We have a Gingko tree in the garden that borders Brent Street between our house and the ‘carriage house.’ Michael Blasford, the arborist that looks after our trees, has trimmed it and shaped it so that it has its current shape.
Gingko trees have the property that the leaves all fall within an hour. This year they fell yesterday, November 30. It’s always fun to see. The leaves fall like snow and blanket the sidewalk and ground below. Lynn took a video of them falling.
I took some pictures of the leaves on the ground. The first a view of all of them on the sidewalk and the other is a close-up of some of the leaves.
We arrived in Edinburgh after many days of staying in rooms (in different towns) on the top floor at the end of several flights of stairs, showers that were difficult to work out get into, and not washing clothes for about 2 weeks. We were very, very happy to be staying in a modern, studio apartment at Eden Locke, https://www.lockeliving.com/en/edinburgh/eden-locke. Best of all it included a walk-in shower and a washing machine/dryer. Check-in was through a nice, modern cafe. Also in a very nice part of the city.
After settling in and a little lunch at the cafe we went to the Scottish National Gallery. It houses an astoundingly wonderful collection of works. Going through the valley was one of the highlights of being in Scotland.
da Vinci
That night we walked to Henderson’s, www.hendersonsrestaurant.com/, a vegetarian restaurant recommended by staff at Eden Locke. It was super! We each had vegan dishes; Lynn the Henderson Haggis and Chermula Aubergine for me. On the way home we passed the University and also got a good view of the illuminated castle.
Henderson Haggis
Chermula Aubergine Edinburgh castle
Calton Hill
The next day was spent going to Calton Hill to get a view of the city and it’s surroundings and,
Starting at the Scottish Parliament building we walked the Royal Mile to the castle. The Parliament building with its modern design is a striking difference to Holyrood Palace across the street. The Royal Mile was jammed with tourists and businesses competing for their attention. We made a quick stop in Giles cathedral, beautiful but too many people to make the visitor anything but a herded mass of people. We did manage to get a table a Makar’s Mash just off the Royal Mile. After putting ‘Ernie’ on a waiting list and coming back after a short while. We asked for a drink of water. Hung around some in the restaurant and they gave us a table sooner than was our turn. It helped using my first name for the list and hanging around, talking with the staff.
After a long walk back to our studio apartment we decided to go to an Indian restaurant for dinner. We never made it to the one picked and went to Mowgli Street Food Edinburgh, https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/restaurants/edinburgh/, instead. What a treat! We loved the food and the restaurant was filled with lights on strings giving it a festive atmosphere, a fun place to eat. The food was great – chat bombs topping the list and a gin and tonic with a ginger slice in it. We also remembered that we had borrowed the cookbook from our local library. We picked it up when we got home and are looking forward to trying recipes from it.
The next morning we packed up, had breakfast at the cafe on the ground floor, got a cab to the rain station and eventually found the plat form for our train. The Edinburgh train station was a lot larger than the others we’d used with two levels and a walking bridge across the tracks. On to the next stop, Sterling.
We arrived in cold, cloudy weather. Our room on the third floor of the hotel, no elevator and no help with the bags up the steps, was like a garret. Slanted ceilings and one window. It reminded me of the set for the opening of La Boheme. Went for a walk on the Old Course and enjoyed seeing the ocean. After dinner I took a shower in the very narrow shower stall and found the water tricked out of the shower head. Very conducive to unkind thoughts for the hotel.
The person who drove us to St Andrews from Pitlochry recommend a few places to us. A pastry, coffee/tea shop, cafe named Gorgeous and the pub at Greyfriars Hotel, https://www.belhaven.co.uk/pubs/fife/greyfriars-hotel. We walked to Gorgeous in the afternoon and meet another couple waiting to get in. Tables are upstairs. They recommended we stay for the 10 minute wait. We did and it was rather nice.
They also recommended book a dinner at The Saint, https://www.the-saint-bar.co.uk/. We did for the following night. Excellent fish and chips.
Still it was a cold dreary afternoon. One bright spot was a Harris Walz sign in a window above the North Point Cafe, https://northpointcafe.weebly.com/, which happens to be the place where “Kate meet Wills for coffee !!” We didn’t learn of its notoriety until the next day when we stopped in for a slice of Victorian Sponge.
Harris Walz sign above Northpoint cafe.
We finished up the evening out by watching a soccer match, Arsenal vs Manchester City, and having dinner at the pub at Greyfriars. Then back to our hotel up several flights to our room to be met with the disappointment of the dripping shower head. The next day I sent an email to McKinlay Kidd complaining about our room. They contacted the hotel and the shower issue was resolved.
Conditions the next day were better. We visited two museums that dealt with the histories of the city and the university, respectively. The first had a nice tea room. The latter had an outdoor deck facing the ocean.
Walking through the city and along the ocean we had dinner nice views of the town, parts of the campus, and the sea.
castle ruins St Andrews Cathedral ruins St Andrews
St Andrews is a university towns with lots of students in the streets day and night. It is also famous for its golf courses. Groups of golfers were regularly at breakfast or checking in and out of our hotel. Typically a foursome of white guys from the states, probably in their 40s or 50s, talking about their games, their household repairs, their experiences with Scottish food, or their jobs. Guys at a conference, convention, or meeting, but one that focuses on playing golf.
We arrived in Pitlochry after an uneventful train ride from Kingussie to be driven by taxi a short distance up to the guesthouse we would stay in, Tigh Na Cloich https://www.tighnacloich.com/. The town is on the two banks of the river Tummel with a good party of the town up from the trail station. The guesthouse was very nice with congenial and helpful hosts. Our room looked out over a garden and the Tummel valley. As has become common, our room was on the top floor. We’ve had this in Thurso, Kingussie, Pitlochry, and now in St Andrews.
Path through the garden from Tigh Na Cloich to town
We took our host’s suggestion and took a walk down to the hydro damn and fish ladder. Past the rail station and down the hill through some nice scenery. You get a nice view of the river from the damn along with an informative display about how salmon bed and live in the river.
River Tummel from Hydro Damn Pitlochry
After crossing the river we walked a ways past the theatre to a suspension bridge that crossed across the river again. We ate dinner at The Fern Cottage, a popular but unremarkable middle eastern restaurant. Then walls back through the main street of the town, which must have close to 100 shops and back to our room. After a bit in our room we went to the pub down the hill the Auld Smiddy, http://auldsmiddy.com/. A nice place got a dessert, dinner, our a pint. We had dinner there the following evening.
There are a number of trails around Pitlochry. We decided to try the trail to Moulin because it went through the woods and fields and a chance for lunch at the Moulin Hotel, https://www.moulinhotel.co.uk/
paths around Pitlochry
The path was a few miles long and of course it took us most of the day. Very enjoyable views and walls through woods. Just before we got to the path there was an interesting sign. Maybe they knew we were coming!
After we returned from the hike we eventually took a walk into a part of the town away from the shops. Slightly up the hill and more residual. It was late in the afternoon, early evening so the sun was setting lighting up the windows in a church and providing done dramatic lighting for a picture of Lynn.
we ended the day going to the Auld Smiddy for dinner. A really nice day with lots of walking and getting a good introduction to the area.
We stayed at McInnes House, https://www.mcinneshousehotel.com/. Very helpful, very accommodating stay. We felt entirely welcome and well taken care of. Good breakfasts and dinner. Because of a train cancellation we arrived late after dinner was over, but the staff served us soup and sandwiches. It was a great place to stay. They even called out bags half way to the train station when we were leaving.
A car tour of Caringorms National Park, https://www.visitcairngorms.com/, was scheduled for our full day in Kingussie. The tour was not enjoyable. Just lots of driving. We stopped in two towns, saw the entrance to Balmor estate, and ate lunch at a posh place. We were out for 8 hours and about 6 hours was driving. Disappointing. But we did get some good pics and I bought a nice sweater in a thrift store in Ballater. During much of the drive I could feel that I was driving in the Appalachian mountains.
We had a few hours before leading in the morning and a very nice walk around Kingussie. It seemed like a town where there are a number of things one could get involved in. Stopped for a pleasant coffee and baked goods at The Paper Shop Bakery. Also visited a gallery of art by locals.
It is a beautiful day in Thurso, the northern most town on mainland Scotland, on September 18 . The temperature is about 70F and Lynn and I are walking on a street near the ocean front. Two women, close to our ages, are walking towards us without jackets and one smiles and says in her local accent, ” The long anticipated summer has arrived at last.”
We had a nice morning walking around town and headed back to where a taxi was to take us to the train station for a 1:05 train to Inverness and then on to Kingussie arriving about 6:30. At the station we find out train is cancelled and we won’t be leaving until 4:30 and arriving at Kingussie about 9:30, after the kitchen closes at the hotel! We called McKinlay Kidd to see what they could do. They called the hotel to let them know about our situation. After a while they reported back that the hotel would have some snacks for us. There are several people going to that hotel. We’ll see what happens.
We spent Sunday afternoon and ending in Inverness arriving by train. We had a nice lunch at The Mustard Seed and web by to Moyness House a B&B on the opposite side of the river. The eggs, poached, we’re provided by the backyard hens.
We did go out to hear a session at Hootanany. Good music but very crowded.
Now we’re on the train bound for Thurso with the first hour and a half along the water. Lots of farmed land, mostly for hay. Further along we’re moving through hills and forests. Still very green and open land with stone walls, sheep, and some cattle.
Our accommodations at Taransay House, https://www.taransayhouse.co.uk/, were excellent! A very helpful host and some of the best meals, breakfast and dinner. The chef, Scott, took the time each day to discuss what we might have for dinner. Always making sure we would like it and getting the ingredients that day in amounts so there would be no waste.
Our room looked out over the water.
Room view
On our second day we were taken on an excellent day long your of the many wonderful sites on the island.
Such a beautiful place. invigorating to be there with short hikes.
The next day was blustery. Rain with high winds.
Portree harbor
We did walk into the village, Portree, but came back to our room in the afternoon amid the difficult weather. Our host checked on us to see if we were too soaked and a place to dry our clothes.
This has been a great place to stay and have to thank McKinlay Kidd for making the arrangements.
Arrived in Oban by train from Glasgow on Tuesday, September 10. Occasional rain during the trip and all the time, really. We’re starting at a hotel on the harbor, Perle Oban. It’s very nice, well appointed, breakfast and spa included, and we have a room with a view of the harbor. Everyone we’ve met have been friendly and accomdating.
Seeing sun Oban harbor
We had dinner last night at EE-USK, https://www.eeusk.com/. Very busy. Glad we had a reservation. Good and service was excellent. Absolutely fresh mussels and scallops.
Appendage on scallop
There was an appendage on each scallop, something over not seen before. This indicates freshness as they are usually removed before shipping.
rainbow Oban
it turned cold with a strong wind overnight, continuing on today. We bought hiking sticks and took a walk along the harbor up towards Dunollie castle. Really nice walk in occasionally rain and sunshine with string cold wind.
On the way back we stopped for a bite at Aulay’s Bar, https://aulaysbar.co.uk/, listed as a traditional Scottish pub. Nice place frequented by tourists, as we are, and locals. Of course I had Cullen sink and a pint.
I want to live in a colorful, paint-splattered dream world with expressions of community plastered all over everything. I think it’s easy to get disheartened with the work we do and forget how it affects the people around us. I realize every manmade object that I love took conscious effort to design. I take this into consideration all the time in everything I do, and it’s viral.
Walking around New York City, I see so many cool projects punks and artists have forced onto the world, and I love it! Death with a cell phone, “NECKFACE†rollered on the tippy-top of a building … someone would have had to climb on the roof and dangle from their ankles, one slip away from certain death.
I love that someone actually took the time to build a treehouse inside their bar, or tack up thousands of things about pizza, or give up their living room to throw shows where kids of all ages can enjoy live music. The more creative graffiti, mural bombs, makeshift flower boxes, wacky entry ways, and flashing lights I see in a building, the more excited I get.
It’s easy to get discouraged and think that nobody cares when you don’t see the results of what you have done or how it’s directly influenced people. I have to tell you, I am always thankful when a place is organized in a way that’s intuitive and easy to navigate, when something is colorful and exciting, or when someone treats me with genuine interest and compassion. These decisions are made behind the scenes, but the thoughtfulness of design is felt by everyone, even if the person who made it happen works outside the spotlight.
It’s true of negativity as well. If someone pushes me, cuts in front of me, yells at me, etc., and makes me want to lash out at them, that only perpetuates negative feelings and energy. Sometimes we don’t realize that someone is doing something negative to us because something negative happened to them. I find this is usually the case, so I try as much as I can to have a positive impact on the people around me and this usually yields way better results!
I always do my best to make sure I’m not contributing to more crap made out of crap just for the goal of making more money—which is crappy.
I had a teacher in college who told us that we were the ones who are going to make the world what it will be. That really resonated with me. It was up to us to design the world, and so I always took that as a directive to work towards the kind of world that I wanted to live in. It’s easy to forget that every small thing eventually adds up and contributes to my surroundings.
If I am nice to people, they are nice to me back. If I paint a room in fun colors, it is more enjoyable and fun to be in. Sometimes I don’t think about the road I’m driving on or the fork I’m holding in my hand, and that it had to be realized by someone! As a designer, this is a big responsibility, and I always do my best to make sure I’m not contributing to more crap made out of crap just for the goal of making more money—which is crappy.
I always try to run Death By Audio for the people around me and the people who use our products. I want there to be more and more creative music out there, so I do my best to design musical tools that will push people towards realizing their goals, rather than inflate my self-interest.
I think the world will be a better place if we all start working on decorating from our imagination and supporting our neighbors and friends to create the places and spaces and music we all enjoy.
Oliver Ackermann is the founder of Death By Audio and the main man behind noise-rock band A Place To Bury Strangers. He splits his time between designing and destroying circuits with DBA, and being on tour performing interactive space-time experiences.
The World Is What We Make It, So Make it Something Good – article by Oliver Ackermann
An opinion piece by Oliver Ackermann, “The World Is What We Make It, So Make it Something Good“, was recently published in Premier Guitar. It is available online at https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/29723-How-Music-Improves-Your-Life
I wanted to post the text here in case the link goes away.
The World Is What We Make It, So Make it Something Good
I want to live in a colorful, paint-splattered dream world with expressions of community plastered all over everything. I think it’s easy to get disheartened with the work we do and forget how it affects the people around us. I realize every manmade object that I love took conscious effort to design. I take this into consideration all the time in everything I do, and it’s viral.
Walking around New York City, I see so many cool projects punks and artists have forced onto the world, and I love it! Death with a cell phone, “NECKFACE†rollered on the tippy-top of a building … someone would have had to climb on the roof and dangle from their ankles, one slip away from certain death.
I love that someone actually took the time to build a treehouse inside their bar, or tack up thousands of things about pizza, or give up their living room to throw shows where kids of all ages can enjoy live music. The more creative graffiti, mural bombs, makeshift flower boxes, wacky entry ways, and flashing lights I see in a building, the more excited I get.
It’s easy to get discouraged and think that nobody cares when you don’t see the results of what you have done or how it’s directly influenced people. I have to tell you, I am always thankful when a place is organized in a way that’s intuitive and easy to navigate, when something is colorful and exciting, or when someone treats me with genuine interest and compassion. These decisions are made behind the scenes, but the thoughtfulness of design is felt by everyone, even if the person who made it happen works outside the spotlight.
It’s true of negativity as well. If someone pushes me, cuts in front of me, yells at me, etc., and makes me want to lash out at them, that only perpetuates negative feelings and energy. Sometimes we don’t realize that someone is doing something negative to us because something negative happened to them. I find this is usually the case, so I try as much as I can to have a positive impact on the people around me and this usually yields way better results!
I had a teacher in college who told us that we were the ones who are going to make the world what it will be. That really resonated with me. It was up to us to design the world, and so I always took that as a directive to work towards the kind of world that I wanted to live in. It’s easy to forget that every small thing eventually adds up and contributes to my surroundings.
If I am nice to people, they are nice to me back. If I paint a room in fun colors, it is more enjoyable and fun to be in. Sometimes I don’t think about the road I’m driving on or the fork I’m holding in my hand, and that it had to be realized by someone! As a designer, this is a big responsibility, and I always do my best to make sure I’m not contributing to more crap made out of crap just for the goal of making more money—which is crappy.
I always try to run Death By Audio for the people around me and the people who use our products. I want there to be more and more creative music out there, so I do my best to design musical tools that will push people towards realizing their goals, rather than inflate my self-interest.
I think the world will be a better place if we all start working on decorating from our imagination and supporting our neighbors and friends to create the places and spaces and music we all enjoy.
Oliver Ackermann is the founder of Death By Audio and the main man behind noise-rock band A Place To Bury Strangers. He splits his time between designing and destroying circuits with DBA, and being on tour performing interactive space-time experiences.
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