First hit, last hit – Prince

This is the start of this type of entry, and one that has intrigued me for some time.  It is particularly interesting in these days, as many of the old school rockers and artists, whilst never being able to have enough streams (free) for their albums and in particular, for their singles (if they even release them) to be “hits”, are at the same time selling out concerts where the minimum ticket is 25 to 50 quid.

A while ago, I was listening to an American commentator, who mentioned the same thing.  It concerned Bob Segar or Prince, and stated the obvious, that their back catalogs were worth a fortune, but as for their fortunes nowadays, they were weren’t worth a nickel!

Well, if I had a back catalogue like either, count me a has been!

As for Prince, his first top 40 in the UK was “1999”, released in 1982.  While his last was from 1997, entitled “The Holy River” *.  Only fifteen years!  A slice of nice, easy listening with colours, which you can find below:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_discography

Beer of the Week

As I was just in Europeland for about a month, please wait for the picts!  But on a more important note, once there, I was in a delightful German border town, that served a sensational form of lager from draught (vom Fass!).

You heard right, lager! 

This one, entitled Öcher (Oecher), was superb with a hint of sweetness, and I shall be hunting it down via the internet, asap.

But, borrowing the completely pretentious “beeradvocate. com” notes, one must say:

A- Warm, fluffy, golden tone, nice foam on it, that didn’t disappear.  Vernacular; “good bevvy”.

S- Beerish! Like an alcoholic candy.

T- Nutty, as in the type you get at Christmas, with a taste of sugar, just a hint.

M- It smacked of a full bodied lager, but not that shite Budweiser!  Give us a break.

D- Could drink gallons of this stuff; thought is was 4.5%.  Brewed in Lahnstein: https://www.lahnsteiner-brauerei.de/

Oecher lager – Prost!

Back and still safe . . .

Time flies, naturally, and everyone knows what’s been going down the last half-year, but finally, the blog is now on a schedule to come out of its hibernation. 

We collected a monstrous amount of future blog posts, be it, travel, consumerism, wit, film and music.  Who knows, maybe it will be updated every week or even every day!

To start off, my Single of the Year so far, Northern Song,  from the neo-psychers, the Asteroid #4.  And puhleeze don’t tell me it sounds like The Byrds.  It’s better!

We’re back; when will this end . . . ?

It’s been some time to have the inclination to even blog or write, but that has hopefully changed. The agenda for this week, among other things is:

1) My photo collage of COVID standing instructions; you are warned. My favourites were from Aldi.

2) We have a new’ish French Patisserie in the West End of Glasgow; you’ll get my review, as I’ve used them quite a few times during the lockdown (and before).

3) As travel is not anyone’s thing right now, we’ll start to go over some previous travels / tips / etc. First one up, will be Beijing.

Tape, signs, directions – Lockdown images – West End, Glasgow

Heartfelt comments, Little Italy, West End, Glasgow

The one thing that I have noticed, with constantly trying to shop for food, is the plethora of tape, directions and signs in shops nowadays.  Have you seen this in Glasgow or wherever you live?  In the future, I’ll do a longer piece, analysing the art, etc, but for now, please enjoy some photos and notice the difference in colours.  Which do you prefer, white or the ever so bland, safety tape?

Directions to Marks and Sparks, West End, Glasgow
Sainburys, Byers Road, Glasgow

Go on, have a takeaway! Root Candy, West End, Glasgow

Root Candy’s menu

In this day and age, it would seem that takeaways (for obvious reasons!) are all the rage. According to the FT, there has been a rebound in their usage this year.  Being in the West End of Glasgow, with our plethora of restaurants, cafes and takeaways, one sensational outcome of these days, is that many restaurants that normally wouldn’t, are now doing takeaways (or at least that’s how it seems). 

And with this epiphany, comes a newer, vegan place called Root Candy.  I’ve used them several times for their takeaway service; with a personalised, promptness being a forte.  The food?  It’s filling, exquisite and delicious, with the result being that I have finally discovered a vegan burger, that is not a “fake” meat or a collection of mashed beans.  I believe they use some form of cress, in order to keep it bound and intact.  Wonderful.

The Nachos of Root Candy

Apologies; no blogging, the Week Ahead. . .

Good Lord!  Its been a month almost since the last entries here, and does it show.  With this thing around us at this time, you’d think blogging would be easier, with more time, ideas, etc – But life can be even more crowded; have you noticed that?   Living in a tighter area, less escapes, etc. Anyway; what we will most definitely do for the future will consist of:

1) Window / Shop art on the Virus – Can’t you wait?

2) My shopping, Poundland, Home Bargains and naturally Wines and Beers!

3) TV, and in particular, a review of Van der Valk; it’s bad, and I mean, B A D. . .  

Café Review – My Bakery, West End, Glasgow

This place is simply a class above the other bakery / cafés here in the West End, whether it be the attention to detail, the “Latvian” touch or the quality food, at let us say, slightly higher than Greggs’ prices, but in this blogger’s opinion, definitely worth paying. 

In this case, it was a takeaway (Pity there are no takeaways from here during our present lock-down – Ed.), but the soup was perfect, the roll was tasty and soft (they should ALWAYS be this way) and the cake was decadent but not too fattening (I hope!).

Will be back – 4.5 / 5

Soup, Sandwich, Cake – Takeaway – Boootiful!

Social Distancing Etiquette?

With all the forms of Social Distancing that we have to do nowadays, be it  the two meter rule, having to stay indoors, ordering awful take-aways, etc, the one thing that I’ve noticed is etiquette and more importantly, of just who has “right of way” whilst walking on the pavement?  A solo traveller, or a group?  Should the soloist automatically “give way” to a couple who are headed your way? 

And if so, why?   Almost every time that this happens to me, they (the guilty couple) look at me with disdain and have a “we’re two, so get out of the effin way” look to them.  Mostly, I comply, but at times, and in order to keep to the golden two metre rule, I normally either go out into the street, or walk perpendicular to the cars that are parked to my side! 

Has anyone else noticed this?  Opinions?

What a lovely Couple!