Cambridge benefactors luncheon

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17th June 2006
Made our way over to Cambridge for the buffet lunch given to Gonville and Caius donators.  Met up with Richard & Andrea.  Pictures to arrive shortly.  Saw the new Master of Caius Sir Christopher Hum MA, KCMG.  Master from January 2006. Previously had a career in HM Diplomatic Service,culminating in postings as British Ambassador to Poland (1996-1998) and to China (2002-2005). Continues to follow the politics, economics and international relations of contemporary China.

Selina and Graham arrived after supper to give me my father’s day present.   Thank you very much Selina and Graham. I have very few Who CDs, like none, and I really must get some more.

 

Scotland

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Back up in Scotland for a week working at the Bank.  Uneventful week ate mostly at the Raddison Hotel bar.  Met up with Mary and Ed for one evening out, where we ate pizzas in the Grassmarket, followed by various pints of beer in various pubs south of Grassmarket.  Shall have to retrace my footsteps to see where we went.  Remember hearing folk music and bagpipes in one bar, and some R&B music in a Jazz club. It was quite a good evening, which I must not repeat too often.

On the way home to Luton on the final landing run when we could not have been more than 2 minutes from touch down, and no more than 1000 foot altitude, the pilot executed a tight 360 turn.  As I left I asked the crew (well one wearing gold bands) why.  He said ah, so someone did notice.  Gave some reason of being too high and wanted to lose height.  He was not overly sure as he had not be piloting the Airbus.  I know I do this in a paraglider, but a jet.

Scotland

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12th – 16th June 2006


Back up in Scotland for a week working at the Bank.  Uneventful week ate mostly at the Raddison Hotel bar.  Met up with Mary and Ed for one evening out, where we ate pizzas in the Grassmarket, followed by various pints of beer in various pubs south of Grassmarket.  Shall have to retrace my footsteps to see where we went.  Remember hearing folk music and bagpipes in one bar, and some R&B music in a Jazz club. It was quite a good evening, which I must not repeat too often.

On the way home to Luton on the final landing run when we could not have been more than 2 minutes from touch down, and no more than 1000 foot altitude, the pilot executed a tight 360 turn.  As I left I asked the crew (well one wearing gold bands) why.  He said ah, so someone did notice.  Gave some reason of being too high and wanted to lose height.  He was not overly sure as he had not be piloting the Airbus.  I know I do this in a paraglider, but a jet.

Kingswood Chapel

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Group of us from the village attacked the near derelict chapel, cutting the grass, cutting down the scrub, which was growing up.  We must really find some thing, which can be done to the chapel before it falls down.

Kingswood chapel

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Group of us from the village attacked the near derelict chapel, cutting the grass, cutting down the scrub, which was growing up.  We must really find some thing, which can be done to the chapel before it falls down.

PSD day at Alton Towers

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Cedar had training and bonding day at Alton Towers. This time it was a mixture of PSD, Services and developers. I car shared to Alton Towers on the Thursday, the afternoon was taken up is state of the company meetings, followed by drinks in Alton Towers park.  Here we had the hire of a couple of rides fo an hour, including Oblivion..  No queuing.  One guy did Oblivion 15 time, I about 8.  After the rides, plenty of drink and dancing.

Next day more talks and demonstrations of new products we can sell services for.

PSD day at Alton Towers

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Cedar had training and bonding day at Alton Towers. This time it was a mixture of PSD, Services and developers. I car shared to Alton Towers on Thursday, the afternoon was taken up is a state of the company meetings, followed by drinks in Alton Towers park.  Here we had the exclusive use of a couple of rides for an hour, including Oblivion.  No queuing.  One guy did Oblivion 15 time, I about 8.  After the rides, plenty of drink and dancing.

  Next day more talks and demonstrations of new products we can sell services for.

Edinburgh

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Back in Edinburgh for 3 days and 2 nights.  The sun has at last decided to shine, and on Tuesday evening people were even dining out on the streets.  In fact with the ban on smoking I think there were more people on the street then in the pubs.

Paid my usual visit to the Petit Paris where I indulged in a three course meal, but no wine.  Free wine in my hotel room afterwards. Such a good customer at the hotel I get free drinks.

Tuesday I went to  McKirdy’s Steakhouse on Morrison Street.  Never been there before, was recommended in some magazine we get.  Not cheap, but very good steaks.  I had fillet steak with haggis and a whisky source.  Ed ate a large fillet.  Just managed to get our order in before two huge crowds of people.

Afterwards stopped off for a pint in a pub on the way back to the grassmarket area, in the area known as the pubic triangle because of the number of lap dancing clubs.  Very good selection of beers, including some beers flavoured with fruit.  Some very drunk mature Norwegian nurses from a conference attempted to pick both Ed and I up.  Hastily retreated to Whistle Binkies to listen to a band.

Edinburgh

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Back in Edinburgh for 3 days and 2 nights.  The sun has at last decided to shine, and on Tuesday evening people were even dining out on the streets.  In fact with the ban on smoking I think there were more people on the street then in the pubs. 

Paid my usual visit to the Petit Paris where I indulged in a three course meal, but no wine.  Free wine in my hotel room afterwards.  Such a good customer at the hotel I get free drinks.

Tuesday I went to  McKirdy’s Steakhouse on Morrison Street.  Never been there before, was recommended in some magazine we get.  Not cheap, but very good steaks.  I had fillet steak with haggis and a whisky source.  Ed ate a large fillet.  Just managed to get our order in before two huge crowds of people.

Afterwards stopped off for a pint in a pub on the way back to the grassmarket area, in the area known as the pubic triangle because of the number of lap dancing clubs.  Very good selection of beers, including some beers flavoured with fruit.  Some very drunk mature Norwegian nurses from a conference attempted to pick both Ed and I up.  Hastily retreated to Whistle Binkies to listen to a band.

Tug of War

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We had the annual tug of war between Kingswood and Wotton.  Yet again lost by Kingswood.  Not very well supported this year, in part caused by the very strong likelihood of thunderous rain.  Actually the weather was not so bad, and the event was quite good fun, afterwards went around to George’s, where we had a go on his go kart.