News Archives: May 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

A Virtual Post

Increasingly, my friendships are virtual. I live far enough from even my local friends that I won't bump into them while shopping or walking the dogs. A trip to the pub is a large enough expedition that there's no option of popping in for a quick drink on the off chance that someone interesting happens to be there. (There are closer pubs, but not that friends frequent...) So those I keep in touch with are those who invite me to their parties, but mainly those who blog and those who email me. It's why I keep this blog - I'm well aware that for most of you, these little ramblings are your only contact with me. Heaven knows what view this gives of me. Hopefully more Gaiman than Adams...

The upside of a largely virtual relationship with the world is that it leaves me better prepared for friends moving away. (And it's no coincidence that as I type Sarah is on a one-way train to Bristol.) The shift from largely virtual to completely virtual is small, and requires little more effort on my part to sustain the friendship. New friendships, with little or no real-world basis, are also readily pursued in the virtual world, needing little more than enthusiasm and a common interest or two to blossom into something just as real as those forged down the pub.

The biggest problem with virtual friendships are that the tools are largely crap. Email remains the king of person to person, blogs a means for talking to the world. Livejournal, blogspot, et al provide the tools for easy blogging, but reading blogs needs specialist software if you're going to follow more than a small number. (Livejournal's "friends page" is awful - the single biggest reason for people falling out with blogging. Getting a proper feed reader is essential.) Facebook's recent change has made it completely unusable by me. I only visit there to play Mousehunt these days, and anyone trying to use Facebook to contact me or invite me to things is likely to find I don't notice. Twitter's insane character limit means that no one is using it to say anything interesting - I've signed off.

In short, if you want to keep in touch with me, read this blog, email me, or write on your own blog - I'll read it, even if I don't comment. Or, you know, invite me to the pub. That'll work too...

Posted by graham @ 12:35 pm

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Fool Me Once...

If you're reliant on the public spending money, misleading them is very, very foolish. If you've lied to me once, why would I trust you again?

This afternoon, we took the dogs to Traquair medieval fair. We knew there'd be no problems - website says "dogs allowed on lead", photos of previous years show dogs in attendance. Got to the site to find a large sign saying "No Dogs". I rather angrily explained that we'd driven for an hour and a half 'cos the website said dogs were allowed. The kid at the gate told us we could leave the dogs in the car, and that he couldn't get hold of anyone senior. (He did try.) They're getting a rude letter, and a bill for the three hours of time they wasted and the petrol used, to be donated to the charity of our choice.

Instead, we went to Kailzie Gardens, had a gorgeous burger and chips in the courtyard, then walked the dogs round the walled gardens. Well worth a visit, if you're in the area. The photos on their website don't do it justice.

Posted by graham @ 06:44 pm

Thursday, May 21, 2009

And Relax

Of course, when I've got lots I could blog about, there's no time to blog. So, here's a quick run through of some of the highlights since we last spoke.

Last weekend was frantic. On Saturday we moved Chris from St Andrews to Edinburgh, for which he rewarded us with pizza from a lovely little cafe in the middle of St Andrews, which I will probably never be able to find again. Their pizza was very good though. Then, up early on Sunday to walk the dogs, before we took Mum on an RSPB bird-watching cruise of the Forth. Lots of gulls, auks, terns, etc. - some of which I can now tell apart at a slightly more sophisticated level than "puffins are the ones with the stripey bills". In return, Mum bought us Sunday lunch at the Two Bridges. In the afternoon we accidentally took the dogs to a horse show. We didn't know the show was being held next to the woods where we often walk - you'd think they'd have put up some notices. We let the dogs have a run in the woods, then walked along the edge of the show. The dogs behaved well, and there were some gorgeous horses, including a beautiful, black fillie whose rider was putting her through tricks to keep her under control. I'm not looking for a horse (I'm not, I'm not, I'm not) but if I were, she's the sort I'd want. (At one point the fillie rode close by us, and Claire loudly declared "there's your favourite" to the rider's obvious delight.) After all that, we visited Mags & Phil in their gorgeous new flat for dinner. The boy can cook.

This weekend's not looking a lot quieter. Traquair medieval fair on Friday & Saturday, Linlithgow Party at the Palace on Saturday & Sunday, and Bo'ness Victorian Street Fair on the Sunday. Dunno how many of those we'll get to. We'll see...

***

I've just finished Bill Bruford's autobiography. (Drummer in Yes, King Crimson, Earthworks, and a whole host of ensembles with the word "Bruford" in the name.) He concentrates on the personalities and the business, rather than the specific music, so worth reading even for those who aren't interested in the bands involved. Reading it has me even more convinced that the jazz ensemble is the best model yet for an RPG group. Basically, in jazz the composition provides the chord progression and the melody, but the real interest comes from how the players improvise chord substitutions, and melodic and rhythmic variations. This seems a strong parallel to how role-playing works. Viewed this way it becomes clear why so much rpg theory seems deeply unsatisfactory to me - too much of the theory is being written by the composers, not the performers.

Posted by graham @ 09:42 pm

Friday, May 15, 2009

Alfie

Alfie was handed in as a stray one year ago. At that point, he desperately need medical, surgical treatment. Only the prompt action of Greyhound Gap saved his life. Now, he's sleeping peacefully, having enjoyed a walk in the woods this afternoon. Alfie's annual check up was earlier this week, and while he has problems, they're under control, and he's basically in good health. The one exception is his eyes - the cataracts are getting worse, and are now affecting his vision. He's not blind yet, but that's something we may have to face in the future.

There were a lot of people involved in getting Alfie to where he is today. The couple who spent three months nursing him back to health, the vets - both down south and here, the charity that paid for his treatment, and everyone who raised funds for that charity. Claire and I spend a lot of time working with such charities in our own small way. This is why. A happy dog story makes it all worthwhile.

Posted by graham @ 09:33 pm

Monday, May 11, 2009

After the Party

After the party, we've found a few bits left behind - a blue fleecy top and a cat badge. If any of that belongs to you, let me know...

The party went well, with a surprise appearance by the sun. We'd spent part of the afternoon at the Linlithgow dog show, getting soaked and wrestling runaway marquees, so I really didn't expect cooking outside to happen. (We did stay at the dog show long enough to enter one class - Best Sit/Stay. Tara and Zak were stars, patiently waiting in the pouring rain just 'cos we asked them to, and getting first and second places.)

Posted by graham @ 10:52 pm

Friday, May 8, 2009

Busy Doing Nothing

Officially, I'm on holiday at the moment. We've been using home as a base for day trips, so lots of eating out, walking dogs, watching wildlife, meeting up with friends, and generally being far too busy to work or blog. Monday's return to normality is going to come hard.

Tomorrow's the BBQ. If the weather stays like this (which seems likely, I'm afraid) it'll be an indoors barbeque. It'll be fine - we've got a huge cooker. Also, I'm unlikely to be online tomorrow - maybe first thing. If you need to contact me after then, my mobile is your best bet. If you don't have my number, ask today or get it from someone who has it.

Posted by graham @ 08:02 am

Monday, May 4, 2009

BBQ Reminder

Just thought I'd quickly remind everyone that the birthday BBQ is at our house on Saturday. We were planning to light the coals about 6ish, though you're welcome to turn up any time after about 4.

See you then!

Posted by graham @ 07:16 pm

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