Category Archives: United Kingdom

Festival Fringe – Dan Antopolski – A Whim Away – RBS

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Monday had an excellent flight up to Edinburgh, on time and it wasn’t raining at take off or landing.  Arrived at the office at 10.00, into a sweltering heat.  For some reason the air conditioning isn’t started until late in the morning and it takes a while to get to a reasonable temperature.

This week I am staying at the Holiday Inn next to Edinburgh Zoo on Corstorphine Road.  At least that is what I thought.  On arrival I found my booking had been cancelled.  Long story but I think it was because I had used to agents to find me a hotel in the centre of Edinburgh.  Both had failed and ended up booking the Holiday Inn.  I cancelled one booking through one agent, result no hotel.  The  Holiday Inn were very surprising helpful (I wonder if they were to blame) in finding me a hotel for the night, and laid on free transport to get there.  I ended up in the Grosvenor Hilton near the Hay Market.  Old world charm, large bedrooms, high ceilings, and well over my budget.

Met with Ed Aldridge for a curry at Suruchi on Nicholson outside the Festival Hall.  The restaurant was almost full; we were lucky to get in. I ate Chicken Shakuti with lemon rice and Naan bread.  Very nice.

After eating we went to the Pleasance to see if there was anything to watch.  Ended up listening to Dan Antopolski doing an hour stand up.   His style of comedy did require extreme concentration.  Letting your mind wander definitely meant you missed any punch lines.  Last half hour did become a bit tedious.  I wasn’t sure if he was extremely clever or a complete plonker.  There were funny jokes, but none which were side splitting memorable.

Afterwards a quick pint in the Doric, and then I walked back to the hotel.  On the way back I stopped at the Rutland hotel.  This is above a very lively bar.  Found they had rooms for the rest of the week at a very reasonable rate, and it is near the centre of town, so booked a room for the rest of the week.

Friday at RBS and back to Luton

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Into work, some comments about the stamina Cedar people have.  Today the sun started to shine, and as I left Edinburgh it was a beautiful sunny warm day.  The street crowed with tourists and festival goers.  Arrived back in Luton, late, to a cloudy grey wet evening, and how dark it was now.  The evenings are definitely drawing in.

The Khukuri and RBS

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Wednesday, at least it did not rain.  Was into the office by 7.30 coming in by the airport bus.

Left reasonable early, had a ramble around the Royal Mile watching some of the free Festival stuff on the streets.  Popped into Whistle Binkies for a pint during their happy hour.

Went to meet up with Yura Usvyat and Ed Aldridge for a meal at a Nepalese eatery called the Khukuri.  (The name of their famous knife).  This place was on the way to Haymarket.  Slight miss communication, they decided to have a pre meal drink at  a Russian bar called Da Da Da.  Anyway we met up somewhat later for the meal.

I started with Trisuli Poleko Machha – Fish marinated in trisuli spices and cooked in the tandoori oven and served with a green salad.

This was a whole trout, was lovely and crisp and very yummy.

For the main course I and Yura had, (at least I think it was, I’m only going by the number 51 on the menu).  It was recommended by the waiter.

Solukhumbu Bhenda A famous dish from East Nepal. Long slices of Lamb stuffed with minced meat and cooked in onions, ginger, garlic, tomato and the Chefs special spices.

I ate this with Naan bread and rice.   This was all washed down with a Nepalese beer.

It was all in all quite a good meal.  Different to the usual Indian fare. 

Back into town and another beer at a pub with a good collection of real ales and Russian beers.  Can’t remember the name.  I have walked past in on many occasions.  It’s on a corner quite near to the Western Bar, and the Hare and Burke, but not similar in any other way to those two establishments.

Getting rather late, so caught a taxi back to the airport.

My Next Girlfriend in Edinburgh with Royal Bank of Scotland

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Thursday, this was going to tbe the Festival day for us.

Caught the airport bus into work, it was raining and horrible.  Not much to report on during the day.  Left work promptly at 5.10, back to the airport on the bus changed into my jeans and tee shirt, and then back into the city.  It was still pouring with rain.  Next time I’m in Edinburgh I must bring a waterproof jacket.

Met up with various people (Simon Stone, Mary Devine, Ed Aldridge, Danielle Anderson, Willis Scott, Brian Swann and Morag Monteath)  for a meal at Panchos Villa, a Mexican restaurant, on the High Street.  Had a convivial meal and some red wine. 

Next it was on to the Pleasance where we met up with Campbell Purvis to see a comedy show by Brendon Burns.  The Pleasance is centred on a courtyard where we had a beer before the show.  Around the outside of the courtyard are various rooms where the events were located. We were destined for the Cavern. This started at about 10.  Brendon is Australian, the show was funny and was of course filled with the F and C words all the way through.

Afterwards, at last it had stopped raining, a couple more bars, (I will get their names later on, the last I think the last was the Star bar, over the Cow Gate.).  Here we started to lose people as they left to go on home, Ed, Mary and I tried the underbelly, decided it was hot and damp, so went to Whistle Binkies, which was definitely hot and sweaty.  Here we saw two sets by a band called My Next Girlfriend a five-piece rock band paying a mixture of classic rock (Rolling Stones), punk, funk and their own creations.  Well worth listening too.  We left at 3.35.  Caught a taxi back to the hotel, in bed by around 4.30.  Up and out at 7.30 on the bus and into work by 8.30.  Hardly worth paying for a hotel!!

What horrible weather in Edinburgh and RBS

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From the title, you can see I am back in Edinburgh.  I flew up here on Tuesday.  It was wet and raining as I left home, just a continuation from Monday.

I arrived in Edinburgh late, (air traffic problems because of the bad weather), to a wet raining, low cloud base day.  I think it never stopped raining all day.  My hotel is out at the airport and is called a quality hotel.  Quality indeed.  The festival appears to have used up all the hotel rooms in Edinburgh.

In the evening had a few drinks with Simon Stone and Andy Laing at Tiles.  Afterwards walked up to the Grassmarket for a quick meal at the The Petit Paris.  I was greeted like a long lost friend by the young spiky haired waitress.  She wondered where I had been for the last few weeks.  Had a nice meal of deep fried filo wrapped goats cheese, followed by Sea Bass fillets done in an Olive and Tomatoe sauce.

Then it was back to the hotel out by the airport.

Selina’s graduation from Liverpool University

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Today was Selina’s graduation ceremony at Liverpool University where she had gained her First class honours degree.  Up and away in good time, good trip up the motorway until the M62 where we were stationary for half an hour.

Headed for the halls of residence where we had three rooms for the night, changed and caught a taxi to Liverpool University campus.  First stop was to pick up the mortarboard and gown, then onto a reception where we met Selina’s tutors.  The ceremony was in the Philharmonic theatre at 15.00.  We all filed in early and were seated in our allocated places.  The presentations took place at a fast and orderly rate.

After the ceremony we managed a quick tour of the city and docks, then a Chinese meal on the waterfront.  It was then back to the halls of residence for the night, via the excellent men’s toilets and the Philharmonic bar on Hope Street.  The pub has really very ornate marble urinals, well worth viewing.  After sleeping at the halls of residence, we had an excellent breakfast.

Tuesday was spent at Albert docks looking around the Maritime museum, followed by a tour of the city and the docks in an amphibious American wartime DUKW.  These Ducks were being run by The Yellow Duckmarine and had names the names of Wacker Quacker 1 and 2.  

After the tour it was back in the car home, leaving Selina behind for the graduation ball.

Last week in Edinburgh with Royal Bank of Scotland

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This last week spent at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) was helping support the system after it had gone live.  Really there were very few problems.

The main event of the week was on Thursday when Mary Devine, Ed Aldridge and I went out for a celebratory drink and meal.  We started off with cocktails at a bar called Tonic, then on to a restaurant called Ricks.  One of these trendy fusion restaurant.  Actually had a very good meal.  Picked up quite a good tip on cooking which I have presented to Rosemary a couple of times.

After this on to three clubs:

First DROP KICK MURPHYS  on Merchant Street just off Grass Market.  This place is under George IV street in the arches.  Fairly empty. 

Second on to Faith on Cow Gate.  We stayed for our free shooter and then a beer.   Not quite our scene.  

Finally on to Whistle Binkies where we stayed until chucking out time at three. I had a dance with Mary.  There was a small bit of trouble at the end where some over enthusiastic bouncers hurt a man as they ejected him.  We were sitting right next to this group and they had not caused any problems all evening.  Definitely light as I made my way back to my hotel.

The bank and my company each gave Mary and I a bottle of champagne.  Very nice.

Sunday morning at Royal Bank of Scotland

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Up early into the office at 8.30.  Had been raining, looks like a showery day.  Simon was in looking at the Mail Transport problem.  Not much I can do to help.

Lots of drilling and hammering going on, probably repairing the outside of the building where an old office block has been demolished. Turning the site into some smart apartments.  Anyway the worked caused the fire alarms to go off, and four fire engines turned up.

The whole of the system is now working The problem was caused by missing packages, for DB2 7 FP10 not being bound on the mainframe.

So we left at around 16:00 for a few beers and whisky in Clarks Bar across the road from the bank.  Afterwards back to the Petit Paris for a meal of Frogs Legs, followed by a 12 ounce steak.  Lovely.

Next on to the Liquorice club for some entertainment, and then Whistle Binkies.  Early to bed at 23.00

Weekend at Royal Bank of Scotland

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My first weekend in Edinburgh.  Had a bit of a lie in, then a lazy breakfast in the hotel.  Slow walk down the to the office where I arrived at 10.30  The upgrades appeared to be going well and ahead of schedule.

The users came in and did their testing, and eventually a PO was scheduled for transmission.  Unfortunatly the last link in the chain failed.  The mail transform program was unable to connect to DB2.  Stayed in the office, not being a great help (not my code) until 10 in the evening.

Walked home and went straight to bed.  No alcohol.