#All I knew was I was just a big British Isles mixture

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On a whim I decided to put my DNA test into the free version of MyTrueAncestry just for the fun of it and look at my ancient population match!!!

The prophecy is complete…..

[sweettoobad]

An English Idiot Abroad - Trips in Scotland

Foreword, Leaving Rawdon & the Status

When you are leaving them, I suppose you do not actually appreciate a person or location as much as. This was extremely a measure of the way I felt after choosing to up sticks and take a trip the globe. This was something I had frequently fantasized about, had actually been saving for, but not yet had the spheres to really go ahead and do it. The fact that I had actually been made redundant after seventeen years of taking the very easy alternative of sticking to the status quo was the kick up the arse that was needed. Yet quite scary as well!

I had actually gotten on numerous walks north Leeds last summertime as well as was impressed by exactly how little time it takes to obtain from my front door into the countryside. The River Aire is 15 minutes away and also the Invoicing 10 minutes, where one can get panoramic views of Leeds as well as Ferrybridge power station to the south as well as eastern, and also Ilkley Moor and also surrounding moors to the north and west.

The sundowns here were constantly astonishing. I'm mosting likely to miss living on the side of a hill in Yorkshire - yet the globe awaits!

Hawick & Great Bike Racers

I started my foray right into the stunning country north of the boundary with a browse through to my old companion Chris. He stays in Hawick, which is a handy first quit being put bang in the centre of the Scottish boundaries, and also Chris likes to consume alcohol lots of beer like I do!

Hawick's most renowned boy of years gone by was Jimmie Guthrie. Birthed there in 1897 he began as a send off biker in France during the fantastic war and also joined Hawick Bike Club on returning. They entered him into his very first TT in 1923 and the rest is history, as they claim.

This statuary was put up in his honour in Wilton Lodge Park by the river in Hawick beside the gallery where there is an exhibition featuring a few of his race bikes and prizes. There is a list of his significant success in TT, Northern Island road races and numerous 350 and 500cc GP' s and 6 titles in Europe - nearly 50 wins in all! Unfortunately, he fatally collapsed whilst leading the European GP in Germany at the age of 40. The funeral procession in Hawick stretched for three miles. There are various other memorials to Jimmie Guthrie: the Guthrie Rock at the Sachsenring, where he died, and also one more at the roadside spot, The Cutting, where he retired in his last Senior TT.

An additional great bike racer from Hawick, as well as one closer to my heart, was Steve Hislop. Sadly taken from his household and also all bike auto racing followers in a freak helicopter accident, which has still not been adequately examined in many people's eyes. Steve was one of the fastest superbike bikers worldwide. When he was on the pace and riding leading level machinery he was unequalled.

He won 11 Island of Male TT titles, 3 North West 200s as well as Macau GPs, the Ulster General Practitioner, Le Mans and also Bol D'Or 1 day races and was British 250cc champ and also British Superbike champion twice. In 1989 Steve came to be the initial motorcyclist to top 120 mph with a TT lap at 121.34. This document was beaten 3 years later by WSB champ Carl Fogarty, but he would certainly still just come second to Hislop that was riding a rotary Norton in that race. Foggy's record was to stand for 8 years until ultimately bettered by David Jefferies in 2000.

Steve was really a fantastic guy who I still miss on the racetrack.

A life-sized bronze sculpture stands in the park at Hawick, and also one more the same one has been set up in the Isle of Guy.

Kingussie and also Dunnet Head

My only set destination in Scotland was the furtherest northern point of mainland Britain, Dunnet Head which exists in between John O'Groats and also Thurso. This was simply since I had actually never ever gone better north than the Island of Skye prior to.

I decided it was time to stop when regarding half way to Thurso from Hawick and wound up in a nice little town on the A86 called Kingussie. It is close to Aviemore and for that reason a preferred area to stay for winter months sports fans.

My viewpoint on finding great, reasonably-priced holiday accommodation is fairly easy - find a neighborhood bar that's open, go in and have a pint or a shot of the local mixture (if possible) and also, when you have actually remained in there for a while, try to strike up a conversation with one of the residents or a participant of the bar staff, or property owner, and also ask where you can locate the sort of room you require.

This method has never stopped working for me, it defeats vacationer details as well as also the web pass on. In Kingussie I chose a pint in the Celebrity Resort on the High Road and got talking to a regional client who directed me past the more expensive resorts to The Silverfjord Hotel on Ruthven Road near the railway terminal. As well as the restaurant as well as bar, there is a small public bar at the resort with really friendly citizens where I took pleasure in a number of neighborhood brews. The area was respectable, big, with en suite and TELEVISION for the handsome sum of 27.50 sterling. I actually dined at the Star Hotel as well as the food was exceptional.

The following day was bright as well as great - best for the 200 approximately miles drive I had to the top of the nation. What attractive landscapes it was too. The Cromarty Firth bridge was the highlight of the trip, being over a mile long with quiting areas and also superb sights both inland and also towards the sea and, as you can see (in my blog), the weather can be great in Scotland in December!

The drive to Thurso was quite lengthy as well as, as I'm no early bird anyhow as well as we're talking about a British Winter months where it goes dark in the mid-day, nightfall was coming close to as I drove along the deserted headland to Dunnet Head. The only various other signs of life of any type of kind were the Highland cattle grazing on the moorland.

There is a light home on the cliff there which is some 105 meters above the sea, yet in stormy weather water and stones still sprinkle over the top of these cliffs!

The previous night in Kingussie I had been suggested to remain in Wick as opposed to the a lot more evident choice of Thurso. Utilizing the trusted "Johnny" technique of finding holiday accommodation, I discovered someplace to park near the harbour and after that entered into the nearest club - Sinclairs on The Shore. It was a little on the rough side, however the team were friendly and sent me to a cheap B&B overlooking the sea. Regrettably the location was full but the woman there guided me to one more location simply above. This held true British Bed and Breakfast as it was just an area in someone's house - really felt a little bit unusual truly but I got on a budget and simply intended to get something to eat and drink great deals of beer! I wound up having a "curry as well as a drink" unique at the JD Wetherspoon club on the market square. I do not typically go for chain bar food, however this was really wonderful really (although they are prepared surprisingly swiftly ...). After numerous more beverages I wound up in a bar in the very early hrs where, as nearly almost everywhere in Scotland, I was warmly welcomed as a foreigner. If there was an excellent neighborhood malt and also was provided a massive measure which would certainly have put a Spanish barman to pity, I asked! They would not allow me put water or ice in it however. After a number of these the next thing I bear in mind is getting up in someone's home (my B&B) - hope I really did not make excessive noise when I startled back in!

After requiring the required morning meal down the following day I headed south towards my only various other dealt with destination which was Ballachullish where my Mum had actually invested 2 summertimes in the 1940's when a schoolgirl with my uncle Ken and auntie Maureen, as he was working there as a researcher, I think at a plastics place in Kinlochleven. I also intended to stop elsewhere, probably Loch Lomond en route back to England.As I drove down the north-east shore I determined to stop for a stroll in a location called Skelbo Wood near Durnoch simply off the A9. There is a path which runs dow n to Skelbo Shed with some great old trees in addition to the extra typical young broadleaves planted by the Scottish Forestry Compensation to be their followers. The only wild animals I saw, though, were the sculpted wood pets developed by neighborhood children which are dotted around the course! After following a kind of round course round the woods, I came to a crossroads with no markings. Thinking I knew roughly what direction my car was I made a decision to turn left at the crossroads. This must have been the upside-down as I obtained totally lost and wound up drifting off the track to take a "short cut" with the trees in the instructions I believed the parking lot would certainly be. At some point I concerned a fence, so had to re-trace my actions to go back to the track I had been on. It was rather bad underfoot with large clumps of grass - occasionally with previously fallen trees beneath, so I had to be very careful as damaging my ankle joint "off the beaten track" similar to this can have been extremely dodgy - particularly as I had no signal on my mobile. Kid, was I soothed when I eventually saw my automobile!

Drumnadrochit & Glencoe

After a longer than anticipated walk at Skelbo as well as driving numerous miles heading in the direction of Loch Leven, I determined it would be a great suggestion to stop when I got to Loch Ness. This is the longest as well as (I think) inmost loch in Scotland, so a good location to explore. Whilst driving along the north side of the loch I stumbled upon the town of Drumnadrochit which looked O.K. - in addition to the jokey, Flintstones-like, "Nessie" indicators for monster trips! The huge resorts looked a bit expensive at the road joint in the centre however, and none of the bars there were open mid-afternoon, so I drove around for some time trying to find an open bar. After overlooking a couple of roads I saw a sign by the side of a junction for a sports bar. The excellent old Johnny technique came great once again as I asked the locals at the bar for a resort there, as well as a neighborhood man actually drove in advance of me to reveal me the method to a nearby hotel - and also what a locate it was hidden where you would not really find it on your own. The Benleva Resort was an exceptional location to remain and very affordable at 25 extra pounds sterling for a nice room en collection with a breaking hearty breakfast of complete Scottish or cereals and also, of course, gruel.

Bench stocks outstanding genuine ales from the highlands, usually with a minimum of one Island of Skye mixture which is wonderful stuff. The Benleva was elected the CAMRA Highlands & Islands Club of the Year 2005, for the second time in 3 years. The proprietors began having an annual beer event a couple of years ago and also this is currently the largest in the Highlands, flaunting over 50 barrel conditioned ciders and also ales last year. The following one is 22 to 30 September 2006 and I wish to be there if I remain in the UK then. Bench meals are scrumptious too, varying from conventional Scots fayre to more fancy things. You get a really pleasant welcome from the resort proprietors Allan, Steve as well as James. Brothers Allan as well as Steve are usually behind bench and also James, the chef, producing cooking indulges in the kitchen area. I appreciated my stay below greater than any other hotel I can keep in mind.

Drumnadrochit has some terrific strolls close by and also I ended up on top of the rocky crag where tale says that the viking prince Monie pulled away after a neighboring battle. There are expected to be remains of an iron age fort also, however they need to have been too refined for me! There are 3 'proper' pubs in the village including The Benleva as well as they are collectively known in your area as "The Triangle". The other two are the Smiddy Bar and also the Blarmor Sports Bar. The Sports Bar usually opens up later on as well as has a nightclub at weekends. It was at this nightclub that I satisfied an Australian man called Paul that operates in Edinburgh. He was partying at Loch Ness for a holiday with his companions and we had a right excellent laugh - G'day Mondzy!

I actually saw the Loch Ness Monster whilst driving along the loch one day, however it had actually just returned under the water by the time I could take a photo and also quit - darn it! I appreciated my time here so much that I decided to remain for the rest of my Scottish journey as well as not remain in Ballachullish or at Loch Lomond as I had meant to do. I did drive past the unnoticeable Ben Nevis (concealed in the clouds for 9 days out of 10 right now of year) and also looked where Mum made use of to stay in Ballachullish and also parked up at Kinlochleven to opt for a stroll in the hills. The walk begins on part of the West Highland Way and also rapidly goes up the north side of Loch Leven.

I needed to stop a few times en route up to take care of the old 'ticker' as I had not been really fit - and also look what happened to Robin Chef! After climbing up regarding 2,000 feet I saw 'Am Bodach' up in advance which increases to 1,005 meters. I decided at this moment that the distance I had actually already climbed up was enough! Continue reading about Glencoe in Scotland.

[majingojira]

120 Years, 120 Monsters Finale! Days 30-31

Here it is, the most recent 10 monsters I felt were memorable and impactful!

111) Attack the Block (2011) - "Attacker"

This is one of those great independent monster movies that crop up every now and then which also adds a unique British flavor to it.  This is no Doctor Who adventures despite there being aliens about, this is ghetto living in England with gangsters and prejudice occasionally being more dangerous than the carnivores from outer space.

But those alien carnivores have an absolutely amazing design. Practical effects enhanced visually by CG creates an iconic, engaging visual that is realistic while being fantastic at the same time.  They were originally meant as a metaphor for poverty and I can see it working quite well.  An all-devouring darkness that moves relentlessly after disenfranchised youths.  They give the Dementors a run for their money in my opinion.  

Plus, who doesn’t love a neon glow in their critters?

112) Grabbers (2012) - Grabbers

Another monster from the British Isles, and another mildly comedic monster.  The Grabbers are tentacle monsters from the stars, arriving in a classic Panspermia seeding event, but what makes them really fun for me is their biology.  

The beings are extraordinarily simple, which makes them so dangerous.  Almost as durable as hibernating tardigrades, they need only water and blood to survive.  If they can find that, they can live.  It’s got life cycles, with infant, male, and female forms of varying levels of danger menacing an island off the coast of Ireland in the middle of a rainstorm, so what can our heroes do to survive?

Get Drunk.

Aside from dehydration, the main weakness of this species is alcohol.  This is no kryptonite, however.  Just dousing them in alcohol is not enough to do it.  The Grabbers have to ingest the stuff in order to be properly poisoned.  So, the heroes have to get the town drunk to survive the storm of tentacles about to descend on them.

Like, really drunk.  

It’s a creative conceit that covers so much.  Need the characters to do something stupid?  Well, they’re drunk!  Want to make somore sog harder than it should be?  Remember: Everyone’s drunk!  Want to have scenes of characters bearing their heart to each other?  Again, everyone’s drunk!  

Isn’t it great when the story is scripted in a way that things happen for logical reasons?

113) Cabin in the Woods (2012) - The Ancient Ones

It’d be really easy to just say that the “Ancient Ones” who demand the formulaic ‘sacrifices’ are a metaphor for the audience of horror movies and call it a day.  But, I’m with SF Debris on this one, it’s the world and its layers that gets me. It implies that every movie before this was part of their ritual to keep the Ancient Ones at bay. And in the end, they grew bored with their appeasement.  To me, it’s not so much that humans failed to keep them down, more so than the ‘audience’ for the sacrifices grew bored with the whole thing.  The cascading failures?  All part of their plan.  The monsters tearing up the only people who could complete the ceremony?  All part of their plan.  

Who knows how many little coincidences could be put on their influence.  

114)  Pacific Rim (2013) - Otachi

Pacific Rim had to be on the list, as a grand love letter to all things Kaiju.  Of the creatures featured, I found it tough to pick between the crab Onibaba and the pterodactyl Otachi.  On one hand, Onibaba’s main scene basically encapsulates what a Kaiju is metaphorically.  On the other, Otachi has the most screen time.  

Plus, his wing-reveal got audiences to gasp at pretty much every screening I saw.  

Otachi is emblematic of later Kaiju designs in Japan.  While the first wave were rather simple in concept, revived prehistoric life, giant animals, and other natural things, by the mid to late 60s, they became more elaborate and experimental, or even outright psychedelic.  

Otachi keeps surprising the viewer with what she’s packing.  First, she’s just a big reptilian creature.  Then her tail is revealed as a deadly grasping limb.  Then she spits acid.  Then she reveals a probing tongue.  Then the wings come out.  And even after she died, she revealed to have a little Otachi inside her as well!  

An escalation of threat indeed.  

115) The Babadook (2014) - Babadook

I literally can’t really talk about this one to the degree that it deserves.  Mostly because I have committed the sin of not having seen it yet!  Still, I want to!  And before Halloween is over, I plan to! But for now, I can only comment on what tiny bits I have seen, and the impact it has had.  

A monster can be measured in part by the impact it has had, and even without the Netflix Gay Culture meme (which I love), a creature that embodies grief and the negative effects it has is well worth having.  It is similar to a Dementor in that regard, but where the Dementor can be warded off and driven away, the Babadook has no overriding charm. It simply has to be dealt with, and it doesn’t just go away. It remains.

Just as Grief tends to do in reality.

116) Krampus (2015) - Krampus

In the menagerie of Christmas Horrors, there are killer Santas, your average human psychotics, and, of course, gremlins.  But over, above, and before all of those, there was the Krampus.  It wasn’t until the turn of the 21st century that it went from little more than a cultural footnote in wider society when it appeared as a gag in The Venture Brothers.  But then some insane genius realized the monstrous potential of a Santa Claus Demon and out popped this little treat.

Because while the Krampus is the focus, half the fun comes from a mixture of the twisting of the icons of the nicest holiday of the year into tools of murder and mayhem.  And that happens thanks to the Krampus’ minions.  Be they killer gingerbread men or demonic toys, each one offers a unique challenge for the family under siege by the demon of Christmas.

And, like any good Christmas movie, it’s about family togetherness.  In that, if you don’t have the Christmas spirit of family togetherness, the Krampus will come and drag you to the underworld!  

Merry Christmas, Kids!

117) Shin Godzilla (2016) - Shin Godzilla

I told you there would be hair-splitting, and this is part of the reason why.  I knew I had to include the original Godzilla, but this one is just so GOOD! Looking at the incident through the lense of a government bureaucratic crisis brings to light new incites and scenes, allowing for some great unexpected comedy as well as pointed social commentary.  

Godzilla is also just so different from any prior incarnation. It changes more about him than the ‘98 American film, yet still remains true to the core of what Godzilla is, and that is quite an accomplishment. 

118) Beware the Slender Man (2016) - Slender Man

This is SUCH a cheat.  See, the Slender Man hasn’t really had a movie.  And because he is a copyrighted character, he is unlikely to.  Instead, we get knockoffs and homages.  I’m all for those, but without a proper spring, it gets annoying.

The Slender Man is to a point the culmination of various boogeymen over the last 40 years.  Men in Black, The Tall Man, Alien Abductors, the nebulous “Stranger” evoked on children.  Now it’s coalesced into this form, and people have been aping it since its inception. The Silence from Doctor Who being one of the most prominent examples, but I’m sure you can think of tall, gaunt men in dark outfits who lack distinct facial features who’ve terrorized any number of series, books, and movies.  They all spawn from this source.  

The Slender Man is a fascinating example of being able to watch folklore emerge, as well as a grand warning about why children should not be exposed to certain things before they learn to differentiate real from unreal.  It’s that later that this documentary really focuses on.  And that’s what makes it truly unnerving.  

That and the fact that the inability to tell the difference between reality and fiction is disappearing in many adults these days.

119) Kong: Skull Island (2017) - Skullcrawler

In a way, the Skullcrawler is representative of the Godzilla foe Megaguirus, in that he is a minor adversary from an older film boosted in power and given second bill status to be an adversary of the main monster of the series.  First appearing as the only surviving monster from the lost Spider Pit sequence of the original King Kong, it became his main adversary in this film and it worked out rather well.

Presented as rapacious, insatiable predators, and so many aspects of their design and biology play into that.  THe grasping tongue, the narrow skull, the layers of teeth, the fact that they vomit up bones . . . it’s all visceral, and designed to eat people.

Plus they continue the sprawlling pose of most American monsters that Cloverfield helped popularize. 

120) IT (2017) – Pennywise the Dancing Clown

What hasn’t been said about IT at this point?  Well, I don’t feel there is much I can add to it, so I want to re-affirm a plot some saw as a failing.  (also, this makes so much fun punning!)

For as evil as Pennywise is, his fear and terror is that of children. ITs monsters coming to gobble them up.  The things done by adults and through their inaction is worse than most of his actions (ya know, short of the eating children thing). It may be an aspect of a larger cosmic horror, but that simplicity and twisted innocence are why he works so well, IMO.

Also, he should totally fight Gamera. Because you KNOW how thematically appropriate that is.