Yes, it’s been ages since I posted here, we have been busy again of late. I will post a wee selection of pictures below.
So, let me review matters since the start of September. We have been on a terrific cruise round the Baltic capitals, to Stockholm, Tallinn, St. Petersburg and Kalundborg in Denmark. Stockholm was so pretty, I had forgotten just how much. Rosemary & I visited the Vasa warship, which was raised from the riverbed after she sank ignominiously in 1628, about five minutes after she was launched. There was so much effort put into the decoration that they forgot to work out if she would float or not. Being sunk in fresh water, the usual beasties that would chew up wood were not present, hence the survival of an almost intact example of a 17th Century craft. Tallinn we had also seen before, so I went off on a bog walking expedition whilst Paul and Rosemary toured the town.
St. Petersburg was next and what a town – it was planned in a European style so felt quite like many of the capitals we have visited, but the opulence and gilding was unlike anything I have encountered in a metropolis. It’s no surprise that the Russian Revolution happened when you view the ornate architecture, the precious stone work and the countless, countless priceless works of art in the Hermitage. (Hermitage being a dinky wee hideaway for 10,000 people, on the main street). We did not take our usual cameras with us since tales were rife of muggings. Many people trotted around with Nikons and Pentaxes, to which no harm came, but we did hear of another trip where a lady was sadly divested of her camera as soon as she left the bus. We don’t have great pictures therefore but the ones in our heads are ace.
Our ship Boudicca was due to call in at Bornholm but as the weather was Force 8, gusting Force 10, the captain told us it was a no go. He was quite a charmer so we accepted his decision. We did call in at Kalundborg, a little market town in Denmark, where Paul & I went for another country walk and then went off piste from the tour guides to explore the town itself.
Back home after a trip from Newcastle through sodden Scotland, the next day we just happened to end up at Loch Leven to see the newly arrived pink footed geese. Then it was back to work for both us.
There followed some beautiful days of clear and calm weather, during which we explored Cockleroy hill and Beecraigs park in West Lothian.
Work with After 8 Mince is picking up as we escape the doldrums of the summer months. We had a well attended gig in the Bay Inn, raised £300 for charity and props to the Bay Inn management for giving us the room rent free. If they could just amend that typo on their signboard (You’r always welcome…) but who am I to carp after I discovered at half time that my mike wasn’t screwed up and people could not hear me properly.
The Mincers have also tried out one of the five rehearsal rooms at the Substation in Rosyth, which was very different from our normal nights in the Kabin. They have all sorts of groovy stuff like an anechoic chamber for the singers, and a mixing desk which is the size of a dining table in a stately home. The whole ambiance was very laid back. I scoped out a kitchen with serious decaff tea and scone potential.
So, himself is off to Fairmont Hotel St Andrews tonight for some stargazing with the DB Astro crew. There is to be, hopefully, a good view of the Orionids, which I do not need to tell you is a meteor shower visible in the constellation of Orion, at least from Earth, dunno where the Mars Rover is going to see it happening. This shower results from debris thoughtlessly left over by Halley’s Comet. I add this for completeness, please see Paul for a full explanation. Or join the club.
Post Script – Perseverance paid off for the astronomers as the thin cloud finally cleared around ten p.m.. Thank again to the Fairmont for the location, hot drinks, shelter, electricity and internet hook up.