tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55054242012-01-27T06:56:36.523ZMatt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.comBlogger1611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-91891017626178990972008-06-15T12:59:00.000+01:002008-06-15T13:00:13.616+01:00

I'm not convinced...

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-79665489364816454042007-12-26T14:01:00.000Z2007-12-26T14:07:42.728Z

Hard to believe that's over already - I was just starting to get into the spirit of things, but now it's pressies opened and wrapping paper put away until next time mixed with a mild hangover. Reality never really can match the hype can it?And our pal Malcolm didn't even crack the Top 30. Still a great track though. A few more Christmas tracks for the road then...The Research - For Christmas (

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-90085745804019106382007-12-23T17:15:00.000Z2007-12-23T17:29:12.372Z

While most would agree that music charts don't mean too much in the download era, it hasn't tempered the hype that surrounds the grand British tradition of the Christmas Number One. Every year, a series of disposable pop songs are released the week before the 25th to determine who gets the crown. For the last several years it has always been the winner of that oh-so awful "talent" show The X

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-30029661296051089582007-12-22T15:50:00.000Z2007-12-22T15:56:59.151Z

I recently went to see Josh Rouse play at the QMU, and while the guy is pretty good, I felt like I was crashing a party since I was really there to see a rare UK performance by the brilliant Jens Lekman. I can safely say his "Night Falls Over Kortedala" was my favourite and most-played album of the year. What's not to like: the crooner voice with a hint of a Swedish accent, the samples of old

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-57626908833591504892007-12-14T13:48:00.000Z2007-12-14T14:06:53.127Z

The big 3-0 has now come and gone, and while I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, I'm amazed how little it fazed me and how much I feel exactly the same as I did beforehand (I can already hear the chorus of "surprise surprise"). Being Mr. Melodrama, I'd dreaded this birthday more than most. While I certainly expected a barrage of old man jokes (and I wasn't disappointed), I was surprised

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-10063500691345554882007-12-03T16:30:00.000Z2007-12-03T16:49:28.411Z

ESP is another one of those underrated bands who have been putting out quality tunes for quite some time now (yet still only in their 20's) and really deserve to be seen and heard by more people. That said, those who were there were up for it and had the chance to see their latest album "No Need To Be Downhearted" from start to finish, plus a few classics. Great stuff, and bonus points for being

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-10206485497903654612007-11-12T19:43:00.000Z2007-11-12T21:05:02.720Z

First clocked these guys during the summer. The music, vocals and lyrics were all such a breath of fresh air from the boring indie-rock clones that have been sprouting up this year.We ended up getting tickets to see them at the relatively small King Tuts for a mere 6 quid. Since then, they've become pretty massive with two big singles and the album debuting at number one. They've already booked a

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-12034422266548262732007-10-30T13:55:00.000Z2007-11-01T10:18:49.263Z

With the idea of putting a bit more mass on my skinny frame, I've been taking a weekly circuits class over at the nearby naval base. Nothing luxurious here folks - I'm talking equipment circa WWII and lots of naval dudes admiring their tattoos (oh yes, there are anchors!) and biceps in the mirror.One can't help but get the impression that they do, in fact, want you as a new recruit. But these

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-79532768958202722152007-10-25T19:03:00.001+01:002007-10-25T19:11:39.741+01:00

Pollok Park that is. What more can you ask for - forest, old stuff, coos. I guess others agree as it has now won Britain's Best Park 2007. Choke on that Hyde Park!

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-68664058883358293282007-10-23T20:36:00.000+01:002007-10-23T20:39:00.336+01:00

Hmmm, looks a bit cheesy to me. And straight to DVD which never used to be a good thing, but I suppose that is where the money is at these days. And I know I'm going to have to see it regardless!

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-72273538869879656172007-10-17T13:23:00.000+01:002007-10-30T13:53:46.041Z

I'm a few weeks back from a short but sweet trip to Canada where the main event was the Chaiton-Murray wedding which turned out to be a particularly brilliant party.But one unexpected consequence of making this trip would be that I would miss two shows I would have never otherwise missed. Seems as though some of Canada's indie rock royalty decided to descend upon Glasgow over the course of only a

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-75284399175504243662007-10-11T16:58:00.000+01:002007-10-11T19:46:19.780+01:00

So it's been six months since my last post. Blogging seems a bit out-of-date these days what with the rise of social networking sites (I'm looking at you Facebook) but hey. Sometimes it's nice to do more than tag photos and try to add "friends".But where to begin? It's been a pretty eventful time since April and all, but why not focus on the here and now. For example, my commute to work this

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-15594407603310537342007-04-01T19:13:00.000+01:002007-04-01T19:49:50.539+01:00

The guidebook introduced this route by saying "it is not so much a walk as a challenge". Robbie and I tend not to take these things too seriously as the books have to take into account walkers of all levels, but by the end we admitted that was the perfect intro after all.For starters there were two rivers to cross. The first crossing resulted in my lower half getting soaked. The second was this -

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-22568643862494226062007-03-26T10:12:00.000+01:002007-03-26T10:17:17.625+01:00

Check out this track by Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius called "Thou Shalt Always Kill". Brilliant observational lyrics and catchy track too. More than a few Britishisms to confuse the Canucks though...

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-43765806644899286242007-03-22T09:33:00.000Z2007-03-22T09:48:48.992Z

One of the morning DJs put it best last week when he said there is something incredibly comforting about Travis being back.Last night we caught one of their warm-up shows before the new album release and UK tour. Crowd was excellent, sound was great and the band seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Wee Fran and co. just come off as really likeable folk. Travis have been accused of putting

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-8289864346494534942007-03-18T16:11:00.000Z2007-03-18T16:44:03.670Z

It's been pretty hit and miss so far this year. And while I wouldn't say there have been a lot of "misses", there have been a lot of underwhelming shows that have bordered on disappointing. And sometimes - well, Sloan put it best: "It's not the band I hate, it's their fans".Case in point - The Fratellis. Nice little album, fun band. But they seem to be a beacon for every lager idiot in this

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-41751461547369031192007-02-25T11:48:00.000Z2007-02-25T11:48:57.239Z

My first hillwalk of the year. And with views like this, I ask myself why I don't do this every week.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-27442324427457906942007-01-20T17:43:00.000Z2007-01-20T18:01:39.247Z

I quite like the way the pics from Vigelandsparken turned out, so here are a few more. I'll take the high road and let you make your own shrinkage jokes!

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-54325668764080993902007-01-14T20:41:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:23:20.956Z

Is it too late to say Happy New Year?What a great bit of time off that was, but man did it ever go quickly. As for New Year's Eve, it is still the single most overrated day on the calendar. But I guess this time was amongst the better ones. Went out in Glasgow, and then caught Hot Chip and a DJ set at the Old Fruitmarket. Funny though - I've only been in Scotland for New Year's Eve twice, and

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-935273401799023792006-12-27T17:28:00.000Z2006-12-27T17:42:38.404Z

What a strange working month December has been. I'd managed to save up two weeks of holidays, so I've only had to work one week to earn a full month pay. Works for me.Refreshed the Maple Syrup portion of H+MS with a teasingly short trip back home. Cheers to my cousin Ally and her new husband Simon for the invite to their wedding. It was a really good time, and provided a great reason to get

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-86310409235013121702006-11-29T12:43:00.000Z2006-11-29T12:52:21.656Z

A rare case of where the UK gets a film release before Canada!But when it comes out, you must see this movie. Stunning.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-66899417044975991982006-11-25T17:35:00.000Z2006-11-25T17:56:24.009Z

I know it's Scotland and I should expect rain, but it feels like it hasn't stopped raining in weeks. And of course, of the cold November variety. So with puddle dodging and hydroplaning in the dark a normal part of my daily commute, a little sunshine was in order.Which was to come in the form of The Feeling and Captain, two bands leading the revival of unashamedly radio-friendly hook-laden guitar

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-89502050859354872282006-11-22T20:10:00.000Z2006-11-22T20:37:49.912Z

I first came across David Mitchell and Robert Webb in Peep Show, which is probably the funniest show on British TV at the moment.The BBC has also recently been airing the sketch comedy show The Mitchell and Webb Look. While a bit hit and miss, the hits are hilarious. We saw they were doing their sketch show live in Glasgow and had to check it out. I've never seen sketch comedy live before, but

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-29751304975661947132006-11-20T21:01:00.000Z2006-11-20T21:46:34.111Z

So Fi went off to Portugal for a week. Now don't get me wrong, I love her company and all that. But I was well up for a week with the flat to myself, though in the end I was hardly there. A few of the boys were given leave from the missuses, so some proper pub time in town was on order. And of course, a couple of ace gigs:Phoenix @ The Arches: These guys have already clinched the top spot on most

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-76550317749283070182006-11-11T13:11:00.000Z2006-11-11T13:31:27.222Z

My visa and Leave to Remain applications were both recently renewed, though due to the joys of British bureaucracy the latter was not approved until a few days before my old one expired, making for a few tense days. Then again, maybe some paid leave to Ireland wouldn't have been so bad after all?So now that I'm all legal for another few years, I thought I'd get a few other things sorted. With

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-29906921444839032772006-11-05T16:31:00.000Z2006-11-05T17:31:57.873Z

Needing a bit of a getaway, we decided to rent a gite in France for a week. We found a great old converted farmhouse in the Loire Valley and decided to invite both sets of parents along, all of whom took us up on the offer. A bit of a scary plan in theory, but it worked out fine in execution! The holiday in a nutshell: eat, drink, and visit old stuff.La Vieille Ferme in Cléré du Bois, south of

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-9989615528699815372006-10-22T16:27:00.000+01:002006-10-22T16:54:43.470+01:00

The Electric Soft Parade @ Brel: One of the bands that I was introduced to several years back by the Global Pop Conspiracy. This was an acoustic set in a small pub/restaurant in Glasgow's West End. I love the idea of an acoustic show, but for some reason there is always a group of people in the crowd that just loves to talk and annoy others around them. Why are these people even there if not

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-58420361042563124802006-09-19T20:35:00.000+01:002006-09-19T20:56:18.521+01:00

Autumn has always been my favourite season, despite (or because of?) the melancholy associated with it. You know, end of summer (which was especially good this year) and new beginnings (must be all those years of starting school in September). And the weather is ideal with a freshness in the air that requires the wearing of a jacket.I can't quite believe how fast 2006 seems to be flying by.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1155491334353117322006-08-13T18:22:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.178Z

I hadn't done a long distance walk since the Great Glen Way back in May '05, so I was very keen to get another one under my belt. Scotland has five official long distance walking routes, of which I have now done three. This time it was the Speyside Way which covers a distance of 65 miles from Aviemore to Buckie, and more or less follows the route of the River Spey until in joins the sea at Spey

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1155235441695480112006-08-10T19:32:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.185Z

Hadn't seen them since 2002 back in Toronto, so I was pleased to see that the Russian Futurists would be playing Glasgow promoting a new compilation CD to introduce them to the UK market. Fun set - nobody does low-fi synth pop better.I'd bought these tickets simply to see RF, but since that time headliners Peter Bjorn and John have picked up quite a buzz on the strength of their catchy as hell

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1154459542578507322006-08-01T19:21:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.195Z

One of the advantages of bringing the car over on the ferry of course is that we were able to see a bit more of what Northern Ireland has to offer.From Belfast we drove to the North Antrim coast. As the pics hopefully show, the coastline is absolutely stunning. Above is the view you can get after crossing Carrick-a-Rede, a rope bridge 30m above the sea, to Carrick Island.A temple on the grounds

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1154200252382336502006-07-29T19:49:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.205Z

When announcing I was going to spend a few days in Northern Ireland, I received more than a few surprised looks. With the Troubles being so recent, many folk would still not consider Northern Ireland a place they would choose to spend their holiday time. However, things have changed and with all the recent investment, Northern Ireland is fast becoming a choice destination.Thanks to Fi's

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1154030481532520822006-07-27T20:45:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.214Z

The music video was dead to me. I haven't had cable for years, and still see no reason to. (BBC and Channel 4 is sufficient for me thanks very much). Without access to the music channels, I'm forced to actually listen to music rather than see the (often lame) visual rendition. Which suits me fine.Good ol' Internet though. YouTube, among others, has made it convenient for folk like me to watch

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1152647093663311392006-07-11T20:10:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.224Z

I've survived another year of T in the Park, and this weekend I'm doing nothing but catching up on my sleep. In summary - an absolutely brilliant event and the best of the four I've been to so far. Here's the breakdown. Warning: rubbish concert photography ahead.SaturdayGuillemots: Normally it takes hours to get into the event after queuing for the bus, traffic, and then queuing again to get your

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1150883315616235022006-06-21T10:24:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.234Z

As I sat in traffic this morning, I noticed that since I bought my first car last year that I have driven about 38,000 miles. The vast majority of this distance being my daily commute to work.The circumference of the Earth is about 24,900 miles.So in under 15 months, I've covered enough miles to have traversed the planet 1.5 times.The drive from Glasgow to Fife is nice and all, but I'm sure the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1150224473197634802006-06-13T19:36:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.244Z

The weather this weekend was fantastic, so we decided to take a trip down to the Ayrshire Coast which is only about an hour southwest of Glasgow. Took the coastal route and spent most of the day on the grounds of Culzean Castle.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1149963313268732582006-06-10T19:07:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.256Z

Music that sounds like a perfect summer weekend: fun, full of sweetness and sunshine, and over much too soon.The new album is an essential add to your record collection. First single Long Distance Call has somehow already managed to top my iTunes Play Count list.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1149530679438179422006-06-05T18:53:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.265Z

This post is far too many months late, so just the bullet points:Cheap European flights make long weekends to the Czech Republic a resonable option.Prague is gorgeous in the snow. In fact, it's gorgeous full-stop.Leaving one cold place to go to another is a legitimate holiday option, despite what British people tell you.Meeting old friends is even better when abroad.The beer does taste better (

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1147893235395310442006-05-17T20:04:00.001+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.275Z

One of the advantages of the UK music scene is that you can catch Canadian bands in much smaller venues than you could back home. Case in point: Metric in front of about 100 people.It was my first time seeing them live, though I've heard all the stories.And what can I say? I tried not to be seduced by the Emily Haines persona, but failed miserably. Brilliant.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1147719853211545292006-05-15T19:36:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.283Z

Just had myself a great little weekend.Ran my first 10K of the year. This was an especially nice one, through the woods and along the loch shore near the Trossachs town of Aberfoyle. Achieved my personal best time too.The weather was gorgeous, and since we were up there anyway, Robbie and I decided to tackle Ben A'an which provides views like this one.Caught the Scottish Cup Final in a wee pub

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1146220626642812932006-04-28T11:31:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.298Z

One of the unfortunate aspects of living in the UK is that it is nearly impossible to find North American sport on TV, even with satellite (which I don't have anyway).So rather than get the excitement of watching Ottawa play live, my "Sens Fever" comes from checking the results online first thing in the morning.That said, if the Sens can make it to the finals this year, I'll be able to watch the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1144320480989291332006-04-06T11:16:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.307Z

Bird flu has come to Fife!http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4881850.stmAlready I've seen the big, red, and block letter headlines in the tabloids. I've heard the water cooler talk ("better avoid chicken", "maybe we shouldn't go to the countryside"). Have I missed something? This has got to be one of the biggest non-stories in quite some time.But the media love it. People are tired of hearing about

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1142184418791009722006-03-12T17:19:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.317Z

Went out last night to catch The Feeling at King Tuts, a band who is doing a great job rehabilitating the credibility of soft rock. We caught a taxi home, and noticed that it had begun to flurry which was slightly unexpected. However, I certainly wasn't expecting to see this out the window when I awoke:Apparently about two hours after we got home, the accumulation was such that the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1141675042046743902006-03-06T19:16:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.326Z

Right, and where did the last two months go? I was going to start this with Happy New Year, but I'm pretty sure it's past the stage where that is acceptable (despite being no formal cut-off point that I know of).Looks like I'm not the only one not keeping up with their blogging?So yeah, time flies and all that. As expected, the trip home was great. Wonderful to see everyone, though like last

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1135038917066443372005-12-20T00:28:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.336Z

Sushi in the Annex. Pints of Keiths. Insomnia. Green Room. Stars at Lee's. Sleeping on couches. Mel's. So good to be back!The combination of a scanner and a wave of nostalgia got me inspired. Mike got the ball rolling nearly a year ago, so here is my contribution of some old high school pics. Pardon the dodgy quality on some - should have taken better care of these!

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1132439015058166702005-11-23T10:09:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.348Z

The middle part of the Italian trip took place in the Amalfi Coast, a gorgeous stretch of coastline on the Mediterranean. Steve and Rachel took us in their rented convertible which Steve bravely drove along some of the narrowest and windiest roads I've ever seen in my life. But the views were absolutely stunning.We found a good deal on a hotel in the town of Amalfi, but we weren't expecting much.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1132437181815859932005-11-19T21:22:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.359Z

Since the weather has all of a sudden become rather cold in these parts, my thoughts have strayed back to my last holiday where the temperature was distinctly warmer.Yes, after spending a surprisingly small amount of time off this island that is Great Britian, I finally got over to mainland Europe again for my first visit to Italy. Fi and I met up with Steve and Rachel in Rome where we spent four

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1131393474185745592005-11-07T19:46:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.371Z

A brilliant last few days. A great mix of friends and music, the latter consisting of some old-school ska in the form of The Skatalites on Friday and the always amazing Buck 65 in Edinburgh on Saturday. And on Sunday I was introduced to the world of water canyoning, which consists of abseiling into water and floating down mountain rivers and over waterfalls. Seriously. Check it out:My first

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1130015886558095322005-10-22T21:59:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.382Z

I guess blogging is like any other activity - sometimes you love it and sometimes you need a break from it. Lately I've found it to be a bit of a chore, not to mention that it is turning into a bit of Matt's "what concert have I been to lately" blog. And I think I was supposed to talk about Italy somewhere?I've felt a bit lethargic lately. Maybe it's the weather? It took me unawares this year -

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1126551502758307822005-09-12T19:44:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.397Z

Some shows I've seen over the last few weeks:Malcolm Middleton - the guitarist from Arab Strap now doing his solo thing which is in much the same vein (self-loathing galore!) but with a bit more kick which makes it infinitely more enjoyable. Recommended sample: the excellent "Loneliness Shines".The Pixies - no introduction really needed I suspect. Held in an outdoor track and field stadium in

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1125946460920846922005-09-05T19:45:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.409Z

My third annual! Same route as last year, and again I decided to run the 10K. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to be outdoors, but it was a bit tough for running. It was already 25 degrees by 9am, so it was pretty hot by the time I hit 5km. This is the excuse I'll use for running a longer time than last year. But still, 49:30 - still under the 50 minute mark. Fi did a great job again,

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1125404123394033402005-08-30T13:14:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.424Z

Yes, in theory, but you’d be forgiven for thinking it was late October rather than August based on the recent weather. Mind you, I’m not complaining. I’ve always been more of the jacket and jeans sort anyway!It always surprises me when I think about it, but sure enough I’ve been living in the UK for well over two years now. So where have you travelled being that you can get to mainland Europe

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1122160791212419662005-07-23T23:59:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.434Z

We were a bit delicate after the wedding the night previous, so perhaps enthusiasm wasn’t as high as it should have been. But hey - it’s T!SaturdayLeaves - Melodic Icelandic epic rock. Or something. I managed to find a spot on the grass to catch this set. Good stuff.Embrace - British radio-friendly, inoffensive rock. Apparently they’ve been around since the Britpop days, but I’d never heard

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1121112093370703032005-07-11T20:44:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.445Z

Pretty crazy weekend starting with two nights up in Aberdeen for the wedding of Alison (whom some of you may know as one of the Scottish Girls from Rouen) and Campbell. The brilliant weather continues, so we were sipping champagne outside before the reception (as one does). The evening was a Ceilidh, and I was up Highland dancing with the best of them despite not having a clue what I was doing.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1119904282069301902005-06-27T21:16:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.455Z

Drumnadrochit - Inverness (18 miles)The final stretch! It was to be a tiring 18 miles through some pretty barren terrain, but knowing that this was our final day was more than enough incentive.Once again, the day would begin with a big climb, and as always with a great payoff. This time it was a view of the castle across Urquhart Bay.We walked through plantations and farms before joining a road

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1119901992784445952005-06-27T20:27:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.470Z

Invermoriston - Drumnadrochit (14 miles)No easing into this day. A very steep climb up and up first thing to get the juices flowing. A great payoff as always though with a panorama of Loch Ness and the surrounding hills, complete with a natural stone seat to rest on.After a quick decent, we joined a forest road for more climbing. Zigzagging to and fro up the hills proved to be a hell of a

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1119298319299480992005-06-20T20:53:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.480Z

Fort Augustus - Invermoriston (8 miles)Something a bit more leisurely on this day, walking along a forest road with some killer views of Loch Ness.It took just over 4 hours to get to our destination of Invermoriston, so we had some time to explore the village that afternoon. An old bridge built by Thomas Telford in the early 1800's (he built over 120 in the Highlands alone) was especially

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1118690859328990922005-06-13T20:17:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.489Z

The concert season is finally heating up after a bit of a slow few months (with the notable exception of the Teenage Fanclub gig a few months ago - great tunes, love the harmonies, and great new album).The line up for T in the Park is now complete. Can't say I was as excited about it as previous years at first, but looking at the line-up in its entirity I'm certainly excited now. Keane, The

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1118690154491772302005-06-13T19:48:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.507Z

Gairlochy - Fort Augustus (23 miles)We started the day off with a walk along the banks of Loch Lochy. It was one of those Scottish mornings where the mist and fog hangs over the hills to create that quintessential celtic atmosphere. The vividness of colour in the forests, especially along the Kilfinnan Wood section, was something straight out of Tolkien.Near the north end of the loch lies

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1117893133313502582005-06-04T14:32:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.522Z

Fort William - Gairlochy (11 Miles)The day began with a trip from Glasgow to Fort William on the always spectacular West Highland rail line. From the starting obelisk at Fort William, we quickly came to the 13th-century built Inverlochy Castle.The first few miles weren't of much note, but did provide great views of Ben Nevis.The majority of our first day followed the Caledonia Canal. The canal,

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1117300894079144722005-05-28T18:08:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.541Z

Amazing how fast 12 days flies by! Had a great visit with my Dad, brothers Ian and Cam and their girlfriends Amy and Britney. Everybody managed to cover an awful lot in a short space of time on their respective adventures. I personally managed a trip up to Loch Lomond, a few days on Mull and Iona with Dad, a day in the pubs of Glasgow and a brilliant wee BBQ chez the Scottish Wilson's. These were

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1114954871643051392005-05-01T14:06:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.552Z

My last few days of work before my two-week holiday brought me an unexpected surprise. I was presented with my passport and at long last a full set of documentation allowing me to officially live and work in the UK.I have to say that the whole experience was much more involved and time-consuming than I ever would have expected. Given the Commonwealth relationship between Canada and the UK, as

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1114366949400619482005-04-24T19:13:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.566Z

This past week at work was pretty tough, so this particular weekend was one I was especially looking forward to. Caught a brilliant movie on Friday (The Station Agent), and attended a wedding reception for Alison's sister in a hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond (we took both the High Road and the Low Road in order to get there). Today was a great opportunity to just chill out and enjoy the weather

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1112558044653183642005-04-10T20:53:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.574Z

The 73-mile long Wall was built by the Roman Army back in 122 A.D., nearly 2000 years ago. It was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian to help control movement of people in the British frontier, as well as prevent raids by those ever pesky Scots.First stop for us was Vindolanda, a Roman fort that has been excavated over the last few decades. You are able to walk amongst the foundations of the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1112524447001936002005-04-03T11:10:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.582Z

I've always been fascinated by medieval history, and one of the joys of living in the UK is that remnants of this era are everywhere. We drove down to Northumberland in Northern England last weekend primarily to see Hadrian's Wall and the Roman settlements. However, during our explorations we saw a sign that directed us towards the town of Greenhead where nearby was to be found a castle built in

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1111941652860765452005-03-27T17:39:00.000+01:002007-01-14T21:21:02.592Z

Spotted near Hadrian's Wall

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1111769816826551162005-03-25T16:32:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.604Z

A few observations and things I've been up to: I should have been in Prague right now. The plan was to join Mike for a few days on his travels, but I'm still waiting for my paperwork (and my passport) from my friends at the Home Office. I'm saving that rant for another day though... Another fun concert from Athlete, which always turns into a crowd singalong. The boys are the master of the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1111352617982707152005-03-20T20:52:00.000Z2007-01-14T21:21:02.614Z

On a beautiful spring Sunday, Robbie and I took a trip up to Arrochar to tackle Ben Arthur, known as The Cobbler (as apparently the peak resembles a cobbler hunched over listening to his wife). Last August, Christy and I make it about halfway before having to turn back as there was a train to catch. It would not be the case this day however, as we did make it to the peak. But despite starting

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1110650993326131782005-03-12T18:04:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.768Z

I went to see the brilliant Irish comedian Dara O'Briain tonight (and for those keeping score at home, the same bloke we saw almost one year ago today). He said something that struck me as so very true - "Nostalgia is heroin for old people". At 27, I'd like to think I don't fit the criteria of "old person", but how true is that? Case in point: With the discovery of these two sites (found here

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1109679745262993472005-03-01T12:03:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.768Z

I haven't been to a gig at Glasgow's legendary King Tut's Wah Wah Hut in nearly a year, and then two come along at once. Just like that proverbial bus.We caught Sondre Lerche on Saturday night. It was just he and his guitar this night, but if anything the minimalism of it enhanced the music rather than it taking anything away. A fun night with a great crowd. And much like his fellow Norwegians

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1109021023396451562005-02-21T21:10:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.768Z

Scottish hillwalking in February can be a bit hit-or-miss. I've been lucky to catch a few nice patches.Loch Lomond countryside from the Kilpatrick HillsGrave of Rob Roy, BalquhidderView near Kirkton GlenCold, windy, often wet, but life affirming.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1108861080852928072005-02-20T00:49:00.001Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.769Z

Just got back from my first gig of 2005. And how's this for a line-up? Deacon Blue Mull Historical Society Mogwai Belle and Sebastian Trashcan Sinatras Teenage Fanclub Travis Idlewild Franz Ferdinand Eddi Reader Texas Snow Patrol Amazing talent, and all Scottish to boot. Great vibe, great tunes, and all for a great cause.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1108729422889282912005-02-18T12:21:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.769Z

Overnight I've gone from an old clunker of a PC with Windows 95 and dial-up Internet to a souped-up PC with Broadband. One word: result.

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1108382136748466352005-02-14T11:55:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.770Z

After a read through the blogs of Mike and Drew, I realised I haven’t mentioned my return trip home yet. I don’t suppose there is any point in getting into details as the folk who read this will likely be the same folk who I would have spending the time with anyway. By the way – love the idea of the nostalgia photo album Mike. Alas many of my best pics are back in Burlington, but shall see if

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1106915790922709272005-01-28T13:16:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.770Z

So, I bought a car. My first actually. I'd never had the need for full-time access to a car before. But the time finally came. When I first started working in Fife, I found that with the hours I was working it would be easier to get a flat near work. And so I lived in Inverkeithing for a full year. No regrets - I've met some great people here and had some great nights out. My PS2 also

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1106830074696940242005-01-27T13:38:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.770Z

While a day of meetings is not normally high on my fun list, this particular day of meetings was held out of the office. More specifically at a small hotel located in the Highland town of Pitlochry. A beautiful drive through some stunning landscape, a bit of business chat for part of the day, and then a nice walk through town. There was even the chance to see the Fish Ladder which was built to

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1106658356223766652005-01-25T13:54:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.771Z

Today is the birthday of the legendary Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796). He wrote poetry by the common man for the common man, and for that reason his work still resonates today. Burns Night commemorates all things Burns, and the highlight for many is the Burns Supper, featuring song, food, drink and poetry. Alas, I won’t be attending a full Burns Supper this evening, but shall be

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1105533099171071792005-01-12T13:28:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.771Z

"The most powerful Atlantic storm to hit Scotland in more than a decade" - The Herald "The worst sustained two weeks of weather ... seen in 20 years" - The Scotsman Gales rattling my windows, rains soaking me to the bone, and possibly the worst week of commuting ever with cancelled trains and late buses galore. It's good to be back!

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1103191645565091182004-12-16T10:03:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.772Z

After nearly two years, I will shortly be boarding a plane to make my return trip to Canada (after a detour and long layover in Amsterdam). My adrenaline is running high at the moment – mostly from excitement to see friends and family again, but also due to the fact that it has been an extremely eventful last few days. I’ve now moved out of Inverkeithing and have made a full-time return to

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1101476828412785012004-11-26T13:45:00.000Z2006-11-06T13:54:55.772Z

When it comes time to someday leave Scotland, one of the things I will miss the most is the sheer quantity and quality of concerts that can be found at any point throughout the year. The last few months of 2004 have been especially good... “But I can't stop listening to the sound/Of two soft voices mended in perfection” – Kings Of Convenience, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh Quiet is the New Loud and

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1098536071586304932004-10-23T13:53:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.773Z

I was one of thousands who recently descended upon Hampden Park in Glasgow to catch a first round World Cup qualifier match between Scotland and Norway. We got our tickets early, and as a result had seats that were practically on the pitch. Unfortunately, not only did Scotland lose 1-0, but truth be told it was one of the most boring sporting matches I've ever seen. And that's coming from a

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1098285271767400392004-10-20T16:12:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.773Z

The joy of coincidence. While my parents were over, we had been having a few drinks at the flat and listening to Hayden’s latest album Elk Lake Serenade. My father seemingly took a shine to it, so upon returning to Canada he took a look at Hayden’s web site where he noticed that Hayden would be playing in Darvel, Scotland in a few weeks time as part of the Darvel Music Festival. My father

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1097773982519818032004-10-14T18:12:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.773Z

It has been a while, but after a long time apart I’ve finally seen my parents in person again. We had just over a week to see and do a lot of things – but despite the time restraints I think it went brilliantly. There were many good intentions to see lots of historical sites and museums, but it seemed to be the case that a few (or more than a few) pints in the Scottish pubs always proved to be

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1097413377737778502004-10-10T13:51:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.774Z

The power of teachers cannot be understated. A good teacher who is passionate about the subject matter they teach can impart the same passion to the student so that after the course is over and exams written, the subject remains as a lifelong interest. I was fortunate to have two excellent English teachers in high school whose love of Shakespeare was such that it turned what could have been a

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1096455697912080602004-09-29T13:00:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.774Z

It has been a busy last few weeks, but things have now calmed down sufficiently to allow me to catch up with a few things, including a neglected H&MS. Steve and Rachel were back in Scotland for the second time back in late August. We rented a car (affectionately named Franz) for a quick Highland adventure through Glen Coe (up Devil’s Staircase again!), along the banks of Loch Ness (no glimpses

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1094469107607489982004-09-06T13:06:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.791Z

I’ve been a Smiths/Morrissey fan now for many years, so to finally see the Mozzer live was an incredibly exciting experience. The atmosphere of anticipation before the show began, complete with punters football-chanting his name, indicated that I wasn’t the only die-hard in the crowd. The show itself lived up to the hype and then some, from the opener (Smiths classic “How Soon Is Now” – which I

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1093713739392559642004-08-28T18:21:00.000+01:002006-11-06T13:54:55.791Z

Due to a lack of general training over the year, I decided it would probably be best to run the 10K rather than the half-marathon this time. Once the decision was made to race, I finally got the motivation I needed to take up running again in earnest. Over in Fife, I have been running the Inverkeithing to Dalgety Bay section of the Fife Coastal Path which follows the River Forth and provides

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1092661895242148532004-08-16T14:09:00.000+01:002004-08-16T15:30:07.420+01:00

It has been said that the third time is the charm, but I think I took a shine to the kilt the first time I wore one. The whole outfit sounds like it ought to be ridiculous, but don’t mock it until you try it. It’s amazing how smart you can look in full Highland Dress. I’ve now worn three different tartans, these being: Gunn (Wilson) Blackwatch MacKenzie This latest was worn for the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1092049210585377192004-08-09T11:49:00.000+01:002004-08-09T12:07:07.796+01:00

I've been sorting out some old pictures that we had put into digital format and figured I'd post some of them. So here are a few from the trip to Iceland last October: Blue Lagoon, outside of Reykjavik. Surreal and soothing! Gullfoss, a worthy rival to Niagara Falls. Church in the Icelandic countryside. We never saw a single person for most of the day. Geothermal energy in action near

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1091548130125264722004-08-03T16:41:00.000+01:002004-08-04T09:38:19.996+01:00

I found myself saying this phrase quite a bit over the last few days during Christy’s visit to Scotland. After all these months it still amazes me just how close everything really is. We managed to cover quite a bit in only a few days – a historical and pub tour of Glasgow, Pollok Park (featuring those Heilan Coos), Edinburgh in pre-Fringe Festival buzz mode, a partial climb up Ben Arthur (

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1090958457048222592004-07-27T20:48:00.000+01:002004-07-27T21:09:51.990+01:00

Getting tickets to a live music show in Scotland can often be a challenge. If you wait for the official announcements in weekend newspapers, oftentimes the best shows are already sold out. I tend to check out a few music web sites during lunch to get an edge on the average punter. But sometimes you just need to get lucky - as I did recently when they announced the lineup for T On The Fringe,

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1090160845292411112004-07-18T15:00:00.000+01:002004-07-19T09:46:06.910+01:00

The weather was mostly overcast for the weekend, but we managed to avoid the rain for the duration. The distribution of talent between the two days was noticeably lopsided. The newspapers described Day One as "killing time before the main event on Sunday". I'd more positively say that Day One was a good warm-up before the brilliance of Day Two. There were a lot of choices to be made, but in the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1088939594412937712004-07-04T11:46:00.000+01:002004-07-04T12:16:33.226+01:00

With summer upon us, perhaps it's time to get a little colour onto the site. Thus, a few pics from various events from the last year... The champion of the Pollok Park Heilan Coo Exhibition, Glasgow. The Rail Bridge over the River Forth, and the bridge I cross to get to work on a Monday morning. The view of the bridge from the hotel I stayed at for a few months late last year. Nearing the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1088858154689522862004-07-03T13:33:00.000+01:002004-07-03T13:35:54.690+01:00

Canada Day has come and gone, and as expected there wasn't much in the way of celebration for the event in Fife. The best I could do was buy a bottle of "real Canadian maple syrup" (made in England) to pour over crumpets. However, everybody at my work is now aware that July 1st is in fact the birthday of the Great White North. My thoughts couldn't help but stray to Canada Days in Ottawa,

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1088509242351135872004-06-29T12:39:00.000+01:002004-06-29T12:43:31.996+01:00

The Glasgow West End Festival has come and gone, and I unfortunately did not get to catch anywhere near as much of the music and theatre that I’d of liked. However, I did finally get to see Belle and Sebastian in concert as part of their free Festival gig in the Botanic Gardens. While not the best venue acoustically, the positive energy of the band’s music was the perfect accompaniment to a

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1088259347432026082004-06-26T15:15:00.000+01:002004-06-26T15:15:47.433+01:00

Even though I’ve been in the UK for almost 16 months now, I confess I haven’t really taken to football like I thought I might. When it comes to league football (SPL, English Premiership) I care about the games as much as I do for British reality TV programmes (which is to say not at all). However, it’s a slightly different situation when it comes to international play. You get the impression

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1088259296330629932004-06-26T15:13:00.000+01:002004-06-26T15:14:56.330+01:00

A hearty welcome to Chris into the world of blogging. As he states in his first post, blogging is quickly becoming the easy (lazy?) alternative to emailing. CJ – I haven’t heard much from you lately so keep the posts coming! He also makes a great statement about the upcoming Canadian elections. I confess I did not get my act together soon enough to register as an international voter, so I won

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1087313032623192462004-06-15T16:22:00.000+01:002004-06-15T16:23:52.623+01:00

I figured it was about time for a site upgrade – it was looking a little shabby and I thought it could use a bit of tweaking. There is so much more I would love to do with H&MS if I had a better computer, broadband Internet access and more time. But I guess a new layout will do for now. I was going for the one-year anniversary relaunch of H&MS theme, but it turns out that my first post was the

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1086560817905347532004-06-06T23:23:00.000+01:002004-06-10T16:25:58.566+01:00

"Is the last mile the hardest mile?” – The Smiths Day Five: Inveroran Hotel to Kinlochleven (16 miles) It was bucketing down when we awoke that morning, so we decided to linger over our breakfast. They were serving bagels after all (oh yes, tasty Canadian bagels in the Highlands!). The first half of the walk that day would be through the Rannoch Moor. It is the largest moor in Britain, and

Matt Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03944569730301289943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5505424.post-1086194071220235612004-06-02T17:28:00.000+01:002004-06-10T16:26:46.470+01:00

I had the chance to see a bit of Canadian musical royalty in concert last Friday at the very classy Glasgow Royal Concert Hall where we saw Rufus Wainwright featuring Kate & Anna McGarrigle and Martha Wainwright. The performance was set up so that all four (as well as a bassist and background singer) would perform a few McGarrigle classics and other standards together. Then the McGarrigle’s would

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