31 December 2009. The End.

31 December 2009. The End., originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

As this is a "special occasion", I have written a few words on Flickr. I'm not going to repeat them here - if you want to read them, click on the photo of the lovely Imp and you will be transported to Flickr.

It has been a funny old year. It has passed very, very quickly, but I think that's an age thing... On the whole, it has been an uneventful year. There have been no specific high points for me but over the course of the year I have found many new friends. Some of them I know only over the internet, others I have met in real life, all of them are special :-) To those who are reading this - it has been great to get to know you!

Low points... Well, Imp became unemployed, though in the circumstances that was more of a good thing than a bad thing. My greatest hope for 2010 is that she finds a good job.

My friend Bob Q passed on a few days ago. He was a very special guy. The fact that he lived in California meant that we weren't as close as I would have liked, either in the geographical or the metaphorical sense, but I shall miss him and the world is a lesser place without him.

Then there was the whole blip fiasco. In a sense, that was the lowest point of all. Things like death and unemployment are pretty much inevitable and I can cope with that, but the events at that time reminded me that there are some very odd and very unpleasant people out there. Normally, I don't have to deal with such people and the fact that I found myself in that situation, in those circumstances, was extremely annoying. Getting out of there was definitely a high point :-)

So to 2010. We shall see what happens... Thank you to everyone who has dropped by, read my blog and left a comment. A very happy New Year to you all!

Back to my place

30 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

It's nice to be at Imp's place. It's nice to be at my place. It's a shame we can't be two places at once.

Global warming? I wish!

29 December 2009_2, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Bloody cold again today. We went out and had some coffees with a couple of friends, one of whom I haven't met before and who is a damn good photographer. A damn nice bloke too :-) Here's a link to his Flickr:

JanuaryJoe

I didn't take many photographs - the best was this one snapped out of the cafe window. Now I'm back in Imp's nice warm flat. Bliss :-)

A wander out in the cold

28 December 2009_2, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Fortunately, Imp had arranged a bit of socialising today, otherwise we would both have spent the entire day on the sofa with our games (her, CSI for the Wii; me, Flight Control for the iPhone). Blimey, it was cold outside! But we made it to the relative warmth of the 13th Note (which was just warm enough to be comfortable) and had some coffees and snacks and chat. A very pleasant afternoon out :-)

Bob Q

27 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I learned this morning that my friend Bob Q died in his sleep last night.

Bob lived near San Francisco: I came to know him through the internet. This picture is a photograph of a tribute on the site where we got to know each other. We only met once, 14 months ago: another friend had arranged a meeting in the Midlands and a few of the guys in other parts of the world came across, including Bob. It was an honour and a delight to meet him: I told him that at the time and I'm glad I did. He was a man of great wisdom, wit, warmth and eloquence. Although we weren't really close in conventional terms, he felt like a true friend. I shall miss him and the world is a lesser place without him.

Boxing Day

26 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Somebody was given a blue spotty dressing gown by her sister in law. It's very cuddly :-)

I don't think we'll be doing very much today.

Christmas Day

25 December 2009_4, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Much food was eaten, much drink was drunk and much fun was had :-)

Christmas Eve

24 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

A tree, lots of pressies, Eastenders.

Wishing everyone a great Christmas!

Christmas lunch

23 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I am SO drunk! Here's a photo I took when I was sober. The Castle looking pretty :-)

I wanna be somewhere warm!

22 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

That's enough of the cold, icy weather, thanks. I'll have some of the warm, dry stuff now. I imagine that it'll be nice in Arizona just now...

The street lights made the camera do something weird with the white balance in this shot. I like the effect :-)

Did you hear the one about the three bins?

21 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I get the feeling that there should be a joke about three bins... but if there is, I don't know it.

Bloomin' cold again today and the streets were paved with ice. It's good to be home - and, as Mo so nicely put it, it's Wednesday in old money :-)

Another lazy Sunday

20 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Nothing at all wrong with that :-) I'm feeling more relaxed than I do on most Sunday evenings. This could be connected with the fact that we only have a half-week at work this week...

Blizzard!

19 December 2009_2, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Well, as close as we get to a blizzard round here... So we ran out, took some pictures and ran back in again.

Aside from that, we visited lots of friends, delivered lots of pressies, collected lots of pressies and generally had a jolly good time :-)

This time with snow

18 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I posted a shot similar to this one a couple of months ago. There was no snow then. It didn't snow today - that's yesterday's snow. All very pretty and I would love it if not for the icy pavements. I can't cope with icy pavements: I shuffle along while the rest of the world strides past. I get extremely stressed at the feeling that I'm going to end up on my arse at any moment. I managed to stay upright today, but there were a few nasty moments...

It's the weekend! And then a two and a half day week next week :-)

First snow of the season

17 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Like much of the country, we had our first snow of the winter today. It started shortly after I arrived at the office and had turned to slush by the time I got out, so I don't have a picture of the snow.

Instead, I have a picture of an empty shop on a corner. That shop used to be a Globespan travel agency. The shop closed a long time ago and Globespan itself has now gone bust. It's always sad when a company collapses with job losses and all that, but in this case I have to say good riddance. We only travelled with Globespan once and it was not an experience to be repeated.

If I were the ranting type, I would now expend many words on airlines and such like. But I'm not. I shall leave that to those who think that ranting in public is funny and/or clever (which, in all fairness, it sometimes is). Instesad, I shall sit and enjoy the fact that it's almost the weekend :-)

Upside down

16 December 2009 right way up, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I'm not sure if I prefer this the right way up or upside down...



The writing is upside down in the right way up version because I didn't like the reflections when I walked round the other side so that the writing was the right way up.

I need a break. I'm so glad that I'll be getting one in a week's time.

What did you do today, Daddy?

15 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I went to work. I took a photograph on the way. I worked. I came home.

Hey, who the hell are you anyway? I don't have any kids!

I think I need some of this...

Possibly the most boring photograph ever

14 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

It's difficult to get a photograph on a cold, grey day like today.

So long, Monday, it was nice knowing you. (It wasn't really, I'm just saying that out of politeness.)

Chilly

13 December 2009_2, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Bloomin' cold today. Just in case we were in any doubt that it's winter.

We took a stroll along where the Sunday Market used to be. We haven't been along there for a few weeks and I had a suspicion that the market might not be there any more. This was indeed the case. A shame, but I'm not surprised that the stall holders have found somewhere better to pitch their stalls, particularly at this time of year.

Last night's party was fun :-) Thank you, P and G!

That bridge again

12 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Yesterday's departmental night out was jolly nice: dinner at Amore Dogs. They don't serve dog, which is probably just as well. I had the braised pork cheek with zampone (stuffed trotter) and lentils. You wouldn't have guessed that it was cheek (they didn't serve up the whole face) or trotter (it was just a slice, not an entire foot). For dessert, a lovely white chocolate and orange semifreddo. If you don't know what semifreddo is (I didn't), it's probably best described as not quite ice cream. I didn't go drinking afterwards, because a certain someone had come across from Glasgow :-)

Tonight, P's party. Should be fun :-)

Foggy morning

11 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Foggy afternoon too. And no doubt a foggy evening to come. It was so foggy that I couldn't see the Castle. I wonder if it's still there.

Departmental night out tonight. I shall report back tomorrow...

Wee puddle

10 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Left over from yesterday's rain. It didn't rain today.

This week has flown past, mainly because I have been so busy at work. This is no bad thing, except that I still have a load of Christmas shopping to do, Oh well...

Heather the Weather

09 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Her name is Heather and she presents the weather on BBC Scotland. According to the BBC website, she has been doing this for 15 years, and they should know. Today it was announced that she is moving on to other things and her last forecast will be on 22 December. The wind, rain and freezing temperatures won't be the same without her. Farewell, Heather, good luck, and may all your fronts be warm :-)

What's the Point?

08 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

It's a hotel and conference centre.

A couple of minutes after I took this, I overheard a fragment of conversation between two young women who were walking past. That kind of thing happens all the time, of course, but I found this one slightly intriguing.. I heard...

"... post-mortem I have ever attended."

We can safely assume that the beginning of that senence was something along the lines of:

"That was the..."

but I wondered what went in the middle. Longest? Shortest? Most amateurish? Busiest? Funniest? Smelliest? Least entertaining? Most delicious?

The possibilities are almost endless...

My favourite junction

07 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

One day, when I'm really bored, I'll count how many times I've photographed this junction.

The best thing about today is that it's almost over.

John Le

06 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Never knowingly underso

Back in Edinburgh now. This weekend went even more quickly than they usually do :-(

A quiet night in

05 December 2009_1, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Imp and I took a little trip out this afternoon to meet a very dear friend (pictured above) for a virtuous drink before the girls headed off to the retirement do of a former colleague, while I headed back to Imp's place for a quiet night in. I've had some pasta with the very nice sauce Imp made for me before we went out (I am so spoiled!) and now I'm going to laze in front of the telly. I do like weekends :-)

Christmas pretzel

04 December 2009_2, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

It's the weekend, and hooray for that! Have a good one, everybody :-)

Raeburn House Christmas Trees

03 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

I have photographed the Raeburn House Hotel before. It closed many years ago - I'd guess it has been 4 or 5 years - and has remained empty and neglected ever since, with renovation and/or redevelopment being delayed by planning objections, financial problems and who knows what else. But every December, the Christmas tree sellers move in. Which somehow only serves to accentuate the tackiness and sadness of it all.

Yeah Mate

02 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

The hibernation plan didn't work. I forgot to switch off the alarm clock.

Not much to say about today. The most exciting thing I did was sew a button on my coat. It'll be interesting (but not quite exciting) to see how long that lasts.

More than half way through the week :-)

December already

01 December 2009, originally uploaded by sleepyduck.

Where did the rest of the year go? Christmas anxiety is kicking in... so many presents to buy, so little time... I think I'll hibernate. See you all in the spring!