We keep getting glimpses of an Indian Summer, but yesterday's fine weather has again turned to today's cold and damp. Allied to which, the continuing financial woes throughout the world only add to the gloomy feeling. They always say your should look to the long term when investing - particularly for pensions - but it's a bit harder when you're knocking on 60 and beginning to plan for retirement and seeing your investments crashing in value. This will be greeted by scorn by our offspring who are still at the borrower stage of life, but there does come a point in time when the mortgage is paid and you begin to save a few shekels to enjoy your later years. If you're lucky, your investments will be at a high when you need them most - and not at the lows we're experiencing now. How much further will it go? Who knows?
Nothing much else to say today - hopefully some squash tonight.
Today's list was prompted by listening to Sounds of the Sixties on headphones. Brian Matthews introduces a Beatles A-Z each week and it got to Paperback Writer - a Paul McCartney song (with a great John Lennon B-side, Rain). Listening to Paul's bass playing on headphones for the first time was amazing. You often hear Noel Gallagher of Oasis going on about how great Paul's bass lines were, but I'd never really appreciated them until now - I was always a John fan - I thought Paul tended towards tweeness at times. I guess they were a great bitter/sweet, sugar/spice combination.
Anyway, it got me to thinking about bass players. My favourite is still Jack Bruce, sadly overshadowed (in some people's eyes) by Eric Clapton in Cream. Jack was the singer and songwriter but still EC was God to most. Next would be Ronnie "Plonk" Lane of the Small Faces - probably my second favourite band of all time. Again he was overshadowed by his song-writing partner, Steve Marriott, who handled most of the lead singing plus guitar.
Is there a theme here - is it the underdog I like? Is that why I support Partick Thistle and Aberdeen? Answers on a postcard, please.
Ian R. Stewart Family Blog
Monday, 6 October 2008
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Well, last night's dinner party went very well - or so I thought. Jo wasn't so sure however - she's beating herself up about serving up cold vegetables and chicken. Yes, they could have been a bit hotter but it was only fractional, but her self esteem is low this this morning - she even thought her individual pavlovas - which were delicious - were too large. Here's the assembled throng:
It was a late night and it's going to be a slow day, but the sun's shining and I'm not playing golf till this afternoon. Gary and Carole will probably be over for dinner later on. Gary and I were at the football on Saturday afternoon - the Dons lost again - 5 in a row - but it was definitely a case of we wuz robbed.
When I went to see Dad on Tuesday I took him in to the garden. He wouldn't wear his coat at first, but only lasted a few minutes before going back inside:
Today's (very short) list is favourite photos. I always loved the one of Lucy and Gary sitting on the front window ledge at Caldecot Way back in mid 70's. More recently, the one of me flanked by Jo, Lucy and Kelly sitting on Lucy's settee was particularly good I thought. I can't think offhand of the others - I'll need to refresh my memory by going through the old photos again - oh, and that's another retirement project - to digitise the photo library.
Jo's clear-out has uncovered some old photos and she regularly changes the pictures in the frames on display in the house. Talking of which, Jo now has the old Fuji camera and will be using it to add some photos and videos to her blog.
The weather outside looks fabulous and I must get myself ready soon. I'm just catching up on some old Sky + Jools Holland to see if there's any music there that I should add to our video show for this Friday's headbang.
It was a late night and it's going to be a slow day, but the sun's shining and I'm not playing golf till this afternoon. Gary and Carole will probably be over for dinner later on. Gary and I were at the football on Saturday afternoon - the Dons lost again - 5 in a row - but it was definitely a case of we wuz robbed.
When I went to see Dad on Tuesday I took him in to the garden. He wouldn't wear his coat at first, but only lasted a few minutes before going back inside:
Today's (very short) list is favourite photos. I always loved the one of Lucy and Gary sitting on the front window ledge at Caldecot Way back in mid 70's. More recently, the one of me flanked by Jo, Lucy and Kelly sitting on Lucy's settee was particularly good I thought. I can't think offhand of the others - I'll need to refresh my memory by going through the old photos again - oh, and that's another retirement project - to digitise the photo library.
Jo's clear-out has uncovered some old photos and she regularly changes the pictures in the frames on display in the house. Talking of which, Jo now has the old Fuji camera and will be using it to add some photos and videos to her blog.
The weather outside looks fabulous and I must get myself ready soon. I'm just catching up on some old Sky + Jools Holland to see if there's any music there that I should add to our video show for this Friday's headbang.
Friday, 3 October 2008
Wednesday/Thursday down south
My golf blog contains details of my trip down south to Wentworth and The Grove, but here's me in my room at Pennyhill Park Hotel - the Yew Tree room:
It was a great experience and, although I was a little uneasy about the occasion at first, I did enjoy it. I even managed to get on a slightly earlier flight home last night, but, despite this, I still felt knackered this morning and, for once, could easily have stayed in bed for an hour or two longer.
Today, I'm just catching up after 3 days out of the office. I've declined to play football tonight and have cancelled my golf tomorrow morning - although I may go to Pittodrie for the first time this season - with Gary, hopefully. We're hosting our first dinner party for years tomorrow night, with the Pages, Grays and Bhagraths all coming round. It's proving to be a bit of a logistical nightmare for Jo, having 8 at the table, which has been expanded to its full size for the first time since the Lesinas were last here. Tablecloths and undercovers are not big enough and we are short of crockery and place mats, but I'm sure Jo will get it all under control and it'll be alright on the night!
Today's list was going to be favourite holidays - but when I started to get down to it, I realised I didn't dare include any of my golfing holidays with the boys for fear of offending Jo, and to put anything ahead of our holidays in USA would offend Lucy! Despite these risks, I'm going to name a few vacations that come to mind, in strictly chronological order:
Folkestone in 1972 with my Mum and Dad before we were married.
Benodet in the mid-late 70's when we had Barry's car, which broke down at the port before we were on the ferry - you should have seen Lucy's distraught face!
Port Grimaud a few years later.
Spain in 1999 with Lottie.
Kauai in 2003.
Boston in 2005.
No doubt I've forgotten a few that I should have included, but hopefully this will stir some memories.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Quick Weds blog
Old pedantic here - they weren't singles - just favourite tracks - and the order was all wrong - it was only when I read it again that I realised that the top 15 were inverted - i.e. they should have read:
1 Try a Little Tenderness -Otis Redding
2 Tin Soldier - Small Faces
3 Up the Junction - Squeeze
4 Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
5 Route 66 - Rolling Stones
6 Teenage Kicks - Undertones
7 Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
8 Please Please Me - Beatles
9 Like a Rollin' Stone - Bob Dylan
10 Alison - Elvis Costello
11 Maybe I'm Amazed - Faces
12 In a Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson
13 Need Your Love So Bad - Fleetwood Mac
14 Badge - Cream
15 Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
16 Keith Don’t Go - Nils Lofgren
17 Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Experience
18 House of the Rising Sun - Animals
19 London Calling - Clash
20 Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols
That's better - must have been having a bad day on Monday. Of course, I would still change it now - maybe even including Teen Spirit and Creep. One day I'll bore you with my complete 100 list!
Just back from Edinburgh and Glasgow - saw Dad - we went in to the garden there - he was fine, but definitely going downhill mentally and not getting any exercise - a couple of quick strolls was all he could manage. He always says no to any activities - he wouldn't even go to a little concert they were holding upstairs today.
I took back the display cabinet - we managed to squeeze it in the back of the Volvo and although it rattled all the way home, it was intact when we got here and Jo helped me get it out and put it in the garage for now. The only things left at Ochiltree now are the mattress - which Dawn's taking - and the bureau - hope somebody takes this - would hate to see it go to the tip.
Got a last minute invitation to join Michael and go to the holy grail of Wentworth tomorrow with John West - the largest customer of our cannery - they're entertaining top brass at Tesco - their biggest customer and also the biggest customer of our smoking factories. One of the Tesco guys pulled out at the last minute and it's a very discrete 8 who were supposed to be playing so they were desperate to get a late replacement and Michael suggested me - so off I go for the next 2 days!
Monday, 29 September 2008
Second post Monday
Pleased to hear that Gary's going to change his blog site to the same as ours - hopefully this will make things easier all round for everyone.
Sorry to go on about the Useless Facts, Gary - but Old Testament an autobiography? By whom? The big G? The earlier one about the 50 greatest grossing movies of all time doesn't need much thinking about either - this is when us auld fogies bore you lot with our tales of inflation. Eeh lad, I remember when a tanner used to get you to the movies on the bus, entrance with your "bird" (sorry - Glaswegian expression from the '60's!) and treat you both to a poke of chips on the way home - weren't life grand then? (Answer - no!).
OK - today's list - this was made up a couple of years ago for one of our headbangs - we all had to list our all-time favourite individual tracks (not albums) and this is what I came up with at the time:
Sorry to go on about the Useless Facts, Gary - but Old Testament an autobiography? By whom? The big G? The earlier one about the 50 greatest grossing movies of all time doesn't need much thinking about either - this is when us auld fogies bore you lot with our tales of inflation. Eeh lad, I remember when a tanner used to get you to the movies on the bus, entrance with your "bird" (sorry - Glaswegian expression from the '60's!) and treat you both to a poke of chips on the way home - weren't life grand then? (Answer - no!).
OK - today's list - this was made up a couple of years ago for one of our headbangs - we all had to list our all-time favourite individual tracks (not albums) and this is what I came up with at the time:
1 Werewolves of London - Warren Zevon
2 Badge - Cream
3 Need Your Love So Bad - Fleetwood Mac
4 In a Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson
5 Maybe I'm Amazed - Faces
6 Alison - Elvis Costello
7 Like a Rollin' Stone - Bob Dylan
8 Please Please Me - Beatles
9 Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
10 Teenage Kicks - Undertones
11 Route 66 - Rolling Stones
12 Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
13 Up the Junction - Squeeze
14 Tin Soldier - Small Faces
15 Try a Little Tenderness -Otis Redding
16 Keith Don’t Go - Nils Lofgren
17 Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Experience
18 House of the Rising Sun - Animals
19 London Calling - Clash
20 Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols
2 Badge - Cream
3 Need Your Love So Bad - Fleetwood Mac
4 In a Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson
5 Maybe I'm Amazed - Faces
6 Alison - Elvis Costello
7 Like a Rollin' Stone - Bob Dylan
8 Please Please Me - Beatles
9 Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
10 Teenage Kicks - Undertones
11 Route 66 - Rolling Stones
12 Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
13 Up the Junction - Squeeze
14 Tin Soldier - Small Faces
15 Try a Little Tenderness -Otis Redding
16 Keith Don’t Go - Nils Lofgren
17 Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Experience
18 House of the Rising Sun - Animals
19 London Calling - Clash
20 Anarchy in the UK - Sex Pistols
Funny looking back - I always used to say Otis was my favourite - but this was done at the time from a list of almost 100 I put together, with the intention of having no "repeaters" (although 4 & 5 have the same lead vocalist). They also had to be from tracks I currently possessed that were in a format acceptable to the headbang at the time - i.e. CD or .mpg.
Tomorrow it might be favourite artistes - or maybe albums?
Back to work
I seem to recall some time ago Gary made some comment about the Easybeats - a band from Down Under who were (briefly) popular in the 1960's. Their big hit was Friday on My Mind (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7zB0RygrYy8) and it starts "Monday morning feels so bad" - today I empathise. I've got a lot of work to do and little energy or will to do it - but I'll get there.
We usually play squash on a Monday - usually you feel better for doing it - like Kelly's running - but sometimes you've got to force yourself out of your lethargy to actually get out there and do it.
It was an interesting observation of Kelly's that I didn't have any complete Roxy Music. I did like them, but they probably sound a bit '70's now. I think I may have one album of theirs somewhere - either in vinyl or cassette format - but I haven't got round to digitising any of their music yet - although I do have some video tracks on DVD and .avi files that we use for our headbangs (the next one of which is scheduled for Friday Oct 10th). Early Roxy Music is much better, Kelly - the later stuff after they re-formed following Ferry's lounge lizard period is pretty M.o.R.
Incidentally, Kelly - did Ross phone to fix your sound problem? We reminded him several times, but you know what he's like! He did make comment that the basic problem you have is that the webcam you are using is not compatible with Windows Vista.
We've never had any strange intruders on Skype - only Lucy and Kelly.
Bad weekend for the Dons and the Jags. I still haven't been to Pittodrie this season and I'm not sure when I'll next be tempted. Perhaps with the weather changing as we move in to October and the clocks going back at the end of the month, I might start thinking about watching footy again.
Gary - try changing your blog site to the same as the rest of us (http://www.blogger.com/home) - it's much easier to use and you shouldn't have problems uploading videos and photos. It's also an easier web site for us other viewers - no irritating "congratulations" pop-ups and no need to switch screens/tabs and scroll all the way down to view photos and videos.
I'm in Edinburgh on business tomorrow, so I think I'll take the chance to pop over and see Dad and Barry again.
We usually play squash on a Monday - usually you feel better for doing it - like Kelly's running - but sometimes you've got to force yourself out of your lethargy to actually get out there and do it.
It was an interesting observation of Kelly's that I didn't have any complete Roxy Music. I did like them, but they probably sound a bit '70's now. I think I may have one album of theirs somewhere - either in vinyl or cassette format - but I haven't got round to digitising any of their music yet - although I do have some video tracks on DVD and .avi files that we use for our headbangs (the next one of which is scheduled for Friday Oct 10th). Early Roxy Music is much better, Kelly - the later stuff after they re-formed following Ferry's lounge lizard period is pretty M.o.R.
Incidentally, Kelly - did Ross phone to fix your sound problem? We reminded him several times, but you know what he's like! He did make comment that the basic problem you have is that the webcam you are using is not compatible with Windows Vista.
We've never had any strange intruders on Skype - only Lucy and Kelly.
Bad weekend for the Dons and the Jags. I still haven't been to Pittodrie this season and I'm not sure when I'll next be tempted. Perhaps with the weather changing as we move in to October and the clocks going back at the end of the month, I might start thinking about watching footy again.
Gary - try changing your blog site to the same as the rest of us (http://www.blogger.com/home) - it's much easier to use and you shouldn't have problems uploading videos and photos. It's also an easier web site for us other viewers - no irritating "congratulations" pop-ups and no need to switch screens/tabs and scroll all the way down to view photos and videos.
I'm in Edinburgh on business tomorrow, so I think I'll take the chance to pop over and see Dad and Barry again.
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Sat/Sun
Been another nice weekend. Did pretty well at golf on Saturday morning - Dan Corbett made a surprise first appearance in a medal at Banchory, having just joined the club. He still lives in Linlithgow, but is retiring in January and has notions to come back to the North East. Dan also joined us for drinks at the Douglas on Friday and even came along to squash on Saturday too.
Saturday was busy but I was still up early on Sunday in good time to watch the recording of Match of the Day, get showered, changed and make what must have been about the 13,000th morning coffee for Sleeping Beauty.
Today was the day of our annual Scotland v the Rest of the World Challenge match, which is always followed by a nice long liquid lunch with the "W.a.G.'s". I'm happy to say Scotland won yet again - and we have the Gauntlet Trophy back in our house again. Thankfully, it's one trophy Jo actually likes - unlike all the others! See the golf blog for details and photos.
Saturday was busy but I was still up early on Sunday in good time to watch the recording of Match of the Day, get showered, changed and make what must have been about the 13,000th morning coffee for Sleeping Beauty.
Today was the day of our annual Scotland v the Rest of the World Challenge match, which is always followed by a nice long liquid lunch with the "W.a.G.'s". I'm happy to say Scotland won yet again - and we have the Gauntlet Trophy back in our house again. Thankfully, it's one trophy Jo actually likes - unlike all the others! See the golf blog for details and photos.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Friday blog
Just remembered it's 25 years ago this week - 19th September, 1983 to be exact - since I moved up to Aberdeen to start work with the Clark family, then trading as Clipper Seafoods. Ross had just been born and I had just picked up my first - and hopefully only - unemployment benefit after the demise of Fischer Ultrasound. The job they offered me at their headquarters in Denver came at the wrong time for us and so Aberdeen it was, with Jo and the kids moving up over the New Year holidays. Remember the snow storms that year? "I don't like this place, Daddy!" "I want to go home!" Then a couple of months later "I don't care where your job takes you Daddy, I'm not leaving Banchory". The latter quote, of course, comes from somebody who now lives 5,000 miles away!
Gary - I have to laugh at the comments in your blog about Spain. Considering how difficult it was to persuade you to even consider taking a couple of days off work in the first place, it's a bit rich to be inferring it's now everyone else holding you back! Don't forget it was my idea in the first place, so obviously I'm behind it, but we held back pending Kelly's situation with Oz. Once it's clear she's still going to be around until the spring, then we can get ourselves organised.
Nothing much else to say today. Ken Page comes back from Abu Dhabi tomorrow and we've got our annual Scotland v Rest of World Challenge match on Sunday, which is usually a good end of season do. Tonight a couple of beers in the Douglas and that's about it.
Gary - I have to laugh at the comments in your blog about Spain. Considering how difficult it was to persuade you to even consider taking a couple of days off work in the first place, it's a bit rich to be inferring it's now everyone else holding you back! Don't forget it was my idea in the first place, so obviously I'm behind it, but we held back pending Kelly's situation with Oz. Once it's clear she's still going to be around until the spring, then we can get ourselves organised.
Nothing much else to say today. Ken Page comes back from Abu Dhabi tomorrow and we've got our annual Scotland v Rest of World Challenge match on Sunday, which is usually a good end of season do. Tonight a couple of beers in the Douglas and that's about it.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Tonight - Thu
It was such a lovely day so as I was driving home from Fraserburgh I phoned Jo to ask if she wanted to walk across to the golf course with me as I wanted to try out some irons that Michael had given me to test run. She said yes and we walked across and played 6 holes - and yes, Jo did play - the first time since she retired. I thought she was pretty good considering it's been such a long time. I hope we get another chance soon. Irene Page has also promised to go out with her some time.
The photos were taken with the Blackberry so are a bit indistinct, but you get the general idea.
The photos were taken with the Blackberry so are a bit indistinct, but you get the general idea.
Kelly's having problems with her laptop sounds and we tried to fix it tonight, but only partially suceeded. Apparently Ross fixed it last time - it was a conflict between 2 devices - but when I went down to ask him, he was fast asleep - at 8:30 pm! I guess he hasn't fully recovered yet, even although he was back at work today.
Weds night/Thu morning
Don't wish the blogs to become b......g sessions, but all I did was comment on the shape of Jo's scones! She used to make tall, round ones, but yesterday they were, as she said herself, buttery shaped. They tasted delicious and I said so - Ross got credit and I got brickbats - boo hoo!
Kelly, go to Start, Control Panel, Sound - your speakers should be listed and should have a green tick against them. Then phone me!
Continuing late night video watching, the 1999 holiday moved from Virginia to New Orleans, where Lucy joined us. There's also a tour of the historic house we stayed in in the French Quarter by our host and landlord, which included a look round his recording studio. He used to be the drummer for Aretha Franklin - the only white guy in a 17 piece band - and played on epic recordings like Respect, Think etc. When he left the band, he started writing songs and had some hits, including Patches by Clarence Carter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuzJxNQgtjo&feature=related) - a big hit in the UK and US in 1970.
Unlucky Thistle again - just 3 minutes from the end of extra time with penalties looming, Rangers scored a late winner. Check my football blog to see Thistle's superb first half equaliser after Kris Boyd's fantastic Marco van Basten like strike which put Rangers in the lead.
Kelly, go to Start, Control Panel, Sound - your speakers should be listed and should have a green tick against them. Then phone me!
Continuing late night video watching, the 1999 holiday moved from Virginia to New Orleans, where Lucy joined us. There's also a tour of the historic house we stayed in in the French Quarter by our host and landlord, which included a look round his recording studio. He used to be the drummer for Aretha Franklin - the only white guy in a 17 piece band - and played on epic recordings like Respect, Think etc. When he left the band, he started writing songs and had some hits, including Patches by Clarence Carter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuzJxNQgtjo&feature=related) - a big hit in the UK and US in 1970.
Unlucky Thistle again - just 3 minutes from the end of extra time with penalties looming, Rangers scored a late winner. Check my football blog to see Thistle's superb first half equaliser after Kris Boyd's fantastic Marco van Basten like strike which put Rangers in the lead.
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Tuesday/Weds
Last night's video viewing was of our trip to USA in 1999. Ross was with us and we started off in Washington and went down to Williamsburg, Virginia - that's as far as we got before I got fed up and switched off - more later tonight.
Kelly - use Windows Explorer and right click on one of the music files in the right hand pane. Click on "open with" and then choose "default program". There you have a number of options - Windows Media Player is the simplest to use. Make sure you tick the box at the foot "always use the selected program to open this kind of file".
Lucy skyped tonight - just as the Thistle-Rangers match was starting on TV! A quick word then she was passed on to Jo - just as Rangers scored! The Jags came back and equalised and I returned to let Lucy know the half-time score (1-1) when the laptop crashed and we lost contact. Lucy reverted to old technology and is now on the phone to Jo!
Kelly - use Windows Explorer and right click on one of the music files in the right hand pane. Click on "open with" and then choose "default program". There you have a number of options - Windows Media Player is the simplest to use. Make sure you tick the box at the foot "always use the selected program to open this kind of file".
Lucy skyped tonight - just as the Thistle-Rangers match was starting on TV! A quick word then she was passed on to Jo - just as Rangers scored! The Jags came back and equalised and I returned to let Lucy know the half-time score (1-1) when the laptop crashed and we lost contact. Lucy reverted to old technology and is now on the phone to Jo!
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