Made it home. Boarded the plane at around 16.00, but air traffic control at Luton were restricting the landings more severely, so we sat there for almost another hour. Eventually arrived in Luton just before 18:00. Then the interminable wait for the luggage and the funeral procession drive home in the fog.
Home at 19:30, and straight out to the Plough and Anchor for supper. Lovely Christmas meal, and lashings of wine made the evening speed by.
Still sitting here waiting for the 13.25 to Edinburgh to leave. Every half hour it gets delayed by more than another half hour. So will it ever fly? Presently it is showing as leaving at 15:40. Yesterday it didn’t leave till almost 17:00. Will I get home in time for Ladymead Joinery’s Christmas party at The Plough and Anchor? Looks like a tight schedule.
At least I am not flying to Heathrow, if I was I expect I would be spending Christmas in Edinburgh. The British airports are too busy, so a little fog soon causes delays and cancellations. Time to double the number of runways and build a little redundancy into the transport system. B****r all those Nimbies who bought their houses near to airports, knowing full well that planes make a small amount of noise. (Which is getting lesser every few years, with better engine design.)
The food at Edinburgh airport is quite nice. There is this French run place that serves excellent tarts. They are so good looking and yummy tasty in the mouth.
Must go and buy a magazine, as the power on this battery is getting low.
I am here again for another week. Working for another client. Started off badly. Missed my flight from Luton, slight mishap on the flight time. Paid 35 pounds and was on the next flight. This was of course delayed because of the fog at Luton. Arrived at client’s by 11:00.
Staying at the Radisson, so a nice walk to Lothian road where the office I work in is based. Couple of routes there, around the base of the castle mound, or through Grassmarket and then past the strip clubs.
Been eating at all my favourites this week. Tapas at Barioja where I had sardines, masses of olives and various baked vegetables.
Then it was the Mussel and Steak bar for Calamari, followed by a 12oz rib-eye steak. The steak was excellent. I am so disappointed with steaks generally because of the way they are cooked. I asked for rare and generally get medium. Here I asked for rare, I got rare, it was trimmed, no waste and chewy bits on it. It was beautifully rare. I congratulated them on the steak. So many rare steaks are cooked medium or even well done.
Then it was the hotel for their tapas menu.
Last night a treck down the hill to Mai Thai, where I had a mixed Thai starter, followed by their spicy duck, Absolutely gorgeous. The owner was very happy, they had been doing masses of business over this Christmas period. He also asked me if I was keeping the blog going.
So if you are in Edinburgh, then I can really recommend those restaurants, the Mai Thai especially for informal Thai eating.
One restaurant that was not eaten at, was the Petit Paris. For some reason or other, they have chosen this time of year for a complete renovation.
The fog and the cancelled heathrow flights is a worry. All Thursday I kept a check on the flights. At least Edinburgh has no problems. Easyjet from Luton was flying all its flights, though the intended flight (1.30) was delayed by 3 hours on Thursday. This though seemed to be a one-off. Shall be watching the flights avidly today. Let’s pray.
A whole week in Edinburgh, and the weather was appalling. Rain every day. Not many highlights in the week, other than the Group Technology RBS Christmas party.
The party, on Thursday, was at the Jam House on Queens Street. Much alcohol was consumed, people dancing, finger food available. There were several bands, blues, and rock. Alas there were a couple of women doing Abba Songs. Think that was the low part of the party. Trouble is you can still sing along to them.
Made to leave quite early, and found myself with Neil and Stephen going to the casino on the same street. Alas as with all gambling, I left a couple of hours later at 1.00 20 pounds lighter. I was playing Black Jack. Neil on the other hand stayed till 3 and went away with 600 pounds extra on the Roulette wheel. From 20 pounds he had been 800 pounds up at one time.
I made my way to Whistle Binkies for some music and a final pint.
Back at home the Christmas spirit is beginning to rise. The Christmas tree was erected at the weekend, and then decorated. The lights are up. The turkey is in the freezer, the Christmas cake has been made. Amazon have been and gone many times bringing their goodies. Now its for me to do that last minute shopping. Christmas Eve, hurry please.
I have been in Edinburgh a couple of nights now. Flew here on Monday, quite a bumpy flight as we came in over the City. Despite the rain in the rest of the country, Edinburgh has been pretty sunny for the last couple of days.
First night I went to the Mai Thai hoping it was open. It was undergoing renovations the previous time I went there. Still closed, but people inside. I went in and had a few beers with the owners and staff. The place was opening on Tuesday. The had increased the seating in the bar, and moved the loos downstairs. The extra space being used by the pool table.
Tuesday I managed to make the Petit Paris for their plat de jour. It had been changed to offer both a starter, mains and coffee for under 10 pounds. I started with pickled herring salad, and finished with navarin of lamb.
For those of you wondering where the spikey haired waitress has gone, well I can tell you. She is doing Yoga in India.