Big G

Just a quick one - we were out last week with some of Katie's work colleagues and bumped into Big G in the bar Oran Mor.

Us with Brad Garret who plays Robert in the hit Tv Show Everybody Loves Raymond

Big G in Oran Mor

Big G works for Rangers in the ticket office, and we know him from Jordanhill. A tremendously tall and nice fella who reminds me a wee bit of Ray's brother Robert in Everbody loves Raymond (in size and shape not personality)

Taketh That

 The Pet Shop was open for business

Double fisted drinkers

I never thought I would ever willingly go to a Take That concert - I envisaged the whole B.A. Baracus conversation, "I ain't going to no Take That concert fool", before my milk would be drugged and then I would be transported there there against my will.

However, and I should be very careful as to what I admit to here, I, Stephen Brown,  being of sound mental health, went to the Take That concert at Hampden Park on Thursday night of my own free will and I actually enjoyed the show. But i drew the line at wearing a pink hat and dancing.

Our friends Ewen and Andrea had bought 4 tickets when they went on sale and asked if we wanted to go with them. We said yeah and then kind of forgot all about it with everything else we had going on and it kind of snuck up on us.

The Pet Shop Boys opened the show and even though I don't like them much it was certainly a trip down memory lane hearing some of their jaunty pop.

 I feign excitement a bit too convincingly

 Robbie goes fishing for women.

Take That try to drown their dancers.

We had a great night and I will admit to the following things/make the following observations:

1) Gary Barlow is actually a very talented singer songwriter.
2) The quiet ones from the group - Jason and Howard - are actually good dancers
3) Robbie is now officially a waste of space.
4) Some Take that songs are quite catchy.
5) Some aren't.
6) They do put on a good show.
7) They are worshipped to a level that i feel quite unsettled by - they are just singers for goodness sake.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the photos.

Our birthdays and Derby Day

It was our birthdays at the end of May (as usual) and this year we decided to give Perth volleyball a miss and hide under a bush instead. We did however go out for dinner and a few shandies on the Saturday night with a bunch of good friends and had a great old night. Thanks to those who attended ;o)

I had a job interview to prepare for so we didn't really feel 100% in the birthday spirit. The job interview preparation went well - unfortunately I didn't get the job though. Well, I say unfortunately but actually, if I am being honest, the only disappointing thing about not getting that job is that I am unemployed at the end of term and have to start job hunting again - I was kind of looking forward to some predictability and drudgery. ;o)

But hey ho, it's back on for high octane excitement again. If Katie didn't have such a great job we would seriously be thinking about moving again - there are a million tax free teaching jobs in seriously hot countries which would be very tempting for a couple of years. Besides, it would make for a much more exciting blog....

Anyway, after the highs and lows of interviewing we had Derby Day to look forward to. Our great friends Noan and David who live down in Romsey (picture the movie Hot Fuzz and you'll know what Romsey looks like) had won at a charity auction a table for 10 in a posh marquee at the Epsom Derby. They invited us down for a cracking weekend which we both thoroughly enjoyed after all the recent pressures.

We flew down to Southampton on the Friday afternoon and we had a lovely afternoon out on the lawn playing quoits and drinking champagne - it really is a different world. Noan and David's neighbours Chris and Lyndsey joined us and we all had a good laugh before venturing out for a Thai meal.

On the Saturday it was an early rise to get the chauffeur driven Mercedes mini bus to Epsom. On the way we picked up the Saturday racing papers in an effort to be well informed about the possible winners. I would have been better not bothering, we won pretty much b*gger all!

By the time we got to the races it was Pimm's O'Clock - well, they were serving lots of it along with champagne if that makes more sense.

 Inside the marquee

Liz, Chris, Andrew, Noan, Lyndsey, some big old guy we didn't know.

It was a lovely day and we had a great track side view from our tent at Tattenham corner. We were well served with food and drink all day - needless to say this was made full use of.

 Some horses running round the corner.

Noan and David

 Katie and David

 The girls

Noan and Katie

A great day was had by all and after the races we still managed to get the chauffeur to stop by a pub for a quick pint on the way home, we then stopped off in Romsey for one and picked up an Indian meal for a midnight snack.

The next day we sat around an watched the final of the French Open on the telly before flying back to Glasgow. 

Good company and many drinks - thanks to Noan and David for exactly the kind of weekend we were in need of.