A couple of council tower blocks in the Oxgangs area of Edinbugh were demolished yesterday. They drop pretty quickly.
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Tag: Photo-Blog (Page 8 of 10)
Impromptu photos I’ve taken, usually with my mobile phone
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Scotland win this particular line-out, but were outclassed overall by the Aussies.
I don’t know what other residents of Edinburgh think of rugby weekends, but I’ve always enjoyed the flash floods of kilts and colour down Corstophine Road and Dalry Road. I the atmosphere which surrounds rugby matches is of course more festive and friendlier than football. This is probably because the football matches in Edinburgh are usually at club level, where the rivalries art local and more acute. Rugby matches, on the other hand, are internationals, meaning the visiting fans treat the match as an excuse for a holiday. Inside the ground, home and away supporters are not segregated, and we saw Australian flags waving alongside the Saltire.
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A few days ago, a fifteen-year old Sikh boy was assaulted by a gang in Pilrig Park, Edinburgh. During the attack, the gang took a knife, and cut off the boy’s hair. Sikhs, of course, believe that hair (“Kes” or “Kesh”) is a gift from God and a source of spiritual power and faith. So the crime was a violation not only of the body, but of the soul too. It was in effect an attack upon all Sikhs, an entire section of our Edinburgh community. I am ashamed it happened.
This is a photo of a vigil held this afternoon, Sunday 19th November, at the site of the attack. Plenty of tam o’ shanters and turbans in attendance. You can also see Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz at the centre of the picture.
Update
Sikh teen lied about hair attack
Lothian and Borders Police confirmed the attack had not taken place and said the boy had expressed remorse. They said no further action would be taken.
…
The teenager is believed to have had personal problems and was also having cultural identity issues brought about by differences between his Sikh upbringing and Western society.
This is one of the overlooked aspects of multiculturalism. The different and conflicting identities that exist within an individual are as important as the different groups that exist within the country.
I was on the Isle of Colonsay last weekend. The dunes were unspoilt and beautiful. This picture shows a south-west view over to Oronsay in the foreground. That’s a ‘pap’ of Jura in the background, on the left.
The sky was clear on Bonfire Night, so we had a good opportunity to look through a telescope at another “magnificent desolation“, the Sea of Tranquility.
How odd, then, to hear that four days later, the peace of the islanders has been disturbed. There has been a crime on Colonsay! Apparently someone stole a couple of cars and went for a joyride.
I heard the news on the radio late last night, but can find no mention of it online this morning. I do not imagine that the perpetrators have escaped… so perhaps there’s been a cover-up on Colonsay too. Some friends of mine return from the Island today, so I will glean some more information from them over the weekend (unless, of course, they have been detained at Oban Police Station).
Update: I think I may have misheard. Armin Crewe’s Islay Blog has found some more details about housebreaking on the Island. The car thefts were a few years ago.
Meanwhile, my friends are stranded on the island. Poor weather meant their ferry never managed to leave Oban.
Another photo from the summer festivals. That’s my self portrait in the reflection.
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I hear today that WOMAD will not be at the Reading Rivermead Centre in 2007:
we have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the festival has now outgrown the available land at the Rivermead site … WOMAD implemented substantial changes to the festival site in 2006. However, despite these improvements, a perception of overcrowding remains.
Persoanlly, I did not find it too crowded, and always found a place to sit or stand to watch the acts. But in any case, isn’t a bit of bustle part of the fun of festivals? The alternative is a lengthy trek between music tents… which would at least be consistent with the nomadic theme which characterises this particular event.