Aberdeen Blogs

Aberdeen Blogs is an aggregator for weblogs from Aberdeen and the surrounding area. It is automatically generated from the RSS feeds of contributor's weblogs.

02 Sep

The Blog of Andy G: I have written a book

Hows it goin?

As regular readers will know I once set myself the challenge of writing 50 letters. I have now completed that challenge and I have compiled them all into one handy place.

My first book!

The book is called Fifty Envelopes and is available RIGHT NOW!

It's a proper book, with words and everything! I even put in a few pictures!

It contains all fifty letters which I have written over the course of a year plus any reply that was received. And chronicles some of the adventures surrounding them, including my trip to Blackpool for Paul & Sonya's wedding. And all the incidents involving the Amusingly named sandwich shop.

Obviously some of the letters have already appeared in the blog. But a hell of a lot of them haven't. Like the letter to the police.

The letter to a popular cereal company

The letter I sent to my potential future wife.

And the greatest R.S.V.P. ever sent for a wedding.

All this and more. I've put a lot of work into this. I think you'll like it. A massive thank you goes to Diana Leto who helped me design the cover and put in hours and hours of work in the formatting of the book.

Diana you are a legend.

Fifty Envelopes is 172 pages long and only costs £5.99 (plus postage and packaging), that's less than 4 pence a page!

The book is available for purchase online here!

You should go and buy it, cos its awesome. And I really need the money.

If you wrote a book I'd buy it. And that's a fact.

Once again my book is available HERE!

Click on that link and buy it. Do it now.

NOW!

Go on you know you want to.

Since some of the letters have already appeared on the blog already, I didn't see the point in giving you a sneak preview. But since I am a nice guy here is a look at the table of contents.

Thats All For Now

Until Next Time

Have A Nice

Andy G

If you want to get all the crap I write delivered straight to your inbox then go to www.TheBlogOfAndyG.com and put your email address in the wee box that says "subscribe."

If you do subscribe then you will receive a discount on my next book.

Posted by Andy G on letter, bobs big bus company, Red Bull, Envelope challenge, mother tuckers, Vincents, my book at Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 -0000

02 Sep

lewis dryburgh: You Can’t Win

I worry constantly. I worry about what I say, what I type, what I do – I spend my life terrified that someone might prove me wrong, or worse, prove me wrong publicly. My inner monologue consists of so much self-doubt that my brain constantly hurts.

I’m not stupid – I’ve got a good degree and a good job - but inside I’m a nervous wreck. If I’m near a computer I’ll check everything I say and everything I type. Online dictionaries, encyclopedias, news sites - every possible source until I’m certain that I’m correct. When I’m away from a PC, peace of mind is just a few short clicks away via my phone’s internet browser. Even simple words and facts get double and triple checked. In the past few days I’ve googled the dictionary definitions of ‘innocuous’, ‘default’ and ‘good egg’. Have a look at an excerpt from my Facebook page last night.

You might think that I come across as calm and authoritative in this exchange, but when Mark posted “You’ve not done your maths right” a part of me nearly died. I started sweating and blushing. I felt sick. In the minutes between my “Prove it” and Mark’s retraction I felt like I wanted to burn down the entire world… and I was right! Can you imagine what would happen to me if I was actually proven wrong?

But you will never prove me wrong, because by the time that I open my mouth to speak, hover my cursor over ’Post’ or press my thumb against the ‘Send’ button – I am Right.

Posted by lewis dryburgh on words at Thu, 02 Sep 2010 09:37:25 -0000

02 Sep

Liam Byrn.es: Local Natives - Wide Eyes

Local Natives - Wide Eyes:

“Could it ever be on earth as it is in heaven?”

Posted at Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:02:41 +0100

01 Sep

Groanin' Jock: Assisted

Note to members of shop staff: if I approach the counter of your emporium holding items and my debit card, this should be taken as a sign that I have decided what to buy and am ready to pay.

I do not require several minutes of "jaunty" banter on the merits of my purchases, nor on the weather or the quality of music on the radio.

Just let me pay for my stuff and leave.

Thank you.

Posted by Groanin' Jock on Shopping, Idiots at Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:56:00 -0000

01 Sep

Sarah in Aberdeen: Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 1

May: SailingWe chartered a boat from Isle of Skye Yachts with his sister and a friend from his Day Skipper course.We had several plans in mind, but being wind dependant ended up choosing a circumnavigation of Mull. Our route was as follows:Ardvasar (Skye) - Rhum - Tobermory - Loch Spelve (Mull) - Iona - Bunessan (Mull) - Staffa - Treshnish - Coll - Eigg - Doune (Knoydart) - Ardvasar(Overnight

Posted by Sarah at Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:20:00 -0000

01 Sep

The Blog of Andy G: An Important Announcement

Hows it goin?

I have to make an announcement.

An important announcement.

But I'm not going to make it now.

This is just the advance warning.

As regular readers will know at the beginning of the year I set myself 10 Challenges.

Amongst these challenges were two super secret amazingly awesome projects.

Super secret amazingly awesome project number one was meant to be a surprise party for my mate Dr Kev, but due to various circumstances, (his girlfriend told him) that was called off.

Over the past few months I have been working very hard on super secret amazingly awesome project number two. And it is complete. What is my super secret amazingly awesome project I hear you ask?

Well all will be revealed, tomorrow.

At the crack of noon.

See you then.

Thats All For Now

Until Next Time

Have A Nice

Andy G

If you want to get all the crap I write delivered straight to your inbox then go to www.TheBlogOfAndyG.com and put your email address in the wee box that says "subscribe."

If you subscribed already then you would already know what my important announcement is, and it would have worked out better for you. Your loss.

Posted by Andy G on Alice, Kev at Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 -0000

01 Sep

Now that I'm no longer 25...: Inspiring September

September is not exactly a common favourite month of the year. Summer is fading, we get those first cold, wet days, days when we wake up to the sound of the rain whipping against the window panes. The nights start to draw in and everything seems to have lost its lustre. I’ve had to try extra hard to find the positive aspects of this month, but it is important to see that there is beauty and happiness around.

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September’s secrets

There’s beauty in every month

You just have to look

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I love the windy days of September and getting washing dried outside and doing some clearing out ready for winter. This photo is from last September at our rental flat.

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I remember this song from my summer at camp in the USA, at Camp Hoover, after a summer in New Jersey it was time to head home to Scotland with many new memories and friendships.

Mmm I want to linger, mmm a little longer, mmm a little longer here with you.

It's such a peaceful night , it doesn't seem quite right, that this should be our last with you.

And come September, I will remember, our campfire days and friendships true,

And as the days go by, I'll think of you and sigh, this is goodnight and not goodbye.

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I’m looking forward to windy walks along the beach this month, I love beach walks on windy days when the fresh air is blown into you and gets rid of all the cobwebs making you feel refreshed. Sometimes it’s even warm enough for a paddle – this photo is from last September when my parents came to visit.

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Does anyone else remember this poem from school? It still comes to mind sometimes when I’m trying to work out the date!

30 days hath September,
April, June and November,
All the rest have 31,
Excepting February alone.
Which only has but 28 days clear
And 29 in each leap year

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Liam Byrn.es: Schadenfreude for the day: Trucks running into a low bridge

Schadenfreude for the day: Trucks running into a low bridge:

There’s a railroad trestle in Durham, NC that is so low there’s a website dedicated to showing us all the trucks that get into accidents there.

Now that, my friends, is putting the internet to…

Posted at Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:32:34 +0100

31 Aug

Liam Byrn.es: My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2010-8-29)

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2010-8-29):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

Posted at Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:03:17 +0100

31 Aug

Liam Byrn.es: Keeping it interesting as a young preacher

Keeping it interesting as a young preacher:

Since University I have spoken quite a few times at churches on what we are doing in South Africa, but only once been asked to give a bonafide ‘preach’. Pretty scary stuff, but these are some interesting insights I read today:

Hi! I’m Tom.: Keeping it interesting as a young preacher

Some really great advice:

Experienced preachers often get asked by young preachers to give them advice on their craft. How do I preach better? Should I preach longer? Or shorter? Should I use illustrations? Should I use a full script or just notes?

Each preacher develops opinions on these…

Posted at Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:59:44 +0100

31 Aug

Now that I'm no longer 25...: Wonderful Readers and Writers: Melissa

Each month I pick a featured reader or writer who I admire. It can be someone who writes inspirational posts, a reader who joins in the discussion with engaging comments, someone I aspire to blog like, anyone really who I feel like highlighting! This month I’m highlighting Melissa at A Familiar Path.

About A Familiar Path

A Familiar Path is one of the first blogs I read and followed, it’s so easy to warm to Melissa; she has such a great sense of humour and honesty in her blogging. On Melissa’s About Page she has written the following, which I think sums up her blogging very well:

“Most days I can barely hear my own thoughts above the sound of kids arguing, the baby crying at my ankles while I cook supper and the dogs barking at the cat, but at night, I sit down here to write and all I can remember are the sweet, simple moments of the day.”

“What I want to remember are these everyday, ordinary moments that when strung together over days and seasons make up this all too familiar path. So I put them down here. I write to preserve those moments.”

Some Great Posts

Some of my favourite posts include: 18 Months where Melissa lists the things that she really wants to remember from right now, about her beautiful daughter Tess. In a recent post, saying no Melissa explains why she feels the need to say no sometimes to her kids but she also says yes to other things:

“But, I say yes to a lot of things too. Yes to imagination, yes to painting with watercolors in my kitchen, yes to pulling out the fabric and creating whatever you want, yes to playing all day instead of school, yes, to painting my fingernails 4 different colors.”

Recently Melissa has been recounting their Financial Journey, it’s a really interesting and admirable story. On a less serious note I can always rely on A Familiar Path for a place to laugh as well, my recent favourite being Melissa’s first Bridal Shoot.

What great blogs would you recommend?

Posted by JadeLD on Spotlight at Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:00:00 -0000

30 Aug

The Blog of Andy G: No More Tapas (again)

Hows it goin?

My time at Tapas Towers has ended, for a second time. I spent all of August back at my old employers in Edinburgh. I am now knackered. It was the most I have ever worked, ever. It was the busiest the restaurant has ever been since it opened.

For those of you who work in the restaurant industry, imagine the busiest shift you've ever worked. Now double it. Now add 12. It was even busier than that!

This temporary job could not have come at a better time. As regular readers will know I have been broke for the better part of the past year. This was four weeks full time work plus tips. I haven't come out that much ahead as most of this cash went towards paying my rent and various bills. But It's more than I would have made if I stayed in Aberdeen for the summer. I must say a big thanks to my pal Ailsa who found me somewhere to stay while I was down.

This picture was taken about 4 minutes after she finished her shift. Yes that glass of wine on the table was hers. A customer invited her to sit down for a drink and she said it would be rude not to. Strange thing was it was her anniversary. So while her man waited at home with a nice meal ready for her. She sat down with some folk in the restaurant and had a couple of glass's of vino.

Tsk Tsk.

Some of the highlights of my last week in Tapas Towers included a guy with a University of Aberdeen Credit Card, who's name was Robert Gordon.

I found this quite amusing.(Robert Gordons is the name of the other university in Aberdeen)

When serving tapas if two people order the same dish most of the time the kitchen will put them into a larger dish in order to save space on the table. This conversation took place a few days ago.

Me: Hi folks I 've got both portions of Patatas Bravas in the one dish here, so that's a double portion, alright?

Blonde Lady: Yes that's us.

Brunette Lady: Double portion?

Me: Yes we put both portions in the one dish in order to save space on the table.

Brunette Lady: Can you send them back to the kitchen and spilt them into two dishes please?

Blonde Lady: Don't be so stupid, we'll just share.

I think Blonde Lady may be one of my favourite ever customers. She said exactly what I wanted to.

I also had a debate with a woman about whether or not we served Piri Piri Prawns. She claimed to have had them last time she was in. I suggested that it was probably the Gambas Pil Pil. (Hot roast peeled prawns with olive oil, fresh chillies & garlic.) She insisted that she ordered the Piri Piri Prawns. I pointed out that Piri Piri was Portuguese and we were a spanish restaurant. She said that's the same thing. I ordered her the Gambas Pil Pil and never spoke to her again.

On Saturday night we had a table of 12 women. It was a birthday party for a woman claiming to be forty but was clearly at least fifty. They brought a birthday cake along and asked for it to be served after the main course. When it came time to serve the cake one of the birthday girls friends came over and asked if she could take it over saying, "I told them I made it." I of course assumed she was joking. It was a generic chocolate birthday cake from Marks and Spencers. No one would believe she made it, unless they were a fucking mong.

She took the cake over and the birthday girl blew out the candles and then they asked for one of us to cut up the cake and serve it to them. This was not exactly the most convenient time as we were currently incredibly busy and more tables were on the way, but they were insisting. So one of the waiters stopped everything and cut up the cake and served it to them.

Some was left over and the birthday girls friend came up to me and asked if I could keep it in the restaurant until tomorrow. I said that would be no problem and that I would put it back in the box and leave it at the front door for her to pick up tomorrow.

"Don't put it in the box." She shouted

"Why?"

"I told them I made it myself, just put it in some cling film."

I gave a little chuckle still under the impression that she was joking. She was not.

She really wanted me to wrap it in cling film so it would look lie she made it herself. Her friends must be really stupid.

While this table was paying the bill and getting ready to leave I had to take out another birthday cake. This was to a table right beside them, and this birthday cake was pretty nice. It was in the shape of a hat with guitars all over it. It looked amazing. The "forty" year olds table had the bitchiest look I have ever seen. They had clearly been outdone.

The "forty" year olds table left a truly crappy tip. The bill was over £200 and they left about £2. Thats a fucking disgrace. I left her cake at the front door for her to pick up the next day, I made sure that I left it IN the box so everyone could see that she clearly went and spent £5 in marks and spencers, and that she had NOT made it with her own two hands and she was a dirty filthy liar!

The girl with the good birthday cake also asked me if she could leave what was left of her cake in the restaurant. I took the cake downstairs but was worried that perhaps that someone might come down and pick up the wrong cake. I came up with an ingenious labelling system.

On Sunday I got asked the stupidest question I have ever been asked. Not just in a restaurant but in life.

I had a table of seven, they were easy enough to serve, and they had alright banter. Eventually it came time for dessert, a couple of cheesecakes a chocolate mousse, a creme brulee and a vanilla ice cream. I put them on the table and never thought any more about it. Then a couple of minutes later one of them complained. This was a genuine complaint I received from a real customer.

"Excuse me, my ice cream is too cold."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"My ice cream it's too cold, can it be warmed up."

I swear on my life this is the exact conversation I had with this guy. And he was clearly serious. This wasn't a joke.

What a fucking moron!

It's called ICE cream, not cream.

What a fucking idiot.

"Sorry sir, I can't do much about that."

He then looked quite disappointed and went into a little sulk.

A sulk?

What the fuck?

It's FUCKING ICE CREAM YOU FUCKING FOOL!!

Next time just order a jug of cream!

Some of the people on his table found this quite amusing but he clearly did not.

What was I supposed to do?

He wanted warm ice cream.

He's clearly a "special needs" individual.

In his defence he was only 7. But he's still an idiot!

The rest of Sunday went quite quickly, one of the waiters found something which took his fancy. I think it suits him.

And then Patricia and I decided to do a little something to entertain our guests.

If you can't see the video above then stop reading this crap on facebook and CLICK HERE

I had a great month back at Tapas Towers and I am sure I'll end up back their when I eventually get chucked out of school for having very little talent.

Last time I left Tapas Towers I wrote a poem. This time I'm not gonna do that. No offence. I just can't be arsed. I'm knackered. I'll get round to doing something eventually. Promise.

Thats All For Now

Until Next Time

Have A Nice

Andy G

If you want to get all the crap I write delivered straight to your inbox then go to www.TheBlogOfAndyG.com and put your email address in the wee box that says "subscribe."

If you do subscribe then you will (if all goes according to plan) receive the super secret email about my super secret project within the next few days.

Posted by Andy G on video, rant, Tapas Towers at Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:55:00 -0000

29 Aug

Liam Byrn.es: "Am I a Christian? Go and ask my enemy or the poor. They know if I am really a Christian or not."

“Am I a Christian? Go and ask my enemy or the poor. They know if I am really a Christian or not.””

- - Shane Claiborne (via @Neil_Cole)

Posted at Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:17:44 +0100

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The Blog of Andy G: I have written a book

lewis dryburgh: You Can’t Win

Liam Byrn.es: Local Natives - Wide Eyes

Groanin' Jock: Assisted

Sarah in Aberdeen: Things I have done this year and failed to blog: Part 1

The Blog of Andy G: An Important Announcement

Now that I'm no longer 25...: Inspiring September

Liam Byrn.es: Schadenfreude for the day: Trucks running into a low bridge

Liam Byrn.es: My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2010-8-29)

Liam Byrn.es: Keeping it interesting as a young preacher

Now that I'm no longer 25...: Wonderful Readers and Writers: Melissa

The Blog of Andy G: No More Tapas (again)

Liam Byrn.es: "Am I a Christian? Go and ask my enemy or the poor. They know if I am really a Christian or not."

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