Losing the clone city fight?

World's oldest record shop to close?

PostSecret

PostSecret

Calendar

It appears my father in law has been busy making a calendar with his own photos. I've seen some of these pics framed in his house and they are very good.

Blogger beta

It would appear Blogger would like me to move to the beta version. This is apparant because it insists on trying to sign me in with my gmail account and won't let me at my dashboard without telling me about the beta twice.

But I want to know if the beta is actually working properly yet. I have heard tales of people not being able to comment from a beta sign in on non beta blogs. I have heard tales of things going all to pieces after changing over.

Isn't a beta version so called because it is not yet a full version? Aren't betas versions still being trialled?

Is it worth it just yet?

Dark

It's dark...
Winter is a coming in. (to paraphrase).

There's snow on the mountains though. Soon it will be time to go and play with my new skis.

Woo Hoo!!

On Monday...

I passed...


My driving test!

First time!

(After 16 months of lessons. Patient instructor.)

I thought I'd failed by collecting too many minor faults. I got 11 - 15 is a fail. I can drive better than I did during the test - I made a few mistakes through nerves, snatching at the gears and that sort of thing (putting the car in 4th instead of 2nd at the first roundabout wasn't a great start). I felt like I was reaching in the wrong place for the gear lever after driving our car at the weekend.

A good chunk of test time disappeared in the drive up to Balmedie and back on the A90 to use the village streets for the manoeuvres. I was asked to demonstrate a turn in the road (3 point turn) and reverse around a corner. Thankfully I didn't have to parallel park or bay park and no cars came when I was reversing. My controlled (emergency) stop was a bit ragged (did better in my lesson beforehand), but only picked up a minor fault. I should have asked the tester to move his seat forward when I was reversing, really, but I bottled it and peered round him.

Any way, I passed. Now I have to pluck up the courage to get out on my own. Then figure out if my insurance cost will be reduced by doing the Pass Plus course.

Northern gardening

I've noticed that my garden up here seems to run about a month behind the one we had in Chesterfield. It's also true of the wild plants. There were ripe blackberries in the Lakes at the beginning of August, the ones near us weren't ready till September. There were masses though - is this a sign of cold winter coming?

I also still have roses and gladioli in flower, but I suspect spring may be slower to appear up here, so this good fortune will be balanced out.

Any way the point of the post...
I have Michaelmas daisies in my garden. They're are the first example of them that I've ever seen flowering at the time of Michaelmas. Which is actually quite pleasing.

What we did last weekend...

He was running with his sister and I was marshalling. I'm not as daft as they are.
Spent a pleasant five hours in Coniston in a car park checking teams on to the mountain section.

No Conkers?

Move to Aberdeen. We've got loads...

PARK(ing)

At first I thought "That's a really cool idea, we could do that outside the office". Then I remembered - on the other side of the parking spaces outside there is a park.

The toll of the bell

I have a bell on my bike, but generally I find that should someone step out in front of me squealing brakes are more effective as an audible deterrant. That or a shouted warning using some short anglo saxon words.

World Premiere

Last night at The Belmont Cinema in Aberdeen the World Premiere showing of The Planet was held.

I've never been to a World Premiere before. Six of us went from our office - one of the co-producers (who did the special effects) also does our IT - and fun was had by all.

As the name suggests the story takes place on a random planet in space somewhere, when ten survivors from an attacked ship land. They then get set upon by some unknown entity, which they do battle with at the end. I won't spoil the plot further as I'm sure you'll all be rushing out to see it...

The planet scenes were shot on Balmedie Beach, to the north of Aberdeen (which is also the home of the Balmedie Beach Bash (scroll down for post) - a fearsome 3.5 mile run over the dunes). Others were apparantly shot in the producers' living rooms.

Duathlon

Bennachie duathlon

Connecting the dots

I agree.

We shall fight them - in the Assembly Rooms

Oh dear. Some people need to grow up a bit.

Smoking is banned in workplaces in Scotland. Performers on stage are at work and therefore may not smoke.

It is an offence to smoke and also to permit smoking, so it's not just them who could be fined - it's the venue, the stage crew, the audience...

I think this is a good law. I also think that the comedian in the article who says he can't perform well without a cigarette has a problem.

Note to self...

Update links and blog once in a while.

Just noticed Tilly has linked to me, which is fab. Possibly the only person to do so other than my husband, who doesn't count obviously.

If only some Aberdeen cyclists would pay attention to this...

Snow!!

It's still snowing!!!

If the roads were open we could go skiing tomorrow. But currently the only way to get to Aviemore is via Elgin which means that the Lecht road is closed. Glenshee via Braemar is looking doubtful as is Cairngorm (see above re elgin). There be little safe walking or climbing - avalanches do happen in Scotland, you know.

Too much snow spoils the winter sports.

Snow!!!

Finally winter has arrived in Scotland. It took its time - it's nearly spring.

Hopefully there will enough snow to ski this weekend, but not too much or the roads will be closed...

Carnethy 5 update

I didn't die...

But I did come last!