Category Archives: Friends and Family

Dundee

Dundee Tourist Office,

Dear Sir,

I visited your city for the first time in many years on Saturday and was initially impressed at the extensive environmental cosmetic changes that have been undertaken, upon the riverside, since my last visit. The good impressions however did not last too long. This was a day trip to enjoy the many acts scheduled to appear at the Blues Bonanza 11+, three day event.

Unfortunately the experience of the fine music was considerably marred by the seemingly ‘head in the sand’ intransigence of many of your bars and restaurants and their staff. I lost count, but it was in double figures, of the number of chefs who had ‘just finished’ work. Turkish, Italian, Scots this lethargy knows no international boundary.

I should point out, at this point, that this quest was not at midnight or after closing time. No, this was at the ungodly hour of two o’clock on a Saturday afternoon. Do Dundee businesses do so well that they can turn away so many potential customers?
All this while the City of Discovery is festooned with posters boasting 135 acts in 32 venues.

All in all, I had a good day in Dundee despite all the above, however it will be long, long time before I shall be tempted to return

Regards

Rupert Cocking

Rite of Passage

Eighteen years of mild brainwashing finally paid dividends, yesterday, when I came home to a house shuddering to the sounds of Back to the Front. Rhuraidh was meanwhile ripping the contents of the 21st Century Mirror Men onto Windows and asking advice about which other albums I could recommend that “didn’t have the freaky saxophone on them” Does yer heart proud so it does!

Seventy Six Trombones

 There were copper bottom tympani in horse platoons
 Thundering, thundering, all along the way
 Double bell euphoniums and big bassoons
 Each bassoon having his big fat say

Donnie,
It ill behoves me to be pedantic, however as someone who also regularly sings this ditty, the correct words are actually
Seventy six trombones led the big parade‘.
Picky perhaps, but sympathetic also!
Magic Moments by Perry Como
We Used to Know by Jethro Tull
The Boat That I Row by Lulu
and
It’s Good News Week by Hedgehoppers Anonymous
These are all tunes that have barbed themselves permanently into my cerebellum and spout forth when least expected.
This is perhaps a subject we could discuss over a modest glass of porter next week when you are in dear old Glasgow town.
I will liaise with Big John, Big John, Big Jo-ohn (Big Bad John) Banks to see if he is of a similar inclination and to join us
Regards

Sparky

“Tam, you know how, if you’re in the house on your tod, or
walking alone in the country, you will find yourself
bursting into song for no reason…
normally you are content with the choice made by your
subconscious MC: perhaps it’s “Hey Jude” or some other
iconic melody of the 20th century.
today I was carrying my breakfast tray back through to
the kitchen when from my gob burst forth:
“76 trombones in the one parade”
top that!

A Grand Day Out!

DoW

 Pick Nid up at the Airport and head home. Quick unpack, debrief and a train to High Street. Babbity Bowster’s for a quick one, Cafe Mao had closed so to Pancho Villa for a couple of Dos Equis and a robust portion of Pollo en Mole. Shields went off for some shopping while we went to Merchant’s Corner – one of the few pubs where you still feel like a youngster.
Being dressed entirely free of crimplene and polyester, we were, rightly, treated with suspicion, if not disdain.
Off then for a whirlwind tour of GOMA, admiring the symmetry of the Duke of Wellington’s headwear, along the way.Liaise with Shields and go to The Lab for a Guinness. It’s stowed to the gunnels, too busy! A quick sortie around the corner to Republic and then on to the Drum and Monkey . Went to McSorley’s and saw the worst blues/rock band for years. The singer clearly modelled upon Freddie Starr’s Mick Jagger. The Scotia was our longest stop of the day, but too late for the afternoon session and far too early for the evening. The IPA however was quite sublime and the selection of music playing over the sound system  was close to perfect.

Taxi to Mussel Inn who were full and told us to come back in 3/4 of an hour so we crossed the road to The Cask and Still and killed some time (and brain cells) there. Table at the Mussel Inn saw us sated and then off to  The Vale before catching the last train homewards. A fine, albeit unplanned day!