Quick trip to Edinburgh with EasyJet today. Made a long day of it, up at 5.30 in the morning and back home at 21.00. Did not see much of the place, sat in a windowless room all day in meetings at RBS
Category Archives: United Kingdom
Hook Norton Brewery
Today the Plough and Anchor drinkers decamped to Hook Norton for a brewery visit. The brewery still operates a steam engine to power the water pumps, grain hoists and milling machines. The whole place is a wonderful piece of Victorian engineering, and much of this is still operated.
I intend going back there during the day when the machinery is in operation.
After the visit we had a few drinks in the brewery visitor centre, and then onto another pub for sandwiches and chips.
John Curd starts his sixth decade
Rosemary and I went out to see John Curd on a special surprise visit organised by Carol to commiserate his 50th birthday. Many of the old Walker crowd were there to drink to his health. He had been expecting to go out for a curry, but instead we had a brought in curry organised by the New Himalaya Tandoori house.
Snowdrops at Painswick
Today started out as a beautiful sunny day, but cold. Rosemary and I decided to visit the Painswick Rococo Garden, which is situated in a hidden Cotswold valley in Painswick near Gloucester.
This time of the year is a special treat with floods of Snowdrops amongst the gardens and woods. After viewing the gardens we had a pub lunch with a pint of Hook Norton.
I took a few photos of the garden while I was there. Hopefully, they will be on the site in a couple of week’s time. I was not alone with my camera, there were several professional photographers taking pictures of the Snowdrop grove.
Petit Blanc
Went to Oxford to have lunch at Raymond Blanc’c, Petit Blanc Brasserie. We elected for the fixed price menu and had a very reasonable meal. The service was very attentive.
Weekend in Norwich
This weekend we visited Norwich to see Ann and Mike. Quick drive over on Saturday morning, thought they were all out when we arrived. No car, no dog. Nice bean soup for lunch, then we were dropped off in Norwich to do some shopping while they went to Aylsham
Walked around Elm hill, not seeing much, we then proceeded to Country and Eastern to look at rugs etc. Here they pointed us to their larger shop at the old ice rink. Beautiful building filled with Persian rugs and furniture. Purchased an Afghan rug, and called Mike and Ann to pick us up
The evening was spent drinking, doing crosswords and training. Managed to show Mike how to browse the Internet, and see the pictures we had taken of Peter, Nick and the children before they had departed to NZ
Sunday was a horrible day, raining all day, cold and miserable. More reading of papers, more Internet training and lunch. Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Left at around 5.30 after the Brice’s arrived, for yet another quick drive home
Marlborough and white horses
We canned our planned trip to Wales because of the weather forecast. So instead we headed to Withshire. First we drove on on the B4057 and stopped off at the Uffington White Horse. This is the highest spot in Oxfordshire.
The we drove to Marlborough where we had lunch at Pollys. I had an excellent Smoked Salmon Pate, While Rosemary had a Brie Salad. Looked at the shops, all selling expensive things that I don’t want.
Next a quick trip round to Milk Hill, Rybury, them back past Avebury and on to Swindon. On the way home stopped at a Landrover garage and looked at the Freelanders.
Liverpool Ikea
Drove to Liverpool on Saturday. Went round Birmingham the wrong way, chose the M5 route and found the M42 was closed to a lane, and very slow. Left it and went through Longbridge and joined the M5. In Longbridge we drove by all the car plants. In Liverpool we had another drink in the pub on Penny Lane. Must sort them out, they are so slow in producing their baguettes.
On the way back stopped off at Ikea and had a look at all their stuff. Ended up buying a halogen lamp and a knife.
Journey back was pretty fast, even Birmingham was uneventful.