Weekend in Glasgow, plus other things

The weekend just past I took a cross-ferry coach from Belfast to Glasgow to see the Paul Draper gig at King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut. The night before I left I only had two and a bit hours sleep and had a long day afterwards. On the coach from Cairnryan to Glasgow – en route to Edinburgh – I was sick on the twisty cliff roads heading to Ayr. I went to the toilet to be sick and lost my balance. The coach driver was pissed off at me – wondering why ‘A Grown Man’ would leave such a mess – but at Ayr a woman getting off there let me have the rest of her water bottle so I could get a Co-Codamol in me. That – plus frantic prayer – got me to Glasgow without barfing again.

The main issue was eating too much on the ferry. I had a fish supper, plus a few other nibbles. But on the way home I only ate a light breakfast; granola with yoghurt and milk plus a cappuccino. Also, I bought two bottles of water for Co-Codamols and I didn’t barf yesterday at all.

On the way over at Saturday morning, I spoke to a guy from Lisburn who is heading to Ayr to star in a pantomime. We had a good conversation about how the British mock our Northern Ireland accent whenever we head there. Also, I was talking to a couple from Leicester on the ferry to Cairnryan on Saturday and they met Mark Selby – the World Snooker Champion from Leicester – and showed me a picture of him on their phone.

Also, there were quite a few from Quebec who went on the same coach from Belfast on Saturday as me, then on the ferry back to Belfast, I spoke to another couple from Quebec who rented a car from London and were driving across Britain and Ireland. Plus I got to see the last twenty-odd minutes of the All-Ireland Final. Heartbreak for Mayo; what’s new?

The gig itself went well but left early due to having a long day. But getting sleep on Saturday night really lifted my mood on Sunday morning.

Tunes:

 

Heading to Glasgow this weekend

To see the Paul Draper gig at King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut – the infamous musical venue in the city owned by Alan McGhee where Oasis first cut their musical teeth. Of course, Mansun also played one of their earliest gigs there. It might end up being a pilgrimage for me. 🙂

I have booked a taxi to make me from my home to Tamnamore park-and-ride to get a bus to Belfast and then wait for the substitute bus to take me to the ferry to Cairnryan. Hopefully, my previous experience with that coach has prepared me better for this forthcoming journey.

I’ll miss seeing the All-Ireland Final, though, but on reflection perhaps Tyrone’s abject performance against Dublin a fortnight ago was a blessing in disguise. Ardboe plays in the Tyrone Championship this Saturday. Ripping over the fact I’ll have to miss it. Apparently, many of the Football fields in that region are unplayable. Perhaps?

Tunes:

 

 

The week when Northern Ireland grinds to a halt

Wednesday is the Twelfth of July, the day the Orange Order celebrate the victory by the Protestant King William over the Catholic King James in 1690. Amidst all the nonsense and hullabaloo surrounding the ‘religious’ divide here – as far as I’m concerned, the differences between the Irish and British are cultural rather than national or religious – most people still wanna just get along. It’s just the PTSD-induced victim class that get uppity.

For me, it’s simply a time to stay away from trouble; how very Boo-Boo of me. 🙂 Most people holiday during this period, I’ve done it a few times myself, but now I just wanna enjoy my free time.

Tunes:

 

Haiku list from my journey last weekend

Ferry was delayed!
Irish Sea not seaworthy!
Anxiety high!

Police questioned me!
“Were you reported missing?”
Police check cleared me!

Frustrated on coach!
Crying toddler next to me!
Off at Craigtara!

Train halted for so long!
Inspecting a broken line!
Over two hours!

Drunk stoner on train!
Played ‘Justified and Ancient’!
Towards Birmingham!

Taxi to London!
Starts at Birmingham New Street!
Got to use 4G!

“Where were you drinking?”
Asked by drunk blade from Oxford!
Outside a Waitrose!

Earl’s Court Tube Station!
Heading on towards Brighton!
From Victoria

Lib Dem Supporters!
EU Gladrags on display!
Had to bite my tongue!

Need to get a bin!
No bin at Victoria!
Had to go outside!

On train to Brighton!
Had to stop at Three Bridges!
Then substitute bus!

Outside in Brighton!
Gorgeous Saturday weather!
At the Love Café!

Got cappuccino!
Heart sign like Power Symbol!
Made me laugh out loud!

Tube back to Earl’s Court!
Blade almost ran into me!
Like a Cattle herd!

Sick on coach back!
Between Ayr and Cairnryan!
Eating far too much!

Got earlier bus!
Castledawson park-and-ride!
Rearranged taxi!

Monday (St Andrew’s Day)

Hard to believe we’re now approaching December. It’s been a year of transition for me; the issues around needing a new car back in February then getting into a place of my own and standing on my own two feet. Money wise, I’m broke. But now I have a bit more gratitude.

 

Quitting the Political Rat Race I had entered was the best thing to happen to me. Now I realise just how much entitlement I felt and that I entered the one profession which has the greatest sense of entitlement.

 

Had an Employment Advisor appointment this morning when signing on. Told them I could be doing an IT course via Specialisterne via the STRIDE Program. Finding work is a b***h as I have to retrain, ££££!

 

Happy St Andrew’s Day to all those Mars Bars fryers who can’t dance properly. 🙂

 

Some tunes for today: