Friday, 30 April 2010
Never search for yourself on Facebook...
If you look on Facebook for people with your name you will wonder at the lives of the OTHER Steve Williams's that you find. In my case there are more than 500 other Steve Williams's
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Joan Armatrading concert
Last night I attended a Joan Armatrading concert at the Aberdeen Music Hall.
I got lucky because I went to the Box Office at the last minute to buy a ticket and ahead of me was a guy who was not able to attend and he was trying to get his money back. They would not offer him a refund but I got the ticket for £20 which was a good saving for me.
Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE (born 9 December 1950) is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee. On March 29, 2010, she released her latest album, "This Charming Life," widely viewed as a return to her guitar-based pop-rock roots. The album debuted atop the Amazon.com mp3 download charts. She has embarked on an international tour to promote the album.
Steve - you are attending so many nice events just now... you are acting "like there is no tommorrow!"
I got lucky because I went to the Box Office at the last minute to buy a ticket and ahead of me was a guy who was not able to attend and he was trying to get his money back. They would not offer him a refund but I got the ticket for £20 which was a good saving for me.
Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE (born 9 December 1950) is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee. On March 29, 2010, she released her latest album, "This Charming Life," widely viewed as a return to her guitar-based pop-rock roots. The album debuted atop the Amazon.com mp3 download charts. She has embarked on an international tour to promote the album.
Steve - you are attending so many nice events just now... you are acting "like there is no tommorrow!"
Monday, 26 April 2010
Murder at Tesco
Murder at Tesco
Tired of constantly being broke & stuck in an unhappy marriage, a young husband decided to solve both problems by taking out a large insurance policy on his wife with himself as the beneficiary, and then arranging to have her killed. A 'friend of a friend' put him in touch with a nefarious dark-side underworld figure who went by the name of 'Artie.' Artie then explained to the husband that his going price for snuffing out a spouse was £5,000.. The husband said he was willing to pay that amount, but that he wouldn't have any cash on hand until he could collect his wife's insurance money. Artie insisted on being paid at least something up front, so the man opened his wallet, displaying the single £1 Coin that rested inside. Artie sighed, rolled his eyes, & reluctantly agreed to accept the £1 as down payment for the dirty deed. A few days later, Artie followed the man's wife to the local Tesco Super Store. There, he surprised her in the produce department & proceeded to strangle her with his gloved hands & as the poor unsuspecting woman drew her last breath & slumped to the floor........ The manager of the produce department stumbled unexpectedly onto the murder scene. Unwilling to leave any living witnesses behind, ol' Artie had no choice but to strangle the produce manager as well. However, unknown to Artie, the entire proceedings were captured by the hidden security cameras & observed by the store's security guard, who immediately called the police. Artie was caught & arrested before he could even leave the store. Under intense questioning at the police station, Artie revealed the whole sordid plan, including his unusual financial arrangements with the hapless husband who was also quickly arrested. The next day in the newspaper, the headline declared .. (You're going to hate me for this .... ) 'ARTIE CHOKES 2 for £1.00 AT TESCO!' |
Eenie, Meenie, Mynie, Mo?
Eenie, Meenie, Mynie, Mo
Today I will vote in the 2010 election. I hope my vote can swing things away from the usual Blue to Red ... and then Red back to Blue (!) way of things.
Today I will vote in the 2010 election. I hope my vote can swing things away from the usual Blue to Red ... and then Red back to Blue (!) way of things.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
So far this week...
We went to the Student Show at the local theatre.
Then our friends arrived from Denmark and we went to Balmoral - the home of the Queen on Royal Deeside.
Then our friends arrived from Denmark and we went to Balmoral - the home of the Queen on Royal Deeside.
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
High Definition video experiment
I got a new camera that can shoot at 1000 fps. Check out this video that I took...
It needs a bit of work to improve the lighting but neverthless I was pretty pleased with the effect.
It needs a bit of work to improve the lighting but neverthless I was pretty pleased with the effect.
Bond Bug
The Bond Bug was a small British two seat, three wheeled sports car of the 1970s. Following the purchase of the Bond Motor Company, Reliant commissioned Tom Karen of Ogle Design to design a fun car. It was a wedge-shaped microcar, with a lift-up canopy and side screens instead of conventional doors. The Bond Bug was based on the Reliant Regal chassis and running gear.
The engine was the front mounted 700 cc Reliant light-alloy four cylinder unit which protruded into the passenger cabin. At launch 29 bhp was claimed for the less expensive 700 and 700E models. The more up-market 700ES incorporated a redesigned cylinder head which permitted the compression ratio to be increased from 7.35 to a slightly less modest 8.4. This provided a power increase to 31 bhp as well as improved torque for the then range topping 700ES.
Here is a snap of a bond Bug:
And here is a picture of the rather less glamorous and more beaten up version of MY Bond Bug.
The picture was taken in the car park of Brighton Marina.
The engine was the front mounted 700 cc Reliant light-alloy four cylinder unit which protruded into the passenger cabin. At launch 29 bhp was claimed for the less expensive 700 and 700E models. The more up-market 700ES incorporated a redesigned cylinder head which permitted the compression ratio to be increased from 7.35 to a slightly less modest 8.4. This provided a power increase to 31 bhp as well as improved torque for the then range topping 700ES.
Here is a snap of a bond Bug:
And here is a picture of the rather less glamorous and more beaten up version of MY Bond Bug.
The picture was taken in the car park of Brighton Marina.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Sunday, 18 April 2010
An evening stroll, a bit of history...
We went on a short stroll this evening. A nice spot to look across the river Dee. We found a small monument at the top of the hill.
The pictures are just mobile phone snaps - sorry about that. The inscription reads:
"In remembrance of the visit of HRH (His Royal Highness) Albert, Prince Consort to this spot..."
Not sure what the year was though, I had to look it up on the internet... I discovered it was it 25th September 1859. (Thanks to: http://www.guernsey.net/~sgibbs/roman.html )
I looked Prince Albert up on Wikipedia. "Recognised as a supporter of education and technological progress, he was invited to speak at scientific meetings, such as the memorable address he delivered as president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science when it met at Aberdeen in 1859. His espousal of science spawned opposition from the Church. His proposal of a knighthood for Charles Darwin, after the publication of On the Origin of Species, was rejected."
The pictures are just mobile phone snaps - sorry about that. The inscription reads:
"In remembrance of the visit of HRH (His Royal Highness) Albert, Prince Consort to this spot..."
Not sure what the year was though, I had to look it up on the internet... I discovered it was it 25th September 1859. (Thanks to: http://www.guernsey.net/~sgibbs/roman.html )
I looked Prince Albert up on Wikipedia. "Recognised as a supporter of education and technological progress, he was invited to speak at scientific meetings, such as the memorable address he delivered as president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science when it met at Aberdeen in 1859. His espousal of science spawned opposition from the Church. His proposal of a knighthood for Charles Darwin, after the publication of On the Origin of Species, was rejected."
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Almost BURIED in volcanic ash...
Well, kind of...
These images were taken this morning of dust on the rear screen of our car.
Should I keep the snow shovel handy?
Should I keep the snow shovel handy?
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Picture of Jane
Dear reader -
many ask if Jane 'does' Facebook etc. I have to report that she is very shy about having an internet presence and certainly does NOT want any pictures of herself on the internet.
HOWEVER...
I have, this afternoon, persuaded her to allow a snap to be published exclusively on this blog.
See below:
many ask if Jane 'does' Facebook etc. I have to report that she is very shy about having an internet presence and certainly does NOT want any pictures of herself on the internet.
HOWEVER...
I have, this afternoon, persuaded her to allow a snap to be published exclusively on this blog.
See below:
Sunday, 11 April 2010
A visit to the Willow animal sanctuary...
Today we had a run up the road to this animal sanctuary. I'm a sucker for a) cats and b) donkeys. So - I was in heaven!
http://www.willowsanimals.com/
http://www.willowsanimals.com/
Tolquhon Castle, Aberdeen
Yesterday we went to Tolquhon Castle. Here are some snaps...
Tolquhon Castle (pronounced: "toh-hon", and sometimes spelt 'Tolquhoun') is located in Aberdeenshire, about 20 miles northwest of Aberdeen. The current castle was built by William Forbes from 1584-1589 to replace an earlier towerhouse known as Preston's Tower, which is still partly intact, forming the left-hand tower when viewed from in front of the gatehouse.
The castle features unusual gun ports in the towers adjacent to the entrance, a design which was subsequently used in Dean Castle. Also unusual is the stone tilework in the main hall.
Tolquhon Castle (pronounced: "toh-hon", and sometimes spelt 'Tolquhoun') is located in Aberdeenshire, about 20 miles northwest of Aberdeen. The current castle was built by William Forbes from 1584-1589 to replace an earlier towerhouse known as Preston's Tower, which is still partly intact, forming the left-hand tower when viewed from in front of the gatehouse.
The castle features unusual gun ports in the towers adjacent to the entrance, a design which was subsequently used in Dean Castle. Also unusual is the stone tilework in the main hall.
A tale of two families
Aberdeenshire is graced by many historic castles, but Tolquhon is one of the most picturesque. It served as a noble residence for some 300 years. The oldest part is the stump of an early 15th-century tower house, probably built by one of the Prestons of Formartine, who once held the barony. However, the castle visitors can see today was built by Sir William Forbes, 7th Lord of Tolquhon. In 1584, he instigated a comprehensive rebuilding programme which, when completed six years later, gave to William and his spouse, Elizabeth, a house that was amongst the finest of its day.
The ‘auld’
A stone plaque beside the front entrance records: ‘AL THIS WARKE EXCEP THE AULD TOUR WAS BEGVN BE WILLIAM FORBES 15 APRILE 1584 AND ENDIT BE HIM 20 OCTOBER 1589’. The ‘old tower’ in question has long been known as Preston’s Tower. In 1420 William Forbes’s ancestor, Sir John Forbes, married Marjorie Preston, heiress of Sir Simon Preston, lord of Formatine. Preston’s Tower may well have been built around 1420 as a new family home for the couple.
The ‘new’
The new ‘warke’ (work) was built by William Forbes, 7th Lord, in the 1580s. It is a very picturesque castle, with an almost fairytale feel about it. William Forbes’s architect, Thomas Leiper, dispensed with the more traditional tower-house design favoured by his predecessors and most of his contemporaries. Instead he adopted the idea of a rectangular, three-storey residential block complemented by other ranges of buildings grouped around a central courtyard. This arrangement provided the lord and lady with a more horizontal form of living than was achievable in the old tower house.
One innovation was the provision of galleries (indoor recreation spaces) on the first floor of the west and north ranges, accessible from the family’s private apartment in the south block. Beyond the courtyard, Sir William had a formal garden and a large walled pleasance built, to complement the house itself.
A house for the dead
William Forbes not only built himself a nice house. He also had a burial vault built in the nearby parish church in Tarves village. The Tolquhon Tomb (also in Historic Scotland’s care) is one of the best examples of Scotland’s so-called ‘Glorious Tombs’ of the Jacobean age. The tomb is finely decorated. Its features include beguiling stone effigies of William Forbes and Elizabeth Gordon. William Forbes was laid to rest there in 1596.
Aberdeenshire is graced by many historic castles, but Tolquhon is one of the most picturesque. It served as a noble residence for some 300 years. The oldest part is the stump of an early 15th-century tower house, probably built by one of the Prestons of Formartine, who once held the barony. However, the castle visitors can see today was built by Sir William Forbes, 7th Lord of Tolquhon. In 1584, he instigated a comprehensive rebuilding programme which, when completed six years later, gave to William and his spouse, Elizabeth, a house that was amongst the finest of its day.
The ‘auld’
A stone plaque beside the front entrance records: ‘AL THIS WARKE EXCEP THE AULD TOUR WAS BEGVN BE WILLIAM FORBES 15 APRILE 1584 AND ENDIT BE HIM 20 OCTOBER 1589’. The ‘old tower’ in question has long been known as Preston’s Tower. In 1420 William Forbes’s ancestor, Sir John Forbes, married Marjorie Preston, heiress of Sir Simon Preston, lord of Formatine. Preston’s Tower may well have been built around 1420 as a new family home for the couple.
The ‘new’
The new ‘warke’ (work) was built by William Forbes, 7th Lord, in the 1580s. It is a very picturesque castle, with an almost fairytale feel about it. William Forbes’s architect, Thomas Leiper, dispensed with the more traditional tower-house design favoured by his predecessors and most of his contemporaries. Instead he adopted the idea of a rectangular, three-storey residential block complemented by other ranges of buildings grouped around a central courtyard. This arrangement provided the lord and lady with a more horizontal form of living than was achievable in the old tower house.
One innovation was the provision of galleries (indoor recreation spaces) on the first floor of the west and north ranges, accessible from the family’s private apartment in the south block. Beyond the courtyard, Sir William had a formal garden and a large walled pleasance built, to complement the house itself.
A house for the dead
William Forbes not only built himself a nice house. He also had a burial vault built in the nearby parish church in Tarves village. The Tolquhon Tomb (also in Historic Scotland’s care) is one of the best examples of Scotland’s so-called ‘Glorious Tombs’ of the Jacobean age. The tomb is finely decorated. Its features include beguiling stone effigies of William Forbes and Elizabeth Gordon. William Forbes was laid to rest there in 1596.
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Thursday, 8 April 2010
An early attempt at Dreadlocks was not a success...
An early attempt at Dreadlocks was not a success...
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
April time in Aberdeen harbour (April 2003)
Our adopted home town of Aberdeen has a busy harbour which services the oil industry. These shots from April 2003 were taken on a nice sunny day and will give you an insight into life on the water.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Funny sign in the local shopping mall
I was strolling through a local shopping mall with my friend when we saw the following.
It made us laugh at the thought of a ladies haircut taking all day. If it took all day was that £6 per 10 minutes? - that's a pricey cut!
It made us laugh at the thought of a ladies haircut taking all day. If it took all day was that £6 per 10 minutes? - that's a pricey cut!
Friday, 2 April 2010
2005 - New Car
I just remembered that it was Good Friday in 2005 when I got a lovely new company car. A 2 litre turbo diesel Skoda Octavia. A REALLY nice car.
My colleagues all wondered why I chose a Skoda and not a better brand like a VW. Then they sat in it and realised how good it was and how many extra toys I got for the allowance than I would have got with a posh brand.
I took this snap on the first day I had it:
My colleagues all wondered why I chose a Skoda and not a better brand like a VW. Then they sat in it and realised how good it was and how many extra toys I got for the allowance than I would have got with a posh brand.
I took this snap on the first day I had it:
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Steve