Nowt much

It's been two years since anyone posted anything on the GPG blog, so I thought I'd remedy that. Hello to Shrimpy, who is alive and well, and congratulations to Toby, who is getting married next month. Now if only someone could find out what Squwizz is up to...

Proof of life

Although this blog received a posting from Stuart Kilnan some months back, the picture of him standing by a big car was not proof of his existence. He could easily have been Photoshopped by a geographer trying to torment us.

However, yesterday I went to the Aberdeen Beer Festival and found myself standing next to a familiar fellow. Yes, Stuart is alive. I have seen him in the flesh and I have spoken to him and he mentioned the name Rancid unprompted, which confirms he is the real Stuart Kilnan and not an android replica. Hurrah!

Still no sign of Squwizz though...

10 years on

Today is the 10th anniversary of October 23rd 1996. I don't recall anything significant happening that day, but we were all in Liverpool enjoying GPG lectures like a good GPG Boy should.

I saw Tobias B. Walke and Timothias J. Robertson last weekend. Or maybe it was the weekend before. Either way, we are all 10 years older than we were 10 years ago, but we've aged magnificently. I wonder what our secret is? Maybe it's GPG, or maybe it's Maybelline. I'm sure Phil uses plenty of foundation to cover up his wrinkles.

How about a Liverpool rendezvous in the new year? I spoke to "Doctor" Jim Marshall last week and he'd be delighted* to compere a night of fun and frivolity.
* - I've not asked him yet, of course

Erm, that's it really. Haven't met up with Ken "Craig" Saint or Stripey "Stuart" Kilnan in Aberdeen, even though I know I should. Sorry about that.

Let me tell you about Sweden

Hello folks, I'm in Stockholm. I had to sleep in a stairway on Wednesday night, but it's ok, they've let me into my flat now. I'm working for a month at the Natural History Museum and it's dead good. It's also full of good dead things like fossil starfish. So if anyone can arrange a flight out at short notice I've got loads of space in my accommodation and there's plenty to see and do (except perhaps heavy drinking, which could get pricey). Why not join me? Join me! (as Alan Partridge so threateningly said).

Kathy

Julian Scott, a gent with whom I did my PhD in Birmingham, has just moved to Cambridge to work for those Antarctican bods and now shares an office with Kathy Hayes. At this rate, we shall soon have re-established contact with everyone from GPG, including Shrimpy and Squwizz (but probably not Stella)

Adrian Harvey...

...was in Aberdeen on Friday to conduct a PhD viva. I bumped into him in the corridor and he said hello without prompting, which surprised me slightly, but I didn't see him again since he fled back to Liverpool as soon as the viva was over. Amusingly, it turns out everyone who's ever come across him seems to think that a) he's at least a million years old, and b) he really should be a member of the Rolling Stones, with his Keith Richards looks and his tendency to suddenly talk like Mick Jagger. Hortonian Overland Flooooooooooooow, man. Maybe he could play Johnny Depp's old man in Pirates of the Caribbean III.

Anyway, Stuart (the man being viva-ed) said he was glad we'd not told him all these things beforehand as it might have undermined the seriousness of his PhD defence.

I think Craig Saint is getting married here in Aberdeen on Saturday, but sadly I shan't be around as I am going down to the Midlands for the weekend.

A lovely day in Aberdeen

Its a lovely sunny day here in north-east Scotland and I had no fork with which to eat my lunch. So I went out wandering, looking for a cutler or some other passing vendor of eating implements. Instead I bumped into Craig. Yes, GPG's very own Ken just happened to be strolling along minding his own business when I leapt out from an archway and accosted him. Turns out he lives and works here in Aberdeen, and often crosses paths with another legendary GPG figure.........Burn Stu!

I am going to email him this blogspot address and we will soon have another Liverpudlian refugee to swell the ranks. A reunion for real was also discussed, but Craig has to get married first. I am going to go out wandering again this afternoon and see if I bump into Shrimpy.