My second in command and I are currently resting in West bar/restaurant/brewery. One of us is drinking coffee because we (she) want(s) to (stay awake) appreciate the band tonight.
Apparently, St Lukes is only a short walk from here, so there’s no need to rush.
They don’t use fish here you know, German purity law in Scotland. Genius.
The end of Augustines. At least for my second and command and I. There’s a gig in Belfast, then a final one in Liverpool, but we’ll not be there. It’s quite an emotional time for my second in command; she’s been addicted to their music for some time now.
And, so, we’re seeing them this very evening in Glasgow, my favourite city.
We’re currently in the 13th Note, which happens to be my favourite bar. A bar that serves the most delicious falafel burgers.
My second in command lost her (most expensive ever) Brewdog hat this afternion. In the Horseshoe Bar, she believed. But it’s not there.
It’s possibly a day for lost things; Augustines, my second in command’s Brewdog hat and, technically not lost today, but purchased across the road to this very bar a few weeks ago, before being mislaid the next day, sheriff’s badge.
One of the above has now been replaced.
On my way home this evening, I called off at Tesco to buy beer and pants.
Had a great day in the company of old gentlemen, in Edinburgh. I have no pictures, because beer needed our concentration, but I’ve been in some astounding bars. And I mean astounding.
In one of which, I had a pretty great Ynot a dog, a tofu hot dog. And It was really nice.
While in Brewdog, one of the last bars we visited, I bought a present for my second in command.
She’s a big soft southerner, so wears hats in every month before/after the summer.
But this is a good hat.
The Schooner is a very nice pub. Currently playing a bit of Ska.
Although I’m only here because of a breakdown in communications between myself and my second in command.
I planned to meet her from work, and communicated my intentions, but for some unknown reason, she left me waiting in the Split Chimp while she went home.
So I left to go home too, only to find that my second in command had set off (an hour late) to meet me.
Anyway, I’ve had a nice walk; a walk I’d not done in ages. Through a cool, but newly defaced (I took no pictures of such things) cemetary.
There would be other pictures, but I have a rubbish signal and can’t be bothered to look for the wifi code.
I’m assuming that the railings were removed and melted down during WWII, but I bet the place looked great a hundred years ago.
I’ve been a (pretty inactive) member of CAMRA for a year and a half. Apart from moaning about finings in beer to a few other members, my goal of infiltrating the organisation and covertly influencing change from within remains unfulfilled.
One factor behind my failure was my inability to motivate myself to begin my mission. However, the main reason was that things were already starting to change. Don’t get me wrong, most CAMRA members I’ve encountered to date have seemed to consider vegans an oddity. I’ve never declared myself to be a vegan, it’s something assumed when I’ve said that I don’t do fish in beer. They generally don’t understand that beer fined with isinglas isn’t actually suitable for vegetarians, although many vegetarians either don’t realise this or don’t care.
Perhaps I shouldn’t generalise, but I can only relate my experience. Anyway, back to the point. Things were already beginning to change. Not for ethical reasons, of course, but because adding finings isn’t natural (which it isn’t). And because finings remove a lot of what makes beer taste like beer (which they do).
While I’d be very happy if ethics were a driver, I’m certainly not complaining that CAMRA could be on the brink of a pretty huge change, one that could influence an industry. Guinness’ plans to revert to unfined beer by the end of the year may also contribute.
There’s more about this here.
After lunch in the Ship, and a beer in the Cluny, we’re back outside the Tyne Bar to see the band. Currently covering Superstition. And doing a good job of it too.
We wandered down the hill this morning to watch people running.
It was all a bit tiring, so we found somewhere to have a sit down. The roof terrace in the Central.
Then, obeying the instructions on my beer glass, we had a walk along the quayside.
We’re now in the Tyne Bar, then to the Ship for some lunch.
Addendum: Since the sun is shining, we’ve decided on another beer in the Tyne Bar.
My expectations for the sale of my (second) Ubuntu phone were low. I paid around £170 for it a year ago, so was pretty surprised when it sold for almost the same amount.
A bloke called Arthur bought it. I think he might be Dutch, although I’m not certain of that. He has an unusual sense of humour and reading his messages via eBay actually made me laugh. The phone seems to be going to a good home.
However, I must confess to feelings of guilt as to the price Arthur has paid for the phone. Yes, it’s a thing of beauty, but he paid too much. And, so, I’ve refunded twenty quid.
Also, I now have a most delicious bottle of Tucher.
I feel better now.
I’m missing Glasgow already, but the sun is shining on Rose Street.
Taking this picture brought back a memory from last night; the expression of joy on an old drunk’s face (he was begging in Sauchiehall Street) when we went into a Tesco Express, bought some cans of Tennents and gave them to him.