Wednesday in Chicago

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Another cool day in Chicago. Work was exciting today. Big panic back in the UK required my attention. Roger was wanting to fly me back to the UK on the next plane, even paying for first class flights. Reason prevailed and I am still here. I though had a bad night sleeping, waiting for the phone call from the UK requiring me to rush to the Chicago office at 3.00 am. This never happened so hopefully the problems have been resolved.

Had a large New York Strip for supper, done a nice rare. For starters thin piece of tuna coated in sesame seeds. These were quite nice to eat. Afterwards took a walk around town. Saw a fire work display, the loud bangs echoing around the high rise buildings was something to be heard.

There was also an outdoor exhibition of photographs from around the world. All taken from the air showing natural and unnatural features of the world. Examples would be the Flamingos on Lake Nakuru, or the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, or a nudist beach in France, or the out runnings of waste water from a desalination plant in Kuwait, or the ships stranded in the dried out lake in Eastern Europe.

Tuesday in Chicago

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After another bad night, waking at 4.00 am in the morning, I walked into work for 8.00. Not much to report work wise.

After work had an Italian meal with Christine and chatted about various things. As usual the restaurant was crowded at 6.30 pm in the evening. These Americans do love to eat early.

After the meal, I must admit to feeling tired, so went back to the hotel and slept through a Bruce Willis film (12 monkeys). So I am afraid to say I did not do a great deal.

Chicago update

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The first day in Chicago is nearly over. I woke early 4.00 am and watched a bit of television. Then I walked into work, ten minutes from the office. It was warm (24C), but very humid (100%). Arrived at 8.00. Bit of a problem getting into the office, so went for a coffee and a Danish.

Arrived into the office at 8.15, met Fred, Tom, Vikram and Christine. Spent most of the morning talking about WSAD and CVS. 

For lunch had a walk around, bought a tooth brush and some food from the local deli.

During the afternoon looked at merging source from different levels, and then started the process of building a new development WSAD system.

Went for supper with Fred. Had a large Tuna steak cooked medium rare. Was very nice. We sat outside for the meal. It was quite nice weather for Chicago, not at all hot, around 23 degrees. There was unfortunatly rather a strong wind blowing.

Back to the hotel where I picked up lots of brochures.

Going to Chicago

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On Sunday drove down to Heathrow to catch the plane to Chicago. Got stuck on the M25 for one hour and made the checkin 75 minutes before the scheduled flight leaving time.

Flight was full. Had plenty of wine and food on the trip. Arrived in Chicago, and filled in the customs form to say I had been on a farm. They were still concerned with FMD from England, so cleaned and disinfected my shoes.

Caught to Chicago City train into tge city, as this is quite a low clost way in.

The Hilton Palmer House Hotel was good, it is a 1900 hotel with a wonderful ceiling in the entrance hall painted by a French impressionist. 

Had a burger and a few glasses of beer before going to bed.

Annecy Paragliding

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On Friday got back from Annecy after a week of paragliding.

We drove out with Cloud Nine and stayed a Maison Du Moulin as guests of Irwyn Jehu. 

The weather was excellant and we had five days of paraliding. The last two days it rained, and instead Irwyn tooks us canyoning.

Had good flights from Col de la Forclaz where I managed to gain 600 meters above take off in quite strong conditions. In fact I had to put in the big ears to stop going into the rather black looking clouds. Managed to get over to the teeth, but chickened out from crossing the lake because of the now very black looking clouds. After landing down by the lake, a thunder stor soon started.

We also flew at Grand Bornond, near La Cluzas, where I also gained much height. The second flight though was rather rough and I spend 10-15 minutes with big ears pulled to get down quickly. No one I spoke to enjoyed that second flight.

All in all had a wonderful time, with great food and wine. Should have some pictures later.

Faroe Holiday

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We arrived back from the holiday on Sunday. The weather was very mixed. Rain, wind, fog and sunshine, all in one day. The last few days were quite warm.

I was able to take some close up pictures od the puffins, and also ate my first puffin, it was quite a gamey bird.

We participated in quite a few walks, which generally meant going up steep slopes and down again. After the walk a few Black Sheep beers were always consumed.

Last afternoon at Vågar

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Took the bus to an old house which had been inhabited until the 1956. It had been built in the 18th century, was grass roofed, dirt floored and build of wood and stones. It was three rooms, one for the cows in winter, one room for cooking, and the final room the best room with a couple of beds.

We walked back over the hill, couple of hours walk. A few beers before supper. For supper had a started of dried meats. These were dried lamp, dried fish (probably plaice) , dried whale meat and some blubber. Was interesting and not too bad.

Tomorrow we are off to another location. A grass roofed hostel, and to see some cliffs with lots of birds.

The vist to the puffins

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The night never actually got dark, it though rained pretty hard. Had a good sleep, Good breakast of meats, cheeses and bread. Then walked down to the boat. Looked quite promising, not too much wind, and the rain had stopped. But the boat was not running because it was too rough out at sea. So walk around the village. I took a few pictures of the village, the school and church. Now we are back at the hotel waiting for a bus to take us to a local museum in a near by village.

The island of Vågar

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Up early in the morning for breakfast and then to the airport for the two hour flight to the island of Vågar. Excellent service on the plane. Arrived at the airport, and walked across a field to the hotel. Hotel two story modern hotel. Had a quick lunch of a thick soup and then went for a quick walk to the coast. The walk took us alongside a lake. The lake reached the sea where it ended in a water fall. Lots of birds on the walk, which were identified for us by the birders in the party. They managed 25 birds on the walk.

The short walk ended five hours later back at the hotel after 10 miles. Quick shower and then some beers and supper. Big surprise was a new member of the party turned up at 6.pm. He is Ian who was on the Georgian and Armenian trip the prvious year.

Supper was OK, we all thought there would be loads of fish on the menu. In fact there was only Atlantic Salmon.

The weather, it rained a little but not alot. Just low cloud at 200 to 300 feet spoilt the look of the place. Best described as soft. 

The tour guide is Norwegian, who has lived in Ireland for a a couple of years and has an Irish accent. She has just graduated from Edinburgh Uni with an Artificial Inteligence degree.

Tomorrow we are off to an island called Mykinos (sound like that but not spelt that way. ) This is a high light of the trip with puffins. But may not happend because the sea must not be rough and today the boat had been canncelled. Looking forward to eating some Puffin, its a national dish as is whale meat.

Well that is for now. It is 10.30 in the evening and it is still rather light.