The ceilidh is sold out on Saturday nights. More men wear kilts than women skirts. Finishes at midnight. You'd expect a certain type goes to a ceilidh but it's not true. At one time or another everyone turns up at one. Most dances are introduced and practiced before the music starts. Men walk up to women they don't know and ask them to dance. A few dances involve changing partners so you can meet new people. One of my friends said she got a crush on someone at a ceilidh. And just when it really would have mattered she couldn't respond because something came up. It was the last dance.
I went to the ceilidh last night because I knew it was a last. I didn't regret it but won't be longing for another chance. I enjoyed a couple of dances but the afterparty was much more fun.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
google dashboard
It's nice to have an overview of what I've been doing. As long as noone else can see it. :-)
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
nothing happens
on the way from Edinburgh to Budapest when one flies. The whole journey was uneventful like a train journey from Edinburgh to Aberdeen to Inverness. There was a rainstorm at Frankfurt shortly after my plane landed. I saw it coming during the descent in the shape of icing sugar topped clouds that were very white and looked very dense.
Then 4 hours of milling about in Frankfurt Airport which was almost completely empty. The few who were there seemed to be lost in their thoughts.
Or was that I?
Then 4 hours of milling about in Frankfurt Airport which was almost completely empty. The few who were there seemed to be lost in their thoughts.
Or was that I?
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Monday, 7 September 2009
Fireworks Concert 2009
I have lived in Edinburgh for 8 years but there are a few things I haven't seen or been to. Now there is one less. Well, I have watched the Fireworks Concert before from Calton Hill, from my window, from the courtyard and from the Mound. Princes Street Gardens and its surroundings are closed and you need a ticket to get in.
You also need to be early. We arrived around 8pm and found a nice spot where we could lay out our water resistant and somewhat insulating rug. We opened a bottle of chilled rose and nibbled on sandwiches and cookies like many people around us as the sky went from royal blue to black.
So this year I watched the Fireworks in the Gardens. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Edinburgh's own) was playing Handel in the Bandstand. I have never listened to his Fireworks music (or any other of his pieces in fairness) accompanied by fireworks. Luckily the music was loud enough throughout and the Chorus sang the Messiah triumphantly.
Edinburgh does fireworks at Hogmanay too, but the weather is unwelcoming most years. It's not only damp but also cold and there likely to be a strong easterly which spoils the summers and embitters the winters. Other years the wind is from the West-South West normally as a result of a massive depression which builds up over the Atlantic. It's not cold, but it brings rain and it's gale force. If I must choose between the two occasions I'd prefer the Concert over Hogmanay.
Most years I'm not in Edinburgh during August and early September. I love the fireworks display on the 20th of August in Budapest (of all?). I missed it this year. The setting is as majestic as Edinburgh's but the river Danube makes it just a little bit more special. People don't sit down for a picnic, though they should, really. Then again, there are no gentle slopes covered in soft lawn.
You also need to be early. We arrived around 8pm and found a nice spot where we could lay out our water resistant and somewhat insulating rug. We opened a bottle of chilled rose and nibbled on sandwiches and cookies like many people around us as the sky went from royal blue to black.
So this year I watched the Fireworks in the Gardens. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (Edinburgh's own) was playing Handel in the Bandstand. I have never listened to his Fireworks music (or any other of his pieces in fairness) accompanied by fireworks. Luckily the music was loud enough throughout and the Chorus sang the Messiah triumphantly.
Edinburgh does fireworks at Hogmanay too, but the weather is unwelcoming most years. It's not only damp but also cold and there likely to be a strong easterly which spoils the summers and embitters the winters. Other years the wind is from the West-South West normally as a result of a massive depression which builds up over the Atlantic. It's not cold, but it brings rain and it's gale force. If I must choose between the two occasions I'd prefer the Concert over Hogmanay.
Most years I'm not in Edinburgh during August and early September. I love the fireworks display on the 20th of August in Budapest (of all?). I missed it this year. The setting is as majestic as Edinburgh's but the river Danube makes it just a little bit more special. People don't sit down for a picnic, though they should, really. Then again, there are no gentle slopes covered in soft lawn.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Food I like in Edinburgh - a short list
Most of these are available everywhere in the United Kingdom but not in Budapest.
First, I witnessed the freshly squeezed/pressed fruit juice revolution (yes, I've been here that long), from the spotting of the occasional Innocent "water" in Peckham's and other delis to today's explosion of fruit only drinks. I drink these diluted, half and half. My favourite is red grape juice followed by the 2:1 mix of pineapple and orange, which is a morning essential.
I grew to burgers, too in Edinburgh. Not the chip shop variety, but the well barbecued smoky succulent types. I have a favourite kebab shop on Forrest Road. Their burger I could eat every day. Scrap that. It did happen before that I ate there most of the week. They top it with plenty salad and some tomato sauce. I only order chips with it when I'm extremely hungry.
Lemon yoghurt. I would miss that too.
And that's about it. I've never lost my preference for Hungarian food and that's what I cook mixed with Italian. Occasionally Mexican. But I do not do Sunday roast, haggis (yeah, haggis, yes, once a year, you know when), gammon steak, poached salmon or Sheperd's Pie. Or steak and ale pie. I don't cook vegetables, I simmer them with some butter and a little water and add seasoning. Nevertheless, I owe a lot of great culinary experiences to Edinburgh. South Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, French flavours (I love cassoulet) are easy to have access to. Unlike in Budapest.
First, I witnessed the freshly squeezed/pressed fruit juice revolution (yes, I've been here that long), from the spotting of the occasional Innocent "water" in Peckham's and other delis to today's explosion of fruit only drinks. I drink these diluted, half and half. My favourite is red grape juice followed by the 2:1 mix of pineapple and orange, which is a morning essential.
I grew to burgers, too in Edinburgh. Not the chip shop variety, but the well barbecued smoky succulent types. I have a favourite kebab shop on Forrest Road. Their burger I could eat every day. Scrap that. It did happen before that I ate there most of the week. They top it with plenty salad and some tomato sauce. I only order chips with it when I'm extremely hungry.
Lemon yoghurt. I would miss that too.
And that's about it. I've never lost my preference for Hungarian food and that's what I cook mixed with Italian. Occasionally Mexican. But I do not do Sunday roast, haggis (yeah, haggis, yes, once a year, you know when), gammon steak, poached salmon or Sheperd's Pie. Or steak and ale pie. I don't cook vegetables, I simmer them with some butter and a little water and add seasoning. Nevertheless, I owe a lot of great culinary experiences to Edinburgh. South Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, French flavours (I love cassoulet) are easy to have access to. Unlike in Budapest.
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