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.
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.
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.
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.
One of those days when it rains, then hot sun and rain again. Lots of those at the moment. Managed to miss most of the showers, but was caught in one when on the way to lunch at the Café Royale for a pint of IPA with Mary and Ed.
In the evening I decided to try Shaws. I had been given a flyer the previous day. Shaws says they provide Scottish Cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. They also provide three course meals of good quality for £12.95. This cannot be bad, especially as I had gone over budget the previous day at the Indian resturant.
Started off with a duck salad. Small slices of duck breast served with some leaves and reduced balsamic vinegar. The duck was cooked so that it was very slightly pink. A good starter.
The main course was chicken breast stuffed with haggis, served with cream sauce, potatoes carrots and neaps. Again this was very good.
Finally ate a sticky toffee pudding.
Shaws must be new, it is slightly off the beaten track in that you would not walk past it. It is on 21 Old Fishmarket Close which is a very narrow alley running between the Royal Mile and Cowgate. I would recommend the place. They do the set three course dinners Monday through Thursday, and a cheaper lunch time menu. There are five or so choices on the set menu. They also have an A La Carte menu.
Their website is http://www.shawsrestaurant.com
We spent a couple of weeks camping in the South of England and in the South of France. Got back on Saturday and then rushed over to Ely for a reunion with some Cambridge colleagues. More information to follow on both these events. Rosemary will be writing up our fabulous holiday in France, and I will be putting together the website pictures.
Now back in Edinburgh working for the bank. Arrived in absolute torrential rain. The evening turned out good though. Ate at an Indian resturant and had a very good meal indeed. The place was dry, so no alcohol today. The resturant is called Khushis, located in Victoria street and was established back in 1947 and has a website, though of course not from those dark days.
It’s my fourth week in Edinburgh. Eaten at the usual places, the Mai Thai, Petit Paris etc. The weather has been awful, cold and wet. The longest day has now gone by. The flights home have always been delayed, such that last week I was not home until gone 10.00pm.
At least I have a couple of weeks off next week.
[Editor’s notes: Too long in Scotland must have caused Steve to spell “fourth” as “forth” (as in bridge)]
I see my last blog entry was a month ago. We have been doing quite a few things this month. A visit to Cardiff for a long weekend and a trip around the London Docklands area with the Cambridge Society. Alas I delegated these write ups to Rosemary who has failed to come up with the goods.
I am back in Edinburgh for a short trip. Excellent flight up here, we left early and arrived in Edinburgh early. The flight was full so I can claim it was a Green Flight, Mr Blair. Lovely and sunny here, but how cold. Cold East wind blowing all day.
At out at the Mussel and Steak, and had yet again a wonderful Rib Eye Steak, hung for three weeks, and served rare. They do know what rare is, lovely.
Well that’s it, must get off to work now. Should be here this year for at least four more months. So looking forward to the next festival. Maybe I can persuade Rosemary to come up here again.
After working all Saturday, decided to have a night out enjoying myself. Started out with a meal at my favourite Thai Resturant and bar, The Mai Thai. Had duck for my main course, not the usual spicy duck, but one cooked with tomatoes and pineapple. It was an excellent change to my usual dish.
Then it was off to Whistle Binkies where I listened to a band called Roadhouse. A 70s-80s cover band. Excellent renditions of Stefan Wolf, James Brown - Play that Funky Music White Man, Kinks - You Really Got Me Going, AC/DC - Highway to Hell. A few pints later it was back to bed, and then an earlyish bus to the airport.
I had to get through security by 09:00, so that I could set up to buy the tickets for Glastonbury. Both Rosemary and I tried, but by 11.30 we got the message all sold out. Never once in that time did Rosemary connect to the website. Who were all these people who were succesful in buying tickets!!