Saturday, May 31, 2014

Stress, probably not really if you think about it...

Playlist
Various - Weekly Playlist No 22
CCS - A's B's And Rarities
Molter - Orchestral Works Vol 1
Schenck - Johannes Schenck - Nymphs of the Rhine, Vol 2
Vienna String Trio - Divertimenti Of The Viennese Classical Period
Spirit - Time Circle
Wings - London Town
801 - Live
Trevor Rabin - 90124
Ten Years After - Ssssh
T2 - It'll All Work Out In Boomland
The Strawbs - Halcyon Days
Soft Cell - Heat : The Remixes
The Skids - Scared To Dance
Simple Minds - Empires And Dance
Shivaree - Who's Got Trouble?
Sandra - Stay In Touch (Extended Versions)
Paul Linklater - Smooth Sailing And How
The Osmonds - The Plan
Various Composers - D'un siècle à l'autre
Various Composers - Lumieres 18th Century Music
Various - A Goodly Number of Compilations including
Top Of The Pops 1966; Mastercuts Funk; Natural Progression; The Big Chill; Block Rockin' Breaks; The Digital Blueprint Of Abstract Dance; Botchit Breaks 2; The Very Best Of Euphoric Dance: Breakdown Ibiza; Now That's What I Called Music 1959-1977; California Cool

May away...


Up just after 5 and to work on this week's podcast...


Done and posted just after nine...

Out and down the hill...



..to Helen the podiatrist for some foot maintenance and some chat...

Back out into the sun...


...and walking to Haymarket...


...where a tram was taken...


Apparently, I was one of 21,000 people who travelled on the service today, the first day...


Tickets cost £1.50 but I used my Ridacard which allowed me to travel "for free" (or £51 every 4 weeks)...


The "network" of just one line, just over 8 miles in length, cost £776m...


Three quarters of a BILLION pounds to replace the number 22 bus - and we've still got the number 22 bus!

If 21,000 people travel on the tram every day and each pay £1.50...


...it'll take almost 65 years to cover the cost...


..but let's maybe call it a round century - once you factor in staff, maintenance and borrowing costs into the future...


It's nice, clean and quiet though...


..and they do look lovely...


So it's all good...

I alighted at Endstation York Place and walked past the top of Leith Walk...


..and towards Calton Road...


...and what was once one of the premier live venues in Edinburgh, "The Venue", now an art gallery...



I was the only attendee...

This was on sale as a limited edition of 10 at just £100 + VAT a pop.  The sound of a film running through a projector, pressed onto a 7" disc, in a box with a reel of film...


It gave me a yardstick re pricing my upcoming 24CD with 24 page book CBQ album...

Some good stuff was on display (including the film/record/box)...






The grey pictures above and these close ups are all actually pencil drawings of photographs - painstaking and impressive work indeed by Richard Forster...




And back down the stairs...


...and out into the sun...


The beast etc...


Up towards the Royal Mile...


..and down the Royal Mile...


...to Unknown Pleasures in an attempt to further reduce their debt to me...


...which I did by around 25%, by taking four classical discs off their hands...

Back up the Royal Mile...


...and to Waverley Bridge for the bus home...


Down from the top of the hill...


...noting flowers by the roadside...


A wee visitor was surprised in the garden - Candy...


She made her escape - we've known her for probably over 15 years and she's never been the friendliest of cats...


She stopped on her way over the fence to hiss and growl at me...


Bye Candy!


Had a wee read in the back garden while listening to the music of Herr Molter and awaiting Anne's return...


..at which point a light lunch was served...


...followed by a "we really shouldn't but what the hell" tasty treat...


Blue skies up above...


Not content with working in the garden, Anne had also decided to do some painting today...


Top lady indeed...


Meanwhile your correspondent arsed about with CDs purchased this week...


Later on, the kitchen was a flurry of action...


..with yet another superb home made curry on the menu...


Yum...



Some TV comprised the second of three "Our Fathers Our mothers : Generation War", giving a German perspective on the horrors of WII...

My own generation and the one prior to that and every one since, really have no comprehension of how lucky we have all been not to have lived through that...

When I hear people nowadays complaining about how stressful everything is, I feel they really ought to be counting their blessings instead...

Lights out...

Highlight of the Day : Everything...