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. 

Holiday to the Faroe Islands

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Set off early in the morning to Gatwick airport and took a flight to Copenhagen. Arrived Copenhagen and went straight to the hotel in the middle of the red light district. Went straight out and walked around the centre, had a beer for lunch, visited the Guiness museum and had an evening meal sitting out side the restaurant. It was quite a warm night.

Watched an open air jazz concert in one of the squares and then went on back to the hotel for bed. Woken by fire works and rather a noisy street.

Axon Summer Party

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This weekend was the Axon Summer party at Brighton. We had a good trip down there around the M25 and M23 and finally were delayed along the Brighton front as we made our way to the Grand Hotel.

After booking and having our car taken away from us, we caught the coach to the Racecourse where the afternoon entertainment was taking place. Lunch was a BBQ, with lashings of beer. Played on the dogem cars, quad bikes and a simulator for the Aintree Grand National race. This time I did not turn the quad bike over. There were other activities, laser clay shooting, Pilot Bikes and a show for the kids. The weather held out, and got brighter as the day progressed.

Made our way to the hotel, our room was on the front, so had a good view of the see. We went for quick swim, and then down for the evening meal. Managed to speak to the head honcho Mark Hunter during the cocktail event. He gave his view of financial analysts, which was not very polite. 

The meal was pretty good, and the evening continued with usual formula of gambling, disco and slot car racing.

In the morning breakfast, and then visited Karen and her boy friend in their room. She had been booked into a honeymoon suite as they are getting married next Saturday. It was magnificent with a four poster bed in a large room, and another lounge with television sofas and writing tables. We then headed back home in the rain. Not much else during the day just relaxed. Rain held off later, so was able to do some mowing around the field.

Stonehenge with Andante

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We had an wonderful weekend visiting prehistoric monuments in Wessex with Andante travel. More details and pictures to be posted on the website later.

We travelled to Salisbury on Friday for an evening lecture on Stonehenge.

On Saturday we started early for a private trip around stonehenge. Here we were able to walk among the stones. After the visit, which had to end before 8.30, before the general public arrived, we had a walk through the prehistoric landscape of stonehenge.

Picnic lunch in the afternoon, then a visit to the Trust for Wessex Archaeology, and a visit of Salisbury Museum. 

Supper was provided by Andante and was excellant.

On Sunday we went to Knap Hill by coach, and walked from there along the Wansdyke to the burial chambers of West Kennet long barrow. We passed by Milk Hill, and Tan Hill. I saw a paraglider and hangglider flying Milk Hill.

After the barrow we walked on the Avebury passing Silbury Hill. Excellant picnic lunch by Andante, and then a visit to the stones. Back on the coach to Salisbury and then on home in the car. 

A great weekend.

Paragliding at Coombe Gibbet

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Rosemary and I were going down to Salisbury for the weekend, so we had decided to take the Friday off from work. Friday the wind was blowing from the North West, so this was an ideal time to try some flying at Coombe.

We arrived at around 1.30. There were some 30-40 paragliders and hang gliders around. I set up and launched very quickly, but had to do a slope landing as I was going down. I had missed the thermal cycle and everyone else was coming down.

I set up to launch again, and had a couple of bad attempts at launching. The wind from the termals was quite stong. I did learn a few tips on how to control the glider when it was upside down on the ground.

I waited around for a quieter phase, launched and had a 20 minute flight in front of the hill. It was quite rough, going from 8 ups to 4 downs. Rosemary said she saw many gliders with their wind tips folding.

I set up for a third flight, but soon went down. That was it for the day as we had to be in Salisbury for a meeting at 8.30

Stage diving at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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Today is the last day. Yesterday evening we were taken by coach to an industrial site and were herded into a large warehouse. (Usual purpose was go cart racing. The entrance was made into a tube on its side with smoke effects, and creatures, dressed as insects on stilts greeting the visitors. 

In the warehouse we had food, good food, and drink and music. The organisers had set up 2 stages, and 3 bands played 4 sets. They were pretty good, and yes there was crowd surfing and stage diving at an IBM conference. The first band a jazz like, the rest were rock. When the bands finished at midnight a disco continued. I had had enough, and only live music is worth the effort, so of home to bed.

It was a pretty good event, and I was pretty hot and sweaty after event. Well done IBM.

Today I have three sessions I want to attend, just hope I do not snore too loudly.

Made it through the last sessions which were very interesting presentations of the new features of Websphere 5.0.

Then back in to town to buy some Sacher Torte for Rosemary. Good flight back.

In Wien at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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Well it is Thursday morning. Yesterday I attended some good sessions, and also one of the worst I have ever been to. 

Lunch was a scramble as the session I was attending overrun a little, and the queues were on the long size. But managed a quick refuel of bean salad.

When the sessions ended I took the tube back into town and walked around the museum area. The buildings there are absolutely fabulous. I chose the correct day, because the Natural History museum was open. Had a quick walk around there. Lots of stuffed, and bottled specimens. Bit difficult, all the exhibits were described in German.

Afterwards had a long walk around town, a few beers and then a German Hot Dog.

In Wien at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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Well it is nearly the end of Wednesday. Been to many enjoyable sessions at the IBM Symposium. Heard how to make Websphere run faster and better.

Today the sun has been shining, as it was yesterday.

Yesterday after finishing here at 7 in the evening, went back to the hotel. Did not do a great deal other than a few beers, then a McDonnalds. I have never seen so many in one town.

Tonight I will look around the museums are, and maybe enter into the museums.

In Wien at the IBM Software Symposium 2002

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I had to get up early on Sunday at 5.00 to catch the 7.30 to Wien (Vienna) in Austria. Spent the Sunday walking around the city, saw the cathedral, had lunch on the Danube of souvlaki and salad. The citizens of Wein seemed to be having an inline skateing race around the banks of the river. Seemed to be quite dangerous for the competitors and those just out for a Sunday afternoon stroll. 

The weather was cloudy all day, but the sun was almost peaking through. Of course I had forgotten my hat and suntan cream so I had to be a bit careful.

ON the tube back I stopped of to see the Catherdral, St Stephens or some thing like that. More interesting were some break dancers.

Then I tried to go to the museum, when the heavens opened with a large thunder storm. So gave up and went back to the hotel for a few beers. 

For supper had a meal in hotel which was quite pleasant. Starter was a terrine of Spinach, and main course was Viennese style boiled beef.

On Monday attended some long sessions on Websphere, then caught the underground back to the hotel at about 8 in the evening. Went out for supper, found an Indian resturant. Not the typical English type. Food was spicy but not hot, with quite alot of greenery with it. Unusually there was an Indian woman dressed in a sari serving. As I said not the usual English Indian resturant. Weather was drizzle all day.

So this is the start of Tuesday, blue skys today.

Been emailing the daughter and found my antique phone works hear to.