Northern Magic Circle Spring Parade - 5 and 6 April 2007

This is just a quick post to let you know that I've been booked to present the one-hour version of my lecture at the Northern Magic Circle's "Spring Parade" taking place in Scarborough on 5th and 6th April. I'm scheduled to lecture some time on the Saturday.

The Northern Magic Circle's convention is normally held on Easter weekend (and called the "Easter Parade"), but with Easter being so early this year - 23rd March - they have decided to organise this year's Convention for the first weekend of the School Spring Holidays at the start of April. The "Easter/Spring Parade" is also generally regarded as one of the most friendly Conventions around so I am really looking forward to going.

Maybe I'll see you there, too?

Speak soon.

The Cardman :-)

Can heaven be a radio station?

Those of you that I talk to face-to-face may know that my work moved from the Maryhill area of Glasgow to the Auldhouse area on the Southside of the city. The move meant that I am no longer sharing an office with anyone and so, after some 11 years of listening to Glasgow's most popular Pop station, I'm able to choose what station I listen to.

I tried listening to a couple of different stations before I found what I consider radio heaven. Rock Radio, based and broadcasting in Glasgow, plays most stuff I love. This week alone, I've heard Foo Fighters, AC/DC, Metallica, Guns 'N' Roses, and so on and so on. It is taking a lot of effort for me to not start headbanging at times! I can only imagine what the reaction of some of the folk at my work would be if I didn't resist!

Anyway, if you like that sort of music - and yes, they do play some slower (rock) stuff, too! - then either go to 96.3 FM if you're in Glasgow or click on the link above, listen to them online and rock your day away.

For those about to rock, we salute you!

Speak soon.

The Cardman :-)

Welcome to 2008

Happy New Year everybody! I hope 2008 is a ton of fun for you and yours. This year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations were, actually, really good fun. Christmas at my Sister’s house – watching the kids rip the wrapping paper off presents like there’s no tomorrow has to be one of the best things ever! – and New Year at home. All was good.

A brief mention must be made of this year’s “Only An Excuse”. For those that don’t live in Scotland, “Only An Excuse” is an programme shown every Hogmanay that pokes fun at anything and everything to do with football, especially Scottish football – and there’s a lot to poke fun at! This year’s show was one of the funniest I have seen in many, many years! Absolutely brilliant! You can see some clips of it on YouTube, but I’ll let you go find them yourselves.

So, what does 2008 hold for you all? Trips abroad? A quiet year at home? For me, at the moment, it is fairly quiet. Here’s where I’m going to be and what I’ll be up to (well, that I know of so far!):-
6 January 2008 – Refereeing at The Scottish Pool-Hustlers’ Challenge, Q Club, Glasgow (Pool)
20 January 2008 – SAPPA Tour Event 5, Suzy Q’s, Paisley (Pool)
18 February 2008 – Lecture at Forth Valley Magic Circle (Magic)
21 – 25 February 2008 – Blackpool Magicians’ Convention, Winter Gardens, Blackpool (Magic)
9 March 2008 – SAPPA Tour Event 7, Q Club, Glasgow (Pool)
24 – 28 September 2008 – IBM British Ring Convention, Eastbourne (Magic)
28 – 30 November 2008 – International Magic Convention, London (Magic)

That’s it so far. I’m hoping to be going back to Germany at some point this year – if I’m lucky I may even get to present my lecture over there! Also, the dates for the 2008-09 pool calendar have yet to be announced so I’m not sure where I’ll be when regarding them. I’ll try to post them in due course.

If you're at any of these, please say "hi" - it may freak me out but I really do appreciate it when people say they read my Blog!

Speak soon.

The Cardman :-)