The Psychic Scone

We (Ken Gordon and Zeb Ahmed) signed up to sleep outside on Sat 9th December in Edinburgh along with a lot of other people to raise money for SocialBite to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland. Details of how to join us and sponsor us are at the bottom of this page.We are making a series of podcasts about our experience to help get sponsors and to raise awareness for the event.In this episode, Ken looks for Zeb. Every door he opens (like an advent calendar) has something written on it and takes him somewhere strange. Will he find Zeb? Will you guess which movie he watched last night that starred Matt Damon?Are you Sleeping the Park and have advice and a story to share? Get in touch using the contact box on this page or through our twitter accounts https://twitter.com/glencharnoch and https://twitter.com/zebunsiaAnd please sponsor us or anyone you know who is Sleeping in the Park using these links. You will be mentioned in our next episode and be doing something positive for homeless people in Scotland.http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/kennethgordon http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/zebunisa-ahmed- If you are wondering if our goal is achievable, read this Heriot-Watt University report: http://ow.ly/Zmp630gwuw2And join us on 9th December by signing up to Sleep in the Park. www.sleepinthepark.co.uk

We (Ken Gordon and Zeb Ahmed) signed up to sleep outside on Sat 9th December in Edinburgh along with a lot of other people to raise money for SocialBite to help eradicate homelessness in Scotland. Details of how to join us and sponsor us are at the bottom of this page.We are making a series of podcasts about our experience to help get sponsors and to raise awareness for the event.In this episode, we just purchased sleeping bags and mats and found a cafe to sit and gather our thoughts, talk about sponsorship so far (not good) and the fact that we need advice. Are you Sleeping the Park and have advice and a story to share? Get in touch using the contact box on this page or through our twitter accounts https://twitter.com/glencharnoch and https://twitter.com/zebunsiaAnd please sponsor us using these links. You will be mentioned in our next episode and be doing something positive for homeless people in Scotland.http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/kennethgordon http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/zebunisa-ahmed- In this podcast we talked about Josh Littlejohn's TEDxGlasgow talk where he described the origins of SocialBite, it is an amazing story and it is here: https://youtu.be/WZgChfLJD8QIf you are wondering if our goal is achievable, read this Heriot-Watt University report: http://ow.ly/Zmp630gwuw2And join us on 9th December by signing up to Sleep in the Park. www.sleepinthepark.co.ukThank you for listening. Next episode coming soon!

We (Ken Gordon and Zeb Ahmed) signed up to sleep out on a cold winters night on Sat 9th December in Edinburgh along with 8998 other people.We need sponsors.The money raised will be focused on eradicating homelessness in Scotland within a 5 year period. And it can be done, read this Heriot-Watt University report http://ow.ly/Zmp630gwuw2 We decided to make a series of podcasts to help raise funds.In this episode, we realise the enormity of the challenge and Zeb reveals her secret strategy to keep warm on the night. Ken meantime has no sponsors ... other than Zeb. Yikes!Please sponsor us using these links: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/kennethgordon http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/zebunisa-ahmed- Why? You'll be helping eradicate homelessness and you will get a mention in our next show and be famous.And join us in helping eradicate homelessness by signing up to Sleep in the Park. www.sleepinthepark.co.uk

Welcome to all of the eight episodes of “My Dad’s Kilt went to China” together in one omnibus edition.I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year and from the moment I landed and the plane taxied at Beijing airport to returning to the same airport to return to Scotland, I recorded sounds and noted my adventures.These included watching firemen in chains, business banquet etiquette and KFC, the ladies of perpetual Jasmine tea and their mystical ways. Precision meetings and meals and a lonely invisible lady singing in the darkness on the banks of the Hai river.I experienced smog, the benefits of having sequential translation (and a snooze for lunch), a trip into the city on the Tianjin city Metro where I saw fake Apple stores and real Starbucks.Insomnia fogged by mind like the thick morning smog as I pondered the amazing ambition and openness of my young Chinese colleagues and their chosen English names. The fastest train I have ever been on took me to Beijing where tall flats were synchronously cleaned and contained the graceful morning Tai Chi (or Chi-Gong) groups in the freezing cold.My conversion to Chinese breakfast (trying to suck yoghurt through a straw) and a bit of speed sight-seeing in the freezing cold took in the Forbidden City, a rickshaw scam artist some fantastic food in the Wangfujing food street and a menu misunderstanding in a restaurant called RBT.  I managed to compress a lot into a few days. The resources I used were the kindle versions of the Lonely Planet Guide to beijing, Lonely Planet guide to Tianjin & Hebei, China Road by Rob Gifford and the Android Apps : CamDictionary and China Subway .A big thanks to all my colleagues and in particular Simon Poulsen, who helped me notice 100% more than I would have on my own.What of the kilt? It was worn only once. Did it all end there? No. My willingness to find out more about Chinese culture led to more experiences.  All original sounds were recorded on my Samsung Galaxy S3.Thank you for listening. What did I get wrong? Let me know.

Heading to the airport i had time to reflect on how much I had experienced and how interesting everything was. One of my final conversations was with a Swedish engineer who hates working in China. I managed to compress a lot into a few days. The resources I used were the kindle versions of the Lonely Planet Guide to beijing, Lonely Planet guide to Tianjin & Hebei, China Road by Rob Gifford and the Android Apps : CamDictionary and China Subway . A big thanks to all my colleagues and in particular Simon Poulsen, who helped me notice 100% more than I would have on my own. What of the kilt? It was worn only once.   My China photos are here. Did it all end there? No. My willingness to find out more about Chinese culture led to more experiences.    Watch out for about more "things Chinese" in the next podcast.  

Freezing cold from 5 hours of sightseeing, I head to a restaurant called RBT for food. Was my understanding of menus correct? I discover sweet dumplings at breakfast (difficult to tell which ones are sweet and which are savoury) and see stars trying to suck yoghurt through a straw. My first time seeing Red Guard members, but would my Sheep Dip Whisky T shirt cause offence? Sad to be going home, I observed the graceful morning Tai Chi (or Chi-Gong) groups in the freezing cold. My photos are here. Join me next time for the final episode in the “My Dad’s Kilt” Series, Episode 8 - Being in Blade Runner

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts.In Beijing I found my sleep was synchronising and I observed cleaning time.I finally converted to chinese breakfast and after the business meetings I crammed as much sight seeing as  i could on that cold day.The Lonely Planet Guide recommendations were fantastic and very helpful.I visited the Forbidden City and while making my way around other sights, was kidnapped by a rickshaw scam artist. Very enterprising and amusing in their audacity.I visited the shopping areas and had some fantastic food in the Wangfujing food street.Loads of sounds gathered on my Samsung Galaxy S3.My photo are here.Coming soon - episode 7, Sucking Yoghurt through a straw.

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts.My insomnia meant that I noticed nothing was moving in Tianjin city in the early hours. I mean nothing. Traffic lights changing on their own .... because they can.I found out the reasoning behind the English names that my Chinese colleagues adopted and that got me thinking about a Chinese name for me.Who would I choose?The Tianjin part of my trip complete, I head for Beijing on a bullet train, that is faster than any train I have been on.With the help of a total stranger, I have yet another KFC, visit a city mall and plan my Beijing meeting.All sounds as before were recorded on my Samsung Galaxy S3.My photo are here.Coming soon - episode 6, Kidnapped!

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts.In this episode with the guidance of my valued colleague Simon Poulson, we take some time out from meeting Chinese businesses and head for Tianjin city centre on the Metro, a task made much simpler for the signs and a very helpful lady.We saw fake Apple stores, rested in an authentic Starbucks and more.Interesting fact : Starbucks in China do not sell Egg Nog Latte at xmas. #factMy photos are here

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this third episode I visit the Tianjin Eye, a wonderful circular ride built on top of a bridge. Walking along the riverside with my colleague Jiri, we heard a lonely lady singing in the darkness. We never saw her. The morning smog in Tianjin was really thick and I discovered the benefits of having sequential translation. a snooze for lunch. My photos are here Coming soon - Episode 4 you could eat your dinner off it.

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this second episode my first morning breakfast options included dried meat floss bread. At the big meetings I discovered the ladies of perpetual Jasmine tea and their methodical ways. Meetings were so precisely timed as was the next big business dinner. Abandoned cake for pudding? I am afraid so... My photos are here Coming soon - Episode 3 , Jasmination

I was lucky enough to go to China at the end of last year. and the experience (and sound recordings I made there) have been compiled into a short series of podcasts. In this first episode as the plane taxied at Beijing airport, I watched the firemen in chains from the window. The drive to Tianjin took 3 long hours and en-route I was treated to my first meal in China - a KFC! The first important business banquet was a real eye opener. Food was delicious, etiquette fascinating and I met Nancy our translator. The kilt was worn .... what's with all the staring? KFC open one store per day in China #fact. My photos are here Coming soon - Episode 2 , Emperor Ming's Handmaiden