Category Archives: work

Posting relating to my work

The olde reekie

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This is my second week in Edinburgh. Last week I was here for four days, and this week it is a full week. It’s back almost to the old days, no rain, or at least when I am out walking there is no rain.

So what have I been doing, not a lot really, just working and going out in the evening for a meal. Last week at the Radisson Hotel I forgot to sign my bar/food bill. The next day I remembered and found the waitress. She said no problem, we put it on your room, I know your name, you won’t be able to get away with that.

This week as I had one meal in the hotel, she asked if I would be signing the bill tonight. I visited the Mai Thai for one meal. Had the spicy, hot duck. As usual very good. Last night I ate at the Mussel and Steak. Had a nice steak. Not quite as good as usual and was to my taste a tad over cooked.

Another blast from the past has just completed our comment book. Ashley Pickering, used to work for Walker, and here I am still working for a continuation of the same company.

No food reviews for Wednesday

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Disaster has struck. Part way through Wednesday I started to feel a little unwell. I managed to struggle on through the day feeling shivery and cold. Straight back to the hotel and into bed. Soon up to be very sick. That brought me some relief. I really think it must have been the Razor Clams.

So no food this evening, just tried to sleep and drink small sips of water.

The next day I had a meeting with a Life Assurance Company. They were going to take me out for lunch at All Bar One. This I declined, eating only [half] a small sandwich at lunch.

Back to the Petit Paris

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The day started bright and sunny. It ended in drizzle, though I managed to miss it. Had a quick drink with some colleagues from the bank, before making my way back to the hotel and supper.

Ate at the Petit Paris. The waiter spotted me through the window and beckoned me in. He thought he had not seen me for seven months. I am sure I have eaten there more recently.

Ate a lamb shank, salad and a pitcher of red wine.

Razor clams

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Up at 05.45 to catch the 7.00 flight from Luton to Edinburgh. I had expected to be kept awake during the night by the storm, or my active thoughts which always occur when I am leaving early. Nope.  Had a good night, and woke just before the alarm.

No storm, but it had just started to rain. Luton was fine, though the queues at the security have grown since the summer rush. Must be enforced holidays during the slack period.

Boarded the plane on time, but we sat and sat for ages without moving. The pilot eventually said they were having trouble calibrating the inertial navigation system because of the turbulence rocking the aircraft. They would have to taxi to another area, and then try to re-calibrate. So off he went to near the runway, and parked facing the wind. Another 10 minutes and we were ready, so off we went. The flight, what storm?, it was quite calm, and of course landing up north was pretty quiet as well. The only event I noticed was the very high cloud top. It was ages before we broke through the cloud, and even then we were only just above the top of the storm clouds.

Edinburgh is like Aylesbury; in a construction boom. Grassmarket, where I am staying at the Apex, is totally a building site. Princes Street is a work in progress with new gas mains, water mains and the tram going in. Saint Andrews Square garden was closed all last year for the reconstruction of the garden, it is still closed, but now the road is being dug up for the gas mains.

Had lunch with Mary in a caff near the bus station. Great meeting up with her again.

Ate at the Mussel and Steak. Had the mussel pot for mains, and razor clams for starters. Interesting things, razor clams. Very firm meat, tasting of the sea. Unusual and an experience. Might have something different to eat next time though.

Another week at the grocers in Bristol

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I had a whole week in Bristol completing the software installation. This week I was accompanied by the project manager and various others from the company for whom I work.

I have managed to work out the traffic to some extent, and can now make it to the office and back with no mistakes. I have also figured out some of the restaurants, been able to eat well and actually walk about Bristol without too much fear and trepidation. Did wonder at all the young women running down Park Street all with the same T-shirts. Seemed to be some student organised binge drinking contest. Was I so young once? [Editor’s comment “Still are”]

Working for a Grocer

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Tonight I am staying in Bristol doing a software install with a client. Will be here for a couple of weeks, and then on and off for a while.

Easy drive up to Bristol, then 45 minutes of hell getting across the city. Next Monday must find a new route. It’s been suggested driving around Bristol to Portishead and then into the office which is near by. Typically Google did not suggest the route.

Another Google complaint, getting to the hotel, I searched for the location using its postcode. Google located it, but threw away all the postcode other than BS1, and sent me to some where near the hospitals. Could not find the place at all, rang the hotel and they gave me directions. Over two miles away I found the hotel. The guy I spoke to at the hotel phone, said they had emailed Google several times about this postcode problem.

Ah well, next time I shall use the complete street address. At least I now know where the hotel is. Now to find some nice eating establishments.

Bristol again

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Another three days at Bristol and this time more people from the company with me. This is odd, working at a customer site, and people I can go out with for a drink and a meal. Very unusual indeed.

The weather, must talk about the weather. Yet again sunny and no rain. I shall soon expect to hear the farmers and water companies complaining about the lack of rain.

Finished the install, most of the stuff working, though some issues with the command SET CURRENT SQLID=xxxxxx which seems to be issued by our software, and is not always liked by DB2 systems. Ah well, I am sure it will be resolved in due course.

Restaurants, I ate at an Indian restaurant. It was near the waterfront, but not on it. Unusual, not the normal run of the mill Byrianis and Vindaloos, but more meaty dishes like lamb shoulder or lamb hock. Wish I could remember the name, but alas I don’t have the bill to hand.

Lovely run back home on Wednesday night, left the drive back till 7.00, and was soon home. No queueing on the M32 or at the Oxford M4 interchange.

Beltless in Edinburgh

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The bank wanted me for a couple of days urgent work.  So up to Edinburgh on the Easyjet from Luton.  Bit of a problem at security.  I had to take my belt off, no problem I always collect it as it passes through the xray machine.  This time they wanted to test my toothpaste as well.  Never had this done before, so in total confusion I left my belt at security.  Only realised this several hours later as my trousers fell to the floor. 

It was wet and miserable in Edinburgh.  Rained the whole time I was there.  Stayed at the Apex in Grassmarket, so a short walk to the Mussel and Steak.  Had a good meal of tuna cooked to a lovely pink colour inside.  Even early on a wet Monday evening the restaurant was quite busy. 

Flight back was a breeze, left on time and arrived back in the clear skies.  Collected my belt from lost property. 

 

Quick meeting in Edinburgh

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Flew to Edinburgh for a short meeting with a pension company customer.  The meeting was at 10.00, so had to fly from Birmingham.  Rather early flight so bad night sleep.  Met our Sales person in the Cafe Nero at 9.00 for a cup of coffee. 

 

A bit late in posting

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I seem to have been rather lax in doing any postings is recent weeks.  I suppose that is because not alot is happening at present.

Since visiting Edinburgh, and having a long weekend in Edinburgh, I have been working from home or working in the Aylesbury office on various support issues.

The last visit to Edinburgh culminated in the project teams Christmas party on Thursday lunch time.  This went on till late in the evening.  Next Rosemary arrived and we had a weekend in Edinburgh.  She is due to write that up today.

Since then Christmas has come and passed.  The weather has been variable, rain, frosts, sun, wind, but no snow.  We now have sheep again in the field at the back, who are wading through puddles. 

Well today I am in Aylesbury, the sun is shining and the wind is blowing hard.  Time to make a cup of tea and start some work.