Blasdale Home

Today up at 6.00 am. It was a lovely cold morning and no fog.  So there would be no problems with the roads and the planes.  Drove to Birmingham, arrived at 7.15, plenty of time for check in.  First problem, plane delayed until 9.30, technical problems.

Boarded the Dash 8 Flybe plane, and it left at 9.30.  As we approached Edinburgh the captain told us there was fog, and that he had especially loaded extra fuel for the eventuality.  How come, it was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky?  Yes we could see the bank of fog over Edinburgh.  We spent the next 90 minutes circling a spot south of Edinburgh.  We must have done twenty plus circuits, and then off to Preswick as Glasgow was also fogged in.  Landed at 1.00.  Caught the coach to Edinburgh, arrived at that airport at 2.30 (Very foggy), and then on into town where there was no fog. 

Of course as I walked up the street  I could see other aircraft doing the landing circuit.  Rosemary checked and said most flights had been diverted, except those from Heathrow.  I must assume from this that the cheapo airlines either can’t afford ILS, or their crew are not trained for it.  Now the winter is here I maybe should consider using BA from Heathrow.

What was galling though, was Jon Marshall made it on the 6.30 Flybe flight.

Just finished another week in Edinburgh.  Managed to get the earlier Friday flight home.

At last Friday.  Home today.  Worked until four in the afternoon, explaining how econnector works to one of the staff.  She is to write some administrative functions.

Plane left on time and back home for supper by 8.15.  Was quite a hard week, and now the weather has broken, not so enjoyable.  We will see what Christmas and the New Year brings us up in the wilds of the North.

Lots of Cedar people in to day.  After work, quick drink at the Doric with Mary, Tessa and Phil.  Then met up with Yura at the hotel.

Tessa, Phil, Yura and I ate at Izzis, the Japanese/Chinese restaurant.  Here I had my usual fill of raw Tuna, Salmon, Squid and other fish.

Final pint of beer at Tiles.  Much against my suggestion.  The beer is all larger and top pressure bitters.

Well here we are again in Edinburgh for the week. Up at before six to drive to Birmingham for the flight.  Typical now the weekend is over, lovely starlit morning with a frost.  Flybe decided to leave on time and thus was in the office by 10.15.

Worked until 7.15, made some good progress and will hand over the code on Tuesday.

I am staying in the Apex International in Grassmarket.  This is a reasonable modern hotel in the old town, with lots of pubs around. Good view of the castle, and near all the tourist bits. No one else from the company is staying in Edinburgh, so I decided to eat in the hotel.

The meal was OK, but not great.  Service initially was slow, but I think I arrived at the time when things had started to speed up.  There appeared to be others who had been there a while who all received their food at the same times.  Good thing I had not gone to eat earlier.  The waitresses were cute though. 

And now for the food.  The honeyed carrot and coriander soup could have done with more coriander to give it some flavour.

The Fillet Steak stacked on thinly sliced Oriental Wok cooked vegetables with Ho Chi sauce could have had less salt in the vegetables, and why oh why do the British overcook their rare steaks.  I am always looking for the rare steak where the inside is not cooked.  This steak was only just pink inside. The fillet steak recipe was a good idea, but poorly executed. Won’t be eating there again.