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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!
A quick half-year update
Posted on July 20th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General, Holidays, Theatre.
We’re now well into the second half of 2008, so I thought I’d write a quick update about some of the things we’ve been doing over the past six months:-
- Graeme and I moved into a new flat. It’s just along the corridor from our last flat, but it’s much bigger - there is actually room to swing a cat (maybe even a tiger)! On the whole, it was a good move, although we could do without the noisy kids playing outside and the floor that has a bad habit of flooding and lifting. The joys of London living.
- We spent three weeks in South Africa, visiting Graeme’s parents in Jo’burg, Cape Town, Kruger Park and Pretoria. The holiday was amazing, as the 2,500 pics prove. I’ve only managed to upload a hand-full (click here), but the rest will follow - over the next few months. I’ve been wanting to go to SA for years, and it really was the holiday of a life time - but we will definitely go back.
Enjoying the sun, sea and sand of South Africa
- We’ve had a few visits from our respective sisters (Gillian and Lesley). I miss my sister a lot, so it’s always fun to catch up - even though we struggle to find new things to do. It’s not through lack of choice, it’s just that we have different tastes and neither of us can make a decision! We also had a visit from my dad, who was in town for the London Marathon.
- Graeme joined the London Gay Men’s Chorus (LGMC), which is keeping him out of mischief. He’s really loving the opportunity to meet new people and to perform, so far in two of London’s top venues - Leicester Square and Cadogan Hall. Both shows were excellent and I am hugely proud of him.
- I finished and passed my company secretary exams, which means that I’m finally a Graduate (and eligible to become an Associate) of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA). My previous blogs testify that the exams were not the easiest in the world, so I’m glad to have that all behind me.
- I started a new job just after we got back from South Africa: it’s a similar role, but working for a bigger not-for-profit organisation. It means a slightly longer commute, but it really was time to move on from my former employer: I’d been there for three years and I needed a new challenge. I miss my old work colleagues, though.
- Graeme and I enjoyed a weekend in Cardiff, the hen and stag party capital of the UK - which is not a sentence I thought I would ever write. The pics will follow, eventually.
- We had a great night out at The Old Vic, where we saw Pygmalion. I am a huge fan of My Fair Lady (and Audrey Hepburn), so it was great to see the ‘original’, particularly in such a unique venue. We’ve not been to the theatre much this year (only two productions: The Lion King and The Mikado), but this definitely made up for it.
- Finally, Graeme and I joined London Zoo, which means this site will soon feature even more pics of penguins. I apologise in advance.
I don’t think there is anything else - well, nothing worth writing. We’ve bought our tickets for the Edinburgh Fringe, so we’ll be travelling north for 1-10 August - an opportunity to see family and friends and to enjoy some top quality entertainment (The Caesar Twins, Joan Rivers, Russell Kane, etc.). Then it will be back to London and all the good and bad that brings.
Photo Album - new pics!!
Posted on June 17th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
Sorry, but it’s taken me a while to publish these galleries.� Now I can concentrate on getting through my 2,500 pics from South Africa - but don’t worry, I’ll be selective!
South Africa 2008
Posted on May 14th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: Holidays.
For a random (and brief) selection of my 2,500 pics from South Africa:
Madeira - August 2007
Posted on September 24th, 2007 by bryan.
Categories: Holidays.
It’s taken a few weeks, but I’ve finally uploaded all my pics from Madeira. I hope you enjoy!
Photo Album - update
Posted on September 9th, 2007 by bryan.
Categories: General, Holidays.
Links below to three new albums, from summer weekends in London and the Algarve.
Paris - June 2007
Posted on August 13th, 2007 by bryan.
Categories: Holidays.
The pics from our long weekend in Paris … finally!
Paris in June - Day 1
Summer hols …
Posted on July 20th, 2007 by bryan.
Categories: Holidays.
I’m on my way to the Algarve. Look out for the photos next week, as well as those from our trip in June to Paris.
San Francisco - a few more pics
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 by bryan.
Categories: Holidays.
After deleting a lot of my own pics from San Francisco (!!), it was great to find out how good Graeme’s pics were. Click below to see just a highlight …