Blasdale Home

Today decided on a Thai.  While I was in the hotel I discovered an open Wireless LAN I could use.  The LAN identified itself as Thai is good.  So looked around the hotel, there must be a Thai restaurant.  Yes there was. Its near Holyrood in the TUN, and is called th Erawan Restaurant.  It was actually a restaurant and bar.  Serving Thai food and has a nice modern bar. 

I decided on a hot spicy Thai salad.  Very nice, but in hind sight I should have gone for a mild non spicy vegetarian meal.

Spent the evening using their free wireless LAN from the hotel.  Think I will be staying in this hotel in the future, though have to request rooms on the West side.

The happiness of the holiday was at an end, all those Chillies, and the water in Istanbul came to their revenge, but still had to be up early for the flight to Scotland and the bank.

Took it easy on the Monday, a few pints at lunch time in Tiles to watch the Oval match.  Should have arrived earlier, our fortunes took a real rise, over 40 runs in under the hour. In the evening, the security guard was unhappy, he was not looking forward to all the crowing from the English.

Supper off the the Mussel and Steak Bar.  Started off with a kebab, tuna I think, then had a huge steak.  Bit of a stupid thing to do with the dickey tummy.  No alcohol though, very restrained.

Mixed day, started sunny, then pissed with rain.  What am I to wear, shirtsleeves, my artic weather gear, my Summer wear.  After work, gave up on guessing the rain showers.  Figured out I was inside most of the time, and it didn’t really take long to dry out.

Started of badly in the evening with Neil, some sob story about leaving his keys in the wife’s handbag, Wednesday being the day she was out at some meeting.  First time he had heard of this.  I admit this all does sound rather familiar, why do wife’s do this to us.  So a few pints with him at the down at  ????????

Then on to Grassmarket and the Petit Paris.  Hey, they remembered me, the French waiter was there and the spiky haired waitress.  Where had I been, it was over six months since I had been there.  I was given a Pernod and some nuts as an aperitif.

So what did I eat,  the Goats Cheese wrapped in filo pastry, followed with salmon and fresh water crawfish.

Then it was back to the hotel.  Quick visit through Whistle Binkies to see what was happening, but no drinks.

I have started back at my favourite customer.  Yes they wanted me back and I am here back in Edinburgh as the Festival starts.

Caught the Easyjet up to Edinburgh from Luton on a bright sunny morning, arriving well ahead of schedule.  I managed to wake up in time to see Arthur’s Seat and the Castle as we prepared to land.  I even spied the runway as we turned over the Forth.

On the way in from the airport, I see the RBS buildings are complete, and seem to be occupied. 

Didn’t get out to supper till late, the Petit Paris was full so I tried a new restaurant called the Mussel & Steak, the place was in Grassmarket and I took a fancy to it as I walked by.  They too were full but could accommodate me later. 

Went back and was ushered to a table upstairs.  They do a mixture of seafood, shellfish and meat.  I asked the man ushering me, if the place was related to the Mussel inn on Rose Street.  No relation at all, except he had managed the Mussel inn for over 6 years.  This was his venture.

Started off with some fresh oysters, followed by the fish of the day, blackened bream.  The meal was very nice, and the waitresses were very chatty and amusing.  Responding to my gasping words on being asked how dinner was with, “ we only ask when your mouth is full”.

The downstairs restaurant has full view of the kitchen, while those upstairs are able to see what is happening through video screens and several webcams.

After eating a quick visit to Whistle Binkies,.  Monday is open mike night.  The singing from the audience far exceeded the poor hapless minstrel on the stage.

Web address https://www.musselandsteakbar.com