Had a quick trip to Edinburgh for the day to do some presales work, selling my body. Slight detour on the way to Luton, found Dunstable was closed with some gas pipeline work, so had to detour almost back to the zoo. Weather was bad both in Luton and Edinburgh.
Had some time to spare, so visited the bank and said hello to the iBuy team, and picked up a few items I had left in my desk. Had a successful meeting with the insurance company and then flew back home.
The National Art Theatre in Princes Street is doing an Andy Warhol Exhibition and had decorated the facade in suitable style.
Met Mike at the Monument for a walking tour of Newcastle. Wish I had taken my camera with me, there were some good views of the Tyne and the bridges which would have made some good photographs.
Of course the tour included visits to a number of pubs and the trialing of a few ales.
A walk across the Millennium bridge to walk through the Sage Centre, which alas was closed.
Friday was the drive back home. Not a bad drive, except for sections of the A1, where trucks insisted on doing their slow overtaking manoeuvres. Back home in around 4 hours, only hold up was on the M18 as we join the M1 caused by some road works.
Stayed in on Wednesday. Had to watch some television, the Tulip hotel Internet connection was down. I am sure most times I visit that hotel the Internet is down. So saw an episode of Hero’s followed by Ann Widdecombe on Prostitution. She totally dismissed the forward thinking approach of New Zealand. A bit of a bigot I am afraid.
Drove to Gateshead today to work on a Java web application change wanted by a customer of ours. Journey was not bad other then a section around the M1/M18 junction where I was stopped for 40 minutes.
In the evening met up with Mike and Reiko at their house in Newcastle. It is very large and still has lots of original Victorian features. The foot high skirting boards, the moldings and the fireplaces are all in place on the ground floor.
Staying at the Tulip Inn.
Disaster struck. After my good meal at the Mai-Thai, I went down with the flu. No coincidence there, I was feeling a cold coming on that evening. I even took a day off when out on site, spending the day in bed at the hotel. Lovely fruit bowl to see me through the day. Grapes, strawberries, figs, oranges, banana and apples. The other days I worked, but felt really terrible by the end of each day. The flight back home on Friday was purgatory, despite leaving on time and arriving very early I was longing for it to finish, except for the excruciating pain on my ear drums.
The next week I took off from work. There was no way I was flying back up to Scotland the way I was feeling. Which was really a pit as I missed out on my fifth Edinburgh fringe festival.
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.
Friday was yet another tedious day. Easyjet was 2 hours late departing. But then so were most airlines. Bad weather down South was to blame. Rumors also circulated that the roads out of Luton were all closed due to flooding. Luckily these were all clear before I arrived down there. Managed to crawl home by 10.00pm.
On Saturday we paid a visit to John and Carol for an excellent supper and a good old binge drink, staying the night. Menu was French, including the wines. None of that foreign stuff from around the world.
Sunday was a slow start recovering, then back home to that grass. The sun out, and no rain, so little excuse, the grass had to be tackled. Must be 6 weeks since it was last cut. Then a quick tour around the field with the strimmer cutting down any remaining thistles. Miles, bless the man, had topped the field while we were away. Probably necessary to allow the sheep some access to the remaining grass.
Needless to say the field pond was brim full, very unusual for the time of year.
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.
COA launched the new year with a meeting at Center Parcs. A few meetings got in the way of an otherwise enjoyable afternoon of team building exercises and evening drinking. A few may have felt it would have been better walking back to their chalets rather than using the Center Parcs bikes.
Pictures are here http://www.blasdale.com/pictures/2007/COA/index.html
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.
I had a hard 4 days working in the office training some support staff from a customer. As soon as the course was completed, it was straight to Luton to catch an Easyjet flight to Edinburgh. Arrived too late for a meal, so ate chips and sausages on the street.
Next day, Friday, a day at the bank helping one of their staff through certificate configurations for CTG. Back to the hotel and a meal.
Saturday, a lovely sunny day spent with another Edinburgh customer, helping them go live with an upgrade which included some changes I had made. All went well, only minor hitches, but on the whole a great success.
Alas the last plane back was too early (16.00), so another night in Edinburgh on my own.
A day trip to Gateshead today. Left home too early, in the snow, and arrived at Stevenage station at 6.30 for the 7.19 train to Newcastle.
Quick trip up here, had some meetings around placing the portals onto Oracle portal server.
Back then on the 17.30 GNER train. I am writing this on the train, using their free wireless access. Very cool.
This is now my third week in the office, I have some courses to give, probably next month. Their preparation should keep me occupied for a while.
Last week I did get a trip to Ireland to watch Clem update a data warehouse with changes required for the e5 product add on product IDOCS. IDOCS is an airline specific add on which records all charges associated with flights. (Rosemary says that acronym is also an SAP interface mechanism.) We worked within walking distance of Dublin airport, but caught a courtesy bus to the hotel. Managed to get an upgrade to the club floor of the hotel. Clem gets automatic upgrades as he uses the chain regularly. I have never stayed in one of their hotels, but the receptionist took pity on me, asked to to give her a big smile and hence upgraded me.
Supper was mainly Guinness, though I was upset at not having any shamrocks drawn in the white cream.
Managed to get back before St Patricks Day!
I know you have all been waiting for this, but yes I went out for a meal with Mary at the Outsider. A final farewell meal until the next time I am in Edinburgh.
As usual a pretty good meal, and plenty of Pinot Grigio wine.
