f4f3 | Going Out West (-End) (Reply)

Now that was a weekend, that was.

Friday night was supposed to be a reunion of the project office I'm working in just now, but Maxine couldn't make it, and two ex-employees of the Scottish Utility could, and me old chum

littlescot1 could, and it became a bit of a boys' night out. We started off with a meal in The Wee Curry Shop in Ashton Lane (baked spicy haddock followed by chicken with lime and ginger for me) and then headed out into the rain. Too much was drunk, as we carried thirsts as heavy as luggage (as William McIlvanney once put it) to The Loft, The Ubiquitous Chip, Tenenets, back to the Wee Chip and then to Oran Mor, where we finished the night around 2 in the morning. A good night - one of the guys was just back from walking one of the old pilgrimage routes through Spain and France, and we had an interesting discussion on spirituality, faith, 7 Euro a night hostels and blisters.

After a search for a suitably greasy spoon on Dumbarton Road for brunch (we settled on Mickey Blue Eyes, where quantity had a certain quality all of its own) and then after we'd stuffed ourselves on square sausage, tottie scones and black pudding we went off to

rwrylsin and

davidcook's flat-cooling, where we acquired some more furniture and I did my best to keep my hands off

curious_orchid 's generously proferred bottle of Glenfiddich.

The plan, after heading home to walk Merlin (I really mus get around to setting him up with his own lj account) was to head back out to Walkabout for the evening. However

unblinkered took pity on littlescot1 and I, and we were allowed to slump in front of Firefly DVDs with a Chinese Takeaway instead.

Sunday morning littlescot1 and I walked Merlin along to Byres Road, and raided Heart Buchannan for the makings of a very tasty breakfast, and after that we walked down the Kelvin in the other direction to the Kelvingrove Museum.

unblinkered and I just had time for a quick look inside (I got to see Avril Patton's "Windows in the West" for the first time in ages - I'd forgotten how big the original has, and how it sucks you into all its stories). then back to the flat and into the car to drop littlescot1 at Central Station, and then over to the South Side (after I'd checked that my Letters of Transit were up to date) to play with my nieces and have tea with my brother. He's been child-minding on his own since Tuesday, and was delighted to have an adult conversation (and someone to install Open Office for him - my first experience of Vista, and I still feel dirty). The twins have now developed a fair turn of speed, and Merlin alterated between herding them and playing fetch. A great afternoon.

Without pausing for breath, we headed over to Cafe Sith in Dumbarton Road, for lovely food, reasonably priced chai lattes and games for me and knitting for

unblinkered . I totally powned Rhoda at chess, was powned in turn at Othello, and narrowly lost out in Boggle (well, I forgot to write down size and sleaze when I found sizer and sleazey, and that made all the difference). It was my first visit to Sith, but it certainly won't be the last - it's a great place, and owned by great people.

Not surprisingly, I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I didn't sleep well, and I've got a bit of a sore throat. I went along to the dentist this morning, and had my root canal finished - I go back on Thursday to have the proper filling done, and to patch up another couple of fillings. What I need is a quiet night in, but what I see is a quick visit to the gym and then some free whisky.

Life is hard.

But fun :)