We wanna spend more time in the garden

Just had another look at some of these designs for the city gardens project. 

Do you ever get that moment where you look at something long enough and you think you figure out where the designer’s inspiration came from? 

Well....not that. 

No... I’m kidding-there’s one here that looks like it came to them in a flash of blinding brilliance at lunch time....when they threw away the cellophane wrap from their sandwiches....and another that looks like the team broke for a coffee....and someone started playing with the sugar cubes absent-mindedly........someone else in the office looked at what he’d built and they thought ...."you know what...it’s a sunny day we could be in the pub...someone take a photo of that and we'll draw it tomorrow when we come back in."

It’s easy to sit on the side and criticize isn’t it. 

That’s kinda why I do it....because I’m a talentless slack-butt.

Jessie J the new FACE of Pretty Polly?

I like Jessie J, and I'm really glad she's made it back in time to collect her MOBO's and go on tour (minus the stookie!)

She's only set for bigger things too, with the confirmation she'll be on the new Beeb import, The Voice, next year - and today she kicks off that tour in Birmingham, having been confirmed as the new FACE of Pretty Polly tights.

I'll be honest-took me 15 minutes until I noticed her face. 

The Very Definition Of Irony

Personally, I've always been of the belief that if we were sent here to judge others we'd have been given black robes and funny white wigs, but that doesn't appear to be the belief system adopted by everyone. 

However, in this tweet from the now infamous Westboro Baptist Church, Steve Jobs has, ultimately, the last laugh.

I'm sure he'd have found that 'insanely great'.

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

I don’t know about you.....but I was really sad to hear the new of Steve Jobs’ death...overnight our time. 

Cancer is a horrible way to lose anyone. And as you’d expect, the tributes are pouring in from all sorts of places, because pretty much wherever you are on the planet right now, your life has come into direct contact with something Steve Jobs created. 

Even if you’ve never bought an apple product. 

If you’ve ever watched a Pixar movie.....you’ve been witness to something Steve Jobs created. 

In his first spell after leaving Apple he launched Pixar. 

I guarantee you this guy will be looked back upon in history with the sort of reverence historians hold for the likes of Da Vinci. 

But his loss is sad simply because he was only 56.....

I’m sure like all humans....he had his faults....but I know one thing....the world can get by without many things....but it can’t afford to lose it’s great dreamers - the visionary pioneers. 

Because without them we are nothing. 

I like this quote best.

"Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it." 

President Barack Obama. 

Listen carefully. Spector's demands are clear. We want 100 thousand pounds.

Says here Phil Spector's going to earn a fortune from behind bars when his back catalogue's re-released.

He's in jail for about 20 years for second degree murder.

They're making a film about him right now actually....with Al Pacino in the lead role. 

The only reason I know this is because I caught a little of the Jonathan Ross show last weekend, and it was mentioned there, where they showed a photo of him as Phil Spector, which was when I remembered that wig he wore which made him look like a dandelion.

I'm not wrong.

Uncanny - 326

It was Alvin Stardust's birthday yesterday. He was 69.

You know your best years are behind you when you search to see if any of your stuff is on itunes, and you get more hits for Alvin And The Chipmunks.

Anyway, notice you never see Alvin Stardust and former Dons boss Steve Paterson in the same place at the same time. 

Just sayin'

Happy Birthday Tracey Thorn

It's Every But The Girl singer Tracey Thorn's birthday today.

Here she is.

Any of this year's X Factor contestants would aspire to be like her.

I'm being as subtle as I can here. I think the boys have most chance. 

Happy Birthday Brian Fortuna

It's the birthday today of the American guy who came across to the UK to do Strictly for a couple of series.

Remember Brian Fortuna?

I always thought he had a certain Chucky doll likeness about him. 

Tell me I'm wrong.

Offshore Europe Day 3 - as it happened

In previous years the conference and exhibition has taken place over 4 days. This year the decision was taken with The Walker Cup coming to the city at the end of the same week, the conference would officially draw to a close at the end of the third, which means even more crammed into even less.


First on the show on our final day, was the man in charge of every piece of food on every plate for the duration of the conference.


Martin Caldwell is the Catering Manager at the AECC, and Offshore Europe is pretty much his biggest cook off in any calendar year. He explained just how many people work behind the scenes and front of house making sure the army marches on it's stomach.


It just so happens Martin and I went to the same school, in the same year. Somehow he paid attention and made something of himself, and I slipped through the cracks!


The final day of Offshore Europe traditionally tends to be the one where secondary schools in the area are invited to send their senior pupils in order for the industry to court their favour and try to tempt them with the many and varied careers available all under the vast umbrella of the energy sector. Mike Duncan from Opito was on hand to give them the tour and us the lowdown on just how the sector goes about doing that.


And so far as recruitment is concerned, any industry is dead in the water, and this one particularly so if all these fantastic pieces of technology have no-one to programme, operate, or maintain them. Jacqueline Christie from recruitment specialists Thorpe Molloy was on hand to offer assistance on today's job market with specific regard to the Offshore Europe audience.


At an event which attracts global interest we always take pleasure from showcasing our local expertise, and today was no exception with Natalie Kane and Kenny Coull on hand to tell us more about their employers, and what they had to offer and glean from the event.


Falck Nutec has been a name synonymous with the North East's energy business for many years and so far as their global director is concerned, it's going to be here for the foreseeable future as well.


As with every conference of this size, thousands of delegates converge on one spot from all over the globe, and in this instance, the vast majority of those will arrive through the terminal at Aberdeen Airport, which you'll appreciate is a massive undertaking, and with a Walker Cup to come this weekend, even busier than usual. Sarah Campbell is the Media And Communications Manager for the Airport. She agreed to come and chat with us, despite the arrival of a rather famous person during our initial call to her this morning.


Don Don Don Don Donnnnnn


Mr Trump in town with his entourage....we assume for the Walker Cup and not to find the person responsible for the giant windmill shaped eyesore off the coastline of his golf course.


Lastly, and somewhat fittingly, Managing Director of the AECC, Brian Horsburgh, on another successful event.


All of it, as always, available to listen to in full online via our energy week podcast. Each day of the event summarised in a dedicated daily download which you can find here.


Thanks for listening. See you at OE 2013!