Christmas update ...

Good evening . . just a short update on what has been happening....
Had a lovely weekend over the 19th Dec weekend where invited mum and dad, Susan, Allan and the kids and Haiyan upto Stirling for a dinner. Mum arrived with dad but Susan and family didnt get through the heavy snow near Linlithgow. So scaled back on the feast - where prepared potatot + leek soup, a roast of mustard / honey glazed ham - well large - with roast stuff etc and then followed with a Lime creamcake which worked very well and was remarkably easy to make. In the evening Mum and Dad got the train backwhich is certainly very unusual for them.
On the Sunday Ping, Haiyan and I went to the Wallace Monument where we went for a lovely walk and heard a good bit of history regarding William Wallace. A video of which is within this Picasa album.

Ping, Haiyan and Bob Veitch at the Wallace Monument 20th Dec 09

Christmas Ping and I in Edinburgh for a lovely dinner - very easy this year as dad bought a cook in the bag turkey from M+S and it worked well. Presents presented and received. I bought Ping a large - too large jumper from Evelyn at work as well as similar one for mum. From Ping I received a lovely jacket from Zara- though this has to go back as it is a little too small. From Allan - Barrel of beer - now finished - excellent - Thankyou, and from Susan a 6 month subscription to New Scientist which I am eagerly looking forward to seeing.

Tomorrow 28th December picking Simon up prior to going upto Stirling. Today Ping and I went to Homebase to purchase the last doors for the Hinckley kitchen units and thence onto the Chinese market in Leith for a good shop - with some stuff in preparation for New Year up in Alyth.

Links to photos ...

It is too long since I last linkled to some of my photo galleries on Picasa so here goes ..

Ping + I cycle 8 Nov 09 Sherriffmuir.	Menstrie 081109
Glasgow	Paragliders Hillend 16th Oct 09
North Berwick	Bob V at Bank 130909
Gordon Smyth Myreton 18th Aug 09	Cavalcade Holyrood Park Edinburgh 9th August 2009
Pisa	Florence
Duomo Milan	Braco paragliding

Ping and I went for a short jog ...

Hello,
This morning Ping and I went on our semi-usual jog from home, through Cambuskenneth and back - not fast or actually very far 2.44km but it certainly blew the cobwebs away as it felt quite cold.

Here is a link to the kml file (my phone playing up a bit on the tracking - as no way was it so random a run!) Best to use in Google Earth

Of course I have photos taken previously on the route which are here :-

Jogging route

North Berwick - visited on Saturday 3rd Oct

On Friday 2nd Oct Ping and I went out in Edinburgh, starting at The Cafe Royal - where we had our wedding reception and now the winner of Town Pub of the Year 2009 - so as usual excellent.

Then met Richard and wandered along to Dirty Dicks for a generally nice drink and chat which was nice.

Saturday Ping and I went to North Berwick - seriously seriously windy but nice here are some photos ... also saw a seal briefly but not long enough for photo.

North Berwick

An update at last!

As usual it is ages since I last added any info here - but here goes quickly...

Hinckley house - renovation - was down with dad during the preceding week - great progress - external painter doing a great job, kitchen sink and gas hob plumbed in. Hob has problem with staying on so struggling to contact manufacture under guarantee.
Dad fitted new skirting and picture rails in dining room and boxed in pipes in bathroom whilst I tiled and started the grouting in the same.

Hinckley house

Ping - non stop studying - for exam tomorrow.

Paragliding - had a couple of flights - just ttb`s Menstrie and Hillend.

Hi, everyone.

It has been about eight months since last time I logged on this blog. It seems a bit strange to me as I have a pulse to write something today. I guess it always will be a case when I feel down.

Today is my three years anniversary in UK since I was landed in Edinburgh in 2006. Look back these three years, my life was changed significantly - got married, graduated from Heriot -Watt and working with a career which I wished.

I have nothing to complain, I have to say. I am a lucky person. But, why I am feeling so sad today - lonely staying at home for a week, failed ST2 exam or the pressure from the coming CA2 exam. I feel so tired from every inches of my body and soul. Just like the TV program's conversation, I feel I am isolated and live with my tiredness. All my pain comse from a single one source -English which I started to learn properly when I was 34 the time I arrived in this country.

I have been over-spending my energy in these three years. I am working and studying hard. Though my lovely husband always encourage me "you have made huge progress on your English" I still feel it is hard for me to perform well in my exam preparation, actual exams and in my work. My speed is so slow . Everyday, 24 hours are definitely not enough for me I have so many things need to do. I want to be good, I want to pass all exams at the first try, I want to ............ !! Who can help me? I am so tired!!!

I know I must carry on, continue to work hard and I won't be beaten down. No pain no gain, sometimes although there are a lot of pain already, we still can't see any signs of gain. Keep trying, I believe eventually you will get you deserve!!! Only care what you have done. After you have tried your best then leave it and don't ask for anything for return. Eventually, there is a day you will be surprised by yourself. I hope I can have a such elegant soul.

Merry Christmas

Good afternoon - I would just like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and point out that I have lots of new photos within my Picasa links and as shown in the top row..

Recent news ....

Well it has all been happening recently ...
Ping and I had an excellent holiday in China - visiting Guangzhou, Zhouqing, Changsha, Heng Shan (Nanyue) Macao and Hong Kong - pictures still to be done...

Ping passed her Actarial exam - ST6 - an incredible achievement and the results were published 8pm 11th Dec 08.

I actually went swimming for the first time in ages ...

China trip

Hello, thank you for reading the blog. Seems I often reported the my bad mood in the past in this blog - why the life is so hard, etc. But this time something is changed as I want to tell you a good news. I am going to China with my Bob next week. It is fantastic. I am so delighted with this forthcoming trip!!! After I have been in UK for more than two years, eventually, I get a chance to go to China and see my family. I miss them so much. I also missed mum and dad's dumpling, I want to see my niece who I have not seen since she was born. I want to have Chinese food, sadly I even can not remember what is the taste of the Xiang food and Cantonese morning tea which used to be my favourite food. It is so long time since I last have them. I want to .......Oh, so many many things .... China, I will be back!!!!

Nightmare journey to the dentist ....

Hello, Well I haven`t written for ages and thought to note a recent journey to the dentist....
Left work early - 3.15 expecting max 1 hour drive to get from South Edinburgh to Dalgety Bay in Fife. Initially no problems, round the ring road onto the A90 and then stop... for a long time - luckily I had my book with me ... (Currently reading Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - which is excellent but that is an aside to this story) then waited for approximately an hour before a slow crawl to the bridge. I did call to say I was going to be late - but the story goes on... By the time I did get to Dalgety Bay at 17:40, I just arrived and parked to just miss my dentist and friend Chris just driving off. Arghh. I needed the loo by then but Ping was still at work and was waiting for a lift back. Therefore I drove passed home to get to Prudential - only to see Ping on the company bus - Arghh Arghh - so i then turned round again and got home for relief. Total 3 and half hours later with no good results. Whilst on route and stationary again this sign annoyed me somewhat!

Edinburgh Bank of Scotland Fireworks 2008

Good evening well the Edinbugh International Festival has just finished with a bang.
Here are videos of most of the fireworks as seen from about 3 miles South along with the music from Radio Forth and our chat!

I recommend that you right click any of the following links and "save as" to your computer and then view at your leisure.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Feel free to comment etc....

If some of the videos don`t work it is because they are taking a while to upload - I am sure they will be all present and correct by about midnight today (310808).

How can people make snesible decision about their future.

Everyone always holds the nice hope on her/his futures. Like a friend of mine, looking forward to becoming the beautiful mum; another friend want to go to university then find a good job. What shall I do? From outside, people think I am in the very good situation - getting married with a not so bad person; at least having a job; very caring families around me. However, I really feel I am suffering so many difficulties now. I am losing my confidence gradually since I start this work. I am always worrying if I speak right and clearly. It is so stressful situation. How can I do in my future? Why is my life so hard? It is really not easy for a foreigner to work in a place where they look at you in a different way. Should I continue to keep quite standing in a corner or to bring myself back.

Oh it is so sad I sold my car a while back...

Hello,
I was just driving back home this evening and was just reminiscing about my Honda - and more specifically how much I miss it. I had a Honda Prelude L918 JVP - the quickish one with the 2.2l twin cam engine - oh it was good. In the end I couldn`t afford the fuel so it had to go. I tried selling it privately but any offers I received didn`t turn into cash so I ended taking it to the auction. Perhaps not the best decision I have ever made - after costs - and excluding the Road Tax that was on it I cleared £41!. Someone has got a fantastic car for virtually free.

I did take some photos on its last days with me and I shall include them here later...

Paragliding Broughton

Paragliding Broughton 080216

Well yesterday the 16th Feb 08 I drove down to Broughton and found it to be quite strong wind and cool but everyone was flying and having a great time. I wasnt in the right frame of mind or nervous or something because I ended up frittering the day away before it eased to a level where I felt comfortable to take off. Result an extended bottom to bottom! - last pilot of the day. I am sure if I had got off the ground it would have been one of the best days ever for me - so now I am full of self loathing - but I should be happy as any flight is still a good thing.

What an excellent weekend that was ..

I would just like to write a little bit on last weekends activities.
It started off very well on Friday evening when I met Ping in town. We then went for large starters at The Mussel Inn Rose Street, Edinburgh. I had the crab - lovely but Ping had I guess one of the specialities - 0.5kg of mussels with a garlic and shallot sauce with lots of lovely bread - excellent.

Saturday - we went for a good swim with Ping. We then went for a hotpot at Chinois in the Omni centre with Richard, Ronnie and Danni - very nice with a few beers and well stuffed. It was even better as we were the only foreigners in there and it was very busy and vibrant being just after Chinese New Year.

Sunday - paragliding - drove down to Tinto (as usual!) where it was mobbed - I saw at least 17 wings in the air at once - in Scotland - this is very unusual - and had 2 short flights. Walked up the hill with George and then faffed for a while before having a say 10 minute flight down and across the hill (aiming to get to big Tinto) but I was especially happy with this flight as it was as far as I was concerned perfect - take off, smooth flying and the best landing I have perhaps ever done - especially pleasing as this was my first flight since early last October. I then packed up and walked to big Tinto, found the light breeze had veered East so walked back towards the car and had a very short top to bottom to get down at dusk. This was also good as it must have taken me less then 10 minutes from getting there to landing at the bottom. Packed up and got back to car and it was late dusk or very nearly dark - so I definitely got the last flight of the day.

The weekend just passed

Friday - Burns night and I arranged to meet Ping in town so walked from Tollcross along to Argyl Place to purchase turnip and potatoes before walking into town to meet Mrs Veitch. Then of course I was reminded that Ping was going to a party that evening so I ended up just going home and pottering around till Ping returned at approximately 2am without any Burns celebration.
Saturday - my mums birthday so we all as a family met at lunchtime at Cafe Marlayne, Old Fishmarket Close, Edinburgh and had a really lovely meal with some very quaffable white house wine to accompany. I had the crab starter - excellent, followed by the lamb and the chocolate torte - I almost always choose the chocolate thing however in this case having tried a little of the other sweets I should have had the sticky toffee pudding - delectable.
After lunch Ping and I went round town for a while - 90% off at Harvey Nichols - still out of our league! and then just as we were about to get the bus home Richard called so I arranged to meet him initially at The Standing odour but then changed to All Bar One where we had a few beers and we followed this a few more at Le Monde - a very pleasant evening after a lovely meal.
Sunday - nothing amazing or suprising (slightly fragile head) - I bussed over to Currie, saw Susan and Allan before going for a walk in the Pentlands from there to Hillend - very windy but nice. Then I went to Richards who then gave me lift to the bottom of Morninside before getting the bus home. Vegetarian haggis at last with potatoes and neeps - a good weekend basically.

Wedding of Robert Veitch and Ping Wang

Wedding photos

As you may know Ping and I got married on the 21st december 2007 and what an excellent day it was. To see the pictures collected so far click the picture above and here is the story from my perspective.
I and my best man - Richard went over to my parents whilst Ping stayed at home with her sister and parents to prepare. As you can see I hired a great kilt set from The Kilt Hire Company and I was wearing a Scotland the Brave tartan - I think you will agree I look better than just good!. I had hired the same for Richard but just without the sash which is reserved for the groom. I had prearranged transport however by 2.45 there was no sign of it, and after a lot of frantic phone calls a taxi arrived and got us all to the Registrars office at the corner of The Royal Mile and George IV Bridge - a very lovely venue. Ping arrived a few minutes later looking fantastic and we met our guests for some photos and chat before being taken upto the wedding room. Richard and I were briefed on the ceremony and then it all started.
Ping was brought into the room by her dad - who looked very impressive in his traditional Chinese outfit. Then the ceremony at which I was very emotional - especially at the part where i say "with this ring I thee wed" (It was slightly embarrasing as I was virtually in tears as well as getting a runny nose right at thye same time!) so with a small - get me a hanky break this was completed successfully. I suspect that both Ping and I managed to mangle slightly the normal English of the vows to some extent due to the emotion of the moment.
Vows, rings exchanged and ceremony complete - in what seemed like 10 minutes - signing the marriage certificate plus posed photos doing the same, photos outside and down the stairs - then outside to sparklers which Richard arranged prior to a quick journey for my wife and I to The Cafe Royal via the hotel where we dropped off our stuff.
I had been a little worried about the reception meal at The Cafe Royal but I shouldnt have been - it was fantastic - the staff, the ambience (especially as the bar next door was packed with revellers on the last Friday evening prior to Christmas) and the food was I and it seems everyone thought was excellent. I am using that word a lot in this post but really it was that good. We started off with pink "champagne" and then everyone had a small range of choices from the menu we had chosen as shown here. The reception really started about 5pm and between courses Ping and I tried to do as much mingling as possible and it was great. Later on in the evening we had the speeches and the cake cutting ceremony before heading for the hotel for our honeymoon night. Richards speech was very good and most of it is also available via the above link.
Other comments - as the evening progressed it was noticeable that the people who were accidently using the revolving doors trying to get to the bar were getting more and more inebriated and most were very funny in their reactions to seeing the error of gatecrashing our wedding!.
Summary - the wedding ceremony and the new registrars was lovely, having my friends and family at the wedding and the reception was more better than I hoped and the food at The Cafe Royal along with the service far exceeded my wildest expectations.
Thankyou to everyone who helped to make the wedding of Ping and I such a success.

X-Scotia - and Robert Veitch

Well, recently a lot of things have been happening for me :- Wedding, Christmas, New year all of which I hope to add some more detail soon. Here I am going to tell a little more about my decision to try and enter X-Scotia - a paragliding / walking event to be held in Scotland in April or May of 2008.
When I first heard about this I initially thought no - Bob that is just stupid and plain daft - look at you - 43, fat, unfit and so forth. But over the next week or so I continued to think long and hard about it, to the degree that I actually had sleepless nights - before deciding to register my interest. I did this before New Year so that my decision didnt become some New Year resolution that would then be cast aside at the first hint of difficulty.
Having made this decision I looked at myself with fairly unforgiving eyes and realised that my basic level of fitness was !"£$% (poor) I dont have and wont have a nice lot of lightweight kit, I couldnt walk for hours - with or without my paraglider, my flying is also not very current and I need to do something about it. To this end I commenced walking almost everyday - without loads - just to get the muscles used to that - just shows how bad things were - and having investigated "marathon training regimes" on the net (which i am not qualified to start on !) I am basically trying to gradually increase by about 10% per week my distance, speed etc.
Pre start of "training" I weighed about 107kg in the birthday suit - plus wing etc comes to a lot!.
Today its only the 14th Jan and already - although most people wouldnt be able to tell I have lost a little bit of weight and am a little more toned - although the last weekend did impress on me just how big a task I have taken on:-
Saturday- a flyable day - my first since the last of The Scottish Nationals rounds in the Ochils last October - after some of my usual dithering loaded up car and drove to Tinto. New walking boots to replace my old ones partially held together with tape and also a novelty for me - walking poles - purchased during the sales when I was down in Ambleside. Anyhow wlaked - quicker than usual up - following the forest on the left straight up Lochylock Hill as the low cloud arrived. Met Sean F - who did a first time pack using one of these new concertina bag things here - apparently works quite well - at least I was quite impressed.

Tinto-080112

Thinking that it was still relatively early - the walk up had not completely killed me off as normal and hoping that the lovely blue skies might return allowing flight - I decided to go for a walk.- Och I shall just walk along to big Tinto, down and back to the car, so off i went - arriving at the snow covered top - after glimpsing blue skies above - beautiful for a few seconds alittle later. Ah yes my kit - Mac Eden 29 from 1998 - weight a few Kg, Harness - again a few Kg - Woody Valley peak, Reserve a white big thing - yes you guessed a few Kg, Full face helmet, flying suit, Renschler Sol17? vario,Garmin GPS76S thingy, 1 camelbag - nearly frozen, no food! compass, Alinco DJ190e radio, mobile phone, camera - with no spare memory, gloves, lightweight waterproof, flying suit and glider bag roughly "oh my that weighs at least as much as a heavy child" quoting someone else at the top of Tinto. I then basically followed the Northerly path dow past Totherin Hill and then turned right ending up eventually - after a few slips - pretty close to Fallburn - about NS970375 and Thankerton - in the dark. Not such a bright idea wearing black and carrying black bag on a dark night to commence the walk back to the car. No buses apparent - sticking out thumb didnt work, those roads back are populated from my research by quite a few people carriers going remarkably briskly :-). Continued walking for the next few hours until I got back to Wiston where I finally left my glider just at the village hall and walked the last 2.7 miles back to the car - totally knackered - 8pm ish at the car, to then drive home after picking up wing and getting home about 2145 - hungry but more desperate for a hot bath - I was so achey - everything, felt like it ached but shoulders and calves worst plus a nice blister on big toe. Amazingly for me I didnt eat anything all day and even though very tired on the drive back etc I slept poorly. The end - afraid not - the plan was to go for a walk with Richard and Roy on Sunday - so called in the morning I called Richard and said nah - cannot - I am a wreck - ok. A little later text back saying dont worry you could do this walk in a wheelchair so I changed my mind. Picked up at around 9.30am and upto Tyndrum - had a lovely bacon sarny at Real food place and then walked from lower Tyndrum railway stn to waterfall

Tyndrum 080113

and back - just a few miles but I was still jiggered and as such wasnt very quick and what is more crossing a small stream I fell through the smow and ended up with a very wet foot and leg - just the one though. Definitely ache - pushed myself stupidly hard yesterday - starting to realise the magnitude of the X-scotia task and as I sit her quite worried and basically crippled! - ankles worst now. I think a slower progression of walking with weights required. Measuring the Saturday walk it was about 21-23km and as such is the furthest I have ever walked with a paraglider by a very long way - and my body is telling me so. Hopefully future training won`t be so long winded! or painful. I will be interested to find out and I shall try to keep you posted here over the coming months.

Wedding and Stag weekend pages

Hi,
Just for any of my friends interested in the forthcoming wedding between Robert Veitch and Xiaoping Wang I have prepared the following couple of pages :-
Wedding.
Stag weekend.

Regards.

Wedding ....

Hello,
As usual it is ages since I last posted, well Robert Veitch is definitely getting married to the very lovely Xiaoping Wang on 21st december, the reception is booked. We had a choice of a few venues around about Edinburgh but have plumped for one near Princess Street. The menu is chosen.
Changes are in the offing at home with some new stuff in the lounge and witj rearrangement it looks good.
Stag Weekend - Richard - being the best man- I think shall be aranging it in Manchester .
Paragliding - havent done any for ages - my last flight was a 2.31km flight at Myreton near Menstrie, Stirlingshire, at the beginning of October.
Last night Angel and Xavier came across and I cooked a simple curry - mild medium - I thought it was a bit under par however everyone else seemed to enjoy it, a nice evening.
Yesterday - Saturday I was in town and saw Mary - my ex boss and owner of the excellent Always Sunday in The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, for the first time in ages.
Today first swim for ages - at the commie - only a mile a nd a bit - boy was I rubbish - more practice required .....

BFN.

Why is a life so hard?

Today is my worst day since I have been Edinburgh - agency refused to take my cv to help me find job. I have never felt a life is so hard. The tear is full in my eyes. The only way I can do is to keep it and do not it come out.

Indeed, I never thought it is so difficult to find job in UK especially for oversea people.

I keep asking myself "is it right? - quit the stable job and take the adventure to study here." I choose the toally different life. Can I accept this big change?

The only answer is I have to face all the difficulties and challenges with bravely smiles and confidences.

Sometimes a life seems just like this - all sad things suprisingly happen together this beats you so much that you are not able to stand. But I believe once you are front of them with bold smiles at last you will find the sun shine will be nicer. After all these excise I will become stronger and stronger.

You are wonderful - Scotland

I have finished the fantastic travelling in the north of Scotland for nearly two weeks. The excitement, however, still keeps inside and lets me not be able to calm down. I experience the real Scotland - your so changable weather, your beautiful loches, your fresh air with countryside smell. These let me come through so wonderful nature.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Emma-B-M

Yesterday Phil - who is visiting this week from down south, and I obtained tickets for Emma-B-M at Sweet ECA at 18:30.

An accomplished singer Emma was backed up by an electric violin and a guitar - both of which were beautifully played, (The drummer was unavailable)

Emma sang a medley of self written songs from her CD and the songs were very nice if a little "fluffy" for my taste. I personally would have preferred the guitar to be less prominent.
The venue is quite small and intimate however at this time and on a wet / dreich day - more people would have added to the atmosphere. Perhaps a late evening slot would be beneficial to this performer.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival - reviews Traces, 7 Fingers, Truth in Translation.

Hi,
It is a long time since I have posted on here but I thought that I must do something asap - Just over the last few days the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has started and I have been doing very well getting to shows (for me at least).

Wednesday 1st August - went with Dad to the Assembly Gala Press Launch - essentially 2 hours of non stop excellence from a variety of acts all of whom are performing somewhere within the Assembly group of venues.
Highlight - edge of the seat stuff was for me "Traces - The 7 fingers" - astounding, brilliant, the best show I can remember seeing for ever etc etc - more later - I shall try not to run out of superlatives - but I honestly did like it.

Friday 3rd August - a busy day, after work straight to Traces then a beer then to Khalil Ashanti - a true story with all the characters played by Khalil - very good. Meet Ping and Richard for beer and then walk upto the other Assembly venue at the top of the Mound for Havana Rumba! who had also been on at the press launch.
Three good shows and beer - what an excellent day basically.
Traces - A world Champion circus / physical theatre / music act from Quebec, Canada who did this absolutely astoundingly good and enteratining show. Consisting of 5 members it is basically acrobatics , but that doesnt do enough justice to the whole piece - it is music, show, dance, everything ... I am sorry my word skills are not upto the job!! - Their website is here http://www.7fingers.com or www.7doights.com

I shall now give a few words to try and evoke memories for myself - regarding this show and clues to some of the vignettes within the show:- hoops, chair(s), poles, big hoop, chalk line, grand piano, music, skill, jump, hurdle, wonder, awe, incredible, edge of seat, sweaty, amazing, superb, beautiful, poignant, powerful, ....
Summarises as - if you have to choose one show from all that are on in Edinburgh throughout the festival then I recommend you see this one.
(I have no links with the group so this is not advertising hype).

There are some videos around like on this page by some of the other members of the group winning the world circus prize.

But better is this Youtube piece which is much more eloquent - also the great comments all apply for my thoughts on this show.

And this one also on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hgxhPlYJw0


Go see them, sell your brothers and sisters to get a ticket etc etc.

Ok I shall write about the other shows a little more perfunctorily :-

Khalil Ashanti - multiple characters slipped into very quickly, expressively and humourously.

Havana Rumba! - makes me want to visit Cuba. Vibrant music, people and well the costumes!

Saturday 4th August - Truth in Translation - Oh gosh - a very powerful, well crafted, beautifully performed , serious show based on the harrowing testimonies of people who testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa following apartheid - told from the perspective of the translators / interpreters. Leading lady - superb.

Saturday - 4th August - Jimmy Tingle's American Dream - a fast hour of comedy, politics and stories from this theatre owner on The American Dream - with Questions and Answers from the audience at the end.

That is it for now - next thing I am off to is the Fringe parade in the lightly dreich weather of this afternoon, starting at 2.30pm, 3000 performers and 175000 approx spectators - another great day in Edinburgh.

All comments gratefully received.

Thwarted paragliding due to my dithering ...

Hi,
Just thought that I would post a quick resume of my paragliding attempt yesterday - 23rd July 2007.
After taking my wing to work I drove upto Hillend on the outskirts of Edinburgh and got permission to use the poma tow to the top of the hill. Wind very light so after walking to the top East face I just lazed around for a bit before setting up the wing and then calling airtraffic control. They were busy so asked that i called back a little later. I then watched some showers sort of drift / start over Edinburgh to the North West but staying fine at Hillend. Continued watching and things developing a bit to the West, recontacted airtraffic - given permsiion to 3000' - excellent - but I am unlikley to get above hill height. Clipped in, do all checks and then the slight breeze switched to Northerly and stronger - gust front - probably - a few minutes later - thunder has commenced and I have a hasty pack. Air traffic then called me - just prior to my calling them - to ask if I had noticed the storm ! - yes I had and I wasn't going to fly - so closed permission. Walked down and got quite wet - with the rain being Westerly - weather - so complex but interesting. I took a few photos and once I have stitched them together I shall post it here for you to assess the conditions as well.
Yet again to much dithering stops flying by Bob!. If I had gone asap of arrival I would have got at least a ttb.

Thomas Haywood Paragliding at Hillend, Edinburgh

Thomas Haywood Paragliding

Bob Veitch, Paragliding.

Hello,
Last week I got on with some flying and flew at Broughton, Tinto and near Ben Lawers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively.
I have posted the pictures using Picasa and the links on this page - the images on the left - will take you there easily. These also include some movies taken at the same time and includes video of Naomi, Graham and Ian, flying and or landing at Tinto.
Enjoy and all comments gratefully received.

What is happening in the life of Bob Veitch?.

Well ....

December 23rd 2006 I proposed to Ping and I am very happy to say she said yes and we plan to do the deed in maybe August 2008.

Work - yes I am and I am still enjoying it at Clareflorist.

Paragliding - yes I am still flying when I can - and last week was good, flying after work on Thursday and Friday at Broughton and Tinto respectively and on Saturday I went up to Meall nan Tarmachan beside Ben Lawers but didnt fly too well.

Thinking of weddings etc and it made me think how much I would like to hear from the following people if at all possible.
Tessa Gill, ne Emecz and Donna Caress ne Culshaw.

Other news, my nephew is going to be joined by a sister in August / September.
Everything else as normal really - lots of swimming, too much food, insufficient beer ! etc etc.

All comments gratefully received.

Bob

Paragliding, coached and flying this weekend

Hello,
Long time since I have posted and here is just a quick note now.
This weekend I went on a BHPA Club Coach coarse organised by Sean Figgitt of the LLSC which was held down at the Tinto Hotel, Symington.
The course as well as being excellent was near Tinto Hill and after the course on Saturday I and many others went up the East face and had a fly. Tina Wood and I were the last to arrive at the top but had nice flights never the less.
I flew for 40 minutes and came down because my hands were very cold. On landing I had about 10 minutes of jumping up and down pain from them warming up !.
The flight itself was very smooth and the sun was getting towards dusk and as such was beautiful. No photos I am afraid.
This was the first time I have ever flown this face of the hill and it was enjoyable although using the main "motorway" up the hill took about 1 hour.

Some Flower photos

Flowers

Well actually a few hundred pictures of flowers - most taken in the lovely Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, over a period of time using an equally excellent Panasonic DMC-FZ20 camera.

Maggie Cheung images from Edinburgh Filmhouse 10th March 07

Yesterday Ping and I (plus a lot of other Chinese) went to the Filmhouse in Edinburgh for a Masterclass lecture with the World renowned actress Maggie Cheung. Star of the films - In the mood for Love, 20406, Comrades, Hero, and Centre Stage.

Below are a few of the photos I took at the event and I have added all the videos I took here.

And here is a link to all the photos about 2Mb each so be cautious when opening them! - I hope that you enjoy them and all comments gratefully received.

Pilot exam

Recently I studied for and attended the SHPFs social weekend which included the Pilot exam. I am pleased to say that today I received my certification from the BHPA saying that I passed.

Paragliding Tinto 18th February

On the 18th February I drove to Tinto and arrived sometime after lunch. I walked up and had a short flight before walking / flying my wing back up again before really enjoying my second flight which was much better.
The wind was mega smooth but a little bit Easterly. I floated around for about an hour and a quarter and I actually took some video whilst I was in flight and it is here about 80Mb.

Can you spot the pilot in this photo at Tinto whilst I was walking up the first time.

Also on the 6th February I went to the Moorfoots and had a couple of slow top to bottoms having missed the better conditions when Dave, Ian et al had flown quite a long way down the ridge and back again - typical.
Also present was Chris from the Borders who was having his first flight for quite some time.
Anyhow after my first flight down I was just walking up again and I filmed this short 14 seconds of his flight. This would have been a longer film but it was dammed cold and as such the batteries ran out that quickly!. My second flight was just at dusk and I landed near Chris.

Edinburgh Hogmanay festivities Dec 06

The other day I told you I went uptown for the Up Helly Aa well last night I went up again for a few hours. This time it was for the "Night Afore International Festival" - I arrived at George Street at about 7:30pm - nothing happening so went for a pint then outside for a bit of ceilidhing .
Later on still - nearer 10pm the main event finally got to the stage at the West end of the street and I have posted a couple of videos of this unusual street entertainment. I enjoyed it a lot but I would be lying if I said that I had understood it !.
Perhaps you can tell me your opinions.

Video 1, Video 2