timesnewroman
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So what is timesnewroman? It's not the font, rather my take on the age we live in. The USA is the new Rome and the times we live in are timesnewroman.
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timesnewroman is listening to: Tiken Jah Fakoly, Arctic Monkeys, Biffy Clyro, Kings of Leon, Bloc Party, Led Zeppelin, Jimi, Franz Ferdinand, Youssou N'Dour, The Strokes, REM, The Kings of Leon, Curtis Mayfield, Jefferson Airplane, The Trashcan Sinatras, Jeff Buckley, Phil Ochs, Stan Kenton, The Smiths, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Mogwai, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, The Zombies and Orange Juice amongst many others.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Happy New Year Hogmanay already. I'm feeling somewhat sorry for myself, having not only spent an enjoyable night watching these chaps play live - The keyboard player does youthwork at the same place as me and also pretty much runs the Rockschool as well. They were excellent, definitely a lot heavier than they used to be. thewife is particularly fond of "Where I am" downloadable from their website. They haven't included it in their set for some time, so they did it as a request which was kind of them. We had ordered a taxi for fairly soon after they were finished, when what I thought were roadies were moving the equipment actually turned out to be a second band. They were just getting into their set and sounding really good, I mean Arctic Monkeys cover was excellent, when the taxi arrived. We had to leave wanting more which I suppose is the best way to go. Seems the pub is having gigs on Fridays regularly so could well be a fixture from now on. Anyway I was feeling somewhat sorry for myself as I not only had several pints whilst out, I also had to have a nightcap once home. Then its the start of silly drinking season for the next few nights on account of Scottish New Year traditions. Urgh ! Anyway a Happy New Year when it comes to one and all.posted by timesnewroman at 3:50 PM
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Cold, Cold, Cold thewife wanted to go to Glasgow yesterday to visit a Chinese supermarket for a number of things, for tonight's dinner. We are having Lady El round for a few drinks, okay loads of drinks and some tunes. thewife has decided that she is going to to do a couple of Chinese dishes and therefore requires a whole host of authentic jars of sauces. Interesting place too, lots of really weird shit as well as interesting stuff.Our plans for an early start were somewhat blighted however, by the refusal of the motor to do anything. I reckon its the battery and ring for help in the form of a jump start. Doesn't help at all. I'm still convinced its the battery though, given the extreme cold. I reckon the jump-leads are just too wussey to do the job.
Half an hour later I'm fifty quid lighter, having a new battery, anti-freeze and a set of disc pads. New battery installed and it starts first time. I'll really need to get the brakes seen to though, there's a noise like its metal to metal when braking.
Despite the unexpected expense of vehicle parts, we didn't skimp at all on last night's dinner of Pheasant au Vin. Actually we did. I took two pheasants from the freezer where they've been hiding since the neighbour gave us them in early autumn. A Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, (who else?) recipe worked out just perfect, although I'm quite sure he'd have frowned at the site of Peruvian asparagus. We frowned too, not at the unseasonality of it. Quite the opposite in fact as it was overseasoned. Top tip folks, don't EVER cook asparagus in leftover stock. Apart from that we dined like aristocracy.
posted by timesnewroman at 11:38 AM
Monday, December 26, 2005
A Christmas Wish Christmas greetings all. During this season of goodwill there are many things to celebrate indeed. Santa brought me a shitload of stuff that I'm extremely pleased with, stuff to read, listen to, drink, wear and this lil' ol' computer is running a whole lot faster too. Things are looking good on the sport front as you can see from the league table below, despite bidding farewell to our leading goalscorer. Kris Boyd is off to join one of the top 16 teams in Europe, apparently, although you may doubt this from the table below.
Looking Good
Further afield its a fabulous day that'll see this fascist old bastard in a court. Hope his British admirer takes a fatal turn for the worse and that would cap the year just nicely thank you.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:31 PM
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Missing Links I use Firefox as a web browser most of the time. I've just noticed that when using Internet Explorer, my links to other blogs seem to be missing, yet they are all there when I use Firefox. Would you bloggers out there be kind enough to let me know in the comments area, what browser you use and whether you can see the links or not. Many thanks.posted by timesnewroman at 1:24 PM
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Letter writing for the overpaid and the case of the mistaken identity I'm generally speaking on the Anti-smoking side and can't wait till its barred from pubs next year. There was a letter though in today's Guardian from Stephen Thornton, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, that got on my goat just a bit.He was referring to a photograph in yesterday's paper of a firefighter with a fag in his mouth. Just from the photo you can see the guy had pretty much been through a particularly shitty Hemel Hempstead shift. So where the fuck does Mr Voluntary Sector Big Bucks in his safe, air-conditioned, comfortable, modern office get off? In the words of a certain Scottish Football Radio Pundit " And your point is caller?" Was he just trying to get the guy sacked or was he making a fuss about the Guardian's shameless promotion of tobacco products. At the kind of money he must be on you'd think he'd be able to present a positive anti-smoking message rather than spend all day scrutinising pictures in a newspaper to find incriminating pictures of hard pressed, poorly paid, public sector workers lung deep already in noxious chemical fumes. No wonder nanny state messages get taken seriously sometimes.
Overheard conversation at work. Ms A mentions to Ms B that it was the 25th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Ms B says "Is he dead, I thought he was playing for Celtic" "No" says Ms A, "That's Neil Lennon." "Oh is that his son then?" Ahhhhrgghhhhh!
posted by timesnewroman at 7:47 PM
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Bollocks, The Dog's and just the plain kind Friday evening we organised a fundraising quiz at work to raise money for the Asian Earthquake appeal. 17 teams participating at £10 per team and a lot of money from raffle ticket sales. I reckon all in we might have gathered close to £ 1,000. Bloody good night was had though by all attending and I managed a couple of pints before having to narrowly catch the very busy last train home. I'm sitting on the train listening to my walkman and concentrating on the crossword and suddenly there's four guys rolling around at the doorway knocking lumps out of each other. Two guys seemingly ran along the corridor and started laying into the two other guys for no reason. Fortunately there was a uniformed policeman on board who had to work bloody hard to separate them, before the assailants ran off at the next stop. Bastards.Saturday went to Glasgow with thewife and had rather a nice day wandering round the place spending a fortune ending up with sore feet. I had to laugh at one point though when she expressed an urgency to get to a loo and then spent 10 minutes drooling over a shoe shop.
Sunday afternoon was spent at a gig. The youth drop in centre that I work at on Wednesdays runs a "Rock School" on Sundays. Six of the bands were playing and some of th lads who are regulars on Wednesday had asked me if I was going along to see them. Not having heard them before I reckoned I should. Given that this particular band, Pyro, are aged between 13 and 15 I was most impressed. Apparently they can be a bit hit or miss, when they're good they're very good and when they're bad they're dire. Today they were very good good. Tight sound, and just looked the part as well. Even the quiet one had a stage persona the opposite of his normal self. They need some work on the vocals but overall I was immensely pleased I'd gone along. Look out for them in about five years time.
It was a perfect afternoon until some bugger told us the fitba score. Bloody huns, get stuffed by everyone until they come up against us. There'll be no end of stick at work.
Oh and that quiz.. here's a wee sample
Easy Round
1. Who was the Trojan Prince who stole Helen from Menelaus causing the siege of
2. What was Wim Wenders’ 1984 Film, starring Harry Dean Stanton
______,
3. What is the capital of
What made
posted by timesnewroman at 6:13 PM
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Its good news week Hope its nothing trivial!posted by timesnewroman at 7:01 AM
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
We know where you live!
watching reidski
Google having bought Keyhole some time ago have now made it available to us free of charge as Google Earth. Hours of fun to be had with this brilliant download.
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posted by timesnewroman at 6:52 AM
Friday, December 02, 2005
Lights, Action Went to see the mighty Mogwai the other night at a bash in aid of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees in the Arches. Incredible gig. I have seen them before, but the venue, the sound and the lighting on this occasion made it an event rather than a gig. The sweeping symphonic sound they emit just has to be encountered live. On disc its brilliant but you don't actually get to FEEL it. Live you do, the first song started with loud heavy pumping bass and drumbeat that pretty much matched your heartbeat, the result being you actually felt that the music was inside you. Weird but true nonetheless. The volume at times was crazy yet the sound wasn't distorted beyond the basic disonance that they are apt to create anyway. The light, particularly the strobe lights when they reach one of thos heavvvvy pulsating crescendos is wicked. I suggest if they are ever round your way, you should catch them.Speaking of lights its the first of December, well it was yesterday, and a git round the corner ahs the full Santa and ensemble in lights outside his house already. Fuck off and die I say.
posted by timesnewroman at 7:38 AM
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Fur Coats and no knickers Troon has a bit of a reputation for the above, I am sure there are many regional variations of the theme, however thewife and I were amazed to see a Troon "Lady" in action. Twas thewife's birthday yesterday so on account of us going out for dinner, we didn't do much shopping, so come this morning there was nothing with which to cobble together a breakfast (okay to be honest it was brunch). Morrison's in Troon do a decent all day breakfast. So we headed off there. It was busy, no vacant seats, but we'd already poured coffee out and decided we'd wait. I was bloody starving actually so we were going nowhere. They have a sign which advises people to order before sitting down which means that people have a better chance of getting a seat once they have ordered. Of course Mrs Smug Git of Troon decides that she'll have a seat whilst her friend queues. Eventually we get a seat opposite Mrs Smug Git and I'm giving her the evil eye. Anyway when her friend gets there with her tray, she has a pack of sandwiches and a pot of tea. Whilst she's opening her sandwiches I notice that Mrs Smug Git is munching away on one. Now she hadn't bought it there, her friend hadn't given her it because she had just opened her own, so she must have brought it with her. Bastard, not only does she steal the seats from paying customers, she's got the brass neck to bring her own grub with her! We get confirmation of this as once she's finished her sandwich, she's back in her "Tesco" bag for another and a biscuit. Staff haven't noticed a thing and I'm sure they don't care either. I watch them through the window as they leave in a bloody big Mercedes. That's Troon for you. Meanwhile 3 kids of about 12 are having a whale of a time arseing about at a nearby table, filling a cup with miniature milk cartons, loads of them, then its sauce, and vinegar and they just keep getting up and going for more milk. Their table is a mess and still the staff can't be arsed to do anything about it. That's Troon for you.posted by timesnewroman at 5:19 PM
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Hey Joe A weekend of wining and dining to the extent I was far too busy to do much else. Then on the back of another fine win at last week's quiz, I reckoned a Monday Flexi day should see off any unwanted effects of an excess of alcohol.Uncle Joe, the man with the shirts, at work had us in stitches recalling how a relative had been advised to rent My Name is Joe, given that they lived in the tenement block where much of the filming was done, and also that they lived in the same block as one of the main actors (Peter Mullen probably.) She had gone along to the video shop no less than three times before she laid her hands on a copy. After viewing it she called to say that she didn't recognise any of the locations in the film, or any of the actors. This despite the fact that each time she went to the video shop, she explained to the staff that she really wanted to see it because she lived in the same tenement, the actors had visited her house one Hogmanay, she was practically on first name terms with the main character. Uncle Joe, asked again if she hadn't recognised anything from the film and then double checked on the film she rented. Turned out she got Meet Joe Black. She now can't go anywhere near the video shop as the staff clearly think she's a delusional who believes that not only does she live in the same block as Brad Pitt, he also pops over occasionally for New Year.
posted by timesnewroman at 10:25 PM
Friday, November 18, 2005
I'd buy tickets I would. I'd buy tickets just to watch Conrad Black languish in jail.posted by timesnewroman at 6:52 AM
Friday, November 11, 2005
Bad Joke A man visits a zoo. They have only one animal. Its a dog. Its a shitzu!posted by timesnewroman at 7:35 PM
Monday, November 07, 2005
Ice with that? Just saw this trailer for the new release of Titanic on DVD. Selling point was an alternative ending! Perhaps it doesn't sink then.posted by timesnewroman at 11:04 PM Believe it or not, I had actually carefully prepared a post on Friday only to see it disappear from before my eyes as the computer crashed. That was it, I wasn't going to rewrite it all, however I decided I would after all. Been on holiday the week before last, went nowhere, not even the internet. Thoroughly relaxing week, went by really quickly though.
Colleague at work just got back last week from Cancun. Horrendous experience, 3 days of sun and sea followed by a hurricane and a frightening aftermath of guns, looting and fear, with the British Consulate offering to get them to Dallas, where they'd have to find there own way home. Fortunately American Airlines, who they flew with got them all the way home safely. The boss's boss happened to say that he hadn't see her around for a while and she explained she'd been on holiday in hurricane hell. "Oh" he said, "did you have a nice time?" Managers huh.
I was going to rubbish citizenship tests, but its a bit late for that. Did think that the anecdote in Lucy Mangan's Guardian piece was brilliant though.
There, that wasn't so hard. Bit more regular from now on then.
posted by timesnewroman at 7:27 AM
Sunday, October 16, 2005
A shaggy dog story I'd like to state that my absence from blogging has been entirely due to my being otherwise busy with an exciting array of events and activities, however that would be a lie. Like Reidski, I just couldn't be arsed. Its actually interesting to note that a lot of people who were around when I started blogging and finding other sites that I liked, have either stopped altogether like Ale Fan, who is now busy running a beer shop (Of course as soon as I put a link in I notice he's back in action again), or have become much less frequent bloggers, like Steve and Simon. Newer folks like Jane are prolific in their posting and I hope that like Alan, she keeps it up.Our office building is a strange beast. Orginally built for the Co-op in the late 60s (and it looks like it was opened by those parisitic banjo pluckers from the house of windsor) its now edging closer to its own half century. Its been thoroughly revamped inside, but they have never been able to get the heating right. Regardless of season, its either far too hot or far too cold, depending where you are located. Having suffered the 80 degrees throughout Monday, I reckoned we should turn up on Wednesday dressed for the tropics. This motion was fully endorsed by those present and Hawaiian shirts were considered essential. As it happens, there is a gentleman from the Residential Child Care Team who has a collection of rather natty sarks, handmade from a few bales of very strange material he discovered in a factory closure. Essentially, they are the African Dictator Collection and really do have to be seen to be believed. That's why I am including a number of photographs, which don't do them justice.
jimty swelters
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The apprentice models the Murtala Mohammed Number
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making sure we get a seat in the tea room
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Washing up
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2 Extremes
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Word got around quickly as to what we were up to and folks came from far and wide to gape wide mouthed in awe and I think to listen to my collection of surf tunes featuring The Ventures, Dick Dale, the Chantays and a lot more to boot.
Imagine if you will, the man in the Parka, getting picked up by his wife from West Kilbride Railway station. He gets off the train and a wee boy with two dogs asks him if the train is going to Largs. He answers yes and the boy gets on the train with one of the dogs, the doors close before the other dog can get on the train. Its looking quite distraught and barking at the doors, so he opens them and lets it in. The train departs and he exits the station and meets his wife to whom he recounts the dog story. His wife explains that a small boy with a dog had asked for her assistance as he was being bothered by a big alsation that obviously had the hots for his "on heat" pooch. They had tried shooing it away but it obviously had continued to pester him. The boy probably though he was finally rid of it when he got on the train. Couldn't help but laugh at this, particularly the bit where man in parka phones Largs Police to advise them of the situation. Apparently the policewoman at the other end of the phone couldn't do anything for laughing.
posted by timesnewroman at 4:11 PM
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Catalyst I've been meaning to make this post for some time now and as it happens it sort of ties in very nicely to bring what would essentially be three posts into one. To start with I mentioned Father Bell had sent a package just after we got back from our holidays. I was going to post about it but never got around to it. Anyway in the package were 3 compilation CDs, one of recently purchased new stuff, one of recently purchased old stuff and one of Led Zeppelin covers. All of which were fab and groovy because Father Bell has impeccable taste and always has had. While we were in London with Reidski, we caught up with Father Bell and partner and had a great time reminiscing and drinking a lot of wine. We discussed music for what seemed like ever in a charming place and generally relived our youth. Also in the package though was a coaster, which was a tile of an album cover. I thought that it might be interesting to have classic album sleeves randomly interspersed throughout one's tiled kitchen, kind of neat as Americans are prone to say. What's the album I hear you ask? It's the one pictured below. It's the one that draws this piece together. I have it in vinyl and I had a downloaded version, however I was in Fopp the other day and saw it for a fiver so I had to have it. I played it when Reidski was round last week, before I fell asleep. It still sounds really fresh and vital and bloody great, a guitar lovers treat. As a kid I loved it so much and I still do. This is the thing, I probably wouldn't describe it as the best album ever, but in the course of the conversation with Reidski I realised that it is actually the most important album I own! How come then? It's the most important album I own because it was the album that sparked the formation of my own, definitely guitar based musical taste. Prior to this I wasn't particularly into music in any big way. I sort of liked pop music, because it was always around, my big brother had everything the Beatles had ever recorded almost and loads and loads of singles, but they were his. Father Bell was the primary influence musically when I first went to secondary school and he had Argus and played it when we went over to his place. It much more grown up than the kind of stuff like Slade that me and most of my mates thought was good up to this point. So this was the start of a lengthy relationship with music and that's why in the course of my incredibly busy weekend of packing everything I have into a little black box (more of this later) that I took the symbolic step of putting it on first, even before Surrealistic Pillow.So what's your most important album ever and why dear readers?
A really neat Kitchen Tile
posted by timesnewroman at 5:41 PM
0 comments
View from near the top.
posted by timesnewroman at 4:48 PM
Friday, September 23, 2005
Worth the wait You couldn't make it up. Jonathan Woodgate hasn't played for over year. Real Madrid, much to the bemusement of Bobby Robson, bought him for +£13m when he was injured. His first game for a Madrid side lacking in defence was last night. Was he to be their salvation after a dreadful start to the season? Well no. There can't be many players who score an own goal and get sent off on their debut. Love it!posted by timesnewroman at 8:52 AM
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Football Schmootball Bollocks to that past weekend I say. Half the workplace were wishing my team well, whilst the other half sort of growled. I reckon it was probably the best opportunity to beat either part of the old firm for some time, but sadly wasn't to be. Followed up by a midweek defeat in the really pishy CIS cup, which lets face it is only any use as part of a treble.I have been arseing about with a website at work for the past few days so I really can't be arsed blogging at home as well.
One final football point, my Fantasy team in Father Bell's league did rather well this week getting my highest ever score and pretty much scooping more points than anyone else. Made me feel much much better.
posted by timesnewroman at 7:27 PM
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Conspiracy Theory
Bloody Queues
thewife couldn't get petrol yesterday. Seemingly the entire fucking country needs to fill up and consequently there isn't enough petrol in a filling station at any one time to slake everyone's thirst.
How come? Simple really very dark forces are at work aided and abetted by the publicists of the darkest forces. Reminds me of pre coup Chile really (No for god's sake, I'm NOT saying the situation is similar). I'm no great fan of the government, Bliar in particular, I'd venture in a couple of year's time he'd join these people, nevertheless on this one I'm pretty much solid. Stop these bastards now. First hint of bother then charge down on them with horses. Round up and sequestrate the ringleaders and their allies in the media. If anyone is unclear of the tactic refer to 1984 Miner's Strike for further information.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:13 AM
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Flying High
Young Stu overcome by excitment
Just in the dying moments of the game, the man with the best name in football, finally put an end to matters. We should have won 7 -1 easily, but instead contrived to give Dunfermline opportunity after opportunity. I was warned by the lad before the game that I had better not be a jinx, given this was my first game of the season and we're doing rather well. To make matters worse he practically suggested that I may have been able to pass for a senior citizen, one of whose number we had a spare season ticket for. Just for that, his pic goes on the internet!
It's great to be able to look down the table at those hapless minnows R*ng*rs, who we face next week.
posted by timesnewroman at 3:22 PM
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Awakenings Okay, so I have been busy. Anyways..... Bjorge Lillelien, Roald Amundsen, Morten Harket, Thor Heyerdahl, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Edvard Grieg. Can you hear me Gro Harlem Brundlandt ....Your boys took a helluva beating. Surprising really and after a 1-1 each home draw with Italy. They are clearly building us up for an incredibly big disapointment just like they always do. Of course we get sucked into it every bloody time.I've been busy lately doing this course at work, which means I haven't had a moments spare time until now and even this is sneaked time as I should have been in bed an hour ago. Anyway the course is nearly finished and if I had kept up with the homework at the time I would have been finished by now as well. As iu us I have to write a lot of bullshite and mean it. More later.
posted by timesnewroman at 10:28 PM
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Strange smell in the kitchen Vanilla scented bin liners! They actually make and sell vanilla scented bin liners. Some bastard somewhere just knew that if thewife saw these, she would buy them. FFS vanilla scented bin liners.posted by timesnewroman at 5:37 PM
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Shit comes in torrents Second day back at work after the holidays. The first is always the hardest, trying to get back into the swing of things. Second day was going to be a doddle. Launch of a Contract Management Framework at Hampden Park. theboss was doing a presentation at it to around 500 folks from voluntary sector. I need to be there at 9.30am. Should be no problem using public transport. I wake up with a start at 7.45am. The alarm is set for 6.15am. Jumping into the shower and skipping breakfast I should still make the 8.17am from Irvine and I'll get there on time if its not late. The last thing I do before leaving the house is grab my phone and notice that I have a text from First Scotrail (I've signed up for warning texts) saying that the 8.17am may be delayed. Shit! I get thewife to drive me to Kilwinning where I can get another train. I arrive and amazingly enough the first train that comes along is the one I would have got on at Irvine, on time! Things are looking up. Get to Glasgow Central. There's a train for Newton which goes to Mount Florida, where I want to be at 9.10am. Should take 10 minutes with a 10 minute walk at the other end. Perfect. The information boards tell me its at Platform 8, I go and sit on the train at Platform 8. Its late leaving, about 5 minutes. My stop is the 3rd or 4th. 3rd and 4th stops on the train I am on are not Mount Florida however. I ask the ticket inspector who confirms my suspicion that I may be on the wrong train. It was the front train on the platform that was going to Mount Florida. I say that there was only one train on the platform when I got on. He apologises. I have to get the next train back to Glasgow Central, and get the next train, 10.10 by this time to Mount Florida. Should get in by 10.30 just an hour late. Fuck! Okay so the actual event is due to start at 10.00 Its probably going to start a bit late I might just manage to sneak in at the introduction. I get there eventually. It started dead on time can you believe that of a Social Work event. Anyways I arrived in time to catch all of theboss's excellent (sook) presentation and the whole thing was rather succesful and then, as I switched my phone back on thewife phoned me to say she had called an ambulance for mumsy to go into hospital as she was incoherent and seemed to have had possible a minor stroke. By the time I get home and we have dinner and get to the hospital to find mumsy pretty much normal and entirely coherent and having a laughing fit at the doctor trying to get blood from her the day just got enormously better. Its still going to be ended with several glasses of wine though. I'll get round to the package of fine things from Father Bell later.posted by timesnewroman at 6:02 AM
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Do you smell Pasties?Well that's the fastest 2 weeks I've seen flash past in a long time. Well actually it wasn't really, it was a decent break, jam packed with fun and excitement and interesting things to see, do, eat and drink, with good friends and sometimes just ourselves.
Started off according to plan on the Friday, I'm out of a course early so that we aren't driving around
Next day we're up and out and have lunch by the river and thence off to meet Father Bell and partner in the Cork and Bottle which is a pretty fine place to quietly get pished on really good wine and spend what seems like a brief hour reminiscing fine bands and concerts and the like and it turns out to be several hours later and several sheets to the wind when we try to get back to Reidki's expected home the back of 8 and it's more like 11 and we really, really did get caught up in a Police roadblock thing honest we didn't make it up.
Next day its off to the camping shop to get a kettle and other bits and bobs then its more drink.......popular theme this......and a game of Cranium and Balderdash and sleep.
Following day we head off for
We arrive in
Given its size you can't but help wonder where all the tourists come from. This place is mobbed with them daily and its economy must depend on this, there are about 4 pubs as many tearooms and restaurants and a host of places selling Cornish Pasties - the best are to be found here, Fudge and Arthurian shit. Lots of Arthurian shit. Anyway the pubs do particularly good local beers and food and the one thing that I was impressed with was the prices were very reasonable. Maybe if you don't rip people off, they'll come back, we certainly will.
All for £ 3.00 entry fee - Amazing really - well no, actually it was a fusty old room uninspiring paintings and a Masonic Hall actually. The sad gits quoted really badly need a life!
There were 2 further outstanding aspects to Tintagel - The Camelot Castle Hotel a huge 1920s built pseudo medieval castle which is so over the top the bar is actually called Excali-bar. It really really has to be seen to be believed. Also the thoroughly un-missable King Arthur's Great Halls. Apparently this is the best place that Rachel Thomas of
Tintagel was a good base too for visiting quaint fishing villages, Port Isaac, Polperro, Padstow, also known as Steinville given Rick seems to own most of the place. Also near enough to the must see Eden Project, Lands End an area of outstanding natural beauty that somehow contrives to blight itself hideously with the most tacky assortment of attached shit in order to rake in as much cash from the tourist as possible, such a shame.
At night we camped, read books, played cards and scrabble and drank wine and generally had a great relaxing time as it should be on holiday.
A brief stop over on the way back up at friends of thewife's from school, of course I knew them too but hung around in different circles, who now live in Barry near Cardiff. Great fun again and an opportunity to see how cool
Then home. From this trip I will remember never again to use the M6.
posted by timesnewroman at 3:23 PM
Friday, July 29, 2005
Heading Due South Eastish then Westish We are off, well we will be in a few hours heading down to Tintagel in Cornwall via Reidski's. We'll be here with Reidski and Father Bell from 4.30 on Saturday. Thence off to see Eden and whatever comes our way.posted by timesnewroman at 6:17 AM
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
The New Neighbour
His hair is longer and he has more tattoos!
I swear its him though. he has moved into the house opposite with two teenage girls and one of those ugly dogs. A steady stream of weird visitors but no anti-social behaviour of the like of this (18th April 20003) accompanied by assorted pished antics on a weekly basis. He obviously (like thewife) gets no mobile phone signal indoors so he has to pace around the green in front of our houses when on the phone. Despite the facial tattoos, he so far has been the perfect gent.
I was at a training course yesterday. Absence Management. Given that I have the responsibility for staff, I have to go on this course so that I know how to kick butt when he's off malingering like. Interestingly the course had 2 tutors and 12 participants and I was the only bloke amongst them. Maybe this explains why! Not that I'm complaining.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:03 AM
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Oops Factor Unbelievable breaking news that the man that the metropolitan police shot in Stockwell tube station had nothing to do with the bombings earlier in the week. Turns out he exited the wrong block of flats wearing the wrong clothing and colour of skin and foolishly ran away from about 20 plain clothes police officers chasing him. Scary shit indeed.Speaking of scary shit what about this load of wussies then. Not one to cast national stereotypes but for fucks sake Leicester and Norwich. Get a grip!
posted by timesnewroman at 4:42 PM
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Scotty Beams Up Jeezuz, it's been so long since I've blogged I've almost forgotten how to work this bloody thing. Despite the time passing, I can't say it's been filled with excitement. More of a slow countdown until we get off on our summer holidays. Long time coming but in 8 days time thewife and I are heading for Cornwall with a car, a tent, provisions and determination to find cider and generally enjoy ourselves eating pasties and cream, not necessarily on the same plate - although that may depend on the cider. We are going via Reidki's on the way down for a short stop of some real life reminiscences with a glass or ten of vino.So what of note has happened in the past couple of weeks? Extremely good shit ( I remember him visiting Edinburgh and getting bottled - (No not pished - hit by bottles! Had it been Glasgow they may have been broken first) and not so good shit.
Fare-thee-weel Scotty
Had to drive to work this past week on account of I am not getting a monthly Rail Ticket because I'm off on holiday soon (Did I mention that already) and I am not getting a weekly ticket for 4 days. I really miss the calm of the train and the opportunity to struggle with the Guardian Crossword (No not the wee one!) That and there are times on the way home where on the train I would nod off, but you can't for fear of this happening.
Aspiringly Middle Class
The barbecue was wheeled out on one of those beautiful nights we had recently. And we fully displayed our middle class aspirations/pretensions by sitting out the back yard eating bloody good steaks accompanied by very fine wine indeed. Thewife was a bit of a connoisseur, still is if the money will stretch that far, so this little beaut is usually nearly twenty quid in Tesco's and they have it on offer for £12.99 practically a steal I say. Of course then the local kids show up and climb up on the lockup roofs and start doing all that macho kids stuff crap. Which kind of brought us home to fact that if we really have aspirations/delusions to/of grandeur then we really should think of living elsewhere, but we love it here so I suppose we'll have to put up with it. But hey, kids leave the buddleias alone!
posted by timesnewroman at 6:35 AM
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Happy Birthday June!
Done it again haven't I
This is extremely brave of me. I may have to watch my back for sometime as this young woman is fed up with me sticking her face on leaflets and the internet from the age of 2 upwards! It was her birthday yesterday and she invited us to it which was nice considering. A great time was had by all. My one regret is that the camera batteries died on us which meant we couldn't have the same immense fun we had the last time we went to the Golf Hotel. You see there's a speed camera on the way home from the hotel and if you get really drunk you can hang around it and take photos of cars as they pass. Keeps the streets a damn sight safer I say.
Further fun was had on the way home from work. Bloody demonstrators demonstrating on the George V bridge and generally causing traffic chaos and gridlock all because they want to save the planet from global warming. So I can't get the bus and have to walk. Not only do I have to walk but I have to take a bloody big detour. To make matters worse I get caught up in amongst a large line of foul smelling, long haired bedraggled hippy types with rainbow flags and black flags and drums and expensive looking cameras and I'm really beginning to think that this lot are just the sons and daughters of the middle classes taking their summer break from uni to have a good time and party before settling down to a life of comfort without a hint of the poverty that surrounded them when they set off from Glasgow's East End. Still I'm sure their hearts are in the right place and I'm only a bit bolshy because I was mildly inconvenienced at the end of a long hard (okay okay less of the exaggeration) day.
posted by timesnewroman at 2:31 PM
Friday, July 08, 2005
Fuck the Dalai Lamathewife and I were sitting watching the Elephant Diaries for a bit of respite from the awful news from London. thewife remarks how human-like the elephants were in their compassion for other elephants. I'm actually thinking no. they are better than that. For a start they don't seem to have any organised religion in their world, which they use to justify obscene acts of carnage. They just seem to pretty much take care of each other and help each other through good spells and bad.
Some may think one a bit harsh for indulging in a critical attack on such a seemingly innoffensive character in the heading of this post. I don't care! ANY organised religion is simply a stepping stone towards a belief that one religion is superior to others and where its easy to dehumanise other humans beings because their beliefs are less pure.
I know its a simplistic approach and I know that the causes of the London bombings are far more complex than this and I know that most religions actually preach creeds that are basically decent. Unfortunately the interpretation is left to humans, who lets face it despite their inherent innocence at times are far too capable of acts of the most incredible barbarism. I know that the vast majority of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Bhuddists, Hindus etc, abhor violence. That said, an end to organised religion might not solve all the world's problems but its a bloody good place to start.
Not for one moment though, does this let our own leaders bury their heads in the sands of their superior liberal democracy. Whilst they export this freedom with bombs that kill children they can hardly be fucking surprised if somebody takes the hump and decides on their own bloody path of retribution. Which in turn will certainly lead to an escalating religious/racist tension in our communities thus further alienating already isolated groups thus exacerbating an ever increasing spiral of hate and mistrust. Just the kind of breeding ground for fascist vermin. Lets face it thats exactly the result that the scumfuck/s who bombed London wanted.
posted by timesnewroman at 11:01 PM
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Cha Cha Cha
thewife dances with my spritely 82 year old uncle
Completely missed out on all the g8 stuff as we were at my cousin's daughter's wedding yesterday. Fabulous time was had by all. On arriving at the church, who should be the first peops we see but very good friends from Wales. Turns out the groom was the son of the brother of the O'Reillys, so most pleased to be able to spend some time and catch up with them and also with loads of relatives I hadn't seen in ages. Marvellous spread and copious amounts of alcohol and entertainment in the form of a one man high class Karaoke act without the tv set but oozing style and panache. He did splendid covers of the subject of Reidksi's post here, as well as Tony Bennet and Nat King Cole. So cool was he that even thewife and I had to dance to a some of his numbers. thewife complimented him at the end of the evening and suggested that the only thing missing from his act was a loosened bow-tie. He replied that there was an idea so maybe next time. My uncle James did what he did at our own wedding and danced the night away having enjoyed a few beers. Bloody amazing considering he's 82 and I reckon if I can do half of what he does at that age I'd consider my self blessed. Only 2 complaints about the whole day, 1) the price of the beer in the place was wicked and 2) on the way there, the bloody road into where the wedding was being held was blocked off by the police as there was a major gathering of the same pricks that spoiled our morning!
posted by timesnewroman at 2:43 PM
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Compare and Contrast I love to be woken up early on a Saturday morning to the sound of music. Well with two exceptions. When the neighbour next door plays that crappy high speed dance music that sounds as if its been recorded by two guys in a kitchen with a portable cassette recorder and the other is when a bunch of pricks march down the street in their bowler hats and sashes playing big fucking drums and accordions with flags and banners! I guess they're not taking part in the G8 Demo. If I wasn't going to a wedding today I'd wish it poured with fucking rain.I heard some music last night too, by a young(ish) band, whose keyboard player does some youth work at the same place as me. That was much better, very enjoyable and a much harder, rockier sound than when I heard them previously. Nice lights as well.
posted by timesnewroman at 8:02 AM
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Beatles to split rumour A good number of years ago, fifteen to be precise, the bold Reidski introduced me to a series of novels by this chap. The Tales of the City series gripped me like a man possessed. Thing is I am a really lazy reader. I tend to read in binges, particularly during holiday times or during nice weather when there is nothing better to do than sit outside with a cold drink and a good read. With Tales of the City there were six books, and as soon as I had finished one, I needed the next one there at hand. I don't think I have read anything as compulsive or so voraciously since. Until now that is. thewife bless her came across a series by Alexander McCall Smith, who I have to say is gifted with the most subtle humour and genuine warmth as a writer. The characters, the language and the backdrop of Botswana has me totally transported.I have Tears of the Giraffe in at work and two colleagues both announce that they have read The No1 Ladies' Detective Agency some time ago. Why am I the last to find out everything? We must talk about books sometime at work and not just talk about work!
Oh and if you haven't read any of the series go out and but them now!
Warm and Fuzzy
posted by timesnewroman at 12:53 PM
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Webfright I've run out of things to say, it seems like an endless repetition of the same stuff over and over, and regardless of how good a meal we cooked at the weekend (believe me, the sea bass and scallops here is pretty incredible - no we didn't go there, that would be worth writing about. Nope they have a recipe page and we followed it as closely as we could. I'd skip the leeks' ash though.) its not quite enough. Regardless of how many times we won the King's Arms quiz (2 in a row) not quite enough. So life is in fact extremely boring, but what the fuck, I like it that way. Cooking, Alcohol, Music, Quizzes etc. I like these things.So thewife's little theatre group are putting on this production of Hamlet, Prince of (D______) fill in the blanks with anywhere it's being performed that begins with D. It originated in Dennistoun, but its now being performed in Dundonald. Dundonald Castle to be precise. Which is a pretty incredible place to be doing a wee Community drama piece (Note the absence of amdram). So we are well looking forward to it - wine and buffet included in the ticket price. Only thing wrong with the the whole thing is that thewife buzzes around like a blue arsed fly for the whole week and is exhausted for the next week. That and it totally balls up any chance of us being able to go out this weekend, which is our anniversary! Bollocks.
posted by timesnewroman at 5:54 AM
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Surrealistic Pillow I generally dislike memes. Either you have to think or they're too long or whatever and you feel obliged to complete them and pass them on. I saw this one linked over at Lisa's place and just had to go for it."Pick a band/artist now answer the questions using ONLY song titles from the chosen band/artists....add your answers and repost...let's see all the different bands and songs get creative and have fun!"
My all time favourite band
1.artist choice:
Jefferson Airplane
2. are you a male or female:
Its no secret
3. describe yourself:
Somebody to love
4. how do you feel about yourself:
(You're only) Pretty as you feel
5. describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend:
She Has Funny Cars
6. describe your current boyfriend/girlfriend:
Plastic Fantastic Lover
7. describe your current location:
The House at Pooneil Corner
8.describe where you want to be:
Mexico
9. your best friend is:
My Best Friend
10. your favorite colour:
Long John Silver
11. what's the weather like:
Eskimo Blue Day
12. if your life was a television show what would it be called:
When the Earth Moves Again
13. what is life to you:
(An) Embryonic Journey
14. what is the best advice you have to give:
A small package of value will come to you shortly
15. if you could change your name what would you change it to:
Crazy Miranda
posted by timesnewroman at 3:10 PM
Friday, June 17, 2005
Shopping - The New Entertainment thewife and I hit Tesco's last night as we do most every Thursday. Outside, there is a dog dragging one of the waste paper bins around. Two of the store's staff are talking first one says "Can you believe how stupid people can be, tying the dog to a relatively light bin like that?" other says "Yes, earlier today someone tied a big Alsatian to one of the disabled trolleys and it ran around pulling the trolley behind it causing chaos in the car park"Inside too was a hoot. First thing we notice is a whole shelf dedicated to Cards and mugs and small gifts for teachers. Fucking teachers! End of term and seemingly there is a market for persuading kids and parents to take customised gifts into their teachers. Don't get me started on teachers. Miserable bunch of overpaid, overholidayed sods who give all the more difficult kids over to the less well paid Social Work Services to work with. Grrrrr.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:01 AM
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
15 FPH functionality
Waffle for "features" or "function". The
capabilities or behaviours of a program, part of a program, or
system, seen as the sum of its features. Roughly, "the
things it can do". Generally used in a comparative sense,
e.g. "The latest update adds some useful functionality".
posted by timesnewroman at 5:58 PM
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Kapoow *&*%^^ Thwack Hit by a Meme from Counago and Spaves on Superheroes. Me who could never see past Gigantor1/If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? (Assume you also get baseline superhero enhancements like moderately increased strength, endurance and agility.)
That would have to be the abilty to transport to wherever I wanted to be instantaneously.
2/ Which, if any, 'existing' superhero(es) do you fancy, and why?
That would have to be this particular Catwoman.
3/Which, if any, 'existing' superhero(es) do you hate?
Captain America
4/ What would your superhero name be? (No prefab porn-name formulas here, you have to make up the name you think you'd be proud to mask under.)
Easy, I'll take John's idea and call myself Fontman
5/ Is there an 'existing' superhero with whom you identify/whom you would like to be?
Mmmm..I only recently came across Red Son and will happily go with that.
Pass it on. Three people please, and why.
Reidski hasn't been Caught yet and its about time I hit him with a meme, Simon at Blue Tealeaf and Smidsy I think.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:05 AM
Friday, June 03, 2005
Parenting - It's the new DIY No matter which bloody channel you look at nowadays, there is an unbelievable proliferation of programmes on telly aimed at teaching parents how to deal with problem children. Back to back on BBC3 on a Friday we have House of Tiny Tearaways then Who Rules the Roost. Then there's Supernanny on Channel 4. Not forgetting Bad Behaviour before that. Apparently there is also Nanny 911 would you believe with more on the way, not forgetting those I've missed. However did my parents' generation manage when television was devoted to entertainment? Entertainment that is, where the programmes don't consist of members of the public being members of the public. Have a look here for just exactly what and how many programmes of this genre there are. Scary!Of course there are people for whom no amount of exposure to "how to" television would make them anywhere near suitable candidates to be in the vicinity of children. These sorts of BASTARDS I'd happily execute.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:33 PM
Monday, May 30, 2005
Definitely Summer I remember this Saturday way back in 1980 something. I was involved in a publicity stall and playing some games at a youth information day in the Volunteer Rooms, Irvine. The local Community Education people had put the event together as bit of a taster for what young people could get involved in, in their local area. As well as the information stalls they also had a young band playing on stage, who rehearsed in the building next to our own Woodcraft Folk Hall. The band were good. Very good, doing mostly Smiths covers, but a few other things thrown in to. We sort of knew one or two to nod to, they had been around the fringes of a very active local Youth C.N.D. group and drank in the same pub as us occasionally. They advertised their next gig which was in the Claremont Hotel in Kilwinning. Played there regularly and as it turned out we went to see them on numerous occasions. The line up at the time was as I recall, Frank Reader, John Douglas, Paul Forde and I think Paul Douglas played bass. They played the local circuit for a while and did some gigs in Glasgow. A young Paul Livingston joined them to add a further guitar. I remember seeing them at the Third Eye Centre when they were supporting Horse. Some lineup changes saw Paul Forde leave, George McDaid came in to play bass and Paul and Steven Douglas swapped Drum and Bass stints. Things were happening, they got a record deal and critical acclaim was leaking out. I remember going to see them in Glasgow supporting Prefab Sprout, I think at the SECC but it might have been Barrowlands. Bloody brilliant gig, coming straight after a 3-0 trouncing of the Scum as well. They were destined for greatness, good bit of airplay for the first single, building a loyal fan base stateside, good follow ups. I went to see them after Davey Hughes had joined, in King Tut's Wah Wah Hut on spec and managed to get tickets. It was the loudest gig I have ever been at, my ears rang all night long, but that new stuff was brilliant. Then disaster, their Shabby Road studio in Kilmarnock helped bring them bankruptcy and all that that entailed. I think they could only release stuff in Japan or something like that. The West Coast sound that they invented got took up by other bands like Travis, pleasant enough but not the masterful lyricism or the unique sound of the Livingston guitar.But they are back, thewife and I went to see them at the tail end of last year following the release of Weightlifting and they were stronger, wiser, and better than ever. Harmonies are stronger the songs are more mature and they are getting a lot if fuss and airplay which is as it should be.
So its a Bank Holiday Sunday amd I'm in Ayr with thewife and Lady El following a good meal, some wine and the sun is out and shining after days of rain and we bump into a number of old friends at a free gig in Wellington Square and the Trashcan Sinatras come on and its just fucking heaven.
Traschcan Sinatras in Ayr
And again
posted by timesnewroman at 9:07 AM
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Bandits at 6 O' Clock
Biggles is off on a Sortie
The new guy has gone and left us after a piddly 2 years. Off to deal drugs apparently, or was it deal with drugs? We sent him off with his very own Biggles outfit and a voucher entitling him to briefly fly an aircraft. Steer clear of Cumbernauld for the forseeable future methinks.
Pre Theatre Dinner in Roccoco. Beautiful surroundings and extremely well cooked food made it a night to remember. Portion-wise a bit scant but nonetheless extremely good. We were scurrying away imagining that they had omitted to charge us for the wine we had consumed. jimty had been dealing with the bill and was quick to espy a bargain. Outside on a high, it was theboss who suggested that perhaps the reason why the wine was not included on the bill was because Biggles himself had already settled that particular account! Duh like restaurateurs are stupid.
A few pints at a vibrant city centre bar and then home for a holiday weekend. Shame about the weather though.
posted by timesnewroman at 11:36 AM
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Fantasy Football Must have seemed like that. 3 - 0 Down at half time, seen as underdogs. The only way to go is.... well forward perhaps, to wipe the smiles of the faces of the plaything of top prick Silvio Berlusconi. Way to go Liverpool! (Always my "English" team as a kid. Way to go Liverpool! My wall would have been empty if I had relied on "Shoot's" collection of Killie posters and pics.posted by timesnewroman at 6:05 AM
Monday, May 23, 2005
Beautiful country, shame about some of the people
one of thewife's holiday snaps
With thewife being on holiday for the past week, I have had to fend for myself. That would be the excuse I use for not having blogged for so long. Actually, the week seemed to rush past quickly. thewife had a nice time, but it wasn't so much a holiday for her, having two elderly women in tow, one of them in a wheelchair. Knackered on returning and couldn't even be bothered to take up the offer of dining out, so carry out it was to be.
Saturday and the end of season game another meaningless one, unless of course we were to put 7 past Dunfermline and results went against them elsewhere, in which case we may well have witnessed a mass hysteria moment at Rugby Park. Guess that'll have to wait until Elton John appears. Another beautiful sunshiny Saturday and the football was definitely a marked improvement on recent weeks. 4 - 0 at the end of the day and I can truthfully say that there were men on that park who were capable of winning a League. There are those who will scoff, but its true, the half time draw tickets were drawn by six gentlemen from the photo below.
Elsewhere a day later much drama in a period of 2 mins where joy and despair were exchanged in Motherwell and Edinburgh. Later in the evening the ugly side of Scottish sectarianism was rearing its face. We went to the King's for the usual Sunday quiz, however the place was extremely busy with a significant number of pished happy punters and a few sad ones to boot. It was noisy though and outside the street was alive with menace...ah melodrama. No it was really, windows being banged quite hard, the quiz was cancelled and within 10 minutes, the pub announced that it was closing 9.30 on a Sunday night. Apologies were issued by the manager, but it was pretty clear he knew what he was doing. Drink fuelled sectarian lunatics were giving it laldy in the main street and the forces of law and order were nowhere to be seen. We headed back to Lady El's with two bottles of wine and listened to music instead. Bugger, I was looking forward to the quiz as well. There's no quiz next week either as its a bank holiday weekend, however, there is a free gig in Ayr featuring the wonnerful Trashcan Sinatras, so we are heading there instead.
Whilst I am on the subject, I have to put a plug in here for Sons and Daughters. I got a CD from Jem at work, a compilation of Scottish bands promoting Mental Health awareness which is full of wee gems, however this band I love, most interesting stuff I have heard in a while, they sound really DURTY which I like.
Finally lets bask in past glories. Was it really 40 years ago?
The 1965 League Champions
posted by timesnewroman at 6:58 PM
Sunday, May 15, 2005
The Weekend's Too Short Friday evening and thewife hadn't been feeling well all day. Migraine. Meant that having taken the free range organic chicken out of the freezer it had to be cooked or slung. I was loathe to sling it, so it was going to be a long wait for dinner. As it turned out, we managed for about 8.30pm and by then the cook's perks had made the time pass quicker. Damn fine chicken too.Saturday, beautiful day so I reckon we can barbecue tonight except that I have to put the barbecue together. How hard can it be? Well I starts off around twelve gathering the tools and checking the parts are all in the package, which they are. I'm being picked up for the football at 1.30pm which means a pint or two before the game. I have just about got the legs on when I have to leave. I'm beginning to wonder if a barbecued dinner is going to be manageable if the rest of it takes as long to put together. The football itself is a bit of an anti-climax. Turgid stuff, with quite a few Killie players out injured. Livingston are well supported, with excluding the Old Firm, one of the loudest most colourful supports I've seen and heard this season, with their BIG Forza Livi Italian style banners and army of drummers. Perhaps it's because they are facing relegation that their fans have really got behind them, but nevertheless, their team aren't capable of matching their fans' expectations. Despite the almost entirely tedious game, 2 goals towards the end of the match pretty much conclude matters.
Then its home and I manage surprisingly quickly to put the barbecue together and its off down the supermarket to get stuff to cook on and stuff to cook. Steak, courgettes and briquettes. Forgot about the barbecue lighters didn't I, thewife by this time is off to deliver a message to a friend which leaves me with newspaper to try and light the damn thing. Half an hour later thewife is back with the motor and I have hardly got the thing alight, so off she goes for the lighters. I reckon it is going to be midnight before we eat but as it turns out its only a quarter to nine, mid May with still really warm sunshine to bask in. We were still sitting out as the light was fading, drinking and listening to Leadbelly and somewhat eerily Vaughn Williams' Lark Ascending whilst actually watching larks ascend into the twighlight. Bliss, but getting chillier by the moment.
Sunday and thewife is preparing to head off to Skye with mumsy and auntie for a short "holiday." I'll be dropping them off this afternoon, but before that there is young Chloe's first communion with no drink for me as I'll be driving. Later I may go to the quiz but I'm not so sure, with thewife gone and Lady El doing a 10k this afternoon, I'll be teamless.
posted by timesnewroman at 9:07 AM
Friday, May 06, 2005
It wos me wot done it! I won it for Labour apparently, at least that's what the email I got from Matt Carter, Labour's General Secretary, said. This despite the fact I couldn't bring myself to vote for them. He got my address from the time I sent them an email complaining bitterly about eyerack and for some reason, they've been sending me emails ever since. Including one threatening to send Prezza round if I hadn't voted. Presumably they didn't really mean it.I stuggled with voting, there was no-one I really wanted to vote for and in the end plumped for the Scottish Socialist Party, figuring that if Labour ever want my vote back, they know which way to lean.
Overall though I reckon that the British electorate are becoming ever more sophisticate in voting terms. Clearly they didn't want that miserable shower of scum sucking leeches anywhere near power, so despite misgivings, the protest didn't bring the government crashing to the ground but nevertheless sent a message to Bliar.
posted by timesnewroman at 7:00 PM
Monday, May 02, 2005
Itching for it Long weekend and the sun is shining brightly when I get out of work on Friday, early, because I'm on a training course. Weekend is looking good for putting the barbecue together and cooking outdoors. Well that would have been the plan if the weather hadn't done its bank holiday thing and chucked it down in buckets. Then I wake up on Saturday morning feeling really hot. Into the bathroom and my face is bright red, my arms are itching and up in goosebumps and then I realise its not just my arms, its all over! I'm not one given to panic, and I'm due to make breakfast, so I pop out for rolls and slice (Lorne sausage, not square not round, just plain SLICE!) and go into the chemist and buy Piriton, having self diagnosed an allergic reaction. Thing is, I have never had an allergic reaction to anything in my life. At this point I make breakfast, thewife gets up and has a look at me and she too diagnoses an allergic reaction, she has some medical training, having watched every episode of every medical drama on TV as well as a nursing background so we begin to ponder what it might have been. First up and truly terrifying is the possibility of it being alcohol. theboss has an allergy to alcohol and turns bright red and itches when she drinks almost any kind of alcohol. Then there are some pills that I am on which have a rash as a side effect, but I've been on those for ages without problems. thewife then reminds me of her sudden allergy to Non Steroidal Anti-Inflamatory drugs, after having used them for years. The she hits on the free sample of Surf that she used for the last batch of washing. The Piriton works quite quickly and I'm a lot less red and a lot less itchy. She phones the on call doctor anyway and has one of those conversations in medicalese that I barely understand and the consensus reached is that its probably the Surf, but to keep an eye on symptoms in case it worsens or goes anaphyllactic. So later that night, we cook the best lamb shanks I have ever tasted in my life. Actually they are the only lamb shanks I have ever tasted and they were bloody good. Downed with a couple of bottles of wine with absolutely no repercussions. Gon ya dancer! Wine out of the equation, next morning pills are no longer suspects, so its lets do that whole washing again. Surf, you bastards, how dare you put a bag of skin irritant through our letter box.Meanwhile back at the election, if it wasn't for the posters on lamp-posts and the occasional political broadcast and the news and the papers you'd hardly know there was one on. Good piece in today's Guardian by Gary Younge, just in case there are waverers out there.
posted by timesnewroman at 8:42 AM
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Inconsequential Football Been busy, too busy to blog. Saturday decided to head off to the footie on what was a beautiful day, for an inconsequential game. It looked good to start with, a remark from the 2 gents behind us who noted that it looked like Real Madrid versus Argentina. Killie played in all white and Dundee in Light blue and dark blue stripes. The football sadly didn't match the aesthetic, frankly it was pretty shit, we had a few chances and had the ball on target a number of times. What was lacking though was velocity. Had the keeper not been in front of the ball, it was unlikely it would have made the back of the net of its own volition. With the customary 10 minutes remaining, the intellectual giant of football tactics Jim Jeffries decides on a double substitution taking both front players off and replacing them. Nothing unusuaul in that except one of them, young Wales, was doing rather well and easily best player of the game and the only one looking likely to score. Again from behind there was the cry of "one duffer off, two duffers on." There were also a lot of boos ringing out at the ineptitude of manager. Would you believe it when four minutes later one of the subs scores what is certain to be the winner. A stunned silence from the two gents behind and fear on our part that perhaps Jeffries may think he made the right decision. Best player on the pitch? That would be Eric Skora the Preston North End player who was on loan to us last season. He made the half time draw to an almight cheer. Who knows maybe he was up for "talks."Saturday evening and we had the Harbour Street retirees down for dinner. Pork Loin on Rhubarb, we've been cooking with Rhubarb for the past 4 weeks, its in season you see. Followed by Strawberries Romanoff and a wicked quantity of wine.
Sunday no quiz because of another football match, which has a tendency for after match mayhem in assorted bars across the West of Scotland. We nevertheless had an enjoyable dinner withe Lady El and a signatur pudding with alcohol. Her lad came in halfway through quite pissed and on very fine form having been to watch the match with his mate in the Water Sports club. Half twelve kick off and its now after 7.00pm. Seemingly he and his friend had upset the entire club by junmping up when Celtic scored first. Including his father, Jim Stewart a new recruit to hunnery. Must've been funny in a dark sort of a way. Anyway he reminds us that we shouldn't remark on his drunken state given the last time we were there, I was asleep at the table, thewife was asleep on the couch and Lady El was asleep upstairs.
posted by timesnewroman at 6:01 AM
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Return of Torquemada What an interesting day. Starts off badly when someone at the station kiosk hands me a bank card which had fallen from my wallet. What I never noticed immediately was that another card and my Visa had also fallen out along with it. It suddenly struck me when I am on the train that perhaps I should check said wallet and do so, only to discover Visa is missing and possibly another card which I might have had with me. Bollocks! So I get to work and make the necessary calls to cancel said cards. thewife phones later to say that she popped into the station to find out if anyone had handed a card in. Indeed they had, too late though as I had already cancelled them. Nevertheless a big thank you to the honest commuters of Irvine.I'm not a Roman Catholic (I'm an Atheist) so I really shouldn't be at all bothered by the elevation of a former Hitler Youth member to the papacy. What bothers me though is that he's the kind who's unlikely to keep his fucking nose out of other peoples' business. Just for a change here's the Washington Post angle on him.
Just for fun why not type "liar" into a Google search and hit the I feel lucky button.
posted by timesnewroman at 9:24 PM
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Bloody questionnaires!Reidski did a meme and made me do it to. So here it is: Steve and Alan if you read this, I am passing the baton onto you.
You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?
thewife and I weren't sure about the meaning of this question. I haven't read Fahrenheit 451 (Should I soon?) so looked it up here (Mmm speed reading huh last year's stuff, just pop in the book title and get a quick synopsis in minutes, no need to read whole bulky books ever again!) Anyway is it what book you'd like to see burn? Easy anything religious, or is it - What book should save the world? maybe To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Mary Ann Singleton, before she became a mega broadcaster. Although it may have really have been Laura Linney.
The last book you bought is:
The Wisdom of Crocodiles by Paul Hoffman (Second Hand from Oxfam) It was a monster, gripped me to start with but lost me towards the end, thewife says they made it into a movie which was every bit as confusing as the book!
The last book you read:
Jonathan Coe's the Closed Circle. The follow-up to his excellent 70s based The Rotters Club, which was recently serialised brilliantly by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais for the BBC.
What are you currently reading?
High Society by Ben Elton, I've just opened it so that I can answer this question. I'm a terrible reader, I don't read anywhere near enough then I'll do nothing else but read. To be honest, I'm a victim of binge reading.
Five books you would take to a deserted island:
I was tempted to take Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City Series, but I would have had to leave one out and I'm not sure which one it would have been. So instead I'll take Tales of the City itself.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, I loved it so much and it was perhaps THE book which most evoked extremes of my emotions.
Reidski mentioned The Wasp Factory by Ian Banks. I'd have to take something by Ian Banks, but it would be between Espedair Street and The Bridge and I think the Bridge might just edge it on account of the complexity and the three books in one so to speak. That and the odd fact that with the exception of The Skids, I have every single track mentioned in the book on vinyl. I always had the feeling that he looked through my albums before writing it. Oh and not forgetting that it introduced me to Laphroaig.
Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. Strangely, Manuel introduced me to lots of books and I think perhaps that this was one of the first, possibly the only book I introduced him to. Possibly because he'd moved to Manchester at that time and it was a Scottish thing to start with. Anyway I would often get in from the pub of a night and have a lengthy passage from the book left on my answering machine. Classic.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson I read it for the first time fairly recently and mentioned it just after Hunter S. Thompson died. See post on 22/02/05.
Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
thewife for one and I'll put the results here. Steve from Occupied Country because it'll give me a reading list for the near future when I get my reading act together, and Alan from Gen X at 40 for an overseas perspective.
posted by timesnewroman at 5:19 PM
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Sun whorernalist gets comeuppance This was a hoot. I just wish they'd sent the bastard to Kosova.posted by timesnewroman at 6:35 AM
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Pythonesque They're off then. Its nice to see Tony and Gordon so close again, almost defies belief. Its interesting for starters to see how keen they are in getting the disaffected back into the fold so to speak. Simply butter us all up with fabulous international development titbits and we'll whore ourselves silly. On the other hand we could remind the bastards why we are anti-war in the first fucking place!posted by timesnewroman at 6:03 AM
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Whoosh
I love these things!
Busy week past. Helped along nicely by a visit from the bold Reidski with lad in tow. Meant drinking mid-week which I don't do any longer. Perhaps it's an age think but when I overindulge during the week I just can't get away with it they way I used to. So, when the wine ran out and I opened the Havana Club, well next morning I felt like shit pretty much unitl lunchtime. Made worse by the fact that everybody at work was on holiday, going on holiday or off sick. Reidski was on fine form though, despite having had a work related prob, which seems to have been overcome to some extent. Following the footie, the young'un gave up with Civilisation 3 and came to join us playing some music. He was most impressed with his dad's bass playing virtuosity from a 15 year old tape I had put onto CD. Then in a short music quiz made a pretty good stab at guessing that Robin Trower was Jim Hendrix - scoff you might but I think it was shit hot for an eleven year old.
We've been glued to Masterchef over the past few weeks and were at a loss last week as it has finished. So to compensate we've been doing it ourselves so to speak. Bloody camera batteries have fizzled out on me otherwise I would have been able to show off my starter of duck breast on black pudding and rhubarb with a salad on the side. Bloody outstanding as was the lamb casserole with roast potatoes and purple sprouting brocolli - get it while you still can.
thewife can cook most things but claims she just can't bake cakes. This weekend she's decided she is going to have another go as it's Lady El's birthday and a cake is forthcoming. Pottering away all afternoon in the kitchen and out she comes with...............two flat sponges. Seems she can't bake cakes after all. You should try her lemon and blueberry loaf though!
posted by timesnewroman at 4:24 PM
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Hiatus Over
Letting the cat out of the bag
Right, I have been a lazy bastard and its time it stopped. I've not been on holiday, thewife is out of hospital and well, and the absence is simply down to me being too lazy to post and there being nothing exciting happening to post about. Well if you omit the excitement of the past week I suppose.
First up, the cat in the bag is Charlie. The bag is the one the wife had her overnight stay in hospital stuff in. We're convinced that by sitting in the bag Charlie is convinced she won't piss off and leave him again. Don't scoff, he is that smart, our Charlie.
Secondly I did have a rant against certain religious organisations and leaders prior to a certain Pole popping his clogs, but unfortunately the computer crashed prior to posting. I think that was probably a major contributing factor to the lack of posts since.
A quick resum� then. Cardinal Cormac Murphy O' Connor, or should that be Mister Bastard, decides to get in on the act following the influence of the right wing fundamentalist religious zealots across the Atlantic. He decides the time is right given the forthcoming general election to re-establish a debate on abortion, with the express aim of reducing the time limit on abortions from 24 to 22 weeks - or as he'd probably prefer zero weeks.
Morality huh? From the piece of shite that knowingly promoted a paedophile priest! Give us a break.
And next he is going to be a key influence on the election of the next Pope. So who's he going to promote then?????? No jokes please about Cardinal Sin!
Not that the Anglicans are proving any more liberal. Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams also thinks it's time for the abortion debate to be looked at again. Why don't these people just fuck off? Suitable cases both, for retrospective abortions!
Sheeesh once I get started. All this and an election too!
posted by timesnewroman at 6:44 PM
