Tag: Loch Lomond

bookmark_borderM74

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Unlike Route 66 and the N17, no-one has ever written a song about the M74, but there is time for that to change.

With the news that the proposed extension of the “motorway that goes nowhere” is to be built, and naturally that a variety of protest groups are up in arms at the decision (for some good reason), there is a chance for this dead-end of a motorway to grab a share of the spotlight and gain some notoriety.

For those not in the know, the M74 ends in a roundabout (hence the dead-end references) and is mainly used as a link from the M8 on the journey south to England. Before we moved to Hamilton, which sits on the M74, we used it a lot whilst travelling up from Aylesbury, so we know the way quite well.

Perhaps it’s time to break out the visual aids.

Our route on M74

The red dot is Hamilton. The green line is the current route for anyone travelling from the M74 onto the M8, up and round the back of Glasgow and on towards the west. As you can see the proposed extension will cut a large distance from the journey, not to mention avoiding the notorious Kingston Bridge altogether. For that reason, and the fact that the main reason we generally use the M8 is to travel past Glasgow, I think the proposed extension is a wonderful idea.

But then there is the pollution and impact on the environment to consider. One option would be a viable public transport alternative, except there already is one, the trains run from Hamilton through Glasgow to Balloch at Loch Lomond but we car users do like the comfort and flexibility of controlling our own travel times so that’s never really going to be an option for many.

What else to consider? Pollution, impact on the environment? More than three quarters of Scotland isn’t even inhabited. You want fresh air? Move to Auchtermuchty!

If I’m honest, the main thing that annoys me about this entire thing is the guilt tactics employed by the protest groups. I’m fully aware these things will have an impact on the environment but for my own selfish needs I WANT the extension built. It’ll knock about 15 minutes OFF the time it takes to drive through to Dumbarton, something we do every other weekend, and will also mean our car is emitting less and we’ll be using less fuel.

So, to appease my own inner demons, I guess what I really need to do is find where the balance between the impact cost of building the extension is “equalled” by lowering pollution and saving on fuel use. I feel a rough guess coming on… how about year 2063?

Well it’s either that or buy a bike…

bookmark_borderR.E.M.

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Whilst I remember, I have one spare ticket for this Saturday’s R.E.M. gig in Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond, the venue is amazing, and if the sun is out it should be a great day.

If you want the ticket, make me a (monetary) offer.

P.S. You’ve only got a couple of days before I bung it up on eBay.

bookmark_borderConcerts

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I forgot one other thing that I promised myself this year. More concerts. I’m toying with going to see Ed Harcourt in February, already got tickets for R.E.M. at Loch Lomond (couldn’t NOT go as it’s my spiritual home) and then U2 announce their dates. I’d LOVE to see them again but £45 a ticket is a bit steep if you ask me.

Or is it? God, I just don’t know. Anyway it’s academic as I’m completely skint and the tickets will be gone by the time I have enough money for one.

bookmark_borderThe High Road

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R.E.M. are to follow Runrig and Oasis and play at Balloch.

Ahhh memories. Runrig, at the time, were huge. Their version of “Loch Lomond”, recorded at the event, charted in the top 10 (I think). The gig itself was more like a mini-festival, with several bands on stage before the headliners – Wolfstone, Hothouse Flowers, The Big Dish, Capercaillie and The Fat Lady Sings. I can still remember sitting on the hill overlooking the stage, a beer in hand, the sun shining, and the sound of an amplified didgeridoo reverberating around the hills (from the opening to a Hothouse Flowers track I can’t remember) – there was a stunned semi-silence as you couldn’t see anyone on stage, only hear that eerie, goosebump inducing, sound.

The gig was on the same day as Louise’s birthday, and I remember standing next to Lorraine Kelly (aff the telly) during Runrig’s set. Other random memories include drinking straight vodka smuggled in a juice cartoon (looked like Ribena, sure as hell wasn’t), the ‘tango’ man who had painted himself bright orange, gotten very drunk and ended up crashing down the hill leaving orange paint marks on everyone he stumbled past.

That was *gulp* thirteen years ago.

Fast forward five years and Oasis roll into Balloch for a two night stay. Remember that this was off the back off What’s the Story… and they were HUGE (they went on to do two nights at Knebworth). Not that I was there, tickets sold out in minutes so we took to the water in a friend’s boat. Again it was a day of many bands, and we had some fun as most of them were staying across the Loch at Cameron House, passing us on their way to perform.

So, roll on R.E.M.! My mate Ian’s house is a two minute walk from the park so I’m guessing we’ll start there. I’m excited already!!

bookmark_borderPaint the whole world

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Every morning should have one, arching across the sky as the drizzle falls, all the colours in such glorious vibrancy.

Site news: HaloScan continues to play silly buggers, I’m trying to get in touch with the site admin to see what the problem is.

Other news: Mark Conrad wrote about the media coverage of Beslan in yesterday’s Observer: Should we have looked away?

Rather than transmitting facts, it exists to stir up emotions – literally to orchestrate them… Ethical scruples may make us avert our gaze from such images. But are we then colluding with the politicians who want to suppress them because of the inconvenient truths they tell?

Interesting piece, worth a read.

And, possibly on a similar note, I found this article at first amusing then, the more I thought about it, rather worrying:

The Church of St Sulpice has many attractions – notably its Delacroix mural. So it is a matter of deep regret to church officials that most visitors are now attracted primarily by a huge bronze candlestick, used by an evil albino monk to batter a nun to death in Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code.

Or maybe I’m just “over-thinking”.

Anyway, nice weekend. Up at 5:15am yesterday to catch the in-laws at the airport before they flew home to Spain. It’s amazing what getting up that early can do for you day. We got home around 8am and I managed to read the paper, over my obligatory two coffees and a bagel, before lunch. Unheard of! My parents turned up at 1pm and it was off to Chatelherault for a launch event for the new Renault Modus. Clever car, lots of “ohhh that’s clever” little gadgets and ideas, but it’s little bigger than a Clio so don’t let the adverts fool you. They had one of the F1 cars there as well (photos if I can get them off my phone), but the day was somewhat ruined by the incessant drizzle. We left before either the falconry display or the herding of the “As Seen on TV” Loch Lomond Ducks.

And so, to Monday. That hallowed day for commuters, where the trains run late, the annoying people are ALWAYS in your carriage, and the man with the large sports bag, who is incapable of putting in an overhead luggage rack, drops it on your toes and constantly fidgets with it, rubbed a welt in your shin.

Except this morning the train was on time and it was quiet and spacious. I started to wonder if it was a bank holiday…

Thanks to all for the questions, my 100 Things is coming along nicely, still plenty of gaps though (I’m guessing that maybe I should put a little more effort into completing it myself, what with this being my site and all…).

And finally, a question: is sleeping from 9.30pm to 7.15am bad for you?

bookmark_borderLife on Air

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As we now have a smaller car, the trip through to Loch Lomond yesterday required one of us to take the train (I’m convinced that one of the in-laws suitcases contained only alcohol and cigarettes, I digress). I quite enjoy a leisurely train journey and jumped at the chance knowing it would give me some time to relax and finish off a book I’ve been reading for a while.

David Attenborough: Life on Air (currently only £3.99!) was a present (at Christmas I think) and I highly recommend it. If you enjoy the man’s natural history programmes then you’ll find this book fascinating. It recounts his entire working life, with many anecdotes surrounding the filming and techniques used. He has an excellent turn of phrase and I got the distinct impression that the majority of his life has been spent, not only doing something he enjoys immensely but laughing constantly.

If you are looking for a book to take on holiday, I’d suggest this. It’s very easy to read and compellingly fascinating.

And no, I don’t know if compellingly is a word.