Alan Cumming

I have made frequent trips lately to the bookstore, only to notice that Alan Cumming wrote an autobiography, part of which details his experience on Who Do You Think You Are? the British version. Caryn had already recommended watching the episode as she is a bit of a Who Do You Think You Are? addict, so I did because I really wanted to read the book.

Not only that but I found out that he was coming to Edinburgh to have a talk about the book and do a bit of a reading, I really wanted to go. Now I have said before, I am not good at doing things by myself, I really psych myself out of doing loads of things that would probably have been really cool if I only had a few more guts and actually went.

Not this time, I used my fail safe double motivators, I told Dixon and Caryn that I wanted to go, and then they pretty well made sure I got a ticket and went, and I am really glad I did. 

Now not to say that I wasn't still awkward, I waited in line, patiently, to get my book signed, I decided to get a wee line below if I could, and when it came to me, I was pretty nervous. Not because I thought he would be mean, I knew he wouldn't, and not because I thought it was silly what I wanted inscribed, I knew it was. But he was really nice when he saw PIFF PAFF POFF, written in pencil just below my neatly written out name. He said hello, and said "its actually just the one 'f'" if I was better armed I could have replied "Oh, dearie me" but I just smiled hugely and thought of wonderful things to talk about but scampered away saying thank you, as the assistant took a couple photos.

Now all of this interaction will make much more sense if you watch The High Life, just go do it now, its brilliant. But at that very least watch the clip below, which explains Pif Paf Pof and in the book there was a piece about the Eurovision Song Contest, which reminded me and had me pif pof pof-ing all week.

Neil Gaiman at Usher Hall

I found out a month or so ago, that Neil Gaiman was coming to Edinburgh, to read a story, and I knew I would regret it if I didn't go. See Neil Gaiman came to the Edinburgh Fringe two years ago, and I didn't go, because no one I knew over here knew who he was and they didn't want to spend that kind of money on someone they didn't know.  I should have gone by myself, but I am a bit of a shitebag, and didn't, so this time around, I asked Dixon. I know still a shitebag, I probably could have gone alone, but he was really nice  and agreed to go with me.

It was one of the best things I have ever been too, he not only read the short story without a break but performed two songs in which he sang and read two other short stories. Both of which are brilliant, one for the amazing Ray Bradbury, The Man Who Forgot Ray Bradbury, and the other for the series of short stories he did monthly, and this was Octobers. you can download a pdf of them from here. And the amazing FourPlay String Quartet played throughout, with the fantastic illustraions from Eddie Campbell shown on the big screen for The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains, which were perfect for the tone.

And it was such a nice warm night when it was over as well, Dixon and I walked home! It was a brilliant day all around.

I was a little bit proud of how my hair came out.

The beautiful Usher Hall

And the beautiful walk home.

So if this ever makes it to Neil Gaiman, I want to say thank you for an amazing night and thank you for all of your stories.

100 Days Happy 78-84

So this week has felt really long, maybe because its Wednesday and I should be posting these on Sunday, or in a pinch, Monday, or it might be because Dixon left on Friday to go on tour. So the weekend felt really, really, long. In my head he's been gone for ages already. So I have been a sad wee sop most of the week. But that is this week not last week. Last week was mostly really good.

1. Returning finished books

2. Sunshine on the Balmoral

3. Cant's Close, watch more chewing the fat to get this one

4. Brunch with Mackenzie at Ghillie Dhu

5. Hot water bottle, biscuits, and a cup of tea in bed

6. Spoiling myself with new books

7. My first ever Pad Thai, yum

So really only the last half of the week was sad but there were definite highlights, so hopefully Dixon is enjoying his tour.

100 Days Happy 22-28

These posts are more self explanatory than most of mine, so here's this week.

1. Facetime-ing and creeping on Marsha

2. Completed Batman Cross stitch

3. A little Van Gogh in the morning

4. Sharmanka exhibit, so cool

5. Last months limited Pratchett 

6. Painting on canvas!

7. Watching Anime while doing dishes and laundry

I am trying to collect all the limited edition books being brought out monthly by Terry Pratchett, and I am doing well so far. February's just came out too, so maybe you will be seeing it Eric and Sourcery up here soon. They are awesome additions. 

Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre

Hayley and I were lucky enough to go to the Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre in Glasgow this week, I say lucky because it seemed like the world was dead against us going. Firstly they only show the full show twice a week and it was on the days that I was working, but I was able to get it off fairly easily, so conquering that obstacle was easily done. Next, unfortunately, Hayley wasn't well, but still really wanted to go so we pushed the time we were going to meet ahead, and then ahead again so we would make the show one time, but not really do anything else. When we finally met at the bus stop, the bus, 900 to Glasgow was just leaving the stop as we were walking up, but we had a bit of spare time so we weren't to worried, only to see the next 900 fly by us without its lights on the front and just flicking on at the back. So now it was cutting it tight, but if the next bus was on time we would make it just in the nick of time. It wasn't. We made it to Glasgow with about 10 minutes to spare and I thought the building was a bit further than it was, and we walked right by. We did however find the Trongate 103, at exactly seven, we know, because the bells were chiming. But when we got to the door the sign said "Please come back at another time, a show is in progress", if Hayley hadn't spotted the bell and had the balls to ring it, I probably would have walked away, but she did and she rang it! And we were let in. And let me tell you it was all worth it. I haven't ever seen anything like it and was continually surprised and delighted. 

I took a few photos, but they do not compare with the professional ones you can find on their Flickr. And the video below is taken from their website here and here, where there are loads more and you can watch them there too.

 

And so far I think it was one of the best exhibits I have ever been to. And hopefully will get to go to again. On our way there we saw two amazing bits of graffiti, unfortunately my photo of one didn't come out very well but this one was brilliant. So hopefully a few more adventures in Glasgow. 

One last wee exhibition I popped into on my lunch, as I am apt to do lately, was the Wha's Like Us at the National Library, which has a books and poetry by Scotland's finest and for one week only they were showing a rare first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with annotations from J K Rowling, so of course I had to pop over. Not to mention a book sculpture by the mysterious benefactor that I haven't seen before. They are always cool to find.

14 Days In

Another week gone and another seven days happy, and here they are.

1. Kindle and Chocolate covered peanuts, magic

2.Sunny day taking the recycling away

3. New limited Terry Pratchett book that are gorgeous

4. Taking up cross stitching

5. Louise Bourgois Exhibit

6. Drinks with Dixon and friends

7. Walking round Cramond with Mhairi and Jura her dog.

100 Days Happy is going really well! I mean, I think it is, it turns out I am pretty easily pleased, give me a sunny day, some books or friends and it turns out that's all it takes. But I think the magic is in  acknowledging  the little things that make your life great and remembering to capture the moment. So its been a lot of fun doing that so far.