a date with TOOL

Tonight's the night. Live in concert... TOOL. Had a peak at this tours setlist and it looks like we're in for a killer show. A lot of tracks from the new album, which in my humble opinion, is one of the best releases in several decades. Still no idea where I'm crashing tonight, but it'll all work itself out in the end.

Spent the last week with my parents; introducing them to Rum, the shop, the bothy, the goats, Annie, and doing tourist things like a few days in Fort William and visiting Stirling Castle. We're at a resort near Stirling for the last week, hiking and doing day trips.

Made a solo trek up Ben Nevis, the highest point in the UK at 4409ft. The brochures mentioned it takes about 6-8hrs roundtrip, so I decided 4 would be a nice target. Started walking and was powering by people enroute. Made it up in 2hrs, and the view was astounding... literally a sea of clouds in all directions. Charged by the vista and the quick ascent, I decided to run down the mountain. All said and done it took 3hrs exactly... a respectable time. Not something I could have done 6 months ago. And my legs still hurt.

Had some great news waiting for me in my inbox... I've been awarded one of the Bombardier Fellowships! At $10 000, it'll go a long way in funding my Masters. The only downside... I have 2 days to complete the paperwork (it was sent a few weeks back, but my internet access is limited).

Nae worries. Tonight it's celebration time.

Consider this:

Some individual, namely one B.J. Teerink, had not only the time, but even more incredibly, the desire to construct the following text: 'Hair of West-European Mammals'.

And someone bought it. (Although in all fairness, of all persons or agencies that could purchase Teerink's brainchild, Scottish National Heritage would be a likely candidate).

Here's a passage from the section on Muridae and Murinae (old world rats and mice):

"Cuticular scale pattern of central part of shaft dependent on side of hair used for the slide... concave side of shaft and proximal shield highly specific (see fig. 149, 150). Medulla in shield of GH1 four cells wide, in shaft of GH1 and GH2 usually predominately multicellular, cross-sections 55-60 microns."

I never knew almost all extant mammals in Western Europe have had their hair catalogued for future generations to fuss over. Don't get me wrong, I see the merit in such a compilation, I just never expected to be confronted with an actual copy... like the one perched a top a stack of invoices and partially covering a five pound note here in the SNH Office.

As you may have already guessed, I've spent several days in the village. No, I'm not slacking from my goat watching duties. I had official business to attend to... Royal business. In honour of Prince Charles (or his chequebook) arrival on Rum, there was a massive buffet placed out. Norman and I spent wednesday night in the kitchen; making pasta salads, spicy fried shrimp and scallops, roasting the hind quarters of several unlucky beasts, and defrosting a helluva lot of pre-cooked items. At little taste of Tesco's for the future King. Up early, we were on thursday to complete the process. (a Yoda inspired sentence).

Why? Good question, mate. Here's the long and short of it. The castle is in original condition, featuring lots of unique 'firsts' and 'luxuries'. Being in original condition the castle is falling apart. Money tends to keep things from falling apart. Prince Charles heads a group dubbed the Phoenix Trust (PT). PT pumps money, and obnoxious attitudes, into a variety of crumbling structures across the UK. So, one massive publicity stunt aired live on BBC Scotland later, and hopefully Kinloch Castle will enjoy another century on this green earth.

Made for an interesting week to say the least. How does one make an entire island presentable? Not sure. But judging from the frantic pace of SNH employees over the few days, someone had an idea. It seemed to work. I shook hands and had a brief yet casual conversation with the future King of the UK. Oh... and Camilla too. Was going to ask for her mobile number, but thought it might seem a bit cheeky.

being booted out of the SNH Office... more later.

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes and cards. I made Annie jealous with the sheer volume of post for me.