Paris arrival

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First day of our long weekend in Paris.  Up at a reasonable time to try and get a good seat on the Easyjet to Paris.  Despite checking in a few minutes after the opening time, we still seemed to be in the boarding queue B.  Where were all those others who were loading before us.

Flight was uneventful, with this table cloth of white below us all the way. 

At CdeG we moved on to the RER for the 30 minute trip to Gare de Nord.  Here we caught the metro to the nearest stop for out hotel (Porte de St-Cloud).  Trying to buy a ticket was daunting.  It was lunch time, so all the ticket offices were closed.  So had to use a machine. At least they could be trained to speak English. Bought a ticket for the week, reasonable price, but later looking at the ticket we now realise it expires on Sunday.

At Porte de St-Cloud took the wrong exit, walked around the whole traffic island the wrong way, eventually found the road to the hotel.  Yes it was only two minutes from the Metro.  My route was 20 minutes.  Efficient check in by the Radisson staff.

Quickly back out to purchase a drink by the Metro.  How expensive Paris is.  Fifteen Euros for two beers.

On to the Metro.  We had decided to view the area of Montmartre.  Took the number 9 to Miromesnil.  Changed to the 13 and rode to Place de Clichy.  Here we walked and saw the Moulin Rouge, Moulin de la Galette, Moulin Radet, Chateau Des Brouillards, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur.

On the way back, (6ish) stopped for a drink in another bar for a couple of beers.  This reaffirmed the belief that Paris beer was expensive. (17.50 for two).  Lovely district by the Metro Pigalle with masses of sex shops, lap/pole dancing clubs and X rated films.  Almost persuaded Rosemary to visit the Museum of Erotica, but alas one exhibit in the window put her totally off the idea. This was a chair with a slit in the seat and a rotating paddle with the paddles protruding through the seat.

Near by we found a French restaurant where we had supper.  Both of us started with terrine starters.  Rosemary with a meat version, while I ate a fish terrine.  Main course was Cassoulet for me, and Tartiflette.  Far too much to eat.  Then back home on the metro. I managed to spay a Scittish woman sitting next to us with lemon from my lemon segment.

My impressions of France. 

How can they run a country where most things close for lunch.  Shutting all the ticket offices for lunch.  I got the general impression that travel was free at lunch.  Gates left wide open.

The graffiti on the buildings next to the rail lines makes the British version look rather tame.

Mobile phones run below ground.  How come we are so backward on London Transport.

 

Swan Group of Churches Flower Festival

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This weekend my new tripod went out for its first outing. It went around seven churches in the area where I live.  These seven churches all belong to the Swan Group of churches.  This was the 30th anniversary of the swan group, and they were celebrating this landmark with a flower festival. 

Rosemary’s bookclub had been asked to place an arrangement in our local church of Grendon Underwood. This was partly how we got to know about the event.

I decided to take some pictures on Saturday, this grew into a project to take pictures of every flower arrangement in the flower festival.  This was quite time-consuming in the end (had to go on Sunday to finish), but it got me used to my tripod, altering the height quickly, levelling it and eventually taking the picture.  Light levels were low, and I used no flash, so was taking long exposures of up to 15 seconds.

The weather was awful, but the tea and cakes were very welcome.

COA – Services year start kick off

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COA launched the new year with a meeting at Center Parcs.  A few meetings got in the way of an otherwise enjoyable afternoon of team-building exercises and evening drinking.  A few may have felt it would have been better walking back to their chalets rather than using the Center Parcs bikes.

Back in Edinburgh

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I see my last blog entry was a month ago.  We have been doing quite a few things this month.  A visit to Cardiff for a long weekend and a trip around the London Docklands area with the Cambridge Society.  Alas I delegated these write ups to Rosemary who has failed to come up with the goods.

I am back in Edinburgh for a short trip.  Excellent flight up here, we left early and arrived in Edinburgh early.  The flight was full so I can claim it was a Green Flight, Mr Blair.  Lovely and sunny here, but how cold.  Cold East wind blowing all day.

At out at the Mussel and Steak, and had yet again a wonderful Rib Eye Steak, hung for three weeks, and served rare.  They do know what rare is, lovely.

Well that’s it, must get off to work now.  Should be here this year for at least four more months.  So looking forward to the next festival.  Maybe I can persuade Rosemary to come up here again. 

Night out in Edinburgh

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After working all Saturday, decided to have a night out enjoying myself.  Started out with a meal at my favourite Thai Resturant and bar, The Mai Thai.  Had duck for my main course, not the usual spicy duck, but one cooked with tomatoes and pineapple.  It was an excellent change to my usual dish.

Then it was off to Whistle Binkies where I listened to a band called Roadhouse.  A 70s-80s cover band. Excellent renditions of Stefan Wolf, James Brown – Play that Funky Music White Man, Kinks – You Really Got Me  Going, AC/DC – Highway to Hell.  A few pints later it was back to bed, and then an earlyish bus to the airport.

I had to get through security by 09:00, so that I could set up to buy the tickets for Glastonbury.  Both Rosemary and I tried, but by 11.30 we got the message all sold out.  Never once in that time did Rosemary connect to the website.  Who were all these people who were succesful in buying tickets!!

Edinburgh at the weekend

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I had a hard 4 days working in the office training some support staff from a customer.  As soon as the course was completed, it was straight to Luton to catch an Easyjet flight to Edinburgh.  Arrived too late for a meal, so ate chips and sausages on the street.

Next day, Friday, a day at the bank helping one of their staff through certificate configurations for CTG.  Back to the hotel and a meal.

Saturday, a lovely sunny day spent with another Edinburgh customer, helping them go live with an upgrade which included some changes I had made.  All went well, only minor hitches, but on the whole a great success. 

Alas the last plane back was too early (16.00), so another night in Edinburgh on my own.

 

Cambridge & Kettles Yard

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Rosemary wanted to go to see Kettles Yard so off we go on Saturday morning to the Cambridge Park & Ride (no charge for parking, unlike Oxford, but what do you expect from a superior university town?).  Arrived to discover gallery closed to set up for a new exhibition, but house itself open from 14:00.

What else could we do to pass the time other than have lunch?  Cafe Rouge beckoned us and we shared a starter of miniature French bread batons and dips.  Steve had moules (complete with requisite finger sucking) to follow and Rosemary had something she much enjoyed but can’t now remember (must be her age).  Wait, she’s remembered – chicken breast stuffed with brie and wrapped with ham.

Back to Kettles Yard for its opening.  What a lovely place it is, see  http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/  It was founded by H.S. ‘Jim’ Ede as a place where visitors would ‘find a home and a welcome, a refuge of peace and order, of the visual arts and of music.’  It now belongs to Cambridge University.  We were told on entry that we could sit in any of the chairs and look at the books, but not put them away and instead leave them out ready for shelving by one of the staff.  Pictures were everywhere and so were some very comfy chairs, both upholstered and wooden versions, and some brilliant tablescapes.  Natural objects interspersed the sculptures on tables, shelves, furniture and the wooden or brick floors – including shells and pebbles, some in complex arrangements.  Amazingly, not a speck of dust to be found.  R wrote to compliment them and was told “Like any good employer, we encourage the dust to spend weekends at home.”  R says she knows whose home it went to and she didn’t invite it.  We also encountered Janine the daughter of an ex-Walkerite who is now helping there.  Small world.

Gateshead

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A day trip to Gateshead today.  Left home too early, in the snow, and arrived at Stevenage station at 6.30 for the 7.19 train to Newcastle.

Quick trip up here, had some meetings around placing the portals onto Oracle portal server. 

 Back then on the 17.30 GNER train.  I am writing this on the train, using their free wireless access.  Very cool.

 

Fullers Earth at Aspley Heath

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Rosemary arranged to go on a little trip with the Bedfordshire & Luton Geology group to walk and hear about the Fullers Earth Industry at Aspley Heath near Woburn Sands. Set out with plenty of time, but alas never found Aspley Heath until far too late. The navigation was a total mess. I shall have to buy a Tom Tom.

Instead we stopped at a good farmer’s market in Woburn and bought some good bread and then popped into see John and Carol, and have a bite of our bread with them (plus their cheese etc) for lunch. Then back home.

Being Mothering Sunday, we were delighted to have Selina and Graham over for supper and Rosemary very pleased to receive flowers, vase, chocolates and wine for combined Mothers Day & birthday gifts.  What more could a girl (?) want?

The cold spell has arrived, a quick reversal from the warm and fairly dry weather we have been having for the last few weeks. Forecast is lots of snow, but so far none.

Ireland

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This is now my third week in the office, I have some courses to give, probably next month.  Their preparation should keep me occupied for a while.

Last week I did get a trip to Ireland to watch Clem update a data warehouse with changes required for the e5 product add on product IDOCS.  IDOCS is an airline specific add on which records all charges associated with flights.  (Rosemary says that acronym is also an SAP interface mechanism.)  We worked within walking distance of Dublin airport, but caught a courtesy bus to the hotel.  Managed to get an upgrade to the club floor of the hotel.  Clem gets automatic upgrades as he uses the chain regularly.  I have never stayed in one of their hotels, but the receptionist took pity on me, asked to to give her a big smile and hence upgraded me.

Supper was mainly Guinness, though I was upset at not having any shamrocks drawn in the white cream.

Managed to get back before St Patricks Day!