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sir_quirky_k ([info]sir_quirky_k) wrote,
@ 2007-07-11 21:25:00

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Update on escapade21
For the one person who won't have anything to do with G****eanalytics, by the person who wishes he'd done the same... Here it is. typed on a Handy, albeit one with full keyboard,so errors possible.

day 1: wretched. Evacuated the Bristol train, an unattended shoebox on a sleepy branch line in an area where the vast majority of citizens are white families with varying degrees of bigotry is seen as a cause for panic in 2007. (as I typed this, 19 started playing. Perfect timing.) spilt water on the Birmingham train, and the laptop did not turn on. Eep. Then at 1am, the fire alarm at the Etap went off, I rushed out, got out of my room, sound stopped, and I was locked in, for I had left behind the swipe-card key used here. The fire alarm repeatedly went off for two hours due to technical problems, again I locked myself in (I took a keycard, but it was the deactivated key card), and it goes without saying this was a horrific start. In fact, suicidal thoughts were creeping in, along with the powerful thought that I was wrong to plan this trip in the first place. Then...

day 2: good things about the nightmare start: I got to hear Alex Lester's show for the first time. Jolly good too, give him an evening slot and I'll tune in more often. (Not Wogan's slot, Lester would be playlist-bound then or would he?) also, got into NSBH very early indeed, and if I'd been smarter I'd have looked for the exit I'll be using on day 14 with the person reading this... Glasgow train efficient, transition to Queen St easier than I feared, train tio Fort William notable for great views and even greater volume (the latter from some metallic train component, appearing as frequent horrid screeches that caused many people to cover their ears in frustration... as you can guess, it left me in a state). Fort William itself is a lovely scenic place...

day 3: but very hilly. Just getting to the B&B was tough when heavily laden, but less encumbered and less frustrated, I tackled the 289m Cow Hill close to town (indeed, the town seems to be built into that hill). Did so successfully with a few breaks, and wrote most of one song, which lyrically may well be the best I've ever written. Still cynical though, as it slips in references to supermarkets, right-wing tabloids and M. N. No Deel Sod...

speaking of which, this day was only even slightly ruined by watching part of Noel's Gambling Party, a game in which the edit quite clearly removed some extremely obvious arm-twisting that did turn a Deal into a No Deal.

SPOILER IF YOU STILL CARE

Granted, I'd have the decision itself as marginal (£17,499 on a blue/blue/£5k/£50k/£75k final five) but her decison was quite obviouisly not her real preference, and when the perfect sixth round was obtained I was genuinely upset. The post-LTL signoff was a blatant endorsement of taking risks even if you consider it wrong to do so, and if Channel 4 have any social responsibility they should pay off Noel and let him clog up Sky Dumb.

ENDSPOILER

day 4: Inverness by coach. Walked to Caledonian Stadium (intention; creating a mildly amusing Most Northerly Loation Ever Visited), got some interesting pics of the Inverness tourists usually miss. Including a brilliant storefront for a computer repair store 'geeks2you', looking very similar to the Easypollute corporate image. Lawks, Caledonian Stadium is a tip, at least part of it is. There may not be a worse-maintained or uglier top-flight stadium in any European league of any size. An adboard on the main stand (the only tolerable part of the stadium) was for asbestos removal, the stadium looked old enough to need that service itself...

tomorrow: walking along either canal or up a hill just outside the town, yet to decide.


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[info]daweaver
2007-07-12 10:11 am UTC (link)
day 1: wretched.

The probability of a journey completing to plan is inversely proportional to its complexity. Chelle's Rubric still applies.

I got to hear Alex Lester's show for the first time. Jolly good too, give him an evening slot and I'll tune in more often. (Not Wogan's slot, Lester would be playlist-bound then or would he?)

He's as observant of the playlist as any other daytime (midnight to 7pm) presenter. The playlist accounts for something like three tracks per hour, everything else is production. Lester regularly covers for That Kennedy Woman, though not for the Oldmeister.

got into NSBH very early indeed, and if I'd been smarter I'd have looked for the exit I'll be using on day 14 with the person reading this...

Wouldn't have done you much good, the exit doesn't open until 7am. It's the small bridge towards the end of the platform you may have seen as the train pulled out.

Fort William itself is a lovely scenic place...

If I had a quid for everyone who said that, I'd have had a quid from everyone who's been.

wrote most of one song, which lyrically may well be the best I've ever written. Still cynical though, as it slips in references to supermarkets, right-wing tabloids and M. N. No Deel Sod...

Songwriters would be lost without a good dose of cynicism, and that's why I'm all for it.

Walked to Caledonian Stadium (intention; creating a mildly amusing Most Northerly Loation Ever Visited)... a tip, at least part of it is. There may not be a worse-maintained or uglier top-flight stadium in any European league of any size.

It's not the greatest, though I doubt that it's less dilapidated than some of the constructions in the likes of Albania or Belarus.

Enjoy the remaining part of the trip.

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[info]sir_quirky_k
2007-07-12 12:13 pm UTC (link)
The main stand, at least, was more modern. And very obviously built to meet SPL requirements. (10,000 all-seated yes?) i'd suspect *Western* Europe has few top-flight grounds worse, maybe Portugal had some pre-2004, maybe Scotland itself has worse.

think I noticed it, the train left from the B end and I noticed a somewhat modern bridge while waiting for it. Though for reasons mentioned in my other comment this may not be of significance. Going between the bridges via the platforms might be an option? I shall defer to your judgement.

The student station I appear on utilises playlists from 9am to 6pm weekdays, and they account for eight (!) songs per hour. It's worth pointing out that several daytime DJs don't follow the playlist restrictions and not one's been kicked out for it as per the station rules... I had a playlist-bound show for a few months, fitted well between breakfast and piano lessons, and quite enjoyed the challenge of doing it. Much preferred the weekend slot, though.

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