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Night out in Edinburgh

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After working all Saturday, decided to have a night out enjoying myself.  Started out with a meal at my favourite Thai Resturant and bar, The Mai Thai.  Had duck for my main course, not the usual spicy duck, but one cooked with tomatoes and pineapple.  It was an excellent change to my usual dish.

Then it was off to Whistle Binkies where I listened to a band called Roadhouse.  A 70s-80s cover band. Excellent renditions of Stefan Wolf, James Brown – Play that Funky Music White Man, Kinks – You Really Got Me  Going, AC/DC – Highway to Hell.  A few pints later it was back to bed, and then an earlyish bus to the airport.

I had to get through security by 09:00, so that I could set up to buy the tickets for Glastonbury.  Both Rosemary and I tried, but by 11.30 we got the message all sold out.  Never once in that time did Rosemary connect to the website.  Who were all these people who were succesful in buying tickets!!

The state of the fields at home

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I have never seen so much standing water on our fields.  Someplaces there must be 6 inches of water.  Don’t suppose the sheep appreciate the wet.  Not sure draining will help, the ditches are all full as well.

Talking about sheep, funny creatures.  They seem at the moment to eat in the other field (Richards), but come and sleep at night in our field.  Then in the morning at around 7.00 they move off to Richards field.  They don’t sleep in the 6 inches of water, they sleep on the high ground of the field, which is relatively dry.

My last week with the bank

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I spent what could be my last week with the bank for a while.  Though I expect to be back again .  Not a lot happened.  I did visit a few restaurants.

Ate at the Mussel and Steak, and had yet again a very good rare sirloin steak.  The large steak had not a single piece of ‘chewy meat’, and was totally tender all the way through.

Tried a new Indian restaurant called Voujon.  It was quite a long walk from the hotel, aiming up Nicholson Street.  The place was well lit with trendy ceiling lights, and there was not a sign of flock wallpaper (which is a shame cos R says it is now high fashion).  The plates were all those modern white square dishes.  The food was well-prepared, but was the same menu as most other Indian restaurants.

The other two times, I ate in the hotel. It’s about time the menu was changed.  I did though visit Whistle Binkies on Thursday and saw half a set of a covers band playing Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Sex Pistols and many of the ’70s rock classics.

Slight worry about getting home.  There was snow in Aylesbury, and a small sprinkling in Edinburgh.  Waiting at the airport on Friday (over an hour late), I noticed all the flights to Birmingham were cancelled.

Ladymead Joinery

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Made it home.  Boarded the plane at around 16.00, but air traffic control at Luton were restricting the landings more severely, so we sat there for almost another hour.  Eventually arrived in Luton just before 18:00. Then the interminable wait for the luggage and the funeral  procession drive home in the fog.

Home at 19:30, and straight out to the Plough and Anchor for supper.  Lovely Christmas meal, and lashings of wine made the evening speed by.

GT Christmas party

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A whole week in Edinburgh, and the weather was appalling.  Rain every day.  Not many highlights in the week, other than the Group Technology RBS Christmas party.

The party, on Thursday, was at the Jam House on Queens Street.  Much alcohol was consumed, people dancing, finger food available.  There were several bands, blues, and rock.  Alas there were a couple of women doing Abba Songs.  Think that was the low part of the party.  Trouble is you can still sing along to them.

Made to leave quite early, and found myself with Neil and Stephen going to the casino on the same street.  Alas as with all gambling, I left a couple of hours later at 1.00 20 pounds lighter.  I was playing Black Jack.  Neil on the other hand stayed till 3 and went away with 600 pounds extra on the Roulette wheel.  From 20 pounds he had been 800 pounds up at one time.

I made my way to Whistle Binkies for some music and a final pint.
Back at home the Christmas spirit is beginning to rise.  The Christmas tree was erected at the weekend, and then decorated.  The lights are up.  The turkey is in the freezer, the Christmas cake has been made. Amazon have been and gone many times bringing their goodies. Now its for me to do that last minute shopping.  Christmas Eve, hurry please.

Stitches removed

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At last I went to the surgery on Monday to have the stitches removed from my throat.  The nurse removed them with hardly any pain at all.  I was most impressed. 

While there she checked my innoculation record, and gave me a Hep A injection.  So now should be immune against that ailment for the next 20 years.  A pity my working travels to Saudi never materialised.

Stitches removed

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At last I went to the surgery on Monday to have the stitches removed from my throat.  The nurse removed them with hardly any pain at all.  I was most impressed. 

While there she checked my innoculation record, and gave me a Hep A injection.  So now should be immune against that ailment for the next 20 years.  A pity my working travels to Saudi never materialised.

Survived

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I have been to the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford for the removal of an enlarged saliva gland.  Entered at 7.15 am on Friday, operated on at 10.30, came around from the anaesthetic at 11.30.  Despite being National Health, I had my own private ward, an excellent sleep that night, after I opened the window to let some of the hot air out. The government should be looking at its own establishments when trying to reduce carbon emissions.  A few radiator valves would not come amiss.  Was picked up at 10.30 on Saturday by Rosemary who had also visited (complete with grapes and magazine) on Friday.

Here is a picture of my scar.  Not sure about the stitching.

 

 scar.jpg

Unseasonably hot weather

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Its Thursday, and I am about to fly back home.  Short week as Rosemary and I are off to Cambridge next weekend. Spent the four days here in Edinburgh, staying at my favourite hotel the Radisson.  They gave me a bottle of malt, and a glass to go with it. Well miniature.

The week was a mixture of rain, and wind, followed by unseasonable hot weather today.  Not particularly sunny, but very very warm.

Been keeping a low profile this week.  Ate at the Ichycoo bar a couple of times, had scallops one night and salmon on Thursday.  One small outing down to the Mai Thai where I had an excellent meal of Thai fish curry and some vegetables.  White there I picked up a card of the artist who who paints their pictures which decorate the bar.  Rosemary was impressed by them.  Well I thought I had the card, seem to have mislaid it.  Will have to email the restaurant.

Today I left early for the airport, wanted a stress free boarding.  Of course today there were no traffic holdups, check in was fast.  No queues at the security, and the plane is 45 minutes late.  Oh well.

The weekend

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Had a nice weekend with Ann And Mike.  Did Bicester Village, though I was unable to find the walking boots I required.  Ann came a way with a few purchases.

Selina and Graham came over on Saturday for supper.  A salmon side marinaded in balsamic vinegar, Soy Sauce, then grilled and served on top of beans with a potato salad.  Quite good if I say so myself.

Sunday, nice lovely warm day, mowed the lawns, sat outside with a Pimms.  Lunch was slow cooked shoulder of lamb with Pomegranate.  Ann and Mike left us to go home via Ikea.

All the enjoyment was destroyed by the early morning get up call on Monday to drive to Luton. Huge queues at check-in, and even longer ones at security.  Ushered through the waiting crowds for the flight, only to be delayed for another hour.  This flying is getting to be a rather tedious repetitive joke.  Made up the hours already, was in the office until 7.30.