Day 1,067 - Back in The Mansions
OK,OK I know its been a few weeks (years) since I posted but I've been busy.The Gaffer and I have now both retired and have relocated back to The Mansions.The Flyer's dead but fortunately the 307 has been inherited by/sold to the No1 son and his better half.Can't explain how much they love that car - regularly leaves them in tears. More news on dog world,cars and retirement to follow - watch this space.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
DAY 106 - Italian Meatballs
Day 106 – can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday that I waved you guys off from Glasgow. Now your fully fledged Aussies with your Huskies and Barbies and sunburn.
House & Garden - Been busy & quiet at Dunroamin lately.Workwise the Gaffer and I have been working our collective arses off five days a week, coming home and crashing out on the sofas. At the weekends we’ve made a point of just chillin out in Oban and going for the odd beer & curry. It so good that Paula, Stuart, Laura & Johno are looking after The Mansions for us – its once less thing to worry about.
Transport news – the Red Flyer’s still on the road. Did another wind-up with me last Thursday night after I had filled it with fuel – it would not start – nothing. I’m now on first name terms with the Oban Recovery man and I expect to get a Xmas card from the boy – he’s like family now. Anyway he fixed it onsite - a loose connection to the starter motor – and it got me to Stirling & back the following day – 160 miles without a hitch. I’m sure this is not the last entry on The Flyer but I’m confident it’ll still be there for you on your return.
Politics - Signed an online petition against road pricing - 10 Downing Street had the idea that we could petition them online rather than have to fill out forms – absolute result – 1.7 million people have told Blair to bugger off with his Road Pricing plan – they want to charge you by the mile. (Think I should get a discount for the Flyer?).Seemingly Blair is going to email us all with a reply – well he can stick that where the sun don’t shine. (I’m beginning to sound like a big Tory – what’s that all about?)
Football news – The Pope’s First Eleven lead the Queen’s First Eleven by a mighty 19 points. The Diamonds continue to confound belief by getting humped at home 0-3 by the mighty Queen of the South – I expect us to be bottom of the First Division by the time you read this. Looks like oblivion for the team and the wilderness of the Second Division – only bright spot is that we can look forward to some entertainment when we play Ayr United next season.
Travel – spent a glorious sunny day in Balamory at the weekend. One of the boys in the Mishnish clocked the Illawara Shirt and announced here’s a big Airdrie man – couldn’t be arsed to explain that actually it was a rugby shirt from NSW.The Clydesdale Rugby team joined us on the bus from the ferry and one of the larger members of the team nearly flattened a wee woman when he sat down – took up two seats worth.
Cookery news – young Stewarty seems to be an ace in the kitchen. He’s been rustling up some exotic dinners for his guests that have included venison and partridge/pheasant (?) – I can just imagine Johno’s face – pizza sin nada. Not to be outdone I got measured up for my cooking apron and enrolled in the Dunroamin Cookery Class. I’d hoped week one would have covered boiling an egg but we actually made minestrone soup. Last night I had a go at Italian Meatballs but they turned out as convincing as Sly Stallone’s acting – too much white wine in the mix. My cookery mate is Lawrence retired from the ‘Garngad’ who is a vegan and could be a stunt double for the Hackett fellow minus the pipes.
Must dash – off to catch up with the Gaffer for a pie & a pint in the Lorn.Take care and regards to all the O’Ts,Grays,Andersons and all your OZ mates who are looking after you so well – especially Wee Bree.
Day 106 – can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday that I waved you guys off from Glasgow. Now your fully fledged Aussies with your Huskies and Barbies and sunburn.
House & Garden - Been busy & quiet at Dunroamin lately.Workwise the Gaffer and I have been working our collective arses off five days a week, coming home and crashing out on the sofas. At the weekends we’ve made a point of just chillin out in Oban and going for the odd beer & curry. It so good that Paula, Stuart, Laura & Johno are looking after The Mansions for us – its once less thing to worry about.
Transport news – the Red Flyer’s still on the road. Did another wind-up with me last Thursday night after I had filled it with fuel – it would not start – nothing. I’m now on first name terms with the Oban Recovery man and I expect to get a Xmas card from the boy – he’s like family now. Anyway he fixed it onsite - a loose connection to the starter motor – and it got me to Stirling & back the following day – 160 miles without a hitch. I’m sure this is not the last entry on The Flyer but I’m confident it’ll still be there for you on your return.
Politics - Signed an online petition against road pricing - 10 Downing Street had the idea that we could petition them online rather than have to fill out forms – absolute result – 1.7 million people have told Blair to bugger off with his Road Pricing plan – they want to charge you by the mile. (Think I should get a discount for the Flyer?).Seemingly Blair is going to email us all with a reply – well he can stick that where the sun don’t shine. (I’m beginning to sound like a big Tory – what’s that all about?)
Football news – The Pope’s First Eleven lead the Queen’s First Eleven by a mighty 19 points. The Diamonds continue to confound belief by getting humped at home 0-3 by the mighty Queen of the South – I expect us to be bottom of the First Division by the time you read this. Looks like oblivion for the team and the wilderness of the Second Division – only bright spot is that we can look forward to some entertainment when we play Ayr United next season.
Travel – spent a glorious sunny day in Balamory at the weekend. One of the boys in the Mishnish clocked the Illawara Shirt and announced here’s a big Airdrie man – couldn’t be arsed to explain that actually it was a rugby shirt from NSW.The Clydesdale Rugby team joined us on the bus from the ferry and one of the larger members of the team nearly flattened a wee woman when he sat down – took up two seats worth.
Cookery news – young Stewarty seems to be an ace in the kitchen. He’s been rustling up some exotic dinners for his guests that have included venison and partridge/pheasant (?) – I can just imagine Johno’s face – pizza sin nada. Not to be outdone I got measured up for my cooking apron and enrolled in the Dunroamin Cookery Class. I’d hoped week one would have covered boiling an egg but we actually made minestrone soup. Last night I had a go at Italian Meatballs but they turned out as convincing as Sly Stallone’s acting – too much white wine in the mix. My cookery mate is Lawrence retired from the ‘Garngad’ who is a vegan and could be a stunt double for the Hackett fellow minus the pipes.
Must dash – off to catch up with the Gaffer for a pie & a pint in the Lorn.Take care and regards to all the O’Ts,Grays,Andersons and all your OZ mates who are looking after you so well – especially Wee Bree.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Day 85 - Got my Glow Plugs fixed.
Garage figured out what was wrong with The Flyer.You might remember that it was harder to get going in the morning than the No.1 son.Guy said that 2 of the 4 plugs were dead and the other 2 were dodgy.Sorted for £75 - should have done it months ago.Thought I was going have to do a Basil Faulty on it and give it a good thrashing with a bit of hedge.
Just watched Hibs qualifying for the Mickey Mouse Cup along with K ilmarnock.Notice that Hartley has signed for the Bhoys and the word is Maloney's getting punted.Was told that www.live-footy.org might be worth a look.
Yer mammy says zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Day 84 - Chasing the Neds round the scheme
Busy old weekend - went down to the Mansions on Friday night & took the opportunity to catch up with Mark A for a Beer.Saturday saw the Gaffer headed off to Auld Reekie for a tree-hugging session - I took the opportunity to catch up with cousin Rab for a few snifters.Looks like Louise is heading off.Had a good afternoon holed upstairs in BTW in Falkirk watching the Sky footy afternoon results,until Aunt A & The Gaffer sussed us out.
'Where are you - says aunt A '
'Not saying - says me'
'Well I'm down stairs in BTW - says aunt A'
'Shocker says me - the cover's blown'
Back to Dunroamin on Saturday night.
Couple of the local neds decided to rattle our door on Monday night.Did my Rambo bit & chased them round the scheme,but they got away.Not to be outdone I fired up the trusty 307 and chased them. They had a case of the brown trousers when I braked quickly and leapt out to challenge them.Hopefully they'll get bored and get back to their Playstations.
Busy old weekend - went down to the Mansions on Friday night & took the opportunity to catch up with Mark A for a Beer.Saturday saw the Gaffer headed off to Auld Reekie for a tree-hugging session - I took the opportunity to catch up with cousin Rab for a few snifters.Looks like Louise is heading off.Had a good afternoon holed upstairs in BTW in Falkirk watching the Sky footy afternoon results,until Aunt A & The Gaffer sussed us out.
'Where are you - says aunt A '
'Not saying - says me'
'Well I'm down stairs in BTW - says aunt A'
'Shocker says me - the cover's blown'
Back to Dunroamin on Saturday night.
Couple of the local neds decided to rattle our door on Monday night.Did my Rambo bit & chased them round the scheme,but they got away.Not to be outdone I fired up the trusty 307 and chased them. They had a case of the brown trousers when I braked quickly and leapt out to challenge them.Hopefully they'll get bored and get back to their Playstations.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Day 79 - Burns Night & Australia DayFair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Enough about me though.What a great coincidence that Burns Night & Australia Day happen at the same time.Its a great excuse to get some Haggis,Neeps & Tatties fired onto the Barbie - get shot of that healthy OZ stuff.I here it's getting a bit busy down at the Gong Backpackers Hostel now that the owners are back.Whose the woose that can't sleep on the floor cause the bugs bite - I hear IKEA OZ sell extra long bed legs to lift you away from the Colonial bugs.The Flyer continues to take the piss - maybe its missing its OZ passengers.It spent the day in the Garage - yet the boys gave it a clean bill of health.Parked it up outside the pub as me and the Gaffer had a pie & a pint.Came out in the rain & guess what it wouldn't start.Tried to bump start it but dead as a dodo.Went home for an hour then came back and it started first time.I reckon Stretchy has a Mondeo vodoo doll and is sticking pins in it like the Tennents ad.On the Home front our local MP Reidso has written to the Judges to tell them that the Prisons are full and they should just let all the neds free with a slap on the wrist.I have suggested that they could reinstate the old service for the POMS and stick them on a boat across to you guys - you've got loads of space.We're heading down to the Mansions on Friday night and back in Dunroamin on Saturday.I feel I must end with a few bars of a song that I would like Uncle Tom to lead you all in - gathered around the PC :
Australians all let us rejoice,For we are young and free;WeÂ’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;Our home is girt by sea;Our land abounds in natureÂ’s giftsOf beauty rich and rare;In historyÂ’s page, let every stageAdvance Australia Fair.In joyful strains then let us sing,Advance Australia Fair.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Day 78 - It's not Big & it's not Clever
Heard that some eeejits were diving off a balcony into a pool somewhere in Oz.The word is that Auntie C is going to kick some seriously big hairy arses when she gets home.Mums the word though.Good news and bad on the car front - 307 passed its MOT with no defects - bad news the Flyer decided to chuck it tonight in the middle of town - totally dead wouldn't even try to start.Having phoned the breakdown guys I was hanging about waiting and tried the ignition and it burst into life.Think its having a laugh with me.Thanks to young Stu's organisation the floors are finally finished in the Mansions.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Day 77 – The Pope’s (Other) First Eleven
Incredibly I read in the Times that the Vatican is setting up the Vatican League Championship (Clericus Cup) so that all of the bhoys in the Colleges & Offices in the Vatican can field their own teams. Sounds like something out of Father Ted but it’s serious. They’ve put a Cardinal in charge who says – ‘we won’t play on a Sunday (cause we’re busy) and if you mention the Lord’s name in anger you’re immediately sent off ’. The Cardinal reckons that they have a few star Brazilians in the colleges and the idea is to produce a Vatican Dream Team to play against Roma, AC Milan & Juventus.
On a more serious note I read that the UN are producing a spec for poppadums - ’they should be thin circular discs from 2 to 10 inches in diameter and made out of soaked rice flour, black gram or cow pea flour. They shall be free from broken or frayed edges, excessive number of holes, dirt or foreign matters, insect infestation or fungal growth’. Call me a traditionalist but I thought these UN boys had the tough job of sorting out all the warring nations – not worrying about our next curry. The Big L worked in a Curry Shop – get your CV off to the UN right away.
Not much is happening in Dunroamin or the Mansions today. The 307s booked in for an MOT on Wednesday and Johno is figuring out the Broadband for the Mansions. Weather wise the wind & rain have died down and snow’s forecast – watch this space.
Incredibly I read in the Times that the Vatican is setting up the Vatican League Championship (Clericus Cup) so that all of the bhoys in the Colleges & Offices in the Vatican can field their own teams. Sounds like something out of Father Ted but it’s serious. They’ve put a Cardinal in charge who says – ‘we won’t play on a Sunday (cause we’re busy) and if you mention the Lord’s name in anger you’re immediately sent off ’. The Cardinal reckons that they have a few star Brazilians in the colleges and the idea is to produce a Vatican Dream Team to play against Roma, AC Milan & Juventus.
On a more serious note I read that the UN are producing a spec for poppadums - ’they should be thin circular discs from 2 to 10 inches in diameter and made out of soaked rice flour, black gram or cow pea flour. They shall be free from broken or frayed edges, excessive number of holes, dirt or foreign matters, insect infestation or fungal growth’. Call me a traditionalist but I thought these UN boys had the tough job of sorting out all the warring nations – not worrying about our next curry. The Big L worked in a Curry Shop – get your CV off to the UN right away.
Not much is happening in Dunroamin or the Mansions today. The 307s booked in for an MOT on Wednesday and Johno is figuring out the Broadband for the Mansions. Weather wise the wind & rain have died down and snow’s forecast – watch this space.
Day 76 – David’s Ceilidh – not to be confused with Kylie
A Ceilidh (pronounced "Kay-lay", emphasis on 1st syllable) is many things. It derives from the Gaelic word meaning a visit and originally meant just that (and still does in Gaelic). It can also mean a house party, a concert or more usually an evening of informal Scottish traditional dancing to informal music.
What a carry-on on Saturday night. David very kindly invited the Gaffer and I to his Ceilidh.He gave us a map how to get there – no probs as it was only about 3 miles away from Dunroamin.Hah – after driving for about 45 minutes up & down two private single track roads we could not find the turn off. The Gaffer uses my mobile to call D at base camp. Just as we were getting to the first right, second left stuff the old mobile’s battery chucks it and we are left in complete darkness in the middle of nowhere. To add to the fun the reversing light on the 307 is knackered so every time we tried a three point turn ‘we’ nearly ended up in the 6 foot ditches at the side of the road.D gave us a further clue and said that we had to look out for the bonfire. Seeing a large fire halfway up the nearest mountain the Gaffer let rip and blasted the 307 up the hillside. The Gopher skillfully leapt in and out of the car to open & close all of the gates and fight off the sheep. Finally arrived at the top of the mountain only to discover that there was nowhere to park and that we were blocking a Range Rover trying to get through. Needles to say spent another anxious 30 minutes reversing the 307 back down the hill. The fact that the Gaffer was not sure of her ‘Left Hand Down/Right Hand Down’ added to the fun. I quickly leapt out of the car - carryout in hand - into complete darkness. You couldn’t see your hand in front of you and me & the Gaffer proceeded to walk up the two parallel ditches on either side of the road – killed the high heels. Finally made the party by running after another 4WD blasting up the hill. The party was great. About a dozen of us holed up in a caravan at the top of the mountain hitting the old cheese & wine and the odd beer. One of the boys at the party farms oysters so we all tucked into a couple of grilled oysters with cheese & cream. To get back to the car we had to do the 500m downhill race – chasing a friendly 4WD with big lights. Apart from that all quiet – happy days.
A Ceilidh (pronounced "Kay-lay", emphasis on 1st syllable) is many things. It derives from the Gaelic word meaning a visit and originally meant just that (and still does in Gaelic). It can also mean a house party, a concert or more usually an evening of informal Scottish traditional dancing to informal music.
What a carry-on on Saturday night. David very kindly invited the Gaffer and I to his Ceilidh.He gave us a map how to get there – no probs as it was only about 3 miles away from Dunroamin.Hah – after driving for about 45 minutes up & down two private single track roads we could not find the turn off. The Gaffer uses my mobile to call D at base camp. Just as we were getting to the first right, second left stuff the old mobile’s battery chucks it and we are left in complete darkness in the middle of nowhere. To add to the fun the reversing light on the 307 is knackered so every time we tried a three point turn ‘we’ nearly ended up in the 6 foot ditches at the side of the road.D gave us a further clue and said that we had to look out for the bonfire. Seeing a large fire halfway up the nearest mountain the Gaffer let rip and blasted the 307 up the hillside. The Gopher skillfully leapt in and out of the car to open & close all of the gates and fight off the sheep. Finally arrived at the top of the mountain only to discover that there was nowhere to park and that we were blocking a Range Rover trying to get through. Needles to say spent another anxious 30 minutes reversing the 307 back down the hill. The fact that the Gaffer was not sure of her ‘Left Hand Down/Right Hand Down’ added to the fun. I quickly leapt out of the car - carryout in hand - into complete darkness. You couldn’t see your hand in front of you and me & the Gaffer proceeded to walk up the two parallel ditches on either side of the road – killed the high heels. Finally made the party by running after another 4WD blasting up the hill. The party was great. About a dozen of us holed up in a caravan at the top of the mountain hitting the old cheese & wine and the odd beer. One of the boys at the party farms oysters so we all tucked into a couple of grilled oysters with cheese & cream. To get back to the car we had to do the 500m downhill race – chasing a friendly 4WD with big lights. Apart from that all quiet – happy days.
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