Too Busy To Blog?

Possibly, maybe, soon.

I won’t die away though, but will be less reliable when it comes to the Leith updates WithWood.

This is all because I have more studying to do, luckily my PA set out an amazing study timetable – so I’ll still have plenty of time blog one off now and again.

For the next few years this will be me…

The chocolate bit at the end (known as the modicum) is still the best bit of any Cornetto, I wish they were sold in packets. They would be so much better than popcorn and could rival even the Mighty Minstrel.

Well, back to my virtual text book.

Gone With The Wind

My walk to and from work has been made roughly 26% less enjoyable by incredibly strong winds pushing and pulling me in every direction. At some points I can enjoy walking along with a gentle breeze supporting my back, this enables a super-cool laid back approach to legwork, not unlike the one adopted by the easy going mint eater, Mr Soft.

The problems arise when the wind is against you, instead of an enjoyable 45° stroll, you feel as if you’re pulling a Landrover with nothing but your eyelids, in the cold, with the wind blowing in your face.

Just look at the carnage it created:

This was the second bin in four hours I had seen on its side. The first one was picked up as part of the Greener Leith Campaign, but sadly this one was far too big and my hands were full of soup and sandwiches (which if put down were surely to blow away). I can only assume another citizen came to the rescue.

I also saw somebody’s roof on the pavement, or at least a part of it.

I was so lucky, I walk on that spot every day, imagine if I’d been standing there when it happened. I’ll count every day as a blessing from now on, somebody up there must be looking out for me.

So with great wind, comes great worry. Not only could slate penetrate our very heads at any moment, but we also run the risk of becoming trapped beneath toppling bins. The pavements are no longer safe, I suggest walking in the roads (WithWood accepts no responsibility for those walking in the roads).

This imminent danger isn’t even the worst thing, you see, walking to work in a wind tunnel causes great distress to my hair piece, transforming me into the spitting image of Henry Spencer from Eraserhead. I’ll not be getting my haircut until the wind goes away though, this wind-swept hairstyle could be my only protection from falling debris.

So although my walk may be 26% less enjoyable, it does result in a 74% funnier hairstyle, which is all that matters really.

You’re Not Welcome Here.

Today I saw a birdhouse with no front door, I’m not sure if it was designed this way to keep the birds out or to lock them in.

Leith’s first and only bird prison, location – classified.

A Grave Adventure

Sandwiches, window shopping and photos of dog toffee are all well and good, but I knew that WithWood needed some fresh material.

So here it is, a whole new adventure, one which is not for the faint hearted. Those with a weak disposition should turn away now, I may also inadvertently let the football results slip, so if you’re wanting to watch all the action on Match of the Wednesday tonight you should read this tomorrow.

Location: Leith Cemetery

Time: Dinner Time

Weather: Misty

Cemetery’s aren’t often considered major tourist attractions, but then WithWood was never a tourist, an investigative reporter and explorer, yes, but never a tourist.

Situated parallel to the Waters of Leith, I was able to find the perfect vantage point for spying on would-be dog toffee offenders, which will be used to its full advantage when continuing the campaign for a cleaner Leith. Now all I need is a digital camera with 100x zoom, and a much much longer lunch break.

As I walked around/on the resting place of The Jacobite Heroine, David Johnston and the Grandparents of the 19th Century I couldn’t help but wonder why there was a pineapple by one of the broken gravestones.

I knew it couldn’t be the grave of James Drummond Dole (The Pineapple King) – he was buried in Hawaii.

Who could it be? What could it symbolise? Answers on a postcard to the usual address folks.

I was attracted most to this location by the pirate gravestones I saw whilst walking past, ever the optimist I entered with the intention of finding some doubloons, or at least a new [old] hat.

Filled with high hopes I pranced around the misty TombPark looking for unburied treasure, I made sure to tip-toe around some of the scarier graves, the last thing I wanted was to wake some cadavers and unleash them on Leith.

I found some tomb-tables which protected the ground from potential grave robbers, but was hoping to find some of the the anti-theft-cages, I know they exist somewhere in Edinburgh.

If anybody knows the location of some catacomb-cages please let me know (you’ll be sent a WithWood pencil, make all of your friends jealous!).

So what did we learn today?

Pirates are buried in Leith, pineapples are more appropriate than flowers at a graveside and builders enjoy watching me vault from grave to grave during my lunch hour.

Next time on WithWood… Cruelty to animals.

Shepherd’s Delight!

Thought I would have a shot too, only mine was setting. Does this qualify?

I need to get a real camera, the phone is fine for photo’s of shops, but is nowhere near as accurate as my eyes. Any recommendations?

The Thrift Warehouse

Come on a journey into one of Leith’s finest bargain basements, The Thrift Warehouse.

Located on Sandport Place next door to Plumbline, The Thrift Warehouse is filled with so much treasure you’ll probably have to book the afternoon off work to have a proper look around.

I love these places, it reminds me of having a good mooch around someone else’s loft, only with greater consequences after a bit of pinching. I get extremely excited finding so many old childhood games and videos (although excitement should be kept to a minimum, remember this is for charity).

The Warehouse sells everything you could ever want, apart from food and drink, but if toys are your food and ornaments your drink you’ll be set for life.

The sheer volume of Thrift made available was stupendous, it was difficult to know where to start browsing – well not that hard, the toy section obviously came first, followed by books, films, music, electronical equipments and finally furniture. Sadly I came away with no treasures, all my monies had been used to buy lunch, next time I’ll come prepared.

I now know where I’ll be buying every single present in the future, all I can say is that I’m glad I didn’t have a date for Valentines, they may have been less than impressed:

What says I love you better than a documentary on the home of everybody’s favourite mustard (and why would someone give it away?!?!).

Skins.

A little bit of overtime makes my walk home through Leith just that little bit more exciting, you see, the level of fun is directly proportional to the amount of darkness overhead.

The story began at Tescos whilst picking up the Lottery Syndicate tickets and Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.

A boy approached the counter asking for some skins, he was extremely inebriated, shouty and wobbly. This provided me with some in-queue entertainment whilst waiting, which was great because the excitement of holding Creme Eggs had diminished.

When asked for ID to buy the bits of paper, he declared that he was 21 and was sick of being treated so badly by everyone, he’d had this type of shit for 21 years and just wanted some skins.

Surely a 21 year old who looks no older than a foetus would carry ID with him everywhere, I had serious doubts about this boy’s honesty. He soon backed down, but not before threatening to kiss the male member of staff on the fanny, he even said to meet in CC Blooms - a location in which he would carry out the act.

The whole ordeal left everyone in a state of shock, no threats of violence, but promises of love – Valentines Day is clearly having an effect on Leith!!!

Scrabulous

WithWood recently had a face-off with rival bloggers StandinaQueue and La-La-Land using Scrabulous.

The rules were simple, no cheating, no fighting and no drinking.

WithWood was entirely victorious on both counts.

WithWood vs La-La-Land (1-0)

WithWood vs StandinaQueue (1-0)

So, who’s next???

BitsofBobs and What’s the Skinny Macca, do you dare???

Graffiti No. 7 – Leith Walk

Rockmess!

It’s that time of year again, time to buy tickets for something that won’t happen for ages. Then after many months of waiting, you forget you bought a ticket in the first place and realise that you don’t even have a tent (my last one was left at Rockness, due to easy-ness and broken-ness).

FatBoy Slim, 2manydjs, Simian Mobile Disco, Felix Da Housecat, Digitalism – the ticket is worth it just for these guys!!!

This year I opted for buying a ticket in person from my local music merchant – Ripping Records

The idea behind this was cost reduction, I planned on avoiding the postage by walking closer to the ticket. It worked a little, saving a whopping £3.20, which will probably be spent on a pint later today.

I liked the ticket shop, it had a big board filled with potential gigs. The board was surrounded by advice about not fingering the chalk words, in an effort to reduce band removal. I counted six (6) warning signs about touching the chalk, I wasn’t even stopped by one (1) “Do Not Touch – Wet Paint” sign today, so this was basically an invitation.

An invitation that I declined, it was so colourful and neat,how could I. Instead I went home, drew my own inferior version and smudged it up good and proper.

So, with ticket in hand I can relax and start to think about a much needed tent, maybe I’ll put my £3.20 towards one, I may even opt for a wendy house.

So, who else is going? Show of hands please…