Is there anyone out there?

So, it was the Strathaven Duck Race on Monday evening. Not, as I'd hoped when we arrived in the town, a real life ducky derby, but a plastic fueled river race.

Hundreds of ducks are poured into the stream that runs through Strathaven and the first ducks to reach the other end of the town win a prize for their sponsors (you buy ducks at a pound a piece leading up to the event).

Anyway we had a result this year and Zoë came in 4th. She won the grand sum of £10!

A Post for Peter

I have about 20 pages of the book left to read.

Bonhams

I visited Bonhams today. I haven't had cause to do that before.

Sun

Beautiful day in Strathaven today. Sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. Spent the afternoon doing very daddish things, mowed the lawn, cleared out the garage, visited the recycling centre, washed the car and bought some pringles in Asda.

Clubs

Clubs that I have been a member of:

Dennis the Menace Fan Club
Desperate Dan Pie-Eaters Club
Plug Fan Club (spin off from The Beano)
Warlord Secret Agent Club
Official Police Fan Club
X-Men Fan Club
Runrig Fan Club
Transvision Vamp Fan Club (I blame this one on hormones)
Edinburgh Uni Film Soc

I think that may be it. If it is, it's been twenty years since I joined a club.

The Bourne Ultimatum

First visit to the Vue cinema at Hamilton last night to see The Bourne Ultimatum.

Despite the strange sensation that I'd watched the film already (I hadn't) it all rocked along quite enjoyably although could be summarised: running, jumping, more running, shooting, hiding, running, running, climbing, ducking, shouting, running, swimming.

Edinburgh Part 2

Alex Horne: Birdwatching
The Morning Edition
Arthur Smith: ARTurART
The Angel and the Woodcutter (Korean physical theatre!)
Mark Watson

Food: Monster Mash again, with Peter Graystone

Track of the Day 7: The Day Before You Came by The Real Tuesday Weld

I know next to nothing about The Real Tuesday Weld - however I've just looked them up in iTunes so that may be about to change with my wallet getting digitally lighter as a consequence. Anyway, this cover of Abba's The Day Before You Came is wonderful. It's rare that a cover version adds to the original, but this one brings out a sense of foreboding that I don't remember from the original.

As a postscript; I've just pressed buy on The Real Tuesday Weld's 2005 album The Return of the Clerkenwell Kid.

Edinburgh So Far

Trumptonshire Tales - Phil Jupitus & Brian Cant
Monster Tales
The Enchanted Castle
Through the Looking Glass
The Sword in the Stone
Does a Monster Live Next Door?
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Martha's Favourite: The Enchanted Castle
John's Favourite: Monster Tales
Zoë's Favourite: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus

Lunch of the Week: Monster Mash, Forest Road

Nastiest Food of the Week: Pizza Hut (I know, I know, we should have known!)

Star Spots: 0

Old friends bumped into by accident: 1

Track of the Day 6: Lakes of Pontchartain by The Be Good Tanyas

You can't beat three girls harmonising over the line "if it weren't for the alligators I would sleep out in the woods".

Track of the Day 5: The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch by Brian Eno

Can we say The Paw Paw Negro Blowtorch? Big Brother has got me all confused.

From Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets, released in 1974 and an obvious influence on Talking Heads.