Edinburgh Comes Top (Almost)

Of all the results in world rugby recently, perhaps the most exciting is that Edinburgh clinched second place in the Magners League!  It’s the highest position ever by a Scottish team, and we are absolutely thrilled.  Andy Robinson has clearly helped the guys unleash all the potential we always believed they had. Fantastic result.

The competition was tough – the team that won the league was last year’s Heineken Cup winners Munster, while the team in third, Leinster, are this years Cup winners.  Speaking of the Heineken Cup, not only was it great for Ireland to see another victory this year (having won the Grand Slam in the Six Nations), but the final was played out in Murrayfield.  Knowing that brings back some thoroughly enjoyable memories of being at the Final between Toulouse and Stade Francais three years ago.

Speaking of going to international rugby games with Dad and Sue, next weekend the four of us are off to see the Barbarians take on the Wallabies.  The Baabaas squad is packed, as ever, with top level international names – Martin Corry, Serge Betsen, Jerry Collins, Josh Lewsey, Geordan Murphy and Leinster’s own Rocky Elsom to name just a few.  We can’t tell you how much we’re looking forward to it.

Martin Wishart – Award Winner

Restaurant Martin Wishart is probably our favourite restaurant in Edinburgh. It’s French in style and Scottish at heart – a perfect culinary combination! We had a number of very memorable meals there, particularly when we lived in Leith.

So we were happy to see that the Michelin starred chef took home toptable’s  award for Best Rated restaurant in the UK.  This is a top honour that saw the genuinely nice Scot beating out top London competition like LaGavroche.

It is a very well deserved (and much overdue in our opinion) award, and we highly recommend anyone in the area  get themseleves a booking fast.  I mean come on – how can you say no to a man who can serve you Roast loin and civet of hare with apple, beetroot, salsafi and black pudding sauce.  MMMMmmmm.

Weekly Menu (Last one of the year!)

Monday: Spicy Honey & Garlic Quail

Tuesday: Broccoli with Red Lentil Sauce

Wednesday: Coconut Fish with Cucumber Salad

Thursday: Marinated Lamb & Mango Salad

Friday: Penne with Spinach & Cannellini Beans

Breakfast: Banana Muffins

Lunch: Tahini Salad

British American Football League

Yes, you read that right.  And no, I’m not talking about the beleaguered NFL Europe and the long defunct Scottish Claymores.  It turns out that there has been an American football league in the UK for over 20 years.  There are three divisions, a number of conferences in each and around 50 teams playing across the country.  And what’s more, the Edinburgh Wolves have been playing at Meadowbank stadium since 2002!!

I don’t know what’s worse – that I had no idea the sport was even played in the country, or that there was a team playing right in the heart of Edinburgh?!  All that time Amanda and I were staying up to ridiculous times in the morning just to catch a little action on channel 5 … we just had no idea.  If we had, you can guarantee we would have been there for every game!!

NFL, as with any sport, has it intricacies but it’s really not hard to pick up the basics.  And what better way to spend a summer Saturday afternoon than with some top quality live sport.  So consider yourself on notice those of you in the vicinity – the next home game (there was one yesterday, who knew) is July 5th at 4pm and it will set you back a PALTRY £3!!  Gavin, Mark, Simon, Neil … you have NO excuse!!

The Truth Is Out There

A couple of weeks back, we reported on reports that aliens may (or may not) have invaded Scotland. So hot is this topic that we were inundated with readers with a passion for the topic – X-philes if you will. We even had one search interested in UFO sightings in Edinburgh in early May of this year – after we posted!! We clearly struck something here.

Well, it turns out that the UK’s Ministry of Defence is releasing over 1000 pages of formerly secret UFO documents. There is much in there that is particularly uninteresting – you’d be surprised how many people leave the pub only to spot flashing lights heading towards an airport and feel the need to report this. As with the vast majority of “sightings” there is a very logical explanation. However, there are a few incidents which can genuinely be referred to as unexplained.

Of course, the report states that no evidence of any “alien” activity has ever been discovered. It has also been suggested that by releasing such documents, it shows how seriously the MoD do NOT take these reports. I’m sure that’s all part of the plan though, and it will in no way stop the conspiracy theorists.

Have Aliens Invaded Scotland?

When a documentary opens with that line, it’s hard to change channel. Apparently, Scotland has more UFO sightings per person than anywhere else in the world. And the epicentre of this tartan hotspot? The area between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Falkirk apparently known as the Falkirk Triangle. (The name makes perfect sense when you consider that Falkirk is almost the exact polar opposite of Bermuda ).

Apparently, there were so many sightings at one point that a local Councillor, believing a Government conspiracy, went to London to ask the Prime Minister why there were so many ufos in Bonnybridge. According to the author of ‘Stargate: Edinburgh’ they conduct their business in the many and vast underground tunnels and caverns in West Lothian.

There are also strong connections with Rosslyn, and not just because it sounds like Roswell. It is “widely” considered as one of the most mysterious place … in the world! Along with Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, it is suspected to be the site of a portal between worlds – and apparently they’ve found it. It can be opened by playing the right combination of musical notes – How very Goonies-esque.

What I want to know is if there are so many UFO sightings in the area how come I never saw one, nor anyone I know? I smell a cover up!!

Giving You A Heads Up

Everyone is the UK has probably already heard about this, but body parts are washing up on a beach in Scotland.  First there was a head, then one hand and then the other … who knows what more will come but the woman (they can tell that much) is as yet unidentified.  The case has no doubt put many in mind of the limbs that washed up in another part of Scotland a few years back.  The killer in that case is now safely locked behind bars, but in a former life he used to work with our very own Gavin.  So, for police investigating the current mystery, I know where they can find some useful personnel files to sift through.  And I’m not saying that Gavin’s a bad influence or anything … I’m sure it’s just coincidence

It’s Novembeer

There is a justified stereotype about Australians and beer: they certainly do love pints, pots, schooners, stubbies and slabs.  Though they make a great deal of wine, what is less known is just how many beers they have.  We’ve tried a few of these, from the satisfaction of a grubby VB, to the low carb tastiness of Pure Blonde.  From experience the best beers are often from microbreweries (as was our discovery i the States this summer) which we get to try at our festivals.  However, often I find myself falling back on the European classics – a German Erdinger or a Belgian Hoegaarden.

That was until we got a flyer from one of our local bottle shops – it may not be permanent, it may not last, but for now at least – they are stocking a couple of Scotland’s finest.  Behold …

We All Gotta Eat

You may have noticed that we post a lot about food and drink. That’s because we very much enjoy all things culinary, and we know you like to hear about it. But you know what, it’s not just us. Gavin very kindly agreed to us relaying to you his recent taste sensations.

Wines:

McManis Californian Chardonnay-Viognier Reserve 2005 : Wonderful melon and pineapple flavours with a hint of honeysuckle. Very highly recommended!

French Connection Special Reserve Shiraz 2005 : Blackberry full mouth taste with a peppery finish.

Marques de Griñon Rioja 2005 : Made from Tempranillo grapes from the Rioja region. What can I say about this one, just superb! Almost a minty first taste with excellent body and a fruity aftertaste. I’ve drunk this for years and keep coming back to it!

Food :

Starter – Chicken Pakora with Piquant Chilli sauce; Golden Vegetable Samosa with a mildly spiced yoghurt sauce

Main – Chicken Jalfrezi with fresh chopped red chillies, green pepper, chopped onions, fresh coriander and ginger; Lamb Dhansak – sweet and sour curry with lentil puree, spices, garlic, lemon & sugar.

Fragrant Pilau Rice

Garlic Nan
Poppadoms

Dessert – Finest Belgian chocolate cheesecake hand-finished with ganache, white chocolate piping and white and dark chocolate scrolls.

This was all very delicious indeed and I was happily surprised by the upturn in quality from the Indian takeaway SpiceBox as I had been there before and found it rather bland. My choice of the Jalfrezi this time certainly gave me many more interesting flavours and a very hot tongue!

Thingfishy’s World Of Maiden

It’s always nice to get noticed. We love that all our friends read our blog, but it’s even cooler when people from outside your circle start reading. Well, imagine coming to the attention of a leading publication in a whole other part of the world. Sadly, Time isn’t yet doing a piece on our Australian adventure. However Gavin is currently being discussed in one of Spain’s leading music magazines.

For the last year Gavin has been working on his side project, Thingfishy’s World Of Maiden, which is his attempt to record his own acoustic version of everything the legendary Iron Maiden have ever produced. We like to listen whenever we are missing Gavin’s dulcet tones, but you might just want to listen because he’s damn good. If the Spanish think so, he must be.

Once you are hooked, you can be his friend at myspace. Good job Gavin, we’re so proud  .