Yearly Archives: 2004

Scottish Parliament and its clocks

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Had a couple of days in the office this week, and then it was back to Scotland for three days.

Weather was on and off showery.

Never made it out to any posh eateries at night, had a couple of basic lunches at Tiles and Café Royal with Mary.

Saw a Comedy show at midnight at the Assembly rooms.  It was called the Best of Fest.  It was excellent, but I’m afraid other than a magical acoustic guitarist called Antionio Forcione, I cannot remember any of their names.

Hotel was the same Rutland hotel, next week when I’m back there I will at least have an ensuite room.

Amazing, but Selina’s Graham came up to Edinburgh by sleeper on Friday to commission the clocks in the new Scottish Parliament.  Then he was back down by train to England at 2.00.  So I never saw him.

Back home from RBS

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Friday, left the bank early to catch the 4.35 flight back to Luton.  Left on time, arrived on time.  TV crew at the terminal taking pictures of us as we got off.  Maybe I will be on the next series of Airport.  Who knows?

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!!!

Restaurant Barioja while working for RBS

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Wednesday, what a day, heavy flooding showers, thunder and lightning.  Yet another landslide in Scotland blocking another road.  This type of weather is predicted more and more with global warming.

Didn’t go out for lunch, worked quite late with a new piece of work, which has been passed to me to complete.  For supper I went to a Spanish Tapas bar called Barioja on Jeffrey Street.  Last time I was here I over ordered on the food and had only 30 minutes to eat.  This time I was more circumspect and had plenty of time to eat.  Usual plate of olives, nice piece of chicken in some sauce I cannot remember, a lovely baked tomato with anchovies and a salad or artichoke hearts, olives and peppers, couple of glasses of wine and a beer.

I thanked the table next to mine, for buying me my meal.  The guy had been speaking loudly about how the bank, (who he works for) should extend into America and Europe.

Afterwards met up with Ed for a couple of pints at Mathers in Broughton Street.  Definitely a football orientated pub with several matches playing at the same time.  Beer priced reasonably.

I hear I might be back in Edinburgh for a few days next week.

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.

Festival Fringe – Dan Antopolski – A Whim Away – RBS

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Monday had an excellent flight up to Edinburgh, on time and it wasn’t raining at take off or landing.  Arrived at the office at 10.00, into a sweltering heat.  For some reason the air conditioning isn’t started until late in the morning and it takes a while to get to a reasonable temperature.

This week I am staying at the Holiday Inn next to Edinburgh Zoo on Corstorphine Road.  At least that is what I thought.  On arrival I found my booking had been cancelled.  Long story but I think it was because I had used to agents to find me a hotel in the centre of Edinburgh.  Both had failed and ended up booking the Holiday Inn.  I cancelled one booking through one agent, result no hotel.  The  Holiday Inn were very surprising helpful (I wonder if they were to blame) in finding me a hotel for the night, and laid on free transport to get there.  I ended up in the Grosvenor Hilton near the Hay Market.  Old world charm, large bedrooms, high ceilings, and well over my budget.

Met with Ed Aldridge for a curry at Suruchi on Nicholson outside the Festival Hall.  The restaurant was almost full; we were lucky to get in. I ate Chicken Shakuti with lemon rice and Naan bread.  Very nice.

After eating we went to the Pleasance to see if there was anything to watch.  Ended up listening to Dan Antopolski doing an hour stand up.   His style of comedy did require extreme concentration.  Letting your mind wander definitely meant you missed any punch lines.  Last half hour did become a bit tedious.  I wasn’t sure if he was extremely clever or a complete plonker.  There were funny jokes, but none which were side splitting memorable.

Afterwards a quick pint in the Doric, and then I walked back to the hotel.  On the way back I stopped at the Rutland hotel.  This is above a very lively bar.  Found they had rooms for the rest of the week at a very reasonable rate, and it is near the centre of town, so booked a room for the rest of the week.

Friday at RBS and back to Luton

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Into work, some comments about the stamina Cedar people have.  Today the sun started to shine, and as I left Edinburgh it was a beautiful sunny warm day.  The street crowed with tourists and festival goers.  Arrived back in Luton, late, to a cloudy grey wet evening, and how dark it was now.  The evenings are definitely drawing in.

The Khukuri and RBS

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Wednesday, at least it did not rain.  Was into the office by 7.30 coming in by the airport bus.

Left reasonable early, had a ramble around the Royal Mile watching some of the free Festival stuff on the streets.  Popped into Whistle Binkies for a pint during their happy hour.

Went to meet up with Yura Usvyat and Ed Aldridge for a meal at a Nepalese eatery called the Khukuri.  (The name of their famous knife).  This place was on the way to Haymarket.  Slight miss communication, they decided to have a pre meal drink at  a Russian bar called Da Da Da.  Anyway we met up somewhat later for the meal.

I started with Trisuli Poleko Machha – Fish marinated in trisuli spices and cooked in the tandoori oven and served with a green salad.

This was a whole trout, was lovely and crisp and very yummy.

For the main course I and Yura had, (at least I think it was, I’m only going by the number 51 on the menu).  It was recommended by the waiter.

Solukhumbu Bhenda A famous dish from East Nepal. Long slices of Lamb stuffed with minced meat and cooked in onions, ginger, garlic, tomato and the Chefs special spices.

I ate this with Naan bread and rice.   This was all washed down with a Nepalese beer.

It was all in all quite a good meal.  Different to the usual Indian fare. 

Back into town and another beer at a pub with a good collection of real ales and Russian beers.  Can’t remember the name.  I have walked past in on many occasions.  It’s on a corner quite near to the Western Bar, and the Hare and Burke, but not similar in any other way to those two establishments.

Getting rather late, so caught a taxi back to the airport.

My Next Girlfriend in Edinburgh with Royal Bank of Scotland

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Thursday, this was going to tbe the Festival day for us.

Caught the airport bus into work, it was raining and horrible.  Not much to report on during the day.  Left work promptly at 5.10, back to the airport on the bus changed into my jeans and tee shirt, and then back into the city.  It was still pouring with rain.  Next time I’m in Edinburgh I must bring a waterproof jacket.

Met up with various people (Simon Stone, Mary Devine, Ed Aldridge, Danielle Anderson, Willis Scott, Brian Swann and Morag Monteath)  for a meal at Panchos Villa, a Mexican restaurant, on the High Street.  Had a convivial meal and some red wine. 

Next it was on to the Pleasance where we met up with Campbell Purvis to see a comedy show by Brendon Burns.  The Pleasance is centred on a courtyard where we had a beer before the show.  Around the outside of the courtyard are various rooms where the events were located. We were destined for the Cavern. This started at about 10.  Brendon is Australian, the show was funny and was of course filled with the F and C words all the way through.

Afterwards, at last it had stopped raining, a couple more bars, (I will get their names later on, the last I think the last was the Star bar, over the Cow Gate.).  Here we started to lose people as they left to go on home, Ed, Mary and I tried the underbelly, decided it was hot and damp, so went to Whistle Binkies, which was definitely hot and sweaty.  Here we saw two sets by a band called My Next Girlfriend a five-piece rock band paying a mixture of classic rock (Rolling Stones), punk, funk and their own creations.  Well worth listening too.  We left at 3.35.  Caught a taxi back to the hotel, in bed by around 4.30.  Up and out at 7.30 on the bus and into work by 8.30.  Hardly worth paying for a hotel!!

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.