(MORE) STRANGERS ON THE SHORE

Went for a bit of a run along by Portobello. Started at the office, went down to the Cat & Dog Home then more or less followed the route of the Portobello 4 mile race, before heading back to work.

Not my normal route of choice when I’m in Leith but I fancied something a bit different. Also, I think because I do the same route so often I have a tendency to get “hung up” on the time and there is a real danger that every run turns into a time trial – and that isn’t always a good thing.

So, thought a slightly different route with none of the usual landmarks that act as “split time” points and new things to look at might encourage me to take it easy. And it did, just took it at a nice relaxed pace.

I also knew that there was currently some “installation” art on display on the beach and I was keen to get a look.

It’s called “Black Swan” by Miles Thurlow and consists of 13 fruit machines sitting on the sand and (apparently) flashing and whirring away. Now, I don’t know what it looks like at night but I didn’t see much evidence of flashing and whirring when I went by, but I have to admit it did look very striking. Something about the shape of the machines reminded me of the heads on Easter Island. Perhaps I’m not reading enough into it, but it seems to “borrow” from Anthony Gormley’s works with the fruit machines replacing the iron figures.

Does the act of looking at something “out of context” also, conversely, force you to look in greater detail than you might normally at the landscape that it is out of context from??

Whatever – to quote the oft used phrase “I don’t know much about art – but I know what I like”… and I do like this!

I don’t know how long it’s going to be there, but if I get a chance I’d quite like to see it at night.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Back in January I took part in an experiment that involved keeping a note of the colour of my water.

Since then I’ve had a passing interest in the colour of the water that I’m passing. Not obsessive or anything.. just an interest.

Well, sod me I damn near passed out with fright this morning. I don’t know what shade it would be on the Dulux colour chart but “crimson” is about the best  word I can find to describe it! That or “for-f’s-sake-it-shouln’t-be-that-colour red”

Hells teeth I didn’t know who I should call first – a doctor or, in a strange and sudden vanishing of my atheist principles, a priest!

The icy cold grip of fear was clutching my heart all the way back to my desk from the cludgie… “God help me, my insides were turning to liquid and finding the quickest way out”..

The it slowly dawned on me…. Last nights tea.

Braised Beetroot Salad.

Very tasty but not worth it for the fear factor!

FLYS

Where are all the flies coming from this year?
Millions of the buggers. All shapes and sizes.
The other night I was out a wee run round John Muir and ran through a swarm of greenfly - at first I thought it was a shower of rain hitting my face. A bit confusing since it was a lovely blue sky at the time. Horrible.

Then today I was out over by Spott and down to the bridle path that run parallel to the A1. I was out for about 1 hour 40 and I think I was accompanied the entire run by a crack squadron of big bloody bluebottles who's sole aim in life was to fly in close formation to my head and see who could land in my ears!!
At first I thought the "white noise" in my ears had got really bad!
I've been buzzed by squadrons like this in the past and the only thing that seems to get rid of them is when you run into a slight headwind, sadly there wasn't one today. It also seemed to be that every few minutes a few more of these little blighters would join their chums so by the time I was half way round my run I had my own little black cloud following me.
I ran past fields of manky looking cows. You'd think that would be heaven for a bluebottle! Did they leave me alone to go and worry the coo? Did they f...
I even ran past a field that had a pile of manure in it. Surely they'd prefer that to me! No way... by this time I was really getting a complex. Perhaps its the hat?? I've not washed it for a few runs... maybe that's attracting them.
I took the hat off and held it away from me at arms length.... it just gave them the chance to get in my hair as well as my ears!
I decided that if there wasn't a head wind the next best thing might be to try and outpace them .... didn't work. Though it did result in me running a bit quicker and harder than I have for a few weeks so at least some good came of it. Could even be a new tactic - deliberately entice them to speed me along. Might add a dollop of jam to the top of my hat next time I race!!

STRANGERS ON THE SHORE

Been quite a busy week one way or another. Though I still seem to have found time to fit in a fair bit of training miles.
The rib is still giving me a bit of grief but improvement is there. Looking back at my training log all the miles have been at a slower pace and lower heart rate than previous - but perhaps that's no bad thing for a wee while.

Anyway. Wednesday saw the running of the North Berwick Law Race. A mental "eyes on stalks" lung busting dash from North Berwick harbour, through the town and park, up the Law, then for those brave enough, a mad dash back down the way you came. About 3 miles in all - but it feel like 6!!

Obviously, I wasn't taking part this year, but went along as a spectator.

It's a real community event this one and the runners get a cheer when they come back into the town that would probably not be out of place at the London Marathon - very enthusiastic crowds!

Went for a wee bit of a stroll with the old box-brownie before the race. Went down to the harbour and the shore to see if there was anything that I could take a snap of. Got a few of the boats etc, and the obligatory snap of the Bass Rock.

But as I was standing on the end of the harbour wall I noticed three swimmers walking down from the beach into the sea. Not your normal "I'll swim 50m out then back" types. These looked like serious swimmers with wet suits and what looked for all the world like webbed gloves!? Last I saw of them they appeared to be heading over to Fife (I'm sure they weren't).

Anyhow. Went, with Theresa, who was also spectating out to the park to try and get some pictures of the runners coming through the gate (I'll try and post them later). Quite a good place to spectate as most of the runners have to slow slightly to get through the narrow gate. Though I'm sure, given the amount of seagulls, Theresa would disagree (it's supposed to be "lucky"!).

My jazz of choice this week has been a bit "Trad". In fact in the history of British jazz it comes from the man who embodies "trad". Mr Acker Bilk! Yes he of the stupid waistcoats and the silly bowler.

An album he did back in 1968. And "yes" it does have his signature tune on it "Stranger On the Shore"!

Apparently when this album was first released it wasn't terribly well received and the "Trad" bubble had well and truly burst a few years earlier with audiences getting more attuned to bop and more modern sounds.

Mr Bilk, however, never really let that bother him and carved out a very nice wee career for himself churning out albums and playing gigs that as the Penguin Guide To Jazz puts it "appealed to the 'chicken-in-a-basket' set".

Anyway, other than a secret liking of the aforementioned "signature tune" it was the band "supporting" that really got me wired up for this CD. The Stan Tracey Big Brass!

Actually the CD is a composite of two original albums. "Blue Bilk" and Stan's own "We Love You Madly" his big band tribute to Duke Ellington.

Lovely stuff.

MR HAY LEAVES HIS MARK ON THE DGP

Went out a wee trot today at lunchtime. Just me and my sore rib.

Relatively sedate and uneventful – up along the banks of the mighty Clyde.

Passed the site of the “rib thwacking incident” of two weeks ago (all the time being mindful of tree roots of course). There is, quite visibly, still a dark patch on the path made by my blood.

Cool J

SLOW PROGRESS

The "thwaked" rib is still not 100%, but progress is being made.
I can now go out and run... though I'm still a long way off "running". If that makes sense.
I can probably train to about 80% of the effort of what I would normally do, but I cant see myself racing for a while.

I feel "discomfort" but not "pain" (well most of the time). I also think the strange way I run actually helps for once. I have a kind of exagerated "shoulders back, chest out" sort of style that would make Windsor Davis proud, and I think it holds the ribs "open" (some might argue that the shorts gives the overall effect a bit more of the "Don Estelle" look).

Anyway. I don't really have anything lined up, race wise, for a while now. Certainly this weeks North Berwick Law race and the upcoming Haddington Half have been scratched off my dance card.
Strange though that last night, after being out a 7 mile run during the day with no bother at all, I got a hell of a sharp pain just when I turned in bed! Just have to be careful.

Anyway. As I say, at least I'm out there doing something, and that helps me feel better psychologically at least.
Been enjoying this week the coverage of the European Championships on the BBC. It's never been "must see" telly, but if I am in, and it's on, I'll probably end up watching it (though usually with the sound off, subtitles on and jazz playing in the background). Saw Mo Farrah winning the 5k last night to get the double (10k and 5k) - fantastic stuff.

I've also been enjoying reading reports about the Tour of Fife.

THINK I'LL KEEP THIS ONE.

Some you win and some you don't...
Rummaging through countless charity and second hand shops doesn't always throw up winners. Take the other week for example. I found a CD (sans cover) by a band I'd never heard of called "Corduroy" on the AcidJazz label. Now, Alan Barnes and Steve White's band The Jazz Renegades were on AcidJazz and their albums were good. Perhaps for the princely sum of £1.99 this would be more of the same...
Utter crap. Upbeat cheesy "pop" from a bunch of watered down soul boys that made Haircut 100 sound "cutting edge". It now resides in some wheelie bin in Leith.

Still. The determined collector can not let such horrible experiences deter them. The hunt goes on...

And so it was yesterday in Perth that I stumbled across a CD by the Michal Gera Band from the Prague Castle Jazz fest of 2007.

I decided that for £1.99 I'd take another leap of faith. Though to be honest at least this CD had the cover and despite the "English" translation of the sleeve notes being firmly of the Pigeon variety at least I knew this would be "Jazz".

And very fine jazz it is too. A tone and style not unlikely Enrico Rava. The quartet is made up of Gera on Trumpet, Vitek Svec on double bass, Pavel Razim on drums and Petr Zeman on electric guitar who on occasion gives the whole thing a sort of jazz/rock/"prog" rock edge to it, though never straying too far from the jazz side to lose my interest.

I'd never heard of any of these musicians until yesterday ... but I'm more than happy that I've heard them now. This one is NOT going into the bin... it's a keeper.