Rock ‘N’ Roll

We went to see Tom Stoppard’s new play Rock ‘N’ Roll.    It is quite a long play all about Prague and underground Rock and Roll bands like Pink Floyd.      The text is really dense and like Stoppard’s many other plays, demands that the audience works pretty hard to follow what is going on.
The acting was [...]

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Oyster Cards – the Highs and Lows

I was in London last weekend, and as I was going to be doing some travelling, I bought an Oyster Card.   For those not familiar with this, an Oyster Card is like a credit card that can be topped up to keep it in funds – at a station, in some shops and online.  
If you [...]

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No more 0870 numbers

Many companies and public agencies use 0870 phone numbers for the public to contact them.    These numbers are expensive, and too often, the company you are phoning gets a cut.
Very often, there are alternative numbers that staff can use etc. which go to the same place as the 0870 numbers.    These can be geographic area [...]

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Digital Radio DAB and “the Pips”

One of the most popular household purchases made recently was a DAB radio which we use every day in our kitchen.    Not only do you get lots of extra channels, but there is a remote which changes radio stations TV style.   We listen to a lot of radio.
But I do have some reservations:    the sound quality [...]

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Mowing the lawn – final cut?

The weather has been so mild that I had to give the grass “another final cut” today.    Even although the cutting height was raised from the summer cutting height, masses of stuff came off.    Piles and piles of grass clippings, and the first of the sycamore leaves.
The sycamore is quick to drop its leaves, as [...]

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17th October History Matters

This is being posted as a Diary for today on History Matters.
I am sowing winter oats on my farm.   I am also planning ahead of an annual general meeting and Conference which I have to chair in November.
6.55 Radio 4 Today program weather – vital info for today.   Up, walk dogs get paper from post [...]

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The Tempest

The Tempest at The Tron in Glasgow promised much, with Paddy Cunneen directing a top Scottish cast. 
In the end, it was something of a disappointment.   Minimally set in, on and around a beached sea container out of which spews a grand piano, the actors tried their best to bring this to life.   Hampered by doubling [...]

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Scottish Opera

Still haunted by the Rosenkavalier production seen in Glasgow.   
Interestingly, David McVicar returned to his home town to direct this revival.      In an interview with The Herald he explains about how he works with each new group of singers individually, rather than fit them into the old template.     Each group of singers brings something new, and [...]

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Rosenkavalier

Expedition to Theatre Royal in Glasgow on Wednesday to see Scottish Opera’s revival of Der Rosenkavalier.     I have seen this before twice (this is the second revival), and each time has been very good, but the singing this time round is simply wonderful.   And not just the singing – the acting is amazing.   
 Towards the end [...]

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Airline Ticket Prices

It is always amazing how a “cheap flight” suddenly does not look so cheap at all.
A £4 flight and a £34 flight.    Two passengers return Edinburgh to London, £76.    Looked a not bad deal.   But what’s this?   Taxes, Passenger Surcharge and Insurance Surcharge £93.40.     Now it comes to £169.40.   But there’s more:   a Credit Card [...]

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