Chicago

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This week I am in Chicago, working on an United Airlines project.  I was definitely looking forward to coming out here.  A nice city, good food, and blues bands.

Of course I seem to have ended up in the suburbs, miles from anywhere with no transport, and not particularly good restaurants.  The hotel is in Itasca, and the office in Wood Vale

Met up with Fred Giacoma.  He works not so far away from here, so he took me to a mall, where there were some reasonable restaurants.  The place was Italian, all the items on the menu had half portions.  We even had a half portion starter shared between the two of us, and that was ample.  I ate a clam linguine, half portion of course, and still left some. 

 

Last week in Edinburgh

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Well I finished my last week in Edinburgh.  Packed my bag which had to go in the aircraft hold because it had a bottle of Champagne from the Mai Thai resturant.

Just as I was leaving, the Bank asked if I could have another week in Edinburgh to do some further changes.  Ah well it seems I will be back there quicker than I expected.

Thursday in Edinburgh

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It is already Thursday.  I have been staying at the Holyrood Hotel.  I have eaten in the Mai Thai three nights running.  I really must go and find somewhere else to eat for a change.  It is though so easy to go there and eat.  Good food, and the Carlsberg Special is only £2.50.  (Do you hear that, Jake, £2.50!)  Free Internet access and a friendly bunch who run it.  Last night football was on, and some celebrations from the Scots who won their game.  Hey and so did England, smashed the Russians 3 – 0.

Well I thought this might have been my last week here, but it does look that I may be here for a couple more weeks.  Should be good for the bonus. 

Weather wise, the sun has shone every day, no rain.  Today is the worst day, a bit on the overcast side.  Some of the thousands of Americans packing out breakfast and being their usual painful Americans selves, commented that it was going to rain in Glasgow, and might make it to Edinburgh.  Hope not as I walked into work in short sleeves.  Ah, and North Bridge was closed, I assume by another jumper, so had to walk down into the rail station and out the other side.

Tried to log on to the site selling Led Zeppelin tickets, http://www.ahmettribute.com/, does not seem active yet.  Little chance I will get one of the 20,000 tickets priced at £125.  But I will give it a go.

Greys Court

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Saturday afternoon thought it about time to use NT cards, but where to go?  Chose Greys Court in Oxfordshire; slight en route diversion due to someone shifting signage around (seems to happen a lot lately).

On arrival were told it was unusual for the house to be open on a Saturday (later surreptitious inspection of guide book showed this to be true, but R opted for convenient silence on subject). Decided to view house, ice-house, grounds, tower & tea shop followed by donkey & horse wheels in that order. House a picture of Tudor elegance from the outside. Only part of ground floor is viewable. Some amazing plasterwork ceilings greet you from the hall onwards. R worried over cracks in one room, but outside inspection didn’t show them (and R always worried over cracks in houses). Delightful rooms which speak of it still being a well-loved lived in house, (although the tv seemed a tad too casual). The kitchen was interesting – a strange mixture of Tudor panels, huge Aga in correspondingly huge inglenook and modern units, but a lovely tiny wall-mounted bee-hive ornamented bookshelf with an Elizabeth David amongst the cookbooks.

Ice-house was thatched and hence unlike any other we’d seen. Nearby (R thought) were signs of v old fortifications (wonder if the house guide book mentions them?). Gardens good, especially the wisteria walled garden where the plant forms the roof. Good views from the tower and we were told May was a good time to re-visit and look down on the wisteria and bluebells. Must make a Google calendar note and also note to bring camera next time. Donkey wheel a bit sad thinking of the poor animals bringing up the water from the well. S thought it over engineered. Still looked as though it could be used today.

Edinburgh

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Been here three days now, flew up on Monday.  Funny flight, the captain took us to 38,000 ft where there was thin cloud, and it was rough, so he had to drop 2,000 ft and it was smooth flight, but a 120 mile an hour head wind.  Took off late, London air traffic control, but we are in Luton, miles away fom London, and you don’t see any other aircraft.  They obviously need more advanced systems that can figure this out.

Staying down in the Hollyrood, so I have breakfast every day, and the Mai Thai for supper.  I wish I was logical and had eaten my way through the menu in order.  Instead I dither and pick and choose.  Now I have no idea which menu items I have not eaten.

 

Le weekend

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Spent Saturday morning shopping, generally unsuccessfully, and the afternoon gardening.  There is so much work to be done there this autumn.  Definitely going to be a chain saw massacre  on some the trees.  They all seem to have grown suddenly, and the ones near the house will need a little trimming back.  Then the graveyard has some dead elms which should come down.  Looks like the wood store will be full for the winter.

R wants to replace the Pampas grass with some butterfly friendly plant.  G must have overheard what I said about setting it on fire and roasting the hedgehogs living in it, because he sent R an article on hedgehog friendly gardening.

Sunday went to M&D for lunch and tea.  Had a leg of lamb this time, roasted and not BBQed.  Very good indeed.  Also picked up our 25th wedding anniversary present. A lovely Ann Blockley painting and a silver topped jar with a bee in the decoration.  As we left it started pouring with rain, expected a bad journey home, but luckily it all cleared up on the M40.

Mai Thai and back home

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Managed to eat in the Mai Thai every day.  Wonderful food, brilliant ambiance.  And good Internet access.

Not so good going home, bit of a delay on Easyjet.  Flight was a little rough, and coming into land we were in cloud with the spoilers on for over 5 minutes, and the occasional 360 turn.  Probably going deaf now because I had to turn the MP3 player up loud to counteract the noise from the vibration caused by the spoilers.  I really must catch an earlier flight home.  Getting home at 9 on a Friday is a pain, especially now it is getting dark.

Edinburgh

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Back up in Edinburgh, starting my third day now.  Travel up was easy, plane left early, arrived early and in the office by 9.30

Not staying in my usual hotel but down in the McDonnald by Holyrood.  That means I will be eating at the Mai Thai, and will be eating breakfast as well.  Breakfast is included in the price of the room.  Not included means I go hungry, included means I eat. Been eating fish for breakfast, loading up on healthy omega fats.

Last two evenings in the Mai Thai.  I have now updated their website, changing their menu and updating the gallery.  Just leaves the reviews to do, and maybe add a special news page.  The site had not been updated since it was created over a year ago, and all that time it says, ‘Taking bookings for Christmas’  Ah well. 

I also complained about the Plough and Anchor website, how that was never updated, how they should be changing the menu when the menu changes, how they should announce all the bands on the site as soon as the booking is made.  Maybe they should have a review section with some pictures etc.  I think they thought I was looking for business.

Oh the food at the Mai Thai was the usual Very Good.  First night I did not order duck.  This choice was commented on by the Thai waitress. Not the usual duck, sir

Tug of War

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The postponed tug of war between Wotton and Kingswood was held this Bank Holiday Monday.  Weather not so hot, but sun did show and it never rained.  Good food as usual, and a few beers.  Fifty or so attended, not many though from Kingswood.  Will have to expend a bit more effort in getting people out to the event.

Wotton won the mens and womens  tug of war, while the children from Kingswood were victorious.  Pictures in due course.

After the BBQ, had a drive in a Honda go cart-on George and Annie’s field.  Time trials, alas I was last, but then I don’t have the practice and I was only a couple of seconds behind. [Editor’s note: Steve had about 40+ years on his opponent, G&A’s eldest grandson, during these trials.]

Ate at the pub in Ludgershall with George and Annie.  Pretty good value and very well presented.  Well worth a visit.

BBQ at home, and back home for Mother In Law

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Selina and Graham attended our BBQ this weekend.  Unlike John and Carol, we were able to call on the weather Gods and arranged a sunny day.  They excelled themselves and provided us with several days of warmth.

Our BBQ was lamb shoulder.  Now where have I had that recently!  Mum in law, Winnie, was present having stayed most of the week.  She was taken back to her home complete with Freeview Box, which I set up.  Drive down was bad with all the traffic going to Bournemouth.  Drive back was good, except for the 45 minute hold-up while someone was air-lifted from the road after an accident, but it wasn’t us, so we should feel thankful.

Back at home I strimmed down the thistles on the field. Hopefully last time this year.