Blue Nile at The Usher Hall

My friend Brian called me to say that for the second time this year, he had a free ticket for me to see the Blue Nile in Concert. This time they were playing at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh.

However, Brian was unable to make it up from Sheffield this time so there was a spare ticket for Susan, AND we also had backstage passes for the aftershow gig.

The show was pretty much the same set that they had performed in Glasgow a few months ago, only maybe a bit tighter this time.

They played one fantastic song after another and the highlight of course was "Tinseltown In the Rain".

After the show, we were guided down to the area where the aftershow party was held and walked into a room of diehard Blue Nile fans who obviously knew each other very well. We tried to make ourselves inconspicous, but I couldn't resist helping myself to the complimentary wine and beer. So much for keeping a low profile!

Then out came the man himself, Paul Buchanan. Musical genius!

I was totally tongue-tied and could only blurt out, "the show was great". Fanny!

Anyway, the Big Man was good enough to pose for a picture.

Feeling like a bit of a fraud and with the drive to the West coast, we made a discreet exit. We drove home with The Blue Nile playing away on the CD player.

Wonder how many times I will get to see them next year!

Graduation From Paisley University

I graduated from Paisley University today with a Diploma in Higher Education with distinction.

Susan and my Mum came with me for the ceremony at the Thomas Coats Memorial Church in Paisley. I wasn't too bothered about being there to be honest, I did it for my Mum to keep her happy.

I'm glad I did though, as I ended up really enjoying it and Susan said my Mum had a wee tear in her eye, God bless her!

After posing for pictures in the pouring rain, it was over to the University for a buffet. I met my cousin Tracy who was also graduating and her Sister who I haven't seen since I was a boy.

Also graduating was Funtime Frankie, who I work beside on the ward. Patients often get us mixed up. Can't think why though!

The Cobbler

Today was going to be an important one for me, but I did not realise it at the time. I had only been seeing Susan for a short while and six months later as I retrospectively write this blog, that was the day that I began to realise that there was more to us than just two people who were attracted to each other.

Susan would be the one to stop my life from the freefall that it was in.

And she did.

We both had the day off and so we set off early to Arrochar to climb Ben Arthur. I had unsuccesfully attempted this climb a couple of years ago in the torrential rain and snow of March with the guys, with the end result that we nearly had to be airlifted off the side of the hill!

As we set off the weather was not too bad, but a little bit chilly. However, our brisk walking pace kept the cold at bay. We spent the four hour climb really getting to know each other, chatting about our pasts, likes and dislikes. We share many of the same hobbies such as cycling and of course hill-walking and I don't ever remember feeling quite at ease with someone as I did with Susan .

The weather became increasingly changeable as we got further up culminating in a brief snow shower 20 minutes before we reached the summit.

The view was amazing and we spent a little while taking pictures and trying to stay warm in the strong, icy winds.

There was only one thing left to do and that was take a look through the "eye" of The Cobbler. This is two gaps in the rock with a ledge in between that tradition dictates you have to traverse.

To access this centre peak, you have to pass through a small opening in the rock which leads to a narrow ledge facing a 150 ft vertigo inspiring drop. Once on the ledge an awkward sloping ramp leads to a final step onto the flat summit rock.

I crawled through the hole on the right looked down at the shear drop and the newly fallen snow on the ledge and bottled it! Death was not on today's itinerary!

I retreated through the hole with my dignity barely intact and we began our decent of the hill.

A couple of hours later and we were back where we started, safe and sound and ready for all our adventures in the future.

Ruby's Christening

My friends, Brian and Fiona's wee girl, Ruby June was christened on 5th November and they were kind enough to invite me and my Mum down for the service.

It was great to see them and the kids and after a fun day spent with the children we had a nice night out at a litttle Italian restaurant and were joined by Brian's Sister, Mary and her husband, Albert.

It turned out to be a long and late night and the next morning, the day of the Christening, we emerged from our slumber feeling a bit...jaded!

Unfortunately, my Mum was feeling more than a bit jaded and was unable to make the Christening service. However, after the ceremony everyone came back to the house and eventually Mum was able to join the festivities.

Ruby's Mum and Dad were very proud of her and she enjoyed her day, surrounded by the people who love her the most.

Level 42

Susan and I went to see one of my favourite bands in concert tonight.

Level 42 were playing at the ABC in Glasgow.

Although they are not the greatest band in the world, I have been a fan of them since I was a teenager and they are excellent live. I haven't seen them at a gig for years and it was good so see that they are touring again to coincide with their new album "Retroglide".

I think that Susan was pleasently surprised at how good they were too and a special mention has to go to their support act Kenny Thomas who has a cracking soul voice and should have more critical acclaim than he presently has.

I hope it won't be another decade or so before I see them playing live again.

Ben Nevis 15th - 17th September 2006

Thomas, Kath, Jim and I were joined by Liam for one last adventure before he returned to Thailand and we decided to spend a weekend in Fort William and a climb to the "Mountain of Heaven" (Gaelic translation).

Ben Nevis at 4409ft (or 1344m for you modern folk) is highest mountain in the country and one that I am surprised that we have not attempted before now.

We travelled up on the Friday night and after booking into our accomodation we headed straight to the pub.

Did we take it easy and sip mineral water and retire early before our 12 hour climb the next day?

Na, don't be silly. We kicked the arse out of it until the pubs shut and we HAD to go back to the hotel!

The next morning we were up early to the sight of a glorious sunny day. We got ready, had breakfast and headed off to the the bottom of Ben Nevis where large numbers of people had already started to gather in preperation for a long day's climbing.

We went with the crowds but tried to make a good pace as we followed the rocky path that takes you along the popular tourist route, climbing ever higher.

We came to a split in the path and Thomas advised us that to the right was the easier, tourist route, but to the left was the harder and steaper route which we of course was the one that we chose.

The path took us deep into a valley and we walked as far as the mountain rescue station before we started the slow, painful clamber up to the top.

It was two hours before we made it out of the valley and it was worth all the hard work. To qoute Thomas, "fucking hell", which was pretty much what I thought as I got there. The scenery was amazing and you could see for miles.

By now it was 4.00 and we still had a long way to go before we reached the very top. The sun was out in full force and even though we were so high it was very warm.

We continued along the top of the valley carefully since as you can see from the picture above, one false move would have ended badly!

Liam and I picked up the pace and surged ahead of the others and we reached the summit a good 40 minutes before our fellow climbers. It gave us time to relax and enjoy the view.

They eventually arrived and Kath got a little bit emotional at finally achieving our goal.

Unfortunately, we still had to go all the way back down again and time was against us and with the sun beginning to get low in the sky we set off down the opposite side of the mountain as quickly as we could.

A group decision was made that Liam and I go ahead and get a Chinese take-away for us and a sausage supper for Mr Arthur and of course a few cans of beer to wash it all down.

We set off at a cracking pace, maybe a bit too cracking as Liam twisted his ankle near the bottom of the Ben but was able to soldier on. By the time we made it to where the car was parked it was pitch dark and the other three were at least half an hour behind us.

Nevertheless, we carried on into town and bought all our provisions and returned to the hotel. We had just set the table with all the food and drink ready to be opened, when the others arrived looking exhausted. perfect timing! Kath commented that it was like that feeling you get when you were a kid when you came in from playing and your Mum had your dinner ready for you on the table!

After dinner we all got cleaned up and changed, ready for tonights festivities. Unfortunately, Kath was totally knackered and took a rain-check. Sensibly deciding that she was going to bed, unlike us arseholes!

We found a pub with a disco and did what we do best....got pished. There weren't many dancers up but after much goading from my friends, I decided to have a dance off with one guy who thought he was John Travolta. Still not sure if I won or not.

The DJ was playing some really pish tunes so we started to request something a bit better dance to. Culminating in Pulp's Common which had everyone on their feet, swinging their pants.

I seem to remember asking the DJ to play Jason Donovan's "Too Many Broken Hearts" and I think he was up for it but he ran out of time and never played that particular Golden Oldie. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

As the DJ finished, he announced that the Shinty Club would be open until 3.00 if anyone wanted to go. So we jumped in a taxi and made our way there, absolutely reeking.

Don't really know how to describe the Shinty Club, but you know you are in a classy place when five minutes after you arrive the ladies are challenging you to an arm wrestling contest!

After a while and a few more beers, it was getting just a bit too rowdy and we decided to bail out. By this time we were in a bad way. We came across a digger parked inthe street and I know for a fact that if we had been able to start it we would have probably driven it home and a night in the jail would surely have followed!

The next morning was rough! We had a good few hours drive was ahead of us and so we set off as soon as we could. We found a nice wee pub that did a tradional greasy fry-up breakfast and suddenly things didn't seem so bad anymore.

The sunshine from yesterday had been replaced by clouds and rain but we were not caring as it would have taken more than that to take the shine off of what was a great weekend.