Crimbo fog.

Travelling north for santa day. Foggy all the way so far. But my love, fun and games and an 8 month old baby await presents, bosies and giggles.

St. Andrew's Day

I'm not a religious man, but I like the idea of a 'national' day. I would of course prefer the angle to be 'what it means to be Scottish' but for now I will do with wishing I could wear my kilt at work and personal reflection on my Nationality.

What Hanoi means to me.

As you may or may not know, a couple of years ago I had a story published in a book called 'What Motley Means To Me'. This was a short tale of how I got into Motley Crue and how it all fell into place for me. After last night being the final Hanoi Rocks show I will ever see, I thought it only right and fair that I commit to a similar tale for them. So here it is. Paul had a Finnish pen-pal and so was sent various music over the years of local and national Finnish bands. One of them was called Hanoi Rocks and had that glam/punk/rock and roll groove to them. Before I knew it, I was hearing a band that I was to develop an inexplicable emotional attachment to. The first album (Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks) was the first one to stick in my head. I guess it was the combination of the music, the hairspray and the unashamed saxophone that grabbed me. The attitude was punk, it was fun, it was serious and intelligent. The music was the same. It was practically impossible to pick their stuff up over here, so it was exciting waiting to see what Paul would get next. Stay tuned for part 2!

Hanoi Roxx

Tonight I saw, for the 5th and last time, the magnificent Hanoi Rocks. Technically Hanoi mark 2, I never got a chance to see the originals, but damn, Andy and Mike on the same stage is awesome. More to appear on MySpace when I recover.

Heathrow

About to leave.

Bitter

Not like the Murphys of the might before!

Marble Arch

As made famous by Motley Crue in the song Girls, Girls, Girls.

Hyde Park

With autumn leaves

Goin Underground

No brass bands though!

Stereo yawn ics

Miming!

During the game

Inside

Filling up

Archway

Part of the stadium

Tailgate party

In the rain of course.

Saxophones at the ready!

And, blow!

Tate Modern

Fun was had in the Turbine Hall with crazy huge statues and bunk beds!

Contrary to popular belief...

...it's not falling down!

Digby Trout.

No idea why, but the place we stopped in had that on the receipt. Nowhere on the outside of the place, just on the receipt. Weird. Anyway. Tower bridge successfully viewed from the outside, breakfast eaten and it was on to Tower Bridge.

Sleeper train...

View from as far back as i could get! Tiny compartment, but comfy enough. Nice wee toothpaste type pack too. This is just the start of the adventure...

Thor the mighty

He drinks, he burps, he sucks his thumb.

Scorpion attack!

Absolutely fantastic.

Waiting for a bus

Back home after my secret spy mission (phew!) And waiting for a bus to take me to the necessary evil of asda I noticed this critter. Sleeping I think (its legs were kinda tight into its body) until the noise from my phone woke it with a start. About the size of a 50p it was. Unfortunately the underside pic didn't turn out.

Subversion, under-cover version...

So, yesterday one of my staff informs me that they may have difficulty in getting to work for 6am to fulfill a cost/time sensitive part of his job due to conflict with another job he is training for (in order to leave us). The only solution we could find was for me to come in for 6 to deal with the work side if he doesn't turn up. So here i am armed with coffee and waiting. He wasn't on the same bus as i was, but he sometimes gets the next one anyway...

Rip off saturday!

So, we decide to go to the cinema to while away a wet and noisy saturday afternoon. We chose a film and went to buy a snack and tickets at the food counter. As the student was getting our food, the register showed £14.80. Ok I thought as we were expecting ripoff prices for the nibbles. But then he added the food to that! £7.40 for a cinema ticket! Last week i bought a dvd for £2. It will be a while before we come back to the cinema 'on spec'.

She's even metal when she sleeps

On my way out to work, I popped back into the bedroom to say "bye" to the lady. This wonderful sight greeted me and it seemed a shame to wake her. Can't wait to get home to see what/who the dream was about!

The pod has still got room!

Plenty of space for more...but not enough so we don't need another.

All gone!

And so the bedroom was deboxed...

Inside the pod.

Late delivered due to traffic and weather, but here and slowly filling up.

Pod day cometh.

Waiting for the arrival of our storage pod, so we can start decorating. Wondering if it will all fit...

Basking in the sun.

Today we took the ferry to Skye in the hope of picturesque views and the like. On the way in on the boat however, the lady spotted a shark. Or two! We watched for the last possible moment till we had to disembark and then sped round to get a closer view. A man at a pottery shop confirmed the one he' d been watching was indeed a basking shark! Apparently it is rare to see them so close in, but they made the journey just for us ;o) Back along to the harbour in time for an ice-cream and to watch the rest of the passengers in awe

Speed bonny boat...

Looking back from our boat to Skye.

Birthday dinner.

Where we enjoyed the picnic...

Eigg on our faces.

So this morning, after a nice homecooked breakfast, we got ourselves onto a nonlanding trip on a ferry that visited Eigg and Muck. Various seabirds and jellyfish were spotted and then some porpoises which may or may not have been dolphins. Then we bought for a picnic and headed onto the circular path with the intention of a quick visit to a loch to have lunch. As it turns out we ended up walking for a few more squelchy miles, but it was well worth it.

Day two.

The sun is out already and we are about to go for breakfast. Plan for today is a minicruise around Muck and Eigg and then after lunch maybe a trip over to Skye.

Seal of approval.

The little black dot in the middle of the picture is a seal. Looking out at us from about 30 feet away from the road in front of the guest house! It was there for a good 20 minutes just bobbing about and scratching its nose. Up until a little nyaff threw a stone at it. Wee git.

Road to the isles.

Actually the road round from the circular walk we went on after a quick jaunt around Mallaig. We didn't know where it would lead, or how long it would take but we started up the hill next to the guest house anyway. Wow. The walk was partially paved to begin with and led to some spectacular views. Unconfirmed just now, but we are pretty sure we saw an eagle dropping stuff off at a nest. Then just down the hill in the picture, we sat on a bench to watch some boats come in, and as we were daydreaming i spotted a seal peeking out from the sea. We also had a giant baby gull come and hang around awhile too. It's half 7 and we are just gazing out the window of our room just now in awe.

Room with a view.

We have arrived!

And so it begins...

The nice man in queen st found us on the concourse and told us the platform, how long the wait would be, and even which side of the train to sit on for the best views. We had reserved seats for the trip, so that was a by-the-by, but very nice all the same. Once on board we sat down and had to have a discussion with a tourist about the difference between "facing the direction of travel" and "backwards". The discussions with his wife continued and we were well past the first stop before he asked to see my ticket and had it explained to him.

Subway train.

Believe it or not, I lived for a couple of years in glasgow, but this morning was the first time i have ever ridden the underground here. As with the london one- it stinks a bit...

The morning after.

Programme, ticket and sparkles from the show.

Out of my head...

Kylie, giant skull and light show. Rock and roll!

Your disco needs you!

Ready for the curtain to drop.

Dance like a monkey.

New York Dolls. Totally awesome and awestruck.

Nutkin

The red squirrel visited us while we were visiting the sister in law.

Catnip

A shot of Tom enjoying the hospitality of a catnip mouse.

Coming back to town.

While out in the woods visiting the sister in law and nephew, we went for a wander in their "garden". Out of interest i checked out my google map feature. It told us we were close to Opatow, Poland. Maybe it was a magical trip over the river i took, but i don't think we were off course...

Baby and buttery

£70 each?

Between Dundee and here we were treated to the ongoing drug deals of a weird looking guy in a tracksuit. Apparently he was looking for a quarter, or even a half of "g" and it would be about £70 each between the three of them. Not sure if that was if he got the half or quarter, but he seemed to think it wap worth it. Stupid idiot.

Crossing the river Tay into Dundee.

On the road again...

Well, railway actually. Crossing "the" bridge on the way to a 3 day adventure in Aberdeen.