Christmas Adventure.

After arriving at Granny and Grandad Martin's house, I was given a list of chores which I ignored and went to bed. Sleeping till after noon on Sunday(Xmas eve)before being woken up to do my duties. However in typical fashion nothing was were it should be so Granny had to go and buy a screwdriver before I could begin (putting up blinds) then when she got back asked why I hadn't started.
We went for a meal at Canasta when Grandad arrived back from Edinburgh with Amy, Stewart, Teri and the kids. It was a lovely meal despite a lengthy wait for our starters. Charlie took a dislike to the waitress and threw her milk at her mostly getting Granny and Grandad in the process. It was BYOB so I had a beautiful Chateaux neuf du pape to wash down my grilled seafood platter. Delicious!
Later that night we all settled down in the middle room to watch 'Still Game 5' possibily the funnest show on TV which led to an incident where Grandad went supersonic while howling with laughter even more than usual. Everyone eventually fell asleep and slunk off to bed. My few days at Andy's flat had knocked my bodyclock off a bit so I was just heading to bed when earlyburd Granny woke up.
A few hours later and I was up again for Santa's first stop.











Unfortunatly Granny felt it neccessary to take the camera off me so there are no pictures for the rest of the Xmas adventure.

Off to the 2nd of Santa stops, Granda Frew and Gran's house but Gran wasn't in, so Charlie and Phoenix had to wait patiently before getting tore in to their prezzies. FeeFee was glad to hear it because she was knackered, Gran's absence gave her the opportunity for a nap. When Gran arrived she started dishing out the presents.
A while later Phoenix surfaced and Charlie graciously offered to help open her gifts.
Later again and big cousins Patrick and Gary arrived with Aunty Steph and Uncle David declining Charlie's offer to open their presents for them.
Dinnertime eventually came after being held up by the late arrival of the Proven clan. Greenliped mussells to start and a buffet dinner the pick of which was turkey and haggis. After dinner it was competition time Boys versus Girls (haha). Grandad's Pub Quiz DVD was the task settled upon. Didn't think I needed to mention that the girls were grannied in the 3 matches that were played but you know how Amy likes to re-invent the past, so I thought I better.
After dinner we were meant to go stay at Aunt Steph's house, but Mum had been really rude and whined all day saying she wanted to stay at Gran's, so Amy and Stewart went to stay instead (which really made more sense, but that doesn't excuse Mum's behaviour)

The next day we needed 2 cars to get all the presents through to Edinburgh. Dad and Granda Frew were too late to see the opening of presents at Santa's 3rd stop, our house.
After Gran and Granda went home we went to check out Santa's final stop in his Chaz and Fee shift, Granma and Granda Pugh's house.
Built up Charlie's bike and Heidi's 'puter and had steak pie, mashed and roast tatties with broccoli for Boxing day dinner which was beautiful.

3 days of amazing different dinners that's what Xmas is really about!

Pre-xmas gathering.

Arrived in Glasgow on Thursday before getting bus to Andy Thyne's new flat in Cambuslang to meet up with Paul, Andy and Chris. Paul back from Headhunting in London for Christmas (he has even given up hash in favour of his "career")
Except of course when the boys are together! So we got stoned and watched films, Borat and Rocky VI were the memorable one's. Borat as everyone knows is great although I was so stoned by that point, all I could manage was internal sniggers. Rocky VI on the other hand was pish! It had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Chris went home to burn Rocky VI to disk for us before we went across to pick it up, after watching it working boy Paul fell asleep. Andy and I stayed up till 8am or thereabouts discussing various things, but especially my hot topic at the moment - hemp history.


On Friday I woke up around 3pm and watched more films, planned to go out but Paul was never on board, instead got a Chinky for pick up but argued among ourselves for half an hour about who was going across the road to get it(20 yards tops) nobody backed down so Paul phoned and changed our order to delivery.
Rediscovered a love for buckets which Paul was unimpressed with; he's always worried I might embarrass him, poor lad. We had an old skool night with Bloodsport and Kickboxer getting in on the action. Chris stayed this time but like Paul didn't last the distance. Finished off the night with MarioKart and some Tiger Woods game. Up till about 10.30am.


On Saturday I woke early because I was in the living room. (maybe 2 hours sleep)Watched some more films until I left with Chris and Paul and was dropped off at my Dad's house.

Merry Christmas xxx

Save the World.

If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction, were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the greenhouse effect and stop deforestation; then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time... and that substance is the same one that has done it before . . . CANNABIS/HEMP/MARIJUANA!

In the link I have added, under the title 'The Emperor wears no clothes' by Jack Herer. The history, uses and effects of the King of plants is explained. It has been a tragic history since 1937. I think it's about time the truth about the greatest life giving plant is known.


Why Not Use Hemp to Reverse the Greenhouse Effect & Save the World?

In early, 1989, Jack Herer and Maria Farrow put this question to Steve Rawlings, the highest ranking officer in the U.S. Department of Agruculture (who was in charge of reversing the Greenhouse Effect), at the USDA world research facility in Beltsville, Maryland.

"First, we introduced ourselves and told him we were writing for Green political party newspapers. Then we asked Rawlings, "If you could have any choice, what would be the ideal way to stop or reverse the Greenhouse Effect?"

He said, "Stop cutting down trees and stop using fossil fuels."

"Well, why don't we?"

"There's no viable substitute for wood for paper, or for fossil fuels."

"Why don't we use an annual plant for paper and for fossil fuels?"

"Well, that would be ideal," he agreed. "Unfortunately, there is nothing you can use that could produce enough materials."

"Well, what would you say if there was such a plant that could substitute for all wood pulp paper, all fossil fuels, would make most of our fibers naturally, make everything from dynamite to plastic, grows in all 50 states and that one acre of it would replace 4.1 acres of trees, and that if you used about 6 percent of the U.S. land to raise it as an energy crop - even on our marginal lands, this plant would produce all 75 quadrillion billion BTUs needed to run America each year? Would that help save the planet?"

"That would be ideal. But there is no such plant."

"We think there is."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Hemp."

"Hemp!" he mused for a moment. "I never would have thought of it. . . You know, I think you're right. Hemp could be the plant that could do it. Wow! That's a great idea!"

We were excited as we outlined this information and delineated the potential of hemp for paper, fiber, fuel, food, paint, etc., and how it could be applied to balance the world's ecosystems and restore the atomosphere's oxygen balance with almost no disruption of the standard of living to which most Americans have become accustomed.

In essence, Rawlings agreed that our information was probably correct and could very well work.

He said, "It's a wonderful idea, and I think it might work. But, of course, you can't use it."

"You're kidding!" we responded. "Why not?"

"Well, Mr. Herer, did you know that hemp is also marijuana?"

"Yes, of course I know, I've been writing about it for about 40 hours a week for the past 17 years."

"Well, you know marijuana's illegal, don't you? You can't use it."

"Not even to save the world?"

"No. It's illegal", he sternly informed me. "You cannot use something illegal."

"Not even to save the world?" we asked, stunned.

"No, not even to save the world. It's illegal. You can't use it. Period."

"Don't get me wrong. It's a great idea," he went on, "but they'll never let you do it."

"Why don't you go ahead and tell the Secretary of Agriculture that a crazy man from California gave you documentation that showed hemp might be able to save the planet and that your first reaction is that he might be right and it needs some serious study. What would he say?"

"Well, I don't think I'd be here very long after I did that. After all, I'm an officer of the government."

"Well, why not call up the information on your computer at your own USDA library. That's where we got the information in the first place."

He said, "I can't sign out that information."

"Well, why not? We did."

"Mr. Herer, you're a citizen. You can sign out for anything you want. But I am an officer of the Department of Agriculture. Someone's going to want to know why I want all this information. And then I'll be gone."

Finally, we agreed to send him all the information we got from the USDA library, if he would just look at it.

He said he would, but when we called back a month later, he said that he still had not opened the box that we sent him and that he would be sending it back to us unopened because he did not want to be responsible for the information, now that the Bush Administration was replacing him with its own man.

We asked him if he would pass on the information to his successor, and he replied, "Absolutely not."

In May, 1989, we had virtually the same conversation and result with his cohort, Dr. Gary Evans of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Science, the man in charge of stopping the global warming trend.

In the end, he said, "If you really want to save the planet with hemp, then you [hemp/marijuana activists] would find a way to grow it without the narcotic (sic) top - and then you can use it."

This is the kind of frightened (and frightening) irresponsibility we're up against in our governments.

Bebo

I've recently set-up a Bebo profile at
http://zarathustrah.bebo.com
This is brilliant for getting in touch with long lost pals, since setting it up I have been chatting to Gareth and Donald who I had lost touch with since leaving school.

The other good thing is that uploading photos is much quicker than blogger and uploading a video is simple (although you can only post one at a time.) So whenever I have a video to post i'll just mention that there is a new vid in Bebo, rather than arsing around with Blogger.
I've added a link at the side so it's just a click away - Currently the video is of Charlies first bothy trip.

It is far more informal than email which means you can speak to folk without having anything to say. Which I find is the trouble with phoning or email old friends.

An altogether different type of shuffle.

Since the weekend Phoenix has started shuffling along furniture on her feet. It was Aunt Aimpots who initially witnessed this feat on Sunday morning. Her favorite spot is the radiator under the window in the livingroom where she continually shuffles back and forth.

See right Ah sceen it Furst, am pure kewl!!!

Charlie and Dad up the Crags

Decided this morning to take the kids for a trip up Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags on our way to Ally's flat. However after getting all wrapped up Mum opened the door ready to leave only to feel the wind and rain then threw the toys out the pram and refused to go aswell as banning Phoenix from experiencing traditional Scottish weather. Her loss for being such an Americanized pansy, imagine living in Scotland your whole life and not leaving the house when it's windy or raining - sad loser...
Above is Charlie at the start of the 'Innocent Railway'

Here we are fighting the high winds at the top of the Crags, this is just a photo op. We decide to take the safer pathway below the cliff faces and miss out Arthurs Seat. Still had to be careful though the wind was very strong.
This is where modern geology was founded, this out crop is what James Hutton looked at to finally blow the whole thing wide open and put to bed some of the moronic ideas that had been floating about in the 1700's. Cool.

We walked past the Parliament building, up next to Calton hill then down to Stocky a fair walk for the wee one. When we got to Ally's gaff Charlie had to go for a nap. While Thomo, Josh and myself had a few games of Worms (an oldie but a goldie)


The heavens opened as we decided to head back home so rather than wait out in the wind and rain we went into the pub where Ally and Josh were going to watch the fitbaw. Unfortunatly children weren't allowed in so the nice bartender chucked us out to wait 40 minutes for the bus, which turned out to be a part-route, limited stop piece of Sunday service shit taking us to bristo place. Since I only had a pound on me I had to walk the rest of the way (3 times the distance the bus took us) with Charlie on my shoulders - a tough shift.

Happy Birthday Iona xxx

Happy 2nd Birthday Iona from all at the Martin household,
especially your cousins Charlie and Phoenix...and of course Fred.

RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!!!

Aimpots has decided to move back to Leith, the spiders in Oxgangs were just too much for her. So she has moved back into our brother Duncan's flat because she kens there's nae creepy crawlies. So we all took a trip over to help with the flit. Grandad, Granny and the kids fooling around before the van arrives.

Granny at home rifling through the mail, Aimpots at home preparing scran. This event was interesting as I witnessed the power of authority in the hands of my own family; they didn't handle it well! Amy was storming round the flat furious, proclaiming that the 'dirty bitches' weren't getting their deposit back, that professional cleaners would have to be brought in to clean it up. It was sad to see the auld yins in agreement, they obviously belong to the breed of landowner that think the tenents should pay for refurbishment of the premises on their way out the door. There was nothing wrong the flat that couldn't be fixed by a splash of bleach and some elbow grease; professional cleaners my arse, you lazy cunts. Lets hope the true landlord isn't as much of a twat - doesn't look good, does it?

Phoenix as you can partially see is now pulling herself onto her feet, she is making massive strides towards toddlehood. Now she is pointing, cut her first tooth, picked up about five signs and a few new facial expressions in the last week or so. Here they are in front of Louis' tank.

The Steall Hut.

Charlie, Grandad and myself are just back from a fantastic spot near Fort William, 'the Ring of Steall'. The name refers of course to the ring of 4 Munroes (7 peaks in all); we were staying in the 'Steall hut' next to the 'An Steall' waterfalls in the Glen Nevis valley.

Unlike a bothy, this hut had a generator and a gas supply which kept it bright and cosy, however it did not have a fireplace or even a wood burning stove which as a pyromaniac, I have to say was a big draw back.

Gas cooker, microwave, kettle, radiators, tables, chairs, flushing toilet are all handy but it really doesn't make up for the loss of the dancing flames that mesmerize and inspire.

Luckily the sights filled that void, the thundering gorge, the snow capped mountains and especially the waterfalls. Although, when we arrived at the car park it was pitch black, there is no darkness like being in the countryside when it is overcast. We had one head torch between us and I had Charlie on my shoulders. The first sign we see as we head down the trail is a warning that this particular trail has caused a number of fatalities because not only do you have to cross a few waterfalls like the one above.

But one loose or slippery rock and it down you go into certain death, there's no surviving that gorge even if you managed to miss the rocks, the noise was deafening. So there we are, me wearing the head torch, Grandad walking virtually blind along the cliff edge of death in the dark blissfully unaware of how treacherous this mile and a half is.

Look how beautifully the force of the water has carved the rock, during the day this gorge really was a thing to behold.

Here was our final test, traversing this bridge in the dark, on the far side it gets a bit dodgy because one arm is stretched out and the other bent in close to you but we made it to the hut without getting wet or dead for that matter.

Got the gas and electricity hooked up, had some din dins by which time Charlie was out of the game, she had done a fair amount of walking on the pathy parts of the walk in and had fallen asleep before I finished reading the first page of 'Beauty and the Beast'.
About an hour after that Mike whom I had met at Ben Alder arrived in, grandad and I had already cracked open the vines.

The next day Mike woke early to do the 'Ring of Steall' (here come the science bit!)
Ring of Steall is the number one classic hike in the Mamore range, and a famous hike in the entire Scottish highlands. The hike runs over 4 Munroes and a number of other unranked peaks. One of the peaks, Sgorr an Lubhair, used to be a Munro, but was withdrawn from the Munro list some years ago. The Ring of Steall denotes a number of peaks forming a horseshoe around the An Steall waterfalls in the Glen Nevis valley. (click on the picture it should zoom)

An Gearanach, 982m (The complainer)
An Garbhanach, 975m (The rough ridge)
Stob Coire a' Chairn, 981m (Peak of the corrie of the cairn)
Am Bodach, 1032m (The old man)
Sgorr an Lubhair, 1001m
Stob Choire a' Mhail, 980m
Sgurr a' Mhaim, 1099m (Peak of the breast)
Mike reported back later that evening that he was waist deep in snow at the peaks, what a nutter...
The Martin posse opted for a more leisurely stroll along the glen taking in the views at a more humble height. Charlie having her first experience of drinking straight from a flowing river, she loved it so much she was trying to drink out of puddles too.

This is probably the most amazing place I’ve ever seen although visiting at this time of year with all the vibrant colours of autumn combined with the crisp clear air really gave it an advantage.

A drunken autumn, staggers raucously
across the crumpled glen,
trailing peroxide blondes with tousled hair
through the amber sheen of polished elegance.

The brazen relatives
also flirt in tipsy invitation
spiralling sassily
unashamed of the wine stains
upon their character.
But below the revelry
shy sage shuns the celebrations
and curls in acute embarrassment
under trumpeting orange pride.

Wind and dappled cloud conduct a wild concerto
over this incestuous orchestra.
But in the distance - by a ruined sheilling,
a rowan tree
bleeds a tragic memory
upon a yellow sea.
It calls to us,
so we accept the invitation
and listen to its silence sung
by the bloom of lichen on a stone.

Then the air splits
into a glut of roaring,
as primeval passions flare across the glen.
Bursting hearts that challenge fearlessly
and juxtapose upon the silence
the focused fury of the rut.

Then the eye brims - again,
but this time crystals swell across the leaden sky,
to spill the vibrant choir of a perfect bow
upon gray satin luminosity.

The entrance fee?
Two death defying miles …
There were no concessions.

Throughout the weekend this was my fire place, the An Steall waterfalls. Oh man, it was pure magic by the way. A picture just can't do it justice, like a fire it's the motion - the dance, which hypnotizes you.

After our wee walk, Grandad and Charlie had a nap while I headed back to the car to pick up a crate of beers and the bag that contained our dinner (this is when I realised the danger we had been in the evening before). When I arrived back I couldn't resist a cheeky wee Stella with a J. I soon realised just how knackered I was and for the rest of the evening regretted not joining the others for a quick sleep.

Here's Mike and Grandad in a trance cast by the watery enchantress while Charlie fights off Snappy the Croc who had been hunting her in a bid to retrieve his teeth from Grandad's hat.

Sunday already and it's time to go, back to concrete prisons and a cesspit of fear and control - what fun! The walk out is easy going; it's only in the dark sharing a head torch that things could have gone very wrong. But isn't danger cool? I think it is...

Seeing Stars

Went to play football last night as part of Matt's 5-a-side team. £4 each for a game of football for an hour on AstroTurf! What is the world coming to? When I was at school, I used to think that £1 to play football at Goals was a rip-off. Look how far we've come.
Having done a fair amount of walking this summer, climbing hills, carrying fairly heavy packs, I thought my fitness would be able to handle it. How wrong was I, I was out of breath before we even kicked off. I knew the first few moments of over enthusiasm would come back to haunt me and after about 5 minutes I was gasping for breath, light headed and seeing stars. My turn in goals I thought to myself but really didn't know if I could make it across the pitch without collapsing. The dizziness and uncontrollable shaking of my hands made putting the gloves on a chore. Even after I managed all that I found that standing was a problem so I held on to the crossbar for support. Recovery lasted ages, mainly because I was hyperventilating, it wasn't until I calmed down and started breathing through my nose that I could breath. I noticed while in goals how shit my reaction time has become although hopefully this was just because I was seeing stars.
I had a couple more productive chances outfield but never more than 10 minutes. We ended up losing but they did have a really good keeper who made loads of amazing saves whereas I made no amazing saves and had a few blunders.
After the match I was shattered, my chest was tight and my lungs were raw causing me to persistantly cough. Even today I can barely keep me eyes open I'm so drained.

Phoenix turns a year old.

Happy Birthday Phoenix! Her birthday was actually the 11th of November, Remembrance Day. This is just me getting round to typing it up. Sorry no photos either, there is some video footage which I am in the process of trying to figure out how to first of all get it in to my computer and then how to get it on to my blog (the google video route constantly snags after my initial success with the piratebay video).

Anyhoo, back to Phoenix...

We went through to Gran and Grandad's house in Glasgow on the Friday. The next day we were joined by aunt Amy (who had been making and breaking little girls dreams as the dreaded dance judge), auntie Stephanie, uncle David, auntie Catherine with little Toni and of course big cousins Patrick and Gary.
The party was fun apart from one black mark, aunt Amy being more worried about her nicotine hit than singing FeeFee Happy Birthday. It's an absolute disgrace Mmmpots take a good look at yourself. I'll never forgive you! but hopefully your niece will, and that all I'll say on the matter...
Phoenix loves a good dance when Happy Birthday is being sung and is beginning to ease all the worriers by being able to support her weight on her legs. She can't pull herself up to stand yet, but can hold herself for minutes standing up.

The next day Grandad Martin popped in just before we were leaving for Edinburgh having just been there himself to visit us (without phoning to check we were in) after returning from Indoauz earlier than we expected. However, my time was occupied by helping my deranged sister in Edinburgh who was on the phone throwing a hissy fit at her computer so I therefore did not actually get to speak to my father, consequentially he is supposedly now in a huff with me.

You've ruined my life Amy! I will get you for this I swear to God...

Stand up for the Phoenix

Phoenix has finally been able to support her body weight and stand upright, this comes not long after visiting the pedestrian with her who was herself becoming concerned. However, she needed to speak to a better pedestrian before moving forward with anything because she had never seen a baby Phoenix's age refusing to put her legs down when being hovered over the ground. The other thing that was brought to our attention at the doctors was that her head is smaller than it should be according to the doctors charts.

To be honest, I think this is all bullshit. My rationalization for all this is just that Phoenix is developing at a slower rate than the average baby, so rather than comparing her head and physical development with other babies the same age really she should be compared to 8 month development chart in which case she is absolutely fine.

A major break through for Phoenix, hopefully it won't be too long before we see a tooth, hear a word and watch her take her first steps.

Halloween

My uncle Eddy and auntie Sandra came up from Corby to see Gran rock in her band at Halloween.

Here's Gran Rocking.

Dad sporting his bruised puss from being run over and aunt Amy.

A scary looking auntie Stephanie performed a dance routine on the night.

Stewart made the mistake of dressing like all the mutton's fantasy consequently was harrassed with Amy drawing some daggers in the process. I really don't know what Mmpots is dressed as.

Pirate Dad and St. Trinian Gran.

Mum as Tinkerspell (a kinda witchy tinkerbell)

I have a thing for nuns!

Cheeseball...

I was sure that terrorists don't drink.