Tag Archives: Whistle Binkies

Edinburgh working at RBS for the week

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Monday

Caught the Easyjet flight from Luton in the warm sunny south, left on time, arrived on time, really good journey.

Weather not so good in Edinburgh, windy and cold.  I cannot believe it, but the weather forecast on Tuesday said how good the weather had been, with 28 degrees in Aberdeen and now it was coming to an end.  They must live in a different universe.  A guy in my office rides a motorbike, he went home a different way to his usual route, to keep off the main road because of the strong wind.  He then was stopped by a fallen tree, and had to back track, then dropped the bike in a guest of wind as he was edging on to the main road.  Luckily not too much damage.

Met up with Yura and visited Izzi for some Sushi and some Chinese.  He was going back on Tuesday because all the people from Standard Life he had arranged to work with were off sick.

At last I have a userid for the Banks network, which has taken 9 months to get.

Tuesday

Today is a bright windy cold front type of day, which warmed up nicely as the day progressed.  The evening was a T-shirt evening.  Had to walk back to the hotel at lunchtime to pick up my keys so I could get my portable out of the desk.  Met the waiter at Petit Paris who greeted me as a long lost friend.  I said I would be in to night.  Despite walking to the hotel at 1.00pm, I still failed to hear the cannon fire from the castle.

After work took a walk along Salisbury crags. It was a beautiful view of the city today with excellent visibility.  On the way to the crags stopped off at a fish and chip shop and bought a deep-fried battered Mars bar.  It was excellent. After walking south down the crags, I then headed west into the city and then up St Leonard’s Road.  This time I did actually see the police station in which Rebus works.  It is a fairly modern looking brick building, with glass office like doors to the reception area.  There was a restaurant opposite called Blondes, which is mentioned in the one of the Rebus books and has been recommended to me.  I must pay it a visit one day.  Seems to have several fish dishes on the menu.

It was then back to Petit Paris for a quick supper just before 10.00, where I had a Monk Fish Stew followed by a crepe.  Met up with Ed for a drink in the Bow Bar.

Wednesday

Another nice day in Edinburgh, not overly hot, just nice.   There was nothing to report about the day.

In the evening went for the special at Petit Paris.  Oh no, they almost could not seat me, but in the end found a table for me downstairs.  Had the filo wrapped deep fried goats cheese, followed by pork on a bed of mashed pastry.  All this washed down with a demi-litre of wine.  During the meal had a phone conversation with Steve Allen who was attending the Walker reunited get together.

Then it was on to the Western bar, which is quite close to the hotel, for a bit of entertainment.  Afterwards it was time for Whistle Binkies where I saw Blackjack Blues Band play.  Quite good.

During the evening it drizzled a little, not enough though to stop me walking around in a tee shirt.  Must be the Newcastle part of the Cedar Company rubbing off on to me.

Thursday

Into work today, was a dress down day, but the dress had to be red and white to celebrate the Swiss/English football match.  Not many from the bank were participating in this.

Back to Petit Paris for the early evening meal, missing the football.  Tonight I had the terrine of pigeon breast followed by a steak.  Not much else happened, stayed in tonight watching TV and Big Brother.

Friday

Checked out of the Apex International, despite not staying there for several weeks, the receptionist greeted me by name.   How nice.

There was a slight drizzle on the walk to work.  I left work early to get the 4.30 flight back to Luton, the rain was pouring down at this stage.

Edinburgh

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This was supposed to be my last visit to the bank for a couple of weeks.  Arrived at the bank pretty much on time, despite the plane being delayed by air traffic for a couple of hours. 

In the evening a meal at Petit Paris, soup followed rabbit washed down with a demi-litre of vin rouge.  Thought it was a bit early to go to bed, so a quick visit to Whistle Binkies to hear a few bands.  First band was a seven piece group called JFK, with flutes, sax and guitars.  Different.  I am told they will be playing again.  Next another band, quite good and heavy, never found out what they were called.

On Wednesday, just as I was about to leave, I heard I was to be back next week on Tuesday.  Oh well.

Edinburgh

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Monday

This is the last full week at the bank for several weeks now.  Left home on a lovely sunny morning with mist in the fields.  Queuing up waiting to board, in our little Easyjet boarding groups of 30,  I pomdered how the 30 tickets per boarding group actually translates into 37 plus people.  Plane a little late arriving in a cool cloudy Edinburgh.  I do hope it gets brighter this week, as I want to go out and take a few photos.

For supper Ed Aldridge, Joe Zamir and I met up at Zest for a curry and a few glasses of Stella.  The place was quite busy for a Monday.  Back at the hotel I had to open all the windows because the room was stifling hot with the heating on.

Tuesday

Down to breakfast dead on 7.00, no need to queue today.  No Americans.  Started off a cool cloudy day which improved through out.  The evening was a lovely almost cloudless day, quite clear with a strong cool wind blowing from the East.  Ed Aldridge drove off to the coast to surf.  I decided to walk up Arthur’s seat and take some photos.

Near the top I was accosted by a middle aged man asking me if I could call his son, as his mobile had run out of juice.  He had been up there all night and all day having slipped on the grass.  We did not get through to his son.  I left him, finished my walk to the top, took some excellent photos and then walked down.  On the way down I met the man again.  It turned out he had just become homeless, walked up to Arthur’s seat at 11.30 the previous evening for a place to sleep.  Apparently many homeless sleep in the park, going to the top in the cold wind does not seem sensible though. He could not get down again as he had dizzy spells and loses his balance, and was partially sighted.  I had wondered why I knew more about the layout of the park then him, who lived in the area.  The white stick was the clue in the end.  I helped him down the easier track, supporting him over the rough areas where he tending to slip and fall, down to the main road.  Here he was quite happy to be left.

Walked back into town to try a Moroccan restaurant, Fez on Nicholson Street, which I had tried to find a couple of weeks ago. Yes it had a small discrete entrance to a basement. Starters were prawns wrapped in filo pastry.  Main course was couscous and lamb.  The food was very filling, but all pretty tasteless really. Won’t be going there again.

 Wednesday

Breakfast at the hotel had a small queue at 7.00, but loads of people already eating.  They were not Americans, but Australians this time.  You could tell, a different set of clothing, it looked like many had only just arrived from the outback.

It was another sunny day here in paradise.  I stayed late at work looking into bands for the wedding.  It was a quick lunch out at the Cumberland at midday.

After work up onto Salisbury crags to take a few photographs.  A quick walk around town and then a short stay at Whistle Binkies.  Acoustic guitar is not my sort of music.

Thursday

Thought I would beat the crowds down to breakfast.  Arrived before 7.00, of course this time there was nobody there at all, and I could not get in.  Did find a notice on the wall from the tour company.  I see Friday is going to be the problem day for breakfast.

Jemma from the bank was leaving today, moving to Norfolk, so we all descended on the Café Royal for a short drink, which lasted until past midnight.  No supper tonight and McDonalds was closed, so was hungry to bed.

Friday

As predicted, turmoil at breakfast.  There were massive long queues with two tour companies demanding breakfast at 7.00.  I went back to my room to read a book, then down for a large breakfast.

Back home at a very reasonable time of 7.00, to find it empty.  Rosemary had already gone to the pub on her own.

Edinburgh

Blasdale Home Posted on by

This week I am back to a five-day week.  Caught the 7:55 Easyjet from Luton Airport.  It never ceases to amaze me my boarding number is in the hundreds, what time do those who board first arrive at?  Good flight to Edinburgh, left on time, arrived on time, clear day in Edinburgh.  I saw Arthurs Seat, the castle mound,  Carlton hill, Hibs stadium and Murryfield.  Yes this was the first time I spotted these famous landmarks from the air.  I think it must have been the route we took, a little nearer the city and not flying far out to sea that we sometimes do, (to waste time and slot into a landing I presume).

Was a good day in Edinburgh, plenty of sun.  Ate at Petit Paris and had a warm bacon and herring salad to start, and rabbit to finish.

Tuesday, not so warm today and the sun never shone..  The bank started running performance tests today, so worked late until  7.30 in the evening.  After work had a beer in the Globe with Bill Strachan, Mary, Ed and the new salesman Mark Robertson.  After the Globe we ventured into the Opal Lounge, seems the door men have forgotten Mary and I after the little incident on Jacks leaving day.  Here we had a Thai Fusion meal, quite good.  Left just after eleven so Mary could catch the train back to Glasgow.  I ventured into Whistle Binkies for a quick pint, but ended up listening to three bands playing.  One band (Stella 66) comes from Liverpool, I pretended I was interested in having them play at Selina’s wedding and scrounged a free CD from them.  Selina tells me there is a bar in Liverpool called Stella 66 which she of course has drunk at.  Eventually managed to drag myself out of there by 2.30 and into bed just before sunrise.

Wednesday was another late day, leaving the bank at 8.00.  Spent the day trying to find out why the performance was not great, and why some transactions in the test scripts were not working.  Lovely sunny day though.  Evening I tried to find a new restaurant called the Fez on Nicolson Street.  Never found it.  Now reading the article in the restaurant guide I see its says “Tucked away in a basement under a kebab shop not far away from the Festival Theatre, it would be easy to saunter past Fez without realising it was there”  So I ended up eating at the Bay of Bengal on the High Street.  Remind me never to eat there again.  Afterwards I had a quick pint with Ed, and an early night before midnight.

Thursday was bright and sunny.  Worked late until 10.00pm so did not get out to eat.  Some pizza was brought in while we were running our tests.  I was tempted by WB, but decided on an alcohol free night and went back to the Apex City to watch TV.

Friday was not very eventful.  Plane left on time.  Arrived home before 7.00 and before Rosemary was home.  Nice evening, had a quick drink in the Plough and Anchor  just before 8.00  One regular couple leaving said we were too late.

Edinburgh

Blasdale Home Posted on by

This week was a short week in Edinburgh, just the three days.  I have also made a change in the flights, now flying from Luton instead of Birmingham.  Since the summer season has started, the flight back to Birmingham was a bit too late or too early.  I wanted a nice 16.00 flight back so that I was not to late home in the evening.

Well it all started pretty well, caught the 7.55 Easyjet from Luton and arrived on time at Edinburgh.  It was a miserable day though, raining in Buckinghamshire and raining in Edinburgh.  Rosemary told me the weather in London was Thunderstorms, Hail and Snow.  Very very Frightening.

Back into the Apex City with the lovely walk in showers, and yet again I add to my collection of ducks.

Evening was a meal at the Petit Paris, Tomato and Basil soup followed by Coq Oh Vin, then a couple of pints with Ed.

Wednesday was a mixture of showers and sun.  Started bright but cold.  In the evening had a quick meal at Petit Paris, then onto Whistle Binkies and Bannermans for some rock music.  Quite entertaining.

Thursday I caught the earlier (16.30) flight back to Luton.  Was a bit delayed.