Category Archives: United Kingdom

Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog

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The Edinburgh Crags

The Edinburgh Crags

Wednesday night in Edinburgh, the rain stopped and the sun came out to play.  Even managed to capture a picture of the sun on the Crags through my hotel bedroom window.  So with the dry weather, and the festival, it was time to go out and play.  First, a quick stop to fuel up with some food, from a kebab shop on the bridges.  Must admit the humus tasted of nothing,  not even adding politically incorrect salt helped.

The Pleasance Courtyard

The Pleasance Courtyard

Ah well, off the the Pleasance Courtyard where I managed to get a ticket for Greg Davies.  He was funny, telling the story of his life and the influences of other people on his life.  As is usual he picked on a few people from the front row to help him.  Despite foolishly sitting in the front row, I was bypassed.  Not so the blonde, busty lady sitting near by.  She had to help him with his story, which she amply did.

I managed to squeeze one more set in afterwards where I saw the AAA Stand-Up late.  This was three stand up comics Erich McElroy, Ryan McDonnell and Steve Allen.   Not quite so good, and the American Erich McElroy was not at all funny.

I want to announce my Edinburgh Gallery.

I am back in town

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Yes I am back in Edinburgh for a short stay, and the weather has welcomed me with a vengeance.  It has rained pretty well all day.  The festival is in full swing, but tonight I have taken it easy, eaten at a dry restaurant.  That makes me feel very good.  Won’t last though, I am sure I will partake on Tuesday.

The meal I had was at the Kurdish restaurant, Hanams.  Ate a starter of Baba Ghanoush, and Chicken Biryani for the main.  Both very good.

I want to announce my Edinburgh Gallery.

Hev Yew Gotta Loight Boy?

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This weekend we spent a lovely weekend in Norfolk at my Father’s and Ann’s home in Norwich.  On arrival we were whisked off for lunch at the Ship Inn at South Walsham where there seemed to be a groom’s pre-wedding drinks party.  We ate outside in the sun, waiting for the forecast rain which never arrived.

Next onto Ranworth Broad where we had a pre-booked trip on the private broad in an electric boat. Being somewhat early, we had time to visit the church of St Helen.  This contains the greatest rood screen in East Anglia. It stretches right across the church, aisles and nave.  The tower was also open, so Stephen (that is the author) climbed the very narrow spiral stair case to the top and snapped some images from the tower.

Then on to Ranworth Broad in the electric boat to view birds.  I took some pictures, not the greatest, will have to purchase one of those mega paparazzi lenses or get nearer to the birds.  Anyway saw some Terns, Grebes, Cormorants, Herons, a flash of a Kingfisher, ducks and gulls.

ON FORM The moment for stone

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Hot sunny day on Saturday July 10th, we ventured forth to a sculpture exhibition nearby in Asthall Manor, Asthall, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX14 4HW. The exhibition was by various artists and can be seen on the site onformsculpture.co.uk.  Not only was some of the sculpture impressive, so was the house.  Setting the sculpture in a garden setting was a fantastic idea.

Food was not a success for the day, we had intended having lunch out.  We spent too long in the gardens, only to find any decent eating places closed.  Eventually had a cream tea in Woodstock.

The sculptures may be viewed here.

Jen’s 60th birthday

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Jen, an old school friend of Rosemary, was having a surprise birthday party.  The party was on Sunday, and was taking place in Jen & husband Bev’s pub, The Cat Head Inn, Chiselborough, Somerset.  Jen and Bev have been landlords for the last few weeks, and seem admirably suited to the task in hand.

Rosemary and I drove down and stayed with Sue (another school friend) and Ken on the Saturday night.  Judy (from Manchester), the fourth member of the quartet of friends,  joined us.  Feasted in the pub across the road.  One could hardly be any nearer.

Sunday was a late start, some walks around the estate, and then a drive over to The Cat Head Inn to surprise Jen.  Success!

Leave My Blues At Home

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My last two days in Edinburgh are over.   I am not sure when I will be back there.  I had a pleasant evening exploring a number of hostelries in the city and sampling a few malts.  One a small bar was called the Jinglin Geordie Bar on Fleshmarket Close.

I also managed to get home on Thursday, the ash cloud moved off to the West of Ireland, and all the airports resumed operation to allow me home.  Arrived back home, picking some fish and chips up on the way.  Rosemary was out working as a polling officer in a nearby village.

I watched the the ending of the poll on TV, and was dismayed to hear the Gordon Brown would be hanging on to power despite losing the election.  How anyone can think that he and Alistair can get us out of this financial crisis after it was Gordon’s bad management of our economy that got us where we are.  All the favourable aspects of his rule of our economy, like low inflation have nothing to do with his leadership, but much to do with the world economy, India, Brazil and China.  Instead he has just squandered our money on bureaucracy in the hospitals,  paying GPs and consultants far to much.

He and Tony have dithered on our power systems, and when the lights start to go out in a few years time, I expect it will be the party in power that will feel the anger of the electorate, and not the cause of the crisis, Gordon and Tony.

ASHES TO ASHES

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As I booked my flight to Edinburgh, the Icelanders decided it was time to resurrect their volcano. Just before I turned the lights off at midnight, I thought I had better check my flight to Edinburgh. Easyjet was warning all flights to and from Scotland and Ireland were liable to  disruption, and I should check the flight.  The part of the site for checking flights was, of course, down.

4.45 am alarm, open laptop and check flights.  Glasgow cancelled, but Edinburgh still open.  Checked the CAA site, and the same news.  So off to Luton airport instead of the station.  Suffice to say, I have arrived in Edinburgh.  Will I get home, am I marooned here for the foreseeable future? [Ed – If he thinks I’ll believe a word of being stranded in Edinburgh because of ash, then the Monster Raving Loony Party will win tomorrow.]

Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!

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0416-ICELAND-VOLCANO_full_380 I had a short trip to Edinburgh this week.  I flew up from Heathrow to Edinburgh with British Airways on Monday morning.  I had tried to book a flight on the Friday evening, but found Easyjet were fully booked, and the price of Flybe from Birmingham was extortionate.  Train travel is also rather slow and expensive, so was rejected.  Last resort was BA.  For the sum of £43.00 I received my ticket to Edinburgh, I was able to take hold luggage at no extra charge (not that I had any),  I had bacon, egg, sausage and tomatoes, orange juice and coffee and daily newspaper on the flight for free, and could use the loo without charge.  I did not have to go through the indignity of proving who I was before flying.  Ryanair and Easyjet, you can go and get stuffed, BA is not over priced.

Terminal 5 was a good experience as well.

At work in Edinburgh, I found out how long I was staying, and booked my hotel through Last Minute dot Com.  Not such a good experience, they sent me to the wrong agency to check into the apartment I had booked.  Lots of walking and eventually a taxi, I was in my room.

Luckily I was there just for one night, any longer and I would still be there, stuck for lack of flights.  I am meant to be flying up there on Wednesday.  Will the ash cloud be being blown in another direction?  Let’s hope so.

We have arrived too late to play the bleeding heart show

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An addendum to my previous post.  We were called, we boarded, then we sat there waiting for lots of passengers who had disappeared.  Then we waited for a ground crew to unload the luggage of the disappeared passengers.  Then the ground crew arrived and spent ages locating whatever luggage that should not be flying.   What puzzles me is those passengers who decided not to fly must not have cared less about their luggage and left it to the machinations of Easyjet and Servisair.

In due course we left at 1.30, and arrived at Edinburgh in a sunny almost Spring like day, bit chilly for Spring, but it looked Spring like.  So by the time I was in Edinburgh is was well past 3.30, so felt I was too late for work, so checked into my hotel.  Good start to the week.