I had a whole week in Bristol completing the software installation. This week I was accompanied by the project manager and various others from the company for whom I work.
I have managed to work out the traffic to some extent, and can now make it to the office and back with no mistakes. I have also figured out some of the restaurants, been able to eat well and actually walk about Bristol without too much fear and trepidation. Did wonder at all the young women running down Park Street all with the same T-shirts. Seemed to be some student organised binge drinking contest. Was I so young once? [Editor’s comment “Still are”]
Tonight I am staying in Bristol doing a software install with a client. Will be here for a couple of weeks, and then on and off for a while.
Easy drive up to Bristol, then 45 minutes of hell getting across the city. Next Monday must find a new route. It’s been suggested driving around Bristol to Portishead and then into the office which is near by. Typically Google did not suggest the route.
Another Google complaint, getting to the hotel, I searched for the location using its postcode. Google located it, but threw away all the postcode other than BS1, and sent me to some where near the hospitals. Could not find the place at all, rang the hotel and they gave me directions. Over two miles away I found the hotel. The guy I spoke to at the hotel phone, said they had emailed Google several times about this postcode problem.
Ah well, next time I shall use the complete street address. At least I now know where the hotel is. Now to find some nice eating establishments.
I have added a couple more galleries from 1975 to the wesbite. (We were given some slides found in Linnington Cottage and I’ve scanned & adjusted them.)
My last days at Cambridge University, Graduation Day
Pictures of Lodge Farm during the construction of the grain store with me, Peter, Mike and Betty and the Gawthrops.
Another sunny by cool day saw us going to Stowe Landscape Gardens in the hope of seeing snowdrops. Stowe is a posh private school set in some wonderful gardens and park land. The school though does not maintain the gardens, which is done by the National Trust, so the poor lads and lasses have to put up with us plebs wondering around.
We did see some snowdrops (and winter aconites), though no way as good as the masses we had seen in the Cotswolds a few years ago
There are some lovely lakes at the park and trees with wonderful structure. Here’s a tree and a lake to feast your eyes on:
After a quick morning tour, we rushed back home for Sunday lunch at The P&A, courtesy of Ladymead Joinery. Must have been a good occasion, we were there for four hours.
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.
Another Saturday morning with the chain saw cutting up logs, with Rosemary stacking them in the shed. Think the blade has gone blunt again, so gave up for lunch time. Next week will have to get the blade sharpened again.
Decided to cut down 4 willow trees. Despite all having been cut down before, they had now grown to a rather large size. Out with the chain saw, started first time and away we went cutting. Alas after several minutes not much impression. Blunt saw.
Sent Rosemary off to Longmoor’s to have it sharpened. She came back suitably chastened after being told that it had not been serviced, the oil was not lubricating the chain and the chain was too tight. Soon was cutting again, like the proverbial hot knife through butter.
Managed to cut down all the trees and started logging some of them.
Flew to Edinburgh for a short meeting with a pension company customer. The meeting was at 10.00, so had to fly from Birmingham. Rather early flight so bad night sleep. Met our Sales person in the Cafe Nero at 9.00 for a cup of coffee.
Working from home to day, the weather is absolutely crap. The Blasdale field is flooded, the poor sheep are wearing (Wellington) boots today.
I seem to have been rather lax in doing any postings is recent weeks. I suppose that is because not alot is happening at present.
Since visiting Edinburgh, and having a long weekend in Edinburgh, I have been working from home or working in the Aylesbury office on various support issues.
The last visit to Edinburgh culminated in the project teams Christmas party on Thursday lunch time. This went on till late in the evening. Next Rosemary arrived and we had a weekend in Edinburgh. She is due to write that up today.
Since then Christmas has come and passed. The weather has been variable, rain, frosts, sun, wind, but no snow. We now have sheep again in the field at the back, who are wading through puddles.
Well today I am in Aylesbury, the sun is shining and the wind is blowing hard. Time to make a cup of tea and start some work.
Well I am back in Edinburgh and staying at the Radisson. I have actually been in Edinburgh quite a bit recently, a couple of days last week, and the whole of the previous week. I had been staying down at the Holyrood and eating at the Mai Thai. So far, this week looks promising. The weather is good, the sun is out, well at least for a short period as head for the shortest day. Makes a great change to the weekend, when it rained and blew hard all the time. Let us hope the benign weather stays for the weekend when Rosemary joins me at the Radisson.
The weekend trip was rather fraught last week, when I discovered I had booked the hotel for only the one night. When I tried to book the next night it appeared the hotel was full, but thankfully as a Gold Points card holder, they found a room for the second night. Hopefully Rosemary has forgiven me.
This must be the end. I am here supporting the UAT testing, and making those changes, which seemingly always crop up on the last day. Once that is over, I will be back in Aylesbury and my trips to Edinburgh will be finished. I do not see any more work coming my way here, but then I said that 4 years ago.
On Saturday Selina, Graham and I went to Wembly Arena to see the headline act Alice Cooper. It started promptly at 7.00 with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. New York band. I have never heard of them, they did a reasonable 45 minute set. I was a little worried about the quietness of the gig. At the back of the standing area you could actually order beer and hot dogs without having to shout.
I need not have worried, when Motorhead started at 8.00 It was like your whole body was picked up and shaken with every drum beat. The sound resonated through your skull shaking your brain. Wow it was fantastic.
Next it was Alice. What a show, definitely a grotesque rock opera, with infanticide, beaten abused women, blood spaying out of cut arteries and the hangman’s noose at the end.
The mix of people at the show was fabulous. From the young to the aging rock aficionado like myself. I was down near the front, 4 rows back slightly left of center. The crowds at these events are getting very civilized, no crowd surfing and no mosh pit. One guy started to push and shove. He was soon picked on by security and stopped.
Even all the people selling rip off T shirts outside the event had somehow been banned. Ah well I have a new expensive kosher T shirt, so I can feel smug.
Next morning, the ringing in the ears. Believe Graham had a head ache from the brain being knocked around by the sound.
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.