Ross's Blog

Beinn Dearg (Blair Atholl), 3rd December 2011

2011-12-18T10:42:00.001Z

On Saturday 3rd, my old buddy Steg and I had decided to go and take in a hill. It had been a hectic time since we were last out climbing a Munro, with both of us changing jobs, me moving house and all the other things that life can throw at you in six months, so we were very much looking forward to heading back onto the hills.
I had packed my gear on the Thursday night since I knew I wouldn’t have a great deal of time on the Friday (and because I was excited about the prospect, lets be honest), and the plans were set for Saturday.
On Saturday morning I was up at 6:30 and arrived at Steg’s place at 7:30 to a welcoming bacon roll. As ever, there was a faff, and in this instance we had to nip to the Scout Hall to pick up an ice axe that Steg thought he had in his garage. Nevertheless, we were on the road by 8.10 and it was a clear run up to Blair Atholl – the car feeling good after it’s recent service. We made good time and by 10:05 we were on the bikes ready to start our trail ride up the track to Beinn Dearg.
I’m used to cycle commuting – it’s flat, my pannier balances my bike out nicely and I wear trainers. But out there it was a lot more difficult – the rucksack was heavy, the hills were steep and movement in my Yeti’s and Berghaus boots was quite restricted. It was energy sapping and my legs burned with every pedal stroke uphill. However, we made it up into the woods and it had stayed nice and dry so far.......

As we left the forest, we climbed ever higher up into the glen, crossing the Allt Slanaidh burn a few times. About 11.30 the snow started, lightly at first, but then heavily. We were aiming for the point at 600m where we would lock the bikes to each other and start our ascent of the hill on foot. Progress became slow and going uphill on the bike just wasn’t happening. There was no grip from the tyres and we ended up pushing the bikes through the ever-deepening snow. There was a 50m descent just before we locked the bikes up however which was great fun, and just a taster of what was to come later in the day. The snow by this point had stuck to the tyres in lumps and was blocking brakes and gears so the descent was a frightening plummet with some steering and feet as brakes.
We made it to our designated bike-dropping-off point at 12:45 and had a quick bite to eat before we started our 400m ascent to the summit.
It was cold, but as we started to climb, the snow gave us good purchase and the pace was good. Beinn Dearg’s ridge is a long flat affair – 3km. While I’m sure a plateau like this would be welcome on a nice summer’s day, in December it was a very different story. Once we got onto the back of the hill, the winds came at us from the North-West, driving snow into the sides of our already-frozen faces. Then it cleared. The Cairngorms and the snow blowing around was a stunning sight. I wanted to take photos but by this point I was concerned that we might not have enough time to get off so we tried to pick up the pace a bit. We could see the summit ahead, so we pressed on.
We made it, but the weather was about to take a turn for the worse...

As soon as we hit the summit at 3:15, we decided we would head back down straight away since the weather was closing in very quickly. There was a quick job to be done first though. You know those little whisky favours you get at weddings? Well, I found a few when we moved house and decided that the best place to drink them is at the top of a Munro. So this trip was the turn of Chris and Vicky, with a cheeky single malt, split between the two of us on the summit. It tasted incredible against the backdrop of the howling gale and snow. Thanks Chris and Vicky!
We got all our warmest gear on (crampons were on by this point) and started to descend the way we came up. Or so we thought. We should have taken a bearing because we were losing height too quickly and coming off the wrong side of the hill. It was starting to get dark so we took a few bearings and got ourselves back on track. We made it back to the bikes for 5:30. That’s the first time I’ve had to do night-nav with the compass and it’s a lot more difficult than during the day, but it is a great feeling when you find that the practice you’ve put in through the years pays off and taking a bearing and following it becomes an automatic skill.
Back at the bikes, we figured it wasn’t too late to head back down the western side of the track, by the bothy. The road was downhill almost all the way but the bikes were sliding about in the snow and visibility, even with a decent set of lights was still difficult. It was absolutely exhilarating, and I fell off a couple of times, but we made it back to Bridge of Tilt in about 1:45 – a lot faster than it took us to get up there in the first place.
We made it back to the car, exhausted and red-faced from the snow exposure but glad to have climbed the hill. Then, it was a quick trip to Pitlochry for scampi and chips and finally the long drive home.

500px outage - A lesson in communication.

2011-07-14T13:20:00.000+01:00

I noticed yesterday that one of the better photo-sharing websites was down. 500px is quite a new company based in Toronto, and has a reputation as being very user-oriented and friendly, so I thought I’d check out their twitter feed and see what they had to say about their outage. I think it’s something a lot of companies could learn from.

As soon as they’d noticed, they posted this:

This is good – it shows they are being diligent and attempting to work out what went wrong.

Not long after:

This is also good – they are telling their customers a lot here – but mostly that it’s out of their hands.

This went on for quite a few hours and they were being honest, helpful and replying to everyone’s tweets

Quite impressed, I tweeted my feelings out to my followers:

And they immediately thanked me for my support. I think this goes a long way to maintain a company’s reputation when they are having the inevitable technical issues.

They were down for almost 20hrs, but rather than the customers being unhappy about this, they became sympathetic and it was all down to good communication.

This is a lesson that a lot of companies could learn - communication can save your reputation!

Beinn a’ Ghlo, 7th April 2011

2011-04-10T17:45:00.001+01:00

I’m moving jobs just now, back to Glasgow and one of the advantages is that I’ve had a few days off to do some things. I’d made a point of letting Speccy know that I was available to do a hill with him and I’d made a suggestion that we head up the A9 for a change instead of our usual A82 western jaunts.

The decision was made then, to make an attempt on Beinn a’ Ghlo – a range south of the Cairngorms near Blair Atholl which contains no less than three Munros – that’s a lot to tick off in a single day. Hopefully that will make me feel better about the fact that I haven’t climbed any new ones since April last year.

I picked Speccy up in Paisley just after 7 and was met with a surprise bacon roll – a real pleasure for the bleary eyed at that time of day. We made good time getting to Blair Atholl but the 25k map has the car park as it’s Southern boundary so we managed to get lost a bit until we were assisted by a helpful local (albeit in a Defender and wearing tweed).

Plenty of faffs later and we were on the hill at 1005. The weather was windy and we were blasted with a couple of April showers early on. The first Munro is Carn Liath and we were making good time, reaching the summit at 1120. The view of the rest of the days walk was daunting to say the least, not helped by the 60mph gusts coming at us from the South West.

From here you get a good idea of the size of the other Munros. On the left is the snappily-titled Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain and on the right, Carn nan Gabhar. What you can’t really make out in this picture is the ridge leading from the hill we were on to Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain. It’s narrow and was getting the full brunt of the winds. Every step was risky because a foot might be placed somewhere unexpectedly in the gale, throwing balance off.

As we ascended the second Munro, we could see some snowy cornices, and avoided them. We also spotted some interesting geology in the shape of a quartz seam – best seen in this picture, below.

We reached the summit of Braigh Coire Chruinn-bhalgain at a fairly respectable 1320 and stopped for a while to have a sandwich and take off our packs.

We headed over to Carn nan Gabhar next:

It’s quite a flat-topped hill and has three summit cairns. As ever, the furthest away one is the actual summit, despite the fact that it doesn’t have the trig point.

The walk over was refreshing – it was just nice to be out of the wind for a bit but by this stage our legs were starting to tire a little.

We stopped for photos on the middle cairn then reached the actual summit at 1500.

Here’s the view back to the trig point:

The descent was long, arduous and boggy. However we stopped for a while to test out my new stove and a dehydrated meal of Peppered Beef, Rice and Vegetables. The stove was excellent but the meal was essentially a pot noodle without the noodles. Easy 400 calories but pretty grim-tasting.

We also tried a bit of self-arrest training in some snow – great fun, but a wet bum:

And I spotted a patch of snow that looked like Scotland!:

Overall the descent took 3hrs 45 minutes, including finding a poor sheep that might have been injured or might have just fallen over. I had no idea that sheep couldn’t right themselves if they had fallen but apparently this is the case according to the fella that we went to see to report the injured sheep.

We got back to the car at 1845, just as the light was starting to look fantastic again. All in, a cracking day on the hill with good company and some terrible patter.

Beinn Ime, 29th November 2010

2010-12-01T22:32:00.001Z

Speccy and I had taken these two days off ages ago to go and do some serious winter walking, but things got in the way and we only managed to get a day off. On top of that we had the worst snow we’ve had in November on record for the preceding three days so the roads were a little mental. Our plans then, to climb in Glen Nevis had to be curtailed on the day and as I left Steg’s house at 7.15 that morning we decided to go for the not-too-tiddly Beinn Ime, which Steg hadn’t climbed before but I’d done on at least two occasions.

Since we had plenty of time, a short stop for breakfast at the pit stop in Arrochar was in order. I’d had my weetabix, but, you know, sometimes one breakfast just isn’t enough. So a full Scottish later, we headed out of Arrochar for Butterbridge, over the Rest-and-be-Thankful. The roads were icy and there were quite a few abandoned cars from the weekend, but we ploughed on.

Kitted up and ready to go at 9.35, we headed for the hill. The snow was far deeper than we had anticipated, in fact, it was described on more than one occasion as “baw-deep”. This meant that progress was slow. After about an hour, we hadn’t really gained more than 300m in height and came across a good location to test our snow hole building activities. Here are the fruits of our labours:

As you can see, a cosy little place. We were quite surprised and reckoned we could spend the night in it with my lightweight sleeping bag, a bivvy bag and a rucksack covering the entrance. It was duly destroyed, of course, but now I know how to dig a snow hole!

As we continued up onto the ridge between Beinn Chorranach and Beinn Ime, it started to get very windy. The snow didn’t lie well here and it became icy underfoot, making ascending difficult. Still, at least the snow wasn’t as deep as the lower levels.

We reached the summit around 2pm, and got out of the shade into the sun. I took my glove off for a couple of minutes to take pictures, but my hand started to numb so we had a quick bite to eat and headed down.

Yes, the rosy cheeks say it all.

Descent was easy with lots of sliding down the hill on our bums, but it was a real pleasure as the sun was starting to set. We arrived back at the car for 4pm and headed down the road. It started snowing again when we reached Glasgow.

It’s days like that on the hill that make it really worthwhile.

10 Things I wish I’d known before I took up Photography as a hobby

2010-10-23T21:29:00.001+01:00

I love taking photographs; I love reminiscing over shots I’ve taken, I love the fact that it can take me to places I’d never have gone otherwise and I love the fact that I’ve found a hobby that has so much to master and perfect. I feel so proud of myself when I get compliments and it’s not as noisy as playing the guitar (which I’ve had to admit to myself, I was pretty crap at, and it annoyed the hell out of the neighbours).

Here’s some things I wish I’d known before I started doing this. If I’d known these, I might have got to where I think I am before now, but I’m glad I picked them up along the way.

1. Photography can be a cheap thrill.

Some people get interested and go out and spend £500 or more on a consumer level SLR. Don’t be daft. Chase Jarvis’s mantra is “the best camera is the one that’s with you”. You can take a brilliant photo on your mobile phone, you just have to know what it and you are capable of. My first proper camera was a Kodak DX6340 that I got for going to New Zealand in 2003. I loved it and used it for 4 years. It was basic, but I soon figured out how to get the best out of it, without even having to resort to manual. I use a Canon EOS 450D now, and I love it to bits, but only because I know how to use most of it (and I can use manual to get some better results!).

2. The starting point is being self-critical

Once you’ve taken a picture and kick yourself because you know you could have done better – that’s the point of no return. You can’t give up now – go back and do it again. And again. And again in the evening and again in the morning and again in the snow and again in the rain. Photography, like most of the other arts is about practice.

3. What you think is good is not necessarily what anyone else likes

I worked on this picture three times - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ross_vernal/4894857581/

I had a crisis of confidence twice and thought to myself “All my pictures are terrible, I just can’t learn the skills”. But I got a little drunk, spent a few minutes cropping and balancing the colours then just went for it and posted it on Flickr. I still don’t think it’s quite what I wanted, but it’s the most popular picture in my photostream by Interestingness. Still doesn’t mean I’m any good though.

4. The Holy Trinity

Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO. It’s all a big trade off – change one and you’ll need to change the others, but you might get a better picture. Once you get down to this level of control you’ll start to get some impressive results.

5. Shoot loads

Don’t stop; memory and disk space are cheap. I am lucky if I get one picture from each walk and I maybe take 30-40 pictures.

6. Compose, don’t process

This took me a long time to work out. I tried vignettes, curves, embossing, everything. But the only two things that matter are cropping (which you should be able to do if you take your time taking the picture) and getting your histogram to have an even spread of colours (again – this can be done on camera). Everything else is secondary, if it doesn’t help tell your story – this is the most important thing – then don’t bother.

7. Push your camera

Do it – switch to manual, change to RAW, try a hugely long exposure at night. Yes, you’ll fail at first but you’ll get there eventually and most importantly, you’ll appreciate the effort that goes into photos like this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/craigusher/5072993447/ and this http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmmphoto/4245847794/in/faves-ross_vernal/

8. Be a snob

Be critical, tell people what you think could be better or what is getting in the way of their story. They might not want to hear it, but it might help them. Would you prefer to hear what could be better about the your pictures? What if you’d put in a huge effort?

9. Don’t be a snob

Some people don’t like it when you tell them what could be better. You’ll know who they are, best keep shooshed and just say they’re pictures are lovely.

10. Never stop learning

I’ll never master this. I know that, but I have so much to learn and I think I’ll be doing this for years to come and getting more and more pleasure from it. Who knows, I might even make more cash than the £20 I made for selling this in a nice frame last year.

I’m sure everyone has different views on these, and I’d love to hear them. Comment below, or tweet me @ross_vernal

Stob Dearg – Buachaille Etive Mor, 20th August 2010

2010-08-22T18:25:00.001+01:00

We were supposed to be climbing Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg, but the weather was predicting 100mph gusts by mid afternoon so we figured that the highest ridge in Scotland would have to fight another day. Over breakfast at the Green Welly, Speccy, Gordo and Scotty decided that a traverse of the Buachaille would be in order. We had the pleasure of 2 cars since I was heading elsewhere later in the day so we parked Scotty’s at the 3 mile bridge in Glen Etive and all jumped in mine to head for Altnafeadh, where we started our ascent of Coire Na Tulaich at 10.10.

The Coire has a better path than I remembered from previous ascents, but visibility was minimal so it was sometimes hard to see where we were headed. Banter was good, especially with Gordo having returned for a brief spell after being in Australia for 3 years.

We made the summit in terrible rain at 12.30 and stopped for some lunch.

Pretty wet, as you can see.

We headed from there, back to the bealach and headed down to the three mile bridge.

The winds had really picked up by this point and it was difficult to remain steady on your feet. Scotty had a fall in the scree and cut his hands badly, however we washed them down at the river and made an effort to remove some bits of stone using the sterilised tweezers from my swiss army knife.

We arrived back at the car at the three mile bridge, soaked but happy that we’d climbed the bookil!

10 years in IT – what it was like in 2000

2010-08-14T22:36:00.001+01:00

10 years ago today, I started work at iFarm Internet Solutions, a small company in Newton Mearns, near Glasgow that specialised in software that evolved into what we know today as Content Management Systems.

Back in the day, I was 21, had just left Uni and managed somehow to talk my way into a job there. It was a real eye opener to me, coming from Uni and the part time work at Maplin’s, but I learned fast and found my feet in no time. The staff were friendly and I get the feeling I had it pretty easy, especially since I was still living at home. I drove a red Micra, M-reg and spent evenings and most weekends in the pub.

In those days I was working in Allaire ColdFusion 3 (Adobe hadn’t bought them over at this point), programming in ColdFusion Studio and my works PC was running Windows 98. Servers were all NT 4.0 (SP4!). At some point we upgraded some of the office PCs to Windows ME which was clearly a mistake. As we realised that licensing for ColdFusion 4.0 was going to be expensive, we moved onto ASP, and that’s where my career in programming really began…….

A few jobs and 10 years later and everything has moved on considerably, I still get exposed to ASP and ColdFusion occasionally but not really enough to call it a skillset anymore and web scripting has all but died out to be replaced by proper domain driven design with all the different languages separated into files unlike the classic ColdFusion scenario of having 5 languages in the one file.

All things considered, I feel I’ve kept on top of the technologies and I’m looking forward to what the next ten years of web development holds.

One thing I’ve learned above all others though – being a human being is the most important skill you can have. If you’re approachable, friendly and can see a way through any situation you’ll get a lot further than the hardcore techie next to you.

Ben Ledi, 25th April 2010

2010-05-29T14:03:00.001+01:00

After climbing Ben Lomond with CH in the evening after work a couple of years back, I decided it was time to have another summer evening hill jaunt. Being based in Stirling is very handy for these sort of things and there were a few of the guys in the office who are keen walkers and were up for the challenge of getting up and down a hill in the evening. So, the Friday before I put out a call to walkers when it seemed like the weather was going to be kind to us for the Tuesday night.

In the end there were only three of us, TD, CH and myself. We endured the slagging about the ridiculous gear we carry during the day at work then headed off just after 5. At 6.05 we started on our merry way skipping and hopping along the road until we started to ascend fairly quickly. The hopping and skipping stopped and was replaced with panting as the relentless ascent continued through the forest.

Once we had cleared the forest, we continued up the path, heading West. Needless to say the ascent was far easier than the winter attempt that Speccy and I had made in January. At one point we crossed a piddly stream which had been pretty much a full river crossing in Winter.

As we rounded onto the summit ridge, the views became astounding. We could point out Arran, Inverkip and everything in between with the Cobbler looking especially stunning.

There was barely a light breeze as we pushed towards the summit in glorious sunshine and not a sound at all. We hit the summit about 7.45 and had a break for food and photies before continuing the descent North then East towards the road which would lead us back to the cars at 9.30.

TD’s account of the day is here.

Binnein Beag, 17th April 2010

2010-04-20T22:13:00.001+01:00

For almost three years, my Munro list has been at a standstill. It’s not for lack of trying; I’ve been out a lot on the hills, but the weather has been unpredictable and the recent winter was simply downright unsafe, especially with my lack of winter walking experience. Binnein Beag in the Mamores has been my target a few times, but it’s remote and requires a long walk in. However, on Saturday I finally managed to get enough time to get to Kinlochleven and do the walk.

I headed off from Glasgow at 0715, and met up with Toezi, Poochy, Speccy and Wilco at the Bridge of Orchy car park. We convoyed up to Kinlochleven at commenced the usual, but slightly more extended faff to prepare all the gear.

The weather was a little showery at this point and not too cold, but we geared up for snow anyway. We set off North East up the path slightly South of the An Cumhann track and joined the Land Rover track, heading East to Loch Eilde Mor. Every time we stopped, the sun would come out, but as soon as we started again, the cold rainy squalls would come from the North West once more.

Around 1230 we stopped just South of Coire an Lochain for a short lunch before heading North. The Lochain looked positively arctic with the remains of the winter ice still floating around on the surface and being blown around by the wind. It was a genuinely awe inspiring sight, especially in the valley with some of Scotlands highest peaks all around.

As we headed further North the showers became heavier, colder and more frequent. The gloves were on. The sight of the remaining 2km or so was depressing especially as we had to lose 200m to regain another 400m in height. The only thing to do was to press on. We reached a smaller lochan and from there it was 200m of rocky ascent to the summit. We made the summit around 1420, but all were a little wet and bedraggled by this stage, especially Poochy who had come without her coat.

We followed our footsteps back to a slope we had descended to save time on the outward journey, but then followed a more distinct path from there to Coire an Lochain and back to the Land Rover track, while the squally showers blew right in our faces.

My feet were aching – someone remind me to get insoles for my boots – and the chest infection I had picked up the week before left me feeling a bit breathless at times, but at 5.30 we arrived back at the car and got changed. A swift chippy in Kinlochleven and then off to the Kingy for a night on the beer with our old pal Naomi.

83 down – 200 to go!

I also recorded the route using the SMap application from Sanoodi on the works’ Blackberry, which has the longest battery life – ideal for any GPS app, so you can see that here:

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/binnein-beag-264914/

As ever, I do recommend Sanoodi, but it’s interpretation of the route here is a bit ropy at best. I’ve looked at the KML it produces in Google Earth and it looks absolutely fine. The actual readout on my phone said that it was a 17.88km walk, but the web app says 20 miles. Quite how it’s working this out is a bit of a mystery to me, but as I say – an excellent free piece of software.

Nasal Polyps and Vasomotor Rhinitis – Part 3

2010-02-28T19:45:00.001Z

My visit to the hospital this week was a productive one. After waiting for about 30 minutes I was taken to see the doctor. He noticed as soon as I spoke that I was very nasal. He took a look up my left nostril which has been blocked for some time now and could definitely see a polyp. He then used an endoscope to take a look and allowed me to have a look too. And right enough, there was a polyp in the right nostril too, and I was able to see what had given me years of discomfort and embarrassment.

So they have indeed grown back and the polyps seem to be the sole cause of all my nasal troubles.

The upshot of this is that I now have to have a third operation, this time concentrating solely on the polyps. I expect that they will grow back, but having spoken to the doc, I believe that regularly rinsing my nose may help to prolong the period that I am polyp free.

Not sure when I am going in yet, but I will be amongst the first patients at the new building in Stobhill with all the latest technology.

Here is a video of what will happen during the op – don’t watch it if you are squeamish! I’ll be under general anaesthetic so won’t feel a thing.

Nasal Polyps and Vasomotor Rhinitis – Part 2

2010-02-23T20:34:00.001Z

Quick update; after visiting my GP in December, I have an appointment this week at the hospital with the ENT specialist. I will let you know of my progress.

I have been looking at nasal irrigation – it’s not the most glamorous of subjects but it has it’s origins in Indian Yoga, as part of a holistic approach to health. The method I’ve seen involves passing saline solution which would be homemade through one nostril and out the other using a Neti Pot.

I think I’ll ask the quack this week if it’s a good idea or not before I start firing things into my nostrils though.

Ben Ledi, 16th January 2010

2010-01-17T13:36:00.001Z

Heavy weather was predicted for the weekend so the trip that Steg and I had planned for two munros at Corrour was revised on the Friday night. It was due to be very wet and the snow hadn’t properly thawed out yet so we aimed for something closer. I’d always ignored the Trossachs but since working in Stirling, I’ve had a hankering for climbing Ben Ledi. It didn’t seem too rocky on the map so seemed like a decent idea for a winter ascent, especially since I don’t have crampons.

I picked up Speccy at 0845 and we headed up the A80 bound for Callander and on to the foot of Ben Ledi. The track to the car park was ridiculously icy and barely walkable, but the Megane fared well on the ice.

By the time we had faffed sufficiently to get all our wet weather gear and warm stuff on it was 1045 and we made a start.

You can see the route here, http://bit.ly/4q3jP8

Initially I had problems getting GPS reception on the Blackberry but it got there in the end, and, as you can see I didn’t manage to get it kicked off until 100m up the hill.

The climb uphill wasn’t too bad, a bit slippy in places. We came across an odd thing in the forest however; there is a large rock on the path with “Jock Thomson” engraved roughly in it. Next to it, on the path was a passport photo of a young man with a shaven head in his early twenties with the words “Steven Thomson” on the back and a long number. Speccy and I weren’t sure what that number meant – could it be a prisoner number or perhaps he was a soldier?

Anyway, as we climbed, conidtions became steadily worse. It was apparent that the eastern side of the hill was sheltered from the rain, but as we came round the long slow bend the winds started to get quite ridiculous and the rain was hurting our faces. Speccy put his crampons on, but ice wasn’t really the problem it was slippy slush and mud that kept us sliding around. The climb to the summit was arduous and we were in thick mist from around 650m. At points all we could see was white, there was no horizon and the only thing visible was the odd rock. We followed the footprints of the team that were on the hill before us and found a large iron cross – a memorial just short of the summit. Built-up ice was clinging to it, windswept and petrified. We made the summit at 1405, took some photos and then returned to the shelter of the rocks below the iron cross for a quick lunch.

By this time my old Mountain Hardware gloves had started letting in and my hands were very cold. I started losing the feeling in the tips of the fingers of my left hand so held my hands in my armpits until the water in the gloves warmed up sufficiently to bring some life back into my hands.

The descent was difficult at times; the slush was very slippy and sometimes we would drop into a hole of snowdrift that went up to the top of one thigh. The thaw was in full swing.

We made it back to the car at 1605, got warmed up and dried off and headed back to Glasgow.

All in, the walk took over 5 hours, but I reckon I could do it in 4 if conditions were better and it’s definitely an option for an after-work hill once the lighter nights come in.

Nasal Polyps and Vasomotor Rhinitis

2010-01-14T22:34:00.001Z

In the winter of either 2001 or 2002, I started to become aware that I had what seemed like a permanent cold. My nose would become stuffed and start to run with thick, green mucus for 6-8 hours after any alcohol. I remember being in the pub and thinking, “this is ridiculous, I’ve had this thing for months”, and doing the usual manly thing and ignoring it. As the summer came, the perma-cold receded and my nose was fine. The next year however, it returned with avengance. Eventually I figured that something was definitely not right and so I made an appointment with my unsympathetic doctor. A quick look and he knew that I had nasal polyps.

The standard prescription is a dose of nasal steroids, which take 6-8 weeks to have any effect. So I started the course and the problems were reduced. Excellent news, but this coincided with the coming of summer, so the problems subsided again.

I was starting to get used to the seasonal swing of symptoms and figured it was all down to climate, so when I made plans to go to New Zealand in February 2004, I fully expected the situation within my nostrils to calm down, but instead, the Southern Hemisphere summer made it worse. I was drinking most days and figured out that if I drank two nights in a row, it wasn’t so bad. However, the combination of alcohol, polyps and shared dorms in hostels led to some complaints of an unwakeable, snoring Ross. Cue embarrassment.

Once I came home, I managed to get an appointment with the doctor again and eventually got a referral to the ENT clinic at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow. I was asked to come in for an operation to have my polyps removed. “Hurrah!” I thought. So in August 2005, I was prepped by the anaesthetist and the conversation went a little like this:

Ross: “Is this the theatre?”

syringe of bloody marvellous pethadine is skooshed into me

Anaesthetist: “Yes, and you’re the star of the show……”

Ross laughs uncontrollably before conking out completely….

I awoke to nurse shaking me and my chin and chest covered in blood. Apparently I had removed the packing from my nose as I was starting to come round. I had to stay the night but left the next day much to my relief. Being in a hospital bed is very boring indeed.

After a couple of weeks I was feeling strong again and managed to run the Glasgow Half Marathon – not bad going.

That evening I went to the Drum and Monkey, a favourite watering hole to celebrate our success in getting round the course. I was keen to try out my new hooter with some booze, but you can imagine my disappointment when the same thing happened, albeit to a lesser degree.

I should point out here that the problems don’t just appear when alcohol is around. Often my nose would be stuffed and breathing through it at all could be a problem. Drink only made it more runny. My sense of smell is also almost completely gone.

So, after a few weeks I was called back to my GP to have a look. The report said that they couldn’t get all the polyps out because I had a deviated septum. This meant that my nose was too twisted to get to the ones on the left side. The next step was an operation in 2006 to straighten out my nose and get to the polyps on both sides.

I packed my overnight bag and headed out to the hospital again, hoping that this time I might get my dream of being able to enjoy a beer again.

It looked good initially. The septoplasty had been a success and they had removed some more polyps from the right nostril. Once more I hoped and after a few weeks of getting some interesting post-operative “debris” from my nostrils including blood, snotters and stitches, I felt I could breathe more easily, but there was still a reaction from alcohol – and it was just as bad as before.

Since then I’ve tried a number of nasal sprays, antihistamines and rinses. I must admit, the steroid sprays work for me, but it’s not an allergic thing and the nasal wash never really made much difference.

As of October 2009, things have started getting worse again. Snoring has returned and my left nostril remains almost permanently blocked. I went to the doctors and she can’t see any polyps but reckon I have a condition known as vasomotor rhinitis. I now have a letter from the ENT clinic telling me I’ll wait 12 weeks for an appointment with them which will involve a visual scan and nothing else no doubt. I know the NHS are stretched but I really would love a proper MRI scan.

There is a ray of hope. I have private medical insurance through work so I am considering going to BUPA to see if I can get a scan and find out once and for all if there is anything I can do about this irritating and sometimes embarrassing affliction.

John Hislop, 1923-2009

2009-12-31T17:17:00.001Z

My old Papa’s funeral was 2 days ago and I had agreed to say a few words and share some memories at the service. It was difficult to do, but I’m glad I went through with it. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, right? Here’s what I said:

As my uncle says, this shouldn’t be a sombre time. We should all remember the kind, gentle and fun man that my papa was.

I have tried, over the last few days to think back to the memories I have and hold dear about him from my own childhood and it brought a smile to my face on many occasions.

He had a knack for model making, and I recall the garage he made for me, Ross Motors, which is still in Mum and Dad’s loft. It came fully featured and painted with a car ramp, sign, petrol pumps and was built over two levels. The time and patience he must have put into this was incredible. I also remember the Torpedo Boat model he was working on many years ago. It had a nice hull shape but I guess it just became too intricate to complete.

Once he had retired, I think he started feeling a sort of boredom and I expect that he noticed that I was feeling the same way in that long summer I had between 6^th year at school and 1^st year at University.

This was the summer of the Great Shed Moving. The shed in Papa’s garden had to be moved about three feet forward. For two days I cycled from Crookston, out to Bishopton, and using crowbars, shovels and anything else with a pole attached, we proudly shifted that shed, slowly and surely onto the new slabs that we had laid.

Quite why we did this task is entirely a mystery to me still but I think it was to perhaps counteract that post-retirement boredom.

Papa was never one for technology, he would often ask me how my work was going, but was never really sure what I do. Certainly never afraid to ask the hard questions, he would ask me to explain the concept of IT and computer programming to him – which I never managed to do. I guess the generation gap was just too wide.

My Papa was many things and you will all know him in different ways. But when I was younger and used to ask about the war, that’s when I formed my opinion of him. He was my hero.

Toezi’s Best Man’s Speech

2009-12-31T17:14:00.001Z

I had promised to put this up here months ago, but never got round to it. So here is Toezi’s Best Man’s Speech:

Introduction

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ross and Paul and I have been friends since we were 8 years old.

Thanks

First off, I’d like to say a few thank you’s. Thanks to all of you for coming along today and making this a particularly special day. I’d especially like to thank everyone who’s travelled a long distance to be here over the last few days.

As you know, Paul and Sarah have adopted a very unique approach to wedding gifts in their choosing of little holiday ‘upgrades’ to make their honeymoon very special. I’d like to thank you all on behalf of the bride and groom for these and I’m sure it will be the holiday of a lifetime.

I’d like to take this opportunity too, to thank the parents of the bride and groom. The garden was a beautiful and very natural choice of wedding venue and <insert weather joke here>.

I’ve known Colin and Maureen for as long as I’ve known Paul, and Colin took me aside earlier and asked me to tell you that he will personally pick up the tab for free drinks all night.

The bridesmaids, I think you will agree, are also looking radiant.

Read some well-wishing cards

The Groom

But now the juicy bit – some scandal on the groom. There isn’t really much scandal to tell that’s officially ‘on record’, and since we are in a room full of police officers and Paul has a career to worry about I’ll need to keep it quite tame, but by all means come and see me when I’m a bit drunker and I might have something else to tell you.

I’m firmly convinced that we would all be doing something else today if it wasn’t for one simple television programme. A series so seminal that it changed the course of Paul’s history forever.

As Paul will have no doubt mentioned to some of you in his darkest drunkest moments, Baywatch kept him on the straight and narrow. It might have been the intro sequence with the slow motion running but Sarah, I think you’ve got those red swimsuits to thank for him being here today.

As younger men, we were always interested in the outdoors. I have many memories of a youth spent cycling around our local area, then further afield on day trips, then for longer periods when we were able to drive.

We spent a fantastic week on our own, touring Scotland in Colin’s old F reg Vauxhall Cavalier – can you remember the registration Paul? Yep – he’s a good cop.

It was certainly a voyage of discovery. We discovered how to cook boil in the bag rice and tinned curry – at the same time. We discovered that highland roads can be terrifying. We discovered that I had absolutely no skill with the ladies but that Paul had the hypnotic monobrow which could woo them to a beach in Ullapool……

Mad Dog McGowan as he likes to be known has had a variety of jobs through his life, with ever increasing responsibility. Initially working in Sainsburys, to fund the Blue Flash, his first car. Registration Paul? Good Cop. This was a far cry from the dream of helicopter pilot that he really wanted.

Then as his career progressed he left Sainburys to become a wallpaper salesman. Unable to stick with that, he gave it the brush off and saw himself in the future as a decorated Polis.

Between the wallpaper salesman role and joining the cops, Paul and I worked together as Joiners with our friend Joiner Jim. Whatever possessed Jim to have an ex-wallpaper salesman and computer programmer do a loft conversion I will never know but there you go.

We were always on the job early and Paul’s competitive streak and height advantage got him his own nailbag – you can imagine his pride.

Now he is the finest cop in the West End and often pops into my flat in full uniform, giving my neighbours something to talk about.

The Bride

I’ve always compared the day that Paul met Sarah to the day he fell off a mountain. In both cases, he thought he was on top of the world, he was stunned by such beauty and he stumbled and fell. In the case of the mountain, he stopped, sat up and got on his way. On the day he met Sarah he never stopped falling in love and I think he still is.

Sarah has been a calming influence on Paul. The hedonistic late night drinking sessions have been put to one side, drugs are now only issued by the doctor for his variety of ‘man problems’ and he drives within the speed limit. Until the midlife crisis anyway.

Words of Wisdom

I was looking for some poetic words of wisdom to wish the new couple luck and I went through a few Scottish poets before I remembered the stone carvings in the Glennifer Braes by Robert Tannahill and since this is a Paisley wedding, it seems appropriate to take a suitable extract from his work.

Fly we to some desert isle,

There we’ll pass our days together,

Shun the world’s derisive smile,

Wand’ring tenants of the heather;

Shelter’d in some lonesome glen,

Far remov’d from mortal ken,

Forget the selfish ways o’ men,

Nor feel a wish beyond each other.

Wishing all the best

It took you long enough, but I am so pleased to see two of my best friends being married for better or for worse. Paul couldn’t do any better and Sarah couldn’t do any worse.

So if you could all stand, please raise your glasses and I give you the new Mr and Mrs McGowan.

The Fabled ScottishDream Website

2009-09-01T22:04:00.001+01:00

In July 2007, in a drunken slightly creative spurt I had an idea to create a website to do something with the photos I’d taken and worked on until that point.

Even when I’d sobered up this still seemed like a good idea so I even bought the domain scottishdream.co.uk – which links back here.

Nowadays I’m using Flickr to display these but I still think that there might be scope to use this domain to resurrect the idea.

Here’s a picture of the initial design:

I’d like to get this going again for a few reasons:

1. Despite my obvious flaws at taking photos I think some people like them and might want to buy some little ones for their houses – I’ve already made a sale to the office.

2. I could do with some online filespace anyway – Blogger, Flickr and Picasa can’t store and link to my odd files – like KML’s from walking routes.

3. A proper website address would look better on literature……

4. Control. I like to be in control.

Anyone using any online web hosting that’s cheap and uses IIS?

Rialto Cherub

2009-06-17T11:05:00.001+01:00

Rialto Cherub
Originally uploaded by ross_vernal

Archive Photographs

2009-04-30T13:51:00.000+01:00

I've recently taken to adding in some Archive Photographs of the 30th Glasgow to my Flickr account.

These can all be seen here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ross_vernal/sets/72157617510445468/

If you have any photos (hard copies or digital that you would like to add to the collection, please email me at ross_vernal@hotmail.com

If you have dates for them that would be perfect - I'd like to create a very full collection ordered by decade so that we can preserve them forever.

Sanoodi

2009-04-17T15:27:00.002+01:00

Recently, I came across this marvellous wee GPS app for my Nokia mobile. I can create routes based on where I've been and look at vital stats.

Toezi, Poochy and I were up on Dumgoyne on Monday and here is the result (notice I start halfway up the hill - this is down to pure stupidity)

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/dumgoyne-76310/widgets/map/

The Sand of Findhorn Bay Still Clinging To Ma Shoes!

2009-03-12T18:32:00.000Z

Saturday's Accident

2009-01-26T22:44:00.002Z

If Saturday's accident in Coire Na Tulaich on Buachaille Etive Mor has taught us anything it's this;

As primal an instinct as climbing is to some of us, there is a definite benefit in using technology to warn us of potential danger.

Please, please, please Scottish Government provide funding to create mobile versions of the 2 sites below; one of which has caused me to change plans on more than one occassion, putting my hillwalking and climbing colleagues out of danger.

Just put this in your bookmarks and you can thank me for it later.

SportScotland Avalanche Information

Mountain Weather Information Service

Year Book '84

2008-11-07T09:14:00.001Z

And the bombs fell.....

2008-11-03T14:53:00.002Z

Spotted here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/30/a8849730.shtml

This is really for my own reference, but it's still a reminder that it wasn't just Clydebank that took a major hit in 1940.

"One Saturday morning in Summer, 1940 I had my first experience of aerial bombardment. A lone German plane launched a stick of bombs at the Clyde shipyards near my home at Scotstoun West (Dumbarton Road). The bombs fell on tenement buildings in nearby Langholm Street killing many civilians, mainly women and children. I watched as the rescuers removed the maimed and broken bodies of neighbours."

The Mighty Just Fortune

2008-10-27T09:20:00.003Z

Just Fortune were a band famed and adored by millions. Their stadium world tours were a sellout within hours (let's not mention the Indian Stampede incident) and their songs inspired the disabled to walk once more.

Since their demise, the adoring pilgrims often make their way on the 24th of December to Glasgow's West End to drink in the emotion of that fateful day when they split.

And now, a recently discovered video of the band has surfaced. It's a very telling piece - look at the way that the bass player examines that guitar with great skill, marvel at the guitarist's wild solo and wonder at the drummer's magnificent facial spasms.

You'll notice that the singer isn't present. Rumours abounded at the time that he had left the band, or had died and been replaced. This only adds fuel to that theory but I can exclusively reveal that, on the night of recording he was at his son's parents evening.

Also in the video is the famous producer ScottyMac. His previous work with Gambler was just a taster of the skill that was to come on all the Just Fortune albums. It was later that same evening that he shot those two prostitutes for allegedly describing him as 'a chipolata of a man'.

Poochy in the Pipe

2008-09-27T14:19:00.003+01:00

For the pleasure of the soon-to-be-betrothed Toezi - here is Poochy in the Pipe!

Mamores Magic

2008-08-03T18:30:00.005+01:00

Last weekend was the annual trip RuggerChap and I have to catch a few Munros in the Highlands. We had to reschedule due to work purposes but fortunately the weather was neither too hot nor too wet.

The original intention was to complete the loop of Na Gruagaichean, Binnein Mor, Binnein Beag and Sgurr Eilde Mor so we set off refreshed (after a few Cinzano's at the local establishments in Kinlochleven) at 9.15am for the Mamores. We followed the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall trail into the valley between Am Bodach and Na Gruagaichean. It eventually winds it's way up the hill to a very small lochan at 196651. We then made the dash for 1000m point uphill for 600m. Not too strenuous for me, but RuggerChap was finding it tough going due to a wee trip earlier and the heat was causing him to sweat from pores he claimed he never knew he had. The mist that had been hanging around all day cleared on top of Na Gruagaichean and we could see Binnein Mor ahead - it's huge mass swirling in and out of the mist. We summited Na Gruagaichean at 1.10pm and an hour and 10 minutes later were on Binnein Mor. One look from the summit and the fact that we had taken 5 hours to get where we were confirmed that Binnein Beag would have to live to fight another day. We backtracked towards Sgurr Eilde Beag and descended to Coire an Lochain. RuggerChap had some reservations about pushing on to Sgurr Eilde Mor and contemplated waiting at the bottom and having a dip in the high lochan while I scooted up and down the last munro but he decided to go for it anyway.

A slow ascent followed on the scree but the views over to Glencoe and the Rannoch Moor confirmed that it was worthwhile. We summited at 4.20pm and were pleased to have a roll with no black flies everywhere in the wee breeze. Still a fairly warm day even above 1000m. A very steep descent back to the lochan and then the long 6km walk got us back into Kinlochleven at 7.30pm.

A quick shower and then off to the hut for cider and haggis from the store cupboards.

All Wings To The Wind!

2008-07-24T09:34:00.005+01:00

I filled my tank up this morning for the first time since last Tuesday (not Monday as I'd previously reported). Normally I get to 410 miles before I start to worry about not having enough but I got to that level at 450 yesterday and filled up at 469 today! I filled the car, but it turns out I'd put in 40.6 litres, meaning that I still had 4.4 litres left. I think I could have managed 500 miles if I'd really pushed it, but I would have been caught short on the way to Stirling.

So here are the facts and figures:
40.6 litres gets me 469 miles = 11.55 miles per litre
40.6 litres is 8.93 gallons = 52.52 miles per gallon (Imperial gallons, not US gallons)
112.9/11.55 = 9.77 pence per mile
£0.0977 x 73miles per day = £7.52 per day = £37.61 per week

I'm going to keep driving this way, but I do feel that the engine gets a bit sluggish and sometimes needs a good revving into the 5000's to keep it all flowing nicely.

I reckon if I got the car serviced and dumped some of the unneccesary weight I could squeeze a bit more out of it, but as it stands I feel like I'm driving a very efficent car so no real reason to change.

Dunno about getting a motorbike though Toezi. Be nice in Summer but Winter would be a bugger. Plus I'm not a bank manager or maths teacher.....

Hypermiling continued

2008-07-17T09:15:00.002+01:00

I filled up my car on Monday evening at a cost of £40.91 and have been trying to drive carefully since. Pumped up my tyres to 30psi - I figure the harder they are the less friction between them and the road.

I've probably done around 105 miles since then and my gauge says I've used around 7 litres, but it's likely to be a wee bit more than that.

I've been driving at no more than 60mph as well and dropping it down to 50-55 on the wee roads if there's no traffic behind me. I'm finding that folk start to get irate if you're at the speed limit and they can't get the full use out of their 3.2 litre V6 Lexus. But more fool them - I'm starting to get a little of the same feeling that I used to get when I cycled to work - the one where I have the moral high ground over everyone else but just not on the same scale.

Obviously the best thing I could do to save money is to get a job in Glasgow, but that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Hypermiling

2008-07-04T13:56:00.003+01:00

I drive a lot. I don't mind it but I'm conscious of the prices slowly creeping up so I'm going to attempt to hypermile for a week. I'm hoping that this will save me some cash on my weekly run to work (which is 73 miles per day).

Have any of you tried this before? I read yesterday that you can save 40% of your fuel if you tailgate a lorry at 3 metres, but I'm thinking safety first might be the ethos to follow.

I'll try some simple modifications to the car next week and let you know how I get on and how much I save the following week!

Gustav walks in the wild forests.....

2008-04-14T20:33:00.000+01:00

Well Deserved......

2008-02-21T19:57:00.002Z

It's been a tough few weeks at work. I've been working mind numbingly quickly on a secret project for the Government, but I've been learning fast which is the only way to do things really. So I felt that I deserved a well-earned wee break. The call went out to the walkers and Speccy and BeatleMan joined me.

Saturday was myself and BeatleMan on Beinn Sgulaird. Suprisingly enough we were up, fed and away from the glen by 10.30am which is no mean feat considering that we hadn't arrived till 12.30am and didn't hit the hay till after 3am. By the time we drove round to Druimavuic on the South East side of Loch Creran it was 11.35am. It was cloudy, but there was no wind so we made good time on the way up. The point at 488m is deceptive - there's a drop in height of around 40m just after it - it's not a big deal but it could make you think you were on the wrong heading since it's not so obvious on the 1:50,000 map. It's a bit of a slog after that really; there are 2 other peaks above 850m before the summit. We summited at 3pm in visibility down to 50m or less at points. Knowing that we only had a few hours of light left we decided to take the route which would lead us away from the car, but would have us on a well defined road by nightfall - as long as we kept the pace up. This was easier said than done because any snow had been wind blasted into almost solid ice. BeatleMan took a tumble and panicked a little but I caught him in time - neither of us were in any danger though.

We made a beeline for the river and made it onto the track at 5.10pm and had a lovely hour long walk back to the car in the dusk, with owls hooting and only our footfalls to break the silence. We were back at the car at 6.05pm. Few phonecalls then off to the Kingy for a drink then back down the glen road for a showdown with the remainder of the Hogmanay red wine and to wait for Speccy.

Next day was marginally clearer and certainly warmer at sea level. BeatleMan's legs were agony after Saturday's walk, but I felt I could just about muster another Munro. So, with the bikes in tow Speccy and I headed for Invercharnan and parked up. We reassembled all the various parts of the bikes by 11.20am and headed up the forest track to the foot of Beinn Fhionnlaidh. Speccy had a slight bee in his bonnet about this one after September's "episode" on the hill. We locked up the bikes (after climbing 250m on them!), hid them well in the forest and began the muddy slog at 12pm. The climb seemed a lot easier than last time, despite a good workout and stiff legs from the day before. We summited at 2.35pm but it was cold, misty and very windy. There was a lot of snow around as well and it made us a lot more wary on the two steps that require some scrambling. Didn't see much up there until we came back down to 800m and the day started to clear a little. I did however see a brace of ptarmigan and something that looked like a ptarmigan but was red. Red Grouse perhaps - do they live above 800m?

We made it back to the edge of the forest to hit the bikes for 4.30pm and the forest track which, in September had taken us 50 minutes, and on the bikes on the way up around 35, now took just over 6 minutes. Plenty of time saved and a little more excitement to end the day. We were back at the car at 4.40, then we parted ways. I went home and Speccy went to get BeatleMan before heading down the road.

Gleann na Caorainn

2008-02-11T20:59:00.000Z

This is the ruin of Gleann na Caorainn cottage, from the sheepfold just to the west. It's about 6km West of Luss at NS294938. I was there with Toezi and Poochy, just for a couple of hours to stretch the legs before hitting the hills proper next weekend.

I don't know much about the cottage, but by the look of the drainpipes and the old furniture I'd say it hasn't been lived in by people since the '50s at the latest. There's no electricity in the glen and it must be midgie murder in the summer. I imagine that it was probably just used for farmers living in it for summer pasturing but it might well have been a full time home at some point.

It's now just abode to sheep but it's a beautiful wreck.

Everett Ward - An Open Source Unending Story?

2008-02-07T20:28:00.000Z

You might remember as a kid, books that had options in them. Like "if you wish to run away, turn to page 36" or "if you want to fight the beast turn to page 82". Maybe you don't but I do and I always loved the way there was never the same end to it (there was a finite number of possibilities of course). Well now we have a chance to replicate this, using an (almost) infinite number of possible endings or continuations.

If you have a blog, I'd like to challenge you to write the next part. It should start with a link to the previous post:

The Everett Ward Pt 1 (continued..)

Then your next part of the story and finally a comment in the blog of the chapter before. i.e - you'll post a comment in The Everett Ward Pt 1 with a link to your part 2.

This means that you start at part 1, then pick one of the parts at random from the comments to end up at a different story completely. IF it works and people contribute. Make sense?

Dunno if anyone's done this before or not but knowing my luck they probably have.

Here's some pointers and explanations:

The Everett Ward is in a parallel universe which has never known war or violence and it's where victims on witness protection are sent from our universe.

A top secret machine can send people into parallel universes (of which there are infinite numbers), but the machine can sort them based on characteristics to find suitable ones.

Hugh Everett proposed the Many Worlds Theory. He is also the father of E, the main man in the band Eels. (see the infinite possibilities thing here folks?)

Be good about it - I'd love to read about characters developing and plots thickening, but for it to be different every time!

I think the GreyKodiak could be the man to write part 2!

The Everett Ward - Part 1

2008-02-06T13:49:00.000Z

I wake up on fresh, waxy sheets. My body aches all over. I lift my hands to rub my face and feel the rough and jagged metal against my fingertips. I have no idea where I am and no idea what time it is or how long I've been out.

Sitting up, the view in the mirror at the end of the bed horrifies me. Little metallic studs are embedded hard into the bones in my face, spots of dried blood are immediately obvious and things start to flood back to me.....

It's the roof of a large warehouse in a quiet city. The windows of the other buildings are smashed as if we're in a brownfield zone in the old Industrial heartland or something. Someone tells me that it's not due to go down until December and seeing as it's only April I feel we have nothing to fear. It's clear and sunny and I can see the hills in the distance. A sweet breeze blows against my cheeks.

Then I hear it. A low hum at first, but then a chop chop chop as if we're listening to a helicopter but it's most definitely not a helicopter I see in the distance.

Toast Tae The Lasses 2008

2008-01-28T19:35:00.000Z

For those of you who were unable to make it along to the 30th Glasgow Scout Group's annual Burns Supper, shame on you! You missed a fabulous night with some astounding performances by all concerned.

Here is the second part of my Toast Tae The Lasses:

Fair fa' yer honest sonsie face,

Great chieftess o the shoppin race

Aboon them a' ye take yer place;

Next, Topshop or Debenhams

Weel are ye wordy o a grace,

As deep's ma wallet.

The aisles o Silverburn there ye fill

Your hurdies feel the aircon chill

Your visa caird would help to mend

The fa'in stockmarket

While thro the stores the girlies swirl

Like livin deed

His barcode scanner o Reddy flashin light

An bankrukpt you wi ready slight

Trenchin your handbags entrails bright

Like ony ditch

And then o what a glorious sight

A new storecard, I'm rich!

Then dress for dress they stretch and squeeze

“Ah'll take it in the 8, it's aw that's left”

Till all their weel-swalid kytes believe

“I'm on a diet anyway”

Then their patient men (who'd like to leave)

“Bethankit” under their breath

Is that ower there a French Connection?

Or Ortak – we'll go there now

But the sushi the wad mak her spew

Wi perfect sconner

She looks at me wi sneerin' sconfu' view

On sic a dinner

Ye pow'rs wha make mankind's knees tremble

And dish us out yer bill o' fare

Whatever you spend dear and whatever you buy

You'll always be gorgeous to us

So stand gents, raise your glasses,

And here's a toast

TAE THE LASSES!

An Attempt on Ben Starav - 30th December 2007

2007-12-30T21:59:00.000Z

The last hillwalk of the year was a bit of a slow burner. After a good day's worth of faffing, I headed up to the glen with Speccy driving his new motor. Arriving at 4.30ish, we were overawed by the work done on the fire by Toezi and Herr Vilko. A new, modern bracketing system now holds the copex and outer pipe. A bit smokey inside but hey, the old place wouldn't be the same if we came home smelling of roses.

Herr Vilko announced his intention to donate for the good of mankind and Jannies were featured in pretty much every song played after Nothing Ever Happens. Even Poochy growled along.

A cold night with an even frostier reception in the morning; the evening was clear and star-filled and the day started fresh and Baltic, but the temperature soon rose high enough above freezing to defrost the roads. Speccy and I abandoned our attempt on Beinn Fionnlaidh because we had started later than expected, but about 11.30am headed up the Northern shoulder of Ben Starav to enjoy the snow which was deep and frosted above 600m. We managed to 720m before light stopped play at 2.45pm and we had a picnic of oatcakes and cheese and watched the clouds starting to move in. Some smirry rain followed and we pressed on down, admiring the snow level on the rest of the hills of the glen and the steep slopes of Coire da Choimhid. It was dark when we got back to the car at 4.30pm but we trooped home, satisfied that we hadn't wasted the day.

Pan is dead, long live Pan!

2007-12-23T22:04:00.000Z

The other night, I sat down to watch Pan's Labyrinth for the first time. If you haven't, you should etc etc. Now the next day it came to mind that there are two Waterboys songs - The Pan Within and The Return of Pan - both featuring the Greek God Pan. As any good seeker would do, I went to the wiki page to see where the background for these things come from and found out a very interesting fact. The Scottish author R. Ogilvie Crombie claims to have met Pan himself (despite being the only Greek god who is apparently dead) in Edinburgh, Iona and Findhorn. Mike Scott's association with all of those places is well documented so it is entirely plausible that he's read Crombie's works and used this as a source of inspiration along with The Goat-foot God by Dion Fortune and some poems by Yeats. This is all merely an observation till this point, but it was all on my mind for a few days and led to a terrifying dream about a biting by a praying Mantis (or something similar to the fairies in Pan's labyrinth) right at the base of my neck and then on Wednesday a van passed me, Pan Joiners - with an image of the Goat-footed one himself playing his rustic pipes. I wonder if this is a glimpse inside the slightly unbalanced part of my brain or just a minor obsession......

Guillermo Del Toro's next film is out soon and looks ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING:
http://www.theorphanagemovie.com - Watch the trailer here

2007-09-20T21:53:00.001+01:00

Wow. This is dedication to art. And again, Wow

http://vinylmysteries.blogspot.com/

2007-09-18T21:46:00.000+01:00

This is my 100th post! Who'd have thought that I'd have the commitment!

I've just finished reading Ian Abraham's book about the Waterboys. It gives historical background to the important albums and songs and where Mike Scott's head was at the time - which is great, but it's badly edited and relies entirely on interviews from the press through the years, rather than any contact with the author. I felt that he missed the point slightly nearer the end - as any true Waterfan knows - Mike Scott does what he likes and the body of work is an unending line rather than a circular route back to it's epic beginnings.

I do feel inspired again though - it's great to view the tunes with fresh eyes and things are more coherent. I think I might try and write a song again soon.

I've found some great stuff with good old StumbleUpon again:

Monkey head transplants
LOLcats
Running from camera - "The rules are simple: I put the self-timer on 2 seconds, push the button and try to get as far from the camera as I can."

2007-09-12T20:03:00.000+01:00

Update on the fitbaw project. We have rebranded to "Our Football Pitch". It's available at www.ourfootballpitch.com. Go and have a look for yourselves. Still no sales yet, but give it time....

I have started my new job in Stirling over the past week. It's busy so far and SO good to be working for a company where I'm treated like an adult. Anyone know anything about this?

GHA Staff Suspended
or
Computer Boss at GHA resigns

Like John Temple Jr says in my card: "When you leave, even the directors leave. You might be more important than you think"

2007-08-01T21:53:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago, I met my old pal Davey at a Stag party in the Lismore (where ALL the best plans are hatched) and we talked about finding a way to make some money and leave something behind. I met Davey again a fortnight or so later and we started to get the wheels in motion.

We've spent a lot of time crafting our idea over the MSN and bringing it slowly alive. The result is the Million Dollar Football Pitch. And yes, it's a copycat idea, but we think there is a unique market. And yes, that's my design. And yes that IS the football pitches at Pollok Park on a sunny July evening.

The next stage is to market the site and get some logos on the pitch! So if you know anyone involved in the football industry, either let me know their contact details or send them the address. We reckon it will just take one or two to get the ball (and the cash) rolling.

So just go there: http://www.milliondollarfootballpitch.com

2007-07-11T21:53:00.000+01:00

As most of you know, I'm not one for sitting down to watch the telly, but I had seen a few trailers for Cape Wrath on Channel 4 recently which grabbed my attention and so I decided to give it a chance. I expected a lot of crap to be honest, but I was pleasantly surprised. Even in the first episode which was unconventionally long, the characters were well developed and their behaviour was interesting to say the least. There is enough sex and violence to keep me gripped and already shadowy figures seem to be at work which could make for an interesting storyline.

I've been thinking about TV and film writing recently after reading an article about Robert McKee's Story Seminars. This is, in essence, a formulaic method of writing scripts. From what I can gather from the article and reading his website, it uses psychology to pick the right time to introduce particular characters and events within the storyline. There is a school of thought that says that's why CSI and Law and Order and all that gash are all basically the same. I guess if it's used creatively and the rules aren't adhered to completely then the results could be pretty astonishing.

In other news, the Death Trap Corsa has been ill for some time now, but it's going into the garage on Monday so I'll assume the crash position for the bill for that one.......

2007-06-19T21:39:00.000+01:00

Two wonderful things happened today. Firstly, on the way home from work I saw a deer. It was standing 20 metres in front of me, perfectly still and watching me. I stopped slowly and we stared each other out. It was a small thing, skinny but with big ears. It felt wonderful to see one in an urban setting and it certainly looked quite healthy as it bounded off into the bushes behind the shipyard.

Then, on the Radio Scotland 9pm news, came the wonderful story of 600 school children in Morayshire who managed to get into the record books by all playing their bicycle bells along to The Blue Danube waltz! It sounded incredible! If you can track down a sound file, then you should and let me know if you do. This means that 600 kids cycled to school in Morayshire today as well which was something that no kids ever did at my school. Perhaps the world is getting better...

Get on your bikes fatties, you know it makes sense!

2007-05-22T21:55:00.000+01:00

On the ferry to South Uist on a glorious day, I looked over to the South, where I saw
these shapes. Now I know these aren't islands because I'd already picked out Coll and
Tiree to the South and Eigg, Rhum and Muck were in the other direction.

Any ideas?

My theory is that is was the sea reflecting off of the heat haze over the water. I have other pictures of these too if you want a look, with slightly different shapes......

2007-05-22T21:42:00.000+01:00

Dawn in Glen Lyon, historical home of the Campbell clan. Glen Lyon is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland at 34 miles. Remind me to go up there during the rut in November to hear what it sounds like!

2007-05-10T23:01:00.000+01:00

I saw you barefoot in bluebell woods, babe,
Conversing with the butterfly resting
On your open palm.

You asked him if I was an honest man,
He slowly waved his wings just once at you
And then was crushed.

The yellow sunlight patches turned dark green,
And as rain began to patter on leaves
You left the glade.

I followed you, hidden, through the blossom,
Winter's debris cracked beneath your feet
Then you were gone.

I lie myself in bluebell woods again,
Until the butterfly finds another hand.
They never lie.

2007-04-22T14:00:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I wrote anything but I suppose that life has been fairly dull of late. But this week I'm off to Aberdeen to be trained and then to South Uist for holiday puposes.

But I have a tale......

Last night, on the number 9, which doesn't pass the house but goes within 15 minutes walk (it seemed like the best option, considering the queue at Central Station for a taxi) - there was a SCUMBAG smoking on the bus. Cue much glowering at the guy from me and asking him to put it out. Which he did because he knew he was wrong. Then it turns out there were loads of folk smokin up the back. So the next guy sits within the vicinity of me. Cue more glowering. Not working. I go over and sit next to him.

"would you mind putting that out?"
"aye"
"You're no allowed to do that"
"Who says"
"Ah say - it's Scottish Law"
"whit?"

By this point I'm thinking I could get a doin, but I''m getting off soon and I have principles to stand for.

"It's Scottish Law - we fought the fuckin union for 200 years and got our own parliament so we can make laws for ourselves, and you think it's ok to just fly in the fuckin face o that?"
"fuck you"

He did put the scabby thing out though and then I got off the bus - not without abuse though, but still......

CHANGING THE WORLD ONE TRAILER TRASH SCUMBAG AT A TIME

Glasgow really is Scotland's trailer park.

2007-03-27T21:22:00.000+01:00

Since reading Shakey - the Neil Young biography, I'd heard about the Archives Project. Neil Young has been very prolific throughout his career, but has always held back from releasing things he's not happy with. When I first started listening to Neil Young, I heard about "the missing six", the albums which were only released on vinyl. Neil was convinced that there wasn't a modern medium for releasing these which would show their full potential. Then four were released as HDCDs a few years back.

Anyway, Archives 63-72 is out this year but he's started releasing old live perfomances on HDCD, but with the option of buying it with a DVD in the same pack. So today I picked up Neil Young at the Massey Hall 1971. I unwrapped it, and put it in the DVD player. The DVD has a stereo mix which is crystal clear and has various bits of footage from the concert which is quite dark interspersed with other 8mm video from his life at the time. You also get to see the 'old man' as well as hearing some stories about the time that he moved to the ranch out in California.

It's a beautifully put together package, but there's one strange thing; at the top left of the cover it says Archives Performance Series Disc 3. Now, Live at the Filmore is disc 2 so where's disc 1?

I was so perplexed that I text my afternoon buddy Tom Morton on Radio Scotland. My text got read out on air!! Click here, go to Listen Again and find Tom Morton. It will be only be up for a week- so get in quick! It's 1hr 5mins or so in, just after Baby Fratelli by the Fratellis. I'm Fossil from Glasgow!

AND I reckon teh Fratellis could learn a thing or twa from old Neil.

Lets all try and get on the wireless!

2007-03-06T21:03:00.000Z

Well folks - I'm back on the bike to work and loving every minute of it. Even the pouring rain yesterday. You'll be glad to know that I'm staying away from stationary vehicles this year in an effort to keep my rib cage intact.

I am cycling 12 miles a day (2 of those are off-road) in about 80 minutes total according to my cycle computer. Which is not much longer than the bus journey. It also said that I burned 77 calories today but I'm not so sure about that figure.

One of my favourite parts of the journey is passign through the different gang territories. The names are daubed in huge white writing on the path itself; Young Mental Bowrie, Young Scotstoun Fleeto and K-Way (something I can't read) On Tour 2004.

What would your Glasgow gang be called?

2007-02-16T17:31:00.000Z

Three years ago today:

"16/2/04 4:45pm Glasgow Airport

And so it begins. Managed to avoid too many tears. Mad rush to finish getting the minidiscs done before I left the house. At the moment, I'm missing nothing, but the more time away from home I have will change that I'm sure. I'm also quite fond of airports just now, folk coming and going, mixtures of happy and sad. Thought I'd be more nervous than this.

16/2/04 9.00pm Heathrow Terminal 4

Flying over London was clear and I could see the scale of the place. It's huge and the centre of London is so brightly lit I could make out Tower Bridge. The trip from Heathrow Terminal 1 -> Terminal 4 is an 8 minute bus ride to what is almost like and out-of-town shopping centre, and they up the temperature too. Still hate London as much as I always have. Best viewed from the air. BA service is wonderful. Italians are irritating me already.
"

2007-01-29T19:00:00.000Z

At 3am on Sunday morning I wandered, a little worse for wear from the Scout Hall in Lammermoor Avenue, Cardonald towards the Paisley Road West. The Paisley Road West is the main thoroughfare (apart from the Motorway) that goes between Glasgow and Paisley. I'd already phoned 2 taxi companies to no avail but I figured I'd find a taxi out there without too much hassle.

No chance.

Standing at the bus stop in the chill wind with the big mast camera trained firmly on me, I felt like I was in 28 days later. Barely a vehicle past by me, let alone a taxi with it's light on.

I ended up having to stay at my parent's hoose. Grrr.

So. Why is Glasgow such a backwards city? Why can't I get anything reasonable after midnight....I bet it's not like this in Scandinavia.

And for the record.......here is the text of the Address Tae The Lasses, which I performed at the Burns night:

Jeanie and Rab sat roon their fire one night

Wonderin if they wid be praised when dead

Rab said, “they'll no forget me so quickly,

for I've gied poems, songs and airs, my love,

trotted roon Auld Scotia my Red Red Rose,

while you just stayed in your room wee Jean”.

Jean pours her man a Scotch as she should

and hauds her wheest for jist the shortest time

“But Rabbie, who was the muse for yer work?

Who raised yer bairns when ye were aff, awa

Stravaigin singin “Scot's Wahey”. Pished.

Rab responds “Aye my dear ye are the one,

So I'll make sure that once a year, we men

remember and appreciate our lass

For their caring, loving, sweetness and light

And never for their nagging or moaning

So haud up yer glasses and mak a toast

Tae the lasses!

2007-01-18T13:01:00.000Z

If you're listening to your iPod on shuffle mode, sometimes a track appears that is so loud you start fumbling for the volume so as not to embarrass yourself on the bus. On mine it's any Oasis track after the Definitely Maybe album. This is explained here:

How CD's are remastering the art of noise

This isn't helped by the fact that MP3's are compressed files, which means that some of the definition is removed to reduce the file size(it's barely noticeable though). Ever feel your ears are exhausted after having the iPod on for an hour or so? That's audio fatigue.

What I haven't worked out yet is if this is the case with DVD Audio - does anyone know if this is compressed? This might influence whether or not I buy the Neil Young & Crazy Horse Live at the Filmore in 1970 with the extra DVD-A

2007-01-17T23:07:00.000Z

Advertising has always been full of blatant lies, right back to the early days about Guinness being good for you (try telling that to my guts on a Saturday morning after 8 pints), but what I find irritating now is that the advertisers take us all for idiots. Look at shampoo and toothpaste adverts especially - they're giving us incredibly simplified graphics which take into account NO OTHER factors. Look at the way that plaque just falls off your teeth! Just don't ever eat anything again. Watch as your hair becomes smooooooth cylinders of shiny beauty, just don't go outside ever again and turn your central heating off.

So what else irks you? The one I do like is the furry alarm clock............

Dinna haud back noo!

2007-01-06T15:57:00.000Z

This is all that's left of the Scout Group's Hut in Glen Etive. It was mysteriously burned to the ground on Sunday 10th December 2006, which happened to be one of the wettest nights of the year. No one had, to my knowledge been there since Monday 6th November 2006.

This was a case of arson by the worst kind of person, whoever it was. This is the kind of person who has never learned the difference between justice and revenge or right and wrong, because they lack the mental capacity to even lift a spoon to put their daily meals of preprocessed food into their slobbering mouths and because their parents are the kind of scum who have shown them that this sort of behaviour is acceptable. Moreover, this is an act of stupidity, because any intelligent person knows that revenge is a dish best served cold......

Regardless of this world of morons that has grown around us, the clever and proud have risen from all over the world and offered a fortune in time and money to rebuild. 98 years of friendship in the 30th Glasgow Scout Group WILL NOT BE DESTROYED BY ANYONE.

Consider this a grudge.

2006-12-15T13:27:00.000Z

I have a dilemma. It's not a major one and it's not particularly significant, but it needs to be dealt with and I expect your advice!

7 years ago, I bought a book from Fopp called "On the Road to Nirvana", which I thought was about Nirvana, but was all about the influences which lead them to create their sound. As with many books, I got bored just over halfway through, but I got the essence of what was causing them to develop. REM and Neil Young were big factors but even more so were The Replacements. I had never heard of them, and a quick poll amongst my friends revealed a lack of knowledge too. Radio (not even alternative radio) seemed to play them at all, so how on earth would a British market hear about them?

Then, one cold February day, I wandered into Missing Records on Great Western Road (sadly, no longer with us) and spotted a Replacements cassette called "Don't Tell a Soul" for £1. Intrigued, I decided to buy it and see what the fuss was about.

The band's lead member Paul Westerberg, writes songs which I connect to in the same way that I connect to folk music about people, places and past experiences and I immediately fell in love with the album. It became my Spring album and continues to reappear to this day, yet I still only have it on cassette.

My dilemma is.....Should I buy the CD (which I can get for very little cost) and have it on tap in my iPod whenever I want it or should I just leave it on cassette, enjoying it every Spring on the cassette player at home as it drips back into my conscious?

2006-11-30T17:54:00.000Z

I may just have got the first client for my new IT Company today. I'm looking to get a fully working retail site built for them over the next few weeks, so wish me luck!

I still don't have a name for my company yet. I'd thought about Elemental IT Solutions but there's already one of them. So feel free to leave any ideas in the comments below.

2006-11-08T13:39:00.000Z

I GOT SOUL!

I bought a soul album for the first time today. It’s by a chap called James Carr and it contains a song called Dark End of the Street which I heard for the first time on the Tom Morton show last week. It seems to be immensely difficult to find the Soul section in most music shops. In Fopp it’s hidden up on the first floor and in HMV (where I bought it) it’s on a different floor to the Jazz/Blues/R&B/Soundtrack/Anything vaguely different sections.

Despite owning a rather incredible ipod, I will continue to buy only CDs and here’s why:

I could easily have bought the one song from the iTunes music shop for 79p – but I now have a whole album with 28 James Carr songs at £13 which works out at 46p per song.
I can now decide if I like the rest of the body of his work
When all the computers I own die – I’ll still have my James Carr CD to play in the house and in the car.

I also bought the new Tim Finn album and No More Shall we Part by Nick Cave.

The Overtoun Brig

2006-10-27T14:28:00.000+01:00

Inspired by boredom and this article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1925470,00.html) and tales that my auld Argyll and Bute pals told me about the place (especially Alan whose dug Bruno made the jump and lived):

The Overtoun Brig (fur Bruno)

Wee dugs o’ Dumbarton
Nae human soul kens why
Ye feel the need tae leap aff Overtoun Brig.

Dis yer heart fill wi fear
An yer paws get sweaty
When ye get near the arch o’ Overtoun Brig.

Or dae ye jist no care
If onythin’s o’er the edge
As ye chase that wee bird aff Overtoun Brig

Perhaps ye see, like me
The world’s tae big tae be
A servant tae yer lead on Overtoun Brig

Ah see ye fallin’ noo
Crashin’ through the trees
An’ lyin bleedin in the leaves ‘neath Overtoun Brig

So hear ma words canines!
An ken jist whit yer daein
Dinna become another victim o’ THE OVERTOUN BRIG

2006-10-12T20:05:00.000+01:00

I found out today that my friend and musical colleague, Gerry Murphy died from MRSA after a battle with lung cancer, from which he had almost recovered.

Gerry was very passionate about his music, especially Bob Dylan and he introduced me to so many songs that I like to play, sing and listen to now. His family are a thoroughly lovely bunch and my thoughts are with them.

Between February and April we were rehearsing twice a week at the backpackers’ in Glasgow and we all became quite close, and remained so even after we had stopped playing together.

His funeral is tomorrow, and I’ll be going along with the remaining members of Babylon-d, the band that Gerry and I began back in February.

Like Dylan says, Gerry, “Death is not the end”

2006-10-08T20:55:00.000+01:00

I've rediscovered the web. In the form of an add-on to Firefox. It's called Stumbleupon. People post websites in categories. You select the categories that you like, hit the Stumbleupon button and it will take you to sites you otherwise didn't know existed. It also makes you realise that some people have NO eye for good design. Brilliant!

Dream Songs

2006-10-06T13:56:00.000+01:00

In times of trial, I start dreaming about songs. 2 nights ago I heard a girl I knew singing a song off her new solo album (which doesn’t actually exist) that sounded like Dylan’s My Back Pages but with lots of fiddle and some of these lyrics:

Rivers goin’ inland are gonna wait for you.
Notebooks hidden in walls are gonna wait for you.

Now I remembered these from the dream and this is only the second time in my life that I’d done this. It’s a weird feeling, but I hope that I can get myself to do this more often because that’s where I’m hearing the best music. I always feel like I’m amazed at the songs, as if I’d never heard anything like it before. Hopefully I’ll be able to get the music out too at some point.

2006-09-25T22:10:00.000+01:00

V924 JSB

2006-09-25T22:06:00.000+01:00

So here's me. Do I look happy? That's because it was a day off.

Inspired

2006-09-08T13:03:00.000+01:00

Inspired by The Guardian’s Music section on a Friday, I’m trying to get a weekly list of songs about a particular subject – mainly so that I can rake through my music and remember songs that I’d forgotten about.

So this time it’s songs about mental illness:

Pixies – Where’s My Mind?

Pink Floyd – Shine on you Crazy Diamond

Joy Division – She’s Lost Control

Any ideas, comment below!

2006-07-26T13:51:00.000+01:00

Jangly Jangly

If you have keys hanging off your belt or belt loops, then you are obviously someone who harbours a desire to be a prison warden. Therefore you're not worth talking too.

2006-06-07T13:42:00.000+01:00

I've started my new job and so far it's great! Keeping me busy writing lots of code and all-you-can-eat internet access. Hooray! I've also turned 27 which feels a little strange. But my party went well and everyone behaved themselves I think.

July's fine.

"This'll be the summer she learns to ride with no hands......"

2006-04-27T22:32:00.000+01:00

Was up on glorious Eigg the other week and it was marvellous. Met some lovely people (Kitt, Mary and Katy - hiya) and took loads of picters. Here's one! More to come.

2006-04-13T22:00:00.000+01:00

I've been looking at Germano Facetti's designs for penguin books in the sixties and I really like the cover of Persecution 1961 by Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International. It's kind of a bloodstain over a sepia picture of British soliders over the dead, presumably in Korea or WW2. I'm off to Eigg soon so I should have some wonderful photies when I get back.

2006-04-10T22:52:00.000+01:00

There's too many pictures going up here and not enough words now. It's been a while since I made a large posting but sometimes you just drift away from the old thing.

I've got a new band on the go again! This time it's covers but not the ususal Sweet Home Alabama and Wonderwall shit. We're going for obscure Dylan and Neil Young and some of my old favourites too. I need to get a bass amp though otherwise it's gonna sound rubbish.

I'm off to Eigg this weekend with my dear friends Big Chris and Grant. I don't see either of them half as much as I'd like to and I'm thoroughly going to enjoy some time away with them. Should I take a guitar? Answers on the back of an email to Blue Peter please.

Reading: Not Much, Listening: Bruce Spirngsteen's Devils and Dust (£5 in HMV!!!), Creating: a backup system for all my data.

Take it easy troops

Rossco.

PS. There's not ever gonna be a Ross Vernal myspace. Unless someone creates it as a joke. I know where my loyalties lie.

2006-04-10T22:50:00.000+01:00

Here are the troops again waltzing over the blast frozen snow. Oh to be in Scotland now that April's there! (Sorry Robert Browning)

2006-04-10T22:45:00.000+01:00

Here's Gordo and Steg on top of Ben Chaorach near Glen Fruin. It was a lovely day with much falling about in the suprise April snow.

2006-03-18T17:14:00.000Z

This is the view of Glen Etive from the slopes of Stob Coire an Albannaich. Since I hadn't put any pics up here recently, here's a beauty . Listening to Kicking Against the Pricks by Nik Cave, not reading much and stressing over next weekend's camp to Lochearnhead. If you havent been in touch for a while, I'd love to hear from you!

2005-12-26T20:04:00.000Z

Sun setting over the hills from Ben Challum, looking South East

2005-11-07T22:58:00.000Z

El Kilto!

2005-10-24T14:51:00.000+01:00

And there was snow up there too, look!

2005-10-24T14:49:00.000+01:00

It's the season for fungi apparently. That's the Loch Sloy Dam in the background, Ben Van on the left and Ben Vorlich on the right

2005-10-13T22:02:00.000+01:00

Robert The Bruce.....

2005-06-20T00:26:00.000+01:00

In the end,only kindness matters.
In the end commercialism is the killer of art and mediocrity is the lowest common denominator of mass acceptance.
At the end of the day, when there are no friends and there are no lovers.....

2005-05-17T00:01:00.000+01:00

I played my first solo acoustic live set on Saturday night at the Scout Hall in front of forty or fifty people, some I knew, some I didn't. I was first on which was kinda scary, but once I got going all the nerves disappeared and I felt really good about it. Lots of folks said they were impressed and I think I may well have stirred something in some ladies! "Will you sing for me again Ross, pleeeeze". I quite like this. I played Red Army * Blues, Oh My Sweet Carolina and Atlantic City to start with then joined Gordy for that Levellers song about the Falklands then Dave and I did Fishermans Blues and a Bruce Weston cover. I'd like to do more of this open mic stuff, it's really rewarding.

My dear friend Wendy called me today after seeing the Finns at the Dogs Bollix in Auckland. I wish I could have been there for all sorts of reasons. I think she called at the happiest moment of her life. Se sounded elated, but in a calmed way that only she can pull off. I miss her and was thinking of her and Para Handy on the way down the road from Lochgilphead the day.

2005-05-10T22:50:00.000+01:00

It would appear from a message on the other side of the planet that I've been Googled. I wonder how many other people have Googled me and what interesting things they've found. I know of Vernal County in Utah, Vernal Falls, Ewen Vernal the Bass Player with Deacon Blue (a distant relative) and the Vernal Equinox. Or have you come across me while Googling something else? Answers on a postcard from the other side of the world please.

I'm rehearsing a small set to play at the Scout Hall on Saturday's Open Mic/Comedy night. I expect to be laughed at heartily. Cos I cannae sing.

2005-05-09T21:34:00.000+01:00

Ah heard a rumour of a golden Age.......

I went to Renfrew oan the ferry tonight. Crossing the Clyde in the evening light is wonderful. Had a couple of beers in the Ferry Inn in Renfrew (a potential new gig spot for Jim and I) then headed to the Wharf in Yoker. Drug users at one end of the bar, me in the middle and drug dealers at the other end.

2005-05-03T22:18:00.000+01:00

Aye weel!,

I'm back with youse now, hopefully get back into the swing of updating the blog a bit more. I was in Glen Etive over the weekend. Now I remember why I came home. It truly is my favourite place. I think you take on the feel of your favourite place in your personality. Which makes me rugged and changeable.

I've got a webcam now! So if you're on the messenger, you'll be able to see me!

I saw idlewild last night for the millionth time. They're going through a process of change which is reflected in the music. It's almost a different band now, but still has the rock and roll heart. Although there was one bit that dragged on, but I think the drummer was just tired.

Out running tonight too, drenched in the pourin rain.

2004-10-07T15:39:00.000+01:00

I like to drink champagne when I'm depressed. My friend Scott and I drank a bottle I bought him for his engagement (quite expensive!!) after it had all fallen apart and it felt almost as good as sharing a bottle of whisky with a friend. Not Bruce though, because that would just be a shambles.

Tonight, I hit the studio once again, with trusty John by my side and Ian coming in to try and keep this stumbling stinking beast together. I look forward to semi-cementing some of the songs we've been working on.

Go and see G-Plan at the 13th Note next Wednesday. They're very good and have a wonderful fiddle player. It rocks.

2004-09-23T13:57:00.000+01:00

Dear Mr Blair,
I am writing as a British Citizen to ask you to ensure the safe release of Kenneth Bigley, held hostage in Iraq. His life is in your hands and your career is in ours. I'm sure you are doing everything you can to find where he is being held (including buying some time through confusion caused by prisoner releases), but it may not be enough. Your policy is not to bargain with terrorists, but what sort of oppression would drive people to do this sort of thing? They're not doing it for their own gain, but for the release of their wives and mothers.

2004-09-17T09:54:00.000+01:00

Was oot on the toon last night. Lots of legs and backs everywhere I looked. Big John was on top form, like a rampant meenister.

I've got a blister on ma finger from the soosoostoodio the other night.

Auchengillan this weekend. Hoping the weather holds out for us.

2004-08-12T12:19:00.000+01:00

In the Studio last night for the first time since February. We've got two new songs now. John's singing and I'm doing backing vocals as well as bass. Everything sounds good now, we're all prepared to put a bit of our energy into it.

2004-07-17T17:56:00.000+01:00

I looked at new cars today, now that I've been offered a new job. I liked the new Laguna (how comfortable!) and the Mazda 6 (how gorgeous!). M'lud Chris reckoned the Vauxhall Signum is lovely, but I think it pales in comparison.

I'm singing a lot more these days. I think it's because I've got the time off and the weather is good.

2004-06-25T17:24:00.000+01:00

Ok, I've been away in New Zealand for three months, but now I'm back and filling in ma oanline diary.

Today, I was joining with Joiner Jim as I have been doing for the past few weeks, did some facings on windows in a dormer in Helensburgh and tidied up a lot. Deciding whether or not I can go out for beers tonight after Scouts, money is a bit tight. Will have to work next week too I think.

I have to move out soon, it's starting to bug me. I shouldn't be having dreams about bashing Philip Schofield's head in.

2004-06-25T17:11:00.000+01:00

Whoa!!! I'm back with yese!

2004-02-03T09:12:00.000Z

From an Email I sent to big Chris:
"
I was in a late night club for dancing in Paisley on Friday night and spent some time conversing with some of the towns young folk. What an interesting bunch! A young chentleman to whom I was urintating next to exclaimed to me that he was "fuckin' hammered man". I inquired as to what his libation was that very evening to which he replied "2 bottles a Bucky afore ah even goat here". Wonderful. Later, a young maiden caught my eye and I proceeded to engage her in clever and witty conversation (a method which she didn't seem accustomed to). I asked about her career, hoping that she might be a high flyer in the fields of law or medicine (Paisley has produced some marvellous scientists over the years). She told me that she worked in a factory. Now, knowing my history of Paisley and the diversity of it's products (cotton and other textiles, chocolate and even automobiles) I inquired as to what she made. "Aboot £4.20 an oor" came the reply. After that I can only assume that someone took me back to my learned acquaintance Mr Paul McGowan's home as that's where I awoke the next morning.
"

2004-01-26T16:00:00.000Z

Humans should hibernate. It's quite simple. Extrapolate a day out to a year. Think about it.

Three weeks the day and I'm pure oota here.

I'll miss ma hills.

2004-01-05T17:04:00.000Z

Back at Work.

And just as busy as ever. I've had a very lovely Christmas and New Year and I leave these shores 7 weeks today. Everything's happening.

2003-12-17T13:26:00.000Z

Top live music experiences of 2003 in no particular order:

Jesse Malin at King Tuts
Ryan Adams at the Barras
Waterboys in Lewis
Waterboys at the Concert Hall (second time)
Roddy Hart at the Universal (the night he played Sylvia Plath)
Bruce Weston in the Inveroran Hotel (his first live outing)
Phil Morrell in the Kingshouse (the night after Bruce's first performance)
Just Fortune's last rehearsal
A Bloodstained Sunrise (over the past few weeks)

2003-12-16T10:03:00.000Z

At this time of year, it's time to make lists. For closure and as a review of what you've done this year.

Part 1

Best Holidays of 2003

1. Two days in the Glencoe and Glen Etive with Big Spender followed by Teenage Fanclub at the Barras with said Spender in February
2. The West Highland Way in early May with Paul, Gordy, Marty, Phil and Matt & Pia.
3. Stornoway in July to see the Waterboys with Grant. Also stayed in Lochalsh, breakfast by Eilan Donan Castle.
4. Summer Camp - Auchengillan Jamboree in August. Hottest week of the year, both in terms of temperature and action.
5. Dublin - with Paul and Chris and Gordy. Mair Drink than you can shake a snakes leg at.

2003-12-15T10:48:00.000Z

Went to an engagement party at the weekend. Got drunk and I believed I was David Byrne when I danced, although I probably looked more like someone's Dad at a bad wedding.

Only a few weeks left till I'm outta here, on the road to NZ. Starting to get strange dreams about people who I haven't seen in a long time, which kinda makes me want to get in touch with them, but a part of me knows that I shouldn't. However, reconciliation is better than ignorance and the Christmas cards are on their way.

I want to do some writing when I'm away. There's something about travel writing that people like and I'd always thought that travel writing was like looking at people's holiday snaps. Do any of you want to read about my travels? Let me know.

2003-12-03T09:09:00.000Z

Some days, I'd rather be being playing ma geetar.

Rowena emailed me today, which was a lovely surprise and it was marvellous to hear from her. Should definitely try and hook up with her in NZ.

2003-12-02T09:54:00.000Z

So, A Bloodstained Sunrise rock. Like you wouldnae believe. We're gonna get singer Dave in next week.

2003-11-17T13:25:00.000Z

I was in Dunoon over the weekend. Lovely. Strange time of year this, the vivid autumn colours are fading and being replaced by winter's dullness. I've been SO busy for the past month or so that I hadn't noticed nature changing the world around me.

Must learn to play mandolin properly, it's such a wonderful sounding instrument that's worth far more than me just battering chords out of it.

I'm listening to Astral Weeks by Van Morrison and wondering if there's a central theme running through the album. "Little Jimmy" keeps cropping up.

I fly out to Dublin tomorrow (very early) and I'm looking forwazrd to it. I like little city breaks and I'm thinking that Dublin might be full of the kind of girls that I like.

I'm letting my fitness slip a little. Must get running again soon.

2003-11-11T13:34:00.000Z

Bob Dylan turned up this morning. We had tea with Whisky in it and talked about how best for me to write songs. He reckons that the best time is 'fucked-up time'. This is normally when you've been out and you're drunk and you've met a girl who you have history with and you realise that you absolutely adore her. You get home and have a few whiskies. It's at this point that you can begin to write the songs.

Bob reckoned that this can often be a problem for me since my creativity is stifled because j'habite avec ma mere et mon pere and I wouldn't want to wake them with my whiny sentimental tripe when I get in.

Just at this point, Neil Finn walked in and we discussed how I could just work on small ideas (even just a simple phrase) when I'm hammered, but expand upon these at a later date when I'm sober, but 'in the zone'.

Neil Young joined the party then, and I was pleased to see him, but I was in discussion with Bob about alternate tunings. I think Neil Young was pissed off because he told me to do the following:

"Just fuck them all and go on the road for a bit, get up early and try to catch an hour on the sun."

So that's what I'm gonna do.

2003-11-07T12:57:00.000Z

Dear Joan

I've been working for 12 days solid now, and last night I didn't finish
until 12.30am.

Should I be worried that I'm becoming a workaholic?