Feeling Hot Hot Hot

So yesterday was the hottest October 27 in the UK since records began 125 years ago. Apparently it reached 22.4C in some remote part of Scotland. On such a rarity, who could pass up the oppertunity to spend it like this?



Well actually, I didn't, because if you looked carefully you will have noticed that actually, that isn't a scottish beach. But this is...




Anyway, what I actually did was meet lots of people and rather than having to run from the rain and dive into the closest coffee shop or pub available, we had meetings in the park. How nice.
Other interesting happenings this week included winning our local pub quiz for the 3rd tim in a row (keeps us in beers for the rest of the week at least). And gaining a respectable position in the latest event of the Edinburgh Poker League.

And now it's time to head off to the annual Edinburgh CU houseparty, and a weekend away in the middle of nowhere with no phone reception, forfeit darts and strange sunsets. Adios my friends (oh and if you get a chance, watch Layer Cake, it's very good)

Why, Why, Why, Delilah?

Weddings are lots of fun, aren't they? Friday was my old flatmate Tim's wedding to AnnaLauren and was an awesome day. Even lots of rain didn't really dampen anything, seeing as the reception was only a couple of minutes walk from the church and the only thing we couldn't do was step out onto the balcony looking out to the castle. So yeah, God is great, bringing two people from the other sides of the world together, and giving us a great day to celebrate it. The ceilidh was awesome - the band had more energy and originality than most bands i've seen and played Tom Jones' "Delilah" for the Dashing White Sargeant and a Proclaimer's song. Super. As I side note, somehow I managed to get slated in the best man's speech more than Tim himself. Surely thats not right.

And almost as exciting, Friday was also the day Pro Evolution Soccer 5 was released! This game is incredible. It is in serious danger of taking over my world and removing any chance of a girlfriend or meaningful relationship from my life. But I dont care. It's THAT good. And more importantly, on current form, I'm kicking my flatmate's arse at it.

And if you've managed to read this far, go and spend 4 and a half minutes at this link. I PROMISE you won't regret it. Thanks to Brittney for providing me with several minutes of joviality. Nintendo Choir

Also, go and see Wallace and Gromit, and The Corpse Bride at the cinema. My word, they rock.


Photos......Wedding, and view from the window at the reception (I LOVE Edinburgh!)

Apparently rude stuff will bring in the googlers!

Firstly, apologies to those I promised I would update by Tuesday. That didn't happen beacuse I am lazy. It's an inherent disease. Sorry.

So, the weekend. Bit mental really, 8 Americans were visiting, a friend had a birthday, I had to play football, go to a wedding and my flatmate from Newcastle, Graham was visiting. On the Friday night I went out for dinner with the yankydoodles (sorry guys) at an Italian restaurant. Never before have I been in a place like it, or am likely to again. After flirting with the girls, the restauranteer noticed one of them dancing a little in her seat to a tune, and promptly turned the place into a night club. Not only did he turn the lights down and turn the music up, but he moved the tables out of the way to create a dance floor and even had a lfashyl light spinny ball thingy! It was phenomenal. It was like one of those shops in Discworld novels that never stay in one place but pop up all over the world. Right now, our friend Joe is probably entertaining purveyours of italian cuisine in Dubai, or Phildelphia, or Cape Town.

The wedding was also lots of fun. The kilt came out and we ceilidhed away into the wee small hours (or at least 10pm). And we won our football match by virtue of a spectacular own goal by their sweeper, who played for us last season. Oh how we laughed.

In other exciting developments, I now have a hit counter for this site. It's so sophisticated that I can tell where you're logging in from and what browser you're using. So to increase the diversity of viewers I plan on surrupticiously insert words that might generate hits on google. For example, did I ever tell you how I got the nickname, Naked Al? Lets see if that increases the traffic....

And now, the photos...Notice in particular Danny and Brittney getting their groove on in the restuarant (it's called Rialtos, by the way, if anyone in Edinburgh wants to check it out...). And apparently my hair's getting too long. Any opinions?

Interestingly, I still like Happy Hardcore

Its been a week since I posted, so I feel an obligation to write something, but I really have nothing of interested to write about, so don't bother reading any more, cos it'll be really boring.

However, I would like to say thankyou to all of you who asked how I was feeling. I'm not feeling much better - still snotty, but enjoying the fact that I have managed to get rid of the nastiness that has since afflicted my flatmates this week.

Several of my loyal readers have also expressed an interessed in the thought processes that go into creating titles for each of these posts. Well, I confirm that absolutely no thought is necessary, and I write the first thing that pops into my head. Todays title was inspired by a track called Together Forever" which was on a CD entitled Bonkers 3 that I bought approximately 8 years ago. Hearing it harkened my mind back to those heady days, and reminded me that at times, I still do enjoy the pumping beats of a stonking happy hardcore track (it must be noted, however, that whilst Together Forever is indeed a standout track on the album, it cannot compare with Return to Toytown, or my personal favourite, Fly Away). So next time you read my blog, play a little game and see if you can guess what I was thinking at the time. I know you want to

In other news, yesterday I went to St Andrews to lead some training and it rained a lot. Fortunately it had stopped before we attempted to do surveys, and everyone had a great time. Slightly more bizarre than the weather (cos everyone expects rain in Scotland) was the dinner party I somehow ended up at. My friend, Mikaela had said she would cook me dinner, and instead of the beans on toast, or similar, i was expecting, she was having a full on dinner party, which was lovely. However, despite there being 8 guests, I was somehow the only British person in the room, with others hailing from South Africa, America and Lithouania. A strange day.

I was also thinking my blog was getting a little dull, so here's some pretty pictures I took at some point to brighten it up....







How pretty.

Free wife beaters? I'm there

Things that annoy me (First in a potentially very long series).

Walking past a shop, on the SECOND OF OCTOBER (!), and seeing Christmas decorations already up. unfortunately I was not in posession of my camera at the time, so proof of my rage is not available, but I'm sure my word is enough.

Anyway, I was strolling past the American eatery TGI Fridays after church on Sunday night, and a twinkle caught my eye. Glancing round, my eyes were bombarded with a feast of silver tinsel, sparkley lights and crackers. I can kinda understand department stores stocking decorations, so people can plan early, but a restaurant flaunting itself like a 16 year old girl trying to get into a club....it's disgraceful.

In other news, I'm ill. Sort of. I feel like I've swallowed a tennis ball and its become lodged in my throat. Yucky.

Your hair is rubbish.

One of the most satisfying things in the world is saving a penalty your flatmate took and then having video evidence to play over and over back to him.