Light up my dark skies

Urrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.Fuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm so bored. Wish I was in Devon/Scotland/any where more interesting than here. Work has been one long endless groundhog day tour of Tudor history since I got back. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun job, but like anything you do repetitively, it gets familiar, and familiarity breeds contempt. I had a lovely bunch of people today though, a history society from Derbyshire, who seemed highly amused by my hyper caffeine fuelled whizz around the old place.

...Meeting in the aisle

Wow !! Where do I start. I've spent the last few days in Edinburgh, the most beautiful city in the U.K. Went up on the train, which is a gorgeous ride up the east coast, to Newcastle then Berwick (worth a visit too...). Visited Edinburgh Castle, numerous art galleries, went to the Royal National Scottish Orchestra at the Usher Hall, which was brilliant. The lady sat next to us happened to comment rather coyly that her daughter was the Cor Anglaise player, who solo'ed later on Dvorzaks New world Symphony (brilliantly!). Saturday morning we went to Holyrood house Palace. Got there before the masses at 9-30, so was the first in the main gallery (other than the guides) Its an absolutely amazing place to visit. There are paintings of all the medieval Kings of Scotland down the walls, ending with the English Stuart line at the other end-James 2nd etc.. We also went to the Canaletto exhibition in the Queens Gallery, also very good. I also climbed the Scott monument, alas I don't have many photos (only decent one is above...)from the top as I was shaking so much with vertigo. The stairs go up a basalt tube 200 feet high,when I got to the top platform there wasn't enough room for the dozen or so of tourists (including me ) to move, so we all had to squash past each other with a fearful expression. I stopped shaking on the ground about 40 minutes later! I'm not good with heights.. 'Jimmy Cheungs Chinese Buffet' is the best chinese you will ever visit. I couldn't stop eating, it was so good. You will find it just up from the Usher Hall. Mussels in Black bean sauce are being consumed in this photo, much to the amusement of Mrs Somers,(it was my second visit to the buffet) later to be complimented by chocolate cake and double chocky ice cream. On the trip back there were engineering works on the railway so we got sent via the Settle and Carlisle route, a very picturesque route back to Leeds... although it took a long time to get home, (6 hours in all). Would love to buy a house in Scotland to retire, if not Devon... Carpetbagger, you know you are welcome to stay whenever you want!

...drink cider from a lemon."

...onwards and upwards. Im off to Edinburgh for a couple of days tomorrow, to get some culture with Mrs Somers.

Here is a picture of "Excalibur", the stick of destiny which I found on Dumpdon hill in Devon (a bronze age fort).

A stick I hoped would be full of energy and aura.

We brought it home and used it to stir some masonary paint for the back garden wall. How humbling.

...we'll buy a house in Devon...

In the words of Lou and Andy "I'll have that one." The house I mean, not Delilah the dolphin. Although she did give me great pleasure, all purely legal I would add.

...grow ourselves new friends...

Exeter Cathedral, an amazing building. If you are ever in the West country make an effort to visit. It's such a good visit, astounding architecture, visitor friendly, excellent catering, general all round good visitor experience (thats museum speak coming out there!). Exeter is an odd sort of town. There's alot of horrible 60's style building interspersed by glorious medieval (thank the luftwaffe I suppose). The city museum is really good,with lots of collection on show and alot of education stuff going on. It puts "the collection" (Lincoln city museum, my local) to absolute shame. What a stupid fucking name anyway for a museum. Why not rename the Usher Art Gallery "the pictures"? Ok, step down from soapbox a minute... Exeter railway station must be the most decrepid, crappy staion in Britain, so don't judge the city by the view as you step off the train! Weedkiller, weedkiller, weedkiller!!!! Thats all it needs.

We'll start over again...

Wow, I'm back! Bit of a rat run on the motorway today but the stress of driving is far outwayed by the experience that is Devon in september. It's been such a wonderful holiday, swam everyday, walked, sunbathed, drew endlessly, got everything you want from a break. Pictured is one monster view that took all day to sketch (mainly as I kept sunbathing and drinking beer whilst doing it...) My new drawing pad is ridiculously large, opened up it makes an A1 size area which is brilliant. Only thing is it acts like a sail in the wind and gets a life of it's own sometimes, rather unwieldy! Really didn't want to come home today, but have another week off work , so holidays not over yet!

Space Dementia

Last night before me holidays, everything important is packed...mini disk player, phone, pathos...sense of irony, spare pants. Back in a weeks time! My sister is 40 tomorrow. Happy birthday to Elaine, even though she's not particularly computer conversant so won't ever see this, which is perhaps a good thing as I could always post a picture of her as a small person... Here we go.. My sister aged six. She looks scarily like me at the same age. Ps. Hi to Elenor, thanx for all the advice, talk to you soon me old pal. Right, it's off to Devon now, let's hope they have cyber cafes in the South Hams.

I don't want to be held in your debt

Wow, Im really going for the blog this week. Maybe I need to talk to anonymous entities. I don't know if any one actually pays any attention to this anyway so I suppose I could write anything. Please feel free to leave a comment, I don't bite. But I will come around your house and bang on your windows. Anyway, only one day left with my beautiful Dell Notebook before I have to leave her for a whole week, as I am off on my holidays to Devon. And don't think about burgling my house, its bugged and has a big wild dog let loose that eats, er, burglers. Nothing escapes the neighbours either... (and that is true!).

I'm looking forward to wandering round the country lanes in the dark, disappearing into the ether for a while, to take stock. Been a rather memorable summer for me, to say the least,

I won't forget this year, ever... To take stock, that's all I need. To take stock.

This will be my view for the next week... only slightly greener as I took this pic in march. Honiton is down the valley behind the buildings.

"If you desire something so much the universe will conspire in your favour." (The alchemist)

The forgotten space race

Here's something funny. I tried to enroll on a teaching course last night. After a grilling by an apparent Gestapo escapee I was told they wouldn't take me as I was over qualified and have too much experience. YES! I am officially over fucking qualified. So if anyone has any questions they want answering, send them to me as I am an expert in most stuff it would seem. I do not need to learn anything else. If i had lied and said I was abit thick I could have had all sorts of stuff thrown at me. But then if I was abit thick I wouldn't have thought of that. But then I was abit thick to not be so devious. But to be devious requires brains. I should have deviously pretended to be thick. But if you pretend too much you can end up believing you're own hype. Shit. Or in the words of an intimate and intelligent friend,.. "Fuck!....Fuck, fuck, FUCK." .. and that actually is a direct quote ( to a donkey ). Fucking shit. I can't believe how long ago it is now since I sat in the back garden in the dark after a night out across the river, watching bats, drinking wine and conversing with distant souls. That's a night to recall like a distant harvest, not to regret in any way. No regrets.No lucky escapes either, unlucky escapes maybe.

Hold on to your ego

Drove on my driver improvement course today. Started out with lots of bad habits and ended with them cured. Damn these guys are good. I don't think I'll ever think of sueing my employer now if I have an accident. God bless the local authority. Ok so if you're not quintessentially English, I am taking the piss. Durr. Apparently I spend too much time holding my gearstick. Should've grabbed my dick instead, that would have given them something to report.

Slow down,slowly drown,you're taking me over...

Been off work today with me bad neck, which feels like a metal rod loosely bolted to the lump of concrete that is my head. (Not the first time that analogy has been used). Used the time effectively though, been investigating Teacher Training courses. It turns out I have tomorrow night only left to enrol for Teaching Assistant NVQ, unless I want to wait another year... My limpet doesn't seem to have time to talk to the donkey at the moment, far too busy with crime and punishment I suppose. Work that one out if you can... I had a walk into town tonight to get some air and exercise. Retford is such a lovely town, I hated it when I was younger, for all the reasons I precisely love it for now...peaceful,safe, quiet. Here is a picture of the Market Square, a mere 5 minute walk from home. Nice eh? Pubs are good too!

Destroy this city

What a boring day at work. Anyhow, back home apparently moths have eaten my old suit in the wardrobe. This is ok as I have recently purchased a very expensive new suit, which ,of course i do not want the mothy suit muncher to consume. Various anti moth measures are now in place to prevent new suit consumption. I quite like the idea of a pet bat but mrs somers is not quite so enthusiastic. I have been in absolute agony all weekend with a trapped nerve in my shoulder-a little recurring problem (caused by leaving my old car head first by the side window while still in motion and cheekily bouncing off another vehicle....) Can't help wondering if the Robin Hood re-enactment (see previous entry) may have contributed to present misery. Pictured is a seat that can never again be sat upon.