Could have been a disaster, these supergroup things usually are.( Asia anyone? ). However, Dave Grohl (FooFighters, Nicest Man In Rock, Greatest Living Rock Drummer), Josh Homme (QOTSA, Desert Sessions, General Rock God and Imposing Dutch Person) and John Paul Jones (C’mon, it’s JPJ!) have got together to form Them Crooked Vultures. The eponymous album was released today. Listened to it four or five times whilst freezing my arse off at the postface.
Verdict? Fucking AWESOME!
Seeing them live at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh next month.

EDIT: ABSOLUTELY fucking AWESOME!

A couple of years ago I happened upon the frankly geeky music of Jonathan Coulton. Well, so did my middle boy Alex and in 2008 we had a fantastic trip together to London to see JoCo’s first gig outwith the US. Now, I’ve seen Zep, The Who, Thin Lizzy, The Foos etc etc but that Coulton gig with 600 rabid JoCo fans singing along whilst in the company of my son was one of the best experiences in my life.
So, last year he played Glasgow and we did the merchandise table for him. Gig was OK, but great for Alex (middle sprogg) to meet and hang out with Jonathan.
This year his UK Tour brought him to Edinburgh, only 22 miles from Peebles but the venue had a strict 18+ policy, so Alex (currently 15) couldn’t go and as a result neither could I. Bummer!
None the less, not JoCo’s fault. Still go and see him next time. ;o)
Meanwhile, here’s a song he wrote about maths that he played in the Edinburgh gig

Loved to have seen him in my home town with my boy. Didn’t happen.

Bugger!

So, postie shit again. Sorry!

Postie phoned in sick today. No questions asked, other postmen took up the slack, working anything up to an eleven hour day. I’m sure there are offices where folk are slacking and modernisation isn’t happening, but Peebles isn’t one of them. We care.

Spent a valuable 15 minutes yesterday morning watching a soap opera commissioned by the Royal Mail. A two parter, it features him off Eastenders who shagged his son’s bird, somebody off an advert, a fat bloke and an asian. Now, it actually presented a very serious aspect of bullying and harassment. It tried to hammer home the point that comments that you might view as harmless can actually deeply wound someone else, that conversations held in the workplace between you and a colleague can actually offend a third party whilst both of you think nothing of it and that this stuff can have repercussions outside the workplace, triggering depression, relationship problems etc. Give RM HR some credit, they’re trying to address this issue (whilst ironically the managers are being encouraged, forced even, to adopt a culture of bullying and harassment on a local level).

Anyhoo, I waffle. Key narrative thread in the soap involved a woman who’s long term relationship is destroyed by casual sexual harassment and unwanted attention.

So, we watched the DVD, did a Q and A afterwards and, as workplace coach (WPC Galloway!) I asked for opinions from the posties.

First answer (delivered without irony or intended ironic humour)

“That bird that wiz gettin harrassed? She’d get it!”

Royal Mail? Abandon hope all ye who enter here….

Had a fine evening with the O’Raws yesterday. Scott doesn’t only write good tunes and try to harness my tangential mind in Velocast. He can cook as well! (What a lamb shank!)
Also in attendance was Al, fresh back from France and bearing a gift of Krema Batna (Leopard sweeties) for me. (the worlds’ most addictive sweet!)
All in all a fine time was had and the evening was enhanced by a piece of humour even more unlikely than my Pratt experience. Just think of a 7 year old writing the place setting name tags and anagrams of the name Alan. I’ll say no more, other than that none of us noticed until Al stuck the place setting name on his forehead.
New Velocast recorded today, look out for it on iTunes in the next couple of days.

I was in West Linton this afternoon and a DHL driver asked me for directions to a house.
As background I need to explain how posties differentiate between houses with the same name. It’s a real problem since there are many houses with the same name. There are so many Rivendells that you feel like asking “Do you think you’re the only person who’s read The Lord Of The Fucking Rings?!”
The way you tell which house it is is by the name of the occupant. Keep that in mind……….
So…..the DHL guy asked where Lyneholm was……..instinctively I said the occupants name to clarify which address he was looking for, at which point he said “Fuck You!” and got back in his van,
The name of the occupants of this particular Lyneholm……..Pratt!!!…..(rimshot!!!!!!)

TRUE

OK, I’m a postman….I deliver post. Whether it’s a lottery winners cheque or a Sheriff Officers notice of a baliff visit I deliver it. I’m legally obliged to.
Today though I’m struggling with a delivery for the first time ever.
The European elections mean that there’s material being sent out by all of the political parties…and I mean all! The one I’m having trouble with is the BNP. I find everything about them repugnant, from the slimy obnoxious Nick Griffin to the lowliest bigoted oaf who thinks they’re a sensible choice.
But, democracy demands that all political voices be heard so that the electorate can make an informed choice. I’ll deliver the leaflet but feel dirtied by doing so. If I was an asian postie though…………

A wee while ago I was pestered into starting a cycling podcast by chum/web 2.0 guru/annoyingly good musician/wee weejie Scott O’Raw.
Download some of his music and make a donation if you enjoy it.
So, we decided to call it The Velocast
First few were frankly crap, yet somehow it’s become something I enjoy and has proven inexplicably popular!
If you want to listen to a cold laden Scotsman and his chum chew the fat about cycling there’s a new one here.
Give it a listen.
To return to an old theme in this blog I was once again in a Postman/Poultry interface situation with this

Scary and succulent!

Hokay, I’m back. Not sure why, folk said they missed my rants and drivel. I’m just weak………and also opinionated,,,,,,,,, with no real outlets for my opinions! ;o)
Anyhoo, go and see Coraline in 3D. Incredible film and what’s not to love when Neil Gaiman is involved.

Hello again…….

On the way to do the weekly shop this morning I was listening to Janice Forsyth interview Wilbur Smith on Radio Scotland. His description of women was probably the best I’ve ever heard. “Strange, warm, soft little things that smell good.”
Contrasts almost perfectly with how I define myself, just insert the antonyms (other than the one for strange) and you’re there!

Watching Jimi Plays Berkely on Sky Arts. Fuck, he was IT! Often copied (guilty as charged m’lud) NEVER bettered!

Finally, kudos to Tyler Hamilton for speaking out about depression after his positive test for a drug with zero performance enhancing attributes. Read the details HERE.
I know a good few cyclists who use exercise induced endorphins to self medicate.
Depression is still a disease that many of my fellow Scots regard as a weakness to be held in contempt despite the fact that we’re a nation whose idea of self medication is alcohol induced stupor.
Attitudes have to change and Tyler has taken a brave, if small, step in the right direction. (and yes, I still admire him even if he’s doped for most of his career!)