Category Archives: United Kingdom

Sunday and off to Edinburgh and the Santorini

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No rest for the wicked this Sunday.  Up early to catch a flight to Edinburgh.  They wanted me in to do an enhancement, which was due to go live the next week.  Despite the scheduled departure being earlier than a weekday, I was in the office later.

Worked late until after 19.00 on the problem, then went out for a meal.  Found this Greek restaurant on Broughton Street I had been meaning to go to for months.  Now was my chance, other side of town to where the end of festival firework display, so it was empty.

Nice meal of mezzos, (meat balls, stuffed vine leaves, and feta with spinach in filo).  Followed by Greek coffee and Ouzo.

Back to the Rutland for a night, fighting my way through the end of firework crowds.  The whole of Princes Street had been cordoned off, and was now being cleaned by the street cleaners in preparation for reopening.

Poets Day at RBS

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Into work by 7.30, never checked my emails, straight into problem solving.  As the day progressed it was decided we would not sort out one area of the problem.  As I was leaving it was suddenly decided that this area should be looked at after all.  So the inevitable request came in, was I available on Sunday to do the code changes for testing on Monday.

I agreed and the arrangements were made, as I rushed to the airport to fly home. It looks like the hotel is going to be out at the airport at some phenomenal price.  My cheap hotel has let me down by not having a room on Tuesday night.  Oh bother.

Oh and I need never have rushed, as I am writing this, the flight is delayed by over an hour.  I have also never seen such a long queue of people arriving at Edinburgh, and never such a long queue for people flying on Easyjet.

Well unless something else major happens, you will know that I am at least late home, but nothing else major occurred.

Creme Brule with RBS

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Its funny how days work out.  Thursday started a quiet sunny day with not a lot to do.  Part way through the day, a serious problem was recognised, serious because no one had taken a look at it before and it was high on the user want list.  Ended up with me working until 21.00 in the evening trying to resolve the problem.

Eventually stopped at nine, and went back to the hotel to get changed into the glad rags.  I was off up to Petit Paris where my favourite spiky haired waitress was on duty.  Ordered my wine and pigeon breasts yet again.  Next it was rabbit in a lovely thick wine sauce.  Decided the bank were going to treat me, so I finished off with a Crème Brule.  On the table next to me were an older couple visiting Edinburgh for the festival.  They had never been to the Petit Paris, and really quite enjoyed the place. They had been to a number of plays, and walked out of at least a couple.

After the Petit Paris, it was off to Whistle Binkies for a very quick pint and 15 minutes of listening to quite a good band.  I had decided I needed to be back in bed to follow through the problem I was looking at; so I was back in bed by midnight.

Tiles for a drink with the RBS team

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After work went to Tiles for a few pints with Shelley Ward and Neil Saunders and Nicholas Croll.  After that went onto Petit Paris for a delicious starter of pan fried pigeon breasts followed by monk fish in a red wine and shallot sauce.

Today heard from Nicholas that Centaur had gone into liquidation.   We knew Mike was selling up and going back to the USA

Petit Paris in Edinburgh

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After the long weekend, it was up early again on Tuesday to catch the Tuesday 7.55 Easyjet flight to Edinburgh.  Flight left on time and arrived on time to a beautifully sunny Scottish day.

After work booked into the hotel, prices now down because the festival had ended.  The streets were a lot quieter than the week before.  Had a quiet pint of IPA in a pub listening to a Scottish folk band from Glasgow while waiting for a table to become vacant at the Petit Paris.  I’m sure I saw the band last week in the Rose and Crown on Rose Street.

Back at the Petit Paris I sat in the basement.  Had their Terrine for starter, followed by the delicious lamb fillet.  Got talking to the occupant from my neighbouring table, who was a dark wild haired girl, Phoenix, up from London for the Fringe.  She had been singing her own peace songs on the Royal Mile.  Seemed to belong to a campaign group who were trying to install a new ministry into government called the ministry of peace.

I was back to bed at the relatively early time of midnight.

Scottish Parliament and its clocks

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Had a couple of days in the office this week, and then it was back to Scotland for three days.

Weather was on and off showery.

Never made it out to any posh eateries at night, had a couple of basic lunches at Tiles and Café Royal with Mary.

Saw a Comedy show at midnight at the Assembly rooms.  It was called the Best of Fest.  It was excellent, but I’m afraid other than a magical acoustic guitarist called Antionio Forcione, I cannot remember any of their names.

Hotel was the same Rutland hotel, next week when I’m back there I will at least have an ensuite room.

Amazing, but Selina’s Graham came up to Edinburgh by sleeper on Friday to commission the clocks in the new Scottish Parliament.  Then he was back down by train to England at 2.00.  So I never saw him.

Back home from RBS

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Friday, left the bank early to catch the 4.35 flight back to Luton.  Left on time, arrived on time.  TV crew at the terminal taking pictures of us as we got off.  Maybe I will be on the next series of Airport.  Who knows?

Rhythm Sharks in Edinburgh

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Thursday was a dry day without rain but overcast.  Went to All Bar One for lunch with Mary Devine and Ed Aldridge, nice but small Caesar Salad with blackened Salmon.

Oh dear, walked past the Petit Paris and was spotted by the waiter.  He wondered why I was still in town.  I had told them on Monday that this was the end I was going away.

Met Ed in the evening at the Guildford Arms.  This was the first day of their Folk and Blues Festival.  The place was mobbed, and we seemed to be standing in the walkway.  Caledonian Breweries sponsored the event, and every one of their beers was available. I drank the IPA, and also their Porter.  A really dark and tasty beer.

As we entered a band called Yard Of Ale were playing, they are on every night starting and ending the evening. They are probably Scotland’s best acoustic pub band, music spans 30 years incl. Folk, Skiffle & Country. Anchoring event for 10th year. The band: Peter Gillan, Colin Mackenzie & Alistair McDougald.  They were not my cup of tee, and luckily they were soon off.  They played Lonnie Donnegan songs, and Ralph McTell Streets of London.

Next on were the Rhythm Sharks. Sandy Tweedale on vocals & guitar with Gary Martin on vocals & harmonica & slide guitar. Major driving force of the Scottish Blues scene.  They only get together to play once a year at the Guildford arms.  They were very good.  Can’t remember the numbers they played, but it was all Blues.

Back to my hotel before midnight!!!

Restaurant Barioja while working for RBS

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Wednesday, what a day, heavy flooding showers, thunder and lightning.  Yet another landslide in Scotland blocking another road.  This type of weather is predicted more and more with global warming.

Didn’t go out for lunch, worked quite late with a new piece of work, which has been passed to me to complete.  For supper I went to a Spanish Tapas bar called Barioja on Jeffrey Street.  Last time I was here I over ordered on the food and had only 30 minutes to eat.  This time I was more circumspect and had plenty of time to eat.  Usual plate of olives, nice piece of chicken in some sauce I cannot remember, a lovely baked tomato with anchovies and a salad or artichoke hearts, olives and peppers, couple of glasses of wine and a beer.

I thanked the table next to mine, for buying me my meal.  The guy had been speaking loudly about how the bank, (who he works for) should extend into America and Europe.

Afterwards met up with Ed for a couple of pints at Mathers in Broughton Street.  Definitely a football orientated pub with several matches playing at the same time.  Beer priced reasonably.

I hear I might be back in Edinburgh for a few days next week.

Rutland Hotel with Royal Bank of Scotland

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Today was a pleasant day, even sat outside the Tiles bar for lunch.  Worked late to finish off some work, and then met Simon Stone and Neil Saunders for a pint of refreshment at Tiles.
Booked into the new cheap hotel, The Rutland Hotel, above the Rutland Bar located at the West End overlooking the entrance to the Fantasy Palace.  Soon left for a late supper at Petit Paris, here I ate their asparagus and smoked Salmon for starters, followed by Toulouse sausage, all washed down with some red wine.  As I left, I mentioned to the spiky haired waitress that I wouldn’t be back very often as my work in Edinburgh was complete.  Gave her a kiss on the cheek and said farewell.

Too late to see the show I had planned to see, so went to Whistle Binkies.  Here I saw a couple of bands.  Not particularly inspiring, but the Dark Island beer was excellent.

On the walk back I saw two picture opportunities, just when you haven’t got the camera and tripod.  The Scott monument looked as if it had a beam of light emanating upwards from its summit.  The castle was in low cloud, clear air underneath and lit with sodium lights, it again looked very surreal.