Last Saturday night was the first of the new regular Dundee Ceroc Dance Party. And although I wasn’t much in a dancing mood, which wasn’t helped by rather too much blues music from Dance Demon early on, it was a fun night as there were many visitors from Glasgow, Edinburgh & Aberdeen – so there was plenty of good company to natter with. Tiggerbabes set later was more inspiring but by that time I was just not in the mood.
The night was a success though and I look forward to the August one.
Sunday, 16 July 2006
Saturday, 15 July 2006
Hamish Hunting
Went to the movies Friday night to see Superman Returns – this is not a movie that I would normally bother going to see at movies and on opening night none the less. But these are the things we do for friends. Hamish was an extra on and off for several months when this film was being shot in Sydney and in one instance even flew back from NZ for some shooting.
So I went with the impossible task of trying to spot one person amongst dozens and it proved to be beyond my capabilities. But it was fun trying.
Over all the move was a nice light bit of watching - although it's easy to see either a sequal or TV series spin off bringing up junior.
I foresee a movie night when it comes out on DVD to try again
Templeton Woods
Got an early mark on Friday and as I had practical shoes in my car decided to make the most of the delightful sunny weather and finally visit the local woods.
Templeton Woods were and weren't what I was expecting.
It wasn't as quiet as I thought it would be the woods is bordered by roads on 2 sides so there was a fair bit of abient road noise and just general surburan noise.
It WAS exactly as I had read about in dozens of english novels - although the only wild life I saw were these birds - they are bit hard to see in this picture
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they were flitting and chattering around and I suspect that the one in the photo was trying to get the others organised.
I was hoping to see a red squirrel but hopefuly next time.
Saw this wrapped around a flower stem - not sure what it is - and think the bubbles look beautiful close up. In reality though it looked more like that bubbly spit that younger siblings make to drive older siblings nuts.
The rest of my photographic efforts from the woods can be found on here on Kodak for the pick of the bunch check out flickr
Thursday, 13 July 2006
My Apologies to Commenters
My apologies to those people who made comments and were wondering where the hell they had gone.
Blogger had turned comment moderation on but because I hadn’t put an email address for that function I wasn’t getting emails letting me know that comments needed moderating.
I have freed all trapped comments and have turned moderation off so now when you add a comment it will appear immediately - have added an email address so if it happens again I will know when comments come in
Once again my sincere apologies for this and thank you so very much for your lovely comments
Blogger had turned comment moderation on but because I hadn’t put an email address for that function I wasn’t getting emails letting me know that comments needed moderating.
I have freed all trapped comments and have turned moderation off so now when you add a comment it will appear immediately - have added an email address so if it happens again I will know when comments come in
Once again my sincere apologies for this and thank you so very much for your lovely comments
The Dangers of Googling
Was a bit bored at work so decided to do some Google searches on some of my friends. One of the searches turned up a site by another friend in Perth – so thinking it will be nice to read a bit from home followed the link where I got a bit of nasty surprise.
The write up was about a dance event in Perth and in with all the happy lovely stuff – I got a sentence all to myself saying how I was “a conniving, nasty piece of work” it was rather a shock to read this as the person writing it was someone who I thought of as a friend – not a bestest friend but a friend – the sort you happily chat with at class and look forward to seeing and notice when they aren’t around.
I’m not sure what I did to them real or imagined to deserve that comment – but despite the comment being old it has really stung me and I’m not sure how I will feel when I seem them when I am next in Perth again. Thankfully it’s a long way off.
So the lesson here is 2 fold
The write up was about a dance event in Perth and in with all the happy lovely stuff – I got a sentence all to myself saying how I was “a conniving, nasty piece of work” it was rather a shock to read this as the person writing it was someone who I thought of as a friend – not a bestest friend but a friend – the sort you happily chat with at class and look forward to seeing and notice when they aren’t around.
I’m not sure what I did to them real or imagined to deserve that comment – but despite the comment being old it has really stung me and I’m not sure how I will feel when I seem them when I am next in Perth again. Thankfully it’s a long way off.
So the lesson here is 2 fold
- be careful what you put on the big wide web as you never know who wil find it
- if you go a googling you may not always like what you find
Wednesday, 12 July 2006
A bonus for the travelling fund
This Saturday the travelling fund is going to get a boost – I am doing some work directly for University of Dundee, and as this is direct will be getting paid around double the rate I get paid when I work via an agency. YEAH!
Monday, 10 July 2006
Sunday Dinner
On Sunday I treated to a home cooked Sunday dinner by the fabulous Bob & Caroline. Bob & Caroline are venue managers at the Monday & Thursday night venues I DJ at. Bob picked me up at 2.30pm which allowed me to have a couple of glasses of wine with dinner with no worry.
Dinner started with an entrée of smoked salmon and prawns and salad delicious – especially the smoked salmon which I am normally not a big fan of – the flavour was much more delicate than I have ever encountered before. Main course was melt in the mouth roast lamb with organic veggies. An dessert was homemade strawberry tarts – well the pastry was bought but the filling and glaze was homemade – and god knows I I wouldn’t even have attempted to make that much of them. And they were the most delicious tarts mmmmmm.
As a thank you for their hospitality rather than risk wine – not knowing the brands here I suspected I would end up choosing something hideous, I next considered cut flowers but apart from the super market didn’t know where to get them and the ones at the supermarket weren’t very inspiring. So in the end I settled on 2 small flowering plants – I didn’t know if B&C were gardeners as such but if they weren’t the plants would last at least as long as cut flowers. As it turns out Caroline is into gardening and has a lovely garden :)
It was a lovely afternoon of good food and great company including the lovely Tilly the cat to pat.
Dinner started with an entrée of smoked salmon and prawns and salad delicious – especially the smoked salmon which I am normally not a big fan of – the flavour was much more delicate than I have ever encountered before. Main course was melt in the mouth roast lamb with organic veggies. An dessert was homemade strawberry tarts – well the pastry was bought but the filling and glaze was homemade – and god knows I I wouldn’t even have attempted to make that much of them. And they were the most delicious tarts mmmmmm.
As a thank you for their hospitality rather than risk wine – not knowing the brands here I suspected I would end up choosing something hideous, I next considered cut flowers but apart from the super market didn’t know where to get them and the ones at the supermarket weren’t very inspiring. So in the end I settled on 2 small flowering plants – I didn’t know if B&C were gardeners as such but if they weren’t the plants would last at least as long as cut flowers. As it turns out Caroline is into gardening and has a lovely garden :)
It was a lovely afternoon of good food and great company including the lovely Tilly the cat to pat.
I did good in Glasgow
On Saturday I drove over to Glasgow to DJ at their monthly Ceroc Party, I was somewhat nervous about this as I was warned that the Glasgow Crew were rather difficult to please.
Anyway I departed from Dundee a little late around 3.20pm the plan was to leave at 3pm arrive at Pretzelmeister’s around 5pm have time for dinner and to get changed before leaving to for the venue to set up. Well things went pretty much to plan – except for the arriving at the venue to set up – I didn’t have the right intersection programmed into TomTom and drove right by the venue where in it took me 15 minutes to get myself back to the venue by which time I was running late!!! But with Franck’s assistance was all set up by 8.02pm – just 2 minutes late – and with only one punter in the room! Phew!
Glasgow university is a very graceful looking building but a nightmare of a room set up and sound wise. Set up wise it’s difficult as there is only 1 that’s right 1 working power point!! Off this power point on a configuration of 2 extension cords and 3 powerboards we ran
Spent a large part of the night half expecting the sparks to fly – thankfully they didn’t.
From here the night got better – although it was disconcerting that it took about 20-35 minutes before anyone started dancing, according to Franck this is normal they like to have a natter before hitting the dance floor.
At about 9pm there was a short Blues lesson and then the dancing started in earnest. As there was a blues room starting at 10pm upstairs the mix I played in the mainroom was pretty upbeat – mostly middle of the road with a few faster songs and a few slower ones.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the music through the night – floor was busy most of the time and there wasn’t a mass exodus when the blues room opened so figured I hadn’t got it completely wrong. However at the end of the night I discovered I had done better than not just getting it wrong – they had actually really liked it. I had one couple come up to me directly and tell me how much they had enjoyed the music and Franck relayed several other compliments including one person asking if he could get me back again!! Needless to say I was a happy wee elf!!
Pretzelmeister and McJester assisted me with my pack down and packing the car which meant a lazy pack for me – as they kindly did the heavy caring.
The 3 of us headed back to Pretzelmeister delightful domain where we indulged in drinks, dancing & discussion. McJester was a somewhat sensible fellow and headed home around 4.30am or so I think – time had become a somewhat abstract concept at this point.
And after a water fight that he started and in which I displayed my complete lack of eye hand co-ordination by completely missing a stationary Pretzelmeister from 3 feet away, we finally headed to our beds sometime after 6am.
At a l1am my alarm drove me from bed – as I need to be heading back to Dundee by 12-ish.
My gallant host provided me with a cooked breakfast/lunch to sustain me on my journey and I was away not much past 12.
The other highlight of the Glasgow party was getting to meet several more forumites – including in one case chatting with one but not realising she was a forumite *blush*
And I’m looking forward to meeting more of them at the Dundee party this Saturday.
Anyway I departed from Dundee a little late around 3.20pm the plan was to leave at 3pm arrive at Pretzelmeister’s around 5pm have time for dinner and to get changed before leaving to for the venue to set up. Well things went pretty much to plan – except for the arriving at the venue to set up – I didn’t have the right intersection programmed into TomTom and drove right by the venue where in it took me 15 minutes to get myself back to the venue by which time I was running late!!! But with Franck’s assistance was all set up by 8.02pm – just 2 minutes late – and with only one punter in the room! Phew!
Glasgow university is a very graceful looking building but a nightmare of a room set up and sound wise. Set up wise it’s difficult as there is only 1 that’s right 1 working power point!! Off this power point on a configuration of 2 extension cords and 3 powerboards we ran
- mixer
- Laptop
- 2 speakers
- 2 little swirly lights
- 2 fans
- 1 rope light and
- 1 set of 4 coloured lights.
Spent a large part of the night half expecting the sparks to fly – thankfully they didn’t.
From here the night got better – although it was disconcerting that it took about 20-35 minutes before anyone started dancing, according to Franck this is normal they like to have a natter before hitting the dance floor.
At about 9pm there was a short Blues lesson and then the dancing started in earnest. As there was a blues room starting at 10pm upstairs the mix I played in the mainroom was pretty upbeat – mostly middle of the road with a few faster songs and a few slower ones.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the music through the night – floor was busy most of the time and there wasn’t a mass exodus when the blues room opened so figured I hadn’t got it completely wrong. However at the end of the night I discovered I had done better than not just getting it wrong – they had actually really liked it. I had one couple come up to me directly and tell me how much they had enjoyed the music and Franck relayed several other compliments including one person asking if he could get me back again!! Needless to say I was a happy wee elf!!
Pretzelmeister and McJester assisted me with my pack down and packing the car which meant a lazy pack for me – as they kindly did the heavy caring.
The 3 of us headed back to Pretzelmeister delightful domain where we indulged in drinks, dancing & discussion. McJester was a somewhat sensible fellow and headed home around 4.30am or so I think – time had become a somewhat abstract concept at this point.
And after a water fight that he started and in which I displayed my complete lack of eye hand co-ordination by completely missing a stationary Pretzelmeister from 3 feet away, we finally headed to our beds sometime after 6am.
At a l1am my alarm drove me from bed – as I need to be heading back to Dundee by 12-ish.
My gallant host provided me with a cooked breakfast/lunch to sustain me on my journey and I was away not much past 12.
The other highlight of the Glasgow party was getting to meet several more forumites – including in one case chatting with one but not realising she was a forumite *blush*
And I’m looking forward to meeting more of them at the Dundee party this Saturday.
Sunday, 9 July 2006
Real Live Cemetery
On Friday I got an early mark and the sun was Shining so something out doors seemed appropriate – as I didn’t have sensible shoes on a walk in the woods was out of the question so I decided to to drop in and check out a cemetery I had driven past a few times.
I have visited many cemeteries over the years – I find the stories the memorials can tell fascinating – when I was a Uni I used to eat my lunch in the oldest graveyard in Wellington – it was a lovely peaceful place with lots of green around.
And not for any reason you would guess – but because it was a live cemetery the graves here weren’t some sort of history of the area they belonged to here and now, connected to this world. The youngest grave I saw had a date of 14 June 06 on it!! These graves belonged not to the person in them but the families that mourned them and came to visit and care for them.
It was interesting to see land so clearly set aside for new graves.
The other thing that I found interesting was that the gravestones or more to the point that there were gravestones as when I visited my grandmothers memorial– that most of the graves there had plaques in the ground – apparently the cemetery didn’t allow stones as they were to hard to mow around. Personally I prefer the gravestones just seems more fitting/proper ...
I have visited many cemeteries over the years – I find the stories the memorials can tell fascinating – when I was a Uni I used to eat my lunch in the oldest graveyard in Wellington – it was a lovely peaceful place with lots of green around.
Anyway this cemetery creeped me out!!!
And not for any reason you would guess – but because it was a live cemetery the graves here weren’t some sort of history of the area they belonged to here and now, connected to this world. The youngest grave I saw had a date of 14 June 06 on it!! These graves belonged not to the person in them but the families that mourned them and came to visit and care for them.
It was interesting to see land so clearly set aside for new graves.
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The other thing that I found interesting was that the gravestones or more to the point that there were gravestones as when I visited my grandmothers memorial– that most of the graves there had plaques in the ground – apparently the cemetery didn’t allow stones as they were to hard to mow around. Personally I prefer the gravestones just seems more fitting/proper ...
Thursday, 6 July 2006
Floating through the fog
Driving home from class last Tuesday was an interesting experience – while we were inside dancing our toes off a fog had descended over the land.
A fascinating lightly glowing blue blanket of fog caressed the landscape. Peering into the fog obscuring the green fields I felt a great desire to step forward into this seemingly magical world and see if the fairy would take me on an adventure or would I just be left to wander aimlessly.
The reality was a rather surreal drive home with minimum visibility – which really should have been stressful but there was something rather soothing about it.
It was as if I was floating along in a bubble, with only the occasional power pole or building to mark my passing by. Sometimes if felt as if I was just suspended in time and would be forever travelling in my fog bubble – which now sounds very horror movie scary but it wasn’t.
A fascinating lightly glowing blue blanket of fog caressed the landscape. Peering into the fog obscuring the green fields I felt a great desire to step forward into this seemingly magical world and see if the fairy would take me on an adventure or would I just be left to wander aimlessly.
The reality was a rather surreal drive home with minimum visibility – which really should have been stressful but there was something rather soothing about it.
It was as if I was floating along in a bubble, with only the occasional power pole or building to mark my passing by. Sometimes if felt as if I was just suspended in time and would be forever travelling in my fog bubble – which now sounds very horror movie scary but it wasn’t.
Monday, 3 July 2006
well done Jessie & Susan
Just got some lovely news from Melbourne, Australia - Ceroc Melbourne has a local comp and a couple of the students from Albert Park came second in the Intermediate category.
WOO HOO!!! Jessie & Susan - you guys ROCK!!!!!!!
Sunday, 25 June 2006
Another Stirling Tea Dance
Once again I headed over to Stirling for the monthly Tea Dance. This time proceeded a cheery journey in the company of Freya, Piglet, Douglas & AussieTime – than you to Freya for driving and an amiable lunch with my travelling companions with the additions of Firefly, McJester & Johnthehappyguy.
Between the lunch & the tea dance – they were studious students at a workshop and I discovered St Ninians – see previous post.
And as 3.30pm rolled around Tiggerbabe started dolling out the tunes, Franck laid out the cake and fun began with delightful dances, congenial conversation, daring debates and most delicious coconut cake.
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=bn23palx.562ihln1&Uy=-l0ip01&Ux=0&localeid=en_GB
Between the lunch & the tea dance – they were studious students at a workshop and I discovered St Ninians – see previous post.
And as 3.30pm rolled around Tiggerbabe started dolling out the tunes, Franck laid out the cake and fun began with delightful dances, congenial conversation, daring debates and most delicious coconut cake.
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=bn23palx.562ihln1&Uy=-l0ip01&Ux=0&localeid=en_GB
Wandering in Stirling
Had some time to kill in Stirling today between lunch and the monthly tea dance. So I did what I do I went walking to see what I could find. And wandering along in the balmy sunshine I discovered St Ninians Church and spent a pleasant hour or so investigating what I could of the church and it’s surrounds.
A very short history of St Ninians Church
Photos @ Kodak
A very short history of St Ninians Church
The old Parish Kirk of St. Ninians was blown up by Prince Charles Edward’s forces, who had used it as a powder magazine in 1746.
While Stirling Castle was under attack during the Jacobite rebellion, the original church was used as a powder magazine and was blown up by the retreating Jacobite army in February 1746.
All that survived the explosion was the fifteenth century chancel and the tower which has been added to the Kirk as recently as 1743.
The present church was built in 1751 and altered in 1937, replacing the earlier church. The original 1732 tower is still standing.
Photos @ Kodak
Saturday, 24 June 2006
an experience out shopping
headed into town to do a bit of shopping and as I was wandering along this lady asked me if I wanted a make over - as first I was going to say no - but then I thought what the hell it can't hurt it'll just be some make-up and it's always nice to try something new - and said yes.
well it was a bit more than just a make up stall - it clothes and make-up and it was all being done on radio - so next thing I know they are asking my style issues?!?! apart from the fact that I was on stage in some of my oldest clothes ... I said smart casual - so shortly I was redressed in a smart casual outfit followed by make up - apparently I have lovely skin :)
the outfit was very cute - and if it wouldn't have cast me nearly 2 weeks salary I would have gone and bought it.
Anyway once it was all over and was back into my own clothes they handed me a small black sports bag saying thank you and here is your gift bag. And a pretty fine gift bag too.
Inside the sports bag there, was a large towel, a lush bath ball and discount voucher, a small make up bag, several perfume samples and Lancome samples.
proves you never know what will come your way if you say yes things rather than no....
well it was a bit more than just a make up stall - it clothes and make-up and it was all being done on radio - so next thing I know they are asking my style issues?!?! apart from the fact that I was on stage in some of my oldest clothes ... I said smart casual - so shortly I was redressed in a smart casual outfit followed by make up - apparently I have lovely skin :)
the outfit was very cute - and if it wouldn't have cast me nearly 2 weeks salary I would have gone and bought it.
Anyway once it was all over and was back into my own clothes they handed me a small black sports bag saying thank you and here is your gift bag. And a pretty fine gift bag too.
Inside the sports bag there, was a large towel, a lush bath ball and discount voucher, a small make up bag, several perfume samples and Lancome samples.
proves you never know what will come your way if you say yes things rather than no....
Sunday, 18 June 2006
Beach Ballroom Chill
This is the closing event of the Beach Ballroom weekend – and has a very relaxed atmosphere and takes place at the Northern Hotel with fab music by Tiggerbabe!
Originally I hadn’t intended to got to this party as having been away from Friday night – figured some time at home – those damn domestic duties just won’t do themselves - and an early night was in order.
However with such impassioned pleas for me to come to the event and having found my groove – it seemed worth the back and forth driving involved – so after some frenzied washing and cleaning I was back on the road to Aberdeen.
And it was so WORTH it – the only bad thing was having to tear myself away before the end so as to make it home at a reasonable-ish hour.
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=bn23palx.9i8z6r91&Uy=b9r0kp&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0
Originally I hadn’t intended to got to this party as having been away from Friday night – figured some time at home – those damn domestic duties just won’t do themselves - and an early night was in order.
However with such impassioned pleas for me to come to the event and having found my groove – it seemed worth the back and forth driving involved – so after some frenzied washing and cleaning I was back on the road to Aberdeen.
And it was so WORTH it – the only bad thing was having to tear myself away before the end so as to make it home at a reasonable-ish hour.
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=bn23palx.9i8z6r91&Uy=b9r0kp&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0
Saturday, 17 June 2006
Beach Ballroom
This much anticipated Scottish Ceroc Event takes place in the Beach Ballroom (hence the name), the featured teacher this time was Amir Giles so while I was meandering around the grounds of Balmoral others were cramming their heads full of the delights of Jango.
The Beach Ballroom party was delightful!!! As well as bringing together all the Scottish dancers there were a number of southern boys up for a visit – so even more boys to play with :)
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=bn23palx.9r2h28j9&Uy=l777b3&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=150871738751_545030190133
The Beach Ballroom party was delightful!!! As well as bringing together all the Scottish dancers there were a number of southern boys up for a visit – so even more boys to play with :)
http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=bn23palx.9r2h28j9&Uy=l777b3&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=150871738751_545030190133
Getting lost in the flowers
To get out of the rain I ducked into the small conservatory – and was seduced into spending the best part of an hour in the intricate of the blooms.
These two are my favourites
Other favourites are on Flickr
These two are my favourites
Other favourites are on Flickr
Balmoral
Today a tourist I was! I departed Aberdeen for Balmoral – the holiday residence of the Queen. Balmoral is a working estate who’s major crop is timber the ground apparently is pretty crap for growing much else. They do however grow enough produce for the Royal table and flowers enough to supply 2 arrangements weekly – one to the local church and the other …. Somewhere else. When the Royal Family is in residence obviously more cut flowers are required in the castle
As Balmoral is an actual residence – visitors only get to enter one room of the building – the ballroom where there is an interesting array of items on display but the real appeal of Balmoral is the grounds and the stories that go with them.
As part of your entry fee you get an self guiding audio tour – which is brilliant!! Sadly as my day went from calmly over cast to soggy and rainy it was hard for me to make the most of it as I tended to have to dash from building to building.
Due to the bad weather I decided to take the tractor tour – this tour is well worth the £2 cost – it goes for an hour and takes you further a field than you can go on foot. With some of the highlights being
John Browns Cottage
The Estate Village
The Highland cows
A west view of the Castle – is a different view that normally seen
Memorials to Victoria & Albert
Alberts Cairn
And I even bought my first souvenir!!!
I so feel like a real tourist now ;)
Photos @ Kodak
As Balmoral is an actual residence – visitors only get to enter one room of the building – the ballroom where there is an interesting array of items on display but the real appeal of Balmoral is the grounds and the stories that go with them.
As part of your entry fee you get an self guiding audio tour – which is brilliant!! Sadly as my day went from calmly over cast to soggy and rainy it was hard for me to make the most of it as I tended to have to dash from building to building.
Due to the bad weather I decided to take the tractor tour – this tour is well worth the £2 cost – it goes for an hour and takes you further a field than you can go on foot. With some of the highlights being
John Browns Cottage
The Estate Village
The Highland cows
A west view of the Castle – is a different view that normally seen
Memorials to Victoria & Albert
Alberts Cairn
And I even bought my first souvenir!!!
I so feel like a real tourist now ;)
Photos @ Kodak
Tuesday, 13 June 2006
And the travelling fund does grow!
I started a 3 month contact today. I didn’t want a contract that long – wanted some time off for doing the tourist thing – to that end I figured I would lay down some requirements and put myself out of the running.
My requirements were simple
Must finish @ 5pm
And must have 3 Fridays and 3 Mondays off
But they must be pretty desperate as the still wanted met o interview – which happened last Wednesday and concluded with “the job’s yours if you want it”
So now I am the newest contractor of ITI Life Sciences.
Seems like a very laid back & Friendly office to work in.
And so the travelling fund does grow.
!
My requirements were simple
Must finish @ 5pm
And must have 3 Fridays and 3 Mondays off
But they must be pretty desperate as the still wanted met o interview – which happened last Wednesday and concluded with “the job’s yours if you want it”
So now I am the newest contractor of ITI Life Sciences.
Seems like a very laid back & Friendly office to work in.
And so the travelling fund does grow.
!
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