Monthly Archives: July 2007

Edinburgh Festival about to start

Blasdale Home Posted on by

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

Sunshine at last

Blasdale Home Posted on by

The weekend, the sun shone at home.  OK rained Saturday night, but Sunday was lovely.  Was able to catch up on the grass mowing.  Looking at the way the willows have grown this Summer there should be plenty of fuel for the Winter.

Did manage to get some of the galleries updated onto the web.

Weekend Away in Cardiff

Cambridge Visit to the Docklands

Weekend away in Paris

There is still our Cornish and French holiday along with some photographs of the family from the sad occasion of the funeral of Jean Blasdale.  They should be available in the next few weeks.

Another week in Edinburgh

Blasdale Home Posted on by

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.

Back home and the weekend.

Blasdale Home Posted on by

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.

Another new resturant in Edinburgh

Blasdale Home Posted on by

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

Back in Edinburgh after our holiday

Blasdale Home Posted on by

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.

Silver Wedding Anniversary – July 10

Blasdale Home Posted on by

We don’t seem to be able to remember our wedding date and often when we do, we discover the date’s already gone, but this year we had checked well in advance, because we knew it was our silver wedding anniversary.  We spent it camping in France (about which more to follow eventually; R a big let down on write-ups).  That evening we sat in the car and looked out at the lashing rain on the widscreen.  Far too wet for a bbq, so what to do?  We decided to walk into Mayreuis (Languedoc-Roussillon), the campsite’s local village, and ate a pleasant meal in a local restaurant.  And, oh yes, it rained as we walked back and dived into our tent.

So it was a lovely surprise when we got home to hear from R’s brother Steve & sister-in-law Marilynn in Canada.  They had remembered; most impressive!  They said to watch out for a gift in the post.  Several weeks into August (we suspect it got held up in the various rotating postal strikes in the UK) a parcel arrived.  R waited until the Friday, when S came back from working in Edinburgh, so we could both open it – a lovely silver, footed, International Silver Co dish (brother Steve unsure whether made in the States or Canada) and a gorgeous cut-glass, silver lidded salt & pepper, around 1890 to 1920.  Both much admired by visitors.  But best of all is that M had cross-stitched a celebration sampler which means we now have one, as well as S&G whose celebrates their wedding, and R’s mum & dad whose celebrates their golden wedding anniversary.