Monthly Archives: December 2003

Getting Ready for the New Year in Edinburgh

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I was back up to Edinburgh after the Christmas break.  Flight up was in the clear sunshine; view from the window was poor though because of the de-icer which ran off the fuselage and froze over the window.  Saw enough see there was a small covering of snow over the Pennines, Lake District and any high hill.  It was cold in Edinburgh, -6 Celsius.

The City was starting its New Year celebrations; the whole place was shaken with large explosions.  Not sure what was happening as I was in the middle of my Curry.  There were more rides in the gardens, and the place was full of people.  Lots of barricades were going up for the Royal Bank Street Party in Princes Street.

Daba Greff at the Pheasant

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Christmas is over.  The twenty-pound turkey has all but been consumed.  Not a white Christmas, but a mixture of rain and sun.

Boxing day was a windy wintry shower day.  I went out shooting Boxing day was a windy wintry shower day.  I went out shooting and did OK.  After the main shoot we shot a flurry, pairing up at random with another shooter.  I shot with Gavin and we did quite well.  Afterwards we repaired to the P&A for a few pints of beer.and did OK.  After the main shoot we shot a flurry, pairing up at random with another shooter.  I shot with Gavin and we did quite well.  Afterwards we repaired to the P&A for a few pints of beer.

On Saturday went to Aylesbury to buy some bolts for the wind vane, and then had lunch at the Peasant at Brill.  Had a nice meal, and then in walked Daba with his girl friend.  We had heard rumours he was back in the country.

Sunday, at last I placed the wind vane on the garage.  It is of a paraglider.

Lord of the Rings – Return of the King

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Managed to squeeze three hours in to see LOTR in the evening while I was in Edinburgh. Lasted a whole three hours and 10 minutes excluding the credits.

Most of the film was good, excellant battle scenes, and the city of Minas Tirith looked so similar to the picture I have in a painting from Joan Wyatt in a middle earth album. The ents though are far superior in the film.

The film was a bit slow at the end as Frodo leaves on the elf ship, The corruption of the Shire by Saruman and Wormtongue is not depicted in the film.

Weekend with Steve Delman

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Another week up in Edinburgh, uneventful trip back, except for the appalling conditions on the motor way with the rain. Speed restrictions of 20 mph.

Saturday was a pretty dismal day. So watched LOTR Two Towers in anticipation of going to the cinema on Wednesday to see Return of the Kings.

Sunday did brighten for a while, then rained while we were having lunch. Lunch was a Sunday meal in the P&A with John and Carol. Steve Delman and his daughter were visiting Europe, so they had been invited by John. Actually Elizabeth was spending a term at the University of London. Peter WIllson was also in attendance. Some reminisce of the good old days was inevitable.

Broadband update

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Great news! The Grendon Underwood telephone exchange has made its Broadband trigger level. So hopefully in the next few months we will get fast Internet access.

I was getting rather despondant in the last month, so very few new people were registering, and we were so near the target. Then in this last week seven new names registered, bringing is one over the target.

The Diary of an IT consultant

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Today up at 6.00 am. It was a lovely cold morning and no fog.  So there would be no problems with the roads and the planes.  Drove to Birmingham, arrived at 7.15, plenty of time for check in.  First problem, plane delayed until 9.30, technical problems.

Boarded the Dash 8 Flybe plane, and it left at 9.30.  As we approached Edinburgh the captain told us there was fog, and that he had especially loaded extra fuel for the eventuality.  How come, it was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky?  Yes we could see the bank of fog over Edinburgh.  We spent the next 90 minutes circling a spot south of Edinburgh.  We must have done twenty plus circuits, and then off to Preswick as Glasgow was also fogged in.  Landed at 1.00.  Caught the coach to Edinburgh, arrived at that airport at 2.30 (Very foggy), and then on into town where there was no fog. 

Of course as I walked up the street  I could see other aircraft doing the landing circuit.  Rosemary checked and said most flights had been diverted, except those from Heathrow.  I must assume from this that the cheapo airlines either can’t afford ILS, or their crew are not trained for it.  Now the winter is here I maybe should consider using BA from Heathrow.

What was galling though, was Jon Marshall made it on the 6.30 Flybe flight.