Recent photo

This blog is never going to become photography only but I wanted to share a photo that I took recently, it felt good to get back out taking photos - here's to many more!

Rangers v Celtic

I seem to have attended more Ranger's games since coming back from New Zealand than I ever did before I left. But I do love the sport and they don't come much bigger over here than these. Australia v All Black's? The atmosphere isn't quite the same.

The last one was the Cup Final that Rangers won at Hampden.....

And today's was a last minute ticket for the game at Ibrox which ended up 0-0 thanks to some stunning saves by big McGregor.

For those of you who aren't living here and probably don't know, Rangers are being hammered at the moment for singing sect*ri*n songs, and now the police, fifa and everyone else seems to be getting involved trying to sort things out. Especially now that people are being targeted with expl*sives and de*th threa*ts. (Even though I am not saying anything wrong I have blanked out some of the letters so filters don't identify me as a suspicious blogger and shut me down.)

 For what it's worth here's my tuppence worth on the whole embarrassing situation in Glasgow at the moment.

1) I sincerely hope that this is just the catalyst that we need to rid Scottish football of  all the mentalists who get their kicks on both sides out of their hatred of the other.
2) I think "him over there" needs to conduct himself with a bit more decorum, although he doesn't deserve threats against him and his family.
3) I look forward to the day when we can have a healthy, fun rivalry with each other - and to those who say it can't happen, I have two words for you...smoking ban. They said that couldn't happen either.

Steph.

Enhancing the blog

I am currently undertaking a bit of a marathon task where I am systematically revisiting every blog post we have ever made trying to get it ready to publish into a wee coffee table book for ourselves. I'm not really changing things, just polishing things slightly and jazzing it up with more images.

So basically there will be new photos on some of the really old posts and the spelling will be fixed - if you can be arsed looking that far back in time have a look. If not you can always order a copy of the book - it'll be ideal jobby time reading ;o)

Photography

I've also been getting myself back out and about taking some photos - with varying success I might add. As I was saying to my snapper friend Gordon, it's like not having ridden a bike in a while - you can still do it but you're not as confident and a wee bit shit.

Here are a couple of the shots that I took the other day, remember to keep up with my flickr account for the latest updates and oldies

www.flickr.com/stephbrown08

A funny anecdote from the Central Station picture - 3 teenagers come up to me and one said "can you take a picture of me?" - I said, "I could, but no offence pal, it's no gonna make me any money." His mates found this pretty funny - as did I. 

Och, the Glasgow banter.

Latest update......

Wahey, life continues to hurtle along at quite a pace back here in Bonnie Scotland, and it's funny because when you are at home you don't always carry a camera to catch those magic moments to put on the blog.

I have been trying to get better at this though and hope that some of the shots here will help fill in some blanks from the previous months.

My Mum's 60th

My Mum turned 60 in March - even though she still looks in her thirties. We had a great meal out on the Friday at Ubiquitous Chip and then we were out again with the rest of the family at Arisaig in Merchant Square. A good time was had by all and my Mum's birthday haul included a cold frame for the garden, a whopping big flatscreen TV, champagne and flowers, more helium balloons than you would need to get to space (especially if you are as small as my mum), jewellery, a purse and a trip to Paris to be had in the Autumn.

Old Trafford with the School

I recently went on a school trip down to the village of Manchester to watch one of their up and coming young teams call "Manchester Untied" or something like that. It was very exciting on the way down on the bus when the kids were stuffing their faces and generally quiet. However on the way back when they were sick, tired and out of sweets,  it was less fun.

For the record, Old Trafford was pretty fantastic - we were in the Bolton away support which made it quite fun. The fans were singing stuff like "you're just a shit Michael jackson" (to Nani) and "Rooney Sh8gged a Wanderer" (to Wayne Rooney)

Bolton lost 1-0 with a Berbatov goal in the last minute - as predicted by me to a 13 year old boy with about 20 minutes to go.

Work update........

Probably worth giving you an update on the work situation - well, after quite a long run in my current school they kind of gave me assurances that they should be able to keep me on until June. However recent crippling financial problems for everyone apart from the bankers and the politicians means that they are now no longer able to keep me on full time and have reduced my hours to 60%. Although they are yet to tell me which days/hours I will be working, what classes I will be teaching and really anything beyond just turn up after the holidays.

That's ok however, and there are a couple of jobs coming up in that school and also a job at one i used to work at where the kids liked to swear and hit each other with hockey sticks.

I will keep you posted on the job situation,,,,,,,,,,watch this space.....