Signs o' the times...

I Twittered (Tweeted? Twatted?) about this earlier but I just had to put it here too. Signs, with their often poor spelling and grocer's apostrophes are a source of endless fascination for me (as indeed they clearly are to this Flickr group) and it was with no small sense of joy that I spotted these chaps in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The first begged the question: are we not all, in our own way, "International People"? The second, and here it may just be my warped sense of humour, struck me as just a tad sick...

Puff-in, and out again

Breathe. Rare moment of peace and tranquility here. Glorious summer afternoon at Gallanach, south of Oban as we sit sipping vending machine coffee outside the dive centre whilst partaking of their wi fi. Should we be partaking? I know not. My phone auto connected and I've just gone with the flow.

The munchkins seem content to scoot up and down and old ship's gangway chasing each other with spades and dandelions.

Not too sure I'd fancy the diving myself. A bit too tight on the attire front methinks. Much better to sit in the sun with a hot beverage, even if it is of the sub standard variety.

Oh dear, I fear it may be too late...

The First Aid advertised may be too little too late to save the latest victim of the dreaded bends at the Puffin Dive Centre near Oban.

Why has it not been designed with FUN in mind?

Mr White (suit)

Just purchased these fill-ums (that's how you're allowed to pronounce it when you're from Glasgow) from Borders for a bargain basement 4.99. In actual fact I've just got to the till and there's another quid off Reservoir Dogs.

Now, I'm not suggesting there's any link between these films. I bought the Alec Guinness 'classic' (I put the punctuation in because it says classic on the box but I've not seen it yet so I feel underqualified to comment) purely on a whim.

I've heard of The Man In The White Suit of course and, as much as he always protested that hehated the film and being associated with it, I've always had great affection for Mr. Guinness since he played Obi Wan Kenobi in the original - and best - Star Wars fill-um, but (I was talking about a link) what struck me as I sat looking at the cases over a rubbish, lukewarm, overpriced latte in the in-store Starbucks was that the covers are almost photo negatives of each other.

I didn't say it was an interesting thought. What might be interesting though would be to see gangsters carrying out heists and honour killings whilst wearing white suits. That would just seem all wrong wouldn't it? Less Martin Scorcese, more Marty Hopkirk.

Bella Bella

Could any other newspaper do a graphic so well? Would they even try? I think that's just lovely, and very clever...

Looking forward immensely to collecting the Guardian and Observer's learn Italian series this weekend.

I've been gathering up the Spanish set this week but haven't made a start yet. I'm sure it's subconsciously due to the fact that I identify more with the Italians, in so much as I love coffee, pizza and Vespas...

Like John Gordon Sinclair in Gregory's Girl, "I've always wanted to learn..."

Ciao.

Get in there!

Success on the Guardian's Quick Crossword today. Six minutes too. 'Imperil' is my favourite of today's words.