A walk to Cramond Island

// September 12th, 2008 // 3 Comments » // Edinburgh

As the name implies, this island lies off Cramond on the north-western edge of Edinburgh. Covering an area of around 19 acres, it is one third of a mile long and stands nearly a mile from the shoreline at the estuary of the River Almond. It is currently part of the Dalmeny Estate, and strictly speaking it is not a true island at all, but a tidal island being connected to the mainland at low tide and also by a long causeway. This allows easy access for intrepid walkers wishing to cross over and visit. At high tide the island is completely cut off from the mainland with the path lying several feet below sea level. It is safe to cross to the island during a time window covering 2 hours before low tide until roughly 2 hours after. If you do miss the tide, and are cut off, you will be staying the night there.The Cramond area is rich in history, and archaeological excavations there have uncovered evidence of habitation dating to around 8500 BC, making it the earliest known site of human settlement in Scotland. There is also evidence to suggest that the nearby island may have had special significance to the prehistoric peoples who lived along the coast of the Firth of Forth, as at least one stone burial cist has been found there.
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Tom Waits – Live at the Edinburgh Playhouse (27th July 2008)

// July 30th, 2008 // No Comments » // Music Reviews

“Well, it’s only been 23 years!” exclaims Tom Waits conversationally as he takes his seat at the piano for the more intimate section of his concert in Edinburgh last Sunday. “Oh, you know, the usual.” is his well-timed response to the imagined question from the audience hanging in the air. Waits was 30 minutes late taking to the stage as is, I have been led to believe, standard practice where he is concerned. Well, what’s another 30 minutes on top of all those years going to hurt?
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16 Years of Alcohol

// May 12th, 2008 // No Comments » // Film Reviews

Released in 2003 and produced for a budget of something like £400,000, 16 Years of Alcohol is the directorial feature film début of ex-Skids frontman, ex-male model and ex-TV presenter Richard Jobson. I’ve seen this film twice in as many years now and I’ll have a stab at reviewing it …

Jobson has adapted the film from his own semi-autobiographical book of the same name. I cannot pass comment on the book as I have never read it, nor have I seen it for sale anywhere, but it was described as a “prose poem” on the BBC website. This description comes as no surprise to me as I do get the impression that Jobson may have a tendency towards the ostentatiously artistic. Nonetheless, despite having some notable flaws, 16 years of Alcohol is still rather a good film.
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