Category: Food

Christmas Eve – 24 December 2016

Posted on by Zogman

For once we stuck to our plan and went in to Glasgow on a freezing cold bus.  Storm Barbara was still lingering around and making its effects felt as the double decker bus wandered across the road, buffeted by her gusts.

In Glasgow, after wandering through John Lewis we headed down Bucky Street then took a left turn to get a pizza in Paesano.  Our pizzas were a bit more rustic than yesterday’s lunch, but equally enjoyable in their own way.  The food was on the table less than 10 minutes after we sat down and it was as good as any pizza I’ve ever tasted and a lot better than many.  Maybe not quite as good as those from Napoli, but that’s only a maybe.

From Paesano we went down to Argyle Street for a coffee in Cafe Nero, then along to St Enoch’s, but the German market was closed.  I’m guessing that it was closed to allow the Polish folk to get home, because we all know there are few Germans in the German markets, as they are all run by Poles.  Hope ‘Pole’ isn’t a derogatory term, because I can’t think of a ‘proper’ name.  Hope it’s not as bad as ‘Scotch’.  I’m not Scotch, I’m Scottish.

With no market to investigate, we headed back up Bucky Street.  I finally got a mini display port to VGA adapter in the accursed Apple shop to try connecting my Mac Book Pro to my old ten year old monitor.  The result wasn’t exactly high fidelity, but it did work and allowed me to test out the possibility of using a desk setup.  Better to try it out for £30 than just dive in to an iMac costing £1400. From the Apple store we walked up through Buchanan Galleries to get the bus home.  A warm bus for a change and it looks like Barbara has kissed us goodbye becaus it was a much less fraught journey home.

Finally got the last copies of my calendar printed earlier tonight, so in the next couple of days they will be punched and clipped together.  After that they can be sent out.

Tomorrow?  Well, I think tomorrow is Christmas Day, so it might snow.  With temperatures in double figures that could be difficult, but we live in hope.

The Day That Never Dawned – 23 December 2016

Posted on by Zogman

It just seemed to get darker today.  From the time we woke until around 2pm, the clouds seemed to be massing and compacting to the extent that they successfully prevented any light from reaching earth.

When we realised that there was little chance of any decent light and Scamp had been for her physio appointment, we went for lunch to Vecchia Bologna.  We had toyed with the idea of booking a table as it was Christmas Eve Eve, ie. the day before the day before Christmas, but when we got to the restaurant there was only one other couple there.  Admittedly, we were early, arriving just before 1pm.  However, the place soon got busy with a big table arriving halfway through our meal.  It was a Christmas Lunch menu and we made good use of it.  Scamp had:

  • Starter   Tortino mediterraneo di riso with warm grilled vegetables
  • Main      Fillet of Seabass pan cooked, with fresh chopped tomatoes, garlic and basil
  • Dessert  Traditional Christmas pudding served with Warm brandy sauce.

I had:

  • Starter    Scottish smoked salmon with tiger prawns, mixed crispy salad leaves & home made chilli ginger jam
  • Main       Tagliatelle pasta with a ragú of Italian seasoned pork sausage garden peas & cream
  • Dessert   Traditional Italian Tiramisú.

Delicious.

This was our eat-out Christmas Lunch.

After lunch we stopped off at Waitrose on our way home to stock up on the essentials for Sunday that we hadn’t already bought at Tesco.  While we were walking back to the car the sky started to clear and the clouds finally parted to allow some blue sky to shine through all courtesy of Storm Barbara.  I got some shots of the trees behind the carpark, but I must say they were uninspiring and as a result the photo is uninspired.  I just missed a photo of a grey squirrel running across the toes of my shoes!  That would have been a good one to get.

While we drove along the M80 motorway heading due west, we were treated to a beautiful sunset with the sun setting into the clouds just above the horizon.  So clean, so clear it reminded me of the sunsets on the cruise in June, and then it was gone.  So the sun did rise this morning, it was only the clouds that obscured it.  Obscured by Clouds – Pink Floyd.  That could have been the theme song for today.

Notice that all the references to the time of year today sarted with a capital ‘C’, not an ‘X’.  That’s because there was very little or no commercialism attached.

Storm Barbara scooted over us this morning with a few gusty winds and I could feel the sideswipes on the motorway, but for most of the afternoon it was quite calm.  It’s getting windy again tonight as was forecast.  Hoping it’s on its way north east now.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  Hoping to go in to Glasgow on the bus and enjoy a pizza at Paesano.

Glad to hear that N D’Ag was back home and feeling a lot better.  Hope there isn’t any snoring tonight Hazy!

A day at the Gee-gees – 17 December 2016

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I think I must have said just a little too much yesterday and annoyed the Embra gods again.  Seriously, I thought that after the amount of work Scamp has put in this week, a lazy day for her was called for, so we didn’t rush out this morning to get the train to the second city of Scotland, in fact we didn’t get past the door until the afternoon.  Even then, I wasn’t sure where we were going as we headed east, then it occurred to me that since we didn’t want to go too far and we certainly didn’t want to go shopping, we might go and visit some old stainless steel friends – The Kelpies.

When we got there we had a pleasant surprise.  The carpark at the Kelpies was free today.  Got a few photos of some Ford Focus RSs parked in a line while their drivers discussed and compared their steeds, but it was much bigger steeds we were interested in.  We went for a walk round them and as every time before, we were blown away with them, actually quite emotional.  However, it was a bit chilly, no, it was cold and the breeze dropped the temperature even more, so we were glad to get into cafe in the new information centre.  A cup of coffee each and a bowl of potato wedges to share heated us up as we watched the last of the light go down on the statues.

Drove home and it was Golden Bowl for a Chinese dinner tonight, before we watched the final of Strictly.  Riveting!

Easy Deer and Witches – 16 December 2016

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Busy morning with bread to bake and tidying up to do.  Then it was out for coffee with Val and Fred P.

Bread baked and the living room looking less like a bomb site, I headed out to meet Val and Fred.  Val needed a standard lens for his DSLR and I had a spare that I wasn’t using, so it made sense to pass it on.  Fred has been supplying me with good music all year, so now was time for me to redress the balance with some CDs.  That with some coffee and a lot of good humour took up most of the afternoon.  Fred showed me some photos he’d taken of an artwork at the dreadfully dull out of town shopping centre that is Glasgow Fort.  It’s been built at Easterhouse and in the past, a fort was indeed what that area of Glasgow needed, Fort Apace.  I decided that I’d go and see what the Fort now had to offer in the way of photographic opportunities.  It turned out it was indeed an interesting and entertaining array of street art.  Just what the Fort needed.  The other thing it needed was a bookshop to replace the greatly missed Borders that closed its doors almost exactly seven years ago.  Waterstones has moved in to fill that space and although it isn’t officially open until tomorrow, it’s looking good and will be an oasis of calm for the guys who are dragged there by their spouses.

When I got home, Scamp’s annual Witches Christmas Party was in full swing, so after a word or two to all the guests, I removed myself to the ‘Painting Room’ for a bit of peace and quiet.  Both ‘Peace’ and ‘Quiet’ were achieved with the use of a pair of Panasonic over-ear headphones while playing Dylan’s 1966 Albert Hall Concert at full volume.  I also got the crumbs from the Rich Wo(Man’s) Table in the form of Crab Cakes, Lentil Soup and Chicken Pithivier.  Not exactly crumbs either as there were copious amounts of all but the crab cakes.

I lived in the little back room working on a ringtone for my brother-in-law (why do Apple make such a simple task so difficult and convoluted?) before it was time for the merry witches to be on their way back to their respective homes.

It only happens once a year and they all enjoy it.  I have to admit that I do too, but don’t tell them that.

Tomorrow?  We may be heading for the second capital city of Scotland, but I dare not say its name for fear we will once again be forced to postpone.

Walking through the Gloaming – 15 December 2016

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I’ve started a bad habit of allowing the blog to get away from me.  These last couple of days have seen me in the morning playing catch-up to get the blog posted, yesterday’s blog that is.  Today I’m finishing today’s blog today.

Not a lot of work done this morning.  Scamp was hard at work buying Tesco again and cooking all day for the Witches Christmas Party while I farted about.  There, that’s the honest truth, well, almost the truth.  I did get my 2017 calendar sorted out, so that’s one thing done.

I went for more ‘messages’ – you remember what messages are, don’t you – after lunch and took Scamp’s advice to carry ONE camera with me.  I chose the E-M5 with a short zoom lens and no EVF (Electronic View Finder).  Very pocketable.   I walked the short walk round the railway walk, across the tree plantation and back along the canal while the light changed from blue to a glorious orange gloaming.  Some beautiful lighting on the hills, but the short lens was struggling to make anything of it.  By comparison, the short focal length lens made the skies look good.

Since Tesco was now closed for restocking, after Scamp had bought everything it had, I went to Kilsyth to Lidl to get some odds and ends there and in B&M (my new favourite shop).  Bought far more than I intended to, so Scamp’s enthusiasm must be catching.  When I got home and after dinner, I started on my part of tomorrows banquet.  Now, at 10.30pm I’ve done my bit too.  The pudding is setting in the fridge and the bread is proving in the kitchen.  Some more work to be done tomorrow, but less frantic I hope.

I’m intending giving the WCP a body swerve tomorrow.  I’m booked for coffee and a chat with Fred and Val tomorrow midday and after that, well as Del Boy said, “The world’s my lobster”.

Fish Suppers – 13 December 2016

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Didn’t feel too good when I got up and so we didn’t go to the pool for a swim as expected.  I blamed it on eating all the leftovers from Scamp’s party.  I should know better, but I just had to have one more rum ball, even though they aren’t truly round and had never been near a bottle of rum.  One day I may learn.

There was still a lot of things could have been doing, but I skilfully managed to sidestep them all.  It takes years of selfless dedication to achieve my high level of work avoidance.  I’ve learned from quite a few masters of the art in my working life and now I am benefitting from those years of study.  Finally got caught and put to work wrapping parcels.  With two of us on the task it didn’t take that long and the boxes are now filled and ready to go to Santa.  Post strike permitting.

Had a quick waltz round St Mo’s later, but had managed to miss the best of the light although there were a wide spectrum of colours in the sky, so that became my subject in the late afternoon light.  After that it was time to pick up Jackie from the station and go for tonight’s dinner which was fish suppers all round.  Had to wait for the fish and the chips, but that meant they were very fresh and really lovely.  Didn’t even suffer any after effects which shows how fresh they were.

Tomorrow?  It looks like rain and Scamp is going in to town to meet up with one of her friends for lunch and Jackie goes back up north.  I may paint for a time.

Santa Woz Here – 3 December 2016

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3-dec

Scamp was still feeling a bit under the weather today, so we postponed our trip to Embra.  Maybe next week.  Instead, we went to a garden centre for a wee run and the prospect of lunch.

The garden centre was mobbed – well, it’s December, so it’s almost Christmas – added to that, Santa was visiting.  All the gardening assistants were dressed up, presumably as elves, but they looked like a cross between leprechauns and Austrians in lederhosen.  I’m sure they were just as embarrassed as they looked.  We did have lunch.  There was a sort of DIY toastie where you got a plate with bread and cheese and a selection of fillings covered with cling film and I’m guessing you took that to the counter and had it toasted while you waited.  Similar plates with a panini replacing the slices of bread.  To say that they weren’t appetising would be an understatement.  Scamp opted for a baked potato with tuna mayo and I had a baked potato with barbecued chicken.  We both had tea.  When the baked potatoes came, Scamp’s had the typical grey mass on top, but mine had diced white ‘stuff’ covered in a brown shiny sauce.  It tasted like reconstituted white meat with a sweet, sticky, brown tasting glue (yes, I’ve tasted glue.  It tasted better than this stuff).  I ate it and the potato was decent.  The tea was good.  I hope Santa’s reindeer dined better than we did.

We wandered round the shop which was filled with seasonal tat.  You know what I’m talking about.  Bought in very cheap and sold with a high markup for the Christmas market with the remainder either stored for next year or sold off in the New Year sales.  Now I’m not at all Christian, and what I hate most about Christmas is Xmas, and this was all Xmas with none of the Christ.  I’m guessing most of the people were there with children or grandchildren to see Santa, because there didn’t seem to be a lot of jingling of tills while we were there and they didn’t deserve any sales for this blatant cheap commercialism.  It was almost as bad as their food.  Almost.

On the way home I stopped at Home Bargains to try to get some birdfood.  It was absolute mayhem.  Apparently you simply HAD to buy your Chrissy Prezzies today.  This place was mobbed too.  One poor bloke was trying to follow his wife through the throng, carrying a six foot long by two foot wide ‘painting’ of three roses.  I didn’t fancy his chance of getting out alive.  I left empty handed.  We carried on and got some home made ice cream from Soave’s cafe in Muirhead.  The cafe was almost empty.  Everyone must have been in the garden centre or in Home Bargains.

Hopefully Scamp will be well enough for Salsa Social tomorrow.

Fidgeting – 29 November 2016

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29-nov

Fidgeting:  To move about restlessly, nervously, or impatiently.
That sort of sums up me today.

After completing yesterday’s Sudoku (easy) followed by today’s puzzle (medium), I was stuck for something to do.  Scamp was going out to lunch with a friend, so I had an hour or so to do as I pleased.  I thought about starting a painting, but couldn’t settle to it.  Sketching?  No, that didn’t work either.  St Mo’s didn’t appeal today.  The final decider was that I’d agreed with Scamp that I’d bring back some messages.  Stuff like milk, bread and onions.  Stuff for dinner, that’s messages in Scotland.  This agreement forced me to go out.

I went to Auchinstarry on the off chance that I’d get another look at the kingfisher.  It wasn’t there, but a grey heron was.  It kept flying off whenever I took the camera out and although I wanted a static shot with the heron’s reflection in the canal, I realised that if I was going to get anything, it would have to be an action shot.  I got it, twice.  My favourite, though, is the landscape with the trees.  I like that view and this time I managed to avoid the power lines that usually deface this shot.  It was the light that made it special and that’s what it’s all about.

After the walk and the photos, I did go for the messages at Lidl.

No plans for tomorrow yet.  It depends, as Scamp would say, on the weather.

A bright sunny day – 23 November 2016

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23-nov

It was a very bright morning and a very cold morning too, but I decided to get up early (well before 10am) and get out for a walk in the frosty air.  It was quite a good decision.  I took the Nikon with the 70 – 300mm lens and the 105mm macro too.  Just in case there was a decent chance of getting some landscape shots, I took the Oly EPL5 with a 12-32mm lens.  It’s a compact wee camera and lens and can fit easily into my pocket.   Suitably dressed in warm clothing I headed over to St Mo’s and got some decent shots of the frozen plants and stuff.  Only saw a couple of deer in the distance and didn’t have a chance of capturing them in Ones and Zeros on the card.  Came home and had a hot shower to heat myself up and a cup of coffee to warm me internally while I processed the shots and uploaded three of  them to Flickr, the three above.  That was the end of my photographic endeavours for the day.

After lunch which was a couple of bowls of Scamp’s excellent soup, we drove up to the docs to see what medication we needed for foreign climes.  It turned out that we needed a Hep A booster and a Tetanus.  Neither were essential, but we decide we’d be better with them as they’re free anyway.

After that it was time to sort the dinner and get ready for Wednesday Salsa.  As usual, it was cold in the hall, but after a full beginners class we were helping in and an ‘advanced’ class, we were feeling the heat.  The advanced class was nowhere near as demanding as our Monday group, but did give us some well needed exercise.

It looks like another cold night tonight and an equally cold day tomorrow.  Coffee with Val tomorrow and maybe a trip into town after that.

Design Obsolescence – 22 November 2016

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22-nov

My car is just coming up for eight years old.  Its had a few bits and pieces replaced since new.  The usual consumables like the oil filter and the air filter every year at servicing time.  Every couple or so years it also has needed new tyres when they run a bit thin on tread.  More expensive items like brake disks, wheel bearings and CV joints have also been replaced when necessary.  Sometimes I use good quality third party replacements, but manufacturers parts are always available at an extra cost.  Occasionally I use them when it seems prudent to do so.  All based on the trusted advice from my local garage.  It’s a good car and runs perfectly well.

My Macbook Pro is also coming up for its eighth birthday.  It’s also had a few ‘improvements’ over the years.  It’s had a memory upgrade and a new hard drive installed, then last year I added a super fast Solid State Drive.  Some from Apple and some from third party alternatives.  Now its battery is failing, so I went to the Apple store in Buchanan Street to find out how much it would cost for an Apple fitted new battery.  I was shocked to hear them claim not to have replacement batteries for “such an old computer”!  Really?  A company the size of Apple can’t source the parts to repair its own computers?  I was told by a ‘Tech’ that I would have to phone technical support to see if they still had any in stock, and if they did the repair would cost around £160.  I don’t think so.  Amazon are advertising a replacement battery for £40 and I’m not so ham fisted I can’t fit it myself.
Since I’ve had the Macbook I’ve become a great fan of Apple, but my allegiance is fading after this example of Designed Obsolescence.

Right, now that I’ve got that out of my system, here’s a synopsis of the day:

Had an entertaining phone call with Hazy in the morning (yes, I did look up the Hive – impressive structure, H), then out to visit the dentist and no fillings, no scale and polish, just a cap replacement and no charge.  What a nice man.

After lunch Scamp and I drove in to Glasgow for some pre-Christmas shopping.  Better to go mid-week when the crowds are at work earning the pennies to spend at the weekend when we head for the hills, literally.  Parked in the Buchanan Galleries carpark with its wonderful panoramic walkway to the galleries proper.  Such a great view of Glasgow (and carpark is cheaper than Concert Hall!)  I headed off to the book shop for a couple of books I’d my eye on, but which turned out to be less than enthralling.  Scamp went looking for girlie stuff.  Met up later and had my introduction to the wonders of Designed Obsolescence – Apple style.  How to kill of a potential sale in one easy lesson.

Coffee and then trudged back homeward, but not before Scamp noticed that Jacques Vert had a sale on.  I’ll give her that, she always makes it look as if it’s a great surprise to see the sale posters in the window.  More girlie stuff bought.  Walked back across the bridge to the carpark and the light was just marvellous, so I had to stop to take some photos.  Such a beautiful sunset and one you knew just couldn’t last, so I made the most of it.  If I’d hurried past I’d have saved myself £1.50 in parking money, but I’d have missed today’s PoD (I’d also have brought the price of an Apple replaced battery down to £158.50, but I’m not bitter!)

Back home I found out that the books weren’t as interesting as I’d thought and have decided to return them (in pristine condition) tomorrow.  After a lovely stirfry cooked by Scamp I made some scones that turned out the best yet!  No eggs Hazy!

Was posting a condensed version of my rant on the Buchanan Street Apple shop page on Facebook when my eye was drawn down the page to a bloke complaining about exactly the same thing.  So, I am not the only grumpy old man then.

Travel clinic tomorrow to book our jags for foreign climes and maybe take that book back.  Unless Apple phone in the morning and offer me a brand new Macbook Pro – top of the range and an iPhone 7 to go with it to make up for their shocking customer service today.  But then I’d wake up and it would all be a dream  😉