the ron mueck exhibition in edinburgh 2006

Also found while cleaning the spare room. Coincidentally, it was 10 years ago to the day that the FPO and myself went to Edinburgh to drink whisky, and catch the hyperrealistic sculptures at the Ron Mueck exhibition. We succeeded in a right royal fashion.

The top three are art cards that were purchased on exhibition day, plus the ticket and programme. Also, there is a framed poster of  'Mask', the stern looking face at the bottom, in my living room. It keeps the parrot in order (or tries to). As you can probably surmise, we pulled over for some food and drink at The Cat Inn on the way there.

Mmmmm....food.......and drink.....

Ten bleeding years!! Where is the time flying away to?

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those crazy scots - meet mr bucket head

Sometimes, the Scottish are as crazy as the Japanese.  This is William Middleton, a man whose hat somehow ended up in a bin in sunny Aberdeen..  When he tried to retrieve it, Mr Middleton (you could guess it was going to happen) got his head stuck in the bin and had to be rescued by firefighters.  There's more on the story at the Scottish BBC news site here, but it doesn't mention if drink had been taken.  Naturally, l assume it had been (did l mention he's Scottish?).  The highlight for me in the story, is how a witness (who didn't want to be named) said he saw the stick and the bum sticking out, and said "that's Willie".  Maybe 'Willie' has a magnificent, pert, and memorable bum, but l'd like to imagine it's because he gets his head stuck in bins all the time. I also like the guys at the bottom of the picture, who are obviously cracking up and in creases about what an arse he looks (see what l did there?), while they also realise they have found somewhere they can park their bike.   Mr Middleton is now known as 'Bucket head'.  He is 53.

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the illusionist / le illusionniste - (2010) - sylvain chomet

From an unfilmed Jacques Tati (who is shown on a movie screen) script, The Illusionist tells the story of Tatisfcheff, (Tati's real name) a magician trying to get bookings and generally survive, as the twin forces of rock and roll and television take over (it's set in 1959). Similar in style to Chamot's earlier The Triplets of Belleville / Belleville Rendezous, but at a more relaxing pace.  Tatisfcheff  gets a booking in the Scottish Highlands, where he befriends a young  girl called Alice, who runs away to Edinburgh with him, believing he can really perform magic. There's nothing sexual between them, and they are like father and daughter, staying in separate rooms while he performs in theatre. It's basically a Cinderella story, as the girl transforms from rags to riches (sort of), as the illusionist buys her clothes and shoes. She however, does not realise he is down on his luck, working odd jobs to make ends meet (and eventually pawning his magic stuff). He then sees her with another man more her age, obviously in love, and so decides to leave her with him, as she has now blossomed into a young woman.
It's about changes in life, and father / daughter relationships, probably based on Tati's own, hence the photo at the end. It's also about friendships, keeping up a cheerful façade no matter what life throws at you, and whether you really know someone when you are only presented with what they wish to reveal. Brilliant animation throughout, and Edinburgh looks fantastic in the way it is portrayed (as does the white bunny).
I loved it (hence all the photographs).

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notes from a small island - bill bryson

Notes from a Small Island is the first travel book l have read by Bill Bryson, and it was pretty entertaining in parts, with some interesting observations and amusing throwaway lines. The only other book of his l had previously read was 'A Short History Of Nearly Everything', which mainly dealt with science, (and is superb, even with the odd mistakes). 'Notes' has Bill travelling from dahn sarf in Blighty up to the top of porridge munching land, using mainly public transport, and doing a lot of walking, drinking tea, and staying in crappy hotels or bed and breakfast places along the way. He gets a bit tiddly sometimes, gets soaked a lot, but loves the countries and the people. l think l may peruse another one of his books in the future, as they are something you can just dip in and out of, with plenty of moments to make you at least chuckle a bit. He has also enlightened me about the 5th duke of Portland, William CS Bentinck and his life at Welbeck Abbey, including the underground tunnels he had built. What a character he was. He lived the life l could only dream of, but he certainly did his own thing, and bugger what anybody else thought of him or his actions. Check him out.

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scotland meal

Busy weekend we have just had. Robbo and Kerry came to stay on Friday night and we went out to the Wine bar and J.T's, before getting an Indian take-away (thanks Kerry!) as the food places were all closed. Also got a free bottle of wine with the take-away (thanks Kerry!). Watched Later on the Sky box then of to bed. They left in the morning and then it was off to bonnie Scotland.

Went up with Deb and Rook in their car, but there was a diversion on the A1 so we had to go through Bamburgh and Seahouses. Dazzer and Louise were just behind us so we decided to stop for lunch at a cafe in Bamburgh, just up the road from the castle. We should have gone to the pub instead as it was a bit of a rip off and half the food for the toasties was not available (I blame the girls).

We then got to Sue and Bills and met Ken and Ann, watched the football results coming in (Utd beat Bolton 2-1, Liverpool and Chelsea lost), and had a few cans (cheers Dazzer!). The girls took ages getting ready, but we then went into Eyemouth for the meal at Oblo http://www.eyemouth.com/scottish-holidays/directory/food-and-drink/listing.php?id=16.

We met Heather and her grandparents there and l had the haggis starter, which was better than my main course (chicken), as although it was cooked well, it had traces of coriander in, which l can't stand. Anyway, we had loads to drink with the meal, plus some before (thanks Dazzer!). Ken and Ann were getting a bit amorous during the meal, then Ken threw up outside afterwards. I wonder if this could have been related in any way?

Although deposits had been paid for the meal, Bill paid for the rest of it (thanks Bill!), but as we were ordering drinks and knew he was paying, we all paid for the alcohol separately. Well worth it though.

Back to Sue and Bills for more drinks, including 10 year old malt whisky and slow gin (thanks Bill!), which was very nice. Went outside to look at the stars for a while (bloody freezing), then beddy byes in the living room on an air bed.

Next day we all went to St Abbs for breakfast at the cafe, had a look round the harbour and then headed home.

My bloody ear has been hurting all weekend as l had been poking it with cotton buds last week. Deaf and sore, what a combination.

Had a good weekend though, have to go up there again (in about a year).

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