The Game Masters

Hello! Back again this December, I didn't know if I would post again before the year was out. I have been super busy working and my days off have been busy too, so this is the first time I have had a chance to actually sit down and post about what we have been doing.

It was my birthday not long ago now and we had some pretty excellent plans, firstly Dixon was going to make me breakfast, but we went out the night before. And boy were we hungover! So we went out for breakfast! We were planning on trying a new place for it, but they stopped serving breakfast at 12, ridiculous! So we went to an old standby, Pappi, and I of course got waffles! They had their new coffee machine installed now, and the coffee was amazing! I didn't get a photo for you of breakfast but you get the idea if you have seen them before.

After eating I for one felt a whole lot better, I think Dixon was putting on a brave face.

Afterwards we went to The Game Masters Exhibit at the National Museum of Scotland, you got to play everything from original Donkey Kong and Pac Man on the Arcade machines, to The Nintendo 3DS, Computer games like Warcraft and Starcraft, PS2 with Shadow of the Colossus, which I have wanted to play again for ages. All the way to indie games for the iPad, with loads of info about their creation and concept art for some as well. It was really cool!

I was hoping to take a lot of photo as we weren't told you couldn't when we went in and there are no signs posted, but my flash went off and this guy came hovering over and said, "You can't take any photos in here" So I was totally fine with this and said sorry and whatnot. Apparently, I didn't sound sincere enough because he felt the need to come closer and say, "If you take any more I will have to ask you to leave" I don't know if that was necessary, but he wasn't on the job too much when other people were snapping away and he was playing Mario 3 on the SNES.

Anyway that didn't dampen my spirits too much, and I had a lot of fun, though Dixon almost had to drag me away from Sonic 2. And he got me a wee souvenir from the exhibit, a Pac Man ice cube tray!

We did also plan to head down to the Christmas market, and get some Mulled Wine, got ice skating and go on the big wheel, but my hangover had not gone away as much as I though it had when I was in the museum. So we just went for a bit of a walk through and then home again to see Gail Gordon and Hayley.

The National Museum of Scotland

So I'm about a week behind with this but I have been pretty busy, working quite a lot and while Caryn and Jackson were here, I had no time to blog, cause we were doing all the things to blog about. Which was brilliant, I think I am still tired. 

So basically the first thing we did after they came in was get some waffles, and then head straight back to my house because they were tired. So the real first day we went to the National Museum of Scotland which I am always surprised at how much stuff is in there. Especially this time because I have never been on the -1st floor, where everything from Early life is kept, everything from Pictish Drawings to Viking Graves, Whale Skeleton Sculptures to Roman Lions and way more. No matter how many times I have gone there is always more to see and we are usually kicked out for closing time before you can see it all.

Because I had never been to that floor, it really did dominate the photos I had taken but the other floors shouldn't be left out and I wish we had more time to look through them as well because they are excellent, from natural history to religious sculptures, Greek dishes and Venetian masks, and the coffin of Mary Queen of Scots as well. It was an excellent start to our week together. 

Hopefully I will have more from their trip over soon and the different things we had seen and done together, but for now another picture of the Scott's Monument to tide you over.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

So I totally forgot I had these pictures from when Hayley and I went to Glasgow ages ago, or it feels like ages ago. But we went to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and out to dinner afterwards. And I usually say that I do not like Glasgow, and it feels like any other city in the world to me, but I think I have been a little unfair, because I haven't really been out to the city center before. Kelvingrove, was really impressive, and the park after where I took no photos was beautiful as well. So I have to take that all back.

I probably could have taken way more photos inside of the place, but I was not feeling great that day. A wee hangover to say the least but that doesn't take away from the pictures I did get. I am a bit rusty at this blogging business, so hopefully my next post is a bit better, anyway, enjoy the pictures.

 

We went to the Lebanese after and it was actually really disappointing, after having amazing Lebanese food at Beirut in Edinburgh, it just did not compare, and was so not worth the voucher Hayley bought. So if you are in Glasgow, don't go there.

All The Galleries

So this may be a fairly picture heavy post, but to be honest, thats mostly what I read blogs for so here ya go, a wee treat. And so did we that day, there were a few exhibits around the city that we both wanted to see and it turned out to be a beautiful day to do it. 

I had never been to Modern One, and neither had Hayley, so it was really cool to see the layout of the garden and the sculptural landscaping. I couldn't get a good picture of the "Everything is going to be alright" but I will hopefully have a chance to try again. Soon.

It was an exhibition on Louise Bourgeois, including elements of sculpture, drawing and painting. Proper modern art, and even the parts I didn't fully get the parts that I liked really made it totally worthwhile. I would definitely recommend it, and I am hopefully checking out the companion exhibit at the Fruitmarket later in the week.

The National Galleries were having their RSA exhibit as well as a display of Rodin's The Kiss, which we made the special trip for, and it was amazing in real life. And very cool to get a picture with.

And one last Exhibition, at the National Museum of Scotland, the Kabuki exhibit I have mentioned earlier, I got a really good look at and it is still so cool how woodblocks work, I really want to teach myself how to do this amazing type of art.

Hayley's showing off the famous Cross Eyed pose, its meant to show when a character is angry or agitated. I think she pulled it off very well.

I don't know why this is turned the wrong way, but just now I can't be bothered to fix it, but Hayley made an awesome lunch and it deserves a mention, roasted Veg and Spinch Salad with Pesto Dessing, and Veggie Jelly with Fresh Carrot and Orange Juice. Delicious! 

And one last thing I am trying out, 100 Days Happy, so you record a moment each day that makes you happy and here is my first week. Its been a good week.

1. New Scarf and Mittens all cosy for winter
2. Bamming up Marshy on Facetime
3. Starting walking again, with a rainbow
4. Video games with Dixon
5. Galleries with Hayley
6. Surprise Pizza
7. Night in to myself with Sushi, Crabbies, and Countdown, 8 out of 10 Cats style

 So that has been fun so far and I'm looking forward to more of those.