(no subject)

I just tried to make an on-iine donation to the Red Cross Japanese tsunami appeal, and failed miserably when my card type wasn't included in the pick-list.  This happened the day after I nearly ran into trouble when trying to organise a replacement E-111 health insurance card on-line (turns out that my local post office doesn't stock the relevant forms, so I almost wound up paying a fee for the service by clicking on the wrong web-site). 

So, once again, I've found that trying to do stuff on-line is overwhelmingly complicated and subject to endless mishap...

Aargh!!!

The snow has stopped, and the thaw has already set in.  Let's hope that this will turn out to be the last sting in the tail as far as winter is concerned and that spring will finally set in now.

I'm aware that I haven't devoted much attention to my recent acquisition, Build a Rocket Boys! by Elbow.  As I'd suspected, this is an album that requires several hearings before it finally hits the spot.  J doesn't think it's as good as The Seldom Seen Kid, but the more I listen to Build a Rocket Boys! the more I'm inclined to think that there's much in it.  While Build a Rocket Boys!  doesn't have the epic scale of The Seldom Seen Kid, it's still a quality album.  Instead, it's much more subtle and intimate in its delivery.  Musically, it's extremely complex, which probably explains why it needs several hearings before the listener gets to grips with it.  Several tracks stick in the memory: The Birds, With Love, and Neat Little Rows spring immediately to mind.

If you're already an Elbow fan, you won't be disappointed with Build a Rocket Boys!  If you don't know Elbow yet and you want to give them a go, then The Seldom Seen Kid is probably a better introduction, but there's not much in it....

(no subject)

I just tried to make an on-iine donation to the Red Cross Japanese tsunami appeal, and failed miserably when my card type wasn't included in the pick-list.  This happened the day after I nearly ran into trouble when trying to organise a replacement E-111 health insurance card on-line (turns out that my local post office doesn't stock the relevant forms, so I almost wound up paying a fee for the service by clicking on the wrong web-site). 

So, once again, I've found that trying to do stuff on-line is overwhelmingly complicated and subject to endless mishap...

Aargh!!!

The snow has stopped, and the thaw has already set in.  Let's hope that this will turn out to be the last sting in the tail as far as winter is concerned and that spring will finally set in now.

I'm aware that I haven't devoted much attention to my recent acquisition, Build a Rocket Boys! by Elbow.  As I'd suspected, this is an album that requires several hearings before it finally hits the spot.  J doesn't think it's as good as The Seldom Seen Kid, but the more I listen to Build a Rocket Boys! the more I'm inclined to think that there's much in it.  While Build a Rocket Boys!  doesn't have the epic scale of The Seldom Seen Kid, it's still a quality album.  Instead, it's much more subtle and intimate in its delivery.  Musically, it's extremely complex, which probably explains why it needs several hearings before the listener gets to grips with it.  Several tracks stick in the memory: The Birds, With Love, and Neat Little Rows spring immediately to mind.

If you're already an Elbow fan, you won't be disappointed with Build a Rocket Boys!  If you don't know Elbow yet and you want to give them a go, then The Seldom Seen Kid is probably a better introduction, but there's not much in it....

(no subject)

Just occasionally, weird, random things happen.

A pipe band has just metamorphosed into existence halfway down the street, and is busy rehearsing for something.  They've dumped their cars everywhere, and traffic chaos has ensued.  The result is endless entertainment (for those not required to drive) as we watch people try and navigate enormous fourbies, some the size of small armoured personnel carriers, up and down a road that's coagulated to the point of thrombosis. 

And no, I haven't been taking any dodgy substances, and I haven't started on the red wine yet, either. 

I presume there's some special occasion underway at the local bowling club, but I have absolutely no idea what it is.  The only things I can think of that might be worth celebrating are a) the fact that Scotland's playing England at rugby today (perhaps some clairvoyant has decided that Scotland's going to win - cue hollow laughter...) and b) the fact that Alex Salmond acquitted himself rather well on the Andrew Marr Show this morning. 

Guess it'll have to remain one of life's unsolved mysteries...

You are now entering the Twilight Zone...

(no subject)

Just occasionally, weird, random things happen.

A pipe band has just metamorphosed into existence halfway down the street, and is busy rehearsing for something.  They've dumped their cars everywhere, and traffic chaos has ensued.  The result is endless entertainment (for those not required to drive) as we watch people try and navigate enormous fourbies, some the size of small armoured personnel carriers, up and down a road that's coagulated to the point of thrombosis. 

And no, I haven't been taking any dodgy substances, and I haven't started on the red wine yet, either. 

I presume there's some special occasion underway at the local bowling club, but I have absolutely no idea what it is.  The only things I can think of that might be worth celebrating are a) the fact that Scotland's playing England at rugby today (perhaps some clairvoyant has decided that Scotland's going to win - cue hollow laughter...) and b) the fact that Alex Salmond acquitted himself rather well on the Andrew Marr Show this morning. 

Guess it'll have to remain one of life's unsolved mysteries...

You are now entering the Twilight Zone...

(no subject)

The mystery is solved!!

I visited the in-laws today, and as we discussed tonight's television highlights, I had my eureka! moment.

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz, when the Luftwaffe tried to blow the Clyde shipyards back into the Stone Age.  Hence the pipe band, and the generally sombre nature of the occasion.

D'oh!  I should have guessed that one sooner.  I had to write a report on this event just under a year ago, when I carried out a building survey of one of the anti-aircraft batteries built to counteract the threat of future raids.  Not to mention the fact that I'm currently working on the site of one of the biggest production sites of munitions during WWII....

Some historian I am [slinks off into the corner muttering].

On the plus side, we were just party to some marvellous anecdotes about surviving the Blitz from the in-laws, who witnessed these events at first hand.

And to all those who expressed concern for the quality of the pipers...  They were top notch.

(no subject)

The mystery is solved!!

I visited the in-laws today, and as we discussed tonight's television highlights, I had my eureka! moment.

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz, when the Luftwaffe tried to blow the Clyde shipyards back into the Stone Age.  Hence the pipe band, and the generally sombre nature of the occasion.

D'oh!  I should have guessed that one sooner.  I had to write a report on this event just under a year ago, when I carried out a building survey of one of the anti-aircraft batteries built to counteract the threat of future raids.  Not to mention the fact that I'm currently working on the site of one of the biggest production sites of munitions during WWII....

Some historian I am [slinks off into the corner muttering].

On the plus side, we were just party to some marvellous anecdotes about surviving the Blitz from the in-laws, who witnessed these events at first hand.

And to all those who expressed concern for the quality of the pipers...  They were top notch.