The comments provider YACCS is having a bit of trouble with his server so no comments for a few days. And unfortunately I've had to disable my email address due to either a virus, or just an unprecedented amount of spam mail! I'll put it back once I've got to the source of the problem. In terms of the global community, I guess that means no-one other than those who know me, can share their thoughts about the blog with me. It's strange how isolating that feels.
There was a moment when it looked as if the rain was going to ruin the evening but luckily it held off until just after the fireworks finished. The SCO, (Conductor; Nicholas Kraemer) played excerpts from Handel's 'Water Music', Music for the Royal Fireworks and the Coronation Anthem: Zadok the Priest. It was a lovely evening and the sky painters did a great job on what must be one of the most challenging canvases.
posted by Red Writer
Saturday, August 30
Eighteen years ago today I was prancing around in a silly white dress, saying things like "I do", smiling until my jaw ached and breathing in trying to look slim in said silly white dress. It's up in the attic now and I think I can still get into it- which is a good thing (according to SED).
It is very strange to think back to a specific day and remember so many of the finer details about it: the sound of rain on the skylight window above my head when I first woke up; getting my hair done by someone who was at school with me; getting my nails filed by my sister in law 15 minutes before everyone left the house because I wasn't going to bother; not being allowed to leave the house on time because the chauffer said it was my perogative to be 10 minutes late (I'm never late for anything!); the ceremony; photos; flowers; only wearing one earring because I got interrupted by the nails thing when I was putting them on; the meal; the speaches; more photos; the people; the dancing; the band who didn't know how to entertain a highland mob and who kept stopping for a 'rest' after every reel; leaving everyone to carry on the party when we left; and of course SO, who didn't have a grey hair on his head until shortly after that day. Yes, it was a good day. Good memories. The main players are still there thankfully (that's me and him) but a few of the significant extras are sadly no longer with us.
Tonight SO, SED, SYD, the best man, friends and I are going to the Edinburgh Internation Fireworks display. I know I will be sitting in the gardens watching the wonderful pyrotechnic display overhead, but in my own head I will be reminiscing about where I was at that moment eighteen years ago, going over again that very special day when, for a few hours, I felt like the main attraction. Well......self-indulgent maybe, but it never does anyone any harm in going over the good memories. And it's good to know that in licensing terms we are now officially old enough to drink! Mine's a double......
posted by Red Writer
I've had a idea. It's a really good idea. Of course I can't tell you about it because, well, it's a secret at the moment and if I did tell you, then I'd have to kill you. I've spent ages trying to work out how to patent something. I need to patent it. The last good idea I had I did nothing about and a couple of years later someone else invented it. I've been trying to work out from the patent office website how to go about it all but it is a minefield! Help. I need help to wade through all the beaurocratic stuff. If anyone knows anyone who deals with Patents in Edinburgh, please let me know....before I forget the idea!
posted by Red Writer
Thursday, August 28
What sort of selfishness causes someone to arrange to steal a painting so that only they can look at it? The theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna of the Yarnwinder from Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriesshire is truly sickening. How can those people call themselves art lovers? Surely to love art is to want it to be appreciated by everyone - not just some greedy rich b*****d sitting in his isolated castle. Or perhaps, like the film Entrapment, they stole it just for the thrill? Lets hope they get it back soon.
They said I was a control freak! Sitting round the dinner table. Bold as brass. All three of them. They laughed. Lots. I'm not. Am I?
posted by Red Writer
Sunday, August 24
It's really not a very good idea to start drinking the white fizzy stuff at five o'clock. Not when you haven't eaten, are dehydrated and have just finished a mamoth food shopping. But when the bottle is opened for you and the sun is shining and the company is convivial, and you're still in a good mood from days ago, then you just join in. Don't you?
But it's still not a good idea to swap to the flat white stuff and carry on drinking until the bed time hours and then get up too early and start gardening - in the swealtering heat and blazing sunshine. No, not a good idea. Because when the waves of nausea start you know you just have to go back inside and miss out on all that heat and the sun and the smell of the ripening tomatoes. And that is a bad idea because inside is 40 degrees and with all the dehydration and the waves of nausea and the headache (did I mention the headache) and the back ache from the gardening, then......nothing seems like a good idea.....except perhaps for a long cool bath in a dark room. I think I have lost my chi today!!!
posted by Red Writer
Thursday, August 21
What a strange day. Kids back to school with no dramas. (Unusual!) I think they were even keen to get back. Perhaps it was the sense of some sort of normality returning to our lives or perhaps it was due to my new found love of tai ji and a great class last night but today I was in such an uncharacteristically good mood I took myself by surprise. The sense of well being extended to taking everything in good humour and even seeing the funny side of everything. One of the most amusing being listening to a conversation where the participants were in all seriousness criticising JK Rowling saying she wasn't a good writer! I smiled to myself and bit my lip whilst the words cheese and green sprang to mind. I would love to be able to write half as well as JKR. I think perhaps they just missed the multi million £ point, that and the creativity of course. And when it comes down to it I don't think she'll be loosing any sleep over those who feel the need to criticise her literary talent for a while.
Whilst driving around at lunch time I caught a discussion on the radio about the new 118 numbers being introduced instead of the old directory enquiries number. Confusing or what? It was a truly bizzare programme. To summarise: - don't use 118 if you can help it, it's a rip off. (I can vouch for the length of time it takes. I tried 118 118 once and got someone who couldn't understand my Scottish accent and after spelling the name several times they eventually got it, but the cost of the call was over £1 on the next bill!) - use the website instead (it gives you all the same info (but as it was radio and I was driving I can't remember the url). - if you have to use it in the uk try 118 800 (meant to be cheaper - call centre is in the uk not South Africa!) - btw, if you do search for the website it's not the118118 experience! However, if you have seen the tv adverts you might find it mildly amusing.
As I said, it's been a strange day. One when my only question to everything seemed to be why? and then I'd giggle. Oh, and did I mention, I've decided to give up 1/5 of my salary and work part-time. Yes, I can truly report that the mid-life crisis is going very well!
posted by Red Writer
Wednesday, August 20
It's not that I'm not busy. I am. I really really am. No one else in the office. All phones through to me. Ten different projects on the go .......however, I did find this games site recently and thought if anyone else is looking for a lunch-time distraction then try the mini putt. Its quite good.
posted by Red Writer
Monday, August 18
Perhaps the strange indecisions are all to do with my biorhythm chart for today?
Blue is emotional, red is physical and green intellectual. Definitely agree with the first two!
posted by Red Writer
Sunday, August 17
I realise postings have been a little sparse recently. Mainly because too many things happening have been really personal and not particularly happy. That led me to thinking about what it is the blog is there for. When I first started writing, postings were general. I had intended to write about art, painting and add lots of scottish links. Then I introduced more of a personal element. Occassional thoughts, ramblings, things which were going on in my life. Superficial dramas but nothing 'real'. At that point the hits went up a bit. Who knows whether it was because people wanted to read about me or whether the things I was saying were picked up on search engines.
Reading other blogs makes me aware that many are very personal. The everyday happenings of the people who write them. The thoughts, angst and dramas which make up their lives. I am left wondering what it is I write for? Because I prefer my blog to stay vaguely anonymous, it makes it difficult to write really personal stuff. But equally if I stick to generalisations, it makes for a fairly uninteresting read. I don't mention my family in any great detail. I don't mention my work or where I live. Does that make it boring? Do people want to know that?
My dilema is, should I share all my daily dramas, thoughts and angst publicly with the world? - some of whom know my identity (not that it is any great secret - I'm just your average boring ## something year old female) or would that be boring and attention seeking? I think I could give some of the more personal crises type ones a run for their money. But is that something I want to do? If you write personal blogs, do you become part of a huge support system? Is that what people are looking for on the web? And do I want you all to know every time I have a crisis? Perhaps not. The humorous light hearted events maybe but the real me? On the screen? innermost feelings open to all? I'm really not sure.
Blogging is often likened to one big global community and there are those out there I have never met and do consider friends and therefore it would be nice to think I was able to share feelings with my most loyal readers/friends. And there are times things upset or annoy me to such an extent I really want to write about them but on the other hand I'm not confident enough to think any of them would be really interesting to anyone else apart from me. And in that case I could keep a private diary instead.
It's an interesting dilema, should I be more open? Or not? Would it make for interesting reading? I have to admit I do read some blogs which are dedicated to telling the world every thought that passes through the writers mind. Sometimes they are interesting and I feel sympathetic and sometimes I think - why have you shared that with the whole world? Get a life! So, in saying that, do I want to leave myself wide open to such criticism? Or perhaps...... I just have?
One of the few good things about not having the children around is that I can get on the pc in the evening! And watch what I like on the TV. Last night I Watched the last episode in the current series of spooks .........why do they always leave you on such a cliff-hanger? What has happened to Tom? Has he really gone bad? Has he gone for good? Mmmmm hope the twist is good enough to last until the new series starts next year. If you don't know what I'm talking about the bbc website for spooks has all the info you need to catch up before the next series starts. It also has a pretty good spy academy with games to keep you amused.
posted by Red Writer
Monday, August 11
....and thanks to Lynn for this and this. posted by Red Writer
The Monet exhibition starts today at the National Gallery of Scotland. Entitled The Seine and the Sea, 1878 - 1883 the exhibition depicts my favourite period of Monet's painting career, when he left the hussle and bussle of the city to nurse his dying wife. I think there is much in the paintings which shows the emotion he was undoubtedly feeling at the time. I can't wait to see the ones I have not managed to see in real life before. Five years is a long time to organise an event like this but I am hoping it will be well worth the wait. I really need something to inspire me to kick start my painting again.
