Marillionboy

Of course Buckie had its own sex scandal a while back at The Anchor Bar, anybody remember?

I hope there's some left for when I'm next in, probably about a fortnight.... sounds ace!

There's a silver tin and a cardboard box version of the 2 disc set: take your pick! I think Fopp has about the best deal on it. I've got alot of Clarke's rare tv stuff from the Play for Today era, its all manner of styles but always typified by brilliant acting.

That will be Roy Minton, but what he said was Carlin is not gay, "I'm no poof alright!" but in prison he becamew a prison poof,. its the public school mentality. Similarly you can note that the guy James who rapes Davis actually has a visit from his girlfriend earlier in the film. There was actually a scene shot for the film where the misses puts his hand down Carlin's trousers as they cuddle but it was cut. In the conversation with the misses he says "I've neevr done it before" and Carlin says "neither of I." A missus was a younger boy you shagged. Honestly, Carlin does have a sexual relationship with him. Minton was just a bit garbled on that interview, as he often is.

The BBC version made for Play for Today in 1977 was shown on BBC2 in 1991 not as part of a banned season but as a tribute to Alan Clarke after he died. Its in some ways much more disturbing than the film as its in a nastier location (check out the punishment block!) and the kids are all two years younger: seeing them at 17 adds to the vulnerability. And the missus is unquestionably a gay relationship for Carlin, it was removed from the film version at Ray Winstone's request, something he now totally regrets. The writer and director felt the film version was "a fuck up." I thinknthey both have strengths: the film's main virtue is better acting: Clarke replaced any weak links. I think Archer in the film is much better, and the kid who gets raped is an incredibly perfomance. The snooker balls scene is much nastier in the tv onew, but the rape is much more understated. There are a few extra incidents in the tv one mainly involving bullying of the new recruits. It was indeed based on research, about 80 interviews with ex Borstal inmates. The best account of the making of the film is in Richard Kelly's book on Alan Clarke. I wrote a piece about Scum for a mag some years back: its a masterpiece and the sort of television that simply doesn't get made any more, and almost didn't get made then: in fact it got made they just wouldn't show it! And yes the box set has loads of extras..commentaries, trailers, interviews, the lot!

They are not chick flicks at all...!?!?! They're brilliantly writen and acted, honest and gorgeous. Bridget Jones Diary they ain't.

Cheek! I'd hardly call Closer a girlie movie! It's bloody nasty!

I picked up Ewan Morrison's dodgily titled "The Last Book You Read" in Ottakers at the weekend. This book honestly is fantastic, a selection of brilliant short stories, "Fuck Buddy" and "Re:Your Ad" are probably the two best things I've read this year. Go get it!!!!

Wonderland and Sweet Sixteen are indeed wonderful. Before Sunrise and Before Sunset and Closer are the films I've caught up on this summer that have all blown me away...

Haven't seen them, only seen the poster in Drummonds window...what are they?

Bravery and stupidity can often blur into one! I think he simply doesn't value his life or his teeth too highly.

Be cool mate. My friend Mikey sees no fear: he went into the Broadsaword in a suit a few weeks back!

I'm up next in a fortnight and I definitely fancy checking a few of these places out then. After a few for luck in the Moorings

The Hen Hoose is fine, not a bad boozer. The Neptune does look intimidating: what's the score with Pegasus, is that a seperate venue? The Bridge Bar is another forboding one: the one factor that makes me wary of certain bars is where you can't walk in without everyone noticing you!

Funny I was listening to MC on the train to Edinburgh on my way to see the MC comedy show and it struck me for the first time how good that Mylo bit is, the last verse especially. Sometimes with his lyrics you don't notice the simple and poignant ones so much amidst the clever word plays...the line about "maybe I've already gone crazy" when you listen out for it is pretty chilling.

I was having a wander up to Fittee yesterday few afternoon and walked back via lots of harbour bars: the Fittee Bar actually looked quite nice inside! Although the St Clems, the Regent and Peep Peeps still look terrifying. New one has opened I hadn't noticed before called Characters...great name, sure it lives up to it! So Bobby, have you any news from the front?

Actually directory enquiries at BT in Aberdeen took some beating. I was temping there through Manpower and you weren't allowed to leave the constant stream of calls coming in for a second, you had to aim to complete a call in 20 seconds (not easy when some old wifie can't find a pen) and also were expected to show an interest in "the company". The money was rubbish and three times late meant dismissal.

As well as dream jobs I think we should include worst jobs weve ever had. Mine was probably working for Brown and Root in Dyce, I didnt have a clue what I was doing, something clerical but I got fired after a fortnight! My job now is a writer, I write plays for stage and radio, and occasionally a bit of telly, also nearly finished my first novel, set, naturally, in Aberdeen. I havent quite got the guts to give up the day job yet, which is writing programme info for the BBC website.

Bless him, he's the new Gareth Gates, with plukes rather than a stammer, so he'll have a bright future for all of five minutes.

He clearly picked up some bad habits in the St Clements. I'm back up this week, see ya in The Moorings on Thursday or Friday night!

Aha! If I had a tenner for every time me and a mate of mine have chanted that as we stumbled home from Windmill Brae! For me though THE moment on that LP is the section of Childhood Haunts about "retracing all the problems that you ever knew." Fuck I can't wait for this gig.

Whoever it was who started this great thread, who said they were planning a pub crawl to dodgy pubs in the harbour and if they survived they'd report back! They never did! As if I'd imagine you in a harbour pub!

I presume you didn't!

if only he was planning to play some Clutching at Straws! All the same this will be special for me. As a teenager I listened so much to stuff like Blind Curve, in fact so many of the images in that are indeliably tied to Aberdeen. The "tower blocks" in Heart of Lothian always conjure up an image to me of the ones at the top of Union Street, and the "Friday night down at the Club" always makes me think of Martin's Bar for some reason. Blimey I'm gonna get so wasted that night.

Meant to suggest that. Two coincidences: I watched THAT episode of Alan Partridge today and the guy that got me into Partridge was from Oldmeldrum and has just texted me. That's THREE coincidences.