N

So we found ourselves at the Gyle this morning (where I find nothing sets you up for Saturday-before-Christmas shopping at an out-of-town retail park like a fry-up in a supermarket cafe. Fried bread good, bacon a little cold to be honest) and there were scores of men in fluorescent jackets directing people around the car park and into spaces, but there really was no need. My impending fear as we approached the place proved unnecessary, it really wasn't any busier than usual, and we got all the necessary tasks completed reasonably quickly and with very little hassle. Although, waiting in the car with my two girls for mum to come and join us post-shop, my eldest did rather dramatically claim that "Mum had gone to hell". Turned out mum had simply forgotten where we were parked and had gone to 'L'. We, as the blip clearly illustrates, were in 'N'.

Nice afternoon at home, listening to some tunes, doing a bit of baking and making a big tea for a pal coming round. One of our closest pals, who amongst other things, runs the monthly film quiz at Filmhouse and has recently just celebrated her 10th anniversay of compiling and compering (the 100th quiz itself came earlier, January 2009 to be precise). So, as going out on the second Sunday of the month to drink beer and answer questions is usually beyond us, we always get a private rendition of the most recent quiz in the comfort of our front room. We did OK, pretty pleased with my recollection of films directed by Spike Lee in particular. Managed to name 16 out of 19 - anyone do any better ?

Journal wouldn't be complete without a couple of music links. And, by sheer coincidence the music we were listening to this evening was both by artists we've seen as support acts at the Queen's Hall. So step forward Susumu Yokota (seen supporting Philip Glass) and Tom Brosseau (seen supporting PJ Harvey & John Parish). Both pretty different, but both highly recommended.