A week at work and at play

Photo: JLM

Today I was devastated to hear about Michael Jackson like most people. Although many people hate him to bits, you have to admit he was the best thing to happen to pop music since the Beatles. Probably the biggest solo artist of all time, yeah, I said it, bigger than Elvis.

When I was in the third grade, I wrote about my favourite album, Dangerous, and my favourite singer, Michael Jackson, on a class questionnaire. My mom found that piece of paper a few years back. I always enjoyed Michael Jackson, the best stage performer of all time. Say what you will about his weird and troubled social life. Even if it all the rumour and scandal was true, I would still love him for his music and dance. Sad day.

Umm, a week in review...

Sunday - Had a slow start to the day if I remember correctly, I think rising earlier so I could make the most of a Sunday. After a pot of coffee, a plate of scrambled eggs and some toast I read the news as always with some nice Sunday music in the background. When the time was right, I ran for miles. Eight or nine.

Some Calgarians showed up at more door later on, needing a place to stay. Went to a funky little wine bar, as it was 'chucking it down' rain, and the Velvet Elvis the closet bar to my house. Cheap and cheerful for an old butcher's shop. Meat hooks and all.

Took my three Canadian CouchSurfers - Erika, Dan and Anna - up to the University hill afterwards in the driving rain. Jaws on the pavement, they really didn't care. "I really didn't expect this fromuGlasgow," admitted Dan. Glasgow, I explained, is a city of hidden gems and rough charm. You have to flirt with her a little bit, take the time get to know her.

Side streets and alleyways, the city bursts with art, music and culture. Most people just see garbage and a city of a former glory. Compared to the first time I came here, I can admit the urban decay is picking itself up from its knees. The Victorian buildings are being dusted and polished, the skeleton and decrepit buildings of the Clyde side making way for condos and pathways. The social stigmas of a written-off town are changing.

Monday - wow, what happened Monday. Ah, arrived to work, checked my e-mail, read the paper, and then made my way to a scheduled interview at the Glasgow Police Museum. Story should be out next week. The retired police inspector who curates the museum was a walking library of knowledge, telling stories about Britain's oldest police force. Super cool guy. He had an international police exhibition which included a cap from the North Korean military police. Where the hell do you get that? Rad.

I'm not sure why I'm writing all this, I guess so I can remember in the fall, and so you can see what a week is like. Things change by the minute for me as always. Life.

Right, Monday night. Ha, this one was good. Left work to meet my CS's at the train. They packed their car, I grabbed my camera and an apple for the road. Met my good friend Kevin McIntyre at Edinburgh Haymarket, and went off to the film premiere of 'My Mate Mick' at the Edinburgh Film Festival - a new Scottish film he helped produce.

Super cool night, although I made a mistake in accepting a ride home to Glasgow - about 50 miles away - by the two editors of the film. Little did I know I would have to go to the after party first. There were a whole bunch of famous Scots actors and directors there, including Alan Cumming, but I was too tired and concerned about work the next day to want to be there.

The party was at a bar I would have normally enjoyed, well except for all the movie-type people who loved themselves to bits. Inspiring little cobbled lane in Edinburgh, again, right out of a movie scene, that I would have never found. Walking out of a bar and seeing that ancient castle on the volcano is pretty frickin' cool I must say. Not too many drinks or schmoozing for me, however. When did I become a square? Not sure, but I'm going to actually try to be 23 this week for once in my life.

On the drive back at around 2:30am, the sky was not yet completely dark from the night before, and already the sun had began to rise on the eastern horizon. Each mile who drove, it seemed the pale blue hue of the morning sky rose by another inch on the horizon. Yeah, it was light out when I climbed into my bed at 4:00am. Got up for work at 7:00am. Hooray!

Tuesday - At my desk for 9:00am - paper, news, coffee, e-mail. Was sent away in a taxi to the middle of nowhere on a glorious sunny day about an hour later. Was the lone reporter at a children's graduation fun-day sort of deal, where they got to train at the Glasgow Rangers' training facility. World class place. Story here.

One of the brass from the club gave me a tour of the facility, set in the rolling hills of some small Scottish town. Sheep, sky, sun. The whole bit. Pretty neat place in a revolting way. Upon arriving back at the newsroom, I told my editor that she must send me to Lennoxtown - Celtic's training centre - after putting me through the torture of going to a Rangers facility.

As much as I despise Rangers, I of course have a huge respect for the club that has been around since 1875. But for me it was like going on a tour of the Ottawa Senators dressing room. Why the f*#% would I want to see that? (Stay tuned, my wish was granted sooner than you may expect). A great day I had in the sun.

Not sure what I did after that. Oh yeah, slept for hours, and then went for a midnight run. Six miles.

Wednesday - Hmm, hump day. Oh right, see 'Punk Rock Photo Shoot'. Happy Wednesday.

Thursday - My first day on the sports desk as I explained in a previous post. Got the chance to go to Celtic's training facility out in the countryside. While this is an amazing place, I can't imagine the players enjoy the daily drive in the frost and pouring rain of the winter.

Imagine driving 45 minutes in the Scottish rain on a deadly 2-lane highway for practice every day. Maybe when you get payed not so bad when $50,000/week it's not so bad. Lennoxtown - sheep, hills, and a deep pine forest surrounding three pristine soccer pitches. A true field of dreams. Oh, and on the hill overlooking the main pitch is an ancient castle. Just like a movie. Paradise.

I have been to dozens of press calls and photo shoots, and must say, Celtic make the best coffee. Spoiled.Rotten.Journalist. I drove out to attend a press conference with two of the chief football reporters, who like all Scottish journalists, have been to Canada to visit family. Funny shooting the breeze with the guys who write the columns I read every day back in Calgary during the season. Small world. I traded my obsession in the Leafs for Celtic about five years ago.

Friday - Was on the sports desk for 6:45 am again this morning, and even got to write my first sports story. I'll post it when the website it updated, but it was a good one. Andy Murray and Wimbledon. Hooray portfolio, I've wrote about everything except cooking tips for the papers now.

Not sure what they have planned for me next week, but I told the Sunday Herald editor I was ready to start writing killer features for him. We're having a blether on Tuesday to work it out, and I think he wants a reporter to cover the local health scene. I'm no Andre Picard or Josh Naud, but I'll give it a shot. Have also been getting a good look from the photographers. They like my enthusiasm I think, and are happy to let me start tripping the shutter a bit.

However, for now, I have to tidy up my flat for my Brazilian CouchSurfer who arrives in the morning. Haha, check you later. D