Just back from a week working in Scotland for The Royal Bank of Scotland. Excellent weather while I was there, so could walk from the office to the hotel.
Several of us were there, so the evenings were entertaining.
Just back from a week working in Scotland for The Royal Bank of Scotland. Excellent weather while I was there, so could walk from the office to the hotel.
Several of us were there, so the evenings were entertaining.
To celebrate the 21st birthday of Selina, and Steve’s up coming 50th birthday, the Blasdale family went out for a meal. That is Selina, Graham, Rosemary and Steve went for a meal at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Edgcott Taxis delivered us to the door for 7.30.
Selina looked pretty in her lovely pink skirt with the white top and pink panels. She had black shoes (posh suedette sandals with closed toes) and a black and silver sparkly scarf round her waist as a belt so the blackness of the shoes was not quite so striking.
They were ushered out into the garden for and a tray of hors d’oueves (sadly only 2 each of 5 flavors so they had to share). The flavors were:
While they were choosing from the menu, sitting out in the warm September evening, Graham and Rosemary took a short walk around the garden. They saw all the fat ducks and the immaculate vegetable gardens.
After a while they placed their order for the seven-course menu gourmand and were later called in when their table was ready. They were seated by the waitress, asked if they wanted the wine they had ordered (which was poured by the wine waiter who kept their glasses constantly topped up. The wine was not kept on the table!) The waitress brought round bread rolls of various flavors:
An appetizer was served, guacamole in a slight tower shape, with a mixture of puréed avocado and lumps of avocado, topped with crabmeat and a garnish of reduced balsamic vinegar.
The first starter was fois gras with sour toasted bread, some leaves that had been coated with something that made them a little more bulky than leaves, and gave then a crunch when bitten. Final garnish of sour cherry pickled in alcohol.
The second starter were panned fried sweet breads, minute mushrooms, almonds and cauliflower puree.
The fish course was Brill on fennel with green beans.
The Meat course was medium rare duck with a towered potato, French beans and redcurrant jus. The potato was partially fried/roasted I think.
First sweet was exotic fruit soup with mango sorbet.
Second sweet was tiramisu (DELICIOUS!) with a latticework of chocolate strands.
Next was coffee in the lounge. Selina had tea The wine waiter followed them into the lounge with the remains of the second bottle of wine. The lounge was very posh. You should have seen the waiters plump up the cushions when a guest left. With coffee there was at a tiered tray of sweets (again only 2 of each type, but everyone else was so full only Steve and Selina ate them all!).
During the meal Geri Halliwell walked by within inches of Steve, wearing what could only be described a belt. Unfortunately Selina and Steve with their backs to her missed the event and can only take the word of Graham and Rosemary. Not sure if there were any other famous people that that evening. There was a large Bentley and chauffeur waiting at door as the Blasdale family left.
At eleven Edgcott taxis came and whisked the party away. They had a very nice evening, which is well worth repeating. The staff were very attentive, but not overbearing. Each course was described briefly. The service was immaculate. The surroundings were beautiful
Stayed a couple of days in Edinburgh working for the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Thursday was wet during the day. First time for ages. Friday was a nice sunny day and we were able to sit outside for lunch.
Back home Friday evening to find Rosemary still not home from work and me without a key, so a fine excuse for a pint of ale at the P&A.
Today was a repeat of last years (17th August) canal trip organised by John and Carol Curd. The trip followed the same format, day boat from just outside of Cheddington, going south through several locks. Stopping at around 1.00 for our picnic lunch of Salmon, meat balls, humus, salads etcetera.
Back through the locks and back to the marina for 5.00. An invite by Stuart to his house for tea, and a cooling spray of water from a hose pipe. Yes it had been yet another hot day, and with the running around closing and opening lock gates we were rather warm and dehydrated.
No I did not fall in, job or get pushed into the canal. The dead floating fish put me off from this exercise. Quite a few birders were on the tow path, apparently looking for a Least Sand Piper, a visitor from America..
This whole week I have been staying in Edinburgh working with RBS, setting up the eConnector product from Elevon, or is it SSA GT, and is it Walker as our customers still call us.
During the week I was told formally I would be redundant on the 15th of this month. So that is one uncertainty out of the way.
Had quite a few nice meals out with the Cedar folk who are working at RBS, and nice to see quite a few old Walker folk from many years ago, still eking a crust from the Walker products.
Edinburgh was definitely lively with the Festival in full stream.
The previous week I had been paragliding at Coombe Gibbet, when the phone rang requesting me to go to Edinburgh on Monday.
Drove to Liverpool and back picking Selina up on the way. Was home by 12.15. She has now finished her second year.
Quick trip to Edinburgh with EasyJet today. Made a long day of it, up at 5.30 in the morning and back home at 21.00. Did not see much of the place, sat in a windowless room all day in meetings at RBS
Today the Plough and Anchor drinkers decamped to Hook Norton for a brewery visit. The brewery still operates a steam engine to power the water pumps, grain hoists and milling machines. The whole place is a wonderful piece of Victorian engineering, and much of this is still operated.
I intend going back there during the day when the machinery is in operation.
After the visit we had a few drinks in the brewery visitor centre, and then onto another pub for sandwiches and chips.
Rosemary and I went out to see John Curd on a special surprise visit organised by Carol to commiserate his 50th birthday. Many of the old Walker crowd were there to drink to his health. He had been expecting to go out for a curry, but instead we had a brought in curry organised by the New Himalaya Tandoori house.
Today started out as a beautiful sunny day, but cold. Rosemary and I decided to visit the Painswick Rococo Garden, which is situated in a hidden Cotswold valley in Painswick near Gloucester.
This time of the year is a special treat with floods of Snowdrops amongst the gardens and woods. After viewing the gardens we had a pub lunch with a pint of Hook Norton.
I took a few photos of the garden while I was there. Hopefully, they will be on the site in a couple of week’s time. I was not alone with my camera, there were several professional photographers taking pictures of the Snowdrop grove.