A long week

Photo: Daniel C. 

Hi all,

Unfortunately I have not had enough minutes in the day to update you on my thoughts and findings, but know that at this moment I am in decent health and pleasantly relaxed. In from a run tonight, I'm just catching up on a little news, enjoy some Dylan on the speakers and a crisp glass of the white Burgundy supermarket gem I picked up earlier. I needed a glass of wine tonight. I have not had a night to myself in quite some time, as I've had so many friends crashing on the couch.

A new friend Paul from Ireland crashed here all week, which was a great experience. He was in town for an engineering conference, and at 25 years old, was shortlisted for the best presentation and research paper out of 200 presented over the week. An incredibly smart and inspiring guy, and I look forward to seeing him back in town again soon. He is the only person I've met, other than Uncle John and Jeff, whose travel experiences make me jealous.

CouchSurfing 101

Photo: 'Glasgow Surfing' - Daniel C.

Hi All,

This weekend I was reminded of adventure, and living life in the moment. I was reminded that I am young, and meant to stay out until the sun comes up. This weekend I was reminded of the spirit of CouchSurfing, and experiencing life through the eyes and still frames of new friends and old; those people that you meet along the way, off the beaten path or in the streets.

I was reminded of making the most of your days and nights in the company of friends. It's what a circle of my Parisian friends call 'le live' - life should always be 'live' they say; a la minute, the camera is rolling, life is happening now. It's about taking whatever corner feels right, climbing new hills, enjoying yourself anyway you can, wherever you may be, at any given moment. 101 insane stories of adventure from this past weekend, as my old friends Alexis and Ben made it a memorable one.

Thursday

Photo: Daniel C.

Another day in the life coming to a close tonight. A blinding headache stops me from writing to you all a little more, but here are a few of my favourite stories from another rainy and dull day. Goodnight.

i - "Endurance cooking as performance art." The story of 48 hours of endless cooking. Vancouver style. I've done a few 18-19 hour shifts in the front of house, but couldn't imagine cooking for 48 hours. The best thing about Chef Todd, besides his unreal two-day run of three course tasting menus for 20 people every two hours, is the fact he runs an illegal restaurant out his apartment called '12b'. Unreal.

ii - It's halfway to Christmas right? Or maybe I can buy myself a few early birthday gifts. Top gadgets for the frugal traveler, or the broke junior reporter.

iii - You're a communist bully. No, you're a childish school girl. Ah, diplomatic rhetoric between the nuclear powers. Fun and games, right?

iv- Rats take Edinburgh; Toronto not the only place with rubbish woes this summer. Yes, despite the rain and mild temperatures, it is still 'summer' here.

v - complicated and brilliant. Rufus Wainwright, and a new opera.

Articles to share

Photo: 'Highland Cow'... Daniel. C

Happy Wednesday. A few things I found over lunch today are linked below.

Still waiting for summer to arrive in Glasgow. Funny, July is almost over, and there has been almost no sun to speak of. Only seven more busy days at work. I've become a regualar columnist now which is cool. Busy, busy, raining. The rain patters down against my window tonight as I tuck myself in for bed. Endless rain like this morning, like last night, like the night before, and the 10 days before that. Rain like Forest Gump describes rain. All kinds of rain. However, all kinds of rain-soaked adventures to come.

Three Cameras on a Table, Monday, articles

Photos: Daniel C.

Photo: Random Lorraine

Hi all, Happy Monday. Today started at a snail's pace like most Mondays, but I've spend many inspiring hours trapped in my own head. Make sure to go back and read my two previous posts, which were uploaded last night and this afternoon. One called Scottish Rubbish, and one called Weekend Review. Read them.

I got a message from one Chris Speed last night before I tucked myself in for the night. Chris, from Nashville, was in the Detroit airport last night en-route to Scotland, and had just heard his Glasgow CouchSurfing host had bailed on him, choosing to head out of town instead of hosting. Chris had contacted me weeks ago asking for a couch, but I had to say no at the time as I had people booked in.

Scottish Rubbish

Special Report By DANIEL BACH
The Sunday Herald

THERE’S something wrong with the Scottish attitude to litter - that’s the consensus of everyone charged with keeping our towns, cities and villages clean.

From council chiefs and binmen to environmental lobby groups and waste mangement teams the facts speak for themselves: many of us think nothing of chucking chip-wrappers and newspapers in the street, dumping our cigarette butts in the gutter or spitting chewing gum all over the pavement.

What should be a social disgrace and an embarrassing eye-sore has simply become part and parcel of the Scottish way of life. So it’s little wonder that those environmental campaigners and city leaders are now saying that the only way to stop litter louts is to treat them the same as drunk-drivers and speeding motorists.

Weekend Review

Photos: D.C.

Hi, After a solid week of CouchSurfers, four over seven nights, I finally re-claimed my couch last night. As much as I've loved my visitors, it was nice to have a quiet and relaxed night. I've had a pretty whirlwind week, which saw me put in a few overtime hours at work - newspapers love reporters who they don't have to pay, and keep them busy, trust me - and am enjoying a weekend of the simple things in life.

A lengthy run, a walk in the park, a few photos and quiet dinners, sleeping in, a few tunes, and a couple pints with family and friends. It's those simple things that matter most folks. I stopped into a cafe close to my flat last night on my home from taking pictures to enjoy a beer and pen a few thoughts in my journal.

Tuesday thoughts.

Photo: G.O.

Hello all. Hope everyone is well, I really do. I found a few things this morning while sifting through the mountain of news and features.

Here.ya.go:

A - Want to know what Tiger will be wearing in Scotland on Sunday? Top comment on the golf blog goes to to one 'Bagger Vance' (brilliant film) from Kalamazoo, MI.. "Even with all of this attention paid to clothes, golfers of today don't measure up, fashion wise, to the pros of the '40s and '50s, who sported a classic, elegant look."

I couldn't agree more. I think athletes these days still lack a little class when it comes to attire on and off the field of play. Watching Wimbledon a few weeks back, where the clothes are meant to be white and neatly tailored, I was again appalled at all the baggy shorts, scruffy beards and backwards caps.

Weekend, #6 of Scotland, and Pinot Noir

 
Photos: Daniel C.

Okay, just in from a decent run in the driving rain. I think it's raining in Calgary, so to everyone out there in the rain, including all the readers in Glasgow and Edinburgh - enjoy it. It's just rain.

I ran past One Devonshire Gardens tonight as I always do, and felt a little uneasy watching the waiters open wine and the chefs at work in the kitchen. I miss that life a bit.

But. It's time to catch up on the current life... Yes folks, still alive after a weekend I will never forget for the rest of my days. Friday saw me leave work about two hours late, and incredibly stressed, but a long walk home in the sunshine was helpful in clearing my head.

Week's end

Photo: Daniel C.

Relaxing at home tonight as always, and having a cold beer after a really long week at work. Perhaps I'll have a cup of tea later, but for now content watching the brilliant Rufus Wainwright sing and chat on the Jonathan Ross show.

Right, some thoughts for the day. I was putting the finishing touches on part one of the Sunday Herald's newest weekly feature today - I think we're calling it Clean up your act Scotland - and decided to head out to the city's main square to chat with a few folks about litter. Interesting, yeah?

It was a beautiful day - for Scotland anyways - so I took my time hanging out, enjoying the sun and the people walking past. Did some reporting to. I hate to bother people when they're relaxing, but I was intrigued by a gentleman who sat down beside me on a bench in front of the city chambers. I had a good chat with a gentleman called David, 62, who comes from Hamilton just south of Glasgow.

Thursday update

Photo: Daniel C.

Friends, I’m just in the door from the eight miles, and feeling like I owe you a wee post tonight. Last night I think I was just too tired to string sentences together, and as I was nodding off alone on my couch, I felt it best to just drag my weary bones to bed.

I had about a hundred things to share, but deleted a draft of about 500 words I had written up, at which point I was ready to throw my laptop at the pale white wall. Actually, I have told you a white lie already. I came in from my run, put down the groceries, and grabbed my camera to run back out into the night.

You see the things about Scotland is even on days when it’s grey and dreary, the sky always breaks in the evening, where layers of thin white cloud seem to float among the magnificent colors of the setting sun. At the start of June, it was never dark here; in the wee hours of the morning the sky was always this pastel blue, and the sky seemed unchanged between dusk and dawn. Tonight reminded me why I love just walking around under the Northern skies here – just like June, just like every night.

Drowning in News, and learning to swim

Photo: JLM.

  Dear friends,

Today I have not much to share, but a few things to say. Today is just another day in the life, and I'm taking a break from reading and writing, outside of this blogoteque of course. Today is one of those days where I sort through news headlines and stories, and really find myself unable to handle the breadth and importance of the information out there.

I became increasingly frustrated with not only the state of affairs the world over, but also the fact that I can not adequately keep up with all the stories and situations I want to. My insatiable thirst for news about the world and for stories about places and the people there will keep me reading and learning for years to come. I love talking to people about anything at all, and tell as many stories as I can.

"So let us change what we can, and accept what we can't...."

A few thoughts for today.

 
Photo: Daniel C.

It's been raining on and off here today, but the clouds and grey broke for a few hours this evening, just enough time to fit in a lengthy jog and to stand still for a few minutes to enjoy a pleasant view of the sunset over ancient hills. Hope you all had a great day.

Had another solo and quiet night in tonight after an uneventful Monday at work. Yes, I'm as much a geek as the reading glasses, camera and distressed moleskines would suggest. Sitting with a cup of tea, the daily newspapers and Neil Young Live at Massey Hall 1971 on stereo tonight, I dug up a few wee things. Goodnight.

Saturday in a small world

Last night I went to bed with a rough itinerary in mind for the Saturday to come. When I woke this morning, things seemed to change a little. Although you should never set an alarm for a weekend day when you're off, I figured I would wake up early and go for a lengthy run, thus giving me more hours on a Saturday to enjoy all those simple things I like to do/see - art galleries, photography, coffee, walking. Waking a few hours later than planned, I decided I would need breakfast and a carafe of coffee before doing anything at all. After that, and a few hours of reading news, I decided spit polish and shine my flat top to bottom in advance of the arrival of my next couch surfer tomorrow.

Random ramblings of a Friday

 
Portrait of drunk wee friends: Daniel C.

I've had enough cups of tea today to keep me going for a little while here, so let’s get started. I’ve got the new Rancid acoustic album on the mini-speakers tonight, and have also cracked into a screw-cap bottle of Chat-eu-Oeuf, which has made some friends curious. Hopefully that will help to make things a little more creative this evening. Just kidding – lots to talk about....

Another long week at work had me craving a glass of wine - a rare delicacy of late. In the supermarket at the closing hour I decided to pick something out to help me celebrate by myself tonight, having completing my ninth week at work; only four to go. Wow. It was nice to leave my desk at 17:01 knowing I could enjoy the weekend off, running and exploring as I always do, having tied up all the loose ends of a week, in the same breathe having completed - only moments before - my wellington boot feature for another page 3 spread in the Sunday national.

Running and thinking

Okay - Here we go. Cup of tea? Yes sir. Neil Young: Harvest? Check.

So... A lot going on today, but I'll share a few things on my mind at present. Just in the door from my treasured weeknight run. Six miles under those endless blue skies and a brilliant summer moon. I really need to start bringing my iPhone with me so I can record my rambling thoughts as I run, as I really come up with my best material while jogging. I was honestly laughing out loud tonight, almost in tears, coming up with story and essay ideas while I jogged along. But for you the audience, here in a conscious stream of thought, will come all the things I can remember thinking about while pounding the cobbles on this night.