On Friday 30th May we spent a weekend away in Ely, Eating, Drinking, Singing and being generally festive. More information, galleries and utube videos are in the gallery here – Indian Classical Music in Ely and Ravi, Emma joint celebration
Category Archives: United Kingdom
Bournemouth, sand, sea and Thai
Warm evening, the pub was noisy as I walked past it. The raucous conversation, normally held inside, was now outside disturbing those quietly walking by. Down at the beach, it was a clear view to the west, but looking east towards the Isle of Wight you could see mist around the island, rising up from the sea. Yes you can see it, but the picture from the phone is a bit on the crap side. Thunderstorms predicted for tonight.
The evening meal was at a Thai restaurant called Tiien. Smart, seems part of a posh hotel, quite busy. I started with soup, usual Tom Yam something, with prawns. I asked for mine to be hot, and it came hot, very spicy hot. It brought tears to my eyes as I drank. Great stuff. Followed on with a vegetable stir fry. Yes, you read that correctly, no meat, vegetables.
Yes the Tiien Thai restaurant in Bournemouth gets a Blasdale star.
Bournemouth holiday by the sea
Working in Bournemouth this week, so it’s a holiday by the sea. Raining on the drive down, but the sun came out to play just before sunset. Staying in the Durley Dean Hotel, not so bad, and they don’t stint on the size of the towels.
Went out to eat and had a reasonable tandoori chicken and nan bread at the Indian Cuisine. The Nan was a plain one, not soggy, not dry, but fluffy.
I followed that up with a beer at The Hop. Only real ale on was Doombar from Sharp Brewery in Cornwall. Good pint, but disappointing pub.
Don’t leave me out in the rain
This week I have been up north, and what rather pissy weather it was. Drove up in constant rain on Monday. Rained all day, but at least I was indoors. I was almost last leaving the office, only one other person, who is in charge of locking-up, was there. The office is set in parkland and is in quite a nice setting, surrounded by wooden rail fences. Would be better without the rain. After I left, I sat in my car for a few minutes, phone calls, and satnav setting. Ready, I set off to the hotel, to be immediately confronted by a shut gate, major irritation cos I would get have to get wet, opening the thing. Oh no, it was padlocked. The person in charge must have left, and locked the gates without checking the car park. No problem, I know these 5 bar gates, you can lift them off at the hinges. Not this one, specially made so it could not be lifted off. Gypsy proof. Back to the office, all lights were off, no cars in the car park, I was well and truly stuck.
I had no mobile phone numbers, so nothing for it but google maps to find a local taxi service to come out and pick me up. One came out for me, had to get him to stop at a cash machine on the way to the hotel so I could pay him and tomorrow morning’s driver.
The hotel was a welcoming site, except ominously they seemed not to have my booking through laterooms.com, but all finally sorted. The hotel was in refurbishment mode, and the bar cum lounge was covered in plastic sheeting.
Well, it continued to rain for most of my stay there, only clearing up for the drive home on Thursday evening. Met Rosemary, and then she was off on the Friday back up the motorway to Prestwich for the weekend. Yes we met like passing doves in the night.
Now she is back, and hopefully will be giving me a fond farewell as I am off to Plymouth in the morning.
The recession
The recession, or what recession. The chaps in the pub seem to be very busy. I have not met anyone who does not have enough work. Commenting this sorry in Twitter, it was deemed I must come from an affluent area.
For me, an employee, chargeable work has been pretty busy in the last few months. Old projects have come to an end with Aberdeen going live with their upgrade.
A short visit to Edinburgh to sort out an infrastructure change for a long standing client in the life assurance business. Had a great meal at a Tapas bar, and then of course what visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Whistle Binkies and some local Scottish musicians.
More recently new projects in Shropshire and Caerphilly have kept me busy with software upgrades. Caerphilly was interesting from a drinking and eating perspective. First week a premier inn and one of those cheap pub chains. The food was crap, and the premier inn was the premier inn with Lenni Henry sized beds. Luckily the weather was warm, and I could escape out side to drink a few pints and tweet to my tweeps in the dark. Ah the reason I drank outside was to miss the pub quiz.
Week after stayed at the Bryn Meadows Golf and Country club. Cost not a lot more, but gym and Swimming pool and a lush bedroom. Food and drink not outrageous either, at least compared with major cities.
The week after only suites available at the BM rather to costly for the budget. So tried the Half Way house in Blackwood. Pub with some new modern rooms. Rather nice friendly eye candy serving in the bar, and the land lord came and shook hands. Even the regular Welsh customers came up and spoke with the English man. Alas did not escape the Tuesday pub quiz. I won’t mention my score. Excuse, I was in a team of my own.
Shropshire was for a couple of days, which turned into three. Stayed in a hotel which could be classed as a boarding house. Was OK. Nice restaurant near by for food, but rather pot luck on what was severed. Not sure how a sirloin steak with salad was transformed into fillet steak with vegetables.
Should have a new install coming up in Brummie land on return from holiday.
Sad Gits weekend in Essex
Sad Gits weekend in Essex hosted by Richard and Andrea. The following in attendance were Maggie & Ravi, Rosemary & Steve, Reiko & Mike, Valerie & Norman and Choir Master Simon. The weekend was centred around culture with visits to Thaxted Church and Audley End House and a walk around the town Saffron Walden where an art gallery was visited & a garden and a “maze” admired. The evening centred on food, drink & varied entertainment.
Full picture gallery is available here but I have included a short video which hopefully will find its way to Facebook,
Sad Gits Choir sing Jones’ Ale
My New lens
Aberdeen the oil city
A working week in Scotland. In Aberdeen, the first time I have ever been there. One different aspect of the Aberdeen airport was the number of helicopters landing and taking off. I assume they were off to the rigs.
Arriving in Aberdeen with my fleece and water proofs only to be faced with sun. Yes Aberdeen was sunny all week, though not yet warm. I was off to work at the Robert Gordon University, taxi into town with a chatty driver, who explained where the entertainment spots in the city were. He also explained the city was called the Silver City, the mica in the Granite reflecting the sun, making the place Silver in the sun, though reverting to the drab granite in the more usual cloudy wet weather.
Made it to work in a large building on Andrew Street. After work walked to Mint Apartments, about a mile away. The company I work for had booked me into a hotel that was 15 minutes away. Yes 15 minutes by taxi on a good day, 30 plus minutes during the day rush hour. Google Street view also showed the hotel was stuck in the middle of an industrial estate with nothing around. I cancelled this hotel and booked Mint Apartments, a serviced flat nearby. Nice place, recently upgraded to a good standard, the place is cleaned daily and they even changed the towels and made the bed every day. Free Internet connection, a must.
I ate in the local Italian restaurant under the apartments, friendly staff. Should maybe have eaten there another day, but places to explore. What else did I eat, Chinese down the road, large place in an office block. Reasonable. price
Wednesday and Thursday I ate at the Monsoona on Bridge Street, a Healthy Indian Cuisine Restaurant. What is one of those It turned out to be good.
Next day, a long day, lots of waiting around in Aberdeen airport for the late flight home, and eventually back home just before midnight. Drive back from Luton was fraught, no fuel, driving on empty. The road I was heading for was closed for night work. This is were I found the vagaries of Sat Nav. Took it ages to forget the route I had wanted to drive, despite the fact it did not originally want me to go that route. Once she had decided not to take me down the closed road, she was to take me down the M1, M25 and up the A41. Yes she, Hunni Desire was fixated on this route and would not forget it. Luckily I knew where I was going and ignore her imploring.!!!
Plymouth
I am in Plymouth, and have been in Plymouth for a couple of weeks now. Driving down at the start of the week, and driving back at the end. Not too bad a journey when there are no accidents. Took me 3 hours 30 minutes last time.
Tried a few different restaurants. The Eastern Eye I can recommend for Indian / Bangladeshi food. Large menu, and what I ate was very nice, a curry for connoisseurs.
Last night I went for a Thai, I was recommended The Thai Palace by the people I work for. Nice smiling waitress to melt my heart, and again an extensive menu. I went fish, and had some local scallops for starters followed by a Traditional Thai Fish Curry.
Otherwise have eaten large rib eye steaks in a steak house, at the Cafe Rouge.
Holy Mackerel
Thursday night decided it was an eating night. Thought I would have a Thai meal, so walked over to Thistle Street to try Dusit. Dusit is probably the best Thai Restaurant in Edinburgh. It is small and looked rather full with several people hanging around outside. So I gave it a miss, because across the road was a fish restaurant called Fishers in the City. This restaurant has a good reputation. Despite not booking, they were able to find me a spot at the bar to eat. Only just made it in time. It was nice to see many minor celebrities being turned away at the door.
The place serves Fish, but does have meat for those who don’t fancy fish. There are several fish types on sale as well as shell fish, cray fish and lobsters.
I started off with some some Scallops, and Mackerel for my main course. Both these were quite simple, but excellently prepared. The wine was a revelation, it was the house brand Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa. Most definitely not a French brand, because it smelt and tasted so florally and fruity. I don’t know the name of the wine, not that it matters because it is not on general sale in the UK.
I then headed back to the Royal Mile to take some photos. These are in the gallery. Then dumping the camera, I headed to Whistle Binkies for some Rock and Roll. Here I heard the first set of a Scottish band called Three Card Trick. (Myspace) They were very good. Now I have a recording of them as my ring tone.
I want to announce my Edinburgh Gallery.