NEW ORDER, Glasgow Carling Academy, 19/10/06

For me this was the first time since 1989 I'd seen the icons that are New Order. Fanatical about them then, I wondered would they still have it all these years later. I love their latest albums so I had no reason to doubt - they still have it.
It was a slightly quiet start from the crowd's point of view, opening with Crystal, but it wasn't long before the audience warmed up. Regret and Temptation really got everyone going and a sprinkling of Joy Division went down really well. They gave a great rendition of JD's 'These Days' and 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' sent shivers up my spine.
Stephen on drums hasn't changed a bit, pounding away like a human drum machine, new guy Phil adds a nice touch with his guitar, Bernard's voice has improved no end and seems to enjoy himself more, even if he's looking a bit portly. But its Hooky who owns the stage, strutting from side to side lapping up the audience approval of his soaring bass.
The venue was great and the mix of tunes was ideal starting with recent guitar based numbers and the second half made up of older dancy tunes and as mentioned a good dose of Joy Division throughout.
It's good to see them making the most of their music history. Joy Division should be heard today not locked away as a recorded archive. I didn't think I would have said this before, but after jumping to 'These Days' and being lifted by 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', I've changed my mind.
Joy Division / New Order still have it.

Bidean nam Bian

16th September 2006
Weather looked promising as we left the Loch Lomond area and it held up too! Turning in to a fresh blue sky day.
It was a bit blowy at the car park in Glencoe but it was bright and looked promising.
At 10am Niels, Bob, Jonathan, Louise and myself headed up toward the Hidden Valley. Dropping in to the gorge at the start of the walk we entered the shadows. It was a cool and pleasant walk up between the first 2 of the 3 Sisters.
Climbing over boulders and streams we entered into the valley basin an hour or so in to the walk. This natural amphitheater was truly impressive and crossing to the North side we entered back into the sun for the path that leading to the head of the valley. After stopping for a snack Jon headed back down with Louise who had had enough.
Niels, Bob and myself continued toward Stob Coire Sgreamhach. The gradient increased dramatically and the going became extremely tough on the loose scree and soil. Niels steadily increased his lead up this face. I was struggling. Must get out more.
With Bob in front of me, loose stones and rock would occasionally fly past. At this point it must be said that it was less of a walk and more of a scramble. The saddle was just beyond a narrow chute, once this was negotiated the vista ahead was breathtaking. Blue sky and not a drop of wind. Then I realised just how knackered I was. We took a breather then headed along the ridge toward the peak of Bidean nam Bian, stopping for lunch about half way.
A slow and steady ridge walk saw me eventually catch up where once again we could take in the view. This gave Bob another chance to loudly exclaim regarding the spectacle - "Boring!".
Another brief rest and we head down Stob Coire nan Lochan and took a rather precarious goat path down back toward the Hidden Valley. This was really sketchy and hard going on tired legs.
Once we had negotiated boulder fields on the descent we decided to open the bottle of red we had relieved Jon & Louis of earlier. We felt it rather foolhardy to try higher up. Wine drunk we headed back to the valley basin down the steep valley wall. I must say it was a relief to get back on the footpath, even with cramping thigh muscles (note to self-must exercise!) We retraced our steps down through the valley back to where we started, although for me at a rather slower pace than before. We finally were reunited at the car around 5.45. A long walk!
Very knackered we headed to Oban where an Indian restaurant had been booked and a night in the pub was ahead. Needles to say, I sailed through that exercise.

Tony Wilson at The Arches

Saturday night saw Norm, Bob and myself watching Digital (Joy Division/New Order cover band) and the legend that is Mr Anthony H Wilson (DJ-ing) at The Arches in Glasgow. Earlier support band sounded good and loud but I can't remember what they were called. Rumours abounded that Tony was playing his DJ set in 20 minutes, this proved to be untrue and we found ourselves stoating about inside the empty venue in which he was due to play. This meant we missed Digital coming on. We soon realised the growing crowd was congregating around something and eventually we too shuffled through to the other 'arch'.
Now! I've always been dubious about so-called 'tribute/cover' bands. But my inquisitive nature, and having never seen J D in the flesh meant I had to see them. I knew I'd be critical but I did actually enjoy bouncing around to J D tracks I'd never heard played live. The singer was a bit weak, not sounding particularly like Ian Curtis or Bernard Albrecht (as he probably thought of himself) & the Bass/Peter Hook guy was a real tosser by the look of things. The music itself was fun though.
After Digital, the DJ set by Tony Wilson started. Mostly full of ageing Factory-philes like myself. As was kind of expected he pretty much stuck to a greatest hits of the Haçienda days, although not exclusively Factory by any means. He even played some Stone Roses!
Norm didn't quite enjoy the old geezer playing his own record collection on stage and left early. Bob and myself however stuck it out till the end - 3 a.m.
Bob did manage to add a great name to his list of camera-phone piccies of him with celebrities. I got in there too for a little memento. I'm not sure if it tops Leo Sayer but definitely a keeper. As soon as we work out how to get the pics off the phone, we'll have them here.
On the listings promoting the event it said revellers could win a Peter Saville designed badge. Posters at the event however informed us that they were not ready on time. No doubt a deliberate nod to the notoriously tardy graphic designer from the start.

Edinburgh Festival

OK Bob, you want more, I got more, eh actually kind of short on stories and everyone's too chicken to sign in and add comments.
We did have a pleasant day at the festival watching ourselves get drunk in a pub mostly then having a laugh with comedians Gavin, I mean Andrew Maxwell (v.funny) and someone Watson . . . I presume! (v.v. funny) Keep an eye out for this funny Welshman.

Scottish Cup Final, 13th May

What a day! First of all a big thanks to GW for the hospitality and fitba.
11am start in Rutherglen (nearer 11.30am) but pretty early since most were nursing hangovers. Free drink in the church halls (with its own bar!) saw plenty a lager. On the way I placed £5 on Gretna to beat Hearts, needless to say it failed.
Gretna put up a great show. Going to penalties after extra time, it wasn't till the last gasp, when Hearts eventually got the better of the minnows.
Still a good evening was had by all as can be seen by Pob lookalike (Pictured). Even though we now had to pay for beer, we kept going till the last.

Glencoe, Monday 1st May, 2006

Conditions a bit more variable today. So much so Coe actually received a couple of feet of snow the night before! This is also the first time I've ridden Coe in May (previously Nevis Rage was the only location boasting this fact). What had been a brown lower half of the hill had been transformed back into white. Unfortunately the lower half was still largely un-ridable. The top however, even with poor visibility had great fluffy conditions. There was a hint of crust under the fresh stuff. Great fun on the last day of the season.

This has been one of the best seasons I have ever experienced in Scotland. Glencoe in particular, being my preferred destination on all but one trip this season. The ski area did themselves proud keeping all lifts running throughout. I remember years in the past where you could spend quite a while hanging from a T-bar or chairlift.

All Scotland's areas are now officially closed for the season, even though Coe in particular could probably have usable snow right into June. Maybe a hiking trip could see us getting more real snow time yet.
I say 'real' because rather ironically Scotland's first indoor snowslope at Xscape near Glasgow has now opened during the best season for a long time. How this will be received, we'll wait and see.

Glencoe, Friday 29th April, 2006

An accident, closing the A82 forced us to take a diversion via Inverary adding half an hour on to journey time. However it was a cracking day and the scenery made it easier.
Once at Coe we had a great time on soft spring snow. Sun was streaming and temperatures were hot. However the upper snowpack is holding well. Lower down, Mugs Alley is broken and the lower Plateau Poma is not running.

A great day with some fun jumps just below the Haggis Trap and of the T-bar track. Spring Run was fun as ever in conditions like these.