Tag Archives: Petit Paris

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

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Wednesday was slumming it night.  Haggis, neaps and tatties in the Last Drop, named after the gallows on Grassmarket. Then on to Whistle Binkies for some musical entertainment.

Thursday, another nice but cold day. Stay in evening today.  Spent the evening on the PC, but before that out for dinner at the Petit Paris.  Opted for the pre 7.00 menu and had  vol au vents for starters. These were filled with mussels, or rather one mussel and a delicious sauce.  Then it was coq au vin for the main course.  Of course this was all washed down with two large glasses of red wine. Yes I intend to have a pickled liver, I am fed up with being told what I can and cannot do by this Labour Government and the nanny advisors.  Maybe when the death tax is introduced, Gordon will start to encourage us to drink and smoke.

Friday, another sunny day, though a tad on the cool side.  I wish I could get my hotel room cool, was forced to open the window to let some cool air in, despite the heating being off.  Now I am sitting waiting for my flight at Edinburgh airport.

A complaint about Edinburgh Airport.  [Ed – Grumpy Old Man Moment.]  It is being “developed” and so turned into a damn shopping mall.  It’s going to become more crowded.  I hope though, when it’s finished, that they will remove the food areas that presently congest the narrowest sections of the airport, where people stand in the way, stack their luggage, move their chairs and tables into the corridor and make it nearly impassable between sections of the airport.  Yes you can negotiate the area when you have time, but in a rush its a right royal pain in the arse.

Oh I see the flight has started to board, so looks like it will be leaving on time. Home again, home again, jiggity jig.

Second week in Edinburgh Tuesday

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Up and off to work, no rain today.  Today I went for supper at the Petit Paris and ate their special pre 7.00 pm value meal.  Terrine to start with, and then tuna for the main course all washed down with a few glasses of vin de rouge.

Forgot to mention, I was proffered a glass of Kir Cassis on entry, a gift for a returning customer.  Very thoughtful.  Good meal.  I will be returning.  I see they have a special fondue evening next Tuesday.

Creme Brule with RBS

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Its funny how days work out.  Thursday started a quiet sunny day with not a lot to do.  Part way through the day, a serious problem was recognised, serious because no one had taken a look at it before and it was high on the user want list.  Ended up with me working until 21.00 in the evening trying to resolve the problem.

Eventually stopped at nine, and went back to the hotel to get changed into the glad rags.  I was off up to Petit Paris where my favourite spiky haired waitress was on duty.  Ordered my wine and pigeon breasts yet again.  Next it was rabbit in a lovely thick wine sauce.  Decided the bank were going to treat me, so I finished off with a Crème Brule.  On the table next to me were an older couple visiting Edinburgh for the festival.  They had never been to the Petit Paris, and really quite enjoyed the place. They had been to a number of plays, and walked out of at least a couple.

After the Petit Paris, it was off to Whistle Binkies for a very quick pint and 15 minutes of listening to quite a good band.  I had decided I needed to be back in bed to follow through the problem I was looking at; so I was back in bed by midnight.

Tiles for a drink with the RBS team

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After work went to Tiles for a few pints with Shelley Ward and Neil Saunders and Nicholas Croll.  After that went onto Petit Paris for a delicious starter of pan fried pigeon breasts followed by monk fish in a red wine and shallot sauce.

Today heard from Nicholas that Centaur had gone into liquidation.   We knew Mike was selling up and going back to the USA

Petit Paris in Edinburgh

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After the long weekend, it was up early again on Tuesday to catch the Tuesday 7.55 Easyjet flight to Edinburgh.  Flight left on time and arrived on time to a beautifully sunny Scottish day.

After work booked into the hotel, prices now down because the festival had ended.  The streets were a lot quieter than the week before.  Had a quiet pint of IPA in a pub listening to a Scottish folk band from Glasgow while waiting for a table to become vacant at the Petit Paris.  I’m sure I saw the band last week in the Rose and Crown on Rose Street.

Back at the Petit Paris I sat in the basement.  Had their Terrine for starter, followed by the delicious lamb fillet.  Got talking to the occupant from my neighbouring table, who was a dark wild haired girl, Phoenix, up from London for the Fringe.  She had been singing her own peace songs on the Royal Mile.  Seemed to belong to a campaign group who were trying to install a new ministry into government called the ministry of peace.

I was back to bed at the relatively early time of midnight.

Rhythm Sharks in Edinburgh

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Thursday was a dry day without rain but overcast.  Went to All Bar One for lunch with Mary Devine and Ed Aldridge, nice but small Caesar Salad with blackened Salmon.

Oh dear, walked past the Petit Paris and was spotted by the waiter.  He wondered why I was still in town.  I had told them on Monday that this was the end I was going away.

Met Ed in the evening at the Guildford Arms.  This was the first day of their Folk and Blues Festival.  The place was mobbed, and we seemed to be standing in the walkway.  Caledonian Breweries sponsored the event, and every one of their beers was available. I drank the IPA, and also their Porter.  A really dark and tasty beer.

As we entered a band called Yard Of Ale were playing, they are on every night starting and ending the evening. They are probably Scotland’s best acoustic pub band, music spans 30 years incl. Folk, Skiffle & Country. Anchoring event for 10th year. The band: Peter Gillan, Colin Mackenzie & Alistair McDougald.  They were not my cup of tee, and luckily they were soon off.  They played Lonnie Donnegan songs, and Ralph McTell Streets of London.

Next on were the Rhythm Sharks. Sandy Tweedale on vocals & guitar with Gary Martin on vocals & harmonica & slide guitar. Major driving force of the Scottish Blues scene.  They only get together to play once a year at the Guildford arms.  They were very good.  Can’t remember the numbers they played, but it was all Blues.

Back to my hotel before midnight!!!

Rutland Hotel with Royal Bank of Scotland

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Today was a pleasant day, even sat outside the Tiles bar for lunch.  Worked late to finish off some work, and then met Simon Stone and Neil Saunders for a pint of refreshment at Tiles.
Booked into the new cheap hotel, The Rutland Hotel, above the Rutland Bar located at the West End overlooking the entrance to the Fantasy Palace.  Soon left for a late supper at Petit Paris, here I ate their asparagus and smoked Salmon for starters, followed by Toulouse sausage, all washed down with some red wine.  As I left, I mentioned to the spiky haired waitress that I wouldn’t be back very often as my work in Edinburgh was complete.  Gave her a kiss on the cheek and said farewell.

Too late to see the show I had planned to see, so went to Whistle Binkies.  Here I saw a couple of bands.  Not particularly inspiring, but the Dark Island beer was excellent.

On the walk back I saw two picture opportunities, just when you haven’t got the camera and tripod.  The Scott monument looked as if it had a beam of light emanating upwards from its summit.  The castle was in low cloud, clear air underneath and lit with sodium lights, it again looked very surreal.

What horrible weather in Edinburgh and RBS

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From the title, you can see I am back in Edinburgh.  I flew up here on Tuesday.  It was wet and raining as I left home, just a continuation from Monday.

I arrived in Edinburgh late, (air traffic problems because of the bad weather), to a wet raining, low cloud base day.  I think it never stopped raining all day.  My hotel is out at the airport and is called a quality hotel.  Quality indeed.  The festival appears to have used up all the hotel rooms in Edinburgh.

In the evening had a few drinks with Simon Stone and Andy Laing at Tiles.  Afterwards walked up to the Grassmarket for a quick meal at the The Petit Paris.  I was greeted like a long lost friend by the young spiky haired waitress.  She wondered where I had been for the last few weeks.  Had a nice meal of deep fried filo wrapped goats cheese, followed by Sea Bass fillets done in an Olive and Tomatoe sauce.

Then it was back to the hotel out by the airport.

Sunday morning at Royal Bank of Scotland

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Up early into the office at 8.30.  Had been raining, looks like a showery day.  Simon was in looking at the Mail Transport problem.  Not much I can do to help.

Lots of drilling and hammering going on, probably repairing the outside of the building where an old office block has been demolished. Turning the site into some smart apartments.  Anyway the worked caused the fire alarms to go off, and four fire engines turned up.

The whole of the system is now working The problem was caused by missing packages, for DB2 7 FP10 not being bound on the mainframe.

So we left at around 16:00 for a few beers and whisky in Clarks Bar across the road from the bank.  Afterwards back to the Petit Paris for a meal of Frogs Legs, followed by a 12 ounce steak.  Lovely.

Next on to the Liquorice club for some entertainment, and then Whistle Binkies.  Early to bed at 23.00

A week at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh

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Monday

Today I used the local taxi firm to ferry me to Luton.  My car needs MOT and probably some work to cure all the clunking sounds from underneath.  Anyway staying away for 12 days, the taxi is a lot cheaper then parking at Luton.  Arrived at Luton in plenty of time,  I had a ticket number of 62, first time I have been less than 100.

Arrived at Edinburgh well on time, but was delayed at the cash machine.  Needed some cash to get into Edinburgh.

Weather was fairly nice, was able to sit outside on the pavement chairs and tables for my happy hour supper at Petit Paris.  Went the whole hog, and had three courses.  Some lovely asparagus tips and smoked Scottish Salmon to start with.  Followed on by Chicken in a Madera sauce with vegetables, Finally their excellent crème brulle.  Then the embarrassment, I had gone out with no means of paying.  No problem popped back to the hotel for my cards.  Now I had been thinking of going to a new restaurant called Blonde that would have been a severe embarrassment, and a long walk.

Afterwards stayed in my room and watched England qualify through to the quarter finals.

Tuesday

Sunny all day, and then clouded over for the evening.  Met up with Yura, and walked to Blonde where we ate.  Nice meal, of raw Salmon to start, then I had Venison cooked in a red wine and chocolate sauce.  Finally had a a marmalade flavoured source with my sweet.

Stopped at a pub on the way back just outside of St Leonards Street police station for a pint and to watch the football matches.  Back to the hotel, and then out again to Whistle Binkies to see an excellent rock band play.  The played excellent loud and  heavy rock.    Their drummer was incredible.  Unfortunately I have no idea of their name.

Wednesday

Started off a miserable day.  Windy and heavy drizzle.  It then rained all day, except for a small gap in the evening, which tempted me out without my jacket.  Big mistake started to rain again, and was still raining at 1.30 am as I went to bed.

Stayed late at the bank, and had a bit of pizza, then met up with Yura for a meal at the Songkran on Stafford Street.  This is a Thai restaurant run by a couple of Thai sisters.  I must admit I was not very hungry and just had a Thai Green curry and some beers.  On leaving the phone free zone of the restaurant I picked up my messages which resulted in me jogging through the appalling rain to meet up with Ed and Mary in the Villager on George the IV bridge, where we stayed until closing time at 1.00am.  Mary had travelled to Edinburgh to participate in her Yoga class.  Hopefully we will see her back at the bank on Friday and Saturday.

Thursday

Still raining.  It must now have been raining virtually solidly for over 24 hours.  Its so dull and miserable.  After work I went to watch the England/Portugal match at Sportsters a nightclub on Market Street with a few Bank people.  Good venue, masses of TV screens including one huge cinema sized screen.   Quite an enjoyable evening despite the result.

Oh and it has stopped raining.

You may wonder why there is no mention of food today.  Could be because today was a liquid only diet.

Friday

Today is a lovely sunny clear day.  Quite warm walking into work, bought a Danish and a coffee on the way to work.

After work walker up the road with Mary for a drink at the fish tank.  Left her to catch her train back home, I walked back to the Bank for a drink in Clarks Bar with Andy Laing, Simon Stone, Neil Saunders and Willis Scott.  Afterwards on to Indigo Yard with Neil and Simon.   Trendy bar.  It was a lovely evening, so we were able to sit outside.

Left there at around 10.30, picked up some fish and chips on the high street, and then to Whistle Binkies to listen to a couple of bands until 1.30 in the morning.  The first band, who were already playing, were called The Rodents, original guitar rock and covers. They were quite good, though unappreciated by most.  The second band I saw were called Big Hand, a Latino funk band.  They appeared to be liked by the punters,  I stayed for the first half and then decided I should be in bed, implementation weekend was starting.  The road back to the hotel, Cow Gate was mobbed with people waiting to get into the night clubs.