Drove over to Richard Gleed’s in Essex (Cambridge 1972) to meet Simon Potter and Jon Lewis. Jon was back from South Africa for a UK holiday.
Had a lovely day, nice lunch and walk around the garden of Hugh Johnson the wine critic. His garden, with a beautiful arboretum backs onto Chris Bolts house.
We also visited a couple of churches, so cool in the exceptionally warm weather we had that weekend.
We joined the Berkshire branch Cambridge Society for its 7th and our 5th annual weekend, held this year in Derbyshire. The event is always a good chance to catch up with people, an inspiration to flagging grey matter and a challenge to stamina. It was, as usual, brilliantly organized by the dedicated few (Catherine, Peter, Rob and Ann amongst others) and they had laid on the sunshine, too.
We started on Friday in a leisurely manner at Bolsover Castle with our own private “journey to heaven” through the Little Castle. It culminated in two staggering painted ceilings depicting disparate views of heaven. Other highlights some 17th century wall paintings which continued the vaulted ceilings of one room, totally defying the idea of how such people did not understand, nor could paint, perspective. Outside, there was a highly unexpected 17th century indoor riding school and a sadly recently vandalized, slightly risqué fountain. Spent the afternoon at Cresswell Crags, a limestone gorge full of caves. We looked behind the scenes in its museum and enjoyed a tour of one cave and a viewing of pre-historic cave paintings in another. One painting was a very obvious deer, but others needed more imagination/better eye-sight than we had.
Friday evening saw us wined, beered (Catherine, a bioscience consultant, had persuaded the hotel to lay in a barrel of Old Speckled Hen) and dined in our Matlock Bath hotel. Afterwards we were all suitably briefed on the next day’s activities by Catherine and the local geology by Peter.
Saturday, we were at Ilam Hall where we chose to go on a 12-mile walk following the Manifold river, across the top and back down to Ilam via the lovely Dovedale, where we could admire Early Purple orchids. We stopped at a cave and at a pub in Wetton en route and also admired a gorgeous Charolait (or was he a Limousine?) bull at a farm. Surprisingly, both of us could still move the next day and it was good to be walking in such lovely countryside with so few people about.
An inspiring evening talk by landscape archaeologist Mark Edmonds, while we supped on our Old Speckled Hen or G&Ts, made us realize there was masses more to see in the dales and the peak district.
Sunday we had a walking tour, led by the local jailer, of nearby Cromford village, including the jail, and the Arkwright Mill. Cromford, a lovely village, was very much built to support the mill and the first Mr Arkwright had used various cunning ploys to entice his workers.
A brisk walk back to Matlock Bath for a huge buffet lunch and a tour of a lead mine, which was much smaller and less deep than we expected. Quick pan for fools gold and then a retreat to car for the drive back home.
On-line pictures to follow soon.
Visited Newcastle on Tuesday for three days, working on the Farsi project. I managed to get to Gateshead by 9.10 am. without breaking many speed limits.
Took the opportunity to catch a train to Edinburgh on Wednesday evening and met up with Ed and Mary. The excuse was Mary’s leaving drink. She has finished working with Walker/Elevon/Arelon/Cedar. We met for a drink at 7.00pm in the Cafe Royal, went on for a Mexican meal at the Blue Parrot Cantina, then a bottle of Veuve Clicquot at the bar of Jon Marshals best friends, sisters brother in law’s wife’s husbands best friend or some such nonsense.
Finished there for a beer at the mobbed Igloo and finished off in Whistle Binkies at 3.00am Thursday morning.
Able to catch the early morning train back to Newcastle for a full days work, and then drive back home.
Panic set in when I left for Newcastle for Edinburgh, realised I did not have my car keys, so phoned the office to organise a search for them. After organising the Gateshead office to search my desk, coffee room, reception, and calling the taxi company, the keys were found in the door lock of the car.
Rosemary and I had a special meal out at Carluccios’s in Bicester Village. This is a chain of restaurants with the name of celebrity chef Antonio.
The meal was a themed Italian meal with selected wines. We started off with a glass of Prosecco and some excellent Canapes. The deep fried spinage was excellent.
The menu was.
Gamberi e Bianco
A Salad of prawns on marinated fennel
Accompanied by
La Segreta Bianco
Fresh and rich with a long slow finish. Made from a blend of Grecanico, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon and Fiano grapes. Tropical fruit flavours, with a lingering dry finish.
Risotto al Vino Rosso
Creamy red wine risotto
Filetto di Bue alla Griglia
Fillet steak served with sauteed mushrooms and garlic and roasted Rosemary potatoes
Accompanied by
Capello di Prete
A rich red balanced red with mellow flavours of cocoa and cherries. Made from 100% Negroamaro grapes.
Crema di Noce con Cioccolata
A delicious hazelnut panna cotta served with a chocolate sauce
Accompanied by
Aleatico di Puglia
An incredible red dessert wine, produced from Aglianico grapes. Medium sweet with spice and cherry flavours.
After the meal had an espresso and some grappa. Meal was good, especially liked the marinaded fennel. Marinaded in lemon juice and zest. Steak ordered rare and was served rare, excellent.
Flight back home late in the evening. Car was iced over when I got back to Luton.
Up early in the morning into work. Had to wait quite a while to get into the office, seems quite a few busses, trains, and the bridge were not running.
Evening went out with a group of friends for rather too many drinks in the local pubs around Grassmarket. Then down to Broughton Road and the Phoenix. Afterwards back to the hotel for a nightcap and bed.
Tuesday flew up to Edinburgh for a planning meeting on Wednesday. A very strong wind was forecast for Scotland, in fact during the night there were gusts of 124mph. The flight was rather rough as we came into land, with some of the passengers puking up. Need les to say I was unaffected by the turbulence.
Had to take a taxi into the city, no busses at the bus stop and a long queue of people. Taxi driver said we would have to take detour with the main road being closed because of storm damage. In the event this had been cleared up by the time we got to the location.
Arrived at the Apex, and had a glass of wine and a Sandwich for supper, then onto Whistle Binkies for some rock music.
Short two-day trip to Edinburgh to do some training. Caught the early flight up to Edinburgh from Luton, good trip with Easyjet, arrived on time.
Had lunch with Ed Aldridge at the Star Bar, a massive plate of chilli and nachos. In the evening a few pints of Stella at the Burke and Hare, before wending my way back to the Apex in Grassmarket. Notice they now have wireless lan and DVD players in all their rooms.
Next day gave my training course, seemed to go OK. Took less time then I anticipated. Back on a late Easyjet flight, which again arrived on time.
Flew to Edinburgh Friday afternoon for a Christmas meal with RBS. On arrival booked into my flea pit hotel, and then having a few minutes to spare, popped into Whistle Binkies for a quick pint. The intention was to check out what bands were playing for later in the evening.
Then it was on to the Opal Lounge where I met the RBS and other Cedar employees who contributed to the project. There was a good meal where I ate Sushi, followed by Monk Fish on a bed of rice with a lime sauce. I can’t remember what I had for the third course. Next we seemed to consume more alcohol, and I do remember dancing with Mary at some stage. The group who attended were Andy, Campbell, Douglas, Kevin, Mary, Neil, Simon, Ed, Danielle and Brian. From the whole group, Ed , Mary and I were the last to leave.
Next day treated my self to a greasy breakfast, then went around the Royal and Scottish museum. Saw the model coffins mentioned in the Rebus books. Then it was on to the Scottish parliament, where I visited the debating chamber. It is quite a building, not sure how well the outside will wear because of all the bits of wood decoration attached.
Later I had a meal at the Petit Paris. As I walked by the waiter came out and welcomed me in, asking if I was back for more work, I had their plat de jour of Boeuf Bourguignon. Then it was on for the late flight back.
On Sunday we visited Margaret and David for lunch, and the annual Christmas present exchange. It was a very nice lunch of roast wild duck and oodles of cheese.
Managed to trap Oliver the cat, and was able to tickle him under the chin. After he escaped, he remained very aloof and never entered the house again.