Tour de France

Floyd Landis wins the Tour, from the New York Times

So, post-Lance, with Jan Ullrich and Ivan Basso out, Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France... It's the 11th time since 1986 that an American rider has worn the yellow jersey, le maillot jaune (OK, 7 of those were Lance). The French must be malade comme perroquet. First the World Cup, now this.

(note - it was a competition between Kraftwerk and Queen for the title of this post; the Germans won on a penalty shoot-out.)

Dance Away

Ceilidh Dancing, from visitscotland.com

Firstly this is not a Scottish post, exactly. It's more about the generation gap. Let me explain:

1) Scottish music. My friends and I would think of things like Simple Minds, Big Country, Franz Ferdinand, Texas, Travis, Teenage Fanclub, Primal Scream, Jesus & Mary Chain, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie, Cocteau Twins, Love & Money, Hipsway - you get the idea. For certain older members of our family, Scottish music is defined by the playlist of Robbie Shepherd, starting with Jimmy Shand. No concessions to our definition - that is not Scottish music....

2) Dance Music. My friends and I would think of, well, anything you can dance to, which could include any of the above but of course would also include disco, house, electronic, etc. etc. For certain older members of our family, dance music is defined by the playlist of Robbie Shepherd, starting with Jimmy Shand. No concessions to our definition - that is not dance music....

Now, I enjoy a ceilidh. I like a Gay Gordons as much as the next Scot, and a Strip the Willow(**) is a great way to lose (a) weight and (b) skin. The driving bass-lines are probably what the two disparate types of dance music have in common, but to our older relatives, "Voodoo Ray" is just a hideous noise. "That's not dance music, you can dance to that!"

Succinct reponse from my better half: "It is, and people do..."

**note for non-Scottish readers: this is not some weird perversion, merely a dance. See here for the World's Smallest Strip the Willow...

We Are The Champions

The Champions

“Craig Sterling, Sharon McReady and Richard Barrett. The Champions, endowed with the qualities and skills of superhumans. Qualities and skills both physical and mental to the peak of human performance. Gifts given to them by the unknown race of people from a lost city in Tibet. Gifts are a secret to be guarded, a secret that enables them to use their powers to their best advantage as the champions of law order and justice."

That probably sounds like the worst pitch ever for a series, but it was the late 60's. From the same writer as Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Department S, came the Champions. I watched it on repeats along with The Avengers; these programmes had two of the best theme tunes in TV history! This was a time when we understood the concept of "suspension of disbelief" and hadn't allowed our cynicism to taint our imagination.

Released now on DVD, I wonder if my disbelief is ready to be suspended once more...?

Diamond Dog(s)

Moose, playing Eddie, from Wikipedia

I missed this news last month. Moose, famous for playing "Eddie Crane" in Frasier, passed away to the big park in the sky on the 22nd June. I like the bit on the Wikipedia where it says his son (Enzo) took over as a stunt double for the more challenging schemes as his dad got older...

He was 16 when he died, which is - what - 112 in human years? So I'm glad that his son helped him out and let him have some retirement in the later Frasier seasons. What more could a son do for his father?

Echo Beach

View from Aberdeen beach towards the harbour/Nigg, photo by Vikingchild

Just some more proof that it has been a beautiful weekend here! The tide was in, so no picture of the golden beaches, but they are there, honest...

The lighthouse in the distance is Girdleness Lighthouse. Interestingly, it was designed by the grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, also called Robert Stevenson. It was built in 1833 and is well known for the loud foghorn (known locally as the "Torry Coo"). Although it's now out of service it is to be preserved as part of Aberdeen's maritime history.

But enough of that, a beautiful day for a walk along the beach front.

Good Year for the Roses

Drum Castle, photo by Vikingchild

Roses at Drum Castle, photo by Vikingchild

The north-east of Scotland is home to many ancient castles, and yesterday we visited one of them: Drum Castle, about 8 miles west of Aberdeen, just off the road between Peterculter and Banchory. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, blue skies and pretty warm for here (well, it is summer) so we went for a stroll around the gardens. Apparently the Rose Garden peaked on 15th July, lucky for us... One example above.

Now don't get me wrong - I'm not a huge flower buff, and I guess we were lucky to hit it on such a wonderful day when the roses were stunning - but castle gardens are something special. Immaculately maintained and presented, and in this case divided into quarters representing the past 4 centuries. We felt like we were far removed from the business of the city, which I suppose we were; set in open countryside, the castle grounds are very peaceful and picturesque.

The history of the Castle is perhaps for another day - when the weather is not quite so good?

Kick in the Eye

Zidane avec le Coupe de Monde, from Shanghai Daily

I'm booking time for a big rant...was going to do it yesterday but wasn't feeling up to it. Basically, being a Scottish person, I have avoided any comment on the World Cup lest I be painted as bitter and twisted. Not me. As a Scottish person, I have a realisation that we are a small country, and though we are fiercely proud of our football team, we know that they will: (a) perform heroically against the big team; (b) lose in the last minute against the middling team; (c) get thumped by the poorest teams. And we love them for it. We may never make a World Cup again, but we might as well sing loudly on the way.

Anyway, the cause of my rant? The English meeja, and their love affair with Wayne Rooney. In short:

Rooney shoves Ronaldo. Rooney was provoked, therefore Rooney saint, Ronaldo sinner.

Zidane headbuts Materazzi. Zizou should not have reacted, whatever was said. Zizou is a sinner.

I cannot believe the hypocrisy of the above argument. Some even said things like "the World Cup was spoiled by the likes of Ronaldo and Zidane". Right. So it's ok to stamp on someones nads, shove someone else, then stamp off like a spoiled child, so long as you're English.

Ronaldo is now a national hero in Scotland (*smile*) but may never be able to play for Man U again. Whatever you think of Zidane's behaviour, all I'm asking for is some consistency in attitude. If Zidane was wrong, then so was Rooney.

Personally, I have to wonder about the spectre of racism that seems to haunt Italian football. Today they perhaps have other things to worry about, but something stinks beyond match-fixing. Yes, footballers are big boys and have to put up with pretty aggressive banter, but there is a line. Racism is drawn in that line, and it must be stamped out.

Hell's Bells

Trevor Hoffman, from playitusa

Few days since I've blogged and don't feel like it much today. It was the Major League Baseball All-Star game last night. We watch it over here on NASN. Used to be a bit of mid-season fun, but to spice it up (?) it now determines home-field advantage for the World Series. The National League have lost the last 9 games. They were one up in the final inning - so on comes my star player, Trevor Hoffman. Top reliever, plays for the (west coast) Padres, but somehow never seems to perform when East Coast eyes are upon him. Rick Sutcliffe (colour commentator and part of the Padres organisation) was building him up big-time, so I knew once more he was doomed. And so it came to pass....the National League lost again, and my arch nemesis (Mariano Rivera) came on to win it for the American League.

Dagnabit.

Trevor is an amazing closer, especially if you consider he plays for the relatively down-market Padres - not exactly the most "winningest" (sic) team in baseball. To get a save, you have to be up in the 9th inning by between one and three runs (roughly) . So to do it with the Padres is especially special. We still love you, Trev....

The Robots

Black Dalek, from bbc.co.uk

I had a peculiar experience in the supermarket yesterday. I was just picking up a copy of the "Radio Times", having to choose between the cover with the Cybermen and the one with the Daleks. Naturally, I went for the slightly more iconic Daleks, but on making the choice a shiver ran down my spine.

I was transported back to being a small child, having the same sensation of fear and excitement and antici....pation when waiting for the next episode of Doctor Who. I also had the same sensation of my own pester power, nagging my mum to buy Weetabix (which of course I couldn't stand) as it came with a Doctor Who board game and little cardboard figures for the game. Of course you needed four boxes of said cardboard-like cereal to make the whole game, so I dutifully had to munch through 3 boxes to ensure getting them all (don't laugh, one went on eBay for £50). I remember some of the cardboard figures - I had several Daleks, a Sea Devil, a Yeti and a couple of Sontarans...I think - I could be confusing those with other freebies. I eventually graduated to owning an ersatz Doctor Who board game, the rules of which were so damn complex my friends refused to play. So I won every game, as Teddy wasn't so hot with the dice.

I know I've blogged before about Doctor Who before, but it is a testament to the show - both now and then - that those feelings, memories and the anticipation are there now. Tonight's season finale was great (although how Tracey Ann Oberman retained her soul I don't quite know - do Cybermen get distracted whilst upgrading?) and I'll be hanging on until Christmas for the next episode....

Jolly Roger

Johnny Depp as Cap'n Jack Sparrow, from Yahoo

Went to see "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" last night. With many apologies for huge plagiarism of "Total Film" magazine, here is my predicted interest curve (or rather my actual interest curve).Yup, I love Pirates, but we're suffering a bit from sequel-itis - sit through two and a half hours, then have no ending, other than telling us that the ending will be in the next film. Harks too much of the Matrix trilogy and the Star Wars prequels, except that it is better than number 2 of both of these.

Bill Nighy is terrific under the special effects, giving the baddie a heart. Orlando and Keira are present and correct, and Johnny is, well, Johnny. Well, strictly speaking Johnny is Keith, but we all know that from Black Pearl.

October Swimmer

David Walliams ready for the swim, photo from bbc.co.uk

Well, not quite October - but there wasn't a song called "July Swimmer" so there you go. Today, David Walliams, best known for being one half of "Little Britain" and being seen on the collective arm of a veritable cornucopia of attractive laydeez, swam across the English Channel. Or "La Manche" if you live on the other side of it.

I'm terribly impressed. Reading the info has told me that more people have climbed Everest than have swum across this 21 stretch of ocean. Only about 10% of those who try succeed. I was therefore somewhat sceptical, but since it's for charity (Sport Relief) I went along with the concept...but I'm delighted that he's succeeded. Good on him.

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

Crowds gather in Hyde Park, photo by Vikingchild

July 2nd 2005 was Live 8. We were lucky enough to be there, and also lucky enough to be old enough (?) to remember Live Aid in 1985. I was amazed to be there on the strength of one text message, but very grateful. I don't, as a rule, like festivals (I like to see the bands) but this was an exception.
20 years later, the cynicism was far more apparent. Questions regarding the motives of the people who took part, the choice of line-up, the lack of actual African music were all thrown at the organisers (although Chumbawamba and the Pet Shop Boys had raised similar questions of the original Live Aid) . Rose-coloured memories seemed to have erased the presence of the likes of Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones (no disrespect intended), focussing only on the barn-storming performances (U2, Queen, Bowie - for example). In 2005, Live 8 was never going to be Live Aid...
...but it wasn't meant to be. It had the same mix of questionable acts (pick your own; mine were Joss Stone & Mariah Carey) and the barn-storming performances (U2 again, Robbie Williams etc.) It had spontaneity (the crown singing "Rocking All Over The World" before the start - and booing Carey, har har). It had great reunions (Pink Floyd, The Who - again). The golden circle, whilst probably necessary, was badly executed. It over-ran dreadfully. Elton John declared it an "anti-climax" - well, it was his fault for perfoming with the barely adequate Pete Docherty and massacring the wondrous "Children of the Revolution". Well, sorry, Sir Elton, I disagree.
It was a different day, one which concentrated on raising awareness in the aforesaid cynical society. The G8 is now something people have heard of. I still get shivers when I hear "Come On Home" by Franz Ferdinand (used as the sting for the political messages played between acts, though not played by the BBC - whose coverage was pretty dismal, I'm afraid). Perhaps the message was diverted somewhat by the horror of July 7th, but nevertheless, if even half the people in Hyde Park were educated by the messages of the day, never mind the audience at home, it was worth it. I'm glad - nay proud - that I was there.