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!
From the title you will guess that today I joined the super fit folk in the gym to get a tour of the mysterious torture machines. So now I know about extensions, arm curls gluts, biceps and free weights. However, when I tried to leave with a conservative selection of dumbbells I was told that it wasn’t that kind of ‘free‘. I suppose it must have been free as in ‘free speech‘ and not as in ‘free beer‘. I never did understand that, but then again, I’ve never seen a sign for free beer either, and is there such a thing as free speech? Anyway, the gym/swim thing went well, except that instead of doing leg extensions, my program actually had leg curls. Confused? Yes, I think these machines are designed to confuse the unwary. Anyway, I did my reps and completed my circuit with timed cooldown. I hope you’re impressed JIC. I can talk your language now, but with a Scottish accent. The gym instructor was telling me that the gym is getting an upgrade in December and they will have bikes with video screens so you can cycle on mountain passes and along a beach at sunrise. I don’t think she was impressed when I said “Oh, just like a Wii then?” Ahem, perhaps not then.
We 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.
Off to Perth today. Poor weather predicted, but aside from some misty, foggy stuff before we left, it looked good. Arrived in Perth in sunshine too. I’d broken my favourite watch’s strap on Monday and I wasn’t totally happy with the substitute watch I’d found. Last night I searched for and found my old Pulsar which has a metal bracelet, so that’s not going to break very easily. Unfortunately it needed a battery, so on my list of to-dos today was a battery for said watch. Scamp recommended Timpsons for the replacement. I eventually found Timpsons shop in Perth more by dead reckoning than by using my iPhone which couldn’t get a 3G signal in the centre of the town. All the phone companies are busy offering 4G-ready phones. Not much use when there’s not even a 3G mast nearby. Maybe it would be ok in Engaland (sic), but in Scotland it’s a no-no. Anyway, the nice man in Timpsons changed two batteries, yes TWO, one for the digital side and one for the analog apparently. I could say that he did it in double quick time, but that would be a pun too far 🙂 It’s a heavy watch, but at least I can read it without peering at it and the strap won’t come apart very easily. Sorted!