Friday 26 November 2010
Thursday 18 November 2010
on reflection
I could be wrong about what upset her - I have felt that her behaviour has been a wee bit weird towards me on a few occasions before. Today I could tell she was annoyed at me - but I put it down to her being busy and stressed and me pestering her about things.
I'm only in my fourth week at work and already one of my co-workers has
complained about me. I'm totally mortified. It was basically a mis
interpretation of something I wrote in an e-mail.
She complained to my manager that I was just here and telling her how to
do her job - which isn't the same as mine. I understand totally why she
would be upset if this were the case. My job involves co-ordinating
projects of work but has nothing to do with managing people but as it's
a totally new post it's been a bit difficult for me to try to fit in.
Other people arn't always clear on what my role is in projects.
What i think is the problem - since she didn't come directly to me.
Basically i had been discussing sme stuff with my manager about methods
we can use to evalute the experiences of care and 'service user
participation' with people who have difficulty communicating or have
progressed dementia. I had been doing some research about it and come
across a particular method that we could use to observe and record
interactions and behaviour. my manager and I had agreed that the project
that the other worker (A) is also involved in would be a good project
to try it out on and that I would try it out to see if it was effective
before we suggest that other staff used it. A was unable to make the
project meeting where I first discussed this with workers so I had
e-mailled A with a note of this meeting saying that I would be
'observing' and I could show her an example of what I mean.
I can understand how she could have thought this was telling her how to
do her job - but it wasn't what I meant and if she had come to me I
could have addressed the misunderstanding. Fortunately, my manger knew
the background to this and although she had to raise it with me (of
course) did also see it as a mis -comunication.
Now I know I need to go and speak to A about it without making a huge
deal - I apologise for not making myself clear and expalin what I meant,
is the best plan I think. but I don't want to talk in front of others -
in a big open plan office neither so I want to have to arrange a meeting
when a quick chat is enough. and I am so embarrassed about it - I'm
still getting to know people here and A is no longer working on this
particular project - I don't know if that's for other reasons or because
she's refusing to work with me. I've really blotted my copy book here now.
complained about me. I'm totally mortified. It was basically a mis
interpretation of something I wrote in an e-mail.
She complained to my manager that I was just here and telling her how to
do her job - which isn't the same as mine. I understand totally why she
would be upset if this were the case. My job involves co-ordinating
projects of work but has nothing to do with managing people but as it's
a totally new post it's been a bit difficult for me to try to fit in.
Other people arn't always clear on what my role is in projects.
What i think is the problem - since she didn't come directly to me.
Basically i had been discussing sme stuff with my manager about methods
we can use to evalute the experiences of care and 'service user
participation' with people who have difficulty communicating or have
progressed dementia. I had been doing some research about it and come
across a particular method that we could use to observe and record
interactions and behaviour. my manager and I had agreed that the project
that the other worker (A) is also involved in would be a good project
to try it out on and that I would try it out to see if it was effective
before we suggest that other staff used it. A was unable to make the
project meeting where I first discussed this with workers so I had
e-mailled A with a note of this meeting saying that I would be
'observing' and I could show her an example of what I mean.
I can understand how she could have thought this was telling her how to
do her job - but it wasn't what I meant and if she had come to me I
could have addressed the misunderstanding. Fortunately, my manger knew
the background to this and although she had to raise it with me (of
course) did also see it as a mis -comunication.
Now I know I need to go and speak to A about it without making a huge
deal - I apologise for not making myself clear and expalin what I meant,
is the best plan I think. but I don't want to talk in front of others -
in a big open plan office neither so I want to have to arrange a meeting
when a quick chat is enough. and I am so embarrassed about it - I'm
still getting to know people here and A is no longer working on this
particular project - I don't know if that's for other reasons or because
she's refusing to work with me. I've really blotted my copy book here now.
Monday 27 September 2010
Oh yeah,
and I just got offered a new job. I will start on 25th October as an Involvement Development Co-ordinator at the Advocacy Project.
It's a brand new post in a brand new team so no-one knows yet exactly what I will be doing. I'm really excited. I did have to take an earful from one of the tenants who is very annoyed at me for leaving. He's annoyed mostly that I didn't tell him that I had applied for a job.
It's a brand new post in a brand new team so no-one knows yet exactly what I will be doing. I'm really excited. I did have to take an earful from one of the tenants who is very annoyed at me for leaving. He's annoyed mostly that I didn't tell him that I had applied for a job.
Walk like a Marrekshi
That's slowly and in single file, since you ask.
I have had this post sitting un-published since June. Waiting for me to get round to putting photos in.
My, time really does fly. I cannot believe it's been almost a month since I came back from Marrakech.
It's a crazy, crazy city. We were staying in the beautiful and relaxing Riad Dar Najat.
A Riad is the best option for staying in Marrakesh as you can stay right in the heart of the Medina (old walled city) and as they are small you experience a much more personal service that you might in a larger hotel. Riad's are traditional Marrekshi homes but a lot seem to be tourist accommodation now. From the exterior, you ca barely notice them. In Islam it is not allowed to make big displays of wealth so these larg homes are not very visible from the street.
Dar najat has (I think) just six rooms, ours was small but perfectly formed with a MP3 speaker system which I think was a nice touch, though as music is played throughout the day at Dar Najat you don't really need your own. The rooms all open out onto a central courtyard. The courtyard is shaded and cool on the ground floor and the rooms on first where we
were also remained cool but the upper level terraces benefitted from the sun. The sun was hot in the middle of the day and a cool jacuzzi is there to help the overheated to cool down. The breakfast was fantastic and the evening meals were so good that after eating in the first night we didn't consider going else where on the other nights.
We visited the Palais Bahia which has beautiful gardens and interiors and Museum Dar Si Said. The interiors of this museum were stunning and the Moroccan arts and crafts inside were beautiful and interesting. We didn't know that the museum was there and were walking nearby when a shopkeeper said to us 'the museum is that way' and we asked if we should go and he said yes so we did and were glad that we did.
We also took a taxi out to visit the stunning Jardin Majorelle. Jacques Majorelle is born in 1886 in Nancy (France). In 1919 he settles in Marrakech to continue his career of painter, where he acquires a ground which was going to become the Majorelle garden. Since 1947 he opens his garden's doors to the public. Following a car accident, he returns to france, where he dies in 1962. in 1980 Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent repurchase the garden and restore it.
The gardens were an absolute work of art.
Oh and we took a horse taxi back into town -touristy and tacky it was but fun. I look like I'm trying to be cool in this photo which has been pointed out is ridiculous on a horse taxi.
On our last day we did the best thing and visited Les Bains deMarrakech. A fantastic spa. We had a duo treatment. Hammam (steam room) - black soap scrub, ghassoul mud bath and a draining massage. There was also lounging around drinking mint tea. It was absolute heaven. My skin and mind have never felt so good.
I have had this post sitting un-published since June. Waiting for me to get round to putting photos in.
My, time really does fly. I cannot believe it's been almost a month since I came back from Marrakech.
It's a crazy, crazy city. We were staying in the beautiful and relaxing Riad Dar Najat.
A Riad is the best option for staying in Marrakesh as you can stay right in the heart of the Medina (old walled city) and as they are small you experience a much more personal service that you might in a larger hotel. Riad's are traditional Marrekshi homes but a lot seem to be tourist accommodation now. From the exterior, you ca barely notice them. In Islam it is not allowed to make big displays of wealth so these larg homes are not very visible from the street.Dar najat has (I think) just six rooms, ours was small but perfectly formed with a MP3 speaker system which I think was a nice touch, though as music is played throughout the day at Dar Najat you don't really need your own. The rooms all open out onto a central courtyard. The courtyard is shaded and cool on the ground floor and the rooms on first where we
were also remained cool but the upper level terraces benefitted from the sun. The sun was hot in the middle of the day and a cool jacuzzi is there to help the overheated to cool down. The breakfast was fantastic and the evening meals were so good that after eating in the first night we didn't consider going else where on the other nights.
We visited the Palais Bahia which has beautiful gardens and interiors and Museum Dar Si Said. The interiors of this museum were stunning and the Moroccan arts and crafts inside were beautiful and interesting. We didn't know that the museum was there and were walking nearby when a shopkeeper said to us 'the museum is that way' and we asked if we should go and he said yes so we did and were glad that we did.
We also took a taxi out to visit the stunning Jardin Majorelle. Jacques Majorelle is born in 1886 in Nancy (France). In 1919 he settles in Marrakech to continue his career of painter, where he acquires a ground which was going to become the Majorelle garden. Since 1947 he opens his garden's doors to the public. Following a car accident, he returns to france, where he dies in 1962. in 1980 Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent repurchase the garden and restore it.
The gardens were an absolute work of art.
Oh and we took a horse taxi back into town -touristy and tacky it was but fun. I look like I'm trying to be cool in this photo which has been pointed out is ridiculous on a horse taxi.
On our last day we did the best thing and visited Les Bains deMarrakech. A fantastic spa. We had a duo treatment. Hammam (steam room) - black soap scrub, ghassoul mud bath and a draining massage. There was also lounging around drinking mint tea. It was absolute heaven. My skin and mind have never felt so good.
Monday 20 September 2010
Thursday 2 September 2010
Monday 30 August 2010
BabaGanoush, Belly Dancing, Birthdays and Berry bugs.
This weekend, Catriona's life was brought to you by the letter 'B'
Friday night I went to watch belly dancing at Nur, an Egyptian restaurant in the Gorbals. It was a dinner and show with the star performance by the beautiful and talented Lorna Gow. Lorna is from Edinburgh but now dances professionally in Cairo. She is one of, if not THE, best dancer I have ever seen. Why I think she is so great to watch is that she is technically a good dancer but also understands how to be entertaining and has a good sense of humour and a lovely personality that really shines out in her dancing.
The restaurant was pretty good in its own right though the veggie option of vegetable tagine was pretty poor. I hate when chefs make veggie options for people who don't like vegetables. It's strange, sometimes a plate of steamed veg and potatoes would be so much better than what I've been served up in the past. I did enjoy the mezza starter, humous, baba ganoush, something with fava beans and flat bread. Plus cold, hibiscus tea.
The restaurant was full of belly dance women and one table of four men. Four Gay men. who had an absolute ball, starting zagreets by the time we were at the second performance of the night and absolutely delighting in it when everyone else joined in.
Alas, I could not stay for the dancing at the end, I think it went on late but I had to go to stupid work on Saturday. After work on Saturday I missed my bus, and there was much dram a as I tried, but failed to get a taxi to outrun it and I got a bus back to Stirling from Menstrie then had to wait an hour and a half for the next 23 to Auchtermuchty. A little like baby from Dirty Dancing, I carried a Cake. A birthday cake for Emma in a really insubstantial lidless box. I carried it from Miss Cranston's to Queen Street Station, to Stirling train station to bus station where it sat in a locker, to the bus stance, to the taxi rank, to a payphone in menstrie to another bus stop in menstrie, back to the bus station, back on the bus, to my mum's house then to the Tannochbrae tearoom and it didn't get mooshed. Well done me!
Dinner for Emma's big scary birthday was good. I had baba ganoush again, swithered though as two days in a row but Neal made it even better than the Egyptians AND my main course was veggie for vegetable lovers. (aubergines again though - good job I love them almost most of all)
Fun night, with Claire saying 'we need to go drink bacardi because my mint is wilting' being number one best quote of the night.
Sunday night involved more belly dancing. At muchty Hafla. There was great turnout and a lot of belly dance 'virgins' which is always great. Next year I will perform. I have decided.
oh, and I won a raffle prize.
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Cleaning out
I was at my Mum's this weekend for a hafla and a birthday dinner but also took some time to pay a visit to my Gran in her new care home. She is happy there, she seems so well settled and much more vibrant than she has been for quite some time. I think having the option of company when she wants it and peace and quiet when she wants that is suiting her, along with the regular meals.
Mum and I also went to their old flat to clear out some stuff. A lot has already gone, either with Gran or was thrown out (Grampa's clothes etc) we were throwing out some broken crockery, things that weren't good enough for the charity shop and found Grampa's old 'World's Best Grandpa' mug. He used to use the mug all the time when I was little.
Strangely, at first I had no hesitation throwing it in the bin. In my mind there will never again be a world's best Grampa , it would be wrong for it to be used again. Then I pulled it out again, hesitating that it may be wrong to throw it - him- away. Stupid things that our brains think.
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Friday 6 August 2010
On the Couch
When my Dad died people I knew made such a fuss, flowers, cards, phone calls etc. So much support from every angle and people saying how I was going through something none of them could yet understand. It was nice, but misplaced and it made me feel guilty. Guilty because although I was sad that he died I knew even then that after the tears at the funeral I wouldn't miss him. I think about him from time to time but it's hard to miss someone that you never really knew. We were never close, I saw him at most for a week a year and spoke on the phone maybe three times a year. I never felt homesick anywhere except when I stayed there. The last time I saw him was because I made the effort after nagging from my mum and ex boyfriend and my dad was so dismissive of me that I said I was not making the effort again. Now my Grampa has died and I feel the way other people thought I should have felt then. It's been three weeks and I still want to cry, shout and beat my fists. There is a big hole where he should be.
I'm not sad for him, he was 90, the end was quick, without pain. But I'd give anything for another chance to see him. See, I saw my grangparents almost every day of my life until they moved away when I was 17. They looked after me when my mum was at work and I not at school. They celbraated my acheivements with me and comforted me in my failures. Now my grampa has died and I'm watching dementia slowly take away my Gran.
I'm not sad for him, he was 90, the end was quick, without pain. But I'd give anything for another chance to see him. See, I saw my grangparents almost every day of my life until they moved away when I was 17. They looked after me when my mum was at work and I not at school. They celbraated my acheivements with me and comforted me in my failures. Now my grampa has died and I'm watching dementia slowly take away my Gran.
Tuesday 27 July 2010
So we all know that Americans have no idea about other countries. but seriously?
I found these real questions on a forum where I was looking for the current Euro exchange rate.
I am planning a trip to the Caribbean. Is it better to change Dollars into Euros here in the U.S. or should we wait and exchange it on the islands?
Are British coins still accepted in the U.K? I have many of them and want to send them to a friend in England.
I have two "notes" if you will, from Belgium. One is for 50 Franks and one is for 100 francs. I really want to know if the euro has replaced the frank, and if not, then what is the exchange rate in U.S dollars?
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Wednesday 21 July 2010
I just pinched this off the comments on an article on guardian website
I know people think they're being funny by joking about the Daily Mail and cancer, but could you stop? It's fairly insensitive - over the past few years, several of my relatives have read the Daily Mail and I'd rather not be reminded of the fact.
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Tuesday 20 July 2010
Even Better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-iqMCdjb_0&annotation_id=annotation_22580&feature=iv
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http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000304/
http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000304/
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Tuesday 22 June 2010
My Grampa is 90!
I just can't imagine what it feels like to be 90 years old. But my Grampa now is.
A few years ago we didn't think he'd make it this far, I don't think he wanted to but since late last year he's been a lot cheerier and a lot more well.
apparently he did not think a party was a good idea, but my family tend to ignore things like that so he got one anyway. 21 of us went for dinner in The Tannochbrae Tearoom. http://www.tannochbrae.com/index.html My Mum had booked for 20 people and when there was 21 of us Neal, the proprietor of the tearoom and inventor of the spon remarked that this was the first time that more people had turned up than booked for in the whole 16 years that he has owned the establishment.
It was also, apparently, the first time any of my uncle's family have been in the tearoom which is odd as my aunty worked next door and my cousin used to throw things at the windows and they all used to live next door to Neal and this meant that I had to order the soft drinks because they couldn't do it themselves.
The food was delicious as always, at least everyone said so. I was enjoying my chickpea, spinach creamy, cheesy bake until it was looked over with some derision by my Grampa's cousin. She felt bad for me that I had to eat it and was not entirely convinced by my explanation that I would definitely rather eat that than meaty things.
The potatoes were amazing, my two (friendly) male cousins, my mum's cousin and myself were horrified when we saw that the serving (you help yourself to potatoes and veg from a large dish) near the birthday boy was left almost untouched and got stuck straight in with our forks. Martin's plate and cutlery were cleared away before we were done but luckily he still had a fork left from his starter cutlery and was able to continue. yum yum. It appears that my potato obsession may be genetic.
I really enjoyed looking at the old photos of my Grampa that Mum had made into place mats. Even if, as Paul pointed out from one of his merchant navy photos that we were related to the one that someone else 'brought along' - everyone else being smartly dressed in hats and uniforms and our relative on the end with no had but a glass of something in his hand, big ears and huge grin.
Paul was staying with Mum and I and spotted the Lord of The Rings board game sitting out from Friday nights failed attempt(s) by Emma, Jamie and I to save the world from the Dark Lord Sauron. Paul mentioned that he has the game but doesn't know anyone geeky enough to play with him from his friends of close family. The Rowley's being the geeky sort dutifully obliged and failed again to save the world.
You have been warned, The Dark Lord is now gathering strength. The time of men is nearly over.
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Disturbing news
work is now so boring that my lunchtime visits to the gym have become the highlight of my day.
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Sunday 13 June 2010
so behind with blogging
Basically I was completely exhausted so I didn't bog then I was busy enjoying annual leave so I didn't blog. I'm back with a very belated blog.
I didn't finish Berlin. our last day we had a great meal in cookies cream - an amazing veggie restaurant. Otherwise not much to say about that.
Last Week May and first week June I had annual leave . yay! It was possibly the busiest annual leave anyone had ever.
First I had three nights in Marrakesh, then a few days later was Kirsty's hen weekend in Edinburgh, then started a two week exercise bootcamp half way through that was Al and Nicola's wedding in Cupar. so busy busy busy.
I'll post a separate Marrakesh blog because it deserves it. otherwise, Kirsty's hen do was enjoyable with great games and food and a pinata. the wedding was ice Nicola's self-designed dress was lovely, best man really gave his brother a ribbing during his speech, there was a fight but after I left so I missed it.
boot camp was painful and hard but even in just two weeks my fitness has really improved. I had the gym make my programme harder so I can keep up the good work but so far as my knee has been excruciatingly painful from bootcamp I haven't been keeping it up very well.
I didn't finish Berlin. our last day we had a great meal in cookies cream - an amazing veggie restaurant. Otherwise not much to say about that.
Last Week May and first week June I had annual leave . yay! It was possibly the busiest annual leave anyone had ever.
First I had three nights in Marrakesh, then a few days later was Kirsty's hen weekend in Edinburgh, then started a two week exercise bootcamp half way through that was Al and Nicola's wedding in Cupar. so busy busy busy.
I'll post a separate Marrakesh blog because it deserves it. otherwise, Kirsty's hen do was enjoyable with great games and food and a pinata. the wedding was ice Nicola's self-designed dress was lovely, best man really gave his brother a ribbing during his speech, there was a fight but after I left so I missed it.
boot camp was painful and hard but even in just two weeks my fitness has really improved. I had the gym make my programme harder so I can keep up the good work but so far as my knee has been excruciatingly painful from bootcamp I haven't been keeping it up very well.
Friday 21 May 2010
tales from the allotment.
I have not been to my plot for a while what with the injured ankle and then being on holiday. I'm pleased to report that it is looking good. Today, amongst other things I planted three very poorly looking courgette plants. They really should have been planted out a couple of weeks ago. I gave them all a scoop of chicken manure pelletts, lots of water and put a little blanket of comfrey leaves round each. I hope they will grow big and strong.
My other discovery today is that mice have eaten half of the bar of soap that I keep up here.
My other discovery today is that mice have eaten half of the bar of soap that I keep up here.
Wednesday 28 April 2010
Berlin day 4.
Day four was hogmanay. So we had a relaxing day to save our energy for the night. We made a second attempt to visit the Reichstag Dome but it was closed due to being covered in snow. Lynne and I shopped for dinner (it was stressful) we made some soup and ate crisps, drank Sekt and then headed out to the huge outdoor party at Brandenburger tor. The photos below show us eating dinner in the flat then on our way to the street party.
When the clock struck midnight there were fireworks, a Michael Jackson medley and snow falling. We danced in the snow to some German folk songs for a while then entered a dance tent and had a boogie to some dance classics and pop tunes. While we were dancing Claire kept trying to put all of her clothes onto the ground which was wet, dirty and beery so I was rescuing her clothes and balancing them on my head while dancing. Lynne took a few good photos of me with my huge turban on. It was good fun, we got home around 4am and all felt crap the next day.
Monday 26 April 2010
My new toy
I am excited about my new Blackberry and wanted to show it off. No one in my office knows what it is. They appear to think that e-mail and text messages are the same thing.
What century is Stirling stuck in?
Pecha Kucha
Lynne and I went to a Pecha Kucha night at Tramway. It is an interesting concept created by a Japanese Architecture firm who were inviting tenders but knowing who much people like to waffle on created a strict code 20 slides 20 seconds per slide.
So in Tramway the same rules applied - Pecha Kucha events happen in many cities across the world. The event was running as part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual art and it was mostly artists who were represented. The presentations varied a lot in style and topic and the short time scale meant that if you found one boring you weren't bored for long.
My favourites were the funny ones David Shrigley did an almost alphabet and Neil Bickerton's Prison game. but other were academic and talking about the idea of identity and anonymity - or the film Point Break as a political message.
Tuesday 20 April 2010
Monday 19 April 2010
Thursday 15 April 2010
Sunday 11 April 2010
Friday 9 April 2010
Belated Berlin Blogging - day 3.
We woke up to snow and the three of us in the flat had to struggle through it first as we went to pick up Lorna at her hotel. We were meeting there with the plan of having coffee at cafe Einstein - Einstein's is a Berlin institution. There are numerous Einstein's across town but this one on Kurferstenstrasse is the original. It has been a hang out for intellectuals and the Berlin glitterati for quite some time. The Viennese style coffee house is situated within a 1920s villa and is really beautiful inside. Lorna has a fitness fruhstuck which looked great but Lynne, Claire and I had the recommended Wiener fruhstuck. It was, two eggs in a glass, yummy rolls with jam and cheese. Since we were on holiday and it was freezing outside I had rum in my coffee. yum.
We did a little shopping in Kaufhaus des Westens, Berlin's premier department store. Visited the http://www.gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de/KWG/index.php which I can't spell. It was pretty amazing and had a huge big advent calendar outside too. There was a pleasant Christmas market in the surrounding area too we warmed up with gluhwein and eierpunsch.
That evening we met up with some friends of Claire's that were also in Berlin for he new year. We went to Kreuzberg is search of veggie food - 5 out of 6 of us being veggie.
We went to an Arabian themed place with little curtained booths and beaded curtains. We had our own little booth and ate tasty yummy food. Falafel. hung out and had a few drinks.
Belated Berlin Blogging
Photos whoo!
I forgot to take my camera when I went to Berlin but Lynne and Claire took loads of photos and finally gave me cds with them on last weekend so I can start showing what we did.
Our first day all of us together was the only day without snow. It was also the day I had pre planned for us to be really touristy.
We met up at Alexanderplatz to have breakfast in the rotating cafe at the top of the TV tower. The TV tower was built in East Berlin so that it could be seen from the West as a symbol of the dominance/greatness of the East.
And apparently has great views over Berlin, My plan had been that it would be a great starting point for our holiday. Unfortunately, on the day we arrived we couldn't even see the top of the TV tower for all the fog - there was absolutely no view - we wouldn't have gone up at all if we weren't intending to eat there but the novelty, decent breakfast and slight feeling of seasickness in the rotating restaurant were still worth the trip up the tower. Breakfast was fairly expensive but generous enough I would recommend it if you are traveling to Berlin but wish you a better view.
Next stop of the day was to wander along Unter den Linden on our way to the free tour meeting point at Brandenburg gate.
Free walking tours run everyday and last 3 and a half hours - with a break. It was a bit of an endurance test on the freezing cold day that we did it but we say lots of things we wouldn't have known to look for or been able to find otherwise. Our tour guide was excellent - very knowledgeable and interesting. They work for tips and probably do quite well out of it. We tipped 5 euro each but it was probably worth more. The guides do try to promote the tours that do cost money so I guess that makes them some money too. I had two favourite stories from the trip. 1. http://www.berlin101.com/?p=41 Neue Wache - The sculpture inside was made my a mother after she had effectively signed her sons death warrant. The son wanted to join the army but was too young to join without parental permission. The parents signed to give permission and he died shortly after enlisting. 2. The book burning memorial
http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=98&lang=en (this link is from the company that led our tour too) Einstein had had to flee as he was a Jew - the book burning happened right outside the university that he worked at and his former collegues and students took part.
One of the most moving parts of the tour was this memorial to the murdered Jews. It covers a huge area at the side of a busy street and within view of the German parliament building. Our guide felt this was important. The Government and Berliners pass by and see this everyday - It is a constant reminder of the horrors of their past.
The experience of walking around the memorial is very unsettling. The ground is uneven and the blocks different heights, lengths and widths. Claire and I got a bit panicked when we kept coming across fences in every direction we turned and thought we would be stuck/lost in the middle for a long time. The designer of the memorial hasn't said much about what he intended - our guide thinks that the feeling of walking around it goes a good way to invoke feelings of uncertainty, confusion and helplessness such as the Jews of the time may have experienced. The plan is that the other groups targeted by the Nazis will all receive their own memorials. A few days later, across the road from this in Tiergarten we found a similar looking block but with a peep hole, inside it showed a film of two men kissing. We didn't find out if this was a memorial to the murdered homosexuals.
I need to get dressed and go to work now - I had time to spare when I started this post but have more than used it up. I sign off from this day with another image from our tour. One of the last bits of Berlin wall.
I forgot to take my camera when I went to Berlin but Lynne and Claire took loads of photos and finally gave me cds with them on last weekend so I can start showing what we did.
We met up at Alexanderplatz to have breakfast in the rotating cafe at the top of the TV tower. The TV tower was built in East Berlin so that it could be seen from the West as a symbol of the dominance/greatness of the East.
And apparently has great views over Berlin, My plan had been that it would be a great starting point for our holiday. Unfortunately, on the day we arrived we couldn't even see the top of the TV tower for all the fog - there was absolutely no view - we wouldn't have gone up at all if we weren't intending to eat there but the novelty, decent breakfast and slight feeling of seasickness in the rotating restaurant were still worth the trip up the tower. Breakfast was fairly expensive but generous enough I would recommend it if you are traveling to Berlin but wish you a better view.
Free walking tours run everyday and last 3 and a half hours - with a break. It was a bit of an endurance test on the freezing cold day that we did it but we say lots of things we wouldn't have known to look for or been able to find otherwise. Our tour guide was excellent - very knowledgeable and interesting. They work for tips and probably do quite well out of it. We tipped 5 euro each but it was probably worth more. The guides do try to promote the tours that do cost money so I guess that makes them some money too. I had two favourite stories from the trip. 1. http://www.berlin101.com/?p=41 Neue Wache - The sculpture inside was made my a mother after she had effectively signed her sons death warrant. The son wanted to join the army but was too young to join without parental permission. The parents signed to give permission and he died shortly after enlisting. 2. The book burning memorial
http://www.newberlintours.com/nbt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=51&Itemid=98&lang=en (this link is from the company that led our tour too) Einstein had had to flee as he was a Jew - the book burning happened right outside the university that he worked at and his former collegues and students took part.
The experience of walking around the memorial is very unsettling. The ground is uneven and the blocks different heights, lengths and widths. Claire and I got a bit panicked when we kept coming across fences in every direction we turned and thought we would be stuck/lost in the middle for a long time. The designer of the memorial hasn't said much about what he intended - our guide thinks that the feeling of walking around it goes a good way to invoke feelings of uncertainty, confusion and helplessness such as the Jews of the time may have experienced. The plan is that the other groups targeted by the Nazis will all receive their own memorials. A few days later, across the road from this in Tiergarten we found a similar looking block but with a peep hole, inside it showed a film of two men kissing. We didn't find out if this was a memorial to the murdered homosexuals.
I need to get dressed and go to work now - I had time to spare when I started this post but have more than used it up. I sign off from this day with another image from our tour. One of the last bits of Berlin wall.
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Cookie Restaurant Review
Cookie http://www.cookiescotland.com/ is a newish restaurant in walking distance from my flat. I've been passed and it looked nice so I was keen to try it and suggested Kiki and myself go for breakfast when she was staying at mine last weekend.
Initially we thought it was closed as there was no one inside except staff but we checked the opening times on the door and it opens at 10am on a Sunday and this was now 11:30. Open an hour and a half and the waitress seemed surprised, nay, horrified when we entered and when we asked if we could sit anywhere she asked in a panicked way if we were just having coffee.We said we were hoping for breakfast and were duly seated and given a rather unclear menu. 'What is a stornoway stack?' Kiki asks 'Scrambled eggs' says the waitress 'no it's not' she then says 'what is it?' she asked the chef who tells us that it is french toast, stornoway black pudding and a poached egg.
Waitress: 'The black pudding is lovely'
Kiki: 'Well we're both vegetarian'
Waitress: 'oh, well it's really lovely'
Me: ' It doesn't matter how lovely it is, we are still not going to have it'
Waitress: 'Oh but it's really nice'
She brings us some water and we peruse the menu a bit more - highlights include 'Jams at £1.50 which I hope means a whole jar.
Then we are asked to move to another table in the entirely empty restaurant as the one we are sitting at is reserved from 12:30. ridiculous but we had already whispered to each other that we had been sat at the worst table in the place so we moved.
Then we decided that the menu was over priced and offered a poor choice for vegetarians so we decide to just have coffee and go to tapa http://www.tapabakehouse.com/ for a full veggie breakkie instead.
We order our coffee (It was very nice btw) then a man comes over to remove our cutlery and grumbles that he thought we were eating what was wrong? Kiki says 'you don't have much choice for vegetarians'
Man- almost shouting: 'The risotto is vegetarian' which frankly proves our point that there is not much for vegetarians.
I say 'we wanted breakfast though' I mean who eats risotto at 11:30? why would we pay to go somewhere where we are told what we are to eat when tapa just round the corner has several choices? Why were we pretty much told it was coffee only and grudgingly allowed breakfast when risotto was almost forced upon us?
why why why?
Initially we thought it was closed as there was no one inside except staff but we checked the opening times on the door and it opens at 10am on a Sunday and this was now 11:30. Open an hour and a half and the waitress seemed surprised, nay, horrified when we entered and when we asked if we could sit anywhere she asked in a panicked way if we were just having coffee.We said we were hoping for breakfast and were duly seated and given a rather unclear menu. 'What is a stornoway stack?' Kiki asks 'Scrambled eggs' says the waitress 'no it's not' she then says 'what is it?' she asked the chef who tells us that it is french toast, stornoway black pudding and a poached egg.
Waitress: 'The black pudding is lovely'
Kiki: 'Well we're both vegetarian'
Waitress: 'oh, well it's really lovely'
Me: ' It doesn't matter how lovely it is, we are still not going to have it'
Waitress: 'Oh but it's really nice'
She brings us some water and we peruse the menu a bit more - highlights include 'Jams at £1.50 which I hope means a whole jar.
Then we are asked to move to another table in the entirely empty restaurant as the one we are sitting at is reserved from 12:30. ridiculous but we had already whispered to each other that we had been sat at the worst table in the place so we moved.
Then we decided that the menu was over priced and offered a poor choice for vegetarians so we decide to just have coffee and go to tapa http://www.tapabakehouse.com/ for a full veggie breakkie instead.
We order our coffee (It was very nice btw) then a man comes over to remove our cutlery and grumbles that he thought we were eating what was wrong? Kiki says 'you don't have much choice for vegetarians'
Man- almost shouting: 'The risotto is vegetarian' which frankly proves our point that there is not much for vegetarians.
I say 'we wanted breakfast though' I mean who eats risotto at 11:30? why would we pay to go somewhere where we are told what we are to eat when tapa just round the corner has several choices? Why were we pretty much told it was coffee only and grudgingly allowed breakfast when risotto was almost forced upon us?
why why why?
Long Weekend
I had lots of exciting and wonderful plans for the Easter long weekend. Then I woke up with a headache on Friday morning - and then was sick - and the headache didn't go away until late Monday afternoon.
Friday I wanted to spend allotmenting then was going to dine at Pinxto on Dumbarton Road then go see Alice in wonderland in 3d at the IMAX with other ex-nightshift peoples - Nightshift in Imaxland or The Kofi-Club Convention we were calling it.
I had to cancel because of stupid speweyness.
Friday night late my cousin Kiki arrived from London so we could go to the Hinterland music festival - I'd been really looking forward to it but was most excited about DJs especially Coolly G. I couldn't stay awake that long but was still able to enjoy some bands and did have a nice day and it was cheap as I was alcohol free. Best bands for me were Panda Su and Jeffery Lewis. Top highlight being Jeffery Lewis's Gangster Mosquito killer rap. Fast talking more than rapping I suppose but it was rather impressive all the same.
Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEM4RsfKO5c
Sunday was supposed to be mine, Lynne and Claire's last ever Optimo as there are only four more to go. I met them at Stereo for Pecan pie and juice and got cds of the Berlin photos so I can write a Belated Berlin blog now that I can illustrate it.
The queue for Optimo was so long there was no way anyone was getting in - but it was nice to see the Macmillans regardless. Sad that we didn't get an official last Optimo though.
Monday I went to my allotment to plant my potatoes and lo and behold they were already planted by allotment fairies. It's really nice to have someone giving me a hand and much appreciated but when someone else is deciding what goes where it's difficult. I feel that I'm trespassing on my own plot now. I hope to see him next time I'm up so I can pay for the new path and also see what he's been doing. I don't want to be planting stuff and then have him dig it up because he thinks that he's being helpful.
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Friday I wanted to spend allotmenting then was going to dine at Pinxto on Dumbarton Road then go see Alice in wonderland in 3d at the IMAX with other ex-nightshift peoples - Nightshift in Imaxland or The Kofi-Club Convention we were calling it.
I had to cancel because of stupid speweyness.
Friday night late my cousin Kiki arrived from London so we could go to the Hinterland music festival - I'd been really looking forward to it but was most excited about DJs especially Coolly G. I couldn't stay awake that long but was still able to enjoy some bands and did have a nice day and it was cheap as I was alcohol free. Best bands for me were Panda Su and Jeffery Lewis. Top highlight being Jeffery Lewis's Gangster Mosquito killer rap. Fast talking more than rapping I suppose but it was rather impressive all the same.
Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEM4RsfKO5c
Sunday was supposed to be mine, Lynne and Claire's last ever Optimo as there are only four more to go. I met them at Stereo for Pecan pie and juice and got cds of the Berlin photos so I can write a Belated Berlin blog now that I can illustrate it.
The queue for Optimo was so long there was no way anyone was getting in - but it was nice to see the Macmillans regardless. Sad that we didn't get an official last Optimo though.
Monday I went to my allotment to plant my potatoes and lo and behold they were already planted by allotment fairies. It's really nice to have someone giving me a hand and much appreciated but when someone else is deciding what goes where it's difficult. I feel that I'm trespassing on my own plot now. I hope to see him next time I'm up so I can pay for the new path and also see what he's been doing. I don't want to be planting stuff and then have him dig it up because he thinks that he's being helpful.
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Thursday 1 April 2010
Cocktails at oloroso
Here is the doctor with a mojito and a view of edinburgh castle. Sneaky girlie drink before mark's 30th birthday drinks.
Friday 26 March 2010
Adventures
I made a rash decision to take advantage of a 5pm.co.uk deal offering
best seats in the stalls for £15 at performances of 'The Hobbit' at the
festival theatre in Edinburgh.
rash as it was short notice and rash because I realised that it would
mean getting home around 1am then having to get up again at 6am. Yuk!
SO after a trawl through the search results for cheap Edinburgh
accommodation on late rooms.com I got a room for £30 at the Original Raj
Hotel. http://www.tommymiahsoriginalrajhotel.com/.
I had a lovely comfy double bed to myself. Breakfast wasn't great but I
couldn't fault anything else - despite the really bad reviews some
people gave on trip advisor.
The Hobbit was pretty mediocre. Well the sets were cleverly designed
but the acting pretty poor. Gandalf delivered his lines as though he was
reading from an autocue and was waiting for the next line to appear.
For example. "Bilbo Baggins you are not the Hobbit"
I'm thinking yes he is - a Hobbit at least and the only one in this
particular story and the one the book and play are named after then
Gandalf says "that you used to be"
the Edinburgh evening news said he was the best one in it so you can
imagine how standard grade drama the rest of the acting was.
The musical accompaniments and fight scene choreography made me feel
that I was watching a production from the 1980's
A sentiment echoed by the reviewer in the Edinburgh Guide. who says
this:
"The performances are all very camp (an aspect of the entire production
that isn't helped by the awful 80's sounding music) and there are a
couple of scenes that are just cringe worthy and completely pointless. A
dancing scene towards the end of the first half is absolutely
unforgivable... but the kids seemed to love it. "
Smaug the Dragon was great though.
and this; from Forbidden Planet blog is exciting news for a geek like
me.
Ah but there is good news to balance this – the director who has been
installed in place of Jackson is none other than Guillermo Del Toro,
director of the two Hellboy movies, Blade II and the visually ravishing
(and BAFTA and Oscar winning) dark fairy tale of Pan's Labyrinth. I
have to say that I'm fairly happy with this choice – obviously Peter
Jackson would have been ideal, but I've been a fan of Guillermo's
since the early 90s and his early Ron Perlman-starring Cronos, a clever
and inventive re-working of the vampire myth while the Mexican
director's Spanish language horrors like The Devil's Backbone are
eerily atmospheric
That Hobbit wont be sucky and it will have the real Gandalf in it too.
So I'm thinking about starting a sideline, fictional blog. A chick-lit blog if you will.
Just for my own amusement. The character will be based on me, writing about how I would react to situations that I may never have been in or may have been in at sometime in the past but not actually recently and with fictional other characters. I've not completly made up my mind about this but I think it would be fun. Though I do, of course run the risk of forgetting who I really am and thinking I am the other person.
And what will I call her?
Just for my own amusement. The character will be based on me, writing about how I would react to situations that I may never have been in or may have been in at sometime in the past but not actually recently and with fictional other characters. I've not completly made up my mind about this but I think it would be fun. Though I do, of course run the risk of forgetting who I really am and thinking I am the other person.
And what will I call her?
Sunday 28 February 2010
Glasgow Film festival
On Thursday, my very stylish friend Lynne and I went to a warehouse in deepest darkest Finnieston (SWG3) for a screening of the award winning documentary 'Comrade Couture' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8037215.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSuQktGgCc
The film was good but they had a problem with the subtitles and even when they got sorted the big haired girls in front of us meant we couldn't see them, fortunately Lynne and I understand enough German to have an idea of what was going on, I'm going to try to rent the dvd to watch again though mit subtitlen.
The location was perfect for a film documenting an underground culture and was sponsored by red bull so there was free rum and red bull cola.
the film screening was followed by a fashion show from Edinburgh based 'noir' the fashion the clothes were nice but the too skinny models were a bit distracting - so many teeth and bones. I have no problem with skinny people it's unhealthy looking that I don't like.
there was also a warehouse party but it was nearly 11 when the fashion show ended and it was freezing and there weren't enough people about to film the huge space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYSuQktGgCc
The film was good but they had a problem with the subtitles and even when they got sorted the big haired girls in front of us meant we couldn't see them, fortunately Lynne and I understand enough German to have an idea of what was going on, I'm going to try to rent the dvd to watch again though mit subtitlen.
The location was perfect for a film documenting an underground culture and was sponsored by red bull so there was free rum and red bull cola.
the film screening was followed by a fashion show from Edinburgh based 'noir' the fashion the clothes were nice but the too skinny models were a bit distracting - so many teeth and bones. I have no problem with skinny people it's unhealthy looking that I don't like.
there was also a warehouse party but it was nearly 11 when the fashion show ended and it was freezing and there weren't enough people about to film the huge space.
Sunday 7 February 2010
A new slate. well, plot.
I'm always so excited about getting going with my plot this time of year. I'm full of plans and enthusiasm.
Every year I vow to be more attentive to the needs of plants, spend more time gardening and have my best looking plot and highest crop yield ever. I only ever manage a small improvement.
Anyway I'm ever optimistic.
I've been on line shopping for seeds, plant minders, a raised bed and vegetable cages.
I bought a new set of cheap plastic shelves which I have constructed in the bathroom to put my seeds on.
I grow seeds in toilet roll inners. It works quite well, I plant three to four seeds in each, some don't germinate, I pull out the weak plants and the healthiest one I plant out in the ground or in the greenhouse. Keeping it in the toilet rolls mean the roots are not damaged when replanting.
I planted cherry tomatoes and cayenne peppers two weeks ago, first tomato sprouts have just appeared, I'm so excited.
Saturday morning I cleared out some stuff into the skip and today I planted sweet pointed pepper seeds
I'm looking forward to it all coming together.
In other news, We had a family lunch today for my Gran's birthday. It was nice, actually good fun but the humour highlight was when the waitress said "I'll take that away darling" to my Grampa, who is hard of hearing and who then turned to my Mum and me and asked "did she just call me Alan?"
Every year I vow to be more attentive to the needs of plants, spend more time gardening and have my best looking plot and highest crop yield ever. I only ever manage a small improvement.
Anyway I'm ever optimistic.
I've been on line shopping for seeds, plant minders, a raised bed and vegetable cages.
I bought a new set of cheap plastic shelves which I have constructed in the bathroom to put my seeds on.
I grow seeds in toilet roll inners. It works quite well, I plant three to four seeds in each, some don't germinate, I pull out the weak plants and the healthiest one I plant out in the ground or in the greenhouse. Keeping it in the toilet rolls mean the roots are not damaged when replanting.
I planted cherry tomatoes and cayenne peppers two weeks ago, first tomato sprouts have just appeared, I'm so excited.
Saturday morning I cleared out some stuff into the skip and today I planted sweet pointed pepper seeds
I'm looking forward to it all coming together.
In other news, We had a family lunch today for my Gran's birthday. It was nice, actually good fun but the humour highlight was when the waitress said "I'll take that away darling" to my Grampa, who is hard of hearing and who then turned to my Mum and me and asked "did she just call me Alan?"
Monday 25 January 2010
turning 29, I think I'm turning 29, I really think so.
Saturday was my 29th birthday.
I spent the afternoon at the salon. Had my eyebrows waxed then a haircut, I had to wait for my haircut so I spent a while drinking Aveda tea and flicking through harper's bazaar in the relaxation room. (In this season: denim and underwear on top! and blue is this season's black) I also did a skin consultation and was reassured that chin spots are hormonal, not much I can do to prevent them but I got a free sample of a spot gel that she says will help fight them quickly.
Then Martin cut my hair AND said I didn't look anywhere near 30 - lovely Martin. I know that complimenting and buttering me up is part of their job but the two different hairdressers I've had there have both left me feeling so good about myself, it's well worth the money. James Dunn House, just off George square. http://www.jdhlifestyle.co.uk/
I had the quickest turn around, home, change clothes put on make-up before people started arriving for birthday celebrations. Zoomed out again with Lorna, Emma and Jamie to Metropolitan bar for pre-dinner cocktails with Jo and Melody who had arrived on an early train from Perth.
The dinner in Sapporo Teppanyaki restaurant. I was a bit worried that the novelty of food being thrown to catch in your mouth, setting fires in front of us and throwing and catching eggs, except the one that smashed - narrowly missing Jo, would have perhaps left the actual taste of the food as an afterthought but mine was delicious and everyone else said they thought theirs was too. Eating out will never be the same again. I expect an imminent invite for potato throwing at my friend's houses.
The boyo was the only person to catch his potato first time, I'm so proud, I never knew he had such talents.
That big mouth had to be good for something.
We then had a big fight with a bitch of a manager at the restaurant because apparently no-one in Glasgow ever pays individually, funny then, that I have definitely done it before; on numerous occasions.
It's not that difficult to add it on a calculator and score paid for items off the bill, but even then we had agreed to split the bill evenly and were all paying the same amount - simples- Bitch-cow claimed we were owe over £100 turns out the cash was in the till (I know! I too was astounded at that plot twist) Anyway another much nicer manager/supervisor actually made an effort to solve the problem and all was well and we went to the ferry where we heard a awful band who took themselves toooooooo seriously (8 o's more seriously than they deserved) but they were swiftly followed by good DJing which had a few of us boogieing though quite a few folks left. Evie was disappointed to discover that it was not a regular night, so if anyone from now now is reading we liked the boat- we loved the DJs can we have some more please sir?
I spent the afternoon at the salon. Had my eyebrows waxed then a haircut, I had to wait for my haircut so I spent a while drinking Aveda tea and flicking through harper's bazaar in the relaxation room. (In this season: denim and underwear on top! and blue is this season's black) I also did a skin consultation and was reassured that chin spots are hormonal, not much I can do to prevent them but I got a free sample of a spot gel that she says will help fight them quickly.
Then Martin cut my hair AND said I didn't look anywhere near 30 - lovely Martin. I know that complimenting and buttering me up is part of their job but the two different hairdressers I've had there have both left me feeling so good about myself, it's well worth the money. James Dunn House, just off George square. http://www.jdhlifestyle.co.uk/
I had the quickest turn around, home, change clothes put on make-up before people started arriving for birthday celebrations. Zoomed out again with Lorna, Emma and Jamie to Metropolitan bar for pre-dinner cocktails with Jo and Melody who had arrived on an early train from Perth.
The dinner in Sapporo Teppanyaki restaurant. I was a bit worried that the novelty of food being thrown to catch in your mouth, setting fires in front of us and throwing and catching eggs, except the one that smashed - narrowly missing Jo, would have perhaps left the actual taste of the food as an afterthought but mine was delicious and everyone else said they thought theirs was too. Eating out will never be the same again. I expect an imminent invite for potato throwing at my friend's houses.
The boyo was the only person to catch his potato first time, I'm so proud, I never knew he had such talents.
That big mouth had to be good for something.
We then had a big fight with a bitch of a manager at the restaurant because apparently no-one in Glasgow ever pays individually, funny then, that I have definitely done it before; on numerous occasions.
It's not that difficult to add it on a calculator and score paid for items off the bill, but even then we had agreed to split the bill evenly and were all paying the same amount - simples- Bitch-cow claimed we were owe over £100 turns out the cash was in the till (I know! I too was astounded at that plot twist) Anyway another much nicer manager/supervisor actually made an effort to solve the problem and all was well and we went to the ferry where we heard a awful band who took themselves toooooooo seriously (8 o's more seriously than they deserved) but they were swiftly followed by good DJing which had a few of us boogieing though quite a few folks left. Evie was disappointed to discover that it was not a regular night, so if anyone from now now is reading we liked the boat- we loved the DJs can we have some more please sir?
Friday 22 January 2010
Art and pretention
Ina and his Hag (that's me) went to an exhibition opening in the Tramway yesterday evening.
http://www.tramway.org/
We didn't dig the art too much, One was a woman you made collages that as Ina said children he'd worked with at the royal blind school had made more visually arresting pieces. There was one photo of a building which we both kinda liked and one that from far away we thought was a woman shouting through the wrong end of a megaphone to her partner, We thought that symbolised that she felt that he didn't listen to her. On closer inspection the megaphone was a random triangle randomly behind them - stupid.
Sometimes when you read the blurb, work that you didn't initially think was pretty can turn out to be really interesting, this blurb read like someone desperate to think up something to say about the work that, frankly I'd be embarrassed to put a frame round had I made it myself.
Exhibit two was a film about the guy who invented(?) Delorean cars, Mr Delorean, we watched a tiny bit of it, from the back so we couldn't hear properly and say Northern Irish men with porn taches boring us to tears.
Despite the poor quality of the art work on display the evening was not all at a loss four free glasses of cava, for a start and a montage of bad hair to slag off made for a very fun evening.
Also, when did ridiculously oversized glasses become a 'movement' one girl looked like the love interest from 'The Secret of my Success' seriously huge glasses, like Deirdre form Corrie.
Also everyone looked like they should be called Tarquin or Octavia, or at least wanted to be called that but were in fact sam, paul and elsie from the gorbals.
As we were by far the best looking people in the room, natch! we thought we play along and air kissing and darlings! spouted forth from betwixt our lips, as did choice comments (memorised from the artists blurbs) about the role of women in the preceding decades when people walked past.
This did backfire somewhat when a woman asked if she could record our comments for a radio show and we pretended to be too modest, this wasn't helped by Ina declaring that I would be fabulous at it as I have so many insightful and interesting things to say.
I don't think the comments they were looking for were "that guy looks like an ugly Rupert Everett with awful teeth"
http://www.tramway.org/
We didn't dig the art too much, One was a woman you made collages that as Ina said children he'd worked with at the royal blind school had made more visually arresting pieces. There was one photo of a building which we both kinda liked and one that from far away we thought was a woman shouting through the wrong end of a megaphone to her partner, We thought that symbolised that she felt that he didn't listen to her. On closer inspection the megaphone was a random triangle randomly behind them - stupid.
Sometimes when you read the blurb, work that you didn't initially think was pretty can turn out to be really interesting, this blurb read like someone desperate to think up something to say about the work that, frankly I'd be embarrassed to put a frame round had I made it myself.
Exhibit two was a film about the guy who invented(?) Delorean cars, Mr Delorean, we watched a tiny bit of it, from the back so we couldn't hear properly and say Northern Irish men with porn taches boring us to tears.
Despite the poor quality of the art work on display the evening was not all at a loss four free glasses of cava, for a start and a montage of bad hair to slag off made for a very fun evening.
Also, when did ridiculously oversized glasses become a 'movement' one girl looked like the love interest from 'The Secret of my Success' seriously huge glasses, like Deirdre form Corrie.
Also everyone looked like they should be called Tarquin or Octavia, or at least wanted to be called that but were in fact sam, paul and elsie from the gorbals.
As we were by far the best looking people in the room, natch! we thought we play along and air kissing and darlings! spouted forth from betwixt our lips, as did choice comments (memorised from the artists blurbs) about the role of women in the preceding decades when people walked past.
This did backfire somewhat when a woman asked if she could record our comments for a radio show and we pretended to be too modest, this wasn't helped by Ina declaring that I would be fabulous at it as I have so many insightful and interesting things to say.
I don't think the comments they were looking for were "that guy looks like an ugly Rupert Everett with awful teeth"
Friday 15 January 2010
Berlin for new year 1
I'm ill and off work just now, so it gives me some time to update.
I had a great girly holiday in Berlin from 28th Dec to 4th Jan. It really helped prevent to between Christmas and new year slump and we had a memorable new year. (in a good way unlike the years that have resulted in court case, fights, embarrassments etc)
I had rented the small flat in Charlottenburg. Small but perfectly formed and warm and comfortable.
This is the building we lived in, you had to go in the front door then through a little courtyard in the middle, in another door and up the stairs to our little flat.
Once inside we had one bedr
oo
m that Claire and Lynne shared and a small en suite bathroom. These photos are of the other room, the kitchen/dining/living room. I slept in here on the sofa bed. Lorna was staying in a new and very nice hotel. Near the famous KA De We department store and the original and fabulous Cafe Einstein. There is also a coffee chain which we assumed are owned by the same folks but which are not of the same class.
The public transport system in Berlin is really good but as the city is so big it took us a few days to work it all out. We had been meeting Lorna in the mornings and taking the most obvious routes via er U bahn stop before realising that the less obvious route was significantly quicker. Thefirst day Lynne and Claire were on a late flight and both Lorna and I got a bit lost and confused trying to go from our accommodations to meet at the Hotel Adlon (where Michael Jackson dangled baby blanket from the window) we had very expensive, but very good cocktails. I discovered that I did not invent the Tom Jones ( a Tom Collins with lime instead of lemon) and that in fact it is called a gimlet.
We went our own ways after dinner and I went home and waited for the Macmillans.
I had a great girly holiday in Berlin from 28th Dec to 4th Jan. It really helped prevent to between Christmas and new year slump and we had a memorable new year. (in a good way unlike the years that have resulted in court case, fights, embarrassments etc)
I had rented the small flat in Charlottenburg. Small but perfectly formed and warm and comfortable.
This is the building we lived in, you had to go in the front door then through a little courtyard in the middle, in another door and up the stairs to our little flat.Once inside we had one bedr
oo
m that Claire and Lynne shared and a small en suite bathroom. These photos are of the other room, the kitchen/dining/living room. I slept in here on the sofa bed. Lorna was staying in a new and very nice hotel. Near the famous KA De We department store and the original and fabulous Cafe Einstein. There is also a coffee chain which we assumed are owned by the same folks but which are not of the same class.The public transport system in Berlin is really good but as the city is so big it took us a few days to work it all out. We had been meeting Lorna in the mornings and taking the most obvious routes via er U bahn stop before realising that the less obvious route was significantly quicker. Thefirst day Lynne and Claire were on a late flight and both Lorna and I got a bit lost and confused trying to go from our accommodations to meet at the Hotel Adlon (where Michael Jackson dangled baby blanket from the window) we had very expensive, but very good cocktails. I discovered that I did not invent the Tom Jones ( a Tom Collins with lime instead of lemon) and that in fact it is called a gimlet.
We went our own ways after dinner and I went home and waited for the Macmillans.
Friday 1 January 2010
2010
Happy NEw Year to all my (0) dedicated readers. I'm currently sitting on our couch/my bed in our rented holiday apartment in Berlin. Claire, Lynne and my good self are all feeling a little worse for wear following last nights Sylvester shenanigans. It's probably a bit too late now as it will be dark in an hour but we plan to go for a walk in Charlottenburg and the park at Schloss Charlottenburg to try to blow some of our cobwebs away.
It's the area that we live in but we haven't explored it at all. Berlin is so big and there is so much to do. We've made two failed attempts to climb up the Reichstag dom and there was absolutely no view for the TV tower on Monday. We all have soggy boots too as we were standing in slush puddles watching the fireworks at midnight last night.
It was a fun street party. Apparently the biggest in the world. We had a boogie in a tent to some cheesy sorts of music.
came home sore and wet with frozen crispy hair at 4 am ish. By public transport which runs ALL night for the Hogmany celebrations and I think also at the weekends.
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