Tag Archives: Zest

Edinburgh

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Tuesday

Flew from Luton in the bright warm sunshine, only to land at Edinburgh on a cold cloudy day.  Visibility was so poor, we didn’t see the ground until we were down to 100 meters.  The weather never cleared up, with low cloud all day, obscuring views of Carlton hill and Edinburgh castle.

Stayed at the Thistle on Leith Walk tonight.  Apparently most of the hotels in Edinburgh were full.  Managed to get a booking into the Apex City for the following nights.

Met up with Yura Usvyat for a meal at Thai Me Up.  Had an Excellent Red Curry, which was pretty hot.

Wednesday

The sun shone today, but there were showers as well.  While Yura and I were eating in the Indian restaurant Zest, the heavens opened and there was torrential rain.  Luckily (no one had jackets because it was a nice warm evening), by the time we had finished the weather was nice again. 

Managed to move into the Apex City on Grass market.  A far better location than where the Thistle resides.

Thursday

Today started as a lovely clear sunny morning.  Weather forecast though predicts the same heavy showers as Wednesday.

Worked fairly late tonight making some modifications to the code for installation after the product goes live.  Met up with Yura for a meal at the Mussel Inn.  Good old-fashioned thunderstorm just as we were going out at 20.00.  Borrowed an umbrella from the hotel lost property.  At the Mussel inn (very crowded, had to wait for a table), I had grilled herring fillets with crumbled feta cheese as a starter, followed by grilled bream on a bed of crushed potato.

Friday

Slight drizzle as I headed to work, but cleared up during the day.

Spent the morning testing my code changes, and then out to lunch with the bank team for a pre going live celebration drink and meal.

Back to work, and then home on the 18.05 Easyjet flight.  It almost left on time, we were all on the plane, and no problems with air traffic control, but we had no fuel.  Eventually left 20 minutes late.

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 in the wet

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I had another whole week in Edinburgh, and back into the Apex International on Grassmarket, so have been able to add to my duck collection.  Grassmarket was designated by Edinburgh University as one of several areas of Edinburgh, students should stay clear of for fear of muggings.

Plane left on time from Birmingham, I arrived in Edinburgh and went to work.  After work went to the Petit Paris for an early meal of leek salad, think of a lettuce salad with bacon bits and dressing.  Replace the lettuce with cooked leek   Next the Plat de Jour of Toulouse sausage and lentils, finished off with a crepe citron.  The rest of the evening was spent waiting for a call from a colleague who was up for the user day on Tuesday.  No call, so read several chapters of Rebus.

Tuesday, work is looking up, spent much of the day in the Sand Pit.  Missed the Plat de Jour at Petit Paris, so the more expensive main course meaning I had to miss out on the Pichet of red wine, instead opting for an Absinthe as a pre-prandial drink.  Elected for the very tasty Chevre Chaud in filo pastry, and then a Lamb Steak.  As I was finishing my meal I saw some colleagues of mine in the street, so dragged them into the restaurant where they were able to purchase me some wine.

Wednesday it was out for a curry at Zest with Iain from Standard Life, and Joe a contractor from HBOS.  It was then on for a few more beers.

Thursday, slow start to the day, wet miserable day.  Felt rather cold after another day down in the Sand Pit.  Felt better back at the Petit Paris for their Plat de Jour.  This time started with French black pudding (bourdin), Fish Stew and a Crème Brulee with the usual 500 cl of red wine.

Friday, my last day of the week.  Of course a new problem appears in the implementation, so I have a meeting next Tuesday.  In all the weather this week has been pretty bad.  Actually the worst week for all the six months I have been in Scotland.  The only day I thought about going for a walk was on Wednesday.  Lucky I didn’t, by the time I was back at the hotel it was raining.

Slight delay on the plane back, but back before 9.00, and Rosemary was already at home.