Due to circumstances, like the fridge not working we were destined for supper at the P&A. Yes as soon as Rosemary came home on the Monday, she asked why was the fridge not working. Didn’t you notice it was 20 Celsius inside the fridge and what about that horrible smell. I said no, and then related my coffee saga. So out with most of the contents.
So the P&A for a few beers, and then a trial of their new menu. We have not eaten at the P&A since the new lower cost menu has been in place. We went for the standard menu and had a starter and the main course. Rosemary enjoyed her Thai fish cakes, while I ate some mussels. The mussels and the sauce where definitely up in the much better than average ratings. The sauce had a hint of chili, but was also a creamy sauce. Um it was very yummy. Much better than the Edinburgh Mussel and Steak on the Grass Market.
Main course we both had the same, BBQ ribs. I had been tempted by the pasta dishes. The BBQ ribs are the P&A signature dish, and they are massive. The meat fell of the bones, was a massive amount, very filling and very enjoyable. Yep I reckon the P&A is back on track.
This is my second week in Edinburgh. Last week I was here for four days, and this week it is a full week. It’s back almost to the old days, no rain, or at least when I am out walking there is no rain.
So what have I been doing, not a lot really, just working and going out in the evening for a meal. Last week at the Radisson Hotel I forgot to sign my bar/food bill. The next day I remembered and found the waitress. She said no problem, we put it on your room, I know your name, you won’t be able to get away with that.
This week as I had one meal in the hotel, she asked if I would be signing the bill tonight. I visited the Mai Thai for one meal. Had the spicy, hot duck. As usual very good. Last night I ate at the Mussel and Steak. Had a nice steak. Not quite as good as usual and was to my taste a tad over cooked.
Another blast from the past has just completed our comment book. Ashley Pickering, used to work for Walker, and here I am still working for a continuation of the same company.
On Friday morning, after gasping at the price of rail tickets and underground tickets (& giving up trying to work out cheap deals) we arrive in Lonodn. We go first via a walk along by the Thames to The Tate Modern and admire their crack (http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/dorissalcedo/default.shtm). We decide on an early lunch in the museum Café 2 where we, from indoors, smugly watch everyone walking around outside getting sodden. They have amazingly tall metal vases topped off with Singapore orchids on the bar, which look very classy. We have fried broad beans and bread with olive oil as snackrell-type starters and I opt for a quiche while Steve opts for a mezze plate for mains.
Then to our Radisson hotel near the BM. This strikes me as disappointing; I know it’s London but why can’t it be a larger, nicer room for all those points? And the lift is so slow, too, and the breakfast not included but £16 each extra.
Amazingly, Steve has spotted a Jessops nearby and we end up in there and he gets a discount off a Tamron 18-250 lens and is exceedingly smug and announces he can sell two of his existing ones.
We visit the close-by British Museum and admire the wonderful hall, which always impresses. We have cake & tea and watch the visitors. But we are here To See Things not just Eat Things, so we visit the Lewis chessmen (having seen the Edinburgh based ones we feel we should complete the set) and I end up drooling over the jewellery. However, one piece of pure Victoriana is so frightful it makes me squeak out loud – a necklace made of the mounted heads of humming birds.
In the evening we finally see “The Mousetrap” in an absolutely minute theatre with many empty seats near us (which was just as well cos I swapped at the interval so I could see the whole of the stage). Very mannered and of its times and I guessed The Murderer, but an experience.
For some reason, as we walk back, Steve wants more food so we eat in an Italian place (although The Ivy was opposite!) and both decided we cook better than that at home, but the staff are more pleasant.
The day started bright and sunny. It ended in drizzle, though I managed to miss it. Had a quick drink with some colleagues from the bank, before making my way back to the hotel and supper.
Ate at the Petit Paris. The waiter spotted me through the window and beckoned me in. He thought he had not seen me for seven months. I am sure I have eaten there more recently.
Ate a lamb shank, salad and a pitcher of red wine.
Up at 05.45 to catch the 7.00 flight from Luton to Edinburgh. I had expected to be kept awake during the night by the storm, or my active thoughts which always occur when I am leaving early. Nope. Had a good night, and woke just before the alarm.
No storm, but it had just started to rain. Luton was fine, though the queues at the security have grown since the summer rush. Must be enforced holidays during the slack period.
Boarded the plane on time, but we sat and sat for ages without moving. The pilot eventually said they were having trouble calibrating the inertial navigation system because of the turbulence rocking the aircraft. They would have to taxi to another area, and then try to re-calibrate. So off he went to near the runway, and parked facing the wind. Another 10 minutes and we were ready, so off we went. The flight, what storm?, it was quite calm, and of course landing up north was pretty quiet as well. The only event I noticed was the very high cloud top. It was ages before we broke through the cloud, and even then we were only just above the top of the storm clouds.
Edinburgh is like Aylesbury; in a construction boom. Grassmarket, where I am staying at the Apex, is totally a building site. Princes Street is a work in progress with new gas mains, water mains and the tram going in. Saint Andrews Square garden was closed all last year for the reconstruction of the garden, it is still closed, but now the road is being dug up for the gas mains.
Had lunch with Mary in a caff near the bus station. Great meeting up with her again.
Ate at the Mussel and Steak. Had the mussel pot for mains, and razor clams for starters. Interesting things, razor clams. Very firm meat, tasting of the sea. Unusual and an experience. Might have something different to eat next time though.
Another three days at Bristol and this time more people from the company with me. This is odd, working at a customer site, and people I can go out with for a drink and a meal. Very unusual indeed.
The weather, must talk about the weather. Yet again sunny and no rain. I shall soon expect to hear the farmers and water companies complaining about the lack of rain.
Finished the install, most of the stuff working, though some issues with the command SET CURRENT SQLID=xxxxxx which seems to be issued by our software, and is not always liked by DB2 systems. Ah well, I am sure it will be resolved in due course.
Restaurants, I ate at an Indian restaurant. It was near the waterfront, but not on it. Unusual, not the normal run of the mill Byrianis and Vindaloos, but more meaty dishes like lamb shoulder or lamb hock. Wish I could remember the name, but alas I don’t have the bill to hand.
Lovely run back home on Wednesday night, left the drive back till 7.00, and was soon home. No queueing on the M32 or at the Oxford M4 interchange.
The bank wanted me for a couple of days urgent work. So up to Edinburgh on the Easyjet from Luton. Bit of a problem at security. I had to take my belt off, no problem I always collect it as it passes through the xray machine. This time they wanted to test my toothpaste as well. Never had this done before, so in total confusion I left my belt at security. Only realised this several hours later as my trousers fell to the floor.
It was wet and miserable in Edinburgh. Rained the whole time I was there. Stayed at the Apex in Grassmarket, so a short walk to the Mussel and Steak. Had a good meal of tuna cooked to a lovely pink colour inside. Even early on a wet Monday evening the restaurant was quite busy.
Flight back was a breeze, left on time and arrived back in the clear skies. Collected my belt from lost property.
Decided we’d not been to Oxford for a while and there were a couple of shops R wanted to look in. We found ourselves looking around the Museum of the History of Science which was very good as well as parts of the Bodleian Library.
R got what she wanted (amazing) including pheasants from the covered market and we finished by going to Brasserie Blanc for lunch. We seem to always have this as a treat in November. It’s £11.50 for two courses (we had the three for £14.50) including a glass of wine. Brilliant prices & food (R had eggs Florentine, risotto with roasted autumn veg & pear, choc sauce & hazelnut ice cream; Steve had pork rillet; grilled fillet of mackerel, creme caramel) and lovely ambiance.
The Great Man, Raymond Blanc, came in! He shook hands with some customers (including us!! (R’s exclamation marks)) after introducing himself, which R thought very endearing. She was pleased to note his hair had been cut since the TV series of The Restaurant & she was even more pleased to note how he looked very dishy, French & suave.
I have been in the office the last few days. Now working on some development projects concerned with Single Signon. Very odd not being out on customer sites, and alas not chargeable, so no bonus from this work. Hopefully will get up to speed on the project, and then will work from home to complete the work.
Went to the local pub last night to have one of their cheap meals. First had a drink with George and Annie who were surpised to see us on a week day. Afterwards Rosemary and I dined in the resturant.
I am pleased to say that the meal was actually very good, and not outrageously expensive. We went for the mid week value meal, and had three courses. The amount of food was just right, and each dish was well presented. The French waiter, Cyril, was very helpful with the wine selection and offered excellent alternatives to our original selections.
For starters Rosemary selected Ceasar Salad, while I had Salmon Terrine. The Terrine was lovely, and was served with a sauce and topped with a salady/pickle made of strips of cucumber.
Both of us ate the Sea Bream on couscous. We both were very happy with this.
For the finals, chocolate for me and creme brule for Rosemary. My chocolate pudding was delish. A dark chocolate on a white chocolate moose.
Well I finished the week in Chicago, and arrived back on Saturday. Looks like I won’t be back for the conversion weekend. That day was delayed and now coincides with my holiday.
Had a week in the office doing some support for the Polish, since then £ signs always seem to display as some other odd character on my PC. Must look at my keyboard mappings. After a nice week going home every day I felt rather spoilt.
Weekend at home, meal with John, Carol, Anne and Chris (& their two dogs). All stayed over night.
Monday back up to Edinburgh for a final bit of development. The Mai Thai restaurant was closed, the chef was taking a four week break back to Thailand. So I went elsewhere to eat, the Siam Thani on Broughton Street. I am afraid it was no cheaper, and the food was not nearly as nice as Mai Thai.
Ate one meal at the Petit Paris. Have not eaten in the Grass Market one for a long time. The waiter commented on not seeing me for such along time. Had a nice meal of duck and lentil casserole.
Met Ed and Jo for a curry at Zest.
The past week the weather has been pretty good. Sunny, but was quite cold in the evening.
It is already Thursday. I have been staying at the Holyrood Hotel. I have eaten in the Mai Thai three nights running. I really must go and find somewhere else to eat for a change. It is though so easy to go there and eat. Good food, and the Carlsberg Special is only £2.50. (Do you hear that, Jake, £2.50!) Free Internet access and a friendly bunch who run it. Last night football was on, and some celebrations from the Scots who won their game. Hey and so did England, smashed the Russians 3 - 0.
Well I thought this might have been my last week here, but it does look that I may be here for a couple more weeks. Should be good for the bonus.
Weather wise, the sun has shone every day, no rain. Today is the worst day, a bit on the overcast side. Some of the thousands of Americans packing out breakfast and being their usual painful Americans selves, commented that it was going to rain in Glasgow, and might make it to Edinburgh. Hope not as I walked into work in short sleeves. Ah, and North Bridge was closed, I assume by another jumper, so had to walk down into the rail station and out the other side.
Tried to log on to the site selling Led Zeppelin tickets, http://ahmettribute.com, does not seem active yet. Little chance I will get one of the 20,000 tickets priced at £125. But I will give it a go.
Managed to eat in the Mai Thai every day. Wonderful food, brilliant ambiance. And good Internet access.
Not so good going home, bit of a delay on Easyjet. Flight was a little rough, and coming into land we were in cloud with the spoilers on for over 5 minutes, and the occasional 360 turn. Probably going deaf now because I had to turn the MP3 player up loud to counteract the noise from the vibration caused by the spoilers. I really must catch an earlier flight home. Getting home at 9 on a Friday is a pain, especially now it is getting dark.
Back up in Edinburgh, starting my third day now. Travel up was easy, plane left early, arrived early and in the office by 9.30
Not staying in my usual hotel but down in the McDonnald by Holyrood. That means I will be eating at the Mai Thai, and will be eating breakfast as well. Breakfast is included in the price of the room. Not included means I go hungry, included means I eat. Been eating fish for breakfast, loading up on healthy omega fats.
Last two evenings in the Mai Thai. I have now updated their website, changing their menu and updating the gallery. Just leaves the reviews to do, and maybe add a special news page. The site had not been updated since it was created over a year ago, and all that time it says, ‘Taking bookings for Christmas’ Ah well.
I also complained about the Plough and Anchor website, how that was never updated, how they should be changing the menu when the menu changes, how they should announce all the bands on the site as soon as the booking is made. Maybe they should have a review section with some pictures etc. I think they thought I was looking for business.
Oh the food at the Mai Thai was the usual Very Good. First night I did not order duck. This choice was commented on by the Thai waitress. Not the usual duck, sir
This week is the Jazz Festival, and the most wonderful day in recent history. Sunshine all day, though a little cold. The Easyjet flight left almost on time, and now I am pre-checking in on the Internet and the zero security queues at Luton, I get an extra 30 minutes in bed at home.
Lovely meal at the Mai-Thai.
TOM YUM GOONG
Hot and sour soup of prawns flavoured with lemon grass, kaffir lime and chilli
YUM NEUA
Char-grilled sliced sirloin steak dressed with chilli, cucumber, Thai celery, tomato and red onion
Not so wet this week. Walked to work in shirtsleeves most days. Very brave thing to do when in Scotland.
On Monday met up with Jimmie and had a few pints and a Chinese Meal in that Edinburgh Establishment of Jimmie Chungs, a Chinese buffet chain throughout Edinburgh. After eating there a visit for another drink and entertainment at the Burke and Hare. Finally Whistle Binkies for a nightcap and some life music. Must admit Jimmie Chungs was not that bad and quite cheap. The Burke and Hare also was selling pints of Stella at £3.00 which is not too dear.
Tuesday met with Ed and Mary, where we had some pints at the Doric, and a bite to eat. Haggis tatties and neaps for me. Why is there always a drunk trying to tell you there are better places to visit in Edinburgh; the real Edinburgh.
Wednesday was liver rest day.
Flight back on Friday was better than usual, only 30 minutes late, so home by 21.00.