On Sunday we picked the Sloes, diificult because they were all on high level branches. There were masses of Sloes.
Filled two litre bottles with Gin, sugar and Sloes according to last years recipe.
On Sunday we picked the Sloes, diificult because they were all on high level branches. There were masses of Sloes.
Filled two litre bottles with Gin, sugar and Sloes according to last years recipe.
We are back from a week in Guernsey, staying at Le Grande Mare. On this visit we decided to forgo the car, and use the public bus service. This had several advantages, cost a lot less, allowed us to drink in restaurants, and meant we did not have to do circular walks, or retrace our footsteps.
The weather started out reasonably fine, midweek there was one day when there was rain all day, and another day when we were caught out and had to don our waterproofs. We did quite a lot of walking, walking the Southern cliffs, and the Northern coast.
We also visited quite a few restaurants, taking advantage of the October TennerFest promotion on the island. Many restaurants vie to produce a two or three course menu for lunch or dinner for 10 pounds. You can then vote for your favourite restaurant and the winner gets some award. We still think Da Nellos was great Italian food, and the No 44 Indian Restaurant next door did some really unusual good Indian food. We ate three times at Le Grande Mare, and that was excellent too, much improved over when we first visited several years ago. The Hollows a Greek restaurant at La Gouffre was a bit of a disappointment this year.
There seems to be the usual closed streets where the drains, or pipes are being replaced. The new airport terminal, which was started last year, is nearing completion and looks quite smart. The Royal Bank of Scotland has a fabulous new building under construction on the harbour front at St Peter Port, along with many new open and closed market flats.
Most museums were open until the 31st of October, so we did the round of those we had not recently visited.
HotSpring, from whom we bought our hot tub, ran a photo competition earlier this year. They wanted to create a portfolio of pictures of their hot tubs in British settings for their showrooms, instead of the usual US based photos.
We won a runner up price of £100 credit note to spend in a showroom.
Today we went to chose and drove to their Warwick showroom, which was nearer for us than Reading (where we bought the tub), but seemed quite a bit smaller. The portfolio was there and our picture was the front cover! Not sure why the winning photo was not the front cover.
So pop in to your local hotspring show room, and you will see our hot tub. If you buy one, please tell them we recommend you
Another week at the Royal Bank of Scotland. It will be the last for a few weeks. Then I will have a portable computer and will start my diary of a consultant.
So to get started I can say the week was a beautiful sunny week. I arrived at the bank at 10.45 on Monday after an uneventful flight from Birmingham on FlyBe.
Evening was a meal in the hotel (Apex European), and then reading an Ian Rankin novel.
Tuesday, out for a meal, a Thai.
Wednesday an Indian at Zest, and lots more lager while watching Newcastle at the Standing Order
Thursday Japanese at Izzi, and then finished the Ian Rankin book.
Friday back on the plane at 14.45, (30 minutes late)
Another week at the Royal Bank of Scotland ended today.
Saturday was a wet day. Not heavy rain but light drizzle. With that and Rosemary’s cousin arriving, no work was done around the house.
Today was cold, breezy sunny day, so I waterproofed the front of the house with Silicone in preparation for the wet and windy winter. Looking at the state of the wall, I think I must do a bit of repointing this winter.
Another week at Edinburgh working for RBS
Bad news today. Axon makes Rosemary redundant.
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