Biffy Clyro

I first came across Biffy Clyro a few years back. I saw the original video for this song and was quite affected by it. Unfortunately, I can't dig up that video but this live recording of 'Machines' is equally acceptable. Hope you enjoy it.
For those of you wishing to read something whilst you listen, here's an explanation of the band's name by one of the band:

"There's a famous British musician called Cliff Richard," Neil told Spin. "And when me and [drummer] Ben [Johnston] were 13 and bored in our little Scottish town of Ayr, we'd think up imaginary Cliff Richard products.

"We thought of things like Cliff Richard coat hangers and Cliff Richard Jesus dolls - he's a big Christian singer. In the UK there's a cheap kind of pen called a Biro pen and we thought about making Cliff Richard Biro pens.

"We'd call them Cliffy Biros. Somehow that turned into Biffy Clyro. Bizarrely, we weren't high at the time. There's just not a lot to do in Ayr. The weather is terrible."

Seen Any Otters?

Took these about a month ago at Forfar Loch. Halfway around the perimiter path you come across a little peninsula thing where they have a sort of boat house and launching area.

The word on the street is that this is one of the best areas to spot those elusive otters......








..... but I've yet to come across the wee buggers.

I'm beginning to take it personally...

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Sunset on Forfar Loch

I had a long drive down to the Borders and back yesterday to pick up my daughter for the school holidays. As is normal driving through Scotland it was pretty much four seasons in one day. Only thing missing was a bit of snow, but apparently that's due back in the middle of the week!

As we passed by Perth and Dundee we were treated to some spectacular skies, the views around Kinnoull Hill especially nice. Unfortunately the traffic was a bit fast and heavy for a drive by!

Despite being knackered from the drive, I couldn't let my bloggerbuddies down, so I stopped off at Forfar Loch to grab these pics. I know, I know.......I spoil you at great personal sacrifice.......

Bravely and selflessly shrugging off the debilitating effects of my marathon drive, the aching limbs, the pounding headache, the sheer physical exhaustion, I nevertheless dragged my sorry arse down to the Loch because I knew it would be selfish and remiss of me to keep this beauty all to myself......

....now excuse me while I go polish my halo......


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A Very Scottish Spring

I'm keeping an eye on blogs around the world and keep seeing references to this 'Spring' thing.

I'm a touch mystified by this.....

In fact I'm beginning to have a nasty suspicion that this 'Spring' thing has passed over Scotland....

.........and just zoomed off towards Scandinavia and Russia.

For more Springlike Skywatch Friday posts click here

Kookaburras, Kangas and Disbelief

During a recent chat with a blogbuddy in Canada, she asked me about the wildlife park in Angus which had Kangaroos and Emus. In my infinite wisdom I laughed at such an idea and suggested she was likely getting confused between an Aussie restaurant and the Murton Nature Reserve which are just across the road from each other......

Following a friendly wager, I thought no more about it until the following day when an email popped into my inbox with a website attached.......http://www.kookaburras.co.uk/

Following a large slice of humble pie and much laughter, I felt duty bound to go along and inspect Kookaburras for myself...... well.... there was always the off chance that they were fibbing about their exotic birds and mammals.....

.....but no......they exist all right.

To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure whether these were Rheas or Emus..... but whatever they were, you don't see too many in Angus fields and pastures.

I spoke to one of the chefs at the restaurant and he told me there were no Wallabies or Kangaroos left as the last one had escaped into the countryside. Sadly, its quest for freedom towards the Angus hills was cut short when it was hit by a car and killed in the village of Kinsgmuir, about 5 miles to the east.

I can only imagine the look on the driver's face seconds before impact.......

I would've loved it if there had been real Koalas, but these wooden ones softened the blow somewhat.

......and a poignant wooden tribute to The Last Kanga whose bid for freedom was tragically cut short by a confused Angus motorist.

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Reflections Of My Life

Reflections eh?..........I sometimes think how different life would be if we all suffered instant memory loss...

Formed in the early 60's in the East End of Glasgow, Marmalade were the first band from Scotland to reach number 1 in the UK charts with their cover version of The Beatles Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da. They appeared on Top of the Pops wearing kilts.

This song reached number 3 in the UK in 1969 and number 10 in the US and featured a backwards guitar solo and some pretty strong vocals from Dean Ford. Harmonies are nice too. Given that it's over forty years old I think it's stood the test of time pretty well. What do you think?

Gollum and his MTV Award

Those of you who have watched any of The Lord of The Rings movies or actually read the books will be familiar with Gollum. I came across his acceptance speech at the MTV Awards tonight and thought it was worth sharing.....

The Tay Bridges

Standing roughly half way between the two bridges over the Tay at Dundee this evening.
The top and bottom pics shows the rail bridge. The middle pic shows the road bridge.

The sky behaved nicely for me.




The Tay Rail Bridge was opened on June 1st 1878...... but it didn't last long. It collapsed on December 28th 1879 during a storm. A six carriage train chose the wrong moment to cross it and it plunged into the Tay killing all 75 people on board. At the time of it's opening it was the longest bridge in the world at two and a quarter miles long.
Immortalised by Dundee's very own bard William Topaz McGonagall you can read his account of the disaster here

The Tay Road Bridge was opened on August 18th 1966. 1.4 miles long, it's never been blown down.....yet.

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Cemetry Gates

Don't be fooled by the blue skies...... Taken last summer in a Forfar cemetry.


Who lived or worked down there do you think?.....whoever it was, their view was headstones.

....and a classic Light and Dark pic.....

Manflu

Due to a particularly vicious attack of manflu, my brain is unable to put together both words and pictures this Scenic Sunday....

And just in case there are those of you out there who doubt the severity of this awesomely debilitating condition I include these quotes from an established academic source.... The Uncyclopedia....

'Man flu' (not to be confused with woman flu, nor the much less serious actual flu) is the single most fatal illness in the known universe. It is estimated that every year 482 million men die from this disease, making it more devastating than such great illnesses as the Black Death and the Black Death II. There is only one species known to man that is immune to the devastating man flu; Women. It is for this reason that many cynical women are unable to comprehend the sheer enormity of suffering induced by man flu, having only suffered their puny woman flu.

There are, of course, alternative views about the origin of Man flu. The most popular theory is that God himself was the first ever sufferer of man flu and that it's because of this that he hasn't returned for judgement day or finished the Forth Bridge. On a similar note his only son Jesus was suffering man flu when nailed to the cross and this was the single cause for his death (did you honestly think God's offspring could be killed by a couple of nails?!).

At present there is no known cure for Man flu. However, there are a small number of remedies that have been scientifically proven to ease suffering:
At least a week off work, two weeks if especially serious.
Having a TV next to the bed.
Having the man's girlfriend wait on him hand and foot.

so there....

Duh!

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