The George Lite Zone

For the 2nd and final time this year it was time to see Joan as Police Woman , this time on my own turf in the hallowed grounds of Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms. Support this time was supplied by Leith's Dean Owens backed by the equally Leithish Kim Edgar . Tracks like Raining in Glasgow rained down on the assembled throng with Dean strumming along on accoustic guitar while Kim aquited herself ably on keyboards and backing vocals. On a number of tracks Dean let rip on the harmonica with the croud going wild, nothing to do with their being asked to do so beforehand, honest. His set finished with Whisky Hearts. On the sleevenote to the album of that name, Irvine Welsh said "Every time he sings a song, he means it and feels it with every fibre of his being. Now that is something special - Scotland's most engaging and haunting singer-songwriter ". According to Dean this track is being used on the soundtrack to a new Irvine Welsh movie next year. Hopefully this exposure wi...

To a Haggis Robert Burns 1786 Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the pudding-race! Aboon them a' yet tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm: Weel are ye wordy o'a grace As lang's my arm. The groaning trencher there ye fill, Your hurdies like a distant hill, Your pin was help to mend a mill In time o'need, While thro' your pores the dews distil Like amber bead. His knife see rustic Labour dight, An' cut you up wi' ready sleight, Trenching your gushing entrails bright, Like ony ditch; And then, O what a glorious sight, Warm-reekin', rich! Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive: Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive, Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve Are bent like drums; Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive, Bethankit! hums. Is there that owre his French ragout Or olio that wad staw a sow, Or fricassee wad make her spew Wi' perfect sconner, Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view On sic a dinne...

This list was taken from Peter Irvine's Scotland Is The Place website. Peter writes Scotland The Best , probably the best guide to the country. When I get around to visiting them I'll add some posts to this blog with pictures and comments. Roslin Glen - Edinburgh Spiritual, historical, enchanting (and now very famous because of Dan Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code'), with the chapel, a ruined castle and woodland walks along the River Esk. From Edinburgh follow the A701 from Mayfield or Newington (or bypass, turn off at Penicuik, A720 then fork left on A701 to Roslin). There is some parking at the chapel, 500 metres from the corner of Main Street and Manse Road, or you can follow the B7003 to Rosewell (also marked Rosslynlee Hospital) and 1 kilometre from the village the main car park is to the left. Yellowcraigs - East Lothian Perfect for a windy beach walk in the New Year is Edinburgh's nearest decent beach. Follow the A1 or the bypass, then A198 coast road. Turn le...