Nov 1: A Different View
I’ve heard a rumour that there might be a mouse loose around the office.
Nah. Can’t be true.
Nov 2: Tiny Rhinoceros
Matt’s collecting a magazine (called Bugs, I think) that includes an insect, preserved in plastic, with every issue.
A quick look at Wikipedia has instantly given me some fascinating beetle facts, such as:
* They’ve been scuttling around for 265 million years
* There are 350,000 species: that’s 40% of all known insects
* They’ll eat almost anything – from dung to dead wood
And to think, this morning, all I knew was a) this one was a bonny colour, and b) it had a point on its nose just like a rhinoceros.
Wonder if that’s why it’s called a Rhinoceros Beetle?
Nov 3: Bang!
After a day that included mixing the Christmas cake, tonight was the fireworks display in Dunbar.
I’d been talked into helping out, which meant standing at the entrance, wearing a high-vis bib and taking the money from the would-be firework-watchers. £2 for grown-ups, £1 for kids – including a free glow-stick for every kid. Bargain!
Top three useful phrases:
1) “Yes, son – you do have to pay like everyone else.”
2) “No, you can’t have another glow-stick.”
3) “Er, yes, there will be quite a few flashes and loud bangs.”
Nov 4: Snap
The dog Molly has spent today at the emergency vet. She did a runner last night, stayed out overnight and came home first thing this morning with a badly-broken front leg.
It looked awful: she must have been in a lot of pain, but she was very brave about it.
Until tomorrow, when our own vet can see her, she’s resting up (off her muzzle on morphine). We’ve no idea what happened to her, and of course, she’s not telling. Just hope the vet will be able to sort her leg out.
Nov 5: Red Ring of Mystery
Actually, I’ve no idea if this red metal doughnut is a mystery object or not: I’ve never really noticed it before, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
Thanks for the kind comments on yesterday’s blip. Molly was seen by our vet today, where an X-ray showed that she’d broken both bones in her foreleg. Luckily, it was a clean break – so she’s having an operation this afternoon to put plates in, to hold the bones together.
Fingers crossed that everything goes well.
Nov 6: Stained
This was the view through the stained glass window of The Village, as I was on the phone to Mo – getting the latest news about Molly the accident-prone dog.
Molly’s operation went well yesterday, and she was allowed home today with a plaster cast on her leg. According to Mo, she seems subdued, but glad to be back – basically, she has to do as little as possible for the immediate future.
Meanwhile, back in the pub, hiraeth is probably telling our mate (who we’d met for a pint) “…so I told him, ‘Just get her put down – it’s for the best.’ Honestly, some people have no sense of humour.”
Nov 7: All Wrapped Up
Looking more than a bit sorry for herself (as well she might) Molly is now under orders to lie around all day, her leg wrapped in what looks like a big blue sock.
Will someone please tell her that doesn’t mean trying to run about the garden, or banging her injured leg off everything from the door frames to the kitchen table? Ouch.
It’s good to have her back. And her tail’s still wagging.
Nov 8: Gulity Pleasures
Oh, the guilty pleasure of the Steak Bake. Tender chunks of meaty goodness in a rich gravy, encased in flaky golden pastry. So right, and yet so wrong.
Why do they bother advertising the price in the window? Deep down, we all know the real cost isn’t paid in pounds and pence…
What? Did I have one? Of course not: it was only 9.30, after all.
Nov 9: Big Waves
We’re off down to Hartlepool for my nephew’s sixth birthday party right now. So it’s a big wave from Dunbar’s East Beach (not usually known for its surfing) and it’s a big wave from me.
Have a good weekend.
Byeeeee!
Nov 10: Bowled Over
Adam’s birthday party, held at a bowling alley, was a big hit with all the kids – and Matt and Andy also enjoyed sleeping at their cousins’ house.
In the evening, I went with finky and Tone to see finky’s band Preacher. What he hadn’t mentioned was that the gig was a charity night for bikers.
At first, they looked moderately terrifying – and the venue was like something out of Phoenix Nights. Being decidedly tattoo- and leather-free, we looked a bit out of place, but the bikers turned out to be a very friendly bunch. And with the band sounding great and the beer looking cheap, it was an excellent night.
Tone even won a huge bike lock and some motorcycling gloves in the raffle. He’s now planning to get a massive bike and have himself a proper mid-life crisis.
Nov 11: You wait ages, then two come at once
With Matt and Andy staying at their cousins’ house, George has enjoyed being the centre of attention at my dad’s.
And when I woke up feeling a bit seedy this morning (damn those bikers) he was hurtling around, chattering away and playing with all the toys his granddad wisely keeps in the house.
After a big lunch with the family, it was time to head up the road to home. Is it me, or are weekends getting shorter?
Nov 12: The consolations of forgetfulness
D’oh. Forget to take my camera to work with me today – so missed out on the meagre hours of daylight available.
With a rainy night and kids to look after, going out wasn’t on the cards either. So I thought I’d muck about with some long exposures – and I liked the way this one whooshed out at me.
Lucky I took the picture when I did, because afterwards some of the whisky seemed to have vanished. Maybe it evaporated… or something.
Nov 13: Quick, get my coat
Does this beer seem a little … flat to you?
Sorry.
Walking past this, I couldn’t help feeling that a headline reading “LAGER CAN CRUSHED ON MAJOR THOROUGHFARE” wouldn’t be out of place in this remarkable publication. I’d find it even funnier if I didn’t avidly read The East Lothian Courier each week.
Nov 14: Still
The surface of the water near Ocean Terminal was the calmest I’ve ever seen it today: mill-ponds and mirrors sprang to mind from my bumper bag of clichés. It all seemed a bit eerie to me, for some reason – as if something was about to happen.
Off to Parents’ Night tonight for Matt and Andy. It’s the first one for Andy, so it should be interesting!
Nov 15: All of them?
“Hello? Is that SR Towers? I’d like an Eiffel, an air traffic control, and a popular high street music retailer, please.”
Saw this on the way to the dentist. Coincidentally, he was trying to take care of all my “spending lots of money” needs.
Nov 16: Light Fantastic
Bit of a late one last night – all in the name of the blipblog, of course. What a fantastic excuse to trawl through blip. “I’m on a mission from Mr Blogs,” I said to Mo. “I may be some time.”
As a result, I tumbled out of bed a bit later than usual – and as I was shambling round the bedroom, I noticed the amazing orange light of the morning sun. I’m glad I took a shot: it’s the last I’ve seen of it all day.
Sun or no sun, have a top weekend.
Nov 17: Flying visit
Molly had her cast removed today – but she still has to take it easy until getting X-rayed in about four weeks’ time. Hmmm… fat chance of that.
With the vet visit and the lads’ Enjoy-a-Ball sessions, there wasn’t a lot of the day left – so we went for a trip to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune for a quick look about. Had some food at the cafe, and then the boys ran around like crazy on the old blast shelters.
This is the museum’s Vulcan bomber and the missile that sits beside it. Matt was convinced they’ve got a toy version, and for a while George was delightedly chuntering something along the lines of “big-a-plane, little-a-plane”.
Nov 18: Glasgow Museum for Old Jokes
“Nice beaver.”
“Thanks, I’ve just had it stuffed.”
Took a trip out west today, to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It’s where One Day in The Life Of’s Spitfire Shot was taken – I was amazed at how little clearance there is!
A great place for a wander round. When I asked Matt what his favourite bit was, he said “all of it”. Top Italian meal on Byres Road, then home to bed. Strangely, it seems George thinks “lollipop lady” is a killer insult to hurl at his brothers…
Nov 19: Lunch
In honour of Hiraeth’s birthday/blipday, three objects were placed ceremoniously on the table of The Roseleaf Pub: a knife, a fork and a pint glass.
Only one of them saw any use, to be honest.
Nov 20: Blipsmackinthirstquenchinacetastinmotivatin…
Whoever wrote this, back in 1974, would probably be delighted that I can still remember its
Lipsmackinthirstquenchinacetastinmotivatingoodbuzzincooltalkin- highwalkinfastlivinevergivincoolfizzin’ slogan.
It was the second thing I thought of when I saw this old fridge dumped in the street this morning. Obviously the first was “where’s my camera?”.
Nov 21: Heart to Heart to Heart
Mad birthday wake-up for Mo this morning, with the three lads bouncing round the bed and “helping” her to open her presents.
They’d each chosen one of these hearts to give her (well, Andrew chose one, then they all did – though they all seem to have chosen the right one, somehow) and they’d also got her a stained-glass tea light holder in the shape of a lighthouse.
In the frenzy, just as Mo was about to unwrap it, Andy asked “have you opened your lighthouse yet, mum?” Realising he’d given the game away, he tried to cover it up, saying “I mean your box. Opened your box. Your box of, er … sunflower seeds.” Hope he’s always that bad at lying.
Happy birthday Mo. It’s your fault they’re mad, of course.
Nov 22: Parallel Lines
Ah, the wonders of modern dentistry: the only thing that hurts is the bill.
As I headed back from having my mouth stretched and prodded, and my teeth drilled and ground, my eyes must have had a downward cast. Which is probably why I noticed the yellow lines heading off into the distance. If parallel lines did accidentally meet, would there just be an embarrassed silence?
Staying with the Blondie theme, just around the corner there’s a stained-glass shop called “Art of Glass”.
Just seen this blip. Thought it was splashtastic.
Nov 23: Old School Filing
It’s often been said before, but I’ll say it again: “Paperless Office? Don’t make me larf.”
In spite of all the technology available, we cling to the idea of the hard copy, the physical document you can hold in your hands – and, of course, stuff into ringbinders.
The colour of the office files seems especially appropriate today: Mo and I are heading off to Amsterdam for her birthday weekend. As the lads are staying with their aunty and uncle, it’s just the two of us. Hurrah! Hope we won’t be bored or anything.
Have a good’un yourselves.
Nov 24: Best Laid Plans, and all that
Our Amsterdam trip didn’t happen, unfortunately. George had developed a terrible wheezing in his breathing – and when Mo took him to the GP, she was sent straight to the Sick Kids’ hospital. There, they diagnosed Croup (a wonderfully old-fashioned name) and said he had to stay in overnight.
He’s perked up nicely since then, and got out of the hospital late this morning – which was great. In spite of us not going away, I still took Matt and Andy down to stay overnight with their cousins, then drove back to see Mo and George (both a bit shattered but glad to be home).
While I was down in Hartlepool, I took the opportunity to get a blip of my old infant school … I seem to remember it being much bigger!
Nov 25: Mmmm … doughnuts
George was much better this morning. But because of this, be was bouncing around from 6.30 am onwards. Urrrrrrr. Although this made him sound alarmingly wheezy again, he didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.
On our way down to Hartlepool to pick up the boys, we stopped off in Newcastle to have lunch with Chris and Joanne. So, even though we didn’t get away for the weekend, we did get an impromptu chance to catch up with some old friends. It’s an ill wind, and all that.
As ever, Matt and Andy had a brilliant time with their cousins. In this shot, I think Jack’s incredible bulging “cheek” is really George’s elbow – though I can’t swear to it, and they were big doughnuts…
Nov 26: Old Schoolmaster
This statue, on the frontage of Doctor Bell’s school in Leith, isn’t just part of an an old school. It also commemorates an old school of thought: The Madras System of education.
As the inscription makes clear, “The System has now been superseded by the education given under the Education (Scotland) Acts 1872 to 1883”. I’ve no idea if this old school was “Old School” in the sense of the assignment, but I did feel (pardon the pun) that I’d learned something.
Do you ever feel there’s an awful lot of stuff you’ve never heard of?
Nov 27: Lo! The star in the East (Lothian)
Number two in an occasional series of novelty hole punches used by train guards on the East Coast Main Line. A series of two, probably.
Quick blip today, as we’re heading off for lunch soon. A bit of an “old school” lunch, appropriately enough…
Nov 28: The Wet Side of the Road
Oh, the smell of the bakery from across the street
Got in my nose
As we carried our ladders down the street
With the wrought-iron rows
I went home and listened to Jimmy Rodgers in my lunch-break
Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner
And went straight back to work
Van Morrison, Cleaning Windows
No smell from this bakery any more. And I bought a cup of Pea & Ham soup instead of five Woodbines at lunchtime. But, like Van the Man, I went straight back to work.
That kind of a day, really.
Nov 29: Ship Shape
This is a bunch of trees that I pass on the A1. There’s a certain angle where you see them as a really striking wedge-shape – but I’ve never been able to get a shot that wasn’t just a blur.
Today though, the roadworks slowed everything down to blipping speed. And the sun shone, right on cue.
By the way, is anyone else being terribly brave, while struggling manfully with manflu? I am. But of course, I don’t like to make a big thing of it.
Nov 30: Cinquecento
Casting around for a rainy-day blip, I found this old postcard – which I’d sent back to the office from this summer’s holiday.
It had seemed an appropriate choice. After all, the person I’d sent it to had (many years ago) been one of five mohican-adorned punks who’d toured round Wales in a Fiat Cinquecento. There are some things you’d pay good money to have seen.
Sitting here on a rainy day at the end of November, summer seems both very distant, and at the same time, like it was only yesterday.
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