Petit Blanc

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Today, thought we would treat ourselves to lunch in Oxford, using the Pear Tree park & ride.  Rosemary as usual insisted we had the front two offside seats on the upper deck of the double decker “ride” bus.  First stop was the Ashmolean Museum to see a temporary exhibition called Spectacular Miracles: Images of Supernatural Power.  Umm, to us a very odd exhibition of recent photographs of statues and pictures believed to be capable of supernatural powers, from shrines in and near the city of Genoa.  I am afraid Oxford does not do temporary exhibitions as well as the Cambridge where we both saw an excellent exhibition of illuminated manuscripts back in September at the Fitzwilliam.

We arrived at Petit Blanc for our luncheon.  A very slim, cute, French waitress seated us.  This being the festive season, their good value menu prix fixe was not available, being replaced with a Christmas menu.  We decided to eat off their a la carte menu.

We started with an aperitif of Ricard, while we studied and dithered over the menu.  Rosemary started with the Bleu des Basques cheese, chicory and pear salad, and I am always tempted by terrine, so had to have the foie gras, Lincolnshire pork and Armagnac prune terrine with apple chutney.  These dutifully arrived on their white bowls (to our great glee, because they were rather like the ones we just lashed out on) and were consumed with great gusto.  Rosemary is definitely going to try to make the salad at home.

For the main dish, Rosemary selected char grilled Lincolnshire pork escalope with harrissa & lemon butter (which she promptly got down her jumper, having threatened me with dire consequences should I be so careless), while I had pan-fried calves liver, sage & shallot mousseline with pan juices.  The liver was cooked rare and was delicious, a special treat as I very rarely have liver at home.

We finished together with crème caramel and espresso coffee and after paying walked back to Oddbins to buy some fizzy GF Cavalier wine for the festive season.

Wallis and Gromit

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Sunday saw us in Aylesbury to see the new Wallis and Gromit film the Curse of the Were Rabbit.  The film was enjoyable, but not as good as the previous films, probably because most of the gags had been performed before.

After the film we went to Waddesdon Manor and visited the house which had been decorated with Christmas trees.  This is their usual Christmas event.  This year the theme was the Three Kings.

Norwich

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Worked at home most of the week.  It has been cold all week, with very little precipitation.  Friday was meant to be really stormy, but in the end did not affect us.  Believe the west country was badly caught out, with many children having to stay at school for the night. 

I  started my course if vaccinations, in the belief i might be going to Saudi.  Visited the nurse twice in the week, going there again next week.

The weekend we drove to Norwich, and stayed with my father and Ann.  Went to Norwich to see a film (The persistant gardener), set in Kenya.   Bit of a problem getting there, traffic was bad, missed the  proposed start of the film, but it actually was not showing at that time.  Went around the shops, got caught by shopping center evacuations, and long queues in the coffee shops.  Back to the cinema to watch the film.

Richard

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This weekend was gnerally cold and miserable.  We though had Richard Fowler and Vicki round for lunch.  Richard recently has returned to the village.

Selina and Graham turned up just as we were about to eat.  They eventually stayed, we did have rather a large rib of beef to get through.

Gutworm

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Today, went out for a drink with Mary and Ed.  Afterwards I went to the Bongo Club.  Some metal bands were playing.  The Bongo Club is on Holyrood road.  Walk down Cowgate towards the parliament.  The road changes in to Holyrood, and on the left is the Bongo Club.

Reasonable venue, but rather cold, probably because there were only 30 or so there.  I reckon I must have been the only paying person, all the rest were from the bands and hangers on.

Should have started at 9.00, but did not start till 10.  Three bands played, ending at 12.30.

The bands in order were, Turbyne, Sweet Zombie Jesus and then Gutworm.

Turbyne, were young, but actually quite a good band.  Think there were 5 in the line up.

Gutworm were the older band and definitely the best.  Noise and metal at its best  The other bands definitely looked up to them.  They should be playing in Rushden on the 25th November and the White Swan in High Wycombe on December 3rd.  Well worth a visit.

Mary Devine’s birthday

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Cold sunny day up north again.

Out to lunch at 12 with the team and others for lunch at the Cafe Royal.  We were celebrating a mile stone birthday for Mary Devine. 

Evening, a meal at the bar in the hotel, and then listened to one bang at Whistle Binkies.   Not as good as the Wednesday before, but original.

Petit Paris

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Another sunny, but cold day in Edinburgh.  My room looks towards Arthur’s Chair, and I saw the sun rise around the side of Duddingston Loch.  Times like this I wish I had my camera with me.

Petite Paris for the evening meal, not seen the waitress there for a while, must ask where she is.  Could be working in their other restaurant which opened this year.

Had a full meal:

  • Cream of Carrot Soup
  • White Sausage on mash and tarragon gravy
  • Creme Brulee
  • Pichet of Vin rouge

Edinburgh 4.45 start

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Off to Edinburgh again, My usual Easyjet flight was fully booked, so took an earlier flight from Birmingham on BMI Baby.

Only problem was I was out of the house at 5.00am, and it looked to be a foggy day.  Luckily the M40 was clear of fog.

All the cars in Birmingham were totally covered with frost.  Edinburgh was positively barmy when I arrived.

Was lazy this evening, ate at the bar in the hotel, some Turbot, Chips and Broccoli.  Sounds odd, the Broccoli was served with almond flakes, olives and a dressing

Banbury

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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.

Graduation Day

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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.