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Happy New Year!
Posted on January 8th, 2009 by bryan.
Categories: General, Holidays, Restaurants, Theatre.
2009! Where did that come from??
The festivities proper started on 19 December, with an indoor picnic and party games at my last day in the office in 2008. In the evening, a friend and I went to Cadogan Hall, where the London Gay Men’s Chorus (including Graeme) was performing “For Christmas’ Sake”, featuring carols, comedy and very exhausting audience participation. This was my second LGMC concert, and they’ve both been great - although there is one member of the Chorus that I just wish would choke on his microphone! Never mind, I got to gush over my ’star’ boyfriend and I even won a raffle prize - a very impressive set of xmas tree baubles! It wasn’t a very late night, because I was up early the next day to head to Edinburgh.
It was another early start on 23 December, but this time it was for a visit to the dentist and the news that I’ve to get a wisdom tooth out under general anaesthetic - great!! I then met a friend at Le Sept, probably my favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. I know smoked haddock and crayfish crepes won’t appeal to everyone, but I’ve yet to be disappointed! As my friend was abstaining from alcohol, it wasn’t one of our usual marathon lunches, and I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening attempting (unsuccessfully) to finish my xmas shopping.
Christmas Eve was relatively quiet - just a visit with my Dad and Sister to Edinburgh Zoo. Unfortunately, my Sis was working night shifts over xmas, but I still had Graeme to look after me - amazingly, it would be the first time that we would wake up together on Christmas Day. After opening a few presents, Graeme, my Sister and I went round the corner to my Dad’s house, where we exchanged family presents and tucked into brunch. Graeme and I then went to wish the animals at Edinburgh Zoo a ‘Merry Xmas’ - yes, my second visit in as many days! Meanwhile, my Sister was preparing an informal (but very tasty) haggis supper, which we had to throw back before she started her night shift. Graeme and I spent the evening lounging in front of the TV, enjoying the traditional xmas nonsense - although Wallace & Gromit’s “A Matter of Loaf and Death” was excellent! Boxing Day was our formal family xmas celebration, with a steak pie dinner at my dad’s house.
Our trips to Edinburgh are always pretty manic, and we never have enough time to see everyone and to do everything that we want. However, on 27 December, Graeme and I met up with my long-time friend, David. We had dinner at the Smoke Stack, which is definitely in my list of top five restaurants in Edinburgh, and drinks at The Street; but we had no energy for the clubs.
We had a relatively quiet day on 28 December, but after dinner at dad’s house, Graeme, my sister, a couple of her friends and I headed to The Spylaw Tavern, to test our brains in the local pub quiz. Amazingly, we came second in the main event, and somehow won (yes, won!) the bonus round and the £50 prize! In the mood to celebrate, but not quite dressed for the occasion, we bought pizzas and alcohol and headed back to my sister’s house, going to bed in the wee small hours. After a late rise the next day, we sought some retail therapy for our sore heads at The Centre, Livingston. 30 December brought our annual dinner with family friends - it’s one of those ‘traditions’ that nobody remembers why or when it started, nor indeed (if I’m being totally honest) why it continues. Oh well!
Hogmanay is one of my favourite times of the year - Scottish, world recognised … and really, really fun! Graeme and I celebrated with dinner at the Smoke Stack (I said it was one of my favourites!) and drinks at The Street (sound familiar ??), before watching the fireworks that heralded the arrival of 2009. The pyrotechnics are impressive, but the best part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations is the sight of over 100,000 strangers cheering, dancing and embracing as if they were ‘well kent’ friends - I’ve only spent one New Year’s Eve in London, but it definitely lacked the atmosphere that you get in the Scottish capital. After the fireworks, we headed to what is now a traditional Hogmanay flat party, hosted by more or less the same people for almost 10 years. Needless to say, there was chatting, drinking, singing, drinking, games … and a bit more drinking! Continuing the Scottish theme, we finished a great night of celebrations with a haggis and sausage from Rapido, undoubtedly my favourite chip shop.
Despite not getting into bed until the wee, wee small hours (i.e. 5am), I was up on New Year’s Day at 9am to officiate at the Portobell Promathon, a surprisingly popular (to the extent that it does not have to be advertised) race that attracts hundreds of runners. I don’t understand the attraction of running practically in the North Sea during a Scottish winter, but then again I go along every year to watch. Weird! Anyway, I was shattered and hungover, so I spent the rest of the day at my dad’s house.
2 January was our last full day in Edinburgh, so we had a lot to fit in - lunch with my friend Laura and her fiance, coffee (and PlayStation 3) with David and lastly dinner with my Dad and his partner at another favourite haunt, Katie’s Diner (the food is great and the owner is hysterical). Then it was up early on 3 January for the return journey to London, work and a bit of a rest!
So that was how I ended 2008, and welcomed in 2009. Who knows what the year ahead has to offer, but it looks set to be ‘interesting’ - a looming recession, soaring unemployment, a general election, pointless wars, a dying planet. As you can see, I’m staying positive.
Happy New Year!
Theatre Visits
Posted on December 6th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: Theatre.
I know I’m crap at posting to this website, but at least I’ve updated my Theatre Visits!
A quick catch-up
Posted on October 7th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: Films, General, Theatre.
It’s been a while since I posted a blog, so here’s a quick update about what I’ve been doing:-
- Graeme and I enjoyed another two BBC Prom performances (Nos. 66 & 75), including the Penultimate Night of the Proms. I know the latter does not have the kudos of the Last Night, but Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 (’Choral’) was outstanding: I’ve wanted to hear it live for years, and now I can’t wait to experience it again. Ratings - ****/5 & *****/5.
- We also got the use of a Royal Albert Hall box for Classic FM Live. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor, Vasily Petrenko, were on fine form, with a programme featuring Bizet, Puccini, Schubert, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. There were also quality clarinet and trumpet solos by Emma Johnson and Alison Balsom; and the voices of Alfie Boe and Kate Royal - especially when united for Ave Maria - were sublime. The canons and fireworks of the 1812 Overture were a fitting end to a great evening. Rating - *****/5.
- My sister visited us for a long weekend, which included a night at the cinema (’Taken‘ is excellent - ****/5) and a day trip to Whipsnade Zoo (very cold, but great fun - ****/5). However, the best part of the weekend was a visit to Alton Towers, undoubtedly the UK’s best theme park. My queasy tummy and dizzy head testify to us trying most of the big rides (’Oblivion’ and its vertical drop was the best), but my favourite ride was probably the ‘Runaway Mine Train’ - plenty of twists and turns, kids laughing and lots of smiles, all without the need for a post-ride sick bucket! We visited on an October weekday outwith the school holidays, which I would definitely recommend. Alton Towers - *****/5.
That’s all for just now. B x
Hitting the dance floor
Posted on September 20th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
Sore, pounding head! Twitchy, aching tummy! When will I learn when to say ‘no’ to more glasses of wine?
It was an old colleague’s leaving do, so a few of us gathered for drinks and nibbles in Camden. It was a weird night - not least because the guest of honour left before 10pm - but it was great fun: lots of banter, a decent(ish) pub, not many idiots and, for the first time in ages, we went for a boogie!
You can probably count on two hands the number of times G and I have gone clubbing in London. It’s not that we don’t like clubbing; more that I’m not a fan of the big commercial clubs. It’s probably because I grew up on the Edinburgh scene, where there was (and still is) only one permanent gay club - CC Blooms. It’s naff, dingy and dark, but it is what it is and you can’t ask for much more than that. The Black Cap in Camden is much the same: black walls, lots of mirrors, cheap booze (and occasionally cute men).
Anyway, it’s now the morning after the night before and I’m beginning to feel a bit rough - head, tummy, legs. Alcohol and age are terrible things!
Newsflash!
Posted on September 9th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
After two years of part-time study, three years of work experience and numerous exams, I’ve finally been ‘elected’ Associate of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA).
As well as presenting financial and professional opportunitues, this means I’ve achieved two of the goals I set when I moved to London in 2005: firstly, to gain top-level experience in the charity sector; and, secondly, to qualify as a Chartered (Company) Secretary. I’ve even had the odd bit of fun!
Most importantly, I get a few more letters after my name ;o)
AlbaScot LL.B.(Hons) ACIS
It’s time for an end to the segregation of children by faith
Posted on September 5th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
As children across England and Wales returned to school this week, an eclectic mix of organisations joined forces to launch the Accord Coalition, which promotes inclusive schools and an end to special arrangements for state-funded faith schools.
The Coalition’s Declaration of Aims argues:-
- that in a pluralist, multi-cultural society, the State should promote tolerance and recognition of different values and beliefs;
- that schools should welcome all and be committed to non-discrimination; and
- that schools should promote a culture of questioning, of knowledge, of respect and of exploration of values, where students develop their own identities and sense of place in the world.
The Declaration continues, stating that State-funded schools should:-
- operate admissions policies that take no account of students’ - or their parents’ - religion or beliefs;
- operate recruitment and employment policies that do not discriminate on the grounds of religion or belief;
- follow an objective, fair and balanced syllabus for education about religions and non-religions beliefs; and
- provide their students with inclusive, inspiring and stimulating assemblies, in place of compulsory acts of worship.
‘The Guardian’s’ Polly Toynbee is also President of the British Humanist Association, a member of the Accord Coalition. She used her most recent commentary piece to highlight and to oppose the (increasing) segregation of children by faith, especially in the era of the ‘Academy’. Neither she nor the Coalition calls for anything extreme or radical - only that children, teachers and other school staff should be free from discrimination on the grounds of their religion or beliefs.
Toynbee writes that ‘class, ethnic and faith segregation are the most damaging reasons why the Accord Coalition needs to prevail’. She adds: ‘The State can’t protect children from pernicious views and doctrines [about creationism, sexuality and women's rights] at home - but it has a duty to protect them in State schools’. If only the State subscribed to that view. Instead, we have 7,000 faith schools, with more opening every year in the form of Academies, which already discriminate against the majority by focusing much needed funding and expertise on the few.
Toynbee suggests that ‘faith schools may be Blair’s most damaging legacy’, yet their number continues to multiply with the permission of Parliament. That’s why we have two choices: either to give credit where it’s due and to continue to despair about the undue and unfair influence of religious interest groups over our elected representatives; or to support the Accord Coalition and it Declaration of Aims. I know what I will be doing!
To read Polly Toynbee’s commentary in full, click on the link below.
Faith schools may be Blair’s most damaging legacy (’The Guardian’, 2 September 2008)
London 2012: ‘ping pong is coming home’
Posted on August 24th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
Click here to see London Mayor, Boris Johnson, celebrating the handover of the Olympic flag.
The merits of athiesm
Posted on August 24th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
Professor AC Grayling wrote in Thursday’s ‘The Guardian’ a compelling commentary about the merits of an atheist Prime Minister. It is one of the best pro-atheism pieces I’ve read, avoiding completely the usual criticisms of being anti-religion.
Instead, Grayling suggests that religious movements should be seen as civil society organisations (like trades unions, political parties, the Scouts, etc.), with every right to exist and to have their say, but as self-constituted interest groups no more entitled to a bigger share of the public pie of influence, privilege, tax handouts and legal exemptions than any other interest group.
Moreover, Grayling recognises that religion - unlike race, age, gender, disability (and, I add, sexuality) - is a matter of choice, that one can change or not have at all. As such, he argues (and I’ve long agreed), it should pay its own way and take its place in the queue along with other interest groups.
Atheism is not an attack on any or all religions. It’s about levelling the playing fields; equality; fairness; and respect. That can only be a good thing.
To read the article in full, click on the link below.
The rise of Miliband brings at last the prospect of an atheist Prime Minister (The Guardian, 21 August 2008)
Diving Down Under
Posted on August 23rd, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
Big congrats to Matt Mitcham, the Olympic 10m platform diving champion. Not only was the Ozzie’s dive world class, but he’s super sexy and open and proud about his sexuality. You couldn’t ask for a better role model!
