Yule time in the Castle

Well it's time for the Christmas holidays to begin in earnest. The tree is decorated, the presents wrapped, the cards are on the mantelpiece (if we had one) and air is filled with the smell of spiced wine and roasting goose.

Last night I had a Christmas meal in the castle's Queen Anne room's. The views, looking out over the city (which isn't covered with fog unlike the rest of the country) really are spectacular, and the building are impressive. It's also, what I would call, a proper castle with battlements, granite cliffs, impregnable wall plus it still has a standing garrison.

In Nottingham, visitors always expected some medieaval building to dominate the town but that castle was burnt to the ground a long time ago and the building that replaced it is more akin to a stately home than that image I mentioned, but Edinburgh castle is the real deal.

Talking of all things Nottingham I'm spending the day watching 'Robin of Sherwood'. It really is so much better then the new BBC's Robin in the Hoodie show. 'Robin of Sherwood' is dark, mysterious and quite bloody in places. There is a feeling of magic in the show helped with the introduction of the shaman / Green man character of Herne the Hunter. The characters are interesting and you actually care about them, they feel like a band of desperadoes living on their wits.
Talking about the other show with Lady H we realised we couldn't even remember which of Hood's men was Will Scarlet and the outfit they wear are just ridiculous.

So with several more episodes to go I'll leave you to enjoy the holiday. Happy Christmas!

Ohhs and Ahhs.

Van the Man visited on Thursday, having business in the capital the following day, so spending time in a few bars the night before seemed a good idea at the time. The feelings of pain and suffering and the smiting of many brain cells the next day, led me to rethink this 'good' idea. But it seems I am not alone as the streets are filled with wall to wall vomiting as staff Christmas parties get out of hand and normally nice and decent human being take to wearing flashing antlers and pointed red hats.

Lady Helen is getting more excited by the day and has to be shooed away from the small pile of presents with a thick stick and the threat of removal of her chocolate ration. She insisted the tree went up yesterday so after an exhausting trek around town the tree was de-boxed and yours truly had to make all the expected 'oohs and ahhs' as Lady Helen stood back to admire her handiwork.

Started work on a small piece for a competition this week which I hope to finish over the Xmas week. Assuming it doesn't win anything I'll post it here in the new year.

Website of the week: (courtesy of Otralala)
DIE-CAST Films

Where's Adam?

create your own visited country map
or write about it on the open travel guide




create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide




create your personalized map of europe
or write about it on the open travel guide

Just a quick way for me to keep a map of where I've been. Try it and see how much of world is still left as the undiscovered country.

Bearded Ladies and Outlaws

Spent the weekend with PC Benny in the old hunting ground of Snottingham. It was a time to catch up with both friends and family and the news that is circulating within each set (the two are kept apart however, in fear that one might embarrass the other).

On the family side, final grandparent is looking a lot better after numerous operations and procedures completed by the men with stethoscopes. Big Chief Shardlow has returned from France having stocked up with enough wine to see him through to the warmer months. The Mudder is in training for her visit north of the border for Hogmany, while Fay-Fay is planning baby nephews first annum celebration (the afore mentioned nephew has decided he doesn't like men with beards and now screams when approached by either uncle or carnival ladies), while PC Benny is starting to think about his flight south to the land of clotted cream.

On the friend's side, all are seemingly happy in relationships (first time ever). The Grayman is flourishing while selling soft core porn, Kaiser is working for the same people as me (showing that we truly do live in the world of the mega-corporation), big Tim's love of all things Italian has now extended to his hair and facial ornaments and Van the man was conspicuous by his absence.

A good time was had by all, however while waiting for a taxi on a cold concrete street, whipped by the empty take-away trays and surrounded by the t-shirt wearing Snottingham 'massive with their blue legged girlfriends of the loud voice and expletive filled sentences, it reminded me why I'm so glad we moved north. A new series of Robin Hood has not restored any pride in the place.

Read this week:
The Forest in Folklore and Mythology by Alexander Porteous
Howl and other Poems by Allen Ginsberg.

Christmas is coming and all through the house...

Not much to report on this week as I'm trying to save money in time for Christmas. I've already done all my shopping without having to leave my computer. Hopefully everyone will get what I ordered, in the right number, delivered to the right address and in time for the festivities. It's a lot easier than daring the crowds on princes Street who all seem to be out shopping with the express purpose of wandering in front of me when I'm on a mission, stopping dead in doorways or walking five abreast and filling the pavement. The only problem with ordering online is that every company seems to have a different style order form calling for valuable wasted minutes as I work out how to use their web page. Some of the companies make it blatantly easy while others seem to have come up with the most frustrating websites going (has a name similar to Pay-Hel) where I have to order each present individually and go through the whole order process again and again and again. Perhaps they miss me visiting their stores.

Off to Nottingham this weekend to visit the family, deliver said presents and to celebrate PC Brothers birthday.

Read this week:
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1 by Alan Moore et al.