Maybe it's an age thing, but I've found myself obsessed with the TV series LIfe on Mars, which is of course set in 1973, the year I went to university. I've been watching the DVDs with the family, shouting out things like "that's a Ford Cortina 2000E! One of my first girlfriends' dad had one of those!".
Having been in Glasgow for the last week, staying in the west end, I've been revisiting some of the scenes of my (highly reputable, apart from the curries)university years. One thing I missed yesterday during a perambulation through Kelvingrove Park was the overwhelming aroma of curry that used to waft from Gibson Street. But the notion that you could have a capuccino by the Kelvin (from the excellent Big Blue) was unthinkable in 1973, when the Kelvin was (even more) nasty and noxious and that walkway didn't exist.
Anyway, yanking me back to another era was my boss Jeff Zycinski in his blog yesterday. To be precise, 1996, and the Tom Morton Show (Version II; we're on Version III these days...or is it IV?). Jeff had unearthed a video taken during our trip to Hollywood to broadcast live for a week (from a studio deep in the heart of East LA's gangland, at 3.00 am)and a publicity shot which makes me look like Gene Hunt (from Life on Mars) only with serious haemorrhoid problems. But, it has to be said, with a great deal more hair. Than I do now, that is. Gene seems plentifully hirsute. Though who knows what he'll look like in the Life on Mars sequel, apparently set in 80s.
Ah, that trip to Hollywood! Backstage at the Jay Leno Show, getting chased off the Universal Studios (not the theme park) backlot by security, the phenomenal burgers, taking tea with Gregory Peck at his house, the delightful Ed Asner, the strange Michael York (wearing makeup because he thought we were a TV show) and the gang member with the gun...
Enough nostalgia! It just ain't what it used to be. Or perhaps it is. Where can I find some Cremola Foam, a camel hair coat and a Ford Capri?
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Still in Glasgow, still eating (and eating)
Just in case you were wondering, the reason I'm still in Glasgow is that I'm on holiday and well, this is as far as I'm going to get.
It's a complicated business, holidays in our family. James (who has been here in Glasgow with Susan and Martha and me for the past week) is now off to the National Youth Orchestra with his double bass and for the next fortnight will actually have to do some practising before heading off to do glamorous gigs in Berlin and Amsterdam. As well as in Scotland and indeed on that proud proclaimer of the airwaves, BBC Radio SCotland.
Susan and Martha, meanwhile, have been shopping womanfully and are now plotting a trip to London for more of the same, then a great big stonking carbon footprint over to Berlin to see James perform. I haven't been home for three weeks but am heading north (with the motorbike) on Wdnesday. I'll be home for a week with Magnus, who is working and sits his driving test on Saturday. Then back down to mc and play at the special benefit gig for The Billy O'Riordan clinic in Malawi on 10th August (featuring Kitterdy, The Ping Pong Banana Show and comedy from Sandy Nelson, great auctions, fabulous raffles and much more: Grosvenor Hilton, Glasgow, 8.00 pm)
So Glasgow and Shetland are basically it for the holidays for me. We've been having a good time in the big city, though, especially eating out. Here's the list so far:
Stravaigin 2 (Ruthven Lane): Fabulous burgers, best chips I've ever tasted, remarkably good value.
North Star (Queen Margaret Drive): Erratic service but some of the best coffee in town...great scones and the eggy bread with crispy bacon is to die for.
Ichi Ban (Queen St): The full-on, communal, neon/urban Japanese experience. Fresh, fast and the Ramen rocks.
Ichi Ban (Dumbarton Road): The same only without the Blade Runner vibe
Mother India's Cafe: Just about the freshest, tastiest, zingiest Indian food outside Dundee. The tapas-sized portions are a great idea but try to remember what you ordered or confusion can arise. Also the Wee Curry House (Ashton Lane and Garnethill). All much better, I think, than Mother India her/itself
Little Italy (Byres Road) Perfect for late night coffee and lemon cake. Great atmosphere
Wagamama (off Nelson Mandela Place): Somewhat sanitised Japanese/Cantonese fusion, with a curious absence of sushi. Dearer than Ichi Ban. Good and good fun, but the automatic addition of forks and spoons is indicative of the cooking's compromise.
Spice Magic (Queen Margaret Drive): One of those carry-outs that does everything from kebabs to fish suppers through every conceivable curry. Fab value and everything we had was good.
Beanscene: Always good coffee and atmosphere, though it's not cheap, Tam!
Pizza Express: Susan hates pizza, and I've only just found this out after 19 years of marriage. But I love Pizza Express, especially that Espresso Royale thing with figs and mascarpone.
Bon appetit!
It's a complicated business, holidays in our family. James (who has been here in Glasgow with Susan and Martha and me for the past week) is now off to the National Youth Orchestra with his double bass and for the next fortnight will actually have to do some practising before heading off to do glamorous gigs in Berlin and Amsterdam. As well as in Scotland and indeed on that proud proclaimer of the airwaves, BBC Radio SCotland.
Susan and Martha, meanwhile, have been shopping womanfully and are now plotting a trip to London for more of the same, then a great big stonking carbon footprint over to Berlin to see James perform. I haven't been home for three weeks but am heading north (with the motorbike) on Wdnesday. I'll be home for a week with Magnus, who is working and sits his driving test on Saturday. Then back down to mc and play at the special benefit gig for The Billy O'Riordan clinic in Malawi on 10th August (featuring Kitterdy, The Ping Pong Banana Show and comedy from Sandy Nelson, great auctions, fabulous raffles and much more: Grosvenor Hilton, Glasgow, 8.00 pm)
So Glasgow and Shetland are basically it for the holidays for me. We've been having a good time in the big city, though, especially eating out. Here's the list so far:
Stravaigin 2 (Ruthven Lane): Fabulous burgers, best chips I've ever tasted, remarkably good value.
North Star (Queen Margaret Drive): Erratic service but some of the best coffee in town...great scones and the eggy bread with crispy bacon is to die for.
Ichi Ban (Queen St): The full-on, communal, neon/urban Japanese experience. Fresh, fast and the Ramen rocks.
Ichi Ban (Dumbarton Road): The same only without the Blade Runner vibe
Mother India's Cafe: Just about the freshest, tastiest, zingiest Indian food outside Dundee. The tapas-sized portions are a great idea but try to remember what you ordered or confusion can arise. Also the Wee Curry House (Ashton Lane and Garnethill). All much better, I think, than Mother India her/itself
Little Italy (Byres Road) Perfect for late night coffee and lemon cake. Great atmosphere
Wagamama (off Nelson Mandela Place): Somewhat sanitised Japanese/Cantonese fusion, with a curious absence of sushi. Dearer than Ichi Ban. Good and good fun, but the automatic addition of forks and spoons is indicative of the cooking's compromise.
Spice Magic (Queen Margaret Drive): One of those carry-outs that does everything from kebabs to fish suppers through every conceivable curry. Fab value and everything we had was good.
Beanscene: Always good coffee and atmosphere, though it's not cheap, Tam!
Pizza Express: Susan hates pizza, and I've only just found this out after 19 years of marriage. But I love Pizza Express, especially that Espresso Royale thing with figs and mascarpone.
Bon appetit!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The extremes of motorcycling
Just picked up my venerable Honda GL500 Silverwing from Clydebank today, and the folk at Gremlins having sorted out the front brake, I rode it back into Glasgow. Which was fine, if slightly nerve-wracking. Not as nerve wracking as this video, though. It was sent to me by Colin Fraser of the excellent Shetland Island Cruisers, and shows some very, very committed riding indeed on one of the classic biker routes in the USA: Deals Gap which runs through Tennessee and North Carolina for 11 miles and, ahem, 318 corners. The amazing thing is that both the cameraman and the rider he's filming were on GL1800 Honda Goldwings, enormous, everything-including-the-kitchen-sink cruisers. Listen out for the scraping noises.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
We have pub! Hotel! Twelve jobs! Possibility of pint within 200 yards of front door!
The St Magnus - or, if you will, St Magnus Bay - Hotel, closed for three years, has been sold and will reopen! Meaning that we will now have a local pub!
Let joy be unconfined!
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