The office was like a morgue yesterday. So many people took the bank holiday off as a holiday, it left the rest of us feeling rather depressed and hacked off that we were still in the office. Not to worry, next week I am off for a couple of days to go through to Glasgow to see my sister. The event: Supergrass’ farewell gig at the Barrowlands.

There’s going to be somewhere new to eat in Edinburgh this August. The Festival in the Sky will give diners with a head for heights the ability to dine at this year’s Edinburgh Festival from a table suspended 100ft above the city. It’s a 22-seat dinner table hoisted into the air by a crane in West Princes Street Gardens. Each guest is fastened in for food as the table rotates slowly, providing views over the castle, Princes Street and beyond towards Fife. There’s more on it here: Dinner in the Sky

It’s a nice idea but in windy and rainy Scotland, unavoidable at any time of the year, it could be an interesting experience for some. Mind you, my wedding anniversary is in August…

The June issue of my newsletter, THE PATTER, is out: click here to read it and don’t forget to subscribe if you want to receive it regularly. It’s only once a month and you get the heads up on all new releases plus exclusive competitions.

My GDR wrap-up for May is also complete (see below), and I’ve made a decision about the Ranfurly Review. After this month’s issue, which is going to be late I regret to say, I’m going to take the magazine into hiatus.

I really need to get further involved in my own fiction and it’s holding me back having to read through the hundreds of submissions I get then prepare the thing four times a year. I honestly never thought it would get like this, but it has, and I now I understand why so many magazines go into this state.

As I move into the summer period, with my end of writing year at the Book Festival pending and with so much fiction I want to complete, I simply must do something to slim things down to the bits that really matter to me. Unfortunately, RR doesn’t quite fall into my top priority list for now.

The rain is back for the 1st of June, one would never think the summer is on our doorstep looking out the window right now. Never mind, on with May’s GDR wrap-up.

Peace and out!

Fiction
* Complete GREENER IS THE GRASS – done; fully redrafted & printed off for final polish
* Begin re-writing of GATECRASH – done; expect draft complete end of June
* Write at least one new short/flash story – not done
* Re-submit any rejected/recalled short stories – not done
* Submit more fiction/poetry competitions – not done; few summer ones lined up

Poetry
* Write at least one poem per week – not done; no new work for a wee while now

Editing
* Stay on top of RR submissions – done
* Start preparing for June ‘10 issue – sorting and planning; RR to go into hiatus for summer period minimum

Freelance
* Get some gigs to review for NotW – 4 new gigs lined up
* Keep all websites updated and relevant – done; minor updates
* SDR May issue – done

Reading & Learning
* The Kenneth William Diaries by Russell Davies – IP
* On Writing by Stephen King – done
* The Butt by Will Self – done
* Suggs and the City by Suggs – IP
* The Grave Tattoo by Val McDermid – IP
* Work anthology – IP

Successes
* LOVE IS… poem to be published in Forward Press anthology in July.
* Gave interview for book on authors.
* Took a huge amount from King’s book, On Writing.

Failures
* None.

The Scruffy Dog Review – SPRING ISSUE OUT NOW!!

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Set in London and Brighton at the height of the Mod era, Quadrophenia is told through the eyes of Jimmy, a hedonistic style-conscious teenager searching for a place to belong and a girl to love. Misunderstood by his parents and stuck in a dead end job, he sets off on a trip to Brighton that will change his life forever.

This compelling coming of age story is brought to life in this original stage adaptation of the legendary album. The evocative world of sixties Britain provides a colourful backdrop to Jimmy’s journey. Pete Townshend’s stunning score pulsates with life and brilliantly captures the excitement of a nation on the brink of change.

That’s the blurb, and while I promised a review of yesterday night’s opening show at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh, I realised half way through the show I couldn’t. Why? Because I happen to know there are several subscribers to the Mod way of life that are also keen readers of this blog, so by writing about the show would only serve to ruin it for those still to see it in Edinburgh and next week in Glasgow.

All I will say is, Stevie Ward et al, enjoy the show! If you are interested in reading some reviews, here’s a small selection:

Scotsman Review
It’s On It’s Gone Review
The Edinburgh Blog Review

Before the theatre Gail and I went for a meal at the nearby Blonde Restaurant, situated on St. Leonard’s.

Blonde is a nice and quiet wee restaurant, with modern décor in peaceful surroundings, and a divine smell of herbs and sauces when you walk in the door. Couldn’t help but wonder if old Inspector Rebus had ever eaten there, what with it being directly across from St. Leonard’s police station. Gail and I chit-chatted and enjoyed being out together, and we did so with a fine bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, an instant choice given Devon Ellington’s recommendation on her blog earlier in the day.

For dinner, I enjoyed the Terrine of chicken parfait with chorizo and green peppercorn, dat and banana chutney and oatcakes to start. For my main course I had a scrumptious fillet of freshly grilled rainbow trout in grain mustard and lime dressing, roasted tomatoes and peppers, and all atop a delicious courgette, avocado and black olive salad in basil and garlic oil.

During the meal I became aware of a woman whom I recognised; someone from somewhere else in my life that I’m sure I knew and probably chatted with. The more I thought about it the more positive I became that she was a fellow writer – I just could not remember her name. Then I noticed her looking at me in a “I know him – what’s his name, again?” fashion.

I still haven’t figured it out but I’m not likely to forget. I’m positive she’s a writer, though.

Then we were off to the show. The audience was as you might expect, all Fred Perry Tops, Harrington jackets, Ben Shermans, DMs, and the car park behind the theatre was full of nothing else but scooters.

Today I have much to do. It’s nearing the end of the month and I have lots to do if I am to make it a really good GDR wrap-up when it comes along at the weekend. Best hop to it!

It’s not too late to sign up to my newsletter for the chance to win a free e-book of STELLA and some signed promo stuff. Enter your email address here and when the next newsletter comes out on 1st June you’ll have five days to get your entry in. The answer is really easy – all you have to do is watch the promotional video on my site to be in with a chance.

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Pay day! Hallelujah! And that means later on today I’ll be going for my monthly Pay Day Lunch with some friends. Today, I think we are going to a new Thai restaurant (new for us) on Frederick Street. Should be fun – it’s got good reviews.

It’s a lot cloudier today, thus, much cooler. After such a beautiful week it’s a shame that as we move into the weekend the weather has started to turn. Typical Scotland, but I guess you could say we’re used to it. Not to worry though because I’m donning my new Harrington jacket that arrived yesterday in the post. It came a large patriotic Union Flag bag see above), which had me teary eyed as I carefully prised it open.

The jacket itself is awesome and the quality really is excellent. I can’t recommend Warrior Clothing enough for all kinds of superb British clothing, and the best in British Heritage Fashion; authentic Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, Lambretta, Dr Martens, the works.

Yesterday was back to normal at the day job and nowhere near the stress levels experienced on Wednesday. Still very busy, though, which is very much the norm these days but one can’t complain. As I experienced not so very long ago, it is better to be busy than sitting bored. It does strange things to one’s mind.

I hit the skids somewhat on the new book and never got a whole lot else on anything done. Ended up feeling guilty over it and vowing to ensure I caught up on the words I lost today by the end of the weekend. I’m on 24-hour standby over the weekend meaning I can’t stray far, so I should be able to find the time to make up the lost progress.

Today I have a lot to do. My energy always picks up this time of week so I’m looking forward to reporting some good progress today and tonight. Might not get much done during day job hours given I’m the only one in bar the boss, but we’ll see how things go.

Tally ho!

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I had a wonderful day off work yesterday (Wednesday). I met my mum off the bus from Glasgow and we had a wee day to ourselves, and as it turned out, one to remember.

After a morning coffee we took a trip out to the Dean Gallery and spent an hour and a half browsing the art on display. The lower floor has a large collection of Dada and Surrealist art, some of which was more appealing than others. I quite the surrealist stuff, but it has to give me a connection somewhere, not just exist.

The featured artwork was split between Edinburgh-born artist Eduardo Paolozzi, with installations of his mechanical sculptures in the gardens as well as inside, and four Scottish painters: Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, John Bellany, Alan Davie and Anne Redpath. The collection included “works of expressionism and abstraction with influences ranging from natural forms to Zen Buddhism to jazz music”. Again, some of it was lovely and others we just didn’t see it.

Fog had smothered Edinburgh by the time we left, so we jumped into a cab and headed off to get some lunch near our next event at the Kings Theatre. We settled in a small bar/restaurant just along from the theatre and enjoyed some carrot and coriander soup with toasted ciabatta, followed by a wee coffee to keep us going.

Into the theatre then, and the main event of the day. I had managed to get fifth row centre seats for what has been billed as the stage highlight of the year: Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot with Sir Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart as Vladimir and Estragon, and Simon Callow and Ronald Pickup as Pozzo and Lucky.

I doubt I could do justice to the performances of those involved, by attempting to describe the amazing quality of acting, and the utterly enjoyable two and a half hours we spent in the theatre. It was quite simply the best time I have spent in a theatre in my life, and Ian McKellen in particular, well, it was top notch stuff of the highest order, and both my mother and I felt honoured to have been there.

Afterwards, a quick drink in a nearby pub with much discussion about the play, and we took a walk from Tollcross around Edinburgh Castle, down the Royal Mile to Hunter Square and Le Sept, my favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. Or at least it used to be until it moved, and this was the first time I had been to its new premises.

We took our seats in the more open and less intimate dining area, and took nearly three hours to enjoy our meal – and I mean enjoy because the cooking has not deteriorated one iota. We both had the Grilled Goats Cheese with leaves, croutons, olive oil, garlic, and basil. It was delicious, not too filling either. Then we both tucked into the Aberdeen Angus 8oz Rump Steak served with fries, my mother having it with the Mixed Berries & Port Sauce, and myself with the Garlic & Parsley Butter. All of this deliciously prepared food was washed down with a bottle of French Julienas wine.

I think the meal must have finished around half seven or eight o’clock, because we talked for a long while afterwards over the rest of the wine and more coffee, before I walked my mum back to the bus station in St. Andrews and waved her off to Glasgow.

It was a fabulous day of which I can say there was no single highlight, though perhaps the exception of that may have been Ian McKellen’s acting skills. It was a day of culture, of talking, of fine wine and dining, and of just being with my mum – I can’t really ask for much better than that. I don’t spend enough time with my mother, and I probably don’t talk as much to my parents as I should, but today was memorable, and I know we’ll do it again soon.

The extra bonus to the day was the top-up my Creative Well received through the enjoyable morning spent in the Dean Gallery, but more so in the Kings Theatre in the company of some of Britain’s top Shakespearean actors performing one of the most important and stimulating plays of the 20th Century.

Cheap and free e-books:

• Selektion – FREE!
• Brick by Brick – FREE!
• Silly Poems for Wee People Vol.1 – FREE!
• Fringe Fantastic – £3 (£5 OFF!!!)
• Poolside Poetry – £3 (£2 OFF!!!)

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