Category: Architecture

The Far East – 12 December 2015

Posted on by Zogman

combo bActually it wasn’t Japan, it was Embra and it rained.  Went to get some emergency supplies of tea at my favourite Embra establishment.  Just a wee tea shop where the proprietor doesn’t deal in metric measurements, only pounds and ounces.  A great sense of humour and a total disregard for any Politically Correctness.  A breath of fresh air in this world.  Long may he continue to run his shop his way.

After coffee in Nero, we walked through the farmers’ market to get some venison for tomorrow’s dinner.  Then it was along Princes Street to the Christmas Market.  It was as busy as it ever is, but I was listening to a podcast this week and have to agree with the presenter.  He was complaining that German Christmas Markets in this country are now run by Polish people selling goods made in China, and that seems to be as true here as anywhere else in the UK.  Maybe it’s different in mainland Europe.

For a change we went in to one building of the National Gallery and I enjoyed looking at the painting by the Old Masters.  After that we went in to the other building.  What a difference.  It was supposed to be award winners in some national competition.My one abiding memory is of a triptych of three ‘portraits’, like primary school pupils would have painted.  What is the point of that?  I’ve heard one critic try to explain how “Your child couldn’t have painted that”.  In my opinion, her assertions simply proved that they could have.  The Emperor’s New Clothes indeed.

After our cultural adventure we had lunch and went home.  Wet and a bit disappointed.  Sorry Embra, you just didn’t cut it today.

St Andy’s Day – 30 November 2015

Posted on by Zogman

combo-bThe last day of November!  It started with rain, as have most of the days recently.  I had a full agenda today with a trip to Glasgow quite prominent.  I’d decided to go on the bus, thereby saving money since I had all day to go, shop and come back before dinner time.  Scamp was out with Gems singing in the afternoon, so the day was my own.  I wrapped up well and headed off to the bus stop, then remembered that the timetable changed earlier this month and I was now five minutes late for the bus.  Did I dare try to become one of the 700 who daily park at the station, or did I drive in to Glasgow, park in the exorbitant Concert Hall carpark and pay a king’s ransom for the privilege?  A dilemma.  I opted for the train.  Hey, it’s Monday.  Some folk will probably be having a long weekend and not going to work, so the carpark won’t be crammed full with people parking on the verges, in the turning circles and in the flower beds.  Strangely, for once, that’s exactly what happened.  Hunners of spaces.  Well maybe not hunners, but enough.  I got a space easily.  Even better, I got my ticket walked on to the platform and the train appeared.  As if by magic.  Sometimes things just happen for you.

By the time I got to Glasgow the sun had come out, the rain had stopped and the day was looking good.  Dandered through ‘The Toon’ and got what I was looking for, just the essentials.  I also saw some things that I’d like, like a new SSD (not to be confused with an S T D which is a totally different thing … or so I’m told) for the Mac.  Shh, don’t tell The Mac, it’s meant to be a surprise.  It might be its Chrissy Prezzy.  I saw a Sandisk 480GB one for £99 in Maplin and almost bought it, but decided to check on-line to see what price I could get it for there and to read some reviews.  As I thought, Amazon had one for £73.  Same make and same model.  It’s now on the shopping list, along with a new battery for the same unibody device.

In Glasgow I wandered around St Enoch’s Christmas Market.  How much longer will we be able to say ‘Christmas‘ without breaking some EEC law?  It’s ludicrous that we have to change our traditional names because we’re frightened of upsetting some group or other.  Moves are already afoot to change Easter holidays to Spring holidays because it offends some religious groups.  Doesn’t ‘Spring’ holiday offend Wiccans and Neopagans or some other nature loving group?  You can’t win.  Just leave it as it is and if other groups don’t like the word, then they don’t have to use it.  Simples!

Got some photos in and around the St Enoch area.  I’ve been watching the light on the new underground station there and the way it contrasts to the old St Enoch building with the clock tower.  Most impressed with the steel and glass structure.

Quick cup of coffee and a granola from Laboratorio Espresso and got the train home.  Overall a good day, greatly helped by the unexpected ease of parking at the station and by the glorious sunshine.  The down side was having to scrape the windscreen of the car before going out to Salsa tonight.  Oh well, you can’t have it both ways.  I much prefer the clean cold to the miserable rain.

Halloween – 31 October 2015

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After a brilliant concert by Randy Newman last night and the inevitable late night, today started with a late lie in.  The concert, as I said was brilliant.  Newman’s voice in the first half was not at its best, but then he never was a great singer.  Maybe it’s just his age showing, but he seemed to be having trouble reaching some of the high notes.  In the second half he seemed more at home with the content and sang all the old faithfuls.  The night was complete for me when he sang Rednecks, premising it with a warning that it contained lyrics that might be deemed politically incorrect.  It was brilliant!

The day had started off with heavy cloud and drizzle.  It lifted a bit by midday and we set off for lunch at Vecchia Bologna in Bridge of Allan.  After that we went in to Stirling.  I wanted ink for my fountain pen and searched all the way round WH Smith’s without success.  However, as Scamp said, they had their Christmas stuff out.  Well, that makes up for everything, doesn’t it.  The stationers doesn’t have ink, but it does have the Christmas junk.  They sell Lamy pens, but they don’t sell the refills.  I think they should take a long look at themselves and decide what they are.

Had a look at some lovely paintings in one of the galleries in Stirling.  Unfortunately they also had a selection of Ron Lawson thatched cottage crap too.

Beautiful light on the old sandstone buildings and the trees when we were walking to the car.  This light morphed into a great sunset as we drove home.  By the time we got home, the light had gone and it was growing dark.

We had three sets of guisers (isn’t that a better word than trick or treaters – no competition!) at the door this year.  That’s much more than we’ve had before.

Pakora for a wee bite to eat watching ‘Strictly’.  Superb!

Angels, Markets and Parties – 3 October 2015

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comboWe went to Angel to meet JIC and Sim. All organised and planned by Hazy and ND’A (thanks again folks). After a bum steer with a dodgy looking Indian/Mexican dive and finding a tank in the process(!), finally settled on Jamie’s Italian restaurant and had an enjoyable lunch (Italian sausage and pappardelle for me). Then went for a walk around a small market we’d visited before with Hazy. Some strange things for sale there. Numerous stalls selling spoons and fish-knives(‘?’ again) and other things that will not be mentioned for fear of nightmares – just don’t ask! Some beautiful opportunities for photos in the low afternoon light, especially with the 9mm and 20mm lenses. After that JIC and Sim went for their train and we did the same. Scamp was in a bit of a rush to get back to Hazy’s, to make sure we’d be ready for the party. I’d rather have had a wander around Kings Cross, or even better Vauxhall. I really want to have a go at photographing those riverside buildings. They are quite a favourite of mine, but obviously not as good as the one on Ingram Street in Glasgow. We agreed to disagree on timings and I left Vauxhall for another day. I need more practise anyway, to do them justice. Got some more photos of grapes in Hazy and ND’A’s garden. Then it was time for the party.

In the usual D’A style, this was a party not to be missed. Food, drink, dancing, speeches, laughs. These people really know how to enjoy themselves. It took my breath away the first time I met them and seemed too good to be true. It’s not. It’s just the way they are, and they are an object lesson for the rest of us. I admire them in so many ways. Anyway, we all had a great time and although Hazy didn’t stay long, I’m sure she too had a good time. When it was time for the last dance I was so disappointed, I hadn’t noticed the time passing. After we helped clearing up the hall, ND’A drove us home and we had to get ourselves organised for the journey back up the road.

A short trip, but a lot crammed in.

As I said, “… I need more practise anyway, to do them justice.”

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A wet day in the Toon – 12 September 2015

Posted on by Zogman

comboAs with most Saturday mornings, this one started gently with a long lie in. This was partly because I’d been to a retiral dinner on Friday when much drink was taken.
The weather this morning was, as predicted, wet. I think it was partly Scamp’s fault and partly mine. She because she had watered the garden on Friday and Thursday because it was so dry. Me, because I had washed my bike on Friday. Both these acts were completed using the hose. That self same hose that we bought in April and hadn’t used since then, because it had rained almost every day. We had broken the dry spell by using the hose! Broken the ‘spell’ that is!

We had sort of planned to go to Perth today, but that was back in the middle of the week when the weather was much better. Today, we decided, we’d just go to Glasgow on the train for lunch. Seemed like the best way to deal with such a dull day.

Went to Zizzi’s in Exchange Square for lunch. Scamp found out just how hot red chillies can be and my pulled pork pizza was more like a teased piglet pizza. Really, I should have taken a shot of it and sent it to the Zizzi management to see if they could identify the actual pork without the aid of a microscope or DNA analysis. I think this may be the last time for a while we will be gracing their premises. I realise that times are tough in the restaurant sector, but if you advertise the pizza as pulled pork, then that meat should be its prime topping. That said, the Italian sausage was tasty, but, I’ve just checked the menu on Zizzi website and there is mention of crispy prosciutto and that wasn’t in evidence either. Maybe the pig ate it then ran away. I’ve written a complaint to Zizzi head office.

Bumped into Ruth from Salsa – she was going to a refugee rally in George Square.  Hardly recognised her.  She’s a shadow of her former self, but in a good way.  She seemed a bit put out that we were walking away from the rally.  It’s our choice, our life, our day.

On the train back, we were sitting beside two loud americans ex-teenagers. They drawled on and on in loud voices discussing the education system in Scotland and its failing. Why are american teenagers and ex-teenagers so annoying. Empty head and empty talk full of jargon and little else. I was tempted to put on the Ned voice and drawl back at them: “Hey mate. Ur youse americans? So ur ye jist here tae git a bit o’ ejicayshin? Cause you’re baith talking’ pure crap man. See me, ah’ve dun the ejicayshin thing an ah can tell when sumdi’s talking’ shite, an youse ur.” Scamp would not have been pleased and would have maintained a stony silence for the rest of the evening.

Top left picture is of my favourite building of the moment taken with the 9mm lens.  Processed in Tonality Pro.  The processing suited it in my opinion.  Top right is a religious zealot who regularly preaches in Buchanan Street.  I think he got more than he bargained for today when he took on the man on the right.  Bottom right is the same building as the first one, but with a bit cleaner processing and a different viewpoint.

It was a no’ bad day in the Toon.

An Asymmetric Day – 6 September 2015

Posted on by Zogman

IMG_2708-Edit- blog--249One of those asymmetric days. The morning was all laid back and lazy after a late night yesterday. The afternoon followed suit with me doing very little except try to get a .bash script to execute so I can pull in WordPress entries into Day One entries. It all seemed easy, but it’s still not solved. May have to contact the writer to see what I’m doing wrong.

That was the easy part of the day. Late afternoon, we went dancing in the now upgraded and almost total darkness of the Garage. Do they think this looks chic? It looks shite to me. However, I expect it saves a packet on lighting. After that it was home to make the dinner – Chicken Curry if you must know. After that we watched a really boring F1 GP from Monza. For once I was glad it was only the highlights. If that was the highlights, I’d hate to see the boring bits! Then dishes needed washing and by that time the little hand on the clock was pointing to the 10 and the big one was pointing to the twelve and I still hadn’t done POD or Flickr or anything that I should have, so here I am at 11.12 finishing the blog.

Good Night

A full day – 18 August 2015

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It was up early as the weans were going to school and the teachers realised that the phony war was over and it was now the real start of term.  I was determined to make the most of this auspicious day. 😉

After breakfast, the day started with the Gym & Swim thing.  Gym was fine, but there were toddlers and their mums in the pool along with a really annoying teacher singing to the weans.  Not the way I wanted my day to start, but I’ll know better for future.  Avoid the baby swim time.

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Went straight from there in to Glasgow.  I did think that I should do a drive past of the school, but decided that was a step too far.
<Rant>Took a ticket at Cowcaddens and went to find a parking place.  There were none.  Why does the machine give out tickets when there are no spaces.  Isn’t it simple to issue the number of tickets equal to the number of spaces?  Is there a problem with this algorithm?  It would appear that Glasgow Council just issue tickets to everyone who asks and if you can’t find a space, tough luck, that’s just the way it is.</Rant>
Anyway, sat ‘poaching’ and waiting for someone to leave and got a space 5 minutes later.  Just went for a daunder round  ‘the toon’.  Got myself a mudguard for my bike and two posh cakes for pudding tonight from Patisserie Valerie.  It was a good choice, judging by Scamp’s face when I got home.  While I was there, I saw a healthy food stand in Buchanan Street, selling coconuts andOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA advertising free WiFi.  Healthy?  Coconuts?  FREE!!! WiFi?  In Glasgow?  What’s the world coming to?  Where are the deep fried Mars Bars and the pints of heavy?  I despair!

When I got home, the sun was still shining so after fitting the mudguard, I OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAtook the bike out for a run to try to find some puddles – not usually a problem in Scotland.  I could not find one puddle to splash in because the magic weather fairies were still in charge.  Apparently the magic weather pixies plane home had been delayed due to an air traffic controllers strike in Eastern Zogland.  They are expected tomorrow.

Bummer

You know when you’ve been Kelpied – 26 July 2015

Today we were going to visit the Kelpies because neither JIC nor Sim had seen them up close, and up close IS the only way to see these icons.  Drove there and parked in the paid car park as close as you can get to the massive statues.  In case you have been living under Read More

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Introducing Harry the Happy Kelpie.

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Today we were going to visit the Kelpies because neither JIC nor Sim had seen them up close, and up close IS the only way to see these icons.  Drove there and parked in the paid car park as close as you can get to the massive statues.  In case you have been living under a stone for the past few years, the Kelpies are 30m high horse heads, brainchild, or should that be brainchildren, of Andy Scott.  No matter how many times we visit them, there’s always something different to see in them.  I find it fascinating that people start taking photos of them almost as soon as they get out of their car.  It’s as if they think they have to record them in case they run away.  That may sound stupid until you’ve seen them.  Then you will understand just how lifelike and dynamic these structures are.  In fact, it’s hard to see them as simply structures, the have this organic life about them – quite scarily lifelike when you’re close to them.

Next stop was Vecchia Bologna in Bridge-of-Allan for Sunday lunch and for the first time I had their home made Tiramisu.  I can tell you it won’t be the last time if I have anything to do with it.  Quite delicious.  Almost as good as Scamp’s.  After that, sadly, it was time to run JIC and Sim to the airport for their plane home.  All good things … etc.