Andrew's new clothes

Well not really but Santa kinda brought some new clothes in the form of a new running shoe . . . see I went to sleep one night and then I suddenly knew that in order to get my act together for the Maggies's Monster Challenge - instead of just walking and cycling I needed to start running . . . putting the cart before the horse - well no I don't really think so . . . it will definitely help and should build stamina and muscle much quicker than just walking . . . to be honest I am going to do a bit of both to start off with as I have not done anything for months and months . . . .

What can I say about the shoes - well once again went to sleep and just knew these were the shoes for me . . . good thing Santa knew that as well - Hey!

This website probably says it all . . . .

Reebok - Zigtech

Been out . . . . wait for it . . . 2 nights in a row - sharp intake of breath - yes 2 nights in a row . . .LOL - will take many more to get me anywhere near ready - we are planning a couple of overnight walks on the actual route - just quite a mission to get there & back but we will set out from Fort Augustus early Sat morning and arrive Inverness Sunday before lunch sometime - well that is the plan . . . .

That long since my last posting . . .

Wow that is shocking - 2009 - Bali - Wow - how come 2010 South Africa World Cup never got a look in . . .might have to address that - at the very least . . .

Well here we are 2011 has only just dawned - today 4 Jan was my first day back at work . . . lots of changes happening there as well . . . Team Leader resigned today - 1 month notice and new Team Leader starts tomorrow - plus both other team members will leave one next week - she is pregnant & the other is only partially involved with our work stream - we have two new guys who have just started & myself - I'll be the person with the most knowledge - there is a month to hand over so should all be fine . . . but interesting and challenging times ahead . . .

What is on the cards for the year . . . well in no particular order I'd list the following:

• House - my own place purchase
  
• Happiness - in general - what's the point if your not happy??
  
• Family - keeping close - making an effort - reaching out
  
• Friends - broadening and maintaining
  
• Love - passion in what I do - in a relationship - sharing with someone special
  
• Direction - where am I going?? what do I really want to do with my life - my time here on the planet??
  

A mouthful to say the least - but something I want to try and keep an eye on during the course of the year and not just slip into existence . . .

I will be going to New Zealand sometime this year - so really looking forward to that - something to plan for and cherish - will keep me going during the year - there's my direction LOL

Also more short term I have in my foolishness agreed to take part in Maggies Monster Challenge again - so I need to start training again - I was out tonight for the first time walked just over 2 miles - went fine - need to a) makes sure I am out there regularly - come rain or shine (ain't going to be much of that at them moment - and quite quickly start ratcheting up the distances . . . will also need to start cycling again as well . . . . It is all for a good cause so I am looking forward to it - achieved silver last year and Craig & I are now going for Gold with Hazel & Yvonne going for bronze in their first year . . . . they may well want to return again next year - Hazel (Craig's wife) & Yvonne were part of the support team last year -so they have a fair idea of what is involved . . . .

Our fund raising page - we've only just started a long way to go yet . . .

http://www.justgiving.com/albaaqua2monsters

Bali - General

A taste of Bali (again wide angle lens . . . you can click on the link at the bottom to get a better perspective . . .)




Bali 2009

Sam's Wedding

A wee taster of the wedding - official photo's still some way off yet . . . (my camera has a wide angle lens - so tends to cut off a bit on the side - not always the bit you expect . . lol - you can always click on the link beneath the presentation.)



Wedding-Bali

Bali

Well here I am sitting at Glasgow airport - destination Denapasar Bali - off for three weeks - Holiday +

Sam & Hud are to be married on 2 June in Ubud Bali. Cathy & I set off this morning and as with all journeys it has gone without its mishaps already - considering we have only just arrived at the airport - we are not doing too badly. What has happened well I've forgotten my suitcase locks key and Cathy in her wisdom (actually my fault) decided to use my suitcase and I used hers - the wheels seems to have come off the suitcase. She has left already - we are travelling independently of each other and she booked from London nopt Glasgow - so her luggage is not going straight through - she has to grab it and run at Heathrow . . . mine I do not see until my arrival . . .she had me in stitches - I know I shouldn't laugh but the case was hopping along and then she has to rush when she arrives - I'm sure (and in fact hope) all will go well . . .

So Sam's wedding . . . a big event - Jessila and Arran coming over - 25 guests in all . . working on my speech (a long way to go yet) - I am really looking forward to it all and the time in the sun and the water . . . will be a watershed period for Cathy & I - see how we get on etc., - may find we have different approaches to life in general - who knows?

We have a week before and then a week after the wedding basically . . .

I am still with my utility company although I think the writing may be non the wall - will have to evaluate when I come back - at least 2 weeks work left on contract - and hoping for at least another short extension . . . abd then the job of my life!!! Lol . . . I don't know what it is yet . . . but it is just around the corner - I think . . . lol

All for now - I am sitting in the departure lounge . . . time to go . . the adventure begins!

Ankle = Clean Bill of Health

Well Tuesday morning was agony - could hardly put any weight on my right foot - I'd already decided I needed to have my ankle checked out - phoned my doctor - OK only seen him twice since been in Scotland - but I am registered with him Dr McMasters - he is on holiday - his stand in could only see me on Wednesday - so I made appointment or 09h15 - but I was in agony so I phoned NHS 24 in Scotland - and they advised me that I could go to the Royal Alexandria Hospital - bit of a concern really that my local hospital might not have the facilities to deal with a sprained ankle - good heavens what if something serious was wrong - now this is what NHS 24 told me - I'm not making this up - they advised me not to go to Vale of Leven hospital but rather Royal Alexandria . . .

Didn't know where it was - and between you & I it was a wee bit of a strain on the foot - driving that is - only have praise for the hospital though - I took a book and water and a couple of necessities along as I thought its going to be a long process - all n all I don't think I was int the hospital for more than an hour and a half - the Doctor was impressed that I was so well prepared for the long wait which did not really materialise - anyway I was examined sent for x-rays just to meake sure - came up with clean bill of health - I was impressed they took the trouble to show me the x-rays and the only signs of anything was on the side that I have no pain - an old injury perhaps??

I was a offered a zimmer / crutches / a walking stick - I took the walking stick option - came home had something to eat and and ended up in bed and asleep for 8 hours - when I woke up I felt much better and my foot even felt a lot better . . . hope it heals quickly . . . I've to go back in two weeks time . . .

cheers for now
PS - start work on Monday

Another fall . . .

Whoops! Just climbed out of my car - my neighbour arrived at the same time - the two of us were walking next to each other approaching the front door - me limping along and he commented on how bad the weather is and has been to which I replied - well you know why . . . - and as I said it my sore foot hit the bottom of the stairs going down towards the front door - so it was pushing forward - well it hit a patch of mud - and away it went - groceries me and my sentence were all left in mid-air for a few seconds - I landed on my bum - everything went flying (groceries) - I think my neighbour got quite a fright - I was still recovering and he was already picking everything up for me and putting it back in my box . . . I managed to finish my sentence - . . . why bears hibernate . . . he opened the door for me and ushered me in insisting I go first - keeping an eye on me . . .

Something in the air . . . comes in three's ???? - I hope not - enough fun thank you very much . . . .

Week Six - Foot Bridge

For some or other reason I decided to walk onto Erskine Bridge – across the river Clyde to take some photos about 600 feet above the river . . . (if you keeping hitting the plus sign until you get the C for Erskine Bridge - that was basically where I took my photo's from . . .


View Larger Map

Of all the days but I decided I can't just show clear weather photo's of Scotland as that is (as we know) not entirely true . . . Lol – so in the pouring rain – not knowing how to get on to the bridge by foot I parked my car and set off – ended up running across the highway (A82)– for which I am sure there is probably a fine – then I saw there was a steep embankment which was a shortcut – well being the 8 year old that I am – I set off down the embankment — and as I continued I started to let my momentum take me . . . A wet slippery slope – a pair of takkies on – we know where this is going don't we – my left foot lost its footing and just carried on – would not have been a problem had the right foot come along with it – but it decided to stay where it was and then also attempted to stop the ever increasing downward spiral – this it done by turning over itself right on the ankle – and I swear I heard something snap . . .???? Ended up on my belly just as a car was coming along too . . . I was up like a shot nothing wrong with me – hoping stupidly no one had seen my attempts at being an eight year old again . . .lol – of course I was limping after that but was determined to finish my mission . . . Will let you know when links are up – was it all worth it . . . It was an adventure – foot / ankle warm and throbbing now - testimony to the adventure. . .

Had an interesting call from my previous employer - nothing finalised yet - but tentatively they have asked whether I am able and interested in coming back to work . . .so here's holding thumbs that we can finalise this as soon as . . .

Eddie Reader @ Royal Concert Hall

Work in progress . . . photo taken at concert - not the best -

Took Maureen, my sister, to the Royal Concert Hall to see Eddie Reader as she has been a fan for many years - bought her the latest CD so she can remember the evening - she played a large portion of new material from the new CD - Love is the Way - I think? Anyway - Eddie started with Dragonfly and something else before she led into New York City which was the Eddie Reader I know and it was all go from there for me . . . a brilliant mix of old and new and few Burns numbers in between . . . what a fine vocie she has and her Irish accordion player and lead guitarist are both sublime in each of their instruments

Something Old


Somethign New
Eddie's MySpace profile

At her best . . Allelujah

Whoops - Week 4 & 5

My how the time flies by . . . went for an interview - they did say we'll let you know by the weekend - still not heard anything so not looking too good - I'd no idea it was going to drag on like this - thought I'd be snapped up . . . lol - Need to reassess and get cracking - economy looking like it is going to go into meltdown . . . You just don't know what your going to hear today - RBS & HBOS losing 40% of their value in a day??? Now RBS CEO to resign tomorrow because of how much money they need to borrow from this government bail out now ordinary companies share values dropping as well . . . scary.

Enough doom and gloom though - the markets will do what they want and have to do - you & I will carry on though - yes things might get a bit tougher but not having lots of money in the bank or in shares - does not really have the impact it might - I think were going to see major shifts - whether we will ever really hear the true story of what is going on - I doubt it - when Bush came into power (I couldn't resist) the US had a surplus look at them now . . . ??? GO Obama go!

Went to see Drever; McCusker & Woomble - at the old Fruitmarket - City Hall - was a great concert - June Talbot was the supporting act also very good and of course Eddie Reader made a guest appearance - on the way to the concert and elderly couple asked me if I knew where the City Halls were and I just said Ah McCusker - follow me - I saw them exchanging glances and on the way we got talking and it turns out htat they were John McCusker's parents . . .lol - a small world - is it not.

Went to see a couple of movies - Mutant Chronicles - avoid like the plague; City of Embers - which I enjoyed - more of a kiddies film - but I enjoyed it - Bill Murray is the corrupt mayor and Tim Robbins is the one kids father . . . then I went to see Taken - Liam Neeson turns into James Bond when his 17 year old daughter is kidnapped . . . kind of James Bond / Bourne etc., - bodies everywhere . . .

Otherwise a wee bit quiet - heard from a friend, Helen, in South Africa and she has come up with an interesting business opportunity which I will be exploring - and it might just be a winner . . . I think it is worth getting into - so that might keep me busy whilst not gainfully employed . . . we'll see.

Couple of interesting things I came across this week -

1. Widgipedia Not sure what widgets are read this article
   
2. The last page (tongue in cheek)
   
3. newspaper front pages
   
4. Make this your new home page?
   

Enjoy!

Cameron's speech - Tory Conference

Well I have just sat through David Cameron's speech.

Let me start off by saying I am not a Tory party supporter - so it is not a case of whatever Cameron says is gospel . . . I am trying to look at it objectively - if that is at all possible - yes you will have seen my rant yesterday - so I need to also say - for the record I do not support Gordon Brown and Labour either . . .

Firstly what a magnificent setting - a concert hall - and it was packed to the rafters - this allowed him to drop his first gag about this party all playing the same tune.
David Cameron speaking at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham today. Photograph: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

On face value - I have to say he looks the part - natural / charismatic / credible . . he even seems to have lost any of that chubbiness he had at one stage.

He spoke in a slow and measured manner - he was able on many occasions to bring in examples of real people - a kid who just turned 18 in Afghanistan / a man who lost his wife in an NHS hospital / a woman who lost her husband because he stood up to a group of kids / a man who after 20 years was left in tears because he was losing his business . . . and many more - not just alluding to but producing actual examples - increasing the impact and credibility and then going on to link these examples to failures within the Labour party and Gordon Brown . . it was a sustained attack on Gordon Brown cleverly and subtly brought across. He even wove in the Gurkha victory from the day before and pleaded with Labour to allow these heroes who have fought so long for the UK to allow them this right that they have won to settle in the UK - asking Labour not to appeal this verdict but to give them the honour they deserve. This is clever - because it puts his party on the side of what is right - what is honourable . . .

There was a swipe at Blair - who had said that we now live in a 24hr world - Cameron's reply to this was we are a country not a television station.

His whole speech one can argue was directed at Brown and his assertions that this is no time for a novice - meaning Cameron (although this has been debated as to who he actually meant) - Cameron's argument is simply that we do not need more of the same we need change and that experience is always the excuse of the incumbent. If this was really the case we would never change government (he said he would stop this analogy - as there were balconies in the concert hall - this brought the house down). Cameron went on to say the risk is not change but rather sticking with what you've got and just hoping that it will somehow change for the better. He then stated that the existing experience is what actually caused many of the problems and that they refuse to question and admit this because to do so would be to admit they (the Labour party) had got it wrong.

Not really a lot of headline catchers - things have not already been mentioned - but a good solid performance and in my opinion much much better than Gordon Brown's speech (which was probably his best yet) and he just looks more of the statesman to me.

Would I vote for him - hmmm! I am more of a Lib Dem man - but with Westminster I may have to see what the odds are and vote differently more strategically . . . remember we have our own parliament here in Scotland - so things are very different - Scottish Nationalist Party - now are in the majority in the Scottish parliament - and we voted last year if I am not mistaken - Labour party at all time low in support - a Glasgow East seat where they previously had 15 000+ majority - in other words you could not get a safer seat was lost to the Scottish Nationalist Party = which means that NO seats are safe. (Yes SNP only won by a few hundred - but just look at the % swing!)

Brown will hang on for his full term - too scared to call a general election until I think 2011 and that will then herald the beginning of the Tory era.

David's hairstyles . . . lol

The feet of Conservative leader David Cameron, and his wife Samantha, after delivering his keynote speech at the Conservative party annual conference. Photograph: Stephen Hird/Reuters


Only drawback perhaps was his wife's almost reluctant participation at the end - he went to invite her on stage with him - she did not look comfortable - I know she is reluctant to be a stage prop for him . . . . but she did not look at all comfortable???? He had made a joke - during the speech of knowing entrepreneurs - after all he goes to bed with one every evening . . . Samantha his wife. Did she know something we did not???

Deposits Guarenteed - not the issue!

So the Irish Government has now guaranteed all deposits - of course they have because this is the one commodity that they need cash . . . this is what the whole crisis is about ????? So next the UK government Brown and Co., - namely yon guy with the white hair but black eyebrows (what's that about . . . lol) will do the same - wow! am I supposed to be impressed here.

In my mind the real question here are investments - not cash in the bank - I should have this problem - having £35 000 in every bank . . . What is being done about people who have invested money in the myth of making money for their pension - TOUGH! seems to be the answer because no one is even looking at that side of things . . . even if they vote in America to give the $700 Billion dollars . . . exactly what is it to be used for - what are the tangible benefits going to be to the man in the street . . . access to money for a loan / extended credit / a mortgage . . . wait a minute are these not all the things that caused the problem in the first place . . .

Is the actual problem not that Brown / Bush et al - lived and surfed on the credit wave - every Tom, Dick & Harry were able to access almost limitless amounts of debt and when they were up to their eyeballs in it - guess what the banks threw more in their direction . . . Brown being the expert in the area - could not see this coming . . . Oh yes - he could but - like the rest of us he did not want to admit it NO . . . so now he (and everyone else . . .) will have us believe that NO one could have foreseen this . . . . what nonsense - if you (and I am sure a lot of you have look after your own pennies) had run your household finances the way he has run this country - guess what - no one would have sympathy for you . . . . your in a high flying job and what do you do you spend everything you earn - but that is not the worst of it . . . you then go beyond that - because that is not even enough for you - you take out massive loans to fund additional spending . . . you getting an inkling of how ridiculous his handling of the economy was / is ????? And the only thing that helped him and allowed him to perpetuate this whole lie was an over-heated house market . . . Let me tell you what I think - what went un-said over the last 10 years was that he / they the Labour party would have done anything to make sure that set of conditions carried on . . . Did that protect the citizens of this country - UK house prices rose by more than any other European country . . . did the standard of living go hand in hand with this though???? No I don't think so . . . and what about the level of the UK's indebtedness i.e. how much they have borrowed to implement their policies - I don't have the figures - but it is atrocious that the UK and its economy should be at the same level as countries like Egypt . . . world leaders . . . yes on the negative side - another sign of the so-called Brown legacy.

Where to from here . . . you just don't know . . . what will happen the US will get their monopoly money amount sometime on Thursday . . . lets see what Cameron has to say in his speech although he seems to have taken a conciliatory approach now i.e. united we stand . . . managed to get a few mentions on the news otherwise I think the Tory conference may have been all but swallowed by events as they unfold . . .

Is it any wonder the elections are so close in the US - they are now both supporting the bail-out bill . . . .

I think I'd like to see a head to head debate on TV like the US - Cameron / Brown / Clegg . . .

OK that's my rant for the evening . . . - let me see what my two banks are up to Northern Rock & Bradford and Bingley . . . may have some more added to my (tax-payers) portfolio before the week is out . . . not that anyone asked my opinion - what a joy to live in a true democracy!!!!! What a joke!

Competition for Fusion Man???

Hey saw this on Wired - looks like Fusion Man has some competition????

Week Three

Lets not forget Fusion Man who flew across the English Channel - OK he was dropped out of an airplane - but - that was in France he then flew across the channel under his own steam - so to speak - took him all of 10 minutes - he had a fire proof suit on and jet engines on each wing - his only means of steering was body movement . . . he is a braver man than I . . . (picture courtesy of Alastair Grant /AP - guardian web site)


Wow! Talk about economic melt down ... all doom and gloom - first its 9/11 and its death and destruction - terrorists beneath and behind everything unturned stone you can think of - i.e. buying illegal copies of DVD's and CD's are tantamount to funding terrorism - of course its is difficult to prove that somewhere someone involved in illegal trading of goods might well be involved in something like this but at the end of the day I just wonder what percentage of this can be linked to something like terrorism. Now my argument is not PRO-illegal copies and PRO-pirating NO - what I think contributes towards this are the exorbitant prices charged for goods - how much does it cost and what is a reasonable mark-up that is fair enough but when people start getting greedy - charging high prices they create a market . . . it the old Reaganomics argument - lower overall taxes - and make them simple - to the extent that companies / individuals will just pay rather than higher fancy accountants to find loopholes not to pay . . . it is simpler . . . a simplistic approach!

So now it is mortgages / and bad debt / the claim now is no one should have lent to these people . . . and everything points to the US of A . . . all banks seemed to be linked and all are over-extended to this debt . . . the UK seems to lag the US by a factor of about 3 to 6 months so does this mean we are in for more heavy seas . . . Economics professors must be in demand to try and explain what in heaven's name is going on . . . reminds me of an old Chicago song "Does anyone really know what time of day it is?"

It is all very surreal - watch the news lets see who is going to go bust next??? And if these big banks can't make it what about some of the smaller countries - Lesotho; Angola; Mozambique not to mention Zimbabwe perhaps they were responsible . . .or what about the said CERN - LHC was it not all caused by this experiment in Switzerland . . . makes you think . . .does it not - do we really know anything other than what is happening right now . . . .???? I'll be getting my white jacket soon if I keep this thread going . . . .

Still unemployed - so I phone my credit card because I have this payment cover insurance - I phoned them after university and they just said SORRY you have to be working for at least 6 months prior to making a claim . . . so I thought I was ready for them this time . . . boy was I wrong! - she just wanted to ask me a few questions (Oh-oh) - the word permanent came up - I asked her to define what she meant - something about you can only claim if you have been on fixed term contract and working for more than 12 months and they have attempted to renewed it once . . . and then something else about 24 months . . . well I can tell you my Blood pressure was about to go through the roof - I'm like WHAT! . . . after a long discussion they have decided they will send out the claim form and evaluate it when I fill it in and return it to them . . . the key is whether I knew I was going to finish off on a specific date or not????? HELLO a fixed term contract??? - what does that mean ???? . .. not that it is OK but if I thought / had reason to believe - I was going to be offered another contract even although I knew when it was going to finish . . . that's OK - AHA! but if I knew I was going to finish on such and such a date . . . . well then I can't claim ??????? Clear as mud to you - I hope - I'm still confused - but I know what I am going to tell them . . . . trouble is my ex company has to fill it in as well . . . and they might just not see it the same way as I do . . . hmmm - if you see what I mean . . . I went for 3 months and ended up working 9 . . . would you not think it would just carry on then as well - they were still busy - there were things still being released which meant more \Training still to be done - I was bumping into people telling them I'm leaving and the people would say - if they let you go - you'll be back in two weeks to do the Training on XY & Z ???? . . . (I might just add that none of these exclusions were ever mentioned when this policy was sold to me . . . ironically while I am hold a voice keeps booming in my ear "Take out payment protection - for when you are in difficult times" and guess what . . . that is all it says ...

Enough it is a long weekend here in Glasgow . . . have a good one - enjoy yourselves!

Week Two

Well I had hoped things might move somewhat quicker than this - still searching for a position . . . have applied for a number of suitable jobs - one turned out to be in Edinburgh - and salary was very low - would not have been viable to commute - spend £400+ for a monthly train ticket - so that was out - I withdrew myself from another position in Edinburgh as well . . . something really interesting in Glasgow and I have been to discuss with the employment agency and my name will be forwarded to the company for their approval now - we will see how this progresses . . . as I say it looks very interesting.

Fiona, my niece, it was her Birthday on Friday and she invited us up for dinner - sat around and had a good blether - most of the entertainment was provided by Rosario who being only two was up and saw us off at 00h30 . . he has also developed a liking for beer . . . he thought the froth was milk . . actually he doesn't like at all really - you could see him shudder when he tasted it . . .

Saturday evening was Phil & Emma's wedding reception which was held at the City Hall - it was lovely - champagne and then into the hall and they had a band - who were very good - quite a wide variety and range - met Phil's Mom & Dad - very nice - had a beer with his Dad and his Mom came up to me and introduced herself . . . .Some of the Dublin crew Mat and Cedrig were there . . .also quite a few people who were at school with Phil . . . anyway a great evening . . . ended up driving into Glasgow - and leaving the car there overnight (in a car park) - caught the night bus 66 home - well as far as Dalmuir and then a taxi - which was £15 from Dalmuir . . . . - only picked my car up after 20h00 the next day - met Valerie for coffee @ Waterstones and then went to Cineworld (went to see Pineapple Express - a Ben Stiller / Adam Sandler type movie) car only cost £5 - for 24 hours +

Let us see what next week brings . . .

week One

Well I've dusted off the old CV - updated it - tweaked it a little and getting it to where it should be . . . had it where I thought it should be and then noticed a mistake with the dates . . . unacceptable - no wonder I was unsuccessful with a few positions that I applied for - well that's behind us . . . also working on an on-line version of the CV - which theoretically is the answer - as it will mean updating that and then just pointing towards that all the time - I think it also has a down loadable version for those applications that want a paper CV. Some agencies only want the i-profile web based CV probably suits them the way it is put together and might then be easier to search - not sure - but it does make sense.

Wow they are really punting New Zealand as a holiday destination www.newzealand.com - I must the excerpts they show looks absolutely stunning. Speaking of which All Blacks won the Tri-Nations with a narrow victory over the Wannabees (Australia) Saturday in Australia.

Slick

Vox Motus on at the Tron theatre

Direct from its sell-out run at this year's Edinburgh Fringe, Vox Motus and the Tron Theatre are delighted to invite you to Slick. This surreal comedy is gushing with humour as black as the fuel wee Malcom Biggar discovers one day in his family toilet. And when word gets out to the landlord, who just happens to also be the neighbourhood pervert, the scene is set for a comedy that's as savage and poignant as it is hilarious.

Slick won a coveted Fringe First Award when it debuted in Edinburgh this month and it's easy to see why. Performed by a five brilliant young actors, it is relentlessly inventive and brilliant in its staging and boasts a laugh out loud script. Filthy, funny and feted, don't miss your opportunity to catch this dynamic award-winning comedy.

Please note that Slick is not recommended for those of a sensitive disposition! (Recommended 16 yrs +)

Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be

I went along to the Royal Concert Hall last night - I had bought an Emmylou Harris ticket on the spur of the moment - on a whim really - I can't really say I am a big fan - I have enjoyed her music in passing over the years - we are talking way back now 'Elite Hotel' 'Luxury Liner' 'Pieces of the Sky' and 'Blue Kentucky Girl' - showing my age now . . . anyway the last real thing I can say I listened to was her collaboration with Mark Knopfler 'Real Live Roadrunning' which I was not overly impressed by, however, I went with an open mind hoping that it would at least be a pleasant evening . . .

The supporting act was rousing enough - it is only there to warm us all up for the main act - she is a song-writer herself and I thought quite an accomplished one at that - she had her son on guitar supporting her and husband on bass - they were both adequate, however, the son attempted to play a number of solo's and in my opinion was not quite ready or at that level yet - his Mom obviously thrilled to bits asked us to applaud him - I think it says it all that she had to ask - as it was not spontaneously forthcoming . . .

Emmylou came on and within a very short space of time I realised just what a great voice she has - both powerful and delicate at the same time - I soon warmed to her and the band as they slipped between old and new - a full backup band of Phil Madeira on keyboards / accordion / rhythm guitar; Colin Linden on guitar / slide / mandolin - (he used to play with Bruce Cockburn) also backing vocals; Brian Owings on drums that Emmylou says is the happiest drummer in the business - she stole him from Buddy Miller as she did the bass guitarist - Chris Donahue - he really impressed me and I think he has a lot more talent than was allowed to blossom last night; lastly a mandolin come fiddler Rickie Simpkins who also did backing vocals and then a duet with Emmylou - all accomplished musicians in their own right - I loved the way in which the guitarist was able to punch little virtuoso solo's in between verses - whilst Emmylou was catching her breath (not that she ever needed to) and basically illustrated how it should be done (I hope that other singer's son was watching from the wings) . . .

Emmylou as I stated performed a mixed bag of new and old - I was particularly moved by her rendition of Tracy Chapman's - 'All That You Have is Your Soul' and her song which was co-written with Kate and Anna McGarrigle - which starts off with a little tune that I recognise but can't place . . .'How She Could Sing the Wildwood Flower' and 'Hold On' if I'm not mistaken . . .

I think Emmylou and the band warmed to the Glasgow crowd who themselves are notorious for their warmth and enthusiasm - they repeatedly showed their appreciation for the true star that she is . . . .

I left a thorough Emmylou convert - and rushed over to the merchandising stand and enthusiastically pushed my £10 across the counter for my copy of Emmylou's latest offering 'All that I Intended to Be' and I think that says it all really . . .

Glasvegas

This link below will randomly select one of many videos - I hope nothing to shocking comes up - there is one that might shock you a wee bit - hey! its all tongue in cheek . . . Under Playlist browse to Glasvegas - Geraldine . . . can safely safe they are the real thing and they've arrived . . . just received the CD yesterday - I think they are going to go far - if your interested there is another link to an interview with them . . . hope you enjoy - feel free to let me know . . . . also watch any of the others if you like. It's all muzu.tv if you'd like to set something up for yourself.



More proof - tickets went on sale this morning and guess what they were limited to 4 per customer - and NOW today 10 Sept - same day they went on sale - they are already Sold Out! for 16 Dec gig

Sarah Palin doll hits US high streets???

G.I. Palin ????

Hey maybe we need that Black Hole I was talking about in the last posting - I mean bring on a reality check here?????

Sarah Palin action figure