"No sweat" Andy is the epitome of cringeworthy television

Probably the least liked member of the house of "Saxe Coburg-Gotha" or Windsor (since they changed it in 1917 because of the Germanic connotation) has just performed a minor miracle insofar as he's managed to get another sycophantic tosspot (Piers Morgan) to describe his televised interview as;

quote "toe curling bullshit" unquote;

We republicans need all the help we can get to dispense with the whole family of spongers when the mother of the clown shown in the picture, finally severs her mortal coil.

In this particular case I propose a toast to the "Grand Old Puke of York" for his invaluable assistance in the Republican cause.

I trust our American cousins will call for him to be questioned under oath when the inevitable law suits in the USA come to fruition.

Madame Guillotine s'il vous plait !!!

Nine days of musical culture have Bunty and Toto in raptures

This all started with yours truly participating in Rossini's Stabat Mater and Vivaldi's Credo with Inverness Choral in the Eden Court on the 2nd November.  Bunty assures me it was pretty good and obviously I'll  take her word for it. For me it was a joy to participate in, with the Latin a throw back to an earlier time in St Peter's and St Michaels with convent schooling.

This was swiftly followed by a return to the Eden Court on the 9th to see Scottish Opera's rendition of "Tosca" by Puccini. Set in Rome during the reign of Benito Mussolini. Everything about this production was stellar. The set, the choral numbers, and in particular the role of the soloists. Bunty even got quite emotional with the role (and singing) of Floria Tosca which was played by Natalya Romaniw, a Welsh soprano despite the Ukrainian name. She was absolutely superb and has a voice to literally die for (especially when she jumps off the ramparts after she finds Cavaradossi has actually been shot by the firing squad instead of the supposed blanks)

Finally tonight, we've just come back from a piano recital that would have brought tears to a glass eye with the unadulterated quality of the next best thing to come out of Wales since I passed my HGV3 course at RAF St Athan, Llyr Williams, who specialises in the piano works of the worlds greatest composer Beethoven. Tonight we had the pleasure of four of his Piano Sonata's with the pinnacle being the final movement of his F minor sonata No 23.

The "Welsh Wizard's" digital dexterity was eye watering in its speed and the quality of playing had to be seen as well as heard which we could from the advantage of the seats in the Inverness Town House.  This is our third recital organised by Inverness Piano Recitals in the 18 months that we've been up here together and each has been a treat! The venue is divine and the playing of each of the players has been likewise! This Welsh Wizard though will take some beating with his magic of the maestro.

Who says you can't get too much of a good thing?

Bunty and I in tandem in the gymnasium

This new me is being supported with Bunty as I try to shift off about a stone from the sedentary lifestyle of retirement!

We've both got membership to the Best Western "Palace Hotel" gymnasium and being retired, can choose the time to participate as long as it doesn't coincide with the ladies aqua aerobics where the idea of matronly figures bouncing up and down in the pool is not my idea of heaven.

For the benefit of the short-sighted amongst you this is not Bunty and I; but two actors who for some reason or other are more suited to looking athletic.

Some gentle cycling and then a swim is closed off with a steam bath which had me sweating more than Boris Johnson with a paternity suit in his sticky mitts.

The new metal knees seem to be holding up so this looks to be the way forward, for both of us !

"Ceterus paribus et consilio et labore "

King Creole (Christmas cake)

It's that time of the year again where I have to turn my newly found bakery skills (thanks to Bunty!) and get out the key ingredients for the family Christmas cake.

Key ingredients being:
Rum
Brandy
Cherry Brandy
Port
Angostura Bitters

a load of other stuff which are relevant even if they sound banal;

raisins, currants, cherries, prunes, chopped nuts, molasses etc;

Instead of the angelic icing topping I use a variety of nuts (but only because Bunty prefers the really healthy option ??). For my West of Scotland tastebuds the icing would be "de rigeur".

In case anyone feels like trying this I attach the recipe and believe me it is pure dead brilliant !!

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-cakes-icings-and-toppings/creole-christmas-cake

The irony of Unionism breaking up the United Kingdom.

I've been so engrossed with the parliamentary shenanigans of the last wee while that I've not had the time or wherewithal to do a blog. The title says it all ! 

Is it the Tory Party or is it Nationalism ? Whatever the root cause, the terminal ailment will lead to the carcass of the "United Kingdom" rotting in the Palace of Westminster without a decent burial.

The rise of right wing populist politics in the U.K. is merely a small part of a global self centred attitude towards diminishing resources on the planet. Money no longer talks, it stands up on the table with a megaphone bellowing to all and sundry. If you're not oozing wealth out of every pore then tough shit plebeian ! 

It's very definitely  "I'm alright Jack, fuck you"

Cameron didn't think it through and was probably certain the xenophobes of Farage and UKIP etc; would never win when he decided to hold the referendum three years ago! This has come home to bite the Tories backside with the savagery of a hungry alligator.

On top of Gaelic and Syrian it appears that Polish is my next task!

One of the joys of living in the capital of the Highlands is the diversity of the population and prominent amongst the diverse groupings are the Polish ! They represent almost 5% of the population of the capital of the Highlands and are amongst the almost 70,000 that inhabit this delightful small city. They're industrious, fluent and bilingual also a credit to their upbringing.

On Friday 11th I've had dealings with three Poles. The joiner, the barber and a plasterer. Everyone of them has been the epitome of hard-working men with no pretensions.

Dziękuję Ci bardzo  moi przyjaciele !

Are we to lose these stalwarts because of xenophobia and some antediluvian idea of an "Empire" that has sunk around the same time as the "Titanic" ?

Not if Scotland has anything to do with it !!!

Oriental contemplation and exercise on the menu to try and delay the ageing process !

This past couple of weeks has shown me that my assumption, that despite decades of personal abuse (in terms of diet, neat alcohol and tobacco intake and nothing else I add), my body was a temple indeed, but one that has crumbled under the weight of ageing decay!

So much so that it required the best efforts of the respiratory ward in Raigmore Hospital here in Inverness to clear out the tubes and prompt a re-assessment of lifestyle.

Earlier I'd got a Tai Chi package brand new and unopened, from the charity warehouse in Evanton for a mere £2. This is so gentle and relatively undemanding that even my wheezing lungs and Bronchial Tubes could cope, so Bunty and I are one the road to suppleness for OAP's, with Tai Chi Chuan, which combines deep breathing and relaxation with flowing movements. Originally developed as a martial art in 13th-century China it should be bang up to date for the Highlands.