Relieved Island hopper

Well, that's September almost over, a month of mostly nice weather, happy and stressful days and a wee holiday.  Of course the referendum was a major part of this month (and endless months before), but at last it's over. The No campaign rescued itself in the last few days, but the Yes side getting 45% tells it's own story. The legacy is a divided nation, but maybe things will improve over time. Hopefully there won't be another one any time soon. Saw someone posting that only Yes voters can now song "flower of Scotland", so that's another good reason for a No vote as lyrics are backward looking and the tune sucks, anyway enough politics!

Was on a wee holiday up north to Oban, Mull, Iona, Staffa, Kerrara, Glencoe and Kinlochleven. The trip was nice, but disater struck a few miles from Crianlarich when the engine overheated and almost caught fire (car had been serviced two days previously) so we continued our journey to Oban by train as the car went into a local garage.

Oban was nice, visited the distillery etc, took a boat to Kerrara for a few hours walking on a gorgeous sunny day. Next day we took ferry to Mull, stayed in a place near to Tobermory and explored by bus. Next stop was the tiny Isle of Staffa and Fingal's cave, almost missed the boat back from here, then onto Iona and back to Mull. After collecting my car and paying a massive bill - and the car isn't even totally fixed- we went on to Kinlochleven for the night. Travelled to Glencoe, Crieff and the Hermitage waterfall on the way home. All in all a good trip, but I am licking my financial wounds for sure! Then I get a note from neighbours that they've arranged a painter for outside of building, another £300.. what's money for, eh?

Anyway my travel companions have now departed and things are back to normal, am on backshift today so will have to set off for work any second, here are a few photos..showing Gylen Castle on Kerrera, Dervaig (I was 6 when I was last here) on Mull, the Isle of Staffa, and waterfall at Hermitage, a couple of scallywags can be seen on this one.



 

Bye bye 140 and tree

Writing this one in a bit of a rush as I'm working today and am sure to forget later on when I return. August is now almost over, a month that was not quite as warm as July and the nights are already seeming to get darker quicker. Aye, the nights are fair drawing in so they are.

I'll remember this month for the last visit I made to my childhood home, it's up for sale now so I went along and took a couple of last photos of the place. Coincidentally, this was on the same day that the tree opposite had to be removed (after about 130 years) due to the criminal damage inflicted on it. Already the criminal responsible has an application for shoddy flats in, and the council planning department have stated that the application cannot by refused solely because of the "unauthorised works" carried out! The smell of corruption is in the air, we'll see how things go.

Been busy in the garden this month, got a few quotes for reroofing my shed, then decided to do the job myself. It took an hour or two and the result, though not brilliant, is decent and should hopefully do the job for a while. Was also up a ladder cutting ivy that is again threatening to attach itself to my roof, again the job halted the ivy's progress rather than solved the issue.

Went out running 5 times this month, the usual route along the coast, it's quite a challenge as coming back has a lot of uphill stretches, sometimes I'm going into work, when on backshifts, totally knackered.  Still, I intend carrying on with this, maybe I should run 2 0r 3 times a week, a plan that is unlikely to happen.

Had an appointment with a financial advisor this month too, discussing the future and how much you should save is very depressing to be honest, no wonder many people just put their heads in the sand! I mean we don't even know what currency we'll be using..that brings me on to the referendum..

Not long now and I'll be glad when it's over, provided the result is right. The activists from the Waffen Yes Yes were on the streets of Kinghorn yesterday and probably didn't receive as warm a welcome than in some other areas. The local pub is solidly No, so not too many arguments there. Can only hope people do not gamble with the future, anyway how can you be "independent" when you want to keep the currency and therefore keep fiscal poicy in the hands of a then foreign government? How can any country in the EU be "independent" when half the laws come from Brussels? Oh, don't get me started..bye for now!

Here a few pics, one featuring Ember the dog on a walk to Aberdour. Oh, was also at the Bavarian beer festival in Kirkcaldy a couple of times last week, great beer!

Lonely old clock

Alas my favourite month is almost finished, the World Cup (hurrah, the Argies lost), Wimbledon, the Open championship are all over, with only a day or two left of the Commonwealth Games, that I haven't been following to be honest.

Statistically this month I have been on five runs along the coast, twice to the gym, once to the pool and the dentist, and have cut the grass for the second time today, exciting stuff eh? I have not calculated the times I've been to the work or the pub, but one only narrowly beats the other. This warm weather is to blame, you start off the day with good intentions, but the heat and humidity had me seeking cold refreshment on more than a few occassions. Maybe I'll head to the pub now actually, have tomorrow and Saturday off afterall and the heat in this flat is unbearable- yeah, windows are open. Still, I'll look back and dream of days like this in a month or two!

Was along at my parent's place in Burntisland today, a hallow shell now, uninhabited and no furniture in it, with one exception, a grandfather clock that I've not been able to sell yet. The house is to be placed on the market any day now, so I thought I'd go along and take photos and make a video. Was also shopping in Kirkcaldy and bought many tins of German lentil soup, it's one of the things, other than the beer, that I miss most about Germany. Booked flights to south west England the other night, plan on hiring a car and doing a wee tour of Devon and Cornwall in autumn, not been there since I've been 12 so it's about time. No other trips planned, but I'll be walking for a week in September and have another week off in mid December and I might go abroad then.

Bloody bluebottle is now annoyingly flying about, how come they can find the narrowest way into a room but cannot find the widest exit? Ok peeps, until August, have a cold beer waiting for me!

Here a couple of photos- of a lovely rainbow over Kinghorn, one of the garden of the house I grew up in, and one of the clock (if you want to buy it, let me know!)


PS 30 years tomorrow since I passed my driving test,  I was a talented child and started primary school next day..

Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten

Last day of June already, a month of good and bad.

Started the month over in Edinburgh at the hospital sleep clinic, they wire you up to machines then expect you to hget a normal nicht's sleep. Well, I did sleep a bit as I had a slight hangover from the previous evening but as for results, haven't had any, I guess no news is good news.

Weather has been quite good so took the opportunity for a wee walk along the coast to Crail, then on to St Andrews by bus, was a glorious day and we discovered the new St Andrews brew pub which was nice. Strange place St Andrews, very historical and nice, famous university, but spending 3-4 years as a student there? Wouldn't be too much to do if you don't play golf.

Have continued my running adventures too, last couple of weeks I ran along the coast to Kirkcaldy rather than getting wet feet at the Black Rock. Have no plans to run a marathon, I barely manage doing 40 minutes at the moment, still at least I'm getting exercise. Am also getting exercise clearing my father's house (he now has a smaller one), there are still some items that will be difficult, like an ancient grandfather clock that I inherited from my grandfather. Was even over in Edinburgh at weekend getting an old stamp album from the 1920s valued, unfortunately it will not make me money though. My wee flat has even more stuff in it than normal now, a lot of old family photos etc. Maybe at some point I can get stuff scanned.

One of the negative things happened opposite my parent's house in Burntisland, the ancient tree there has been under threat from a scumbag developer for years, having had no success going the legal route he took a chainsaw to it and damaged it irreversibly (there are photos of him doing it), at time of writing this the tree still stands , but will have to come down due to safety concerns, the end of the tree's 130 years or so. The bastard has been charged, but the tree is sadly doomed. So should he be.
 
My car also conked out on Wednesday on way to work, the front suspension arm broke, due to corrosion, and I blocked a lane of a busy road in Crossgates, still as the mechanic said, had I been doing 70 on motorway I could have been a goner.

Right, am off to watch the world cup games, until July

Here a few photos from this month, two from a nice day, the other two of not so good days.

Round the rugged rock..

..the ragged rascal ran..and indeed I'm just back in after running to the Black Rock and back. Have done this now 3 times this month and my times are gradually improving, can only be done when the tide is out, I wouldn't fancy swimming in the freezing Firth of Forth!

Well the month of May is almost over already, has been not bad, went for a week trip to Germany and visited many places - Heidelberg, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Cottbus, Berlin etc - so one or two days were mostly driving, but was an enjoyable break from the usual routine. The weather was good too, but then I almost always take the good weather with me. Shame the time went so quick, before I knew it I was back at my desk in Dunfermline.

Work is going ok, things are getting busier and I will be doing my last shift until 9pm today, almost all hours I owed the company are paid back, so things are looking up. I don't need to think about work when I'm not there so in that respect it's good. My mind is already wandering to future adventures, have a week off in September and October and plans are afoot for a long walk with one or other of my old German friends, the actual walk is still to be decided but is likely to be in September, around the time of the independence referendum.  Will be glad to see the back of all this referendum crap, the "yes" campaigners were out in force in my wee town (and many others) in the last week or two (what part of "sod off, I'm voting No" do they not understand?). Posters and leaflets from both sides are everywhere too, Goebbels would be impressed, and you can't turn the TV on without the debate raging on, roll on September when it will all be over, hopefully.

On a more positive note the World Cup is soon to start and am looking forward to that, am hoping an underdog will win it, but feel Brazil are hot favourites, I mean which referee would be brave enough to give a penalty against the host nation in the 89th minute? At least it's being played in a football nation and not some middle eastern desert that has no football tradition at all! Sepp Blatter is the Robert Mugabe of the sport and, like Mugabe, is allowed to stay in power despite all the corruption, rant over.

Another piece of good news is the fact that another Bavarian Beer Festival is to be held in Kirkcaldy in August,  was good last time and I still have my silly Bavarian hat to wear, think I'll give the lederhosen morphsuit a miss though..we'll see!

Would have been my mum's birthday today, wonder what she would have thought of my father's plans to sell the house? In a way I see his point, but it will still be sad to see the house I grew up in sold, we'll see what happens over the next month or two.  Here are two pictures from Stuttgart and one with Oli and Clemens in Mannheim.

Ladder-climbing trimmer

It's foggy as hell here today, but then yesterday started the same and turned out glorious, shame I had to go to work in the afternoon. This week I start late and finish late, it does have the advantage that I don't have to get up early though. Been trying to get things done these mornings but generally I continue watching classic movies, recently I watched, among others, Kes, the Titfield Thunderbolt and Cast Away.

Have not been too lazy though, have been to the gym 3 times this month, which is good going for me! Also was walking on Saturday from Queensferry to Aberdour, my original plan to walk all the way to Kinghorn was hijacked by a few ales in the Cedar Inn. Even got my hair cut during this walk - a place in Inverkeithing I've used a couple of times before. Ended up getting train back here and going for a couple in the Auld Hoose. So that was my exercise.

Plan on another gym visit, probably early on Friday before work. Looking forward to a week off next week, so burning a few calories beforehand might be a good idea. Fear not, dear reader, I shall let you know how my trip went in my next update.

Have also been up a long ladder cutting the ivy back this month, the ivy just grows and grows, and was touching my flat, so I decided to borrow a ladder from Rob in the pub and up I went. Going up is one thing, cutting the bloody ivy with garden shears while not falling off ladder is another! Still, I was moderately successful, will need to trim it again soon though. Even managed to cut grass twice this month, there wasn't even much cat crap either.

Here a couple of photos of this month's exciting adventures, well actually one is of the ruins of St Bridgit's Kirk on the walk to Aberdour, another of a sunny day this month, another of the ivy (from above) and a new erection my neighbours have put up. Their garden is a bit small for it in my opinion.

Lakeland wanderer

My hours at work changed toward the beginning of the month, so I have slightly more free time, or at least I will once I've worked the hours back that I owe. Am starting at 2pm today, so had time to do stuff..only I didn't, watched a film "The inn of sixth happiness" and it went well over 2 hours. Have been watching a lot of classic films in recent times "Laura" and "Gaslight" being two examples and both were excellent. Oh, they don't make them like they used to for sure!

Went for a week down to Ulverston in the Lake District a couple of weeks ago, the weather was surprisingly mostly excellent and the flat was nice. Walked from Ulverson to Coniston on one of the days, was a long scenic walk and my plan is to do the whole of the Cumbria Way at some time in the future. Also visited other towns in the lakes- Keswick, Windermere, Ambleside and Cockermouth - and drove up the very steep Hard Knot Pass. Found time for a wee day trip to Blackpool too but, unfortunately, it was a misty day so wasn't worthwhile going up the tower.

Ulverston, where we were based, is famous for being the birthplace of Stan Laurel, so visited the Laurel and Hardy Museum, followed by a meal in the Stan Laurel Inn. The other pubs were quite good too, especially the Mill, the Swan, and Old Friends.  Old Friends had a pub quiz which we didn't win, but we met Tommy the Tortoise who kept himself warm by the fire. Actually Tommy is a girl but the owners kept the name, afterall she is about 55 years old and used to it!

The month of April is almost with us, no major plans other than the usual, but hopefully will manage another walk, though will be working on one or two weekends. Here are a few photos: Laurel and Hardy statue, a knackered Alan on the way to Coniston, the house where Stan Laurel was born, and Tommy Tortoise.



 

Sentimental walking hoarder

Have a day off today and the sun is shining into my eyes as I write this, makes a change after all the miserable weather we've been having. Had intended to go to Arrochar and climb/walk up the Cobbler but the forecast was so bad I postponed the idea. Have been walking this month though, a couple of times along to Aberdour, so no massive distance, but will be doing longer stretches in the next few weeks. Also walked along to Kirkcaldy to do some shopping in the new Morrisons supermarket there, then walked back along the coast with my shopping as a picture here shows.

Workwise things are ok, am changing hours soon so will have slightly more free time, so that's good. It's also good that I can forget all about work when I'm not there. Have a week off after next week, will head down to England for relaxation, walking, and a few real ales I'm sure, am in holiday mode already, am ticking the days off until then. Have an appointment at an Edinburgh hospital before then, nothing major, but it's something I could do without.

Been along at my Dad's house a couple of times, he wants a lot of things cleared out, not furniture, just the "junk". He has moved on with his life and has a new romantic interest, good for him. My mum, like me, was a bit of a hoarder, and I don't like to see things thrown out, especially photos and sentimental stuff, so I've loads of  photos etc in the flat now. If I get the scanner working I'll post some of them here.

Not many plans for this weekend as I'm working on Saturday, will no doubt be visiting the Auld Hoose though, it's good having a good pub on your doorstep! Shane they don't sell Schlenkerla smoked wheat beer though, am having that bottle in the picture right now. In the other photo the seals can be seen.

Unfit Ember onesie walker

So January has only a couple of hours to go, it's not a month I'll look back and say "wow, what a month!" about. I had intended doing the Looney Dook on 1 Jan but it was too soon after my hospital visit, I'll do it next year, no excuses.

Been working today, only got in at 8.30, and I'm working tomorrow too,  I work one Saturday in every four, but who knows how things might change at work, would ideally like a mid-week day off now and then so I can do things and maybe even get to the gym again, my work-life balance isn't right at the moment.

I did have yesterday off and walked along to Kirkcaldy but my one real day of exercise was a couple of weeks ago when I took Kath's dog Ember over the Binn, through Burntisland, and on to Aberdour and the dog-friendly Cedar Inn. Felt stiffness in my legs for about a week afterward, so just goes to show how unfit I've become. Things will have to change!

Just had my birthday, an unremarkable day as I was working until 8pm, though I did have a nice Tomatin and Ardbeg in the Auld Hoose, wearing a onesie, when I finished. It's a bit of a cliche but years just whizz by. Plan a bit of hill walking in a week or two, will tell you later. Also planned a couple of wee holidays to Lake District and to europe, it's nice having something to look forward to in these dreich dark days.

Here are photos of me in a onesie on my birthday (looking even fatter than what I am), with Ember above Burntisland, and a badly taken photo with BePo,who kindly bought me a few nice German beers for my birthday, cheers!

Bye bye at last 2013

Started month off with another trip to Edinburgh, the Christmas market there is bigger than previously but very expensive, still, I partook of a mulled wine or two and a £4 Bratwurst. Obviously I bought a couple of small presents, including a bottle of Glenfarclas (wonder who that was for..).

I had the first week of the month off actually but didn't travel anywhere, there had been a bug going around at work and it chose to get me just as I had free time, most of the week was spent on sofa watching numerous downloaded movies from the golden age of Hollywood - a lot of my 2TB harddrive is taken up by them- and playing hidden object PC games that are becoming quite an obsession.

The following two weeks were spent not doing much at work, it has been a quiet time but judging by yesterday things are starting to get busy again, going in today for what will probably be a short shift, then I can prepare for tonight's new year celebration, probably in the pub. Will be glad to see this year gone, even Christmas was the worst ever due to a variety of reasons, and petty "family" politics, still at least 3 hours of Christmas day were good- at the raffle in the Auld Hoose. Didn't win much, just 6 beers and a bottle of rose, was a good laugh though. Then I went down to mine and downed a bottle of champagne.

Adding to my non-festive feeling was a hospital appointment on the 29th and had to starve myself for a day and a half and drink the most god awful stuff I wouldn't wish on anyone. I got through it though, glad it's behind me.  So come on 2014, let's be having you! Here a couple of photos, one at Xmas market, the other with Davie specs in pub.

PS hope Schumacher survives his head injury, he made F1 watchable back then and I always wanted him to lose, not this time though. 

Capital Punishment

This month started off with a night in the capital Edinburgh, courtesy of my home insurance company, so off we went and a good time was had by all. Unfortunately the mussels and oysters had a wicked effect that lasted a few days..
  
A few days later and it was back to Edinburgh again, this time to see Dame Edna on her farewell tour, had tickets near the front but luckily I wasn't called up onto the stage like a couple near me were! About 3 days later it was off to Edinburgh for a third time, this time for a music concert in the HMV Picture House. Shame this was on a Sunday though, as I always had the worry of missing last train - it goes about 10.30 from the so-called world city, a tad too early in my opinion.

Rest of the month didn't feature Edinburgh, work is going ok but things are very quiet, it means the days drag on forever, especially if on backshift. These dark mornings and early evenings are also affecting my budgies, they are not too lively when there is no light so sometimes I don't see them flying about at all. They are loud as hell today though, driving me insane they are!

Just back from a night in Lundin Links, a wee treat as I have this coming week off. Had a few good ales in the Railway Inn and a meal in the Crusoe in Lower Largo. Hopefully I'll not waste the week completely like I did last time I had a week off, maybe I'll head to Edinburgh yet again to see what the Xmas market is like. Also have other  mundane things to sort out and maybe I'll look along to the new Morrisons that will open on Monday.  

Have no major Xmas plans, though I'll have to show face in the Auld Hoose to see if I've won anything in the raffle. Whether I'll see any of the family at that time remains to be seen. What does "family" mean now?

Photos show me looking into very dirty mirror on day of Hendy's funeral, a deadly but tasty dish of mussels, Bea outside the Railway Inn in Lower Largo, and my kids Robbie and Stasi.

Always your friend...

I know this month still has a week to run, plan doing a spooky walk at halloween, it's a tradition, but  have no other major plans. Am off this week and had planned a massive tidy-up, but I'm a lazy bastard and prefer the Australian Shiraz I've just bought in the local co-op, bloody good one too.

I really wish the weather had been typically Scottish this week, instead I've had the sun beating in through the windows, windows I can't open due to the budgies flying around, and they are loud as hell! Well, they're locked in their cage now, but their protest squaking is hardly even drowned out by blasting out loud heavy metal. They are a couple of spoiled prima donnas to be sure!

Had a nice wee trip over to France at start of month, a work-related trip with very little work involved, so can't complain. Was near to Paris but didn't have time to see the sites in the city itself, a place I've only been twice to before, and last time was over 20 years ago. There's always next time. Anyway, saw a couple of nice French towns and a thought-provoking  First World War graveyard that we suddenly discovered by the side of a road we were travelling. Each headstone a tragedy for those who were left behind.

Tragedy also occured nearer to home two weeks ago when my friend from my schooldays Graeme "Hendy" Henderson suddenly died. Hendy and I had a lot of adventures over the years, including a never-to-be-repeated legendary drinking day/night in Edinburgh. We may have had a fall out, and didn't communicate for a while, but we had renewed our friendship with a couple of pub visits this year and I was looking forward to our next night out. He was perhaps one of the most interesting and gracious people I knew, taken much too young.

Photos show my lodge in France, a war cemetry, a curious french cat in Pierrefonds, and the late Hendy.

PS Hendy sent a couple of quite moving texts after the death of my mum (he was the only friend of mine who had the nerve to address her by her first name). The last three words of one of those texts is the title of this post.  I'll try to be more upbeat next time.

Jerry Derry Froggie

Another month almost gone and the last days of reasonably good weather are with us, it's sure to turn dreich and horrible before too long. Been on a couple of trips recently and there's another work-related one to come on Wednesday.

Was over in Germany for a few days at end of last month, hired a car and travelled to quite a few places including Heidelberg, Nuremberg, Potsdam and Berlin (yet again). As always with days off, the time went far too quickly and there was lots of places I'd like to have gone to, but didn't have time for, maybe next time, eh?  No Oktoberfest for me this year though, but did fit in a wee trip to Derry/Londonderry (a city with two names depending on your political position), went over there a couple of days ago and arrived back yesterday so the visit was brief but enjoyable. The weather was excellent too! Went to all the major sites, walked the historic city walls, and even had a couple of pints in the Bogside area, something I might not have done a few years ago.

Next trip is on Wednesday, going to France on a work-related trip, but I suspect serious amounts of eating and drinking will be involved, though I doubt I'll be able to keep up with my travel companions, am almost a pipe and slippers man now and am very rarely out in pubs at night and I can't remember the last time I went clubbing, lets face it the music they play there is crap anyway. Oohh, I am sounding middle-aged!

My budgies are doing fine, they are out of their cage more often than not, but are still a bit wary, only allowing themselves to be touched when tired.  Have today and tomorrow off, then it's France til Friday, so wont see much of the office this week.

Went to the gym for the first time in ages today and I struggled, but at least I didn't fall off the treadmill as I did on my last visit! See you in October!

Photos show me at the Luitpold war memorial, that played a starring role in a certain propaganda film of the distant past, the others are a peace monument, Free Derry Corner in the Bogside, and me guarding old Derry's walls.

Talisker Razor Terror

Buying a razor/clipper to keep what's left of my luxurious full head of hair neat and tidy was a mistake, tried a wee trim after a glass of Talisker or two, a total disaster! I luckily found a barber next day who covered the worst of the damage, though I'm looking a bit like Heinrich Himmler now!

Am writing just a few words today because I'm off on a wee trip tomorrow and, well I'll tell you about it later.

Went to my first gay wedding a couple of weeks ago- well the reception anyway and I didn't have far to go, just up the road to the local restaurant. Most of the pub high society were there so it went off well. Other than that I've been doing the usual stuff, looking after my "kids" and going to work on various day and back shifts. Had a bit of a cold at the time of the wedding, was walking around greeting people like a constipated dalek, but I'm more or less back to normal now.

Have to dash now, still load to sort out and not much time,  bis bald!

Here a photo of the happy couple and of the new Morrisons
supermarket along the coast that is being built (thought you'd be excited).

The cute, the mad, and the crusty

Twenty past ten at night, it's gone dark and I'm very tired. Only got in from work about an hour and a half ago, am doing the back shift and it doesn't suit my body clock at all.  I like to get up early and finish early, no saucy pun intended.

July has gone quite quick and it was certainly warm, too warm for me for sure. Been baking hot here at home but when you've free-range budgies flying about the windows can't be opened much. On the rare occassions they are in their cage I open the windows wide. The budgies are spoilt at bit,they have developed a taste for apples and they go mad if they don't get out the cage.

Spent the month watching sport- tennis and golf being the traditional ones for me in July, but that's all past now and August is nearly upon us. Was in Edinburgh at Real Mary King's Close under the Royal Mile in Edinburgh at weekend, was quite good. Then, of course, I sampled a few brews as tradition dictates!

Last Thursday I thought I'd go to the gym as I'd been a lazy sod for a month or so, my reunion with the treadmill did not go well however, I managed to fall off the damned thing and suffered burns to wrist and leg! Old crusty wrist will have to be more careful in future, maybe lifting pints in the Auld Hoose is a better idea..

Looked in at Kath's place a couple of times recently, they now have a cute little doggie! At least I'll not have to get up during the night to take my budgies a walk :-)

Here are photos of the cute dog, the mad birds and me with a scowl on my pus (my usual inane grin being frowned upon by the passport authorities..)