Category Archives: United Kingdom

Three hour delay on Easyjet

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20th July 2006

It was again a very cool misty start to the day.  Where is all the heat from down South.  Dinner in the hotel, and at last the draught beers  (well larger) was on tap.

21st July 2006

It was a little warmer today, but cloudy.  Had lunch at Tiles with my work colleagues, a rather large chilli burger.  I left work at 4.00 to catch the 6.05 Easyjet to Luton.  We eventually left Edinburgh airport after 9.00.  There was a three-hour delay in the flight.  There had been some technical problem with an aircraft, needing a replacement plane and replacement crew.  Much warmer in Luton then Edinburgh, and there was thunder and a small storm during the night.

Why is it so cold in Edinburgh

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17th  July 2006

This morning flew to Edinburgh from Luton, allows me an extra hour in bed.  Luton was in absolute chaos; the checking hall was totally full.  Start of the holiday season I thought, but apparently Easyjet had a problem with their booking system.  They delayed all their flights by over an hour to ensure passengers were able to make it to through to departures.  Even so someone did not make it.

Flying up I was able to see the coast line from North of the Wash, round Norfolk, Suffolk, and down the Essex coastline.  This was while flying over Northampton.  On arrival at Edinburgh, found my laptop was not in the overhead lockers, so I rushed out of the plane, barging past everyone, and managed to find the culprit who had taken my laptop.  He had accidentally picked the wrong case, though the ones left in the locker seemed very different to mine, and he had still not noticed when he put papers into to bag.  In future I shall take more notice of what people are taking out of the locker as they leave.Â

Ate in the hotel today, sitting at the bar.

18th July 2006

Another sunny day, but not very hot.Â

Had supper at Time-4-Thai.  I have eaten there before for lunch with the other bank people.  The waiters and waitresses are very attentive.  Had a mixed platter of starters followed by a green curry.

Had a call from Mary and Ed, met up with them at the Bank Hotel.  They were sitting outside drinking wine, with 3 others from the bank.  Couple of them were staying in the Raddison hotel.  Have not bumped into them.

19th July 2006

Woke to a very cool day.  Arthur’s seat totally covered in cloud, and the cool easterly wind blew all day.  The sun broke through later in the day, but it remained cool all day.

Project lunch was with my colleagues at Zest, Indian restaurant next to the office.

Stayed in today at the hotel, eating a small supper of very rare Tuna, and a plate of chips.

Edinburgh and the Mai Thai

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3rd July 2006

Up early and back to Edinburgh.  What a change, Edinburgh was freezing cold, cloudy and miserable.  By all accounts the South is still as warm as before.  Hotel had allocated me a room on the wrong side of the hotel, so unable to pick up the free broad band from the Mai Thai.

Ate at the Mai Thai, very nice green curry.

4th July 2006

Another cloudy day, with low cloud obscuring Arthur’s seat.  This evening ate at Zest, where I had a very entertaining evening.  The waiter became very animated about Portugal and football.  The restaurant is Indian run and the waiter was from the Goa, which has very strong Portuguese connections.  He also was a Roman Catholic.  I wonder if he has met Richy.

5th July 2006

There was a loud clap of thunder part way through the day.  The sun actually came out at one stage in the evening.  Watched France win against Portugal at the Mai Thai.  Very scrappy game as the French held on to their 1 – 0 lead, at one stage all the Portuguese were in the French side, including the goal keeper in a last ditch attempt to save the match.  The Portuguese constantly diving and arguing for fouls spoilt the game.  They should have been yellow carded.  Oh and had some very nice Dim Sum rolls, followed by a curry at the Mai Thai.

6th July 2006

The day has started off sunny, and remained fairly hot through the day.  Visited the Mai Thai, yet again, and had a red curry and Jasmine rice.  It was very good, washed down with a few Krony.  Spent a few moments talking to the owner.  For me the Mai Thai is an excellent venue, free internet access, a posh restaurant (if needed), a bar where you can drink, eat and surf, TV to watch the games, and relatively cheap beer, though I need to get them to serve some real ale.

7th July 2006

Today was the final day at the bank for a week.

Edinburgh and two years of iBuy

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29th June 2006

Very busy day in Edinburgh, worked until almost 7.00, back to the hotel and supper in the bar. Had chicken roulade, chips and grilled salmon with a veggie curry, washed down with a couple of pints of Starpramen.  The cute Scottish bar maid was on duty, so we exchanged a few words  Back in my room, which overlooks Whistle Binkies, a band started to play, so was very tempted to go out, but decided on a good nights sleep instead.

30th June 2006

Today was a wet, wet day, woke to the rain, and still drizzling when we went out for lunch.  The lunch was to celebrate the second year of the iBuy project.  We walked in the rain to a Thai restaurant called Thai One.  Seemed quite a smart establishment with all the waitresses bowing as you entered.  Ate a substantial meal of Thai fishcakes, followed with a Sirloin Steak Salad, then grilled Salmon and Ice-Cream to finish.  All good practise for next week when I will be back eating at the Thai bar Mai Thai. 

Flight back, uneventful, as soon as we were south of Manchester the wearther cleared up.

The installation of iBuy was complete on Sunday 27th June 2004.  Just over 2 years ago.

Edinburgh is the sun

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26th June.

Up early again and off to Edinburgh. Today there were no delays on the flights, and I was in work by 9.00pm.

After work, I stayed in the hotel for an early night and supper.

27th June

Today the weather was sunny weather, though not hot. Decided to eat out for todays meal, so tried a Vegetarian Restaurant near the hotel called Black Boa I saw it advertised in the Bigg Issue magazine. Will compensate with a steak tomorrow. Actually the meal was very good. Started with an unusual salad of mango, avocado and lettuce. Followed with a goats cheese roulade.

28th June

Kept my steak promise, went to McKirdys for a steak and chips., then I had a wander through Edinburgh looking for somewhere to eat on Thursday. May try the new Petite Paris to see what that is like. Met up with Ed for a couple of pints at Pivot. Again a sunny day, but not hot.

Edinburgh

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Well today was a very breezy day, with mixed showers and blue sky, late in the day it started to drizzle.  Quite cold outside, I don’t know where our Summer has gone. I thought about walking up Arthurs seat for mid summer celebrations.  Decided it was too cold for that, and too wet.  Ah well the nights will be drawing in from now on.

It was supper at the Mai Thai again.

22nd June

Again ate at the Mai Thai

23rd June

Another hard days work, then flew back to Birmingham.  Uneventful flight, arrived on time.  Popped into see Margaret and David on the way home

England Sweden match

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Today there was a lovely blue sky.  So I walked to work with no jacket.  Stupid, this is Scotland, and the weather changes.  Walked back with no jacket in the rain.

Watched England draw 2 all to Sweden at the Mai Thai.  Wish all those Scots would shut up and support a British team. Last week they all had Trinidad and Tobago shirts, this week they were all walking around in Swedish shirts.  I think I will join that boycott and not come here, well unless they keep me in a job.

Scotland and Holyrood Hotel

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Very early up this morning, 4.30 to catch a plane to Edinburgh from Birmingham. Bit delayed leaving, and traffic control at Edinburgh cause a few circuits.

Booking agency rang to say my hotel was over booked, so was being moved to Holyrood hotel, which is a bit of a trek down the hill to the Scottish Parliament, so will not be doing Petit Paris this week.

Instead I ate in the Mai Thai, which has free Internet access, a bar, and  several wide screen TVs.

Scotland

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Back up in Scotland for a week working at the Bank.  Uneventful week ate mostly at the Raddison Hotel bar.  Met up with Mary and Ed for one evening out, where we ate pizzas in the Grassmarket, followed by various pints of beer in various pubs south of Grassmarket.  Shall have to retrace my footsteps to see where we went.  Remember hearing folk music and bagpipes in one bar, and some R&B music in a Jazz club. It was quite a good evening, which I must not repeat too often.

On the way home to Luton on the final landing run when we could not have been more than 2 minutes from touch down, and no more than 1000 foot altitude, the pilot executed a tight 360 turn.  As I left I asked the crew (well one wearing gold bands) why.  He said ah, so someone did notice.  Gave some reason of being too high and wanted to lose height.  He was not overly sure as he had not be piloting the Airbus.  I know I do this in a paraglider, but a jet.

Edinburgh

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Back in Edinburgh for 3 days and 2 nights.  The sun has at last decided to shine, and on Tuesday evening people were even dining out on the streets.  In fact with the ban on smoking I think there were more people on the street then in the pubs.

Paid my usual visit to the Petit Paris where I indulged in a three course meal, but no wine.  Free wine in my hotel room afterwards. Such a good customer at the hotel I get free drinks.

Tuesday I went to  McKirdy’s Steakhouse on Morrison Street.  Never been there before, was recommended in some magazine we get.  Not cheap, but very good steaks.  I had fillet steak with haggis and a whisky source.  Ed ate a large fillet.  Just managed to get our order in before two huge crowds of people.

Afterwards stopped off for a pint in a pub on the way back to the grassmarket area, in the area known as the pubic triangle because of the number of lap dancing clubs.  Very good selection of beers, including some beers flavoured with fruit.  Some very drunk mature Norwegian nurses from a conference attempted to pick both Ed and I up.  Hastily retreated to Whistle Binkies to listen to a band.