Not been to Banbury for years, since the M40 was built. Decided to go there for some shopping. Amazing how they have built a shopping centre and disguised it in all the old buildings in the center. You could almost walk around it without seeing it.
Didn’t buy much, but did have a Chinese all you can eat buffet. Actually not too bad, and well priced.
Post box in Banbury. Old ask Rosemary what is specila about it.
After our lovely holiday in the Channel Islands with John and Carol Curd, it was back to work. First day was in the office, then a one-day trip to Scotland to the Bank. One day seemed to turn into 4 days. Had to change the EasyJet flight twice, and stay in two different hotels.
First night was at the Apex City. No free broadband access, so left them a remark on their comment form. That night ate with Yura Usvyat, who suggested a pub called the Jolly Judge, just off the Royal Mile for free Internet access.
Wednesday was staying down at the Hollyrood hotel near the parliament. I hoped that there would be free access there from the Thai Restaurant, but alas there was none. Ate at the Petit Paris, eating a nice fish dish of Ling. Since discovered it to be a type of deep-sea cod, which appears on an endangered list, and to be avoided. Afterwards met up with John Curd and Yura Usvyat who were meeting Malcolm Collett from a company call arum. https://www.arum.co.uk
John and Yura went off to eat, so I took off to see what was happening at Whistle Binkies. Turned out to be an excellent night. Four bands were playing. Caught the end of the first band, and left when the third had started. The second band though was excellent, very loud and metal. A Glasgow band called Graduation Day. See them at https://myspace.com/graduationday
Thursday, went to the Jolly Judge for a couple of pints and some internet access, then onto the mussel and steak, for some fish and chowder. https://www.musselandsteakbar.com
Friday back home, quite rough in Edinburgh, one tree on the way to the airport, by the zoo, had been blown over. Otherwise there were no problems getting back to Luton.
Sorry for the lack of postings on here. After a wonderful week in Guernsey with our own chef Gordon Curd, we are back in England to hear the sounds of fireworks.
Nice week, did plenty of walking and worked out in the Gym with Carol Ramsey.
We walked most days on the island, didn’t get over to Herm, bad weather conditions. Had plenty of alcohol, used most of my years allowance.
Still raining in the morning. Walked to work as usual, picking up my bacon and egg roll at Snax.
The evening started with a pint in Whistle Binkies, followed by a meal at Petit Paris. Had the Sea Bass with an olive topping.
Amusing chat with the couple next door. The guy got up before ordering to go to the loo. As he left he said to the girl guess what I am having. I said to here, he is having the rabbit. He could not believe the girl when she guessed rabbit. The give away sign were the fingers, in rabbit ear shape above his head as he left the table. He thought he had just brushed his hair.
Chat with spiky hair, she was wondering how long I would be there. We got into talking about Iran and Saudi.
Horrible wet day. Rained all day. In the evening, started off a quite evening. 30 minutes on the exercise machines burning off the waist line, followed by a swim and then the hotel restaurant.
Had some scallops on a risotto base, with a plate of brussel sprouts. During the meal, by down fall occur ed. Ed phoned. We met up in the Half Way House, on the setps between Waverly Station and Cockburn street. We actually met outside in the torrential rain. After a few pints there we moved on to Whistle Binkies for some music and beer.
Flew up to Edinburgh again The landing was twitchy caused by very blustery conditions on arrival. This time landed pretty much on time, not like the previous week. The weather started out nice, though windy, but by the end of the day it was drizzling.
Evening entertainment was down in the gym. First bought myself a pair of reebok trainers and shorts in a closing down sale. (Place was closing down 2 months ago).. Then to the hotel gym, where I used the tread mill and training bikes. Cooled off with a swim and sauna.
Ate in the hotel Raddisson Itchycoo bar.
Finally back in the hotel room, spoke to rosemary through the Internet connection.
Well you guessed it, I am back from Saudi. Pleasant trip, but very humid in Jeddah.
Week started badly, EasyJet were several hours late setting off. Found a nice quiet place in the airport to wait. No one else around, the Costa Coffee shop had a very underworked and pleasant girl serving there. She got quite a bit of businees from me!
The week, well ate mainly in the hotel, but had one visit to Petit Paris. Met Ed and Mary for a lunch time drink.
After the pleasant long weekend at Cambridge, reality struck home. Rosemary dropped me off at Heathrow in the evening to catch the 8.45 to Jeddah.
Bit of a shock when I was told about the redundancies at Cedar. Old colleagues of mine, John Curd, Peter Willson, Anne Walsh, Stuart Charlton and Yura Usvyat had been let go on Friday. Spent the waiting time on the plane phoning John, Peter and Anne.
Managed a few hours sleep on the plane, finally arrived to the most awful heat and humidity. Well not so warm (29) but everything was dripping with wet. My hotel windows, I cannot see out of because of the condensation on the outside.
Ian Rosethorne lost his luggage in transit. Probably because we booked in so late, booking in late was a strategy recommended by the ticket sales to get an upgrade to business class.
Transformation Alumni weekend in Cambridge. Stayed at Steve’s old college, Cauis, in an old building off Harvey Court. Slight delay to departure for Steve to find credit cards, only prolonged by him deciding we’d go in Rosemary’s car so she could “drop him off at Heathrow” on Sunday so he could catch evening flight to Saudi for work. Rosemary thought Heathrow not on normal route home and how she’d rather not drive to Heathrow and risk humiliation of going round and round in circles prior to finding scenic route home, and she also felt tea party at CUP infinitely more appealing.
Arrived in Cambridge to find had somehow lost alumni booklet etc (which has not materialized since). Checked in at Harvey Court with no problems (what do you expect at such an establishment?) and walked to the Law Faculty at the Sidgwick site to collect our own separate itineraries.
Both of us off to the Scott Polar Research Institute to learn about the poles, exploration thereof and current work of the institute. Large confusion on R’s part over differences between North Pole, Pole of Inaccessibility and the drifting North Magnetic Pole. Views of the poles on the dome ceilings, executed in 1930s, in the main hall. Fascinating to note that the North Pole was first seen only on 12 May 1926 and how several aspects of the North Pole dome now out of date in a few years of its painting. Irritating to note that Steve had forgotten camera.
Lunch at Browns and then to the Herbarium to hear about 300 years of plants and history. We heard how Botany professor John Stevens Henslow had taught and later recommended his pupil Charles Darwin as the naturalist on The Beagle. We were privileged to see actual plant specimen collected by Darwin (to Henslow’s standards) and now extinct. But the most striking aspect of the talk was the enthusiasm of Curator Prof John Parker and Assistant Curator Gina Murrell. Their recent work was into how Henslow’s botanical investigations on the nature of species helped Darwin in his evolutionary thoughts. We caught up with them again at the evening reception and were enthralled to learn how Gina had found vital Darwin material in an off-site “archive” due for demolition. She remarked how the line between work and leisure was very blurred for her. What a marvellous state to be in.
Enthusiasm at this last event, meant both of us missed our next engagement. Steve decided we should go to M&S and, due to existing article of clothing looking as though he’d slept in it for several days, R should find him a new suit for Saudi trip. Major discoveries at M&S: a) their inches are smaller than they used to be and hence larger than normal sizes needed and b) ties cost a small fortune. Lessons learnt are to not drink beer & generally diet and, when going on a business trip, not leave ties at home. (Later heard, one of the others going to Saudi lost his luggage, so, as suggested by R, S should have taken both suits and hence perhaps clothed the lad who’d lost his wardrobe.)
Opening Reception in the Fitzwilliam where we were wined and canaped and heard the Vice-Chancellor talk. Quick wander around the Illuminated Medieval Manuscripts, before heading back to Sidgwick for A Philosophical Evening (with cheese & wine). Four names proposed as Cambridge’s greatest philosopher, with Francis Bacon winning. Wine and cheese not on a par with that the Reception.
Saturday saw Steve into Cosmology and big bangs in general while Rosemary took a more catholic selection of talks. Steve started with “Origins of Cosmology” and Rosemary with “Egypt from A – Z” by Dr Toby Wilkinson. Egyptian talk was totally brilliant, cohesive and engrossing. Later learnt the Berks branch of the Cambridge Society is trying to book him for a talk. We coincided for “Journey from the centre of the earth” and divided for Steve to hear Dr Simon Singh’s “Big Bang: The History of the Universe” and Rosemary to hear Claire Tomalin speak on Pepys. Steve discovered two books entitled Big Bang had been published this year, one of them more personally involving than Dr Singh’s version. Rosemary discovered she needed to read both Pepys and Ms Tomalin’s biography of the man immediately and also how amazingly young Ms Tomalin looked (she couldn’t possibly have matriculated in 1951, could she?).
Sandwich lunch before David Starkey’s highly entertaining, and with only (for him) a few mildly controversial remarks, “That was the year that was” about the Gunpowder plot of 1605 and the never ending problems of religions in society.
Simon Singh, David Starkey, the vice-chancellor and Griff Rhys Jones were the guests for David Frost’s “Tea with Frost” discussion. Steve briefly shot to fame as being, in common with Griff RJ, one of the occupiers of the Lady Mitchell Hall back in the summer of 1973 and one of a very select few in the Hall to confess to being so. As we left, one old boy said to Steve (having read Steve’s label) “I’ve got your number, Blasdale!”. He later confessed to being a Millwall supporter and therefore not entirely spotless himself.
Drinks at The Eagle (rather expensive but reasonable beers) with Catherine, Peter and David from the Berks branch before a very good Thai meal with them and (to quote) “so to bed”.
Sunday, lost several things in the room in space of just a few minutes, but finally collated all possessions into the car and walked into Cambridge for breakfast at The Copper Kettle. Steve off to Lucy Cavendish college (aimed at “mature” ie over 21, female students. Over 21? Mature? What are we?) and Rosemary to private alumni viewing of The Cambridge Illuminations. Sublime. Trinity curator superbly informative. One day R will get the book. Steve joined her for a quick check on her favourite painting –
Sandwich lunch before tour of the cast gallery (later discovered Selina did NOT go there while attending the Classics Conference in July.) Shameful lack of dedication.
Hideous drive down M11, M25 not too bad, but low lying, glaring, setting sun blamed for short detour on M4 during return trip home. Steve made his flight.
Tuesday I went out with Mary Devine and Ed Aldridge for a few beers and supper.
Started off in the Bow Bar on Victoria street where I drank their Malt of the Day.
Then onto The Mussel and Steak Bar, where we all had Mussels in various sauces.
Afterwards had a pint in the City Cafe on Blair Street, Bannermans on Cow gate and finally Bows on Blackfriars Street.
The area around there was full of noisy students. I think term had started and all the freshers where being taken on a tour of the area. They were getting discounts at the various bars. Definitely made me feel old.