling last night but I'm feeling fresh now after cycling to work. Some of the lads are coming out and moaning about the length of the sessions but that is pretty weak to be honest as it is always this time of the year that we need to 'get the money in the bank'.
One thing that annoys me about preseason fitness training is the amount of players who cheat or cut corners or whine and moan. They tend to be players without much mental strength or discipline and after a few sessions they stick out like sore thumbs. Would you want to go into a physical battle with players like that? Neither would I.
If anyone should be moaning then it should probably be me given how old and how heavy I am!!
A few stories concerning rugby in the sports news;
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/Harrison39s-eightmonth-ban-for-drugs.5476982.jp - There will be more to come from this as three of his team mates (named in the article) refused to take a drugs test.
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/Quins-winger-Williams-banned-for.5477119.jp - I feel sorry for this Williams chap. He was put in a position (in the biggest game of Harlequins recent history) by the management and the medical staff where he didn't have an option. They were acquitted and he was banned for 12 months. Rugby, after becoming professional, is becoming more and more like soccer and I hope that the IRB stamp it out.
One thing that annoys me about preseason fitness training is the amount of players who cheat or cut corners or whine and moan. They tend to be players without much mental strength or discipline and after a few sessions they stick out like sore thumbs. Would you want to go into a physical battle with players like that? Neither would I.
If anyone should be moaning then it should probably be me given how old and how heavy I am!!
A few stories concerning rugby in the sports news;
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/Harrison39s-eightmonth-ban-for-drugs.5476982.jp - There will be more to come from this as three of his team mates (named in the article) refused to take a drugs test.
http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/Quins-winger-Williams-banned-for.5477119.jp - I feel sorry for this Williams chap. He was put in a position (in the biggest game of Harlequins recent history) by the management and the medical staff where he didn't have an option. They were acquitted and he was banned for 12 months. Rugby, after becoming professional, is becoming more and more like soccer and I hope that the IRB stamp it out.
Crime Magnet
I seem to be in the vicinity / passing by a lot of crime scenes recently. Fires, fatalities, thefts and now murders and suicides.
You will see from a previous post that I walked along the Water of Leith and I walked right past this - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Gambling-debt-39drove-son-to.5481253.jp
Incidentally, today sees the funeral of the Firefighter who died in the blaze at the Balmoral Pub on Dalry Road. It is absolutely bucketing down with rain at the moment in Edinburgh but it looks like it is brightening up which is good given that his coffin is being carried from Tollcross Fire Station to St. Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile. My mate from the rugby club will be attending and I'm sure there will be a huge turnout regardless of the weather.
You will see from a previous post that I walked along the Water of Leith and I walked right past this - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Gambling-debt-39drove-son-to.5481253.jp
Incidentally, today sees the funeral of the Firefighter who died in the blaze at the Balmoral Pub on Dalry Road. It is absolutely bucketing down with rain at the moment in Edinburgh but it looks like it is brightening up which is good given that his coffin is being carried from Tollcross Fire Station to St. Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile. My mate from the rugby club will be attending and I'm sure there will be a huge turnout regardless of the weather.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Work
My annoying colleague stomping round the office has just reached epic proportions!
Whilst stomping to the toilet, hoping for as much attention as possible, the vibrations from the stomps knocked the MD's photo of his wife on their wedding day off his desk.
Lucky that he is on holiday this week otherwise Stomper might have been in some hot water.
Whilst stomping to the toilet, hoping for as much attention as possible, the vibrations from the stomps knocked the MD's photo of his wife on their wedding day off his desk.
Lucky that he is on holiday this week otherwise Stomper might have been in some hot water.
Old Bike
I was back on my old bike (a DiamondBack Topanga mountain bike) on my cycle to work this morning.
It's too small for me and the brakes are seriously worn. The chain is rusty so it is difficult to pedal no matter what gear it is in.
Every cyclist that I go past, I can sense myself checking the bike that they are riding to see if it is my stolen Marin. I am still angry and I will continue to be until I have it back or I have a new bike.
I have set my sights on a Trek. Ideally this one - http://www.supertouchart.com/ - scan down until you see the black and yellow Trek 1274 prototype. Unreal.
It was good to be able to cycle to work again though.
It's too small for me and the brakes are seriously worn. The chain is rusty so it is difficult to pedal no matter what gear it is in.
Every cyclist that I go past, I can sense myself checking the bike that they are riding to see if it is my stolen Marin. I am still angry and I will continue to be until I have it back or I have a new bike.
I have set my sights on a Trek. Ideally this one - http://www.supertouchart.com/ - scan down until you see the black and yellow Trek 1274 prototype. Unreal.
It was good to be able to cycle to work again though.
Water of Leith
I walked along the Water of Leith walkway - http://www.waterofleith.org.uk/ - last night after work as I wanted to go and get my old DiamondBack Topanga - from my parent's garage, due to the Marin Novato - http://www.brianrourke.co.uk/images/Novato.jpg - getting stolen last week.
I stuck the Trainspotting soundtrack - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainspotting_(soundtrack) - on the Ipod and trotted along from Stockbridge to Roseburn.
It's a pleasant walk and often it seems like you are miles from any major city.
There was plenty for the senses to experience;
Sights;
Wildlife (Two wood pigeons, a heron, assorted dogs, a squirrel, swarms of insects, approximately six pairs of Bouncing Tits and plenty of other unidentified birds).
A homosexual ned couple, sitting on a bench, chinning a two litre bottle of Frosty Jacks Cider - http://www.frostyjacks.co.uk/ - and snogging.
A tramp sitting on a bench supping a bottle of White Lightning Cider - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lightning_(cider) - and smoking a cigarette.
A young couple performing some odd dance/fight - then I realised the girl had a wasp in her hair.
A father teaching his daughter to walk. On a bridge across the river.
A Polish couple chatting and smoking weed.
Various people jogging, cycling, walking etc.
Smells;
The odd Brewery-like smell that you always experience on sections of the Water of Leith.
Wild Garlic.
Weed being smoked.
Dog shit.
Sounds;
The Trainspotting Soundtrack
Tastes;
Nothing.
Feel;
The sun on my face and the breeze in my hair.
Mud under my feet.
It took around 40 minutes to get to my destination.
I stuck the Trainspotting soundtrack - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trainspotting_(soundtrack) - on the Ipod and trotted along from Stockbridge to Roseburn.
It's a pleasant walk and often it seems like you are miles from any major city.
There was plenty for the senses to experience;
Sights;
Wildlife (Two wood pigeons, a heron, assorted dogs, a squirrel, swarms of insects, approximately six pairs of Bouncing Tits and plenty of other unidentified birds).
A homosexual ned couple, sitting on a bench, chinning a two litre bottle of Frosty Jacks Cider - http://www.frostyjacks.co.uk/ - and snogging.
A tramp sitting on a bench supping a bottle of White Lightning Cider - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lightning_(cider) - and smoking a cigarette.
A young couple performing some odd dance/fight - then I realised the girl had a wasp in her hair.
A father teaching his daughter to walk. On a bridge across the river.
A Polish couple chatting and smoking weed.
Various people jogging, cycling, walking etc.
Smells;
The odd Brewery-like smell that you always experience on sections of the Water of Leith.
Wild Garlic.
Weed being smoked.
Dog shit.
Sounds;
The Trainspotting Soundtrack
Tastes;
Nothing.
Feel;
The sun on my face and the breeze in my hair.
Mud under my feet.
It took around 40 minutes to get to my destination.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Freddie Flintoff
Well Freddie has done the business in the second Ashes test at Lords. His first five wicket haul at Lords helped secure an English victory to give them a 1-0 lead in the series with three tests to play.
Nihilism
Nihilism - http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nihilism - is my word du jour.
I have noticed that my, and some of my friends, approach to work and life is bordering on the nihilistic.
I have certainly shown nihilistic tendencies in my life and I find it a fascinating psychological topic.
Why do I do it to myself?
I have noticed that my, and some of my friends, approach to work and life is bordering on the nihilistic.
I have certainly shown nihilistic tendencies in my life and I find it a fascinating psychological topic.
Why do I do it to myself?
Weekend
The weekend began with getting a taxi home from work. I then went to the gym and did some weight training. I have been going on a Friday night after work for the last six weeks and I have found myself getting into a nice little routine. If you train hard then you can lose the stresses of work before entering the important part of the week, the weekend.
I have been focusing on developing my power at the gym on a Friday night. My sessions for the last six weeks have comprised (6 sets including warm ups of 5 reps);
Front Squats
Jump Squats
Clean Pulls from the floor
Clean Grip Shrugs
Hang Cleans
My legs are always like jelly after this session so I often finish with some stretching on the PowerPlate - http://www.powerplate.com/ - some abs / core and some relaxation in the spa / pool area.
The rest of Friday evening was spent watching shite on the TV.
On Saturday morning I watched a bit of the opening Tri-nations rugby game between New Zealand and Australia and then went to preseason training where I learned that New Zealand had won.
After training I wandered along to Costa Coffee in Stockbridge where I was meeting my partner who had been cracking the whip on her underlings at Treefest in Inverleith Park. On entering Costa I met a bloke who I used to play rugby with. He was there with his wife and their two sons, one of which who had been named after me. It was a nice experience meeting someone who had been named after me and I was really chuffed when I learned that he was a little rascal!
The rest of the weekend was a bit of a non-event. Chores round the house, watching the Ashes cricket (well done England, fuck off Australia) and The Open golf (Hard luck Tom!), watching the latest Harry Potter (rubbish), having breakfast outside at Indigo Yard - http://www.indigoyardedinburgh.co.uk/ - and supping frappucinos from Starbucks.
Disturbingly, there has been another major fire in the neighbourhood - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/scotland/Firefighters-hurt-in-blaze-yards.5474681.jp - and I hope that there isn't an arsonist on the loose.
Now I am back at work on Monday writing this in my lunch break. Roll on next Friday.
I have been focusing on developing my power at the gym on a Friday night. My sessions for the last six weeks have comprised (6 sets including warm ups of 5 reps);
Front Squats
Jump Squats
Clean Pulls from the floor
Clean Grip Shrugs
Hang Cleans
My legs are always like jelly after this session so I often finish with some stretching on the PowerPlate - http://www.powerplate.com/ - some abs / core and some relaxation in the spa / pool area.
The rest of Friday evening was spent watching shite on the TV.
On Saturday morning I watched a bit of the opening Tri-nations rugby game between New Zealand and Australia and then went to preseason training where I learned that New Zealand had won.
After training I wandered along to Costa Coffee in Stockbridge where I was meeting my partner who had been cracking the whip on her underlings at Treefest in Inverleith Park. On entering Costa I met a bloke who I used to play rugby with. He was there with his wife and their two sons, one of which who had been named after me. It was a nice experience meeting someone who had been named after me and I was really chuffed when I learned that he was a little rascal!
The rest of the weekend was a bit of a non-event. Chores round the house, watching the Ashes cricket (well done England, fuck off Australia) and The Open golf (Hard luck Tom!), watching the latest Harry Potter (rubbish), having breakfast outside at Indigo Yard - http://www.indigoyardedinburgh.co.uk/ - and supping frappucinos from Starbucks.
Disturbingly, there has been another major fire in the neighbourhood - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/scotland/Firefighters-hurt-in-blaze-yards.5474681.jp - and I hope that there isn't an arsonist on the loose.
Now I am back at work on Monday writing this in my lunch break. Roll on next Friday.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Back off the Bike
My bike got stolen last night. The police have been notified and I'm about to claim on my insurance.
I had to walk to work this morning which meant I had to get up earlier than usual.
It was raining.
My knee was sore from a very tiring training session last night.
It was humid this morning so I sweated and I got chafe which hurts.
I had to spend 20 minutes giving a statement to a (very helpful, rugby playing) policewoman.
Edinburgh can be a very small place so I if I see the criminal riding along on my bike then my irritations from the above will be taken out. That's pie in the sky though as I doubt I will ever see it again.
The policewoman mentioned that they were running a bike crime campaign at the moment so I suppose there is a glimmer of hope.
On the flip side I get a new bike and it is Friday.
Continuing the themes of 'crime' and 'twilight zones' from this and previous posts, I was interested to read this - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Agonising-search-for-missing-mum.5465105.jp - especially as I have been to Cancun twice.
Sinister criminal abduction or Mayan magic?
I had to walk to work this morning which meant I had to get up earlier than usual.
It was raining.
My knee was sore from a very tiring training session last night.
It was humid this morning so I sweated and I got chafe which hurts.
I had to spend 20 minutes giving a statement to a (very helpful, rugby playing) policewoman.
Edinburgh can be a very small place so I if I see the criminal riding along on my bike then my irritations from the above will be taken out. That's pie in the sky though as I doubt I will ever see it again.
The policewoman mentioned that they were running a bike crime campaign at the moment so I suppose there is a glimmer of hope.
On the flip side I get a new bike and it is Friday.
Continuing the themes of 'crime' and 'twilight zones' from this and previous posts, I was interested to read this - http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Agonising-search-for-missing-mum.5465105.jp - especially as I have been to Cancun twice.
Sinister criminal abduction or Mayan magic?
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Back on the Bike
I was back on my bike this morning and I followed my usual route down Dalry Road, Grosvenor Street, Grosvenor Crescent, Palmerston Place, Drumsheugh Gardens, across the Dean Bridge, down Dean Park Crescent, Carlton Street, Dean Terrace, Hamilton Place, Henderson Row, Eyre Place and Broughton Road.
Usually I see a number of people that I know but some reason or another I didn't see anyone this morning.
My cycle in the mornings take me past a number of interesting places; Space Physiotherapy, the Dean Bridge and the house on the 'city centre' end of it, the infamous Carlton Club (where I met my girlfriend!), the Water of Leith, Hamilton's Bar, The Edinburgh Academy (my alma mater or old school), L'Alba D'Oro (best chippie in Edinburgh), Banana Row Recording Studio, the Droot Flat and the Boneyard, Smithies Pub, MacLauchlan's Saturday Night Kareoke Bar and Canonmills Tesco.
There is a stretch of Eyre Place that incorporates Smithies Pub and the Droot Flat / Boneyard. If you know the area then you will be aware of the cycle track which runs from Banana Row to MacLauchlans.
There have been some strange goings on in this small stretch of Edinburgh recently. One morning I cycled over a pair of heavily soiled blue y-fronts lying outside Smithies. I relayed this news to my mate who I used to live with in Eyre Place and he was astonished. A week later he came back to me saying that he had found two different sets of underwear (male and female), in the very same location, within touching distance of each other. Weird. Like some kind of Grunt Twilight Zone.
Perhaps if you stand in a certain spot outside Smithies at a certain time you are automatically removed of your grunts by forces outwith human comprehension.
There have been no spottings of stray underwear since the 'his and hers'.
My mates (C+T) still live on Eyre Place in the Droot although I don't know if there is a Droot on at the moment and I don't know how much action the Boneyard has seen of late. When I lived there we all had a great time, apart from when were in a 'fizz' obviously.
C often tells me of other strange goings on in the area, such as a ned family beating up a topless taxi driver in the middle of the night in Canonmills Garage.
I like Canonmills Tesco too. I go there for my lunch most of the time.
I have been almost addicted to the Urban Dictionary over the last few days - http://www.urbandictionary.com/ - very amusing.
I have also been eating a lot of cottage cheese with pineapple - low fat, low carbs, high protein.
Usually I see a number of people that I know but some reason or another I didn't see anyone this morning.
My cycle in the mornings take me past a number of interesting places; Space Physiotherapy, the Dean Bridge and the house on the 'city centre' end of it, the infamous Carlton Club (where I met my girlfriend!), the Water of Leith, Hamilton's Bar, The Edinburgh Academy (my alma mater or old school), L'Alba D'Oro (best chippie in Edinburgh), Banana Row Recording Studio, the Droot Flat and the Boneyard, Smithies Pub, MacLauchlan's Saturday Night Kareoke Bar and Canonmills Tesco.
There is a stretch of Eyre Place that incorporates Smithies Pub and the Droot Flat / Boneyard. If you know the area then you will be aware of the cycle track which runs from Banana Row to MacLauchlans.
There have been some strange goings on in this small stretch of Edinburgh recently. One morning I cycled over a pair of heavily soiled blue y-fronts lying outside Smithies. I relayed this news to my mate who I used to live with in Eyre Place and he was astonished. A week later he came back to me saying that he had found two different sets of underwear (male and female), in the very same location, within touching distance of each other. Weird. Like some kind of Grunt Twilight Zone.
Perhaps if you stand in a certain spot outside Smithies at a certain time you are automatically removed of your grunts by forces outwith human comprehension.
There have been no spottings of stray underwear since the 'his and hers'.
My mates (C+T) still live on Eyre Place in the Droot although I don't know if there is a Droot on at the moment and I don't know how much action the Boneyard has seen of late. When I lived there we all had a great time, apart from when were in a 'fizz' obviously.
C often tells me of other strange goings on in the area, such as a ned family beating up a topless taxi driver in the middle of the night in Canonmills Garage.
I like Canonmills Tesco too. I go there for my lunch most of the time.
I have been almost addicted to the Urban Dictionary over the last few days - http://www.urbandictionary.com/ - very amusing.
I have also been eating a lot of cottage cheese with pineapple - low fat, low carbs, high protein.
Freddie Flintoff
Andrew 'Fred' Flintoff announced his retirement from test match cricket yesterday. I hope that his performances in the remaining Ashes tests this summer do him justice.
Outstanding individual performances on the cricket field blended with doing crazy things after all night drinking sessions make him one of my most admired sportsmen.
Outstanding individual performances on the cricket field blended with doing crazy things after all night drinking sessions make him one of my most admired sportsmen.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009
Bus and Walk and Ipod
As my bike was still at my partners parents I had to get the bus this morning which I quite enjoy as the bus service in Edinburgh is excellent. Click on the title for routes, timetables etc.
Dalry Road was still closed due to the savage fire which ripped through the Balmoral pub and most of the tenements above. Unfortunately, a firefighter was killed in the blaze due to a ceiling collapsing on him. This is the only firefighter to have died in Edinburgh for a very long time. Apparently he wasn't even supposed to be working - he was covering for his mate who was at T in the Park. He was one of my mates ex-flatmates - tenuous I know - but please have a look at http://ewan-williamson.gonetoosoon.org/
As the road was closed, the buses were being re-routed along the Western Approach road and we (partner and I) hopped on the 22 heading to Ocean Terminal. I hopped off at John Lewis and made my way down Broughton Street, past lots of interesting shops, bars and restaurants. The Blue Moon Cafe does excellent grub, Crombies the butchers speaks for itself and the pubs/bars make an excellent crawl on a night out.
All the while I was listening to my trusty Ipod. On departing the bus, I hit shuffle and let the Ipod dictate what I was going to listen to on my jaunt down Broughton Street to work.
First up - Give it Away by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers - excellent
Next - My Name is ... by Eminem - geniusly offensive and particularly amusing lyrics (please see below). I find it interesting that rappers generally announce themselves 'on the scene' by releasing a song such as 'My Name is...'
I then strode into work with a spring in my step listening to Big Pimpin by Jay-Z. Happy days.
My Name is... by Eminem, Marshall Mathers, the real Slim Shady. Enjoy.
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Ahem.. excuse me!Can I have the attention of the classfor ONE second?Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Hey kids! Do you like violence? (Yeah yeah yeah!)Wanna see me stick Nine Inch Nails through each one of my eyelids? (Uh-huh!)Wanna copy me and do exactly like I did? (Yeah yeah!)Try 'cid and get fucked up worse then my life is? (Huh?)My brain's dead weight, I'm tryin to get my head straightbut I can't figure out which Spice Girl I want to impregnate (Ummmm..)And Dr. Dre said, "Slim Shady you a basehead!"Uh-uhhh! "So why's your face red? Man you wasted!"Well since age twelve, I've felt like I'm someone elseCause I hung my original self from the top bunk with a beltGot pissed off and ripped Pamela Lee's tits offAn' smacked her so hard, i knocked her clothes backwards like criss-cross!I smoke a fat pound of grass and fall on my assfaster than the fat bitch who sat down too fastC'mere slut! (Shady, wait a minute, that's my girl, dog!)I don't give a fuck, God sent me to piss the world off!
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim Shady
My English teacher wanted to have sex in junior highthe only problem was..my english teacher was a guyI smacked him in his face with an eraser, chased him with a staplerStapled his nuts to a stack of paper.Walked in the strip club, had my jacket zipped upFlashed the bartender, and stuck my dick in the tip cupExtraterrestrial, killin' pedestrians,rapeing lesbians while they're screamin "lets just be friends!"Ninety-nine percent of my life I was lied toI just found out my mom does more dope than I doI told her I'd grow up to be a famous rapperMake a record about doin' drugs and name it after her (Oh thank you!)You know you blew up when the women rush the standsand try to touch your hands like some screamin' Usher fans (Aaahhhhhh!)This guy at White Castle asked for my autograph(Dude, can I get your autograph?)So I signed it: 'Dear Dave, thanks for the support, ASSHOLE!'
Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Stop the tape! This kid needs to be locked away! (Get him!)Dr. Dre, don't just stand there, OPERATE!I'm not ready to leave, it's too scary to dieI'll have to be carried inside the cemetery and buried alive.Am I comin or goin? I can barely decideI just drank a fifth of vodka -- dare me to drive? (Go ahead)All my life I was very deprived.I ain't had a woman in years, and my palms are too hairy to hide(Whoops!) Clothes ripped like the Incredible Hulk (riiip)I spit when I talk,(hachhh-too) I'll fuck anything that walks (C'mere)When I was little I used to get so hungry I would throw fitsHOW YOU GONNA BREAST FEED ME MOM? (WAH!)YOU AIN'T GOT NO TITS! (WAHHH!)I lay awake and strap myself in the bedwith a bulletproof vest on and shoot myself in the head (BANG!)I'm steamin' mad (Grrrrr!)And by the way when you see my dad? (Yeah?)Tell him that i slit his throat in this dream i had
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (who?) My name is.. (huh?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Dalry Road was still closed due to the savage fire which ripped through the Balmoral pub and most of the tenements above. Unfortunately, a firefighter was killed in the blaze due to a ceiling collapsing on him. This is the only firefighter to have died in Edinburgh for a very long time. Apparently he wasn't even supposed to be working - he was covering for his mate who was at T in the Park. He was one of my mates ex-flatmates - tenuous I know - but please have a look at http://ewan-williamson.gonetoosoon.org/
As the road was closed, the buses were being re-routed along the Western Approach road and we (partner and I) hopped on the 22 heading to Ocean Terminal. I hopped off at John Lewis and made my way down Broughton Street, past lots of interesting shops, bars and restaurants. The Blue Moon Cafe does excellent grub, Crombies the butchers speaks for itself and the pubs/bars make an excellent crawl on a night out.
All the while I was listening to my trusty Ipod. On departing the bus, I hit shuffle and let the Ipod dictate what I was going to listen to on my jaunt down Broughton Street to work.
First up - Give it Away by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers - excellent
Next - My Name is ... by Eminem - geniusly offensive and particularly amusing lyrics (please see below). I find it interesting that rappers generally announce themselves 'on the scene' by releasing a song such as 'My Name is...'
I then strode into work with a spring in my step listening to Big Pimpin by Jay-Z. Happy days.
My Name is... by Eminem, Marshall Mathers, the real Slim Shady. Enjoy.
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Ahem.. excuse me!Can I have the attention of the classfor ONE second?Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Hey kids! Do you like violence? (Yeah yeah yeah!)Wanna see me stick Nine Inch Nails through each one of my eyelids? (Uh-huh!)Wanna copy me and do exactly like I did? (Yeah yeah!)Try 'cid and get fucked up worse then my life is? (Huh?)My brain's dead weight, I'm tryin to get my head straightbut I can't figure out which Spice Girl I want to impregnate (Ummmm..)And Dr. Dre said, "Slim Shady you a basehead!"Uh-uhhh! "So why's your face red? Man you wasted!"Well since age twelve, I've felt like I'm someone elseCause I hung my original self from the top bunk with a beltGot pissed off and ripped Pamela Lee's tits offAn' smacked her so hard, i knocked her clothes backwards like criss-cross!I smoke a fat pound of grass and fall on my assfaster than the fat bitch who sat down too fastC'mere slut! (Shady, wait a minute, that's my girl, dog!)I don't give a fuck, God sent me to piss the world off!
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim Shady
My English teacher wanted to have sex in junior highthe only problem was..my english teacher was a guyI smacked him in his face with an eraser, chased him with a staplerStapled his nuts to a stack of paper.Walked in the strip club, had my jacket zipped upFlashed the bartender, and stuck my dick in the tip cupExtraterrestrial, killin' pedestrians,rapeing lesbians while they're screamin "lets just be friends!"Ninety-nine percent of my life I was lied toI just found out my mom does more dope than I doI told her I'd grow up to be a famous rapperMake a record about doin' drugs and name it after her (Oh thank you!)You know you blew up when the women rush the standsand try to touch your hands like some screamin' Usher fans (Aaahhhhhh!)This guy at White Castle asked for my autograph(Dude, can I get your autograph?)So I signed it: 'Dear Dave, thanks for the support, ASSHOLE!'
Hi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Stop the tape! This kid needs to be locked away! (Get him!)Dr. Dre, don't just stand there, OPERATE!I'm not ready to leave, it's too scary to dieI'll have to be carried inside the cemetery and buried alive.Am I comin or goin? I can barely decideI just drank a fifth of vodka -- dare me to drive? (Go ahead)All my life I was very deprived.I ain't had a woman in years, and my palms are too hairy to hide(Whoops!) Clothes ripped like the Incredible Hulk (riiip)I spit when I talk,(hachhh-too) I'll fuck anything that walks (C'mere)When I was little I used to get so hungry I would throw fitsHOW YOU GONNA BREAST FEED ME MOM? (WAH!)YOU AIN'T GOT NO TITS! (WAHHH!)I lay awake and strap myself in the bedwith a bulletproof vest on and shoot myself in the head (BANG!)I'm steamin' mad (Grrrrr!)And by the way when you see my dad? (Yeah?)Tell him that i slit his throat in this dream i had
Hi! My name is.. (what?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (what?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (who?) My name is.. (huh?)My name is.. Slim ShadyHi! My name is.. (huh?) My name is.. (who?)My name is.. Slim Shady
Birthday
I then cycled up to the birthday party trying to get to grips with what three black crosses on the inside of your bottom lip might mean.
Any suggestions?
The Dad was feeling better and the birthday meal was fantastic. The meal seemed to be on a European theme. Garlic, cheese and rosemary foccacia and mixed antipasti to start. Chateaubriand (very rare), salad and vegetables for main. Apricot tarte and vanilla custard as a dessert followed by a selection of cheeses and all washed down with prosecco and red wine.
As is often the case on birthdays, parents will recount humourous or embarassing stories about their offspring and this birthday was no exception. Having zoned out from the conversation, I was startled to hear the Mum repeating the word 'penis' for some reason.
This led to a story about the much loved family pet (RIP Fluffy). Back in the birthday girl's (BG)formative years, the Mum noticed that Fluffy had his 'lipstick' out and was cleaning himself as all cats do, with their tongue. The BG noticed this and asked "what's Fluffy doing?" to which the reply was, "He is cleaning himself." The BG then said "Yes, I know but what is that?" (pointing to the 'lipstick').
"That's Fluffy's penis. You know like men like your Daddy have penises."
"Does Daddy clean himself like that?"
Enough said.
BG seemed pretty pleased with her haul of presents as we listened to Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells on vinyl (?????) and as it was then pitch black, I got a lift home rather than cycle.
Any suggestions?
The Dad was feeling better and the birthday meal was fantastic. The meal seemed to be on a European theme. Garlic, cheese and rosemary foccacia and mixed antipasti to start. Chateaubriand (very rare), salad and vegetables for main. Apricot tarte and vanilla custard as a dessert followed by a selection of cheeses and all washed down with prosecco and red wine.
As is often the case on birthdays, parents will recount humourous or embarassing stories about their offspring and this birthday was no exception. Having zoned out from the conversation, I was startled to hear the Mum repeating the word 'penis' for some reason.
This led to a story about the much loved family pet (RIP Fluffy). Back in the birthday girl's (BG)formative years, the Mum noticed that Fluffy had his 'lipstick' out and was cleaning himself as all cats do, with their tongue. The BG noticed this and asked "what's Fluffy doing?" to which the reply was, "He is cleaning himself." The BG then said "Yes, I know but what is that?" (pointing to the 'lipstick').
"That's Fluffy's penis. You know like men like your Daddy have penises."
"Does Daddy clean himself like that?"
Enough said.
BG seemed pretty pleased with her haul of presents as we listened to Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells on vinyl (?????) and as it was then pitch black, I got a lift home rather than cycle.
Rugby
The anticipated fireworks didn't really materialise at rugby training last night. It looked like they would though after the Head Coach walked into the clubhouse and shot me a look which might have sent a lesser mortal scuttling to the hills.
Just before the warm-up, the Head Coach sidled up to me and we had a brief tete-a-tete. The net result was that both parties seemed to be happy with the outcome but I am still not convinced that this is the end of the matter. The Head Coach strikes me as the sort of man who likes to bear a grudge but we shall see.
Training otherwise was enjoyable enough - a pleasant evening interspersed with downandups, running up and down the pitch, combat submission wrestling, press-ups and handling skills.
I am one of the sweatier members of the club so as per usual, my t-shirt was soaked by the end.
One of the most enjoyable things about being associated with a rugby club is the banter between players. Most of the banter last night centred around the true meaning of the word 'mung' and one of the younger players who missed our previous training session due to getting lucky with a female seven years his senior last weekend.
Upon interrogation, he did reveal that his liaison had three black crosses tattooed on the inside of her bottom lip. How odd. She had other tattoos also and this led the collective to label her, either fairly or unfairly, as a 'goth'.
I hate goths.
Whether he 'munged' her or not is unknown.
Just before the warm-up, the Head Coach sidled up to me and we had a brief tete-a-tete. The net result was that both parties seemed to be happy with the outcome but I am still not convinced that this is the end of the matter. The Head Coach strikes me as the sort of man who likes to bear a grudge but we shall see.
Training otherwise was enjoyable enough - a pleasant evening interspersed with downandups, running up and down the pitch, combat submission wrestling, press-ups and handling skills.
I am one of the sweatier members of the club so as per usual, my t-shirt was soaked by the end.
One of the most enjoyable things about being associated with a rugby club is the banter between players. Most of the banter last night centred around the true meaning of the word 'mung' and one of the younger players who missed our previous training session due to getting lucky with a female seven years his senior last weekend.
Upon interrogation, he did reveal that his liaison had three black crosses tattooed on the inside of her bottom lip. How odd. She had other tattoos also and this led the collective to label her, either fairly or unfairly, as a 'goth'.
I hate goths.
Whether he 'munged' her or not is unknown.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Mung
I like words and offensiveness so I therefore like books and websites like the Profanisaurus and the Urban Dictionary.
One of my favourite words EVER is 'mung' and it's derivatives; munger, munging etc.
I thought that 'mung' was a verb meaning 'to perform an act of oral sex on a female' i.e. 'did you mung her?'
I almost regurgitated my lunch when I entered mung into the Urban Dictionary search function and found out it's true meaning.
I can't repeat it here due to my fear of being arrested and placed on the sex offenders list so please click on the word 'mung' above if you want to know the true meaning.
Not for the faint hearted!
One of my favourite words EVER is 'mung' and it's derivatives; munger, munging etc.
I thought that 'mung' was a verb meaning 'to perform an act of oral sex on a female' i.e. 'did you mung her?'
I almost regurgitated my lunch when I entered mung into the Urban Dictionary search function and found out it's true meaning.
I can't repeat it here due to my fear of being arrested and placed on the sex offenders list so please click on the word 'mung' above if you want to know the true meaning.
Not for the faint hearted!
T in the Park
I didn't make it to T this year but it looked fantastic on the BBC. The Killers, Doves, Elbow, Pendulum looked like they dominated some of the larger stages.
Whenever I don't go to T - the weather seems to be amazing. If the hundreds of thousands of people planning on going next year all give me a quid then I will stay away... (depending on the line-up!).
As one of my mates put it, there seemed to be lots of slutty looking girls (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry) flaunting around on some of the larger stages also. This is to be encouraged.
I would have loved to have seen 2manydj's in the Slam tent. I haven't heard any reports on their set yet - send me a link if you see one.
Tickets have gone on sale already for next year and I reckon I have enough gas in the old tank to manage one more dose of the full experience - camping thursday to monday - before struggling home in pieces.
Who else fancies it? Click the 'T in the Park' link above for more.
Whenever I don't go to T - the weather seems to be amazing. If the hundreds of thousands of people planning on going next year all give me a quid then I will stay away... (depending on the line-up!).
As one of my mates put it, there seemed to be lots of slutty looking girls (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry) flaunting around on some of the larger stages also. This is to be encouraged.
I would have loved to have seen 2manydj's in the Slam tent. I haven't heard any reports on their set yet - send me a link if you see one.
Tickets have gone on sale already for next year and I reckon I have enough gas in the old tank to manage one more dose of the full experience - camping thursday to monday - before struggling home in pieces.
Who else fancies it? Click the 'T in the Park' link above for more.
Work and Lychees
Work is going well. I am currently 226.3% of my monthly target which will result in a fairly impressive financial bonus.
Work is still shit though. I hate work.
Achieving my target easily has left me with no motivation for the rest of this month which is probably why I have started this blog.
The office is nice, my desk is tidy, my boss never beats down on me and I get on well with most of my colleagues. So why do I still have an aversion to work? Probably because there are better things to do but unfortunately these things require money.
There is the chance that one of my colleagues might be leaving. This is because her partner cannot get a job and they may have to return home. If she left then I would be very happy. We get on ok but I find her absolutely unbearable. One of her most annoying traits is stomping around the office making a racket so that people know she is there. I might offer her walking lessons before she leaves.
I find her voice very grating and irritating too. The volume level when she opens her mouth disturbs me. She does nothing out of the ordinary in or out of the office and she is pretty average at her job. Why does she need to be the centre of attention? Unloved as a child? Who knows?
I will be glad if she leaves.
On the topic of leaves, I had some lychees for my lunch a while back and after I had finished I put one of the seeds into one of the office managers plant pots (without his knowledge). I had to come clean to him when the seed sprouted into a fledgling lychee tree! My tree now has a strong shoot and three leaves and he lives in his very own pot that I bought from B&Q. Will it ever bear fruit?
I will keep you updated on the trials and tribulations of growing a lychee tree in the sub-tropical climate of Edinburgh!
For care of your lychee tree - please click on 'Work and Lychees' above.
Work is still shit though. I hate work.
Achieving my target easily has left me with no motivation for the rest of this month which is probably why I have started this blog.
The office is nice, my desk is tidy, my boss never beats down on me and I get on well with most of my colleagues. So why do I still have an aversion to work? Probably because there are better things to do but unfortunately these things require money.
There is the chance that one of my colleagues might be leaving. This is because her partner cannot get a job and they may have to return home. If she left then I would be very happy. We get on ok but I find her absolutely unbearable. One of her most annoying traits is stomping around the office making a racket so that people know she is there. I might offer her walking lessons before she leaves.
I find her voice very grating and irritating too. The volume level when she opens her mouth disturbs me. She does nothing out of the ordinary in or out of the office and she is pretty average at her job. Why does she need to be the centre of attention? Unloved as a child? Who knows?
I will be glad if she leaves.
On the topic of leaves, I had some lychees for my lunch a while back and after I had finished I put one of the seeds into one of the office managers plant pots (without his knowledge). I had to come clean to him when the seed sprouted into a fledgling lychee tree! My tree now has a strong shoot and three leaves and he lives in his very own pot that I bought from B&Q. Will it ever bear fruit?
I will keep you updated on the trials and tribulations of growing a lychee tree in the sub-tropical climate of Edinburgh!
For care of your lychee tree - please click on 'Work and Lychees' above.
Rugby
I play rugby to a reasonable level and before I head round to the aforementioned birthday dinner, I have preseason training to attend.
This is generally mind and body numbing fitness around a rugby pitch to condition us for the rigours of the season ahead.
Personally I may have a confrontation tonight with the head coach. We fell out last season and the situation has been simmering away nicely without really coming to a head. I'm beginning to feel like the explosion is imminent.
I noticed that I had a missed call on my mobile from the head coach this morning but he didn't leave a message so I guess all will be revealed tonight!
This is generally mind and body numbing fitness around a rugby pitch to condition us for the rigours of the season ahead.
Personally I may have a confrontation tonight with the head coach. We fell out last season and the situation has been simmering away nicely without really coming to a head. I'm beginning to feel like the explosion is imminent.
I noticed that I had a missed call on my mobile from the head coach this morning but he didn't leave a message so I guess all will be revealed tonight!
Birthday
Continuing on my partner's family theme, it is her sister's birthday today so Happy Birthday if you ever read this! I hope she likes her presents...
We are all going round to the family home for a birthday dinner tonight so with reference to my last blog, hopefully their Dad will be feeling better.
One thing about birthdays though is the singing of the traditional song 'Happy Birthday to you'. Normally one treads a fine line when singing this song and it can often be embarassing for everyone involved.
If you have a shit singing voice you can just mime the words but then the people next to you (which might include the birthday boy/girl) know that you are putting in no effort because they can't hear you.
If you sing louder with a shit voice you ruin the song as it then sounds dreadful as a collective.
If you are confident and have a good singing voice you drown everyone else out and will look like a prick.
I'm all for doing away with this traditional song. A simple congratulatory handshake will suffice.
We are all going round to the family home for a birthday dinner tonight so with reference to my last blog, hopefully their Dad will be feeling better.
One thing about birthdays though is the singing of the traditional song 'Happy Birthday to you'. Normally one treads a fine line when singing this song and it can often be embarassing for everyone involved.
If you have a shit singing voice you can just mime the words but then the people next to you (which might include the birthday boy/girl) know that you are putting in no effort because they can't hear you.
If you sing louder with a shit voice you ruin the song as it then sounds dreadful as a collective.
If you are confident and have a good singing voice you drown everyone else out and will look like a prick.
I'm all for doing away with this traditional song. A simple congratulatory handshake will suffice.
Cancer
My partner's Dad is currently battling cancer. Before my partner and I got together, he was very unwell but he made excellent progress thanks to the help of a drug called Sutent. Sutent is a relatively new drug and for years the NHS were not prepared to pay for his prescription, costing around £35,000 for 12 months supply!!
After users of the drug and their friends and family campaigning in the media and numerous petitions being submitted to the Government, the NHS finally agreed to meet the costs of the Sutent prescriptions.
It is perhaps ironic that now the drug is free, he has started to feel unwell again. He has shown tremendous resolve to battle the illness so far - he rarely complains of any symptoms - so I hope that he continues to fight on and defeat the cancer once and for all.
'Cancer' at the top of the blog takes you to Sutent.
After users of the drug and their friends and family campaigning in the media and numerous petitions being submitted to the Government, the NHS finally agreed to meet the costs of the Sutent prescriptions.
It is perhaps ironic that now the drug is free, he has started to feel unwell again. He has shown tremendous resolve to battle the illness so far - he rarely complains of any symptoms - so I hope that he continues to fight on and defeat the cancer once and for all.
'Cancer' at the top of the blog takes you to Sutent.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Welcome!!
Welcome to my blog. I have never blogged before and I have only ever followed one blog so there may be some teething problems. I am a quick learner though so please bear with me!
So what can you expect from this blog? All the usual stuff I'm afraid. My life and times in Edinburgh, views on current affairs, likes, dislikes, amusing stories, successes and failures etc etc.
I'm not going to start out by describing myself or my past in any particular detail. You will just have to build up your own outline as you read through this blog...
So what can you expect from this blog? All the usual stuff I'm afraid. My life and times in Edinburgh, views on current affairs, likes, dislikes, amusing stories, successes and failures etc etc.
I'm not going to start out by describing myself or my past in any particular detail. You will just have to build up your own outline as you read through this blog...