Glasgow GTG January 2011
Just so we don't clog up other threads :)
Limey, were you thinking of
Cossachok?
It look amazing.
I would just have gone to Yo! Sushi again :yum:
Well, I get 30% off for being a member and I know I like it so why not.
But I'm always up for a new experience.
Be-Bop, if you read this before I PM you, you are included on the invite list. As are any other Dwellars who are likely to be in the area of course.
Absolutely, Cossachok is owned by friends of mine and the food is fabulous! In fact we should eat there on the Sunday night and enjoy the live music!
I'm in for two nights at the Alamo as well, dearie!
OMG - ajjiika, lobio, chakhokhbili, kutuzov cake aaaaaaarhghghghghhhhhh :yum::yum::yum: :thumb2:
Right. Have booked a ticket for the matinee (Sun 9th 2pm) Row D!
Am now awaiting a response from the Alamo regarding room booking.
WHOOOOP! WHOOOOP!
Is Limey coming to the matinee too? Are you going for a single in the Alamo?
The menu in Cossachok looks fantastic.
I'm already drooling and I have 11 months to go.
:jig: My ticket just arrived :jig:
Now is the time to let slip to Mum that it's a Cellar occasion...
i believe Limey is in for the matinee too:)
I just booked a room at the Alamo for two nights!
They were slightly confused, as they'd already booked a single room for those two nights and thought I was that person :P I explained that'd be my friend lol
I ended up booking a standard double room; because they only have two singles and one of them is already booked. Figured that'd probably be Limey: didn't want you left with a double if you wanted a single.
Also means at least one of us has a bigger room to congregate in if we wish :)
:jig: My ticket just arrived :jig:
Now is the time to let slip to Mum that it's a Cellar occasion...
You can always blame me SG. Tell your Mum that I am making a surprise visit from the US and took the last cinema ticket! That way, I can blame you next time I get out of dragging my mom on a girls night out! LOL
:jig: My ticket just arrived :jig:
Now is the time to let slip to Mum that it's a Cellar occasion...
Woot!
I requested mine for pickup at the venue:)
Sundae, have you actually booked your room at the alamo yet? If you want me to book it on my card and pay me when we get to Glasgow I can do that?
Um ... I'm all booked and ready to go. The Alamo won't know what's hit 'em!
I'm already booked in at the Alamo - I'm the one with the single. They have my prepay credit card number, but it's only held in case of cancellation, so I didn't bother to tell them that it never has any money on it - what they don't know won't hurt them :) After all, I have no intention of cancelling and I'll pay cash when I get there.
I showed Mum the ticket, it seemed the easiest way.
I'd told her I would be booking for Glasgow when we got back from Cardiff, and we've been back nearly two weeks now. She didn't seem upset - she implied that she had decided not to come - maybe she really did or maybe she just thinks she did, we certainly didn't discuss it. Anyway I told her about meeting you two and she was genuinely excited for me. I dangled the idea that of course she could still choose to come at a later date, but I'm pretty sure she won't. She said, "Of course I would have come if it had been Edinburgh. But at least I know you won't be on your own now."
All seems to have worked out amicably. Good - I really didn't want to hurt her feelings... but I really wasn't keen on a repeat! Anyway, I can't imagine she'll want to do the overnight coach, and that's certainly the cheapest option for me. £25 return!
I must say this is impressive ...
"Room(s): Small Standard double with Dark Oak Bedhead, Marble topped antique maplewood bedside tables, 24" Wall mounted HD Freeview Flatsceen LCD (shared facilities just outside the door with a sink in the room)
Price: £ (Inclusive of complimentary Breakfast)
Total for stay = £
All rooms come with a DVD player to allow guests to Choose from the free 300+ Movie collection.
For guests who bring their own laptop, the Alamo also provides free WiFi.
There is also The Alamo Laptop which can be borrowed to access the internet."
So we can check in to Teh Cellar and give progress reports!!!
For guests who bring their own laptop, the Alamo also provides free WiFi.
There is also The Alamo Laptop which can be borrowed to access the internet."
So we can check in to Teh Cellar and give progress reports!!!
And we fully expect some updates too!!
I am happy happy happy for you all!...oh and a little wistful but mostly happy :)
I didn't blame you this time, Juju. I'm holding that offer for future use!
Oh yes, lots of updates and pics and general frivolity are to be expected. Let's just hope there isn't a huge Cellar-war with the three of us in opposing camps in the mean time!
Sky - get saving and come too!
If I were free and unfettered I would!
Weird. She said they only had 2 standard single rooms; and one of them was already booked.
Ah well: I don't mind being in a double lol.
I think this is going to be a right laugh :P
She was right - I've booked a single, booked it earlier this week. Limey's booked a double. So she still has a free single.
I spoke to them about it. They do have a single room left; but they don't like to book it out on a 2 day this far in advance; as that would leave them with no single rooms and could prevent someone staying, possibly for the full week.
Tis fine. I am happy with my double room :)
Aha. She booked the room for me this far in advance. But of course I was the first person to call. I bet she ends up booking it just for the weekend anyway - our B&B in Cardiff was booked out solely to JB fans the weekend we were there, and everyone was only staying 1 night or two.
You're right though, we can use your room as Party Central.
I promise not to cause too much damage to the antiques :)
I've only been skimming this thread, but are you saying that
1. you are single
2. you want to pay them for a single room
3. they have a single room and they want to sell it to someone
4. they won't sell you the single room because then they wouldn't be able to sell it to some other hypothetical, but nonexistent, person?
wtf?
*smiles*
They're a 'guest house' not a hotel; so they only have a limited number of rooms ( I think about 15). Those rooms are made up of a variety of types to suit a variety of needs: so they have 2 shared (no bathroom) standard single rooms, X amount of standard doubles, x amount of enhanced doubles, x amount of family rooms, x amount of en suite rooms etc.
If they book out both their single rooms, a year in advance, for 2 nights; they could end up losing out on a single room booking for a week. That person would go elsewhere. Given that there's no guarantee that we will actually show up, they could end up having done themselves out of a week long booking, and all they gain is the 10% cancellation fee.
Smaller bookings (like ours) are easy come easy go and tend to happen nearer the time (unless you're complete fangurls looking to see barrowman!) a week's holiday tends to be booked more in advance.
Seems reasonable to me :)
Small places like this will often do a favour if it works out differently - I got a double room in Cardiff instead of the single I was paying for because the room was free. You often get small upgrades like that.
Be-Bop has pencilled us in.
Yey....
wait....is that a euphemism?:P
I've never (ever) bought a ticket for anything eleven months in advance ... and here I have a ticket for Aladdin and SECC on 9th January 2011 in front of me :mg:. May be this should be in the "What did the Cellar do for you" thread :haha: ...
Mum & I are going to see JB in Oxford on 1 October. Whooop! Whoop!
Dads will probably give us a lift there, and we'll kip on the way home on the night bus.
I'll remember to bring my earplugs After all I had sex on the back seat of the top deck of a 180 [Oxford-Aylesbury bus] There was only an old couple at the front of the bus and it was with my bf of more than a year. Still!
Sorry I can't come to Glasgow. My maternal Granddad is from Glasgow.
I saw that and thought of you ;)!
SG - I saw
this and thought of you!!!
I know. How jealous was I?
I'd have given money just to attend and touch all the lovely things (and what was for sale of course).
Wow - hasn't it come around fast?!
Now I'm all terrified about the weather, despite there being over three weeks to go.
I went for the most bargainest travel in the end (coach) and am feared it will backfire on me. But after all I'll have 36 hours from departure until the panto, so if worst comes to worst I might just squeak in...!
Oh - for anyone who's wandered in by mistake - DanaC, Limey and I are going to see
John Barrowman in
pantomime in Glasgow (Scotland) on 9th January 2011. And there is pretty grim weather throughout the UK at present. Well, except here, because as I've said before I live in a place pretty much like the Shire - surrounded by rolling hills and impervious to any extremes. But I'll be leaving the protection of the Vale of Aylesbury on my long trek North. Of course it's about more than the pantomime, so I'm really hoping that the worst we get is rain that weekend.
Anyway, some reviews for you.
Obviously don't read if spoilers are an issue... (!)
The Herald(Mary Brennan)
Hundreds of schoolchildren – and a fair few adults too – absolutely squeal the place down as soon as the promised 3D effects kick in and scary stuff, like bats and spiders, zoom straight towards them.
Actually those adults – and a fair few school children – yell and scream when John Barrowman bounces on-stage as Aladdin ... all clearly wishing that he’d zoom straight towards them and maybe go for coffee later. And there’s a tremendous uproar from all ages – grown-ups chortling, wee weans collapsing in helpless giggles – when the Krankies go into their act as Chinese policemen with a seemingly endless repertoire of gleefully rude puns and ripostes followed by some wickedly entertaining pops (by a cleverly costumed Janette) at a wide variety of topical celebs.
So yes, those moments of techno whizz-wizardry are crowd-pleasers, and the free-floating Genie is a nice touch. But the best 3D elements are the performers themselves, with Barrowman larking about as if a full-on stint of singing and dancing, smooching the Princess, playing the fool with Abanazar as well as the Krankies, was the best fun he could imagine. And though this is a vast arena, the whole audience seemed smitten by his breezy, upbeat energy – so much so that no-one seemed to mind that the Dame didn’t have much to do, or hanker for the absent joining-in traditions of ‘behind you’ spooks, or the singalong cloot.
There were acknowledging boos for Pete Gallagher’s swaggering baddie, Abanazer, but the feelgood factor prevailed overall with a well-drilled chorus providing strong backing in the big ensemble numbers and our hero – in snug britches and fine voice – making us wish that, like the song says, our journey with Aladdin could go on and on and on.
The Stage (Gareth K Vile)
The first pantomime to be staged at Glasgow’s SECC, Aladdin pulls out the stops to be a cornucopia of old-fashioned and modern entertainment. The 3D animation is stunning, John Barrowman is an all-singing, all-dancing, all-quipping male lead with the right amount of ironic distance, while Scottish veterans the Krankies seem delighted to be back on the west coast.
Barrowman and the Krankies dominate - Barrowman plays glamorous celebrity and self-deprecating team-player, and the Krankies are knowing in their parodies. They overshadow the rest of the cast, who aren’t left much beyond moving the plot forward. Pete Gallagher is a solid villain, while Masashi Fujimoto’s burst of operatic singing suggests he could have been better used.
However, the three stars are superb. The Krankies’ popular image as children’s entertainers ignores their love for vaudeville and slapstick, and the sophisticated rapport between them plays on several levels. The asides are particularly skilful, since they work both as cheeky children’s gags and something altogether ruder for adults.
Despite getting slightly caught up in comic business, the show is slick and hilarious. Barrowman has a rare charisma and the script is sharp and witty. The SECC has made its bid to challenge the hegemony of the King’s and the Pavilion.
The Scottish Sun (Matt Bendoris)
Top-of-the-bill actors like John Barrowman and co are on the same weekly wages as some top footballers. But are the stars and the shows worth the dosh?
Scottish Sun writer MATT BENDORIS sends five readers' families out to all the major pantos across Scotland to get their verdicts ...
JOHN BARROWMAN and The Krankies are the perfect panto mix. He's incredibly good looking, surprisingly funny and a great singer - while The Krankies are hysterical and simply steal the show.
Then there's the 3D effects which are even better than Avatar's. At one point Andrew dived behind his seat when a giant crocodile leapt out the screen and started snapping at the audience.
By the end The Krankies got a standing ovation. By far the best panto I've ever seen - what are you waiting for?
This one added for balance
The List (Malcolm Jack)
If you think this arena spectacular violates that unspoken rule of knowing crapness in pantomime by promising 3D graphics and a celebrity star for whom the phrase ‘it’s behind you’ unusually couldn’t be applied to his career, think again. The SECC’s Aladdin proves a family Christmas show that’s surprisingly crapper than most.
Dashing bidialectal Scots-American John Barrowman’s all-singing, all-flouncing presence in the lead role (many amusing nod and winks are made from the absurdity of a high-profile gay entertainer pursuing a beautiful princess) is balanced out by him being placed opposite ghosts of Christmases past The Krankies. Their blue double-entendres keep parents chuckling, though Jimmy’s midget SuBo caricature’s squirting pussycat is taking things much too far.
The 3D genie would have looked laughable even in the pre-Avatar age, and even if the computer hadn’t crashed during the climactic final rubbing of the lamp scene – at which point a valiantly ad-libbing Barrowman may have wanted to use that last wish to set himself free.
Booooooooooooo!
Hey SG, Dana. Which (if any) of you two has the time to meander over to[COLOR="Lime"] Limey Villa[/COLOR] for an overnighter before the show? [SIZE="1"][COLOR="Silver"](let's make 'em really jealous, eh?!)[/COLOR][/SIZE]
I can't come up any earlier than an overnight trip on Friday (ie arriving Saturday morning) but I'm not due back at school until Wednesday 12th.
I'd love to visit your place Limey. But you may have had enough of me after two nights :) Also Dana has Pilau to think of. At least Diz will be at home with my parents.
I'll have to have a think - any extra travel costs at present will be a s-t-r-e-t-c-h. But given I'm unlikely to be up your way again I can't help think they'd be worth it.
Just wondering, gels.
There is an option at the Alamo that wasn't there previously -
a self-catering apartment.
They might let us change our booking - £250 all in for the two nights. Which is £125 per night divided by three (42 each). Now I'm paying £41 for a single room without its own bathroom, so it would be about the same for me, but I'm sure it's cheaper for you. And we'd have our own kitchen and all. Of course it doesn't include breakfast, so it depends whether you like a good feed in the mornings.
Of course this is all dependent on them allowing the switch and also agreeing to a short-term let - I know they were hesitant about taking the original bookings because we weren't staying the full weekend.
Just a thought - if you fancy trying we'd be best asking sooner rather than later.
I'm all booked up travel-wise.
Sorry not to be able to extend my stay and see your place Limey :(
My main concern is whether I'll get there at all, with the weather the way it is. Of course if it STAYS the way it is, no problem. But sod's law suggests the only time in my life I've not wanted snow, there will be more!
I am currently spreading parmesan and breadsticks in the hope that FSM's noodly appendages will carry me safely to Glasgow.
Gruelling but cheap travel plans are:
Friday 7 January
Caledonian Sleeper from Euston dep 23.50 arr Glasgow Central 07.20 (08/01/11)
I've gone for the
reclining seat as I couldn't face paying £20 more only to sleep with a stranger, and single berths are £130
Monday 10 January
Megabus from Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station 23.00 arr London Victoria Coach Station 07.05 (11/01/11)
That's a really late departure, but the alternatives were about 05.00 or 11.00, and if we've been out carousing the night before, I really don't fancy a 7 hour coach trip with a hangover.
As I was looking all this up to let you know my plans, turns out I was booked on the Megabus back to London on 03/01/11. NIIIIICE - a week before I leave. Idiot. Cost me £1.50 to rectify my mistake, but it's well worth it. So glad I checked!
I'm up for self-catering and can bring basics (coffee etc) from home.
SG you can spend the day trolling around Arran Saturday and/or Monday. Return fare from Glasgow to Arran is £15.15 (rail and ferry). So can you, Dana, if you've got the time?
I'm in aye.
Sundae, see what they say about it at the guest house.
I haven't booked any travel yet, am waiting til we've finalised what we're doing, so I can wrap it aroound that. A day trolling round Arran sounds rather nice ;P But I will be looking for an earlier travel time on the return leg, and likely travelling up on Saturday morning.
Carousing? Us? With our reputation??
Hah. Silly me.
I don't even know how to spell vodchka...
Dani - looks like you're stuck with the train babba, and the journey times are pretty grim.
I assume you're travelling from Halifax?
£61.00 return is the cheapest realistically.
Up to £68.50 for more convenient travel times.
You'll be onboard for about 3.5 hours, so if you're looking to arrive in the afternoon that's a lunchtime departure. The latest train with a £30.50 ticket leaves at 09.24 and gets you in at 13.01. There are others at £38.50 with teatime/ evening arrivals.
Of course that's if we decide to do Arran on Saturday.
Saturday is actually a day of leisure, as we can't leave our bags until 10.00. The pantomime isn't until Sunday after all.
Alternatively, depends what time Dana needs to be home on Monday.
A trains at 11.00 and 14.40 are the cheapest options, arriving back at 16.00 and 19.03 respectively. So we could check out and make our way to Arran then...?
I know you know how to arrange your own travel details Dana, I'm just micromanaging (aka Doing a Monster).
Oh Go, please, micromanage away. I am in the most godawful disorganised mood just lately.
Who me? I don't drive.
Also, for a few days hire, it'd probably not be much cheaper than train.
I was just trying to be less practical, since apparently that's a bad thing..... :p:
I'm in awe of your management skills, Monster.
And your practicality.
You do need a whole day to get to Arran, see it, and back to Glasgow. I recommend leave Glasgow on the 8.33 boat tran, and return to Glasgow at 9.20pm - ideal for your Monday SG (apart from the early start ...).
What did the guest hoseu say about changing our booking? Do they need us all to get in touch. If they want a credit card guarantee I'll put mine up?
No response yet.
I'd call, but I'm low on credit (my parents have an itemised phone bill that I don't pay anything towards).
I've just spoken to the lovely Steve, proprietor of The Alamo. He says the flat's booked out, but they've had a whole refit and expansion since last year. We could have two singles and a small double (which would be cheaper than what we booked last year), or a pyjama party in a triple room. I know this will give the Cellar Menfolk a hard time (on?), so I'm enquiring publicly if that's what we wanna do. Dana? SG? PJs at dawn?
Up for whatever you want!
I reckon a triple would be triple the fun :)
Shit, now I gotta buy 'jamas!?
Meh - you can deal with me in t-shirt & leggings I reckon.
Oh to be a fly on the wall
Group chat with web camz !!!
I've just spoken to the lovely Steve, proprietor of The Alamo. He says the flat's booked out, but they've had a whole refit and expansion since last year. We could have two singles and a small double (which would be cheaper than what we booked last year), or a pyjama party in a triple room. I know this will give the Cellar Menfolk a hard time (on?), so I'm enquiring publicly if that's what we wanna do. Dana? SG? PJs at dawn?
Yes.
Up for whatever you want!
I reckon a triple would be triple the fun :)
Agreed.
Defo!
William?
Shit, now I gotta buy 'jamas!?
Meh - you can deal with me in t-shirt & leggings I reckon.
No to the first, defo! to the second.
Pj party it is, then!
Huzzah!
Pictures, yes? Pictures.
Or it didn't happen.
I'mmma so excited for you guys!!!! pics!!!!! plesase!!!!
Awwwwwwww, bless him.
BBC link to John on
Strictly Coming Dancing yesterday.
Even without bias (as I also have a bit of a crush on Ronnie Ancona) I thought he was far and away the best on the night.
Just over a week to go before seeing JB (and my two girls) in the flesh.
How exciting.
A lickle bit of bad news...
John himself hasn't performed in the pantomime for a couple of nights now.
His part is being played by an understudy - Greg Barrowman - who I understand to be his cousin's son. Certainly there is a family connection as it was at a family karaoke evening that John first heard him sing and suggested strongly to his parents that he should go to drama school.
The lad is only 18 from what I've read, and has been coping well.
But I know I'll be gutted to miss John himself. After all, he was the reason we agreed to meet way back in Janurary (?)
Still, I've got my girls to meet as well, and at least that will happen.
This is a cue for Dana to say she can't make it.....?!
HEAVY flu and pleurisy - which involves pain when breathing - anathema to a singer or dancer.
I had an ex with pleurisy who also adored work (and was paid on commission). He was off work for three weeks.
And JB is off to the US to start filming Torchwood as soon as the panto is over.
I'm preparing myself for sadness. And yes, I am obsessively following all the press notices.
But thanks for the attempt at good news :)
You can lead a horse to half a glass of water, but....
[YOUTUBE]VbmbMSrsZVQ[/YOUTUBE]
I'm suffering from Wardrobe Anxiety. It hadn't occurred to me that we were getting Poshed Up for the occasion!
You can lead a horse to half a glass of water, but....
Now you're being naughty.
And as much as I love Nick Frost I'd rather sleep with Daisy Haggard (esp in her Psychoville incarnation!)
OOH! and The Hotness too!
I'm suffering from Wardrobe Anxiety. It hadn't occurred to me that we were getting Poshed Up for the occasion!
Oh chick - two 99p tops from eBay because my current size has gone from High Street to Larger Lady to Carnival.
Don't you worry, no-one is going to be asking who dressed me, unless they have a daughter wanting a marquee for a wedding.
Oh crap, crap,crap....5 inches of snow over the last 3 hours.
It's still snowing. Can we cross our collective fingers now for a clear rail journey up to Scotland?
They're predicting 'heavy snow' in many parts of the north of England, and Scotland, throughout today and into the night.
Reports seem varied.
The English snow is already passing and from webcams it looks like rain in Glasgow.
I'm confident.
FSM knows our quest is fair and true (perving over a Scottish/ American homosexual) so will clear a path for us.
Well, the English snow is alive and well and still falling on my part of the country. The road down to Mum's house is unsafe for driving.
But yes. FSM will come through for us. I have faith.
Where is your mobile number on my IM, lady?
You realise I'm leaving in - OMG! - 1 hour 45!!!!!
I'm meeting my bro at Euston at 17.30 and he's meanly refusing to make it any later than that.
On the other hand he is buying me tea and giving me some spending money, so I can't complain :)
The second I leave this house I'm on holiday. It's all good.
I'M ALL PACKED!
Oh, except for my slippers - to wear on train and in room.
Must go and pack them nowish.
Pics or it never happened!
I won the lottery last night, so am taking a first class flight there immediately. Just let me sit and watch you guys, you don't even have to acknowledge me, because I bet you will have FUN!
OK, I didn't really win the lottery, but I too want pics because how much fun are you guys going to have?
:)
I wish it were true, Shawnee - you'd love panto for a start.
Now don't y'all worry. Once I leave this house I will be a tourist, so there will be photos galore. It's all new to me too - I've never been on a sleeper train, never spent any real time in Glasgow (we stopped on our way to Oban, for lunch), never eaten Russian food and never met Limey. All those first events are well worth documenting.
If I had won the lottery, I would be there anon.
(See how well I'd fit in, with my command of the King's English?) ;)
You'd be pretty old-fashioned, chick. We've had a Queen since 1952 ;)
Limey's probably the only one of us with anything approaching RP.
I'm daughter of London parents (well, technically Mum is an Essex Girl) and swallow my consonants like they were especially delicious. Living back here with the rents has eroded my diction and dipthonged my vowels even further. Dana is of Northern stock - beautiful to listen to, but not considered top drawer. And even Limey is now an honorary Scot, even if it hasn't touched her accent yet.
You'd have fit in, I promise.
Don't forget the ostensible reason for our GTG is to see a Scottish born man with an American accent perform in a uniquely British style of entertainment. We welcome diversity this weekend :)
Anyway - I'm off.
Off to double check my packing, cuddle the Diz cat and then get into non-cat-haired clothes.
Next time you hear from me will either be from Glasgae, or sometime next week (depending whether we get the guesthouse laptop to play with).
Buh-bye.
Fuck...Diversity aren't gonna be there are they? :P
Never mind the guesthouse laptop, I'mma bringin'a netbook. And Ipod touch with wifi ... :cool:
I'm leaving my laptop behind. But will have my i-phone 4
Eat you heart out guys. SG, Danac and Limey hothoused in a small room with plenty of alcohol in Glasgow ...
I have lots and lots of pics for you, but I'll wait til I get home to resize and all.
Glasgow at present is super slippy. The snow melted into ice and then refroze, so we've been out on pavements of DOOM, I was mincing along gingerly behind Dana, who was wearing sensible looking boots with about the same grip as ice skates. I was in platform trainers, but they gripped surprisingly well. Anyway, you'll be pleased to hear none of us fell over and we intend to get a taxi to the panto. After that I don't really care if I break anything.
We're having a coffee (them) and wine (me) in our room before heading out again. One unexpected bonus of staying in this guesthouse is the extremely lovely young member of staff on duty in the mornings. He's far too young for me, and very innocent looking, which means the things I'm thinking are twice as filthy... I must get a photo before we leave. There is also a wonderful old cat - big, solid, and supercalm. He glories in the ironic name of Flash. I might have to smuggle him home. And the cat :)
Only an hour before we see JB in the flesh. I am quite overwhelmed by wonderful males this weekend, as well as being blessed with amusing and intelligent female company.
More later, with tales of my journey here, the odd licensing laws in this city, eating Russian, the Fort Knox off licence, and my new Scottish admirer (seen off by Limey, but nae borther)...
So I'm off now to start pumping up my excitement levels. We're all sitting separately in the theatre, but I'm pretty sure Limey & Dana will be able to hear me even in the Front Circle.
Laters...
Yall have fun !!! ( Like I gots to tell ya THAT !!)
Be safe !!!
TAKE PICS !!!
whoo hoo I am so excited for you all! Now where is my 'eating heart out' emoticon. :)
Yall have fun !!!
Be safe !!!
Which one?
I have lots and lots of pics for you
Please tell me that some of them will be in the Dwellar NSFW 2011 which is
still empty:(.
No worries. We have late night pussy action video being posted tomorrow ;)
Dweller ladies signing off for the night! Resting after a long squark
Have just waved Sundae off on the ferry, after having dragged her all around my island home all day.
I'm sure she'll sleep well on the bus journey back home tonight!
Dana, where's that video?!
Harr!
I am sitting in my little house again :) What a wonderful weekend.
I need to play with the vids a little before posting (some are a tad dark). daren't do that yet for fear of offending Pilaudog. He's so pleased I am home, and he hates me turning my back on him for the comp lol
:P
Over so soon! I am so jealous Glasgow is a hop skip and a jump away along with all the other awesome European countries.
I see Sundae posting .... and yet no pics :eyebrow:
Yes, where is all this late night pussy action video we've heard so much about?
Hold your horses!
I left Limey's house at 18.30 Monday night and got home about 09.30 this morning!
I've had to console Diz, talk through the whole weekend with the 'rents (separately, as they have different interests) and start shrinking and playing about with the pics, as well as ordering my thoughts and responding to my emails. And I've had a kip and just eaten dinner.
Photos will come, I promise.
But they'd be nothing without the words.
But they'd be nothing without the words.
That sounds promising. They could be misinterpreted without the explanations? :D
Well now. You asked for it.
This is the Cellar GTG (and John Barrowman panto trip) from my point of view.
The other ladies involved both have flashier phones than me, which incorporate cameras, so if you don't like my food/ menu/ people-centric pics you can blame them for not providing any balance.
Not really - I'll write a paeon to them later but the truth is I can't imagine a better weekend without me having won the lottery or perhaps actually meeting captain Jack Harkness.
So. This is my account and starts with my journey.
Dads gave me a ride to Amersham (about 20 miles but saves over a tenner on railfare) at about 16.00. Stupid damned Metropolitan Line was having signal failure. I kept texting my poor old bro with my progress (this line is mostly overground - see a previous thread from when I had blue hair..) In the end I was only 20 mins late and at least he knew I'd be.
We walked up to a
Prezzo; it's not all that flash but given I'd been intended to pack sandwiches for the journey I was very appreciative.
My bro with his Pasta Arribbiata, and my Vesuvio with pineapple.
I didn't quite finish mine, but recognised I probably wouldn't fancy cold pizza later that night/ morning.
Ste dropped me off at Euston.
It's previously been described as a big stainless steel sink, that fills up with people and then drains them away.
To be fair, it's had a couple of makeovers, but it's never going to match the old stations with their cantilevered roofs.
This was taken in low light; if you look, the things that are static are reasonably clear, it's only the moving people that are blurred.
Yeah okay - but it wasn't shaky hands!
The second pic is a close-up of the electronic display for my train.
From the top:
Caledonian Sleeper (name of train)
FRONT PORTION (that's me!)
Carlisle
Carstairs
Motherwell
Glasgow Central
That's as far as I go.
If you want REAR PORTION Sheldon might be happy to fill you in.
I'm having some slight difficulty with my i-phone, which is where the late night pussy action videos are currently sitting. Bear with me, I am used to using preformatted vids, not this quicktime nonsense.
Here is my carriage. Sans Prince Charming!
I'd been at Euston since stupid-o'clock (so I could meet Ste) and was watching the boards obsessively. That and the fact I walk fast meant I was the first person into the seated carriage. The train was about 20 carriages long, but the seating is near the front and only takes up the one.
NB -
Caledonian Sleeper. The main length of the train is split into berths/ cabins and a lounge car for people with more money than me (aka have made better life choices :))
So I got on and saw that half the carriage was reserved, and half not. Lovely jubbly - less noise and less disruption. But - oh dear. My seat was the second in from the door (to the toilet and the buffet!) and faced across a micro table to another reserved seat. Arrrgh. Don't worry - clever Cherry checked all the other reserved seats and realised no-one was joining the train after Euston (London). So I moved my reserved ticket to a single seat further down the carriage - which was vacant.
A few minutes later I was joined by a Japanese man who had the same issue - his reserved seat was in a block of four. "Don't worry about it!" sez I, "If there's no reservation ticket you can sit there if you prefer."
And shortly after that I was approached by a lovely blonde teen (very good English - perhaps Dutch?) who was worried about putting her baggage on the seat opposite the one she was allocated. Bearing in mind that was supposed to be MY seat I reassured her that no-one was going to get on and claim it.
As it turned out, only half of the reserved seats were even taken up. I think there were about 8 of us in a 30 (?) seat carriage.
I loved it. There was legroom, a buffet a clean toilet, silence and constant movement.
Pics are a shot down the carriage and my seat. Excuse the colouring for the second pic - I was trying to make it match the real colour - it was oranged out by the setting/ flash. Each seat had a pull down table and foot-rest. When I was really tired I retreated to a double seat and used one of the duvets (visible in the luggae racks) as a pillow/ partial wrap. The train was warm enough not to really need to be covered, but it made things cosier.
And here are my slippers, which I changed into as soon as I got on the train.
It's a seven hour journey donchaknow?!
You speak of the "Buffet" what means "Buffet?"
Is place of fooding? On train? How Come this?
Glasgow!
It had snowed overnight - I knew it would as we get national weather reports, which of course include Scotland. It was a lovely lickle powdering - fine to walk through.
For all of this trip I'd done everything through the internet, down to finding out where the local Wetherspoons (chain of cheap and friendly pubs that open early and serve breakfast) were located. I exited Glasgow Central, following the signs for Platform 14 and then Argyll Street as instructed. Yay! There it was, the Moore! I was 10 minutes early, but when you're dragging a heavy bag the last thing you want to do is trudge around the streets...
Ah.... Nope.
A polite and decent member of staff saw me waiting and bothered to tell me they didn't opne until nine (many staff won't, secure in their knowledge of opening times and belief you are a stupid twat).
I've sent an email tot heir Head Office re the incorrect details on the internet, but also in praise of the staff memeber who made an effort to speak to me AND pointed me in the right direction for an alternative breakfast.
Here is a rather blurry shot of Argyll Street.
The closed pub is on the right, at least the overhang gave a clear pavement. The snow at this point is freshly fallen and dusty - nothing like what we encountered later.
You speak of the "Buffet" what means "Buffet?"
Is place of fooding? On train? How Come this?
A buffet is any type of food service which does not constitute a full or plated meal.
In the case of the train buffet .... actually I do have a menu so I will capture and post it tomorrow.
It means snacks and bits and pieces.
Carried in a bag back to your seat.
Proper, decent people book berths - they get to eat and drink in the Lounge Car. They serve Haggis, Neeps and Tatties there. I don't care - I went somewhere where they did later. That's a tease as I won't be posting about it tonight.
Haggis trailer...
You speak of the "Buffet" what means "Buffet?"
Is place of fooding? On train? How Come this?
Hmmm, I don't know, but that Corn Cob in Milk that chick is spooning up looks mighty good.
So, fast forward an hour of hanging around and I was comfortably ensconced in The Sir John Moore on Argyll Street. As I was on holiday, and after all it felt like mid-afternoon to me by then, I thought I deserved a beer.
No. You cannot buy alcohol until 11.00 unless you are having a full breakfast, and even then they will only serve you two before 11.00. I had already had a large cup of tea at the exorbitant price of £1.70, AND I'd already eaten breakfast, so I was slightly narked. I bought another cup, thankfully cheaper and retired to study the menu. Below is a picture of the expensive tea, and a detail from the menu, which to those in the know will show the difference between a Full Scottish and a Full English Breakfast. Ask me if you don't know but would like to.
I don't know (and would like to), but I would definitely go for that Scottish breakfast.
Do the give free refills on coffee there like they do here?
I couldn't face another breakfast, and couldn't justify the cost anyway, so I just eked a tea out for a long time. I then struggled with my bags and baggages and had a bit of a wander. No evidence of this as I simply did not have enough hands to accomplish it.
When a reasonable amount of time had passed, I figured I could go and find the guesthouse. I knew I wouldn't have access to the room, but at least I could leave my bags. My plan had always been to come back into town and see some more sights, but I had always allowed that I might be shattered, and indeed I was. The snow put paid to my intention of walking, so I got a taxi to the end of the street.
Here are the views of Kelvingrove from there.
First,
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Then Glasgow University
And thence to the hotel - The Alamo.
None of my photos of the interior really do it justice, so you'll have to check out their website yourself.
I was first to arrive and was checked in by a staggering attractive young man.
I honestly found it difficult to maintain sensible conversation with him. He was tall and rangy, with large liquid eyes, and an open and guileless expression. In some ways he reminded me of David Tennant playing a B&B employee. Sadly no photo of the vision called Sandy, as he wasn't working on Monday morning when I brought my camera to breakfast.
Anyway, there was another lovely male I had more contact with, and behaved better around, and that was the cat, Flash. 18 and a half years old, solidly built with massive paws, very sanguine and very friendly. The epitome of Nae Bother.
Here is a pic of the room with Flash on my bed. As you can see, neither of the other ladies are in residence at this point. Don't worry, they appear in the next thread or the one after that. I'll bet you were wondering when I was going to get round to it, right?
I then headed off to the nearest recommended pub to have a drink and think about lunch. Sandy McHandsome suggested
The Park Bar on the corner as it was a real Scottish pub, and full of Highland-and-Islanders speaking Gaellic. In the end I couldn't justify eating out, so I had a quiet beer and then bought a Pot Noodle (!) Still, it was a nice place and I got you a picture of the menu for the reason that will become apparent when you look at it.
Now. The moment you have all been waiting for - DanaC arrives!
I met her at the door as I had the keys - she's as lovely as ever. Down to earth as well as earthy and intelligent as well as lighthearted.
We settled in and started to get ready to head to Cafe Cafe Cossachok to meet Limey, We found a taxi and got there with very little drama. It's a gorgeous place. We were seated at our table for three and settled back to wait for the final mamber of our triumvirate.
I didn't get the settings right until after our food arrived, so the pics are low quality. Again, check out their website for better quality photos.
Turns out Kimey was already there - she was speaking Russian to the owner. Some people just don't know how to stop being accomplished.
Limey is pretty much how she comes across on the Cellar. Very honest, forthright and full of common sense. Great, cheerful and intelligent company with no hint of how many talents she has under her belt, and no suggestion of eliteism - in fact she is generous in all senses of the word.
Finally, we're all here!
So. Dinner.
Starters first. Dana had Smoked Salmon and Smetana Blinis (Smetana is sour cream pretty much and the dish is served with Russian Wheat Pancakes)
Limey had Rostovsky Salad, a duet of beetroot-raisin & carrot-garlic salads in mayonnaise dressing.
I had a mixed dish with onions, potatoes, herring. It came with a shot of vodka. So we all ordered one :)
I honestly can't remember the name, hopefully Limey will stop by and remind me. It might be Seliedka...?
Limey taught us how to drink it the Russian way - it involves sniffing and bread! - and taught us a Russian toast. I felt like a sophisticated woman of the world.
The starters were dekicious and quickly polished off - as were the vodkas of course.
We were talking almost non-stop, but the good thing about three people is you still get the chance to eat while the conversation keeps going.
Dana's main.
I think it was Lulya - succulent georgian lamb kebabs, pan-fried and seasoned with mixed herbs from the Caucausus served with rice and a side of tangy tomato salsa.
Limey's main.
I have no idea, sorry! Lamb again I think, and cracked wheat...?
I really should write these things down
And finally - mine!
Moscow Blintzes - pancakes, stuffed with beef & turkey mince, fried onions, rice and herbs, served with a creamy spinach sauce.
Wow they were lovely! Too rich for me in the end, and I had to leave the last third. But then I HAD had a full starter.
Dana slipped off early, and Limey and I had liquer coffees and follwed at a more sedate pace.
We went looking for an off licence to get some wine for our room.
We found one, and were quite bemused to find that you could not touch any of the alcohol - it was all protected by a plastic "wall" that ran around three sides of the shop, with a little serving hatch in it. You asked the owner for what you wanted and he fetched it for you. I've never seen anything like that, but when we went into another one on Sunday, Dana admitted there was one like it in Leeds.
As we were walking out, a slurring Glaswegian asked where we were going and whether he could come along. Limey said in a withing tone, "No." and carried on moving. "Nae borther" came the amicable reply. I was glad she was there. My instinct to be polite would at least have made me engage in conversation with him and that could never have come to any good.
Back to the hotel, open the wine and get into the Cellar!
Oh. And then get into bed together. Well, what's a girl to do..?
I don't know (and would like to), but I would definitely go for that Scottish breakfast.
Do the give free refills on coffee there like they do here?
As it turns out, the Traditional Breakfast on the menu would generally be considered a Full English. Places vary - black pudding is generally included the further North you go, and is shown as optional here. It's not served at all in the Aylesbury wetherspoons but appears in both Scottish meals. Our sausages are also links, whereas Lorne Sausage as per the menu is a square slice. No potato bread with an English - although sometimes toast or fried bread is included.
And no - refills are certainly NOT included.
Unless it is a buffet style breakfast, as we had in the hotel (details to follow). Which was just as well as Limey and Dana are capable of swallowing any amount of coffee at any time, but most especially at breakfast :worried:
Bravo!
I am loving this...sitting here giggling and smiling. MORE!
The next morning we were up in time to catch breakfast thanks to Dana's alarm.
Alarm is the right word - not being a morning person she had something that sounded like an alert in a nuclear power station. It scared the bejesus out of me even through my earplugs. AND she had it on snooze! When it went off again I decided to get up and get rid of the rest of my bejesus in the toilet just across the hall.
I WISH I'd videoed coming down the stairs to our room, and where the facilities were. We had our own bathroom (no bath, sez Limey) but for the rooms without there was a WC opposite, and next door was a bathroom (with bath), shower AND WC. And also a shower room - nothing but shower, but underfloor heating, heated towel rail, all toiletries and a super-smashing-great LARGE shower.
So I used these, because three girls in a room do need someone to take themself out of the way. And also I was worried I'd stink the room out embarrassingly with my morning bowels. And I couldn't resist the shower room and it's opportunity to cavort naked behind a locked door without worrying I was denying anyone else access :)
So, off to breakfast.
Again, I had to remove myself from the room in the end. For a nicer reason - Sandy was making it difficult for me to swallow... No, really I just wanted to get sorted for the day, and as mentioned the caffeine fiends had already indicated they needed further stimulants before moving.
The breakfast buffet from the left - fruits and fruit salads in bowls, pots of fromage frais, muesli, single person packets of cereal, plain yoghurt, cheese, honey and Marmite bottles, butter and marge, milk, orange and apple juice.
The hot table from the left - croissants, scrambled egg and bacon in the chafing dishes. Tomato and brown sauce as condiments. I didn't fancy the bacon, but Dana and Limey partook. I will praise the eggs though. Toast came with my pot of tea, and both were refillable if required. Coffee was via a help yourself flask-thingy. Which the naughty Dwellars emptied all on their own and had to be refilled...
Looks like a really nice place. I'm enjoying these pictures!
Again, soz for the rotten quality.
One day I will sit down properly and work out how to take decent pictures in low light.
The trouble is, all the settings which attempt to do it for me automatically require a very steady hand. I find just putting enough pressure on the camera to press the button makes it move enough to blur. Sigh.
You can see outside via the mirror in the above pic, but here is one to show you the lovely windows too. And while I'm at it, here's one of the entrance hall. The owner - Steve - hand painted the ceilings.
Don't be so hard on yourself...these pictures are perfect.
So, off onto the streets of Glasgae.
We decided to stay in the Kelvingrove area - there was easily enough to see locally and after all the reason we booked a hotel this side of town was to be close to the SECC where the pantomime was.
The pavements, the pavements. Four words.
I have another three. Sheet Fucking Ice.
I have never come across anything as slippery apart from an actual ice rink.
I have not been physically brave since I was about 12 years old.
I suffered enormously (now raise a large AWWWWWWWW! like a good panto audience).
I am not used to mincing about, holding onto things and being rigid with fear for every step I take in case I slip and impale my cheek on the very railings I have to hold onto in order not to be horizontal.
Of course I'm exaggerating. Well, I mean I was exaggerating the consequences as I walked around, my fear and my shuffling were the real consequences. Dana and Limey were far more pragmatic, but even they were slow and cautious.
We tried to go to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, but it was still closed! despite what felt like a late start to us, it was still Off Limits On A Sunday o'clock. So more mincing over pavements of doom, more fear and pulling faces from me (at this point I was ready to go back to the room and ply the girls with coffee and the red wine left over from the night before and it was only 10.30!) Wiser and more adventurous minds prevailed and we ended up walking through the University grounds.
We could walk on the grass there, and as my fear of falling abated I really began to appreciate the architecture, the still cold air, and the feeling of being up while lazy sluggards were sleeping (I pretended not to see the joggers, as light on their feet as elves, sprinting past on frozen pavements).
When we left the grounds we were on a road which had been at least partially gritted/ cleared - mostly by the owners of the shops, bars and restaurants along that stretch. The second picture below is an advertising taxi for an American style diner/ coffeeshop. The girls were keen to go in and get their fix, but Dana needed to find a cashpoint, so we walked further along. When we came back on the other side of the road we found the
Big Mouth Coffee Company, which fitted the bill just as well. I had a milkshake :)
Dana and Limey were having a personal and profound conversation about death and families. I zoned out because I was wondering whether the description "moo-rvelous" on the advert behind me could be considered incorrect given that the British spelling should have to ll's. Can you misspell a made up word?
Pics: Kelvingrove Museum as before (glimpsed through trees from the hotel in previous pic) and the taxi.
Back to the room - still no falling over, still more fear from me. Crikey I was happy to turn off onto Gray Road, which is quiet enough to walk in the street.
I went and pilfered some more instant coffee from an unoccupied room as the girls had now been about 30 minutes without. Then I had a glass of wine. In fact this was when I made the post re getting excited about seeing JB.
I have to pause now, as I need to come up with the right words to describe the sheer majesty of the occasion.
So in the mean time, here we are united, even if just by a poster. I think it's a hideous photo of me, but it's the only one with the two of us together and I'm sure he'd be hurt if I didn't post it.
And here are Sam and Dani enjoying our gourmet lunch at the SECC. I'm not being snooty - maybe it wasn't gourmet but I loved it.
And when we were all full it was time to find our separate seats (Dana & Limey were together, but I was in the front stalls) and settle down for a magical two hours. Magical I tell you.
And finally, while I work out how to describe the pantomime (and possibly crib from emails I've received from other JB fans) here are two last pictures.
Me - because I'm not as much in evidence so far (this will change so don't cry). Am wearing my glasses because like Steve Tyler, I don't want to miss a thing.
And a pic showing how close I was to the stage. The centre of the theatre had seats from Row A, but the wings were from Row B. As I was in Row D on a wing I was effectively three rows back. And as I was on the aisle, I easily had a view as good as being in the centre. But then I did book pretty much a year in advance.
NO pics during the performance (of course!) the second photo is before the show - as I hope you can tell given that people are still wandering about.
The next post will be pure (almost) raving text. Feel free to skip.
After that we go out for dinner - again!
This is great, SG!!!! As good as being there!!!!!!
I had intended to get my act together and sort out vids, pics and posts this evening, but my scrutiny panel meeting went way over and I didnt get home til 10:00.
Yesterday I was sooo tired. Dunno why, it's not like I got back late or anything. Slept loads lol.
I love your photos and narration! I noticed on that menu that the lasagna came with chips (fries I assume). I don't think I have ever seen that combination.
And for the meal, I would have also picked those Russian pancakes. They looked yummy.
Pub food is generally offered with chips.
Chips are not fries, though these days many pubs serve fries as chips. Basically, whereas fries have stuff like corn starch and what have you, proper chips are just long chunks of potato either deep-fried or oven-baked, with nothing added during cooking. They are then (usually) soused with vinegar and sprinkled with salt before eating. They're much fatter and chunkier than fries, and when done properly they are delightful.
I had intended to get my act together and excuses excuses
The road to hell is paved with good intentions...
mustn't, mustn't, mustn't.......uh oh.......
.
I love your photos and narration! I noticed on that menu that the lasagna came with chips (fries I assume). I don't think I have ever seen that combination.
Look again. The meals with asterisks by them are the ones NOT served with chips. For example you wouldn't get Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with added chips because the meal already contains potato. The lasagne comes with
either chips or garlic bread. Important distinction :)
What Dana says about chips is true though - there are the default in the majority of pub meals.
So, the pantomime.
It’s an art form John Barrowman was made for. Watch an interview with him - he’s irrepressible. The typical pantomime requirements of singing, dancing and having a cheeky sense of humour are all there already. Also the man has so much charisma you’re bound to care about the character he plays. Okaya 43 year old Aladdin should be a stretch, but panto isn’t about reality and never has been. His mother is played by a man after all.
JB played Aladdin pretty much as himself. There were sly (and not so sly) nods to the fact that he’s gay, but Aladdin gets married to the Princess and therefore so does John. The show opened with the baddie Abanazer, but as soon as he set up the story we were in the village of Won Long Pu with John singing I’m Coming Up (So You’d Better Get the Party Started) with a wonderfully young and lithe ensemble troop. It’s one of his staple songs when he tours, so it would have pleased many of us there just for John.
At this point he was in a patchwork jerkin and leggings - actually every costume had leggings, all the better for showing off thighs and bum - and he remained in this most of the first half. The Krankies were introduced as police (polis) after this. The premise was that Aladdin had been caught trying to look at the Princess Jasmine, an act punishable by death, so they were trying to get him. Abanazer needed Aladdin to get the magic lamp from the cave so that he could use it’s power to take over the world. Aladdin wanted to be rich so he could marry the Princess. That’s pretty much the story.
The Krankies - for those of you not in the know - are a husband and wife entertainment team. They were often on children’s TV and variety shows back in the 70s and 80s. Ian is normal height, but his wife Janette is only 4’5”. Their act is based on Janette playing a naughty schoolboy called Wee Jimmy Krankie. It’s ridiculous of course, but I loved them as a child and they work exceptionally well in a panto setting. Janette had a couple of delightful ad libs - which may have been repeated every night but got a big laugh regardless. She also had some excellent costume changes, dressing up as Ozzy Osbourne, Lady Gaga and Susan Boyle. She had a couple of her own songs too - far more than Princess Jasmine (and much more stage time!)
The 3D kicked in when Aladdin got into the cave and summoned the genie. It was brilliant. At one point I realised I had been sat there with my mouth simply open. The effects seemed to be directed at each person individually, so for example all the bats flew at me, and the snake struck right before my nose. People were flinching and children trying to reach out and touch things. It wasn’t over-used imo, but the panto could easily have coped if it hadn’t been included. And yes, there were times when I was watching John at the side of the stage rather than the 3D genie he was talking to.
Aladdin gets the lamp and wishes himself out of the cave and back home again. He is also rich, cue Aladdin arriving on a huge mechanical elephant in a gorgeously sparkly and sequinned suit - white I think. The Emperor allows Aladdin to marry his daughter as he is now the richest man in China (should we really be teaching children this?) and the Krankies are called off.
But what about Abanazer? He is not daunted and turns up as a New Lamps For Old seller. He tricks Widow Twanky and Jasmine into giving him the magic lamp - aren’t women stupid? - and kidnaps Jasmine. Aladdin, the Emperor, the Krankies and Twanky use a magic carpet to follow them. Somewhere in this there are more songs and sketches of course. Everyone changes into a sparkly powder blue costume. Jasmine is rescued and kissed (eeeergh!) and the lamp retrieved. Abanazer is changed into a nice man with a very bizarre cod-Scottish accent and the show is done.
Quick change into sparkly red for the final bows.
I could happily have gone back that evening and watching it all again. Apparently the final audience gave them a standing ovation.
I wish we could have - they deserved it. It was very slick, very funny - I laughed as much as I would have at an evening of stand-up comedy - and the songs and dancing were flawless. John can sing, of course. He’s a West End star because of it. But there is something special about seeing him do it live.
Dana says she’ll come with me if he’s in panto again next year. If he is, I hope it’s not in Scotland. Much as I adored my time there, the journey is a killer. Still, maybe I can pretend not to have an environmental conscience and fly next time. Which reminds me - I really need to start saving now. This time last year we were already booking our tickets.
We all left the SECC on a bit of a high I think.
We walked back over the deadly streets, although once we got onto a main road the pavements had been cleared again. Two sweet Glaswegians offered us directions without even asking - although as we were standing clueless on a street corner I guess our plight was obvious.
Back to the hotel via another trip to another caged in offie for evening supplies. Then off to a restaurant recommended by the hotel - and close enough not to worry about having a few cheeky drinks while we were there.
Oh, in between I lost my pants. My jogging bottoms to be precise. It turned out housekeeping had made the bed over them, but there was a baffled five minutes of me walking round in my underwear thinking I had gone stark staring mad.
So, off to the
ButcherShop Bar and Grill. It looked good from the outside and the menu looked fantastic - if a little meat-centric. Inside it was perfect, all scrubbed tables, muted but adequate lighting, wooden floors, exposed brickwork and leather booths. To me it smelt of raw meat, but not unpleasantly so.
Here are two pics of the menu. The girls wanted me to take one with the cover on, so I obliged. I'm posting it now because they thought you would like to see it. The second is a detail of the section we three ordered from. I had the salad, Dana the chicken and Limey the Catch of the Day (seabass with prawns I believe).
The full menu is on their website - it's worth a look. They do a Chateaubriand Steak for two for £55.
No photos of the food, except our shared starter of bread.
It was gorgeous. Dani made a right mess with the crumbs :)
The mains were also well received.
Again, I couldn't even finish mine. I made a good stab at it though.
My only single nit-picky complaint was that it contained cucumber, even though this was not mentioned on the menu. I hate cucumber, and picked it all out.
Following dinner we declined dessert in order to have a Disgestif.
This is because we are well-travelled and cosmopolitan, not because we fancied another way of imbibing alcohol.
Second pic is Limey with her gorgeous Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Rum Flip
This is Goslings Black Seal Rum, Sugar Syrup, 1 Egg, Pinch of Cinnamon & Grated Nutmeg
It's heaven in a glass. Limes says she's going to modify the recipe slightly and make it her new Christmas morning drink. Beats Bucks Fizz into a tartan hat I agree.
Please note grease spatters on Limey's top.
From removing the shells from prawns, not from dropping her dinner down herself.
(She'll be so pleased I pointed this out)
Dana and I had As Time Stands Still
Calvados, Port, Peach Bitters & a drizzle of vanilla syrup. Steamed and served mildly warm.
It was okay. I mean it had alcohol in it, so I drank it, but Limey's was nicer.
It think it was the Peach Bitters. Something made my mouth purse up anyway.
Self explanatory pictures.
Back to the Alamo, where we treated Limey to a viewing of Hot Fuzz.
She was very patient, given that Dana and I know it off by heart and couldn't help laughing ahead of the jokes or (in my case) annoying saying the best lines along with the actors.
Off to bed - our last night together.
So, on to Monday morning and farewells were in the air.
We had breakfast, got ready and checked out.
Off to Glasgow Central station where Limey and I were to depart on the boat train for Arran, and Dana back to Halifax.
Bye-bye Dana, bye-bye.
Note the difference in attire.
I'd stowed my cape in my bag by this point, far too hot to continue wearing it!
Also note that all Limey's woollens are hand-knitted. OMG - I forgot to mention she brought us both gifts - Dani's was a red bag and mine a pink of pink socks. The second sock is still a work in progress as she wanted to check the size first. She's going to send it to me and I will def take a photo - the one I saw was most splendid.
Second pic is our train to Ardrossan Harbour, where we get on the boat to Arran.
The journey ro Ardrossan was great.
I finally got to see some of Scotland - it was dark when I arrived and would be dark when I left.
Limey was an excellent tour guide, and I mooned out of the windows all the way there, glorying in seeing the sea for the first time in a year.
Reaching Ardrossan Harbour station you are greeting by a forest of ship's masts. An unusual view from a station platform. On the other side the mainland, bristling with wind turbines.
And so onto the boat.
It wasn't the usual boat for the route, it was a replacement. The Clansman usually operates in the Highlands and Islands, so all the signs were primarily in Gaellic. I loved it, it felt proper-foreign.
I left Limey in the bar with a coffee, as it's no more exciting to her than me getting the number 4 bus into town. And I scampered about taking photos of mundane things for your viewing pleasure.
A recruiting poster, sez Limey.
Could have been a command to kill all Sassenachs for all I could tell.
Ah you know me and menus...
Goodbye mainland, hello Arran.
And approximately an hour after boarding, here we are on Arran's main strip.
Limey's charming husband met us and accompanied us around the island - it was a pleasure to meet him. Like Limey he's musical, intelligent and quietly confident.
We went for a snack in the local department store - which looks a little like a baby aircraft hanger, with a mezzanine floor empty except as overspill for the cafeteria. I had a perfectly delicious cheese & ham toasty - Arran has some high class cheddar and I'm glad to have sampled it. Also we had to charge up my camera as some numpty managed not to do this overnight in the hotel or even on the boat, where there was an empty plug socket easily accessible.
At this point I have to take a breather and explain about the lack of photos to follow.
No doubt you will be grateful to hear the thread is coming to an end, but I was enjoined by more than one Dwellar to take plenty of pics - and so I did. Over a hundred for a two night stay - not bad, eh?
But Arran was not to offer up its charms to my lens.
This was partly due to the late start I requested. Getting the earlier train would have involved getting up at about 06.30 and I simply couldn't tie that in with having a good holiday. So because of the time of year we lost the light very soon after arriving, and also we were on a tight schedule which didn't lend itself to stopping and taking photos. And finally the weather - had it been a clear day the conditions might have been more photo-friendly.
I'm only adding this because otherwise it might seem that there was nothing worth seeing on Arran. Given the mundane things I had already been photographing it would give you a completely false impression. Arran is beautiful, even moody and stark in the very dead of winter, and I could easily take 100 more photos of the island alone - and plenty of video of the rollercoaster roads. And I hope to, by making a longer visit during the summer. I'd especially like to ride the huge buses along the narrow roads, where the sea is within spitting distance. Salt spray distance at least.
More of Arran while the light held.
All the above were taken from the same spot -
Lochranza Castle, a 14th century ruin.
Limey explained that Scotland is split into the craggy and breathtaking Highlands and the rolling and pastoral Lowlands by a geological fault. The same fault runs across Arran, making it Scotland in miniature, and a wonderfully diverse landscape within a thirty mile length. Honestly, I have never seen so many different vistas in such a short distance - it's like a theme park, every corner you turn a different view with a different mood. Except this is real and natural and people live here.
We took the coast road clockwise from the harbour.
We drove through many strung out little villages, some no more than hamlets. The general building is low-level, single storey, many white painted or stone built with slate roofs. There are long stretches of coast-hugging road with no habitation in sight. And few of the villages have facilities, certainly to the North of the Island. Limey pointed out the tiny village schools - something they are lucky to still have compared to England. But precious few shops or pubs.
The road climbed up into the craggy landscape to the North taking up us away from the sea and into what felt like mountains to this Bucks-reared Southerner. They were amazing, like another world compared to the coast. Snow topped peaks, rushing burns, the whole countryside roughened by the shaggy pelt of dead vegetation it wears in winter.
And deer!
Lots of them after Limey showed me how to identify the shape of a head-down-grazing doe. We saw at least one stag. Gardens often have deer fences - not great to look at, but the gardens beyond are splendidly manicured.
They also have golden eagles, red squirrels, seals and basking sharks. But it would have been terribly greedy to expect those too.
Back on the coast road we visited what Limey believed to be a very ugly village, with a very ugly hotel. Now I know ugly, and it seemed fine to me :)
We stopped off so I could pee in a public toilet in Blackwaterfoot. Tip - don't go into one of those automated booths with a cape on. The ends will droop onto the wet floor (sanitised, certainly, but still wet) and when you try to hitch them about in the small space they will try to drop into the open toilet still full of your wee as it has an automated flush once you leave it.
By this time we really were in twilight.
We drove past the local village pub, now a restaurant, with nowhere for the locals to go in their muddy boots and calloused hands to drink and carouse. I promised that when I win the Euromillions I will buy them out and run the place at a loss in order to provide a much needed centre for the community.
Although saying that, they have plans afoot to create a social club which will effectively do the same thing - although not the ousting of the denizens of the restaurant. Power to their collective elbows I say.
And so to Chez Limey.
I was denied the view, but she has posted it before. It just would have been good to see it firsthand.
I was introduced to the cats (see Post Your Pet) and the cornsnake - Mortimer I think.
Limey's house looks reasonably modern outside but is the definition of a cosy cottage inside. I won't go into any detail as she is entitled to privacy, suffice to say I was made welcome and felt very comfortable there. I was cooked tea and then driven via more rollercoaster roads back to the ferry in the pouring rain.
And there ends the adventure really.
I had a really great time and cannot thank Limey and dana enough for their company, their enthusiasm, their generosity and hospitality. I have a stack of bright scenes to wear against my heart in the long cold.
I think I'd like Arran. It's beautiful.
I did feel a bit mean scooting SG around at full pelt, but hope that she'll be back to do the scenery justice another time.
Is this where I point out that down the road from me is a bunkhouse which sleeps 15 comfortably and which I'd be delighted to book for a Cellar Arran GTG sometime? Accommodation cost around $30/night plus food which we could do ourselves in the fully equipped kitchen ... transatlantic flights land at both Glasgow International and Prestwick International airports - each convenient for the ferry .... ?
Oh, and SG - this is the most fabulous photo-diary of our weekend. It brings it all back really vividly. Well done, and thank you for putting together such a great record of events!
You're welcome darling, I just feel guilty that I couldn't do your island home justice.
I console myself that had we gone earlier the weather would still have been grim, and on top of that I'd have been as sleepy and sulky as a teenager.
You were not mean at all - taking me on a complete tour. I'd already expressed that I am a contented passenger, so it could not have been more ideal.
FTR other Dwellars - there are standing stones on Arran (something I love in a touristy way) and prehistoric remains, a brewery, a museum, a dairy (as in cheesemaking) and they have Viking festivals.
And it is in the Gulf Stream (like the Scilly Isles) so the climate is reasonable. Not that I noticed, but after all I chose to visit at the scrag end of New Year.
If the Kintyre peninsula is Scotland's cock, Arran is the ball-sack. But that's good. It means it's a fertile and protected place.
Bawbag, hen, bawbag is what you mean ;)
(checks) roundtrip from newark is about $800 pp.
Sorry to drag this out. Dana, what you describe as chips sound like potato wedges to me. (Or what I have heard them called, I guess.) Usually fries or something similar would be served with bar food, here, but I suppose I have never seen lasagna at a bar (or pub, I guess?) It was just surprising to me and kind of cool.
No apologies needed, it's a clash of cultures that can do with being explained.
I was the same about biscuits, and even now I'm not 100% - I think you have to taste the furriner's version to really be sure.
Below - chips. Although these look a little undercooked to me.
And wedges.
As per our understanding I mean.
Ah, okay. See now, I have had fries on many occasions that look like the left...and they look much tastier than those on the right. I was in England many years ago and did get to have fish and chips at a pub a couple of times and the chips looked alot like those on the right only without all that brown stuff. the color of the ones on the left and the shape of the ones on the right.
Looks like you Gals had a LARGE Time !!!!
Ah, okay. See now, I have had fries on many occasions that look like the left...and they look much tastier than those on the right. I was in England many years ago and did get to have fish and chips at a pub a couple of times and the chips looked alot like those on the right only without all that brown stuff. the color of the ones on the left and the shape of the ones on the right.
Chips can also come out looking like wedges. But usually they are cooked differently. Potato wedges are usually baked with a coating. Chips are usually fried, but can be oven-baked. Generally speaking though, oven baked chips are either cheap and nasty pre-made things, or gourmet chips that are more like wedges. Standard chips from a chip shop are deep fried in oil or fat, and look more like the picture on the left.
I'm not 100% sure on this, but I always got the impression fries were made with potato that has been broken down and then reconstituted in some way. Pre-made frozen oven chips are similar i think, though what we call 'fries' are the super thin variety. Freshly made chips are just hunks of potato with no added ingredients at the cooking stage (no salt, no coating, no nothing), and minimal preparation: peeled cut into hunks and dropped into the hot fat.
McDonald's fries in this country, are cut up potato, not reconstituted, and they're cooked three times. First parboiled, second, partially deep fried then frozen, at the fry plant. The third cooking, deep fry, at the store.
Ahh: that's why they don't have the same texture then. Because they're cooked three times.
McDs goes to a lot of trouble to insure the fries are exactly the same at every store in the country, They even stopped buying potatoes from anywhere but Idaho.
They requested a genetically engineered potato that would grow longer for longer fries.
Three words: Wendy's new fries.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Why is Dana so much shinier than SG and Limey?
Because I have eczema and have to constantly remoisturize. :P
Because I have eczema and have to constantly remoisturize. :P
I know, sorry about that darling.
Next time I'll make sure you're further away from the flash.
I do think our next GTG has to be when you're in London (weekends or school holidays). We can share a room to bring the cost down, go to see Ghost Stories and then I can take some artful shots of you for the NSFW thread ;)
With or without moisturiser!
Because I have eczema and have to constantly remoisturize. :P
Ahh, I thought you were feverish.:blush:
Hey...I never said I wasn't hot.
Hey...I never said I wasn't hot.
Good thing. 'Cause we all know better.