Gardening Week

In the words of Jesse from The Fast Show, 'This week, I have mostly being ... a gardener!'
The garden was pretty neglected last summer (what summer?) and a makeover has been long overdue. Too much time was spent just cutting grass and not enough enjoying a seat in the garden, so we're determined to put that right this summer (and hope that there's some sunshine too).
On the way home from York last week we took a detour to a place called 'Yorkshire Lavender'. There was no details or info on the road signs, but it turned out that Yorkshire Lavender was a garden centre that specialized in ... well, mostly lavender. I suppose the clue was in the title. I would have preferred Yorkshire Pies or Yorkshire Sweeties, but lavender it was. Anyway, while I am not a gay man I do like lavender, and I felt duty bound to justify a lengthy detour and to leave a last financial footprint in Yorkshire; three plants were duly purchased and transported lovingly back over the border.
Three wee lavender plants do not a garden make, however, and we have bought a wide variety of plants all geared towards giving the garden some colour. My dad also came down with another dazzling assortment of shrubs, bulbs and flowers and all pots and planters are now full to the brim.
Caroline and my dad did all of the planting - my role was more 'supervisory' (i.e. I know nowt about gardening) but I did do a lot of the 'humphing bags of compost' tasks. It's just as well I am a very fit man ...!
As I say, I am no Percy Thrower - although oddly enough I was once mistaken for Alan Titchmarsh (in Harrod's, too!) and asked for my autograph - but I did my best to assist. Everything is planted now, so it's just a question of keeping it all watered, and waiting ... as all gardeners will know, patience is the key.

You may have noticed that this week's picture has nothing to do with the subject matter. There's no point in taking pictures of the garden at this stage - that delight will come in a few weeks. No, instead I have included a photograph of a choice selections of fine cocktails. We attended a conference organised by the Edinburgh Community Representatives Network yesterday morning (yes, Saturday morning - dedication above and beyond the call of duty!) and took advantage of being in town to enjoy a couple of drinks in Tonic, a bar off Frederick Street that specialises in cocktails. As luck would have it, there was a special offer on: two cocktails for £7 before 8pm. Clearly a bargain in these credit crunch times, and the more you drink the more you save ... early on in the proceedings I counted 25 different cocktails on an extensive menu; so much choice, so little time ...
Some hours later I had managed to sample only a small number of those on offer and was finding the power of speech difficult. I also seemed to lose control of my limbs, although this was probably due to my gardening exertions. Probably.
Light work only in the garden today - perhaps I have been pushing myself too hard!

Other news last week: Oh yes, the Budget! It seems the Chancellor hasn't convinced many people with his over-positive assessment of our economic position. Billions, trillions, too many noughts and all of them red. All the signs are that it won't be Alistair's problem to resolve now anyway, and the budget seemed to be an acceptance of that. Not quite throwing in the towel, but - other than an attempted headline grabber in hitting the richest 1% with a 50p tax rate - a budget that doesn't go any way to address this country's dire economic outlook. Things can only get better? Perhaps, but not in the short term. It seems that the next Westminster elections are there for the Tories to lose.
The other piece of local news was really not 'news' at all, it's been rumoured for so long. It was finally announced that Tram Line 1b - the Roseburn Spur, that takes in Granton to Haymarket - will not now be going ahead in the foreseeable future. I openly admit to being a supporter of trams for Edinburgh - but a supporter of a tram network as part of an integrated transport system. It's hard to justify all of this expense and disruption for just a solitary tram line. It's hugely disappointing, if inevitable given the economic environment.
It's back out to the garden now: my headache is beginning to clear (too much sun and fresh air, or one Barney Rubble too many?

A Wild Rover

We took to the roads this week for a wee break in York. York is a beautiful wee city with history around almost every corner. Really enjoyed my visit, although the weather could have been kinder - like Edinburgh, York was smothered by the haar that covered the north-east coast for most of the week. Avoided frostbite, but gloves and heavy coats were more in evidence than sunglasses and teeshirts.
Got some nice photographs over the course of the week - York, Harrogate, Malton, Ripon and Pickering (!) - and I'll update my picture gallery soon.
On Saturday we headed up to Oban to try to catch some of the better weather, and by the time we reached Stirling we caught sight of an unusual object - the sun! Some stunning scenery en route and I'll post these pictures on-line soon too.
Hundreds of miles later, it's back to the real world again now, though - back to work on Tuesday and all the old issues lie in wait: ongoing funding issues at the NEN and the Unionist Club, a community conference next weekend and the next community council meeting is just round the corner. Can hardly wait ... what a lot to look forward to!
At least Hibs have achieved a top six finish - almost by default (muted cheers). Oh, and it's the Budget next week: my predictions have proved woefully poor in the past so here's a safe bet - stock up on booze and fags now!
Nice break while it lasted, though ...

Now, where were we?

Well, here we are again. A lot of catching up to do, lots to write but not a lot of time to write it so here goes:

Cheltenham
Cheltenham proved quite profitable again this year, amazingly enough, and the Wednesday again proved to be the most lucrative - four winners, which must be something of a record for me.
In a departure from recent years, we took a short break in the Lake District (Coniston pictured above)during Cheltenham week so missed much of the action on television. Lake District was as beautiful and peaceful as I remembered it, though, and I'll return to Keswick for another short break before I'm too much older.
In another departure, I also decided to 're-invest' (I.E. 'blow') Cheltenham returns at Aintree's three day festival. Cheltenham and Aintree are like chalk and cheese, however, and the form does not always translate. I learned this slightly too late, unfortunately, and the final three winners on Saturday - 100-1, 66-1 and 66-1 again - summed it up, a real bookie's benefit. I left Liverpool behind an older, wiser (and poorer) man. Roll on Cheltenham next year, but Aintree no more ...

More Sport
While the papers are still poring over the details of Wee Barry's Big Night Out - can't say I care too much whether he ever plays for Rangers or Scotland again - I'm more concerned with HIbs' current position. In the great scheme of things an away game in Paisley would not generally be considered that important, but tomorrow Hibs have got to get some sort of result there or face the ignominy of finishing in the bottom half of the table (yes, they could beat Rangers next weekend, but ..).
It's been a miserable season and the end can't come quick enough. The standard of entertainment has been pretty poor for too long and I know many season ticket holders who are seriously considering whether to renew next season.

Politics - Bravo, Guido!
The G20 is now but a distant memory, and it's questionable what's actually been achieved. At a cost of millions of pounds we got a couple of hours worth of meetings, grotesquely expensive dinners and endless photo opportunities and the inevitable fudged agreement. Has Gordon saved the world? Have we seen an end to world poverty? An end to boom and bust then? No, but we did witness the tragic death of a peaceful protester, which kind of took the gloss off those happy smiley pictures of our great world leaders.
Gordon's not had a lot to grin about lately, and the Bank Holiday headlines can't have cheered him up much. He'll have been choking over the Easter Eggs with the latest scandal to hit the government. The uncovering of Damian McBride's dodgy emails by ace blogger Guido Fawkes (in days gone by that would have been the job of the press) has opened up a real hornet's nest. Before yesterday's resignation, McBride was a senior civil servant - we paid his wages - not a paid party hack, but a supposedly impartial government official.
There's been a distinct blurring over 'adviser' roles over recent years. It's a worrying development, and the Email Affair sheds some light into a very shadowy corner. It's high time that the issue of 'special advisers' - and who pays for them - is addressed. And with party politics held in contempt by so many people these days, the last thing we need is a politicized civil service.
Let the parties themselves pay for their researchers and spin doctors. Every party has them - a Tarquin and Lavinia straight from Uni with a politics degree and boundless enthusiasm and ambition. Let the party workers play grubby party politics and learn their trade in the 'dark arts' - but don't ask the public to foot the bill for them. Enough is enough - and incidentally, with the expenses/allowances row rumbling on now would not be a good time to raise the issue of public funding for political parties!

The Heid's Twirling ...
Attended a quiz night on Friday, a fundraiser for our local baton-twirling troupe. As a bit of a quiz buff, I was looking forward to the music quiz with some confidence. However I learned to my cost that pop music did not end in the late 1970s but has continued even to the present day. As a result we came a miserable 11th out of 13 teams. Malt whisky dulled the pain briefly, but I remembered - too late -on Saturday the reason I switched from whisky to gin many years ago.
Friday was a good night - I really enjoyed it, despite the result - but Saturday was not a good day. Whisky no more - and I have resolved to watch more MTV before I take part in any more music quizzes.

And Finally ...
We're off to York next week for a wee holiday, and I will miss my old comrade Jimmy Burnett's leaving party. Jimmy is retiring to spend more time with his organic beetroot - all the best Jimmy, we'll meet again in Jinglin's 'Summer Wine' corner some time soon. I won't be drinking whisky though.

All the best for now.

Spring Has Sprung

Hello, dear reader; it has been some time. I did not have to pawn the computer after Cheltenham, but rather had to deal with some other more pressing domestic matters.
Thanks for your messages of concern; I am delighted to report that normal service has now been resumed, and posts will follow on a more regular basis.
I'll bet you can hardly wait ... !