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Recorders Day, Green Park, Aston Clinton -- Posted by prossers on Friday, March 31 2006
Recorders Day, Green Park, Aston Clinton, Saturday 1 April 2006
We went along to this as members of the now defunct Bucks County Council Ponds, Pools & Puddles project. Unfortunately the main protagonist, Martin Harvey (of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre (BMERC)), was very ill with flu, but others from BCC stepped bravely and ably into his chair.
Steve attended two sessions, and R one, on using a digital camera to record wildlife. Steve was delighted to hear both people had SLR cameras, just like him. Apparently it completely justifies his new Canon purchase and the extension rings he “had” to have. One piece of very good advice was to read the camera’s instruction book thoroughly, which he did when he got back home and found out quite a few things.
R heard a lecture on wildlife recording in general – interesting points, for example so few recordings of rabbits have been done in Bucks they look like an endangered species! Is the Great Crested newt really endangered, we wondered? Why do we always record the unusual and ignore the commonplace? We also heard a lecture on being a species champion (for a moth).
Leaving was slightly complicated by the car’s hand brake having got stuck, but a few strategic thumps and we were away. Local rabbits posing for counting and recording purposes when we got home; red kite hiding.
A very inspiring day attended by representatives of many organizations and groups specializing in local natural history or different classes of fauna (eg bat groups) and flora (eg fungi). We recognized a few faces. An excellent buffet lunch was had, too. Specialist bookshop http://www.pemberleybooks.com/ held a display. To share wildlife news, discussion and identification tips in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes join the BMERC egroup. Go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group
and click on "Join this group".
Birthday meal -- Posted by prossers on Monday, March 20 2006
Tuesday 21st March 2006
Today was Rosemarys' birthday, so we decided to have a meal at Carluccio's in Bicster village. Carol and John Curd came along to comiserate with Rosemary and I.
I think we had the following:
NIBBLES
SAVOURY BREAD TIN Our own focaccia, grissini, Ligurian ciappe and sliced breads served with either butter or extra virgin olive oil.
BOWL OF OLIVES
STARTERS
ANTIPASTO DI SALUMI (Steve) Speciality cured meats including fennel salami, spinata romana and our Milano salami served with caper berries.
SICILIAN ARANCINI DI RISO (Rosemary) 2 crispy deep fried rice balls. One filled with melting mozzarella and one with meat ragù. Served with pepolata; red pepper sauce.
MOZZARELLA ISCHITANA (John & Carol) Mozzarella and roasted red an yellow peppers and tomatoes with basil and extra virgin oil.
MAINS
OSSOBUCO ALLA MILANESE (John, Carol and Rosemary) Braised shin of veal with tomato sauce and saffron risotto.
CALVES LIVER (Steve) Braised shin of veal with tomato sauce and saffron risotto.
Glasgow -- Posted by prossers on Thursday, March 16 2006
Monday 13th March 2006
Monday, our final day, checked out of the hotel, leaving the bags to be collected later. Walked over to the Cathedral and the St Mungo Museum of Religion. Here we saw an excellent picture Christ of St John of The Cross by the artist Salvador Dali.
We then took a look around the cathedral. Unusual in that there appeared to be two complete floors.
Lunch was again at the Gandolfi, where we had eaten on the Friday. This time we went for mains and puddings.
Back to the hotel, and the train journey back to Oxford. Car was waiting for us in the car park.
Glasgow Sunday -- Posted by prossers on Sunday, March 12 2006
Sunday 12 March 2006
Today woke up to 9 inches of snow in Glasgow. At breakfast, several guests appeared in evening dress from the party the night before. Apparently just before they were to leave, the snow fell with a vengeance making travel difficult and dangerous.
We ventured out into the snow, to look for the Glasgow Museum of Art. Found it, and waited for the opening at 11.00, only to be told that it would not open today, lack of staff making it into work. Of course there was one couple that had travelled miles, claiming they had come from Dundee.
Oh well, on with a walk down to the St Enoch centre, and then to the Clyde where we crossed by the St Andrews Suspension bridge. Back to the hotel to dry out, and then lunch of beer and a Greek dish. The hotel is all glass at the front, going up 5 stories, alas the heating is not enough to counteract the cold pane effect, and they had to have a series of fan heaters to prevent the customers from freezing. After lunch we had a lazy afternoon reading the papers and some wine from a supermarket
Then out to the mussel inn for excellent Sea Food Chowder followed by Mussels. There were six different sauces for the mussels, Natural, Shallot, Tomato, Lemon, Moroccan and Blue Cheese. I went for the Moroccan.
Glasgow Saturday -- Posted by prossers on Friday, March 10 2006
Saturday 11th March 2006
Rather a too large a breakfast, haggis, white pudding and fried sausage, along with all the other breakfast bits and pieces.
A quick search for the daily record building, eventually found down a rather sordid street, broken windows and in a rather bad state of repair. Not a very good advertisement by Glagow for the talents of CRM.
Second visit on the CRM trail was the Light House. Here we walked up inside a tower to have an excellent view of Glasgow. Pictures to follow in a little wee while. After the tower took a look around the exhibition. Here Rosemary saw an excellent water colour of herself painted in Walberswick by CRM. Alas the picture seems not to be popular; with the result there are no copies to be purchased.
Out of the lighthouse and down to the St Enoch centre and on to the SPT for a trip to Ibrox. Here on the way to the House of an Art Lover, we had a view of the Rangers stadium. Today was a home match against Dunfermline; Rangers won 3-0.
Back to the SPT and round the circle to Cowcaddens, where we disembarked and walked to the Glasgow School of Art. The Glasgow School of Art is supposed to be CRMs best design. Built well over budget. So much of the design seemed to hve been done to intimidate the student, with dark corridors, dark staircases, guillotines and coffins. On one floor, which was suspended, he had made it look as though the floor above was crushing the pillars with its weight.
We were shown around by an early twenties girl with bleached blonde hair, bright red lipstick and high heels.
After this visit, Steve had to revive with a cup of tea and some scones at the Willow Teas rooms. After tea, a quick visit to the Horse Shoe Bar. This is a Glasgow institution, longest bar in the UK. It was very crowded with everyone watching the football results on the masses of TV screens.
Back to the hotel, and then out to the Blue Bombay on Hope Street where we ate a plate of Tandoori followed by our curries. R went for the usual Biryani and S had a chicken tikka sag. Very good.
Glasgow -- Posted by prossers on Thursday, March 9 2006
Friday 10th March 2006
Yes some of you may think this is bizarre, but having arrived back from Edinburgh the previous evening, we were up early and out by 5.45 to drive to Oxford. Worries about road works, mis-communication of times for trains, could have allowed at least an extra 45 minutes in bed. There was no traffic on the road, and I have never seen Oxford so devoid of traffic and people.
Caught the 7:34 Virgin train from Oxford to New Street. Train quite crowded, until the NEC when the entire dogs show visitors debarked. Changed trains at Birmingham New Street for the Glasgow train. Arrived in Glasgow, and walked to the hotel, very close and a smart Radisson SAS.
Our first visit was to a National Trust Tenement House, this had remained fairly unchanged until the NT had been donated the house. The NT had restored the lighting back to gas. The guides were very chatty, Rosemary though started out saying how terrible the view of the M8 and tower blocks was and how it must have changed, the guide jumped in saying, that until the M8 had been built, there was no view other than the tenement block house across the fairly narrow street. R bought some PCs, and a porridge spurtle (that being an object they had failed to identify on a table of handle-me objects for children). What a spurtle has to do with stirring porridge I have no idea. Websters definition of a spurtle is \Spur"tle\, v. t. [Freq. of spurt.] To spurt or shoot in a scattering manner. [Obs.] --Drayton.
Quick late lunch at a Weatherspoons for a pint and a five bean chilli each. Not too bad, but the pub reeked of damp.
Had a wander around Glasgow, and found the Café Gandolfi, where we wanted to eat tonight. We managed to book a table for 9.30. It was then back to the hotel to get ready and then out again. First to the Bar Gandolfi, above the restaurant, where we drank beer and some wine, Steve lashed out and had a rather large martini, for which "Olive" magazine said they were famous.
Downstairs we were ushered to a table in the restaurant, with our remaining drinks following us down.
Steve had gravadlax to start with, followed by sea bass on lemon-crushed potatoes. Rosemary ate a tomato and red pepper soup, followed by smoked venison with red current jelly and dauphinoise potatoes. R did not expect raw and thinly sliced venison, not sure where she has lived most of her life.
Two of the distinguishing features of this restaurant were the furniture and the stained glass. All the tables and chairs were made of thick pieces of wood, with interesting knots and odd inlays of contrasting wood. All the chairs were different, with large and subtle style differences. Not sure if the designer, Tim Stead was interpreting a design statement by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. John Clark designed the stained glass.
Left the restaurant some time past eleven and walked back to the hotel.
Edinburgh for three days -- Posted by prossers on Wednesday, March 8 2006
9th March 2006
Caught the early morning flight from Birmingham to Edinburgh on Tuesday. Nice and early so missed all the dog owners going to the Crufts show at the NEC. Lunchtime met up with Mary and Ed for lunch. Pretty miserable damp day in Edinburgh, but lovely warm welcome at the Petit Paris where I indulged in a full three-course meal of
All washed down with a pitchet of Vin Rouge.
I was staying at the Apex International for the two nights, so made sure I got both of my free bath ducks each day. They said welcome back. I admit I have not been there for a while; the free Internet access at the Radisson is so welcome.
Thursday was a better day, weather wise at least. During the evening I went to Whistle Binkies and ate at the Apex. Not so indulgent, to offset last nights extravagance, but I really must stop eating Nachos . Every time I eat Nachos I say never again. I hate Nachos!!!!!
Thursday finished off at the back, having completed the evaluation. Hopefully they will write a good report. I ate lunch with Ed at the Café Royal, then back to Birmingham airport.
Cupboards in the spare bedroom -- Posted by prossers on Saturday, March 4 2006
4th March
Coldest night we have had for several years, dropped down to -7 Celsius. Day was lovely and sunny. Keith has finished the cupboards in the spare bedroom, so we need to get decorating. Also worked outside and opened up the foot path.
Manchester customer visit -- Posted by prossers on Wednesday, March 1 2006
2nd March
Today went out for a customer visit near Manchester. This is a project associated with replenishing the cash machines and bank branches with cash. Started out lovely and sunny, and then ran into a snow storm on the M6 toll road. Though out the day there were snow showers. Drive back was problematic, M42 halted, so diverted to Coventry where there were road works, snow storms and general chaos.