Category Archives: Edinburgh

The recession

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The recession, or what recession. The chaps in the pub seem to be very busy. I have not met anyone who does not have enough work. Commenting this sorry in Twitter, it was deemed I must come from an affluent area.

For me, an employee, chargeable work has been pretty busy in the last few months. Old projects have come to an end with Aberdeen going live with their upgrade.

A short visit to Edinburgh to sort out an infrastructure change for a long standing client in the life assurance business. Had a great meal at a Tapas bar, and then of course what visit to Edinburgh would be complete without a visit to Whistle Binkies and some local Scottish musicians.

More recently new projects in Shropshire and Caerphilly have kept me busy with software upgrades. Caerphilly was interesting from a drinking and eating perspective. First week a premier inn and one of those cheap pub chains. The food was crap, and the premier inn was the premier inn with Lenni Henry sized beds. Luckily the weather was warm, and I could escape out side to drink a few pints and tweet to my tweeps in the dark. Ah the reason I drank outside was to miss the pub quiz.

Week after stayed at the Bryn Meadows Golf and Country club. Cost not a lot more, but gym and Swimming pool and a lush bedroom. Food and drink not outrageous either, at least compared with major cities.

The week after only suites available at the BM rather to costly for the budget. So tried the Half Way house in Blackwood. Pub with some new modern rooms. Rather nice friendly eye candy serving in the bar, and the land lord came and shook hands. Even the regular Welsh customers came up and spoke with the English man. Alas did not escape the Tuesday pub quiz. I won’t mention my score. Excuse, I was in a team of my own.

Shropshire was for a couple of days, which turned into three. Stayed in a hotel which could be classed as a boarding house. Was OK. Nice restaurant near by for food, but rather pot luck on what was severed. Not sure how a sirloin steak with salad was transformed into fillet steak with vegetables.

Should have a new install coming up in Brummie land on return from holiday.

Holy Mackerel

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Fishers in The City Thursday night decided it was an eating night.  Thought I would have a Thai meal, so walked over to Thistle Street to try Dusit.  Dusit is probably the best Thai Restaurant in Edinburgh.  It is small and looked rather full with several people hanging around outside.  So I gave it a miss, because across the road was a fish restaurant called Fishers in the City.  This restaurant has a good reputation.  Despite not booking, they were able to find me a spot at the bar to eat.  Only just made it in time.  It was nice to see many minor celebrities being turned away at the door.

The place serves Fish, but does have meat for those who don’t fancy fish.  There are several fish types on sale as well as shell fish, cray fish and lobsters.

I started off with some some Scallops, and Mackerel for my main course.  Both these were quite simple, but excellently prepared.  The wine was a revelation, it was the house brand Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa.  Most definitely not a French brand, because it smelt and tasted so florally and fruity.  I don’t know the name of the wine, not that it matters because it is not on general sale in the UK.

I then headed back to the Royal Mile to take some photos.  These are in the gallery.  Then dumping the camera, I headed to Whistle Binkies for some Rock and Roll.  Here I heard the first set of a  Scottish band called Three Card Trick.  (Myspace)   They were very good.  Now I have a recording of them as my ring tone.

I want to announce my Edinburgh Gallery.

Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog

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The Edinburgh Crags

The Edinburgh Crags

Wednesday night in Edinburgh, the rain stopped and the sun came out to play.  Even managed to capture a picture of the sun on the Crags through my hotel bedroom window.  So with the dry weather, and the festival, it was time to go out and play.  First, a quick stop to fuel up with some food, from a kebab shop on the bridges.  Must admit the humus tasted of nothing,  not even adding politically incorrect salt helped.

The Pleasance Courtyard

The Pleasance Courtyard

Ah well, off the the Pleasance Courtyard where I managed to get a ticket for Greg Davies.  He was funny, telling the story of his life and the influences of other people on his life.  As is usual he picked on a few people from the front row to help him.  Despite foolishly sitting in the front row, I was bypassed.  Not so the blonde, busty lady sitting near by.  She had to help him with his story, which she amply did.

I managed to squeeze one more set in afterwards where I saw the AAA Stand-Up late.  This was three stand up comics Erich McElroy, Ryan McDonnell and Steve Allen.   Not quite so good, and the American Erich McElroy was not at all funny.

I want to announce my Edinburgh Gallery.

I am back in town

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Yes I am back in Edinburgh for a short stay, and the weather has welcomed me with a vengeance.  It has rained pretty well all day.  The festival is in full swing, but tonight I have taken it easy, eaten at a dry restaurant.  That makes me feel very good.  Won’t last though, I am sure I will partake on Tuesday.

The meal I had was at the Kurdish restaurant, Hanams.  Ate a starter of Baba Ghanoush, and Chicken Biryani for the main.  Both very good.

I want to announce my Edinburgh Gallery.

Leave My Blues At Home

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My last two days in Edinburgh are over.   I am not sure when I will be back there.  I had a pleasant evening exploring a number of hostelries in the city and sampling a few malts.  One a small bar was called the Jinglin Geordie Bar on Fleshmarket Close.

I also managed to get home on Thursday, the ash cloud moved off to the West of Ireland, and all the airports resumed operation to allow me home.  Arrived back home, picking some fish and chips up on the way.  Rosemary was out working as a polling officer in a nearby village.

I watched the the ending of the poll on TV, and was dismayed to hear the Gordon Brown would be hanging on to power despite losing the election.  How anyone can think that he and Alistair can get us out of this financial crisis after it was Gordon’s bad management of our economy that got us where we are.  All the favourable aspects of his rule of our economy, like low inflation have nothing to do with his leadership, but much to do with the world economy, India, Brazil and China.  Instead he has just squandered our money on bureaucracy in the hospitals,  paying GPs and consultants far to much.

He and Tony have dithered on our power systems, and when the lights start to go out in a few years time, I expect it will be the party in power that will feel the anger of the electorate, and not the cause of the crisis, Gordon and Tony.

ASHES TO ASHES

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As I booked my flight to Edinburgh, the Icelanders decided it was time to resurrect their volcano. Just before I turned the lights off at midnight, I thought I had better check my flight to Edinburgh. Easyjet was warning all flights to and from Scotland and Ireland were liable to  disruption, and I should check the flight.  The part of the site for checking flights was, of course, down.

4.45 am alarm, open laptop and check flights.  Glasgow cancelled, but Edinburgh still open.  Checked the CAA site, and the same news.  So off to Luton airport instead of the station.  Suffice to say, I have arrived in Edinburgh.  Will I get home, am I marooned here for the foreseeable future? [Ed – If he thinks I’ll believe a word of being stranded in Edinburgh because of ash, then the Monster Raving Loony Party will win tomorrow.]

Volcano, I’m Still Excited!!

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0416-ICELAND-VOLCANO_full_380 I had a short trip to Edinburgh this week.  I flew up from Heathrow to Edinburgh with British Airways on Monday morning.  I had tried to book a flight on the Friday evening, but found Easyjet were fully booked, and the price of Flybe from Birmingham was extortionate.  Train travel is also rather slow and expensive, so was rejected.  Last resort was BA.  For the sum of £43.00 I received my ticket to Edinburgh, I was able to take hold luggage at no extra charge (not that I had any),  I had bacon, egg, sausage and tomatoes, orange juice and coffee and daily newspaper on the flight for free, and could use the loo without charge.  I did not have to go through the indignity of proving who I was before flying.  Ryanair and Easyjet, you can go and get stuffed, BA is not over priced.

Terminal 5 was a good experience as well.

At work in Edinburgh, I found out how long I was staying, and booked my hotel through Last Minute dot Com.  Not such a good experience, they sent me to the wrong agency to check into the apartment I had booked.  Lots of walking and eventually a taxi, I was in my room.

Luckily I was there just for one night, any longer and I would still be there, stuck for lack of flights.  I am meant to be flying up there on Wednesday.  Will the ash cloud be being blown in another direction?  Let’s hope so.

We have arrived too late to play the bleeding heart show

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An addendum to my previous post.  We were called, we boarded, then we sat there waiting for lots of passengers who had disappeared.  Then we waited for a ground crew to unload the luggage of the disappeared passengers.  Then the ground crew arrived and spent ages locating whatever luggage that should not be flying.   What puzzles me is those passengers who decided not to fly must not have cared less about their luggage and left it to the machinations of Easyjet and Servisair.

In due course we left at 1.30, and arrived at Edinburgh in a sunny almost Spring like day, bit chilly for Spring, but it looked Spring like.  So by the time I was in Edinburgh is was well past 3.30, so felt I was too late for work, so checked into my hotel.  Good start to the week.

We’re walking in the air

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I am still sitting here in Luton airport, waiting and waiting.  I am most definitely not flying.  As I drove to Luton this morning the snow started to settle.  A little longer journey than usual, due to the cautious nature of most drivers in the snow.  Arrived in plenty of time, and watched several planes land.  Departures were announced and off people flew.  We were called and watched the incoming flight unload, and then nothing, and nothing not even an announcement and the traditional vanishing of everyone in authority.

The airport had closed, flights were cancelled, Malaga, Aberdeen, Galway, Germany.  Ours though still hung on.  Oh, one Easyjet  helper said my flight to Edinburgh had been cancelled, but that was denied by all the other staff.  Eventually the electronic boards were updated with information of the flight status, but why so long for the information?  Why does it take so long to provide this information in an easy place to see when the information is known all the time?

I am sitting here at midday writing this after eating my free Easyjet flight meal, ie  Starbucks coffee and a sandwich.  The flight indicator says an estimated departure of 13.30, but I see the Glasgow flight with the same estimate has started to board.  Maybe I will arrive in Edinburgh after all.  I was a tad worried, the snow flurries outside had all started up again after a brief respite.

My flight has been called.  Off I go, let’s hope I go to Edinburgh & not Prestwick.