Thursday, May 26th

New Achievement


Well. I've reached an all time record. 100% staff turnover within two months. A great achievement I would say. Proves what a fantastic boss I am. Everyone wants to work for me and ....such loyalty. Of course there is the little issue of who the hell does all the work - but hey, that would be me, because I already have two jobs and a part-time degree to do, so what's another few jobs added to my workload gonna do. Life is a bitch - and then you die. Yep, I'll have the rest of that bottle thanks. Cheers
Red Writer on 05.26.05 @ 10:08 PM gmt [link]


Wednesday, May 25th

Sudoku - Yes, I'm hooked.


OK, so when things get really tough - I look for another diversion....which is why I do so many things. The latest mind absorbing obsession is Sudoku. I am a novice. My first one was on a train last week, it was in a "Times", - left by a rather nice looking Geordie as he departed - unfortunately it was rated 'fiendish' and I didn't quite finish it. But my sad mind loved the fact that while doing a sudoku I can't think of anything else.

That, I like. Totally absorbing, it allows me to forget about all the awful stuff that is going on - (I thought I was under pressure last week - ha!). Anyway, I'm not even entertaining the stressful stuff. I'm doing sudoku's. As a diversion therapy, it really works. Even Terry Wogan was talking about them yesterday, so I guess it must be the latest craze and although I don't like to jump on any craze bandwagon, I'm afraid I'm hooked to this one. So much so, that I'm thinking of using it in interview tests for the new staff I need to find (again!), they need the sort of logical thinking these things use.
Red Writer on 05.25.05 @ 07:53 PM gmt [link]


Sunday, May 22nd

Photos


I finally got back the photos I took of my woven glass work in the exhibition. The quality is really disappointing. Another one here. I took them on the automatic and virtually every single one was blurred and the colour is a bit washed out. I will never ever again use a cheap film! Although the blurring is my fault - I zoomed in, couldn't use a flash because of reflection and didn't use a tripod. Combination of slow shutter speed and the shake of my hands. It gives you an idea of what they looked like up though.

The photos I took up Ben Lomond last week were on the same film and are also disappointing. It was a hazy day but the colours were washed out so I scanned the negatives in myself and realised the shop hadn't even printed all the images. Won't be using them again. Here are a few of the surrounding hills and Loch Lomond from the top (with the people airbrushed out!) 1 2 3 4
Red Writer on 05.22.05 @ 03:47 PM gmt [link]


Saturday, May 21st

Music Baton


The batton was passed to me and I didn't even realise so apologies to Dio for the delay in this music meme.

Total music files residing on my computer:
Only two cd's on my drives but on the rest, I have no idea, because I don't really save music files on the pc, preferring to play cd's - my daughters do and there isn't enough room in the world for their music.

Last CD I bought:
I can never buy one at a time and normally catch up with gaps in the collection but a couple of weeks ago got
The Bluetones (think it was Science and Nature but not sure!),
The Byrds - Bob Dylan songs,
Robert Plant - Mighty Rearranger
Bruce Springstein - Devil's and Dust

Song playing right now:
Santana - Supernatural

Five songs I listen to a lot / mean a lot to me:
This is really difficult if not impossible for me as my music choice is too eclectic to list five I listen to a lot, or even five that mean a lot to me, I love music and many different kinds for many different reasons, and I am not a very decisive when pushed on these "favourites" themes but here are five either single tracks or cd's which came to mind in the last few minutes because as usual, I was thinking retrospectively.....(and now that I have typed them, I have changed my mind already!!)

Santana - Samba Pa Ti, from Abraxas (the 1970 version)
Leo Sayer - When I need you
Runrig - The Highland Connection
REM - Everybody Hurts
Cranberries - Linger

Five People I’m Passing The Baton To:
This is really sad! I don't know five other people who have blogs who haven't already been sent this so if you want to take up the challenge, feel free.
Red Writer on 05.21.05 @ 07:52 AM gmt [link]


Monday, May 16th

Rob Pepper's dialy art diary


This is a great daily drawing diary - done by Rob Pepper without making eye contact with the paper!
Red Writer on 05.16.05 @ 02:20 PM gmt [link]


Sunday, May 15th

Ben Lomond


Went for a walk up Ben Lomond yesterday. Beautiful sunshine. Lot's of people. Digicam isn't working so photos won't be ready until I put them in for developing and I still don't have dreamweaver on this pc, but here is an idea of where we went using photos from the web (extract the clouds and add blue sky and about 100 people to all).

Map
Through the woods
Along the plateau
Route up
Loch Lomond
Route down
Cooling feet
Red Writer on 05.15.05 @ 10:03 AM gmt [link]


Friday, May 13th

"..last hostage of the Scottish wars of independence.." returned


My Grandmother used to advise, 'neither a borrower nor lender be'. Can't quite remember what she used to say about plain thieving.
Red Writer on 05.13.05 @ 09:15 AM gmt [link]


Tuesday, May 10th

Perhaps..



Perhaps it's just exhaustion..
Red Writer on 05.10.05 @ 10:41 PM gmt [more..]


Sunday, May 8th

Tinto Hill



It was cold and very windy at the top of Tinto hill this morning but it was sunny and great to get some fresh air. The path up is a bit worn so has been covered with really awkward to walk on stones. And true to form when we go walking there was a hail shower, but at least we were back in the car by then.

Yesterday was my last study day for the art history module so now the hard work of writing the essay begins. I am at a loss as to which question I am going to tackle. There are six choices spanning in time from classicism through to post modernism and most start with things like... "why did...blah blah....?" or "what was the...blah blah..? " and each time I read them, the same answer to each question pops into my head..... I don't know! So as you can see I'm not quite at the stage of writing yet! Mild panic is only being held off by the fact that SYD is about to go on a two week outward bound project with the school..
Red Writer on 05.08.05 @ 01:11 PM gmt [more..]


Friday, May 6th

First Casualty


The post-mortem begins and the first casualty (hurrah) is Michael Howard. Perhaps one day the Torries will find a party leader who won't resign in the huff after they lose.

I did go to bed for a couple of hours but unbeknown to me, the two cups of tea I'd had during the night were real and not decaffinated. I think my tolerance level of caffeine is getting worse, even the moderate amounts of alcohol I consumed did not reverse the effects. As soon as I lay down I could feel my heart pounding so fast I had to keep sitting up to catch my breath. I eventually lay trying to meditate and concentrate on my breathing rather than worrying about sleep. I think I had snatch a little anyway whilst watching the TV over the night.

I also managed to get up at seven and take SED and SYD to school and got to class on time and I still feel pretty good. (I guess that's why women have the children - there must be something in our body clocks which enables us to function on little or no sleep!).

Isn't it time for another woman PM?
Red Writer on 05.06.05 @ 05:48 PM gmt [link]


Outcome is final


Most of the count has been declared, it is official, with the magic 324 seats required reached, Labour get their historic third term which hopefully means we will see a Scottish PM fairly soon.

There was no surprise in the final outcome, no surprise in the smaller majority but a few painful surprises which still go to show how incredibly stupid the UK electorate can be. I have left the TV in disgust after watching one of the most (self-confessed) 'corrupt' MP's pinch a seat from a really good and competent Oona King. The result didn't go the way I wanted it to in my own area but with only 400 votes in it, it was a very close call and I can't help thinking....if only a few more people had taken the trouble to get out and vote. Turnout in the area was over 70% though which was pretty good.

Now I can't decide whether it's worth going to sleep at all. The birds are singing, it's getting light and in a couple of hours I have to get to class. Having woken early this morning (yesterday) it means I've been up for almost 24 hours which means it would be better to catch a few hours sleep but I can't help feeling if I go to bed, I really won't want to get up and those birds are getting very noisy!
Red Writer on 05.06.05 @ 04:59 AM gmt [link]


Thursday, May 5th

Get out there and Vote


Today is the day that gives the UK electorate the chance to let their vote count. Don't waste it! Get out there and vote! Opinion polls are already saying that the expected turnout for this general election will be lower than any other in history. You have no idea how much that depresses me. Let your opinion be heard, or don't let me hear any whinging about the state of the country. If you don't vote, you don't deserve to have an opinion for the next four years. Political apathy is too pathetic for words. It's going to be a long night.
Red Writer on 05.05.05 @ 08:58 AM gmt [link]


Tuesday, May 3rd

Comments and Spam


I'm really sorry but I've had to disable the comments for a little while due to a barrage of spam. I just don't have the time to check this every single morning. Will hopefully bring them back soon, in the meantime if you have comments please email me, or I'll feel a little lost confused
Red Writer on 05.03.05 @ 08:53 AM gmt [link]


Monday, May 2nd

Holidays


It feels like the whole world is on holiday today apart from me and a few other virtuous soles. It's not a nice feeling. The sun is shining. I went to physio at lunch time. She pummled, prodded, stretched, found knots in lots of different muscles, then more knots and eventually worked on the shoulder. Oww - it hurt! But it's probably not pc to cry whilst lying on the table being tortured, even if I have to pay for it. Now, I want to be at home and not back at work.

On a happier note, my birthday was wonderful. I ate too much, got spoiled, had champagne and strawberries, ate more, ate chocolate, ate more chocolate, haven't stopped eating chocolate - which probably accounts for the current mood. I don't like the fall-out afterwards (birthday's and eating chocolate). This age thing is such a bore.
Red Writer on 05.02.05 @ 02:26 PM gmt [link]


Sharing Sir Sean's Side


I have to agree with Sir Sean Connery on this one. The Scottish Executive could have done so much more to help get the Scottish National Photography Centre off the ground. There are some fantastic Hill and Adamson images amongst the collection and they really should be making an effort to show them in an appropriate setting.
Red Writer on 05.02.05 @ 10:29 AM gmt [link]