Wedding and Stag weekend pages

Hi,
Just for any of my friends interested in the forthcoming wedding between Robert Veitch and Xiaoping Wang I have prepared the following couple of pages :-
Wedding.
Stag weekend.

Regards.

Wedding ....

Hello,
As usual it is ages since I last posted, well Robert Veitch is definitely getting married to the very lovely Xiaoping Wang on 21st december, the reception is booked. We had a choice of a few venues around about Edinburgh but have plumped for one near Princess Street. The menu is chosen.
Changes are in the offing at home with some new stuff in the lounge and witj rearrangement it looks good.
Stag Weekend - Richard - being the best man- I think shall be aranging it in Manchester .
Paragliding - havent done any for ages - my last flight was a 2.31km flight at Myreton near Menstrie, Stirlingshire, at the beginning of October.
Last night Angel and Xavier came across and I cooked a simple curry - mild medium - I thought it was a bit under par however everyone else seemed to enjoy it, a nice evening.
Yesterday - Saturday I was in town and saw Mary - my ex boss and owner of the excellent Always Sunday in The Royal Mile in Edinburgh, for the first time in ages.
Today first swim for ages - at the commie - only a mile a nd a bit - boy was I rubbish - more practice required .....

BFN.

Why is a life so hard?

Today is my worst day since I have been Edinburgh - agency refused to take my cv to help me find job. I have never felt a life is so hard. The tear is full in my eyes. The only way I can do is to keep it and do not it come out.

Indeed, I never thought it is so difficult to find job in UK especially for oversea people.

I keep asking myself "is it right? - quit the stable job and take the adventure to study here." I choose the toally different life. Can I accept this big change?

The only answer is I have to face all the difficulties and challenges with bravely smiles and confidences.

Sometimes a life seems just like this - all sad things suprisingly happen together this beats you so much that you are not able to stand. But I believe once you are front of them with bold smiles at last you will find the sun shine will be nicer. After all these excise I will become stronger and stronger.

You are wonderful - Scotland

I have finished the fantastic travelling in the north of Scotland for nearly two weeks. The excitement, however, still keeps inside and lets me not be able to calm down. I experience the real Scotland - your so changable weather, your beautiful loches, your fresh air with countryside smell. These let me come through so wonderful nature.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival - Emma-B-M

Yesterday Phil - who is visiting this week from down south, and I obtained tickets for Emma-B-M at Sweet ECA at 18:30.

An accomplished singer Emma was backed up by an electric violin and a guitar - both of which were beautifully played, (The drummer was unavailable)

Emma sang a medley of self written songs from her CD and the songs were very nice if a little "fluffy" for my taste. I personally would have preferred the guitar to be less prominent.
The venue is quite small and intimate however at this time and on a wet / dreich day - more people would have added to the atmosphere. Perhaps a late evening slot would be beneficial to this performer.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival - reviews Traces, 7 Fingers, Truth in Translation.

Hi,
It is a long time since I have posted on here but I thought that I must do something asap - Just over the last few days the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has started and I have been doing very well getting to shows (for me at least).

Wednesday 1st August - went with Dad to the Assembly Gala Press Launch - essentially 2 hours of non stop excellence from a variety of acts all of whom are performing somewhere within the Assembly group of venues.
Highlight - edge of the seat stuff was for me "Traces - The 7 fingers" - astounding, brilliant, the best show I can remember seeing for ever etc etc - more later - I shall try not to run out of superlatives - but I honestly did like it.

Friday 3rd August - a busy day, after work straight to Traces then a beer then to Khalil Ashanti - a true story with all the characters played by Khalil - very good. Meet Ping and Richard for beer and then walk upto the other Assembly venue at the top of the Mound for Havana Rumba! who had also been on at the press launch.
Three good shows and beer - what an excellent day basically.
Traces - A world Champion circus / physical theatre / music act from Quebec, Canada who did this absolutely astoundingly good and enteratining show. Consisting of 5 members it is basically acrobatics , but that doesnt do enough justice to the whole piece - it is music, show, dance, everything ... I am sorry my word skills are not upto the job!! - Their website is here http://www.7fingers.com or www.7doights.com

I shall now give a few words to try and evoke memories for myself - regarding this show and clues to some of the vignettes within the show:- hoops, chair(s), poles, big hoop, chalk line, grand piano, music, skill, jump, hurdle, wonder, awe, incredible, edge of seat, sweaty, amazing, superb, beautiful, poignant, powerful, ....
Summarises as - if you have to choose one show from all that are on in Edinburgh throughout the festival then I recommend you see this one.
(I have no links with the group so this is not advertising hype).

There are some videos around like on this page by some of the other members of the group winning the world circus prize.

But better is this Youtube piece which is much more eloquent - also the great comments all apply for my thoughts on this show.

And this one also on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hgxhPlYJw0


Go see them, sell your brothers and sisters to get a ticket etc etc.

Ok I shall write about the other shows a little more perfunctorily :-

Khalil Ashanti - multiple characters slipped into very quickly, expressively and humourously.

Havana Rumba! - makes me want to visit Cuba. Vibrant music, people and well the costumes!

Saturday 4th August - Truth in Translation - Oh gosh - a very powerful, well crafted, beautifully performed , serious show based on the harrowing testimonies of people who testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa following apartheid - told from the perspective of the translators / interpreters. Leading lady - superb.

Saturday - 4th August - Jimmy Tingle's American Dream - a fast hour of comedy, politics and stories from this theatre owner on The American Dream - with Questions and Answers from the audience at the end.

That is it for now - next thing I am off to is the Fringe parade in the lightly dreich weather of this afternoon, starting at 2.30pm, 3000 performers and 175000 approx spectators - another great day in Edinburgh.

All comments gratefully received.

Thwarted paragliding due to my dithering ...

Hi,
Just thought that I would post a quick resume of my paragliding attempt yesterday - 23rd July 2007.
After taking my wing to work I drove upto Hillend on the outskirts of Edinburgh and got permission to use the poma tow to the top of the hill. Wind very light so after walking to the top East face I just lazed around for a bit before setting up the wing and then calling airtraffic control. They were busy so asked that i called back a little later. I then watched some showers sort of drift / start over Edinburgh to the North West but staying fine at Hillend. Continued watching and things developing a bit to the West, recontacted airtraffic - given permsiion to 3000' - excellent - but I am unlikley to get above hill height. Clipped in, do all checks and then the slight breeze switched to Northerly and stronger - gust front - probably - a few minutes later - thunder has commenced and I have a hasty pack. Air traffic then called me - just prior to my calling them - to ask if I had noticed the storm ! - yes I had and I wasn't going to fly - so closed permission. Walked down and got quite wet - with the rain being Westerly - weather - so complex but interesting. I took a few photos and once I have stitched them together I shall post it here for you to assess the conditions as well.
Yet again to much dithering stops flying by Bob!. If I had gone asap of arrival I would have got at least a ttb.

Thomas Haywood Paragliding at Hillend, Edinburgh

Thomas Haywood Paragliding

Bob Veitch, Paragliding.

Hello,
Last week I got on with some flying and flew at Broughton, Tinto and near Ben Lawers on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively.
I have posted the pictures using Picasa and the links on this page - the images on the left - will take you there easily. These also include some movies taken at the same time and includes video of Naomi, Graham and Ian, flying and or landing at Tinto.
Enjoy and all comments gratefully received.

What is happening in the life of Bob Veitch?.

Well ....

December 23rd 2006 I proposed to Ping and I am very happy to say she said yes and we plan to do the deed in maybe August 2008.

Work - yes I am and I am still enjoying it at Clareflorist.

Paragliding - yes I am still flying when I can - and last week was good, flying after work on Thursday and Friday at Broughton and Tinto respectively and on Saturday I went up to Meall nan Tarmachan beside Ben Lawers but didnt fly too well.

Thinking of weddings etc and it made me think how much I would like to hear from the following people if at all possible.
Tessa Gill, ne Emecz and Donna Caress ne Culshaw.

Other news, my nephew is going to be joined by a sister in August / September.
Everything else as normal really - lots of swimming, too much food, insufficient beer ! etc etc.

All comments gratefully received.

Bob

Paragliding, coached and flying this weekend

Hello,
Long time since I have posted and here is just a quick note now.
This weekend I went on a BHPA Club Coach coarse organised by Sean Figgitt of the LLSC which was held down at the Tinto Hotel, Symington.
The course as well as being excellent was near Tinto Hill and after the course on Saturday I and many others went up the East face and had a fly. Tina Wood and I were the last to arrive at the top but had nice flights never the less.
I flew for 40 minutes and came down because my hands were very cold. On landing I had about 10 minutes of jumping up and down pain from them warming up !.
The flight itself was very smooth and the sun was getting towards dusk and as such was beautiful. No photos I am afraid.
This was the first time I have ever flown this face of the hill and it was enjoyable although using the main "motorway" up the hill took about 1 hour.

Some Flower photos

Flowers

Well actually a few hundred pictures of flowers - most taken in the lovely Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, over a period of time using an equally excellent Panasonic DMC-FZ20 camera.

Maggie Cheung images from Edinburgh Filmhouse 10th March 07

Yesterday Ping and I (plus a lot of other Chinese) went to the Filmhouse in Edinburgh for a Masterclass lecture with the World renowned actress Maggie Cheung. Star of the films - In the mood for Love, 20406, Comrades, Hero, and Centre Stage.

Below are a few of the photos I took at the event and I have added all the videos I took here.

And here is a link to all the photos about 2Mb each so be cautious when opening them! - I hope that you enjoy them and all comments gratefully received.

Pilot exam

Recently I studied for and attended the SHPFs social weekend which included the Pilot exam. I am pleased to say that today I received my certification from the BHPA saying that I passed.

Paragliding Tinto 18th February

On the 18th February I drove to Tinto and arrived sometime after lunch. I walked up and had a short flight before walking / flying my wing back up again before really enjoying my second flight which was much better.
The wind was mega smooth but a little bit Easterly. I floated around for about an hour and a quarter and I actually took some video whilst I was in flight and it is here about 80Mb.

Can you spot the pilot in this photo at Tinto whilst I was walking up the first time.

Also on the 6th February I went to the Moorfoots and had a couple of slow top to bottoms having missed the better conditions when Dave, Ian et al had flown quite a long way down the ridge and back again - typical.
Also present was Chris from the Borders who was having his first flight for quite some time.
Anyhow after my first flight down I was just walking up again and I filmed this short 14 seconds of his flight. This would have been a longer film but it was dammed cold and as such the batteries ran out that quickly!. My second flight was just at dusk and I landed near Chris.