Forthcoming

1. Opening Lines
As promised I WILL be doing a list of the songs done so far on the opening line posts, for the competitive amongst you (yes, that's YOU George!) there will be a table of successful guesses.

HOWEVER, since I'm not wanting to turn this into a major Google-tempting comp, I'll be promoting it terms of what people got. So you can take pride in your knowledge of female electronica, but if that ain't your bag you can feel equally chuffed with only getting one track right but it was a great R&B classic favourite.

2. eMusic
Okay, if you haven't already had an invite for this, just ask (thanks be to Skuds for mine!). Even if you don't necessarily take it up beyond the free period I still think its worthwhile (and a darn sight less worrying than the Russian mafia!). UPDATE: if you go in through a friend invite we all get extra freebies on the deal!

3. New music
Talking of music, I guess I better come clean about my music addiction generally as I had a major acquisition session at Aberdeen. Not just at lovely One-Up but also through the lovely G's recommendations. Hee.

4. Live music reviews
We're off to see Thomas Truax tonight. You'll get an update. It's the first of several gigs this autumn (both classical and pop) that we have booked for. I just hope the travelling-with-your-instruments difficulties get resolved soon as I would HATE to miss out on something because of that farcical policy.

Opening Line: 13 September 2006

Sorry for absence; I was in the office yesterday for a staff meeting. Urgh. The office. Oh well, I guess I have had a good time away from it all. But SOOOO much to do.

Here's another line for you all.

"Ice age, heatwave, can't complain"


Just fascinating to listen to and quirkily interesting...

Name of artiste and song?

UPDATE: Yeah Reidski!

Pictures from Aberdeen

Rullsenberg & Cloud on Aberdeen beach Sept 2006


Rullsenberg & Cloud at Rustico, Aberdeen


Rullsenberg, Cloud and George at Slains Castle


George and Sonia at Slains Castle


Slains Castle

Hope you like these!

Five years ago

I was in a tutorial for my PhD. I had my phone switched off for, you know, obvious politeness. When I came out and switched it back on, multiple messages and texts were beeping to signal their arrival. As fast as I tried to call someone back, another message, text or incoming call beeped me.

"Planes have crashed into the twin towers in New York".

Others will offer their thoughts, their take on the contexts and the 'consequences' of that day's events. But no one deserves to die in such circumstances and nothing can excuse the actions of those who bring death and destruction to others in such a manner.

We're back...

... in case you didn't realise that we are now truly in real time, and in real place too, unlike the update that was posted here.

We finished the weekend off by going to Slain's Castle on the coast (magnificent!) and then drove to Dufftown to get some whiskey. We had a great picnic on a rather precipitous outcrop at Slains Castle and some amazing caramel cake with cream at a lovely cafe in Dufftown. We then got back to Aberdeen and drove to the Braemar road where we ducked into the approved chip shop of choice for excellent fish and chips which we then shiveringly ate by the side of the Dee River. Lovely!

We then went back to G's for a screening of a documentary about Einsturzende Neubauten (Blixa's cheekbones!) and then the bonkers narrative of The Machinist. Only me and G stuck the film right through - Neil had a snooze despite espresso coffee - but it was rather good (if a little confusing and disturbing).

Sunday we got up late and had a mini breakfast before G cooked up a great spinach and potato curry. By then it was time to get to the station and our 9 hour journey home.

Of course what we really wanted then was for the mains-powered smoke alarm to have a wibble and decide to go off for 30 secs at 3.50am, but you know, you can't have everything after such a great weekend!

Opening Line: 11 September 2006

"There's nothing to do so you just stay in bed"


Artiste?! Song title!?

UPDATE: yes, we are speaking in the future (not a song line link but can I refer people to the wonderful album by Saloon "If we meet in the future"? It's really lovely.

And congrats to Billy!

Opening Line: 10 September 2006

"Hate New York City, it's cold and it's damp"


Artiste? Song please?

UPDATE: Joe in Vegas gets this and I can only apologise for my delay in giving credit!

Opening Line: 9 September 2006

"Don't fall in love with me yet, we've only recently met"


Artiste? Song?

UPDATE: Well done Billy again!

NEW POST: in real time (from Aberdeen)

Just a mini update to say we're having a LOVELY time up in Aberdeen. We had some very scrummy food on Thursday night watching "Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul" (starring einsturzende man Alexander Hacke), the Buffy episode "Who Are You?" (Faith/Buffy switch), and the Spaced series two episode "Change" (featuring the classic exchanges about the Phantom Menance - "You didn't like it?" [pause, with hesitant response] "no....").

Yesterday we had a day wandering Aberdeen including the beach (the BEACH!!!!!), the Provost Skeene's House for lunch, a major investment on CDs at the wonderful One-Up [no formal link but well reputed] which garnered me a much envied canvas bag as well as a number of freebie CDs, and a hot sunny day walk back to George's. We then took a taxi back to town to Ma Cameron's for some drinks and then it was off to Rustico [scroll for the thumbs-up review] for lots of lovely italian food with G and the absolutely gorgeous-feel-like-I-already-know-you Sonia. After mucho laughter and scoffing of food it was off to the wonderful Belmont Picturehouse for the annual - well, it is two years in a row - observation of a Richard Linklater film. This year: A Scanner Darkly. Bonkers, but brilliant, and a visual treat.

After that we fell home via a taxi and stumbled to bed. Today, we're off to the coast! It's ALL GOOD!

Anyway, Lisa and Neil over and out!

Opening Line: 8 September 2006

"Past trees the fairies are flyin', past trees with rose bushes in"


Artiste? Song?

UPDATE: Hey, brilliant! Welcome Joe!!!! And happy birthday (for tomorrow)!

Opening Line: 7 September 2006

"My life's an open book, you read it on the radio"


Which artiste? What song?

UPDATE: Well done Chris Brooke for being quick with this. Welcome Virtual Stoa!

Away the posts!

We're off to Aberdeen (annual jaunt!) to see George.

I'll post up some preview opening lines and promise the chart and to the successes so far on my return.

See ya!

The Opening Line chart

Hmmm - do I want to encourage competitiveness?

Yeah, why not!

It'll be coming soon...

Opening Line: 6 September 2006

"In a forest pitch-dark, glowed the tiniest spark"


Still a thrilling album. Name the artiste and the song?

Duckman!

I think I've fallen in love with EineKleineRob all over again for telling me that Duckman is available on DVD...

Now, how simple is it to order from these guys?