Close Encounters

The fax machine (remember them? Like email from the 80's) is making
some mighty strange noises at me today.

Maybe it's some sort of extra-terrestrial being trying to contact me,
and if I can just decypher the code I could understand the message of
universal love, and cure all of mankind's ailments.

Or maybe I just need a more interesting job.

Dreich

One of my favourite Scottish words.

Means 'It's mincing it down outside'.

Which, of course, it is right now.

Choonz

Distinct lack of musical ranting here of late, so here's some recent
boat-floaters:

Gorillaz - Demon Days:
I hate you Albarn. I thougth I had it all figured out. The speccy
one was the good one in Blur, and you were responsible for the rubbish
bits, as evidenced by 'Think Tank' (load of arsewater) vs 'Happiness
in Magazines' (really quite good). But now you've released this and
it's brilliant. At least I can pretend it was made by a bunch of
drawings instead. Christ, I even like the song with Shaun Ryder on
it, it must be good (or I have contracted some form of mentalism).

The Chemical Brothers - Push the Button:
Hooray. the Chemicals are back on form. And they're using
glockenspiels on some of their tracks. Rejoice!

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm:
I'm not entirely sure why I love this album so much. Maybe it's
because it sounds like the drummer really needs a pee so he plays
everythign at full speed all the way through the album. Maybe it's
the slightly melodramatic lyrics. It could be the 'Pixies mixed with
Explosions in the Sky' guitars. Most likely though, it's the
occasional use of glockenspiel that does it.

The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Mmmmm. There's just something so warm and comforting about this
album. Kind of like a nice bowl of soup. But without the bit where
you burn your mouth on it, or accidentally drop your bread in it. The
sort of mushy sentimental stuff I don't want to admit I like. With
added glockenspiel.

The Prague Glockenspiel Orchestra - Greatest Hits Vol. 2
OK. I made this one up, but I'd probably like it if if did exist.

Centurion

Scotland can be a tough place to be a climber in the summer time. The
weather is often indistinguishable form that of an English winter,
with the rock often dripping wet and unclimbable. And then when the
rain and wind stop, out come Culicoides halophilus - the Highland
Midge.

Millions of these minute vampires swarm around the Highlands with no
respect for your personal space, trying their best to drain you with
blood. If you've never experienced these evil little bastards then
you may well think that I'm whining about nothing, but they are an
utter menace, and would test the goodwill of even the most Zen monk.

But then there are some days that will make you forget about all of
those times you've had to hide under a boulder from the rainclouds or
endure a zillion minute insects all trying to invade your nose, and
Saturday was one of them.

It was the first time I'd been to Ben Nevis in the summer, and the
weather had given us blue skies and brilliant sunshine. The cold,
dark slog I was used to taking up the Ben was replaced with something
far more bright and sunny (still a bit of a slog, though).

Today's objective was the classic rock-climb 'Centurion'. Taking a
steep line through some impressive rock, even looking at it from the
ground was awe-inspiring. Jo and I had been wanting to do this route
for quite some time, and I felt a bit intimidated as it loomed above
me.

The climbing itself was perfect. For over 200 metres the route never
once relented, each pitch exciting enough to be considered a classic
in its own right. Once you're on the route there's no easy escape,
adding more to the excitement and making the whole undertaking more
serious. Each movement required thought and finesse, every moment a
joy.

All those days couped up inside watching the sky collapse fade were
worth the wait, and every midge bite no more than a passing nuisance.
Days like that are what keeps us coming back, but unlike the drug
addict trying to re-capture that first perfect high, we come across
those days again and again, and never grow weary of them.

Yeah. Scotland's great.

Settings and things

hello mofos

This post is actually just to test that I've got my automatic
publishing thing set up properly.

If you're reading this then it is. If you're not reading it then
there's some sort of crazy telepathic shiznit going on and you should
market your talents. I want 10% of the cut for coming up with the
idea, mind.

Right. Off to Ben Nevis for the weekend. Bye!

Da Bomb

Well done to the second round of cowardly terrorists.

Through your incompetence you’ve outlined the utter pointlessness of your endeavours.

Clearly these people didn’t have Lego as kids.

Internet cafes suck.

I tried to write a post last night in the internet café but was distracted by there being lots of people on MSN, and the bloke next to me was looking at some utterly filthy pictures which kind of derails any train of thought. It was probably going to be about how great it is cycling around Edinburgh or something equally as smug.

I did, however manage to achieve a few things: I updated the links on the side bar, and I set up a thing where I can email blog posts in from anywhere I want. Yes, that’s right, I can now blog from work, which may mean a bit more posting round these parts. Most of it, as always, will be drivel (and if you don’t like it you can sod off and look at your loser schoolmates on friends reunited or something).

Bah!

Well, I *did* actually write a long post, but due to the ergonomic wonder of a power button right next to the return key it was unfortunately lost to the ether. Let us mourn its passing.

I'm not going to type it all out again, but I shall give you a synopsis and leavce it up to you to use your imagination to flesh it out with erudite wit and so on. It covered the folowing topics:

Make Povert History march & Edinburgh 'Riots' - Former was good fun, latter was laughable and pointless.

Me turning 25 - not as bad as I expected.

London Olympics - Should be fun. Hope the tickes aren't too expensive.

London Bombings - What exactly did that achieve now? Who benefitted? Nobody. What bawbags.

My Sister's Blog - it's genetic, innit? Very good blog from my older sibling.

Loch Avon Basin - A very nice bit of the cairngorms. Piccies may well folow eventually.

Right, back to the here and now. Man.

This week I have been mostly... Moving house. The landlord of my old place has decided that no more non-students can live there so we've all been forced to flee. The downside is that I no longer live in a flat where the stairwell looks like a victorian public baths (but in a good way) and no onger live nearby to hte best greengrocers in the world (four of them in one street, to be precise). The upside is that my rent is now much cheaper as the flat I'm in is being refurbished. This also means I get to help transform it from a badly decorated hole into a respectable pad. I'm also forced to live with minimal things in my room (easier to move around, etc) which is surprisingly satisfying. Especially seeing all of my CDs lined up on the floor against the wall.

I've also been enjoying the wonders of the blender this week. My wonderful big sis sent me a hand blender for my birthday and I just have to say what a wonderful improvement on my life it really is. (Actually there was one in my old flat and I used it all the time, but it wasn't mine and a couple of weeks without it made me appreciate it more, so just humour me). I've become one of those people who religiously drinks fruit smoothies. Bit of orange&mango juice, some cranberry juice, a banana and some kiwi fruit and I'm happyhappyhappy.

Thing is, you see, I can be really quite lazy when it comes to food. I tend to like having all the things I need in one quick fix so actually sitting and eating my five-a-day was quite a rarity. But with the blender - zooooosh - all vegetable matter is pulverised into one easy-to-chug portion. My skin's improved, I have more energy and the local hookers say that my sperm tastes better than ever (I made that last bit up). I also get to benefit from the sense of moral superiority that one gets from eating properly. Waht with that, riding my bike to work and recycling thingsit's a wonder I don't damage my neck looking down on all you mere mortals.

Tremble at my might.