McDonalds go for Starbucks crowd

McDonald's of the golden arch fame are trying an interesting experiment here. They are revamping my local restaurant ( among others ) in a more 'Chic' and 'Sophisticated' style, supposedly to grab some of the more affluent Starbucks crowd ( that's my theory at least ). Free WiFi Internet connection and freshly brewed coffee, just confirms this strategy. Anyway, I popped in today for my breakfast but they had no eggs left. Rather than do a 'Michael Douglas', I just got a Big Mac meal.

Although the decor is certainly different, the food remain identical. It is an interesting experiment because I just can't see how McDonald's are going to win with this idea. The 'upmarket crowd' will still regard McDonald's as a downmarket restaurant for children, and the regular McDonald customers will only be slightly intimidated or put off by the false 'delusions of grandeur'. Time will tell, but I expect a redecoration back to the original concept soon.

Glasgow Viagra

One of my American friends is a sales rep for Pfizer and her main product is Viagra. I've no idea what she would make of this street sign encouraging seafood before drugs to 'lift your spirits'.

I'm also not so sure about the warm embrace of the fisherman on a dolphin giving the old 'thumbs up' against the message 'Who needs Viagra'. Reminds me of that court case in England against somebody for sexually molesting 'Freddie' the dolphin in Amble harbour.

Cycling around Glasgow

It's been a while since I last posted an entry so here's one to get back into the swing. I got my brompton bike recently (finally) and have been cycling to work, but I've also been doing quite long trips to get myself fitter and at the same time have a nice day out. Well today I did a round trip from home to Paisley and back via the West end. It took a few hours but It's amazing how quickly your body adapts to cycling. From initially being out of breath in the 8 minutes going to work when I first got it a month ago, I can now cycle 3 hours without discomfort. I'll add the swimming soon and be a picture of health! :)

Here are a few photos I took on todays trip. From the river Clyde through Pollock estate with it's 'Hairy Coo's', to Paisley, then back over the Clyde via the Renfrew ferry, through Victoria Park and home via the Clyde again. A few observations I think worth pointing out...

1/ Cars drivers are often agressive towards cyclists and intimidate. That's why so many often use pavements.

2/ When I was young and cycling, I used to love getting to a steep hill and racing down it. Now I realise for every steep decline there will be an incline along the way to match it.
3/ Signage for cycle routes is crap.

4/ To me there is a perception that cyclists are second class road users and should be treated as such. The fact that cycling is better for the enviroment both locally and globaly is lost on most Glasgow people.

The Blue Train

Today I went to George Square to see an unusual homecoming – a 179 tonne steam train! The train was designed and built in Glasgow. It had spent it’s life as a legendary ‘Blue Train’ in South Africa, pulling luxury carriages between Johannesburg and Cape Town until 1988.
It is the largest ever acquisition by Glasgow Museums and destined to be the focal point within the new Riverside Museum – another iconic object, designed by internationally celebrated architect Zaha Hadid, and scheduled for completion in 2010.
The locomotive was never named – but was numbered 3007. A Class 15f, it was dubbed the “Mountain Class” locomotive. It was built at Polmadie, Glasgow as part of a 60-strong order. The steam engine with tender is some 74ft long and the height just half-an-inch short of 13ft. The tender could carry 14 tonnes of coal and 6050 gallons of water.
Here are a couple of photos I took today.

There is currently a fund raising campaign for the new riverside museum and details on how you can help can be found at:
http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/showNews.cfm?venueid=7&itemid=594&infoid=61

The Glasgow Show

Today I was at a show on Glasgow Green called 'The Glasgow Show'. It was really like the old Fetes you used to get. There was a very eclectic mix of things to see and do and I must say I had a great time. The highlights for me were the motorcycle stunt, the horse stunts, and the skateboarding. I must mention the robot that was going around the place though. It was very popular. Pretty scarey looking though.

Photovoltaic Scooter Charger

Because I use my scooters electric start and I only travel very short journeys, the battery seems to have a net drain and requires a topping up charge every couple of weeks. I have got round this by adding a solar panel onto the top box to trickle charge the battery. It works too. It was only £9.99 from Maplin and outputs 1.5 watts. It's already started to attract attention with a few people asking me what it's for.

Biorb 2: Siamese Fighting Fish

I have got myself a second biorb aquarium and this time have done a bit more research on stocking it. I have a male Siamese fighting fish and ten neon tetras. I got a shaving mirror for the fighting fish, not because it needs a shave, but because they naturally want to 'fight' and 'show' to potential rival males. Here are a couple of pics, but they are very difficult to photograph because of their propensity to keep swimming around!

River Clyde Walkway

I recently had a lovely walk along the north bank of the Clyde from Glasgow Green all the way to Cambuslang. Along the way I saw quite a few birds, animals and insects. Nature really has learned to live in the City these days. I had my trusty camera phone with me and took a few pics along the way. I'm very pleased with them to be honest and rate my camera phone better than my digital camera.

Latte My Arse!

I was walking around Glasgow yesterday and my stroll took me into the neighbourhood of Govan. Govan is an area of the 'old school' Glasgow, made famous by it's shipbuilding history and has a very much 'no nonsense' outlook. I popped into an authentic 1930's Italian cafe complete with art deco facade for a coffee. You should have seen the proprietor's face when I asked for 'A large Latte to go please'.....

He looked at me with a look almost resembling contempt and said 'All our coffees have milk...Latte just means milk. What the hell is a latte? You just want milk?'

After I'd stopped laughing at him, we had a good old chinwag about coffee and how the smoking ban has been disastrous for him particularly with the local bingo hall closing too. The coffee was unsurprisingly excellent and at 75p, was 1/4 the price I pay at my local Starbucks. I really should make more effort to eat and drink from small independent places more often.

Starbucks Offer and Sore Leg

Yesterday was an interesting day for me. I ended up walking with a walking stick after crossing the road at Glassford Street and a bus accelerated towards me. I ran towards the kerb but felt something tearing in my left calf. So, off to 'Boots' for some deep heat, a surgical stocking, some ibuprofen and a walking stick. The walking stick is very cool! Folds down into a small belt mounted carrier. I headed off to Starbucks for a therapeutic coffee and Chocolate cake. The Breakfast of Champions! Well anyway, the young lady at the cash desk suggested I opened a Starbucks card with a minimum £2 deposit for a free mug and free coffee! So I did. This was a great deal because I do use these cards anyway and one more won't go amiss. The Mug was worth £5 and the Coffee £4, so a really great deal. Almost took the pain in my leg away.

I also went to Clarks shoes and bought a pair of the most comfortable shoes almost identical to the 'polyveldts' of the 1970's. Although frankly they are ghastly looking, they are the most comfortable shoes and I've been meaning to get a pair for ages. The modern versions are called 'Minster Moors', but they look exactly the same as those brothel creepers from the 70's. Brilliantly comfortable, even with a torn calf muscle!

Glasgow Goldfish Go Green

I joined an online forum to discuss my new Goldfish and biorb aquarium. After my first post the comments predictably were critical of the fish I've stocked. Wrong everything really, with a helpful suggestion to dump them in a pond. I'll sort something out. Anyway. I decided yesterday to change the Orb lighting from a 10 Watt Halogen to an L.E.D substitute. The L.E.D one consumes 1.2 Watt but gives out the equivalent of 20 watt Halogen. The L.E.D one should last 50,000 hours against the Halogens 2,000 hours life expectancy. Bottom line is it uses 1/8th the power, lasts 25 times longer, Is twice as bright and gives a 'sharper' light. I've posted the Halogen next to the L.E.D. I Like the L.E.D but personal taste will be a factor here.

Molly's Mediteranian Medley

Greek salad, or horiatiki, is a rough country salad of juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sliced red onion, green pepper, crumbly feta cheese and plump kalamata olives. Serve this delightful combination as a side dish or as a light meal with some crusty bread.

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic—minced (crushed)

Finely cut fresh herbs
Freshly ground black pepper, and extra for garnish
3 tomatoes—cut into wedges
¼ red onion—sliced into rings
½ cucumber—sliced into thick half-moons
½ green pepper
4 oz (120g) feta cheese—cut into small cubes
16 kalamata olives

PLACE the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano in a small jar with a screw-top lid and shake to combine. PLACE the salad ingredients in a large bowl. POUR the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine just before serving. Garnish with a little freshly ground black pepper.

Let Glasgow Flourish

Here's the bird that never flew
Here's the tree that never grew
Here's the bell that never rang
Here's the fish that never swam

The coat of arms of the City of Glasgow incorporates a number of symbols and emblems associated with the life of Glasgow's patron saint St Mungo. The emblems represent miracles supposed to have been performed by St Mungo. Walking around Glasgow City Centre, the coat of arms can be seen all over, most commonly in buildings built around the turn of the 19th century. Here are a few pictures I took on a recent walk around my neighbourhood. I'm particularly fond of the modern interpretations like the sculptured one seen in the greenhouse of the Peoples Palace, and the design seen around the gates to Glasgow green.

Coincedentaly, the polychromatic brick building which is the old Templeton carpet factory was built in 1892 by William Leiper whos tombstone caught my eye a few weeks ago at Sighthill cemetary.

Coffee Frother Upgrade

Well, like most coffee drinkers I enjoy a frothy latte and cappuccino, but disaster stuck today! My frother broke down. Coffee got in the motor. It was struggling with the large coffee cup I use anyway so I decided to modify and upgrade. First to go was the motor itself. Replaced with a much more powerful one. The puny spring frother was beefed up using steel rod and a larger spring. Initial tests were encouraging but final 'tweaking' may be required!

Ciggy Butts and Chewing Gum

Glasgow City council have started a vigorous campaign to try to do something about the chronic litter problem in Glasgow. Glaswegians often seem complete litter bugs, not caring at all about the mess and impression that litter creates. I had an idea of an alternative way of stopping the behaviour. Propagation of the Urban Legend that criminals are actively looking for identifiable gum and cigarettes to 'plant' at crime scenes to put DNA evidence of the offence on the gum/cigarette discarder should the net close in on the criminal. A new version of the old defence by incriminating another. Perhaps it could make some people think twice before discarding their waste.

Brompton compact folding bike

Tax Free Cycling!

The government has introduced a scheme to encourage people to cycle to work on the basis that it promotes health both to the person and to the environment. For once I agree. Seems like a great idea. The idea is you technically 'lease' a bike from a finance company for a year saving VAT and tax. At the end of the year, you buy the bicycle for a 'token' 5% of cost (Fair Market Value). It's taken directly from your wage before deductions, so it's a scheme the employer has to sign up to also. The Great thing is you can buy any bicycle you want and will work out at just over half price. It gives you the opportunity to buy one that you might have not before thinking the cost was excessive. Well bottom line is - I've signed up! I'm going to get a Brompton Folding Bicycle. These are the 'Rolls Royce' of folding bikes, and a real 'statement' to being both green and a real trendy person! Here are a couple of images of one, folded and unfolded.