Spring on Portobello beach

The air is so warm we could be three months further into the year already, there's not a breath of a breeze, the sunshine is actually hot on the skin, the sea is flat calm and looking like rippled glass, so what do we do at the seaside to luxuriate in this wonderful, blissfully sunny weather? Do we lie back on the sand to watch the clouds, swim in the sea (when we can reach it) and fetch the buckets and spades from the depths of the shed to make sandcastles?

Do we heck. Buckets and spades to make sandcastles? Pah. In Edinburgh, we do it like this:

When the wild winter storms washed away part of the cliffs and much more sand than usual from the Joppa end of the beach (as well as washing away some of the gardens, sheds and wildlife) it was decided to replenish sections of the beach with sand from the other parts of the beach. Storm repair and damage control is of course vital to coastal infrastructure and flood prevention, but under the current financial climate the cost of shifting sand didn't seem justifiable, and that particular proposal didn't seem the best design of coastal protection engineering solutions anyway, in fact, it seemed to be completely cosmetic in places. However, this week the yellow beasts rolled in, and we all realised that sand shifting has apparently shot up to the top of the council's ToDo list.

I'm interested in the details, so will be reading the paperwork when I can source it. In the meantime here are these two news articles from January:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Anger-at-plan-to-spend.6694182.jp
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12217249

and the tender document:

http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk/Search/Tenders/Expired.aspx?ID=%20000000003138352§=E067&cat=15&Source=Categories

In my heatstroke haze I assume that to compensate for making the sea even further away now, an access path across the beach will (finally) be part of this new layout. I mean, look at where those big wheels are able to go on the sand this week - it's making me squeak with envy.

PS I'd like to know if those who decided sand had to be moved realised that there are things living in the sand. The lugworm population along the tideline may have been decimated, if not completely destroyed, and the razor shell population is just as fragile.

Golden Hour March

I made it. For a person who was still in bed waiting for the drugs to start working at 6.30pm, I got to the glorious Forest Cafe in plenty of time for tonight's Golden Hour at 8pm. Thank you very much to my friends who came along, and a 'that was a nice surprise' hello to those familiar faces already in the Forest audience (and staff!) I saw the Crafty Green Poet in there, and some StAnza survivors too.

The slightly misnamed Forest Cafe (the cafe is only one corner of the entire three-storey building) is so much part of Edinburgh, somewhere accessible to wee wheels, somewhere safe to go on your own, somewhere to lurk, create, work, eat, sing, read or just be surprised, and a home from home for foreign students, that I can't imagine the gig anywhere else. How many Golden Hours shows have there been now? 100? Hot, sweaty, scruffy, sexy (and that's just the organiser) awesome nights, the lot of them. You can't fit that much talent in one room, even with a spoon. And it's free. And there are Golden Hour books and CDs.

Golden Hour is run by the irredeemably Ryan van Winkle. Poet and Ryan in Residence at the Scottish Poetry Library, he is sufficiently famous to get his monochrome mugshot on the washing line at the Edinburgh International Book Festival alongside all the photos of the special guests and gliterati. I'm not that famous. I get a passport photo and a post-it note. But I have now appeared at the Golden Hour! I shared the stage with a lot of talent tonight. And it was fun. I've wanted to do that for ages, and it was bloody well worth taking that many drugs for, I can tell you.

Rosie Phoenix Walker opened the night with a gripping tale of misplaced affection and even more misplaced arson.

She was followed by stonking songs from the four musicians 'Jen and the Gents' pictured above, minus the multitasking Pockets who was hidden from view behind the fiddle/ mandolin player at that point but was drumming and playing guitar. Did I mention the talent and lungpower tonight...

Then surreal animation by (insert information here tomorrow after checking spelling, tsk!)

A quick break for fresh cold air and stuff, then part two with me:

Then soulful singer-songwriter Panda Su (I recommend her CD!) and her adorable sidekick who played drum, xylophone and did something peculiar with a rubber tube:

Then more of the surreal animation (and Ryan):

and I'm afraid that's where I had to be a wuss and leave, missing the author who followed the animation. It was a relatively quiet night in the Cafe but the party is still going on, probably with Ryan reading something outrageous from Forest Publication's 'Bedtime Stories' (on sale from The Forest) by now, with another splendid band to dance to afterwards.

http://blog.theforest.org.uk/post/3817781964/golden-hour-23rd-march-8pm-this-month

I'll be back tomorrow to add photos, missing information and links, but now I must crash. The next Golden Hour will be at the Forest Cafe, 3 Bristo Place, April 20th at 8pm. BYOB.


I'll just add this - if the Forest Cafe doesn't get donations, funding and help to keep the building as it is, it will become flats or a swanky boutique hotel, and tonight's Golden Hour will have been the sixth last ever held there. Please help keep The Forest open.

http://blog.theforest.org.uk/post/4081178489/press-release-lease-terminated-but-the-forest-vows-to

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creativity vs reality

I find sleep arrives more easily when I empty my mind. Unfortunately that little pause in proceedings also acts as a vacuum for every new project, manuscript, storyboard, musical backing and set of images that I haven't been paying attention to all day, what with the more pressing concentration required for sitting up, picking up a cup without spilling the contents, finding how to get clothes on, and reading the mail.

I lie flat, I close my eyes, I sidestep the pain, I meditate into a state of just being, head towards restfulness and BAM, there's the entire layout, complete with dialogue, for a new comic strip. Try again and THWACK there's the missing scene from the dance with explosions on the hillside. Empty thoughts again and YES there's the missing story arc for the current manuscript. And now I can hear the characters' voices arguing properly in the radio play script.

I know that ignoring this wilfully helpful act of my subconscious by going to sleep won't be the end of the world, whereas giving in, sitting up and working all night will quite likely mean the end of this week's already limited mobile hours. But perhaps if I just reached for my pen (I can write in the dark without sitting up) to make just a few notes. But there are huge scenes appearing in my head, I'll never remember them tomorrow if I let them go now...

In the end I couldn't write enough in any position last night. There was no cable to plug in to my skull to simply download the information, I couldn't stop the new ideas flowing in to the gaps as I made them, and despite continually shaking clean the mental etch-a-sketch, I couldn't get to sleep until 7am.

Slightly related to this reminder that being fuelled by ideas is not all it's cracked up to be, here is another ponder. I remember an oddly uncomfortable moment during a visit from someone last year, from someone who likes me and the things I write/ draw, but who I know harbours a flicker of resentment towards what is to them a very unfair allocation of creativity. Maybe resentment is too strong a word, maybe it is just a case of mild indignation.

Now, I'm allowed to say I'm fortunate that two of my passions have been of the sort that I can continue as proto careers no matter how ill, injured or isolated I get. Being productive whenever possible helps get me through the rest of the horrors, and helps me to live with it. Anyone else pointing out how very fortunate I am and that I should be more grateful for this, especially if they're someone who has never had so much as a week's illness in their life and is having this conversation with me just back from another work-funded trip to Europe, and en route to a good weekend's mountaineering with their pals as per, will get A Look. Perhaps they should realise their own good fortune first, and be more grateful that they don't also get A Smack.

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/03/data-of-lifes-rhythms-of-life-replayed-in-art.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/03/dive-into-the-heart-of-a-monster-hurricane.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Portobello beach

I am crunchy. Yeah, I know I always crunch when I move, don't mock the afflicted by offering me WD40. Today I crunch due to being a crispy-coated beachmo. I spent the whole afternoon lying down not on my bed but on the beach, in the sunshine, with my toes in the water. Yes that's right, today's high tide was so high that even I could reach the sea to have a paddle.

The whole world changes when you're down there at the water's edge, all land behind you, sight at water level. Nothing exists but the rhythm of the waves.

Thinking of others, I felt very fortunate that this was as high as the sea would rise here.

The sunblock and golden sand have been redistributed and baked on to formed a defiantly sandy shell around my skull, shoulders, hands and feet. It's something a New Town spa could charge £150 for if sold as an exfoliating, circulation enhancing and rejuvination wrap. I'm not sure about the last aspect but by heck I got the first two.

The other wonderful thing about Portobello beach is that the place is hooching with creatives. I watched the megamoon rise with the filmaker Graham Kitchener, and today I found the photographer Max Blinkhorn at work (see proof above). I've come home with rekindled enthusiasm and focus for the various beach and sea-based projects in my notebooks.

Alas, due to my enthusiasms being housed in an ill and injured body (albeit a nicely exfoliated one), there will be no continuing anything arty or literary tonight. It's only been a couple of days since I could tolerate light at all, so that much wraparound sunshine may have been a shock to the eyeballs. Therefore, first I have to recover from the outing. Then I have to admit that the wheely trail of sand and dried seaweed through my hoose is, for once, entirely my fault, and could somebody else sweep it up please...

I'm going to get a beach access pathway down to the sea even if I have to make it out of tram rails.

access to creativity: artistic unblockers contd

The battle between winter and spring continues; yesterday with sleet and today with thick sea fog. But spring is due. It's time to discard the winter angst, dissolve those cold-weather creative blockages, liberate yourself from performance (arts) anxiety and free your imagination!

In the absence of a script pad and the current MIMS, I prescribe to you this week's innovations in the overlapping fields of art, technology and science, in the hope that it will trigger a bout of mass inspiration. This may involve a lot of clicking on links:

The first is from a community art savvy student here in Edinburgh. Pom Pom Project: http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/Art-student-causes--a.6734924.jp

light painting with wifi reception in towns: http://yourban.no/2011/02/22/immaterials-light-painting-wifi/

3D movies of living cells: http://www.gizmag.com/3d-microscope-movies-living-cells/18138/

the (probably very familiar) fire-breathing scrap metal dragon: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/03/meet-the-fire-breathing-scrap-metal-dragon.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

video games can so be art; the rebuff: http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2011/03/opinion_brian_moriartys_apolog.php

Unfortunately this is a Facebook link for now, but the photos of the finalists' work is worth a look. From the V&A - The Contemporary Middle Eastern Art and Design Jameel Prize 2011: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150119700028880&id=13987918879&aid=284563

architectural engineering can also be beautiful: http://www.quadror.com/

3D records of cave paintings: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2011/03/ancient-paintings-unlocked-from-history.html

This is a particularly poignant study for me becasue I have watched the destruction of several sections of the pictish cave paintings in Wemyss, as the storm protection failed to be installed winter after winter, until all that was left of one of the caves was the photographs.

The meaning of dreaming - studies continue: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/03/explained-the-meaning-of-dreaming.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

I have mentioned before that I dream lucidly and vividly every night (and during the day) so consider myself to be potentially useful to these studies. When we get a national sleep research centre that can afford to study more than sleep apnoea, that is... Seriously though, I'd happily be a long-term gineau pig for dream research even if my personal outcome was neither useful to my quality of sleep or to a PhD.

On that note, I'd better face tonight's footage willingly and at least try to go to sleep. Sweet dreams to you, and a better day tomorrow for those who need it to improve on today's experience. Which is probably quite a large percentage of the planet. See, dreams are valuable.

Update: If you can't sleep tonight, try watching this: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/03/beware-its-raining-creepy-crawlies.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

Weaponizer

Look! I've been published in Weaponizer:
http://www.weaponizer.co.uk/onearticle.php?category=flashfic&articleid=230

And I got an email from a short story competition body, acknowledging receipt of my story. I think that was jolly considerate of them, especially thinking how many competitions won't confirm receipt, even of email entries.

Due to the too-long Journey of Endless Shoogles home (that settles it; I'm moving back into town ASAP. Watch me pack), today is threatening to end abruptly in a migraine (and therefore adding an extra delay before I risk trying another taxi journey). Nevertheless, it's been a really lovely week for reconnecting with some old friends, meeting new people, stumbling across new opportunities and feeling creatively active, liberated, earthed and wired, all in one big inky equation. I even feel part of Beltane already, and it's only March, I think.

Of course, I am also thinking about how I can help with fundraising for the terrible events I've been following in the news.

Well, swiftly checking the calender it is indeed March. Which means that I'm going to be 'appearing' in the Forest next Wednesday (23rd), at Golden Hour. Featuring writer-performers (cough, me!), poets, musicians, animation and Ryan van Winkle himself, the show starts at 8pm, it's free, the vegetarian cafe will be open if you're peckish, and it is BYOB with very reasonable corkage.

The Forest Cafe is on Forrest Road. Access-wise there's a ramp into the building and a ground-floor disabled loo, but arrive fairly early if you want to grab a comfy corner before the enthusiastic hordes arrive. After the main show, there will be music and schmoozing from about 10pm until closing.

Happy Pi Day

In case you haven't already celebrated the day of Pi accordingly, there is still time. If you start baking now, you can have one ready in time for supper. While your Pi is baking, we can indulge in some appropriate entertainment:

The Hairy Bikers http://www.hairybikers.com/index.php?hairy_bakers_2

Pies and Pasties by the Hairy Bakers, broadcast on 06/2008

The Hairy Bikers take their longest trip in this baking series, from Cornwall to Scotland.
Dave and Si start in the far South West cooking traditional pasties at Geevor Tin Mine in Cornwall. Once made, the pasties - and the boys - face the ultimate test: the locals. Will the pasties be good enough to impress?

They then head northwards to the Midlands and visit an orchard in Abberley, Worcestershire to produce an apple pie. From there, it's on to Melton Mowbray, where they try their hand at making pork pies.

Heading North, the boys' journey takes a detour via Dave's house where they rustle up two of their favourite pies. For Si, it's a chicken and wild mushroom, while Dave opts for a more humble cheese and onion pie.

Finally, it's on to Huntly in Aberdeenshire, where our hungry hairy bikers sample an extraordinary range of pies - Scotch pie, macaroni pie, and mashed potato and baked bean pie.

Their journey ends on the banks of the River Deveron. There, they cook a salmon coulibiac - a whole fish stuffed with prawns wrapped in filo pastry - and feed it to pipers and highland dancers.

Or read this: The Life of Pi by Yann Martel http://www.lifeofpi.co.uk/

Or you could just eat pies until bedtime.

In case you're not familiar with Pi Day, let wikipidia inspire you to investigate (because as you know, wikipidia is not the actual answer) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_Day Beards, sandals and corderoys are not essential ingredients of Pi Day. The tendency to note dates in the American manner as opposed to the correct manner, probably is ;-)

Pi photo from wikipedia

Tides of March

This blog always ends up on the beach. Which is more than its writer does.

This month features a full moon at its largest size in two decades, rising on Saturday 19th at 18:20. This is followed by an unusually low tide at 21:15 on Sunday 20th and a very high tide on Monday 21st at 15:35. If the weather is clement, this will be a weekend best spent on the East coast beaches, watching and exploring. If anyone finds areas with new beach pathways or accessible bits of sea, please let me know so I can share the good news. In the meantime, I'll be finding out how deep wheels sink into sand.

Tide Tables for the rest of March
(predictions for Leith docks and nearby beaches of Cramond and Portobello)

Fri 11th 06:13 4.73m H 11:07 1.58m L 18:31 4.73m H 23:24 1.73m L
Sat 12th 06:57 4.53m H 11:48 1.85m L 19:21 4.51m H
Sun 13th 00:11 2.06m L 07:51 4.33m H 13:07 2.13m L 20:25 4.33m H
Mon 14th 01:58 2.37m L 09:02 4.23m H 15:20 2.16m L 21:46 4.30m H
Tue 15th 04:12 2.31m L 10:24 4.33m H 17:00 1.85m L 23:10 4.53m H
Wed 16th 05:33 1.96m L 11:41 4.65m H 18:03 1.39m L
Thu 17th 00:18 4.91m H 06:27 1.54m L 12:39 5.06m H 18:56 0.93m L
Fri 18th 01:09 5.30m H 07:12 1.13m L 13:26 5.47m H 19:44 0.50m L
Sat 19th 01:52 5.63m H 07:57 0.74m L 14:09 5.81m H 20:30 0.17m L
Sun 20th 02:33 5.84m H 08:42 0.46m L 14:51 6.04m H 21:15 -0.00m L
Mon 21st 03:15 5.92m H 09:26 0.31m L 15:35 6.12m H 21:58 0.04m L
Tue 22nd 03:58 5.86m H 10:09 0.35m L 16:21 6.03m H 22:39 0.30m L
Wed 23rd 04:42 5.67m H 10:48 0.56m L 17:09 5.79m H 23:17 0.73m L
Thu 24th 05:29 5.39m H 11:27 0.89m L 18:00 5.42m H 23:52 1.24m L
Fri 25th 06:18 5.06m H 12:06 1.29m L 18:57 5.00m H
Sat 26th 00:30 1.75m L 07:15 4.72m H 13:03 1.70m L 20:04 4.62m H
Sun 27th 01:31 2.19m L 08:23 4.45m H 14:54 1.97m L 21:19 4.39m H
Mon 28th 03:28 2.39m L 09:39 4.34m H 16:42 1.88m L 22:42 4.37m H
Tue 29th 05:00 2.26m L 11:01 4.42m H 17:49 1.66m L 23:56 4.54m H
Wed 30th 05:56 2.00m L 12:10 4.64m H 18:39 1.45m L
Thu 31st 00:48 4.77m H 06:36 1.72m L 13:00 4.87m H 19:15 1.27m L

happy international women's pancake day

International women's pancake day

For this recipe you will need:

• freedom
• education
• contraception
• employment
• responsibility

Add generous quantities of each, mix gently then leave still, without stirring, until able to stand up alone.


Take some of the following ingredient and put aside until needed. Don't spill any; it's very hard to replace:

• appropriate repercussions for criminal or extreme gender bias (of either kind) in the home, in the street, in the workplace, in schools, in healthcare, in politics, in law.

then

Chop and shred these ingredients:

• inappropriate religious doctrine
• uncontrollable pregnancies
• unequal pay
• courtroom bias
• ageism
• genital mutilation
• enforced gender stereotypes and expectations

Discard them; compost them or feed to the pigs.

then

Lay out a really large plate for yourself. If you can't do gluten or dairy, look away now:

Heat a heavy-bottomed frying pan and grease it lightly.

Sieve and mix the flour, eggs, milk and water then add a big pinch of salt.

Pour a small quantity of the pancake mixture into the pan and tip until it has spread thinly.

Fry the pancake until golden, slide it onto a plate, add lemon juice and sugar or maple syrup. Or anything you want to add. In fact, do whatever you want to do with the pancake.

Scoff.