New Milne

Our final day at New Milne has arrived. Some are headed to the airport, some have already left, some are spending a few more days in Scotland & England. Kelly is confirming reservations here before she & Joseph take off for Skibo (I believe). It's an emotional hour as we all scurry about cleaning our rooms, making sure we have everything and saying our goodbyes. Already plans are being made for the next large group trip (Greece, I believe); hopefully I'll be done with this travelogue before that starts. Our stay at New Milne was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; an opportunity that I can only hope will happen more than once in this lifetime. We learned some things, we'll do some things differently next time, but all-in-all, it was damn near perfect. No footy news today because I just don't feel like it. But Arsenal does play tomorrow, so perhaps I'll write a bit then. It's Friday. Time for a beer. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Breathe (Techno Remix) by Faith Hill)

After Dinner Group Photo

There just wasn't much I could do with the original photo, so I made it black & white, added some grain & and a lens-flare. Sadly, Missy, Sean & George were unable to stay for this dinner, but everyone else did. This would be the last night on this trip that we were all together. So, our host graciously offered to take this one last group photo. Don't we all look happy? I suppose it could be the wine, scotch, chocolate & gourmet food euphoria we were all feeling; but I'm more inclined to believe that it was just that close to perfect. Larry & Denise Giesen, Kara, Ed, Kyle & Desiree Ford, Alison, Kelly, Joseph, Ginger & Marita Beth sitting on my lap in the centre. Of course what photo with me in it is complete without beer of some sort? So we have the bottles in the fore-ground to complete the shot. Original photo...Mostly unmodified: Composite Image: Aside from splitting KyleF right down the middle, it's a bit fun to see the two next to each other. Which do you prefer? As I mentioned earlier Arsenal lost yesterday. That keeps the Gunners squarely in 6th place with a hard road to climb to get into 4th place (minimum place to assure Champions League football next year). If we don't make that, I doubt that Henry will put pen to paper to ink his fate with the Arsenal. To top off that horrid display, we are riddled with injuries & suspensions right now. Our new kid playing at right back while Toure is on ANC duty & Lauren is out injured (possibly for the season, he sees the doc today) injured himself in the game. So, we had to put Flamini at right back. The kid's a mid-fielder and unused to playing back there. Nonetheless, he made good account of himself which is considerably more than I can say for Sol Campbell. Our normally stalwart centre-back was directly responsible for the 2 early goals against us and was replaced at half-time by yet another mid-fielder (we seem to have sprouted a whole arse-load of mid-fielders in the past year). Sol continued on out the door & actually left the ground about 15 minutes into the second half. Colour me cynical, but I see that as childish & unprofessional. Still, the gaffer is supporting his team and stated publically that although he hadn't given Sol permission to leave, he supported the player's right to do so as he was very "down & feeling guilty". So starting the second half we had 2 mid-fielders on the outside, and 2 youngsters in the centre. Yet, we only gifted them one more goal while poking two of our own into their net. Final score: 3 - 2 to the Hammers. Damn. Further up the island, yet one more dismal performance by the Magpies has left Souness without a job. I suppose it was just a matter of time. Shearer has been placed in the role of Assistant Caretaker and may very well take over as primary gaffer in the summer; that is if that bag of dung Eriksson doesn't flap his jaws into the position. At the same time, Southampton has stated that they will keep McCarthy at the helm even if Southampton does get relegated. I guess that's good for him, wot? Wastrel On! (Listening to: What Gives My Son? by Ned's Atomic Dustbin)

At Attention in Comic Book Colours

Arsenal went & cocked it up again. The team is self-destructing at a rapid pace and if they can't stop it, no amount of record-breaking goals is going to keep Thierry Henry at the Arsenal. Although Aston Villa did keep Chelsea at a draw and Blackburn (more accurately, ex-Gunner Bentley) showed ManU(re) just who's the dog's bollocks at Ewood Park.

Just fucking around with Paint Shop Pro to create this image.

Opened image, created a threshold layer set to 122 with Soft Light. Sort of a comic-book feel to it.

Wastrel On!

(Listening to: Desert Monsoon by Wolgemut)

Killiecrankie House Dinner

What better way to close out a spectacular week with friends & family then to have a fabulous gourmet dinner. Marita Beth & I had already been to Killiecrankie House & ingratiated ourselves with our host for the evening, Tim. Now, we got to bring our closest friends into the experience. The Killiecrankie House has, numerous times, won the coveted Wine Award as given by the Scottish Licensed Trade News and for good reason as Tim is an amazing sommelier. You can see in the photo that he has entranced both Joseph & Ginger and even Ed (who doesn't drink) look engaged. Tim taught us a great deal about not just wine, but food & life in Scotland. A thoroughly remarkeable & unforgettable dinner & evening. Back from California. 2 1/2 hour flight out. 45 minute presentation 45 minute lunch 2 1/2 hour fight back. Long fucking day! But, seemed to go well, as one of my audience members stated to my boss (who was present for the presentation), "his work saves my ass so many times." Validates my work. Makes me happy. Arsenal let two of their fringe players go yesterday at the midnight hour of the transfer window. Little step-over king Quincy Owusu-Abeyie left for Sparta while David Bentley, who's been on loan to Blackburn, made a non-surprising permanent move to the Rovers. Arsenal face West Ham in a couple of hours and after the bastards up the road Spurs lost to Fulham (at the death on a goal by Carlos Bocanegra) we can move to within 1 pt by trashing the Hammers. Meanwhile Jeremie Aliadiere returned from a loan spell only to immediately head out on yet another loan. Why don't we just sell the kid off? Wenger is hoping to get this TH14 saga behind us by urging Henry to "trust Arsenal" and go ahead and commit. Apparently Arsenal has placed a bid on the table that would keep Henry a Gunner for an additional five years at the tune of £100,000 per week. jeeezzuuus! Chelsea play Aston Villa ManCity get struggling Newcastle Portsmouth go against Bolton Blackburn get to strut their stuff against ManU(re) while Liverpool play to Birmingham Full docket for the day, let's hope the results play to the Arsenal favour. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Leaving Nancy by the Dubliners)

Queen's View

The Queen's View is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful views in the world. So, it being not far from Dunkeld, Marita Beth & I with Ginger, Larry & Denise took the B8090 to the Tay Forest Park and in specific, the Queen's View to take in this marvelous view. The Queen's View became a popular destination after Queen Victoria stopped over here on her way back to England on one of her regular visits to the Highlands. However, it seems to have borne the name for some time prior to her visit. In fact, current theory claims that the Queen's View is named after Robert the Bruce's wife, Isabelle. Well worth the stop over on our way to Killiecrankie House for dinner. Arsenal has been left holding only one final option for silver on the season; the Champions League is still to be played. Although, after losing 1 - nil to Bolton at the Reekbok on Saturday I've not got much faith that they'll fare any better against Real Madrid. One can hope. Martin Keown is apparently back in the fold in some coaching capacity or another. My hope is he'll teach these mid-field youngsters how to harass the opponent...and get away with it. We certainly need a much stronger presence in mid-field. Chelsea looks to be chasing Yaya Toure, Kolo's little brother. Step in Arsenal, let's show Chelsea how's it done and put the brothers on the same squad. Our new signing Manu Adebayor needs to grow up, or at least that's what his Togo coach is saying. Seems that he caused some demoralizing disputes at the ANC and his coach has been high-profile about commenting on how childish Adebayor is being. Perhaps Keown will get the boys balls to drop a bit. Now entry tomorrow. Off to Los Angeles for a work trip. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears)