| Been slack in updating |
[18 Mar 2009|12:29am] |
Well it's 0:12am and am bored on a train back from London after an executive dinner with various CEO types in the gherkin!! Fantastic night out and was very intimate - amazing that I now have the mobile number of several very very large it securitys companies board members!
But let's go and explain the past few months now... Melanie moved in during end of January and so we have now been living together almost 2 months! It's been fun although the 2 hour each way commute is making mel tired as she isn't fully used to it yet. She is also only supposed to be working 4 days a week in London but due to her work being shockingly poor in issueing her a laptop that may take another month to occur so she's doing the full 5 days right now.
I'm enjoying cooking for Mel every night and relaxing in her company. Overall it's working great.
We went to see avenue q - the musical in London on the 28th of February - that was a great night in London with food and beers a plenty.
We have also visited matt and Jen for matts 30th birthday bash ! They then visited us this weekend and stayed sat night - it was nice having guests over! We had a curry then we met up with brandon and lisa and tony and went to a karaoke party in the local! On Sunday we chilled then went to a French Market in the town centre and sat and drunk coffe right in middle of town while eating various French foods purchased from there! Evening we met up with the guts from night before for a few drinks. Was great weekend!
Monday was our one year anniversary - which we spent on the seafront eating chips at the nearest Coastal town felixstowe, then playing arcades - a very nice relaxed day!
Right this is long enough - more later in week!
Sent from my iPhone
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| Holiday stuff |
[15 Jan 2009|09:39am] |
Well, almost got it booked - funds are limiting buying for the moment though until payday. Buying travel insurance seperate - way cheaper - but making sure got scheduled airline disruption in case they go bust.
Flights to Vegas are super super cheap right now (am right at limit of booking with the amount of days arlines sell tickets in dvance) - direct flight from Lon->Vegas only has one carrier (Virgin) operating flight... and changing flights in the US can be a nightmare (been stranded in Chicago one too many time). Basically its £800 for a direct routing with no hassle (and all my friends will be on same plane). Or cheapest (US AIR - bleh) is £660. So extra £140 for a direct routing with no hassle. Also have a chance of gettign upgraded on Virgin due to excessive miles + frequent flyer hax.
Alterantive is to book via Virgin Holidays. This comes to £1600 with hotel included (MGM Grand for 8 days) - can stay in other properties for less, but wedding party is all at MGM. Due to the amount of holidays I've taken with Virgin I get some bonuses options if I book this...
1/ Free hotel at airport & Access to the lounge at airport (free food + drink hax)
2/ Free car parking + access to lounge
3/ Executive transfer to airport both ways (first 50 miles) + lounge
Well I live ~ 100 miles away from the London airports at best, so I'll be pricing 3/ - usually a transfer costs £200, so is way out... but with US flights you really don't want to drive as you land - so 1/ is a interesting one, as could stay overnight as we return and pick up car next day.
I think they'll work out costing the same - MGM grand do do specials, but if the pound rate hits the floor it will result in it being more expensive this way....
You can't tell I hate spending more money than necessary can you..
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| Germany & Stuff |
[16 Dec 2008|08:55am] |
Well, back from Germany. Awesome visit, though was a bit "girlie" for me as I was the only bloke out there - 3 gals, including my g/f and me. We played board games in the evenings, we were supposed to be going out, but the girls decided staying in would be good (It was frikkin freezing outside - and snow falling).
We played a load - including the describe "Whats in the bag" game - where you get a card and have to describe whats on the card without mentioning the name!. I came up with a great one ... "There are societies for this in Oxford & Cambridge university, and it sounds quite amusing when prefixed with mass"... Answer: Debating...
Spent the 3 days out (and 4 nights) there going to Christmas markets in Aachen, and Montchau... and also just getting to know some of Mel's friends.. We also visited an old German castle, with a Moat, then a moat inside the Moat. Quite lovely, but not pulled the pics yet :) Pretty much everything in Germany shuts on Sunday, so visiting Castles and things is a quintessential German thing. I wish everything shut in England on Sundays too - being able to do all shopping Sunday I think makes us too much of a 24/7 society. That said Germany does remind me (in the cities) of big US cities..
I brought a cool ornament for my new office - a huge metal thing of a metal bloke raising a hammer over the computer. Looked really cool and I'll take a pic of it shortly. Unfortuatly failed to get any other presents - the German markets are more about drinking Gluhwein and eating sausage than shopping in my opinion at least.
This last weekend was spent preparing for Christmas with Mel - quite stressful trying to make sure everything was ready. The Christmas decorations&tree are now up, and Mel says its a mini-vegas as you come in the house. Basically have put multicolored non-flashing lights all round the living room door and the stairs.
Now back at work :( and its busy due to lack of folks due to Xmas holidays. Still only here till lunchtime on 24th, then off until Monday after new year (5th I think). Yay to holidays.
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| Almost = holiday |
[02 Dec 2008|02:15pm] |
Off to Germany Thurs. Hope the snow in England right now doens't hit airport, cause as all UK residents know a small snow = airport closure. Brought a new cabin baggage sized bag today, reduced to £30 from £160. I coudl have got a cheaper one, but this one is well made, and is pefect size for all airlines in UK! Also is a LOT lighter, allowing more to be packed!
Back Sun, can't wait, have great memories of my last trip to Bremen, and am hoping Dusseldorf will be just as interesting :) Germany is a great country from my experience on that trip ... I Still can't believe the entire trip is only costing us £65 for the flights and taxes, for 2 people, return, so what only £32.50 each...
Works calling, so better get back to it...
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| Been ill & off work 2 days |
[19 Nov 2008|09:50am] |
Like proper horrible outa both ends style sick. Better now though.
So 1 day spent in bed / the other obvious place. When not ill, was mostly playing Galactic Civilisations 2 on the laptop. I love that game when I've got hours to play it... its been the saviour of many work trips when stuck in hotel's bored in the ass-end of nowhere when everything else is shut (this cause work rarely pays for a car, so if the office is in middle of nowhere, so am I, and thus am limited to hotel food at a weekend if work requires it.
The other day I slept mostly as I recovered due to being up so long the other day - when up I watched TV, and caught up on Fringe (AWESOME btw) - as had recorded the first 7 episodes and not watched until now. If you havnt' watched it... Do.
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| Work n stuff |
[13 Nov 2008|03:09pm] |
Really hating work's business right now.
Today stayed home awaiting my new UPS's arrival. I am such a geek - but couldn't resisit £80 for a £500 UPS. Bargain. But the other one I have "acquired" from a friend for nothing is bigger, and more expensive.
What it means is er, I can run for about 4 hours sans mains electric and have internet connection for the laptop for that entire time (new UPS will just power DSL and phone). Yay!
My home server will run 30 mins... and If I'm playing games online (that means EVE), the other older UPS gives me 3 mins to shutdown. I'd like that number to be higher... but I need to buy new batterys for that. (The acquired UPS has 3 year old batterys... and would last 30 mins if it had £70 of batteries). I will er, replace the batts when funds permit.
Anyhow, need to do boring house cleaning stuff tonight. Wash floor, tidy, do washing, do hoovering. I then plan to play some computer games (probably EVE online) until bed - and chat to my g/f, who is sick.
Mel will move in in Jan. Yay for that.
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| Weekend post |
[09 Nov 2008|11:54am] |
Got 5 mins so super quick post. Hoping the interest rate cut makes my bank cut rates... if they follow example of rest, thats £200 extra a month I have in my back burner - yay!
About to leave for Ipswich to go CD shopping. Beer shopping, and er just take a walk for an hour to clear the head (probably down the waterfront). Mel's up North this weekend due to a work conference on Friday/Mon. She'll be over next weekend. In meantime, I've been spending time watching back TV I missed, and sorting the new office. All moved in and am typing in there now. Its cool, but am getting used to the legroom and I really think I need a little footrest...
Beer I had made with Mel for xmas day, er, leaked. The barrels seal was screwed. And typically it failed at a point in time where I'd have been left with a swimming pool not kitchen - so it all had to be tipped down loo (as it wasn't yet drinkable, or I'd have had a fine go at inviting the lads around to drink 5 gals of beer)... My usual methods of bodging a problematic seal failed and it was at a time when nothing was open that would sell me more PTFE tape, or washers....... So today as above its off to Wilko's to buy a replacement tap seal/PTFE(if they have any), or if not, just a new beer kit. The barrel can wait (it doesn't go in barrel for 2 weeks after starting anyhow) -and I can go to the homebrew shop and get the spares then. Will also be buying a new barrel.
After that, to Nans for 2 hours as its her birthday. Then to parents for dinner. Then home and chores before some TV & bed.
Next week will suck at work. Still loads of work on... and no boss still.
I love weekends at this time of year where you do nothing except mooch.
Anyhow, gotta be places..
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| Recent weeks |
[27 Oct 2008|02:41pm] |
Its been... a blur. Super long post with no cuts... sorry!
Visited loads of England I've not seen before - drove around 800 miles total in various trips.
To summarise:
Alton Towers - Its trying to hard to be disney like. Not enough rides, and expensive... £42 for a 2 day pass. But... fun rides. Turned my sister from being a coaster virgin, to being a hard-core - must ride at front person. This from the person who on day one would not go on Nemesis again after her 1st ride - and loved it by the 3rd time. October IS the best time to visit AT - no schoolkids, and almost no queues. We rode front of ride on all the major coasters at least 5 times each. As well as countless other back positions. Think me/Sis/Mel will be visiting a few other themeparks next year. Would love to do Florida again, but er, can't afford it next year. We stayed at a great pub that has its own brewery - and the food was cheap and very very good.
York - beautiful town. Ate in old famous shop Bettys, expensive but good. Like being a posh toff. Drunk beer in an underground set of old tunnel like cellars. Very cool. Went to oldest pub in York also. Saw the minster.
Leeds - its Leeds, a city. Most expensive pints ever, 1 1/2 pints for £9.30. Was a german special super strong white beer, so was twice as effetive at getting us drunk as a normal. Beer. A round for 4 people after was £7.30, so more manageable.
Dewsbury - Where we spent most of the time... visited my friend (and Jens brother) Shaun, drunk lots of beer in the "Old Colonial" which looks a bit like that pub in "Shaun of the Dead". Even has a gun behind the bar. Lots of real ale. Most authentic real pub been in for ages. Great to catch up with Shaun and Vanessa.. We also made Mel's house ready for sale.
Blackpool. The antipathy of British seaside. Great fun had here for one day, visiting the piers, slot machines, and having fish and chips. Illuminations were good ...! Will visit again we had a great day, and will come for an evening out of season again in future. Would NOT go in-season, can see what a nightmare it would be. Sadly missed going into the tower....
Bournemouth - visited Mel's friends. A more classy seaside resort. Can't believe that Mel's friends lived 10 mins walk from beach. Amazing, and lovely place. Of course I knew this as my cousins used to live here. Had a nice evening out, a nice Italian (though would have preffed the Thai we couldn't get a table at). Lots of beer drunk, nice food, and good entertainment.
Arlesley - Went to visit Matt, and enjoyed catching up with him/Jen for an evening before driving home.
Once back home and having a day off, we then went and spent a day locally at Felixstowe, and enjoyed the old-style seaside town. Shame so much has closed in Felixstowe - its a little in decline from last time I visited. We will visit again for the Sunday market in the not to distant future. We will take my big pile 'o'coins then to use in the penny arcades.
I then went back to work for a few days whilst Mel stayed at home, having more holiday than me. She spent the time helping me with an office clearout. Mel then spent a week commuting from mine, as in semi-big news, we were seeing if she could put up with the 2 hour each way commute door-to-door to work. Thankfully she appeared to be able to work fine and we're thinking about her moving in in Feb next year. A little scarey, but fun, as I enjoy her company - even having spent just over 3 weeks living together...
Oh... and my new office finally is pretty much complete as of this Saturday (floor down and new furniture arrived, built!).. I do need to get a phone extension cord so I can move the computer though as the new desk location means I can't get the DSL router connected. Also need to get the last item needed.... a blind. Thats a trip for this Sunday. I'll take a picture when done... it does look fantastic... oak flooring (laminate), maple/beech desk (massive) + new ikea special shelving which is like a load of cubby holes. Need a single futon for the room to be complete (so it can be used as a single guest bedroom when one person stays)
What am I doing this week/next. Well Mel's coming up on Friday night. Football Saturday day... Sunday we'll get aforementioned blind and fit.... also fit some shelves to the office.
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| This weekend |
[23 Sep 2008|02:00pm] |
Was shite due to work....basically the china project meant I had almost no sleep from Friday until saturday night and was therefore knackered.
Sat was roxys birthday though so we popped to the pub to say happy birthday. Lucy and Chris also announced their engagement and said there wedding would be in vegas next November. We'll be going to the wedding so we now await dates for booking flights!
Myself and mel are finalizing plans for our time off in but 7 days and arranging nights out hotels etc. Prior to that am taking my sister to Alton towers for 2 days and booked the hotel for that literally 5 minutes ago. Staying in a really old 17th century inn which brews it's own beer and which only has room for 10 guests. Should be a fantastic setting and a bit more authentic than an on site hotel. Will take my camera.
This weekend we cooked enough home made ready meals to last myself and mel the week - a seafood risotto, shepards pie and spaghetti bol - as we both have busy weeks it'll save us both time during this week.
Post more later back to work now!
Sent from my iPhone
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| General update |
[16 Sep 2008|09:33am] |
I've been really bad about blogging on LJ. LJ just isn't my main blog site you see, having a technology blog on a major publishers website (which gets some serious visits!)(itpro.co.uk) - and another on blogger, which is for my EVE-online blogging (will explain later).
Anyhow, whats up... well, been seeing lots of Mel... decorating my office. Cleaning house.. Watching football. We won in football at the weekend.
Looking forward to holidays ! Need to book a hotel, I'm just too busy at work to do it.
This weekend, probably highlight was driving the 30 miles out to Snetterton market on Sunday, where I was amased at the book stall - I spent £20 on new books ! Also got some CK pants, and some t-shirts. Loved the huge model shop there, brought me back to my childhood.
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| Long time no update |
[22 Aug 2008|10:49am] |
Posting this via email as am so busy at work can't get 5 mins to myself!! So this is being written on the way to work on the iPhone I hope.
Can't really recap the last 2 weeks in the time I've got so I'll just recap this weekends plans.
Tonight should hopefully finish work semi early and thus be able to start cooking dinner for mel who is due to arrive at about 7 today. In the uk it's a summer bank holiday so mel is staying until Monday night. Tmrw it's football though but prior to that we are going to b&q to buy paint as this weekend we plan to finish decorating the office. On Sunday we will put the final coats of paint on the wall then to to a BBQ at Natalie's house. Mondays go eat out buy office furniture and go to dump day.
All going well with mel right now in fact discussed her moving in at some point early next year.. Off to Alton towers with my sister in early October yay.
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| So whats going on? |
[05 Aug 2008|10:40am] |
Last week it was my Birthday - Mel was staying with me, with her parents dog (dog sitting) all week. Great week, lots of fun - and we cooked some amazing dinners during the week.... Certainally could learn to live with Mel - shes easy to get along with.
Well last weekend = Cousin Charlottes wedding - in Winchester. Lovely part of England, which I'd never really been to before. This weekend drove ~ 600 miles in total. We went to wedding in a tiny lovely small village (where I imagine houses start at 1/2 million pounds upwards).. then reception in my Uncles house, then in Winchester itself.. Lovely day photos on facebook (though not from me as I left camera at home).
Sunday, well, we went from the Wedding hotel to my Cousin Ben's house to have lunch and spend the day there. We took Ben's air rifle, and all the men had a shooting contest in his considerable gardens of which myself and Ben were the best shots... but far, our dad's couldn't even make the target sheet.
Ben lives really remote in a village of what appaers to be less than 30 houses... but next door to a real-ale pub. I appoved of location..
Sunday night I spent in London with Mel... Monday went to Matt's office to play around on his work computers the entire day!
Lots more detail to add but soooo busy at work right now.
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| Well |
[15 Jul 2008|01:14pm] |
got iPhone, all working, push emails great - I get emails from g/f and best mates instantly, @ work, without bypassing any corp policies.... and can type on iPhone as well as on my (work) blackberry. Yay!
Ealing comedy festival at the w/e was most awwesome. Wish I could have booked some days of this week and stayed down in Ldn for some of the other nights - £15 for a night of comedy AND a real ale event is value (especially with the quality of the comics on offer). Train home Sunday night sucked, was delayed 1 hour due to breaking down... grrr.
Went to IKEA Wembley saturday, and redesigned my computer office on paper with Mel, will cost ~ 500 quid in bits from the shop - including a masstive solid desk... Will do work in October by extending the holiday once my boss gets back .. he's ill right now so no hol bookings poss for a week.
Anyhow real busy at work. Back to it.
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| Work n stuff |
[09 Jul 2008|09:05am] |
Work right now is boring, its a lull between several big projects. I hate that. Lots of maintaince and boring activitys to do, but nothing of what I enjoy.
This week is interesting though here, its iphone week - media is in a frenzy, and I hope to pick one up Friday. Several stock shortages etc lalala all reported. I'll be queuing up at 7:30 Friday (they open at 8).
Me/Mel can't be going better. We're going to Germany in December now. For the Christmas markets - Mel's trying to persuade me a train is better than the plane (but I don't like tunnels!). Basically train = 2 hours london -> brussels. Then another train to a place in Germany, then another onto where we'll be staying. Journey time 5 hours ish... plus the 1.5 hours for me to get to Kings X in 1st place to pick up train (yes I know its St Panc for eurostar, but same place innit!). Plane = 1 hour drive, 2 hour wait, 1 hour plane journey direct to nearby where we staying. So waaay quicker. Mel hates planes though. Going via brussels has advantage of a stop-off in one direction so we can have Belgian christmas beers, which are v.nice. Cost wise roughly similar - though staying in brussels will cost £40-50 for the night. We ain't paying for accomodation in Germany so thats all good.
This weekend we're going to Ealing comedy festival, which is about 6 hours of comedy Saturday night - yay. I hope the tickets get delivered tommorow...
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| Er pissed post |
[04 Jul 2008|11:00pm] |
This week Mel is in Germany and we've got a semi-free holiday in Dec now sorted. Anyhow...
Well tonight was beer fest in stow, and they almost run out of the 70 kegs of beer - by 10pm!... seriously. Anyhow, mighty drunkard. Chris dumped me to see Kevin and probably some gals he fancied - but even without him the beer fest was rocking with over 400-500 people in. Baited some steam train geeks. Er what else. Tried about 12 half pints of various beverages 4% to 9%.. feel a bit rough. Came home early after burger as all the people I knew had left (Phil, Tracy, JD, Chris).
Week at work = shit, but ho-hum. Gettign a iphone next friday as my phone went out of contract this month on 11July. Its a sign surely. Or even not.
Anyhow, sleep calling in a bit. I hope.
Tmrw sis helping me clean one of my 2 spare rooms (the one that usually is my office) this is badly needed, and a major task involving moving 2 computers and loads and loads of wires + around 500-600 books. I read a lot for those that don't know me. A real lot. I can finish 300 page books in about 2 hours on average.
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| So off work today and Monday |
[27 Jun 2008|12:09pm] |
| [ |
music |
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Mostly listening to the Hoosiers |
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So.. I can get stuff ready for wedding, but I've slept in this morning till 11 and done nothing (its now 12!).
Really have to tidy house as Mel arriving at 6 and also really really should mow the lawn, but have the cba's. Tomorrow its the aforementioned Wedding of Nat and Rich, so we've got a full day of activities to attend, and are staying at a posh hotel out in the country.. Mel leaves for her holiday to Germany on Sunday, and I'm dropping her off at airport.... she comes back via Belgium and France - then comes home on Eurostar train in a week). Won't be able to call her while there, so will be a very very quiet week. I've still got a week of holiday available to book, and don't know where to go - would like to do HK and Singapore - but one week and a 14 hour flight isn't good - I just got the work annual summer bonus, so have the cash now, so just waiting to make my mind up - and also pick weeks. Won't be booking/leaving till past Nov as have 2 weeks off in Oct where me/Mel both have booked together holidays in hope of gettign a super cheap deal late. (I saw earlier this year £250 hols for 2 wks in Florida, including flight and car - just we both couldn't get time off !!!) Sunday we have discussed going up to Felixstowe for the day before dropping Mel off for plane after abusing the spa/sauna/pool in the hotel.
Last week me/Mel on the weekend went up the coast and spent the day at a lovely bit of seaside in Southwold and had a picnic(this is the REALLY expensive bit of Suffolk to live). Aim was to take some photos and just have a nice relaxed day... Havn't converted the photos to web format yet but will do soon and upload to flickr. We'll be doing that more in future, but not this week.
Going to get a iphone 3g when they are released here in 2 weeks as my contract ends same day they are released - that's a sign isn't it ? Need a decent mp3 player anyhow, and the 16Gb iphones are £50 ish here with a £45/mo contract, which is what I pay now anyhow - so its really a small cost for a 16Gb ipod touch...
Last week works been shit, being called out at 3am 4 times in 7 days. Lack of sleep really kills.
In non work stuff, I've re-ripped ~ 200 cd's I own into Itunes, as the old rips were of "dubious" quality. New ones are pretty good.
Anyhow, time to go leave, one thing I have to do is go re-tax my car, as it expires on Tuesday, thankfully the insurer got me the documents needed yesterday.
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| Work has sucked this week |
[14 Jun 2008|09:58pm] |
Several days I didn't get home till 10-11:30pm - sometimes due to work itself, though 2 times down to train's, and a incredibly bad week (average journey time 4 hours this week - thats the same as Edinburgh to Lon, not Ips -> Lon which is 1h 20)!
At least I finished in Lon and got home 11am today. Saturday working sucks, especially with a 3 hour train bus (due to weekend maintenaince) train jouney home.
JUst had a bbq for one, as don't fancy going out tonight. About to have a beer, a bath, then bed.
Saw Mel yesterday (the only advantage of doing the London shift this am from 7-8...).
Next week I hope will be better, many weeks like this one and I'll have to move jobs, its just not healthy.
Tommorow its Fathers day here in UK, mum's bday is Tuesday. I've got the presents for both so need to drop off tmrw afternoon and have dinner with the folks... Annoying as its my only full day off and I reallly need to re organise my office (which is a full day procedure!). Next weekend Mel's here, and I don't want to spend it cleaning (I get in so late currently I don't have time Mon-Fri).
My house is pretty sparse and barren of pictures, so the plans for next weekend are to go for a drive on Saturday to take some nature photography, either at the big local zoo (which takes a full day to walk around), or go to castles/coast for similar photographs. Once I have some suitable pics, plan is to then get some canvas/large prints made.
Next Sun its dinner with folks + new suit shopping etc. Its Nat/Riches wedding week after so I need a new suit, new shirt, new shoes etc. Using a work suit for weddings feels wrong, this way I get a almost new suit for work once the 2 weddings of summer over with also.
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| Scotland trip |
[04 Jun 2008|09:50am] |
Well, lets start on the adventure that was the "free" weekend (we didn't pay for travel OR accomodation on this trip). Travelling 1st class, with free vouchers for meals on the train.
On Thurs I made my way to Mel's after work, arriving 8:20 and meeting a few of her mates in the pub in Ealing. Then had a curry in a rather nice curry house, followed by some beers, then a cab home to her place.
Fri, done some errands in the am, made our way to Kings cross for 12, where we went to the 1st class lounge where we drunk tea, and had some rather nice biscuits. Ginger nuts and some choc chip and orange ones, but the best one's I've ever had! 12:40 boarding of train was announced (left at 1), so we went to the train, got in our reserved seats, until train pulled out. Then we went to the on-board 1st class restaurant, where we had some meals (I had a full pound of aberdeen angus beefburger and some cheeses). After meal we went back to seat to read. We arrived at 17:20, early in fact. Views from newcastle upwards to edinburgh are amazing as the train goes along the coast so you see the sea on one side, and valleys on the other. Arrived, walked maybe 2 miles with bags to hotel (looked WAY less) - then realised if we stayed on train to Edinburgh Haymarket we'd have been a LOT quicker. Checked into hotel, had 2 hours kip, then went out to the local pub and a local thai for an amazing dinner (and it was quite cheap!)
Saturday, okay, this is where the fun starts. Weather was amazing, blue skies and 25 degrees ALL day. Sat am, we had a monster hotel brekkie - then we walked and done the bus tour (I have pics, but need to download). Got off at top of royal mile, then walked to castle. Saw the 1pm gun being fired (was right at front). This was being filmed by channel 4 who were doing a gig in park thenext day with Sugababes and The Feeling both comfirmed playing. We texted for tickets but didn't get a text back. Saw the Scottish crown jeweles, and loved the view from the castle. After 2 hours we finished up there. We then walked back to bus stop, finished the remainder of the tour. At this point, we decided to walk along rose street, a kind of alley thats all bars, and we had a few beers as we walked in the rough direction of the hotel. Got back at 6pm realised we both were horrendously sunburnt! Showered, changed, and then went out for chinese. This was the biggest disappointment, the chinese we chose was all front (excellent looking, really busy, but it was all show, as the chinese food was awful). I've eaten in HK and know how good original cantonese should be, and this wasn't it - all too bland. Both were knackered, so back to hotel for sleep.
Sunday, was up early for another monster brekkie. We were going to walk up Arthurs Seat (the dormant volcano on Edinburgh outskirts) - but the weather had turned and it was raining, so we decided to go look at some museums. However on the way, some nice folks from Vodafone gave us free gig tickets for the aforementioned gig - we however blagged some front of stage wristbands, so got in the middle of stage in the restricted area. Entire gig was restricted to ~1000 people so it was a very intimate one.. The Hoosiers !!!!! were also playing. Had an aweseom time as each band done ~ 8-10 songs, ~1-1.5 hours for each (this was cut to 20 mins for tv highlights, and only 4 sounds) - some great covers from The Feeling, including Video killed the Radio star. We were there ~10:30-3:30pm. After this we went to waterstones got some books, then had a coffee. Back to hotel, then out for a curry. Not being a normal day, The Hoosiers (entire band) also picked same curry house. Had a final beer (being last night) then came back to hotel at ~midnight.
Monday - up at 9, breakfast, then shower/packing. Taxi (after the long walk in with bags) to train, 1st class lounge, then train boarding at 12:55 for 1pm departure. Anotehr big meal in reatrudant, back to London at 17:30. Then said bye to Mel with a beer or two at liverpool street, followed by a 1.5 huor journey back to suffolk on "my" line.
Overall, need more time to do Edinburgh again, was great fun. Hilton Grovesnor, I would stay at again, was a very nice place, with an awesome awesome breakfast. We didn't eat there due to it being near the west end (and main shopping part of edinburgh also) - with everythign under 2miles walk.
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| Work n stuff |
[21 May 2008|10:41am] |
Last weekend was a excersise in recovering sleep. So I slept lots. Watched *some* tv, not much, tidyed up my computer - a patch for vista that had been stopping SP1 from being available I finally managed to get to install with some help from google. Took 2 hours that!
Er, biked a little, not much. Mel was up north. Watched the FA cup final. Sunday visited parents.
This week:
Mon - work
Tues - work in Lon
Today = work Ips
Thurs = ""
Long w/e:
Fri = "" but Mel coming over evening for Long w/e (she leaves Tuesday morning - when my car goes in for its annual MOT).
Sat = Stag do - go-carting, restaurant, bars. Mel @ home during.
Sun = Stowfest - in the park in town, one of 2 annual events when drinking is allowed on the Rec temporarily. (a big park that was traditiional to get drunk in when I was a kit, subsequently then by-law's introduced to ban drinking in park). Its kinda nice to be able to take beers, sit on a rug and listen to music. Thats if weathers willing - if not we'll be cooking a roast and doing bugger all - or perhaps a drive out to the coast - Flix, southend, or maybe even Yarmouth
Mon = New Indy film in Ips - then a TV evening.
Overall all is good, this week had a end-of-project BBQ last night in London, got a little drunk, and enjoyed watching all the Aussies drinking wine by the bottle. :)
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| Italy trip |
[12 May 2008|03:22pm] |
Well last week was fun, not, 3am start for plane. Yada Yada, Breakfast at Stansted, 2hour 10 mins plane journey, 1 hour bus journey, loads of time queuing at airports for customs, yada yada, office at 12.
3 VERY busy days in office, loads of nice food eaten (Pizza etc), got home 1:30 Friday morning. Was office 10:30am -4:30 Friday, followed by an evening of sleeping mostly!
Overall the trip was fun, but the work element was hard, and the travel unforgiving. Ryanair, although super cheap (work paid less than £40 for a return! including all tax), on time etc, has nasty uncomfortable seats, and not the friendlist of staff. And the music on the plane would surely drive me mad if I worked on it (even bearing it for 10 mins was bad enough).
Back home, Stag arrangements made for bank-holiday weekend (24-26th May), as its Riches stag do. Looks to be go-carting along with beer in Bury afterwards. Wahoo!. Can't wait.
This last weekend, Saturday night was spent out with Brandon and Lisa. Our "local" was taken over by the Football crowd (end of season presentations) - we don't get along with these, so went to another pub which had a bar singer who's surname was "McCartney". She defintiely was trading on the name, as she wasn't the best singer. She did have a spod-like tech though who looked like the geekiest bloke ever (I know I'm a geek, but I don't look like one quite THAT much).
Sunday, 9am start, and off to London on the 10:30 train, watching some of The Unit on the way on he PSP. Arrived at 1 due to poxy Sunday engineering bus replacements, etc. Went to Londons famous bookshop "Foyles" to buy some books I otherwise would have had to wait a week for on Amazon. Then decided to surface walk from Tottenham Court Road/Charing Cross to Southbank (about a 15 min walk, incidentally with Trafalgar Square a short detour off"). At Southbank met Mel and one of her friends where we had a Pizza at an Italian joint (I did note this to Mel as not the cleverest lunch suggestion given where I was all week). Then a short 10 min walk from Southbank to Covent Garden - afternoon watching the final football matches of the Premier league with a bunch of good people (awesome laugh, such a contrast to the unfriendly football crowd in suffolk). Then drunk soem beer in some nice outdoor pubs, enjoyed some comedy in Covent Garden square. Then a walk to Holborn to get the tube to get the 19:30 train home. Got in at 22:00.
Weather was amazing Sunday, hitting 30 celcius in London, and bright blue skies all day. House was an oven when I got home, as forgot to leave the windows upstairs cracked open (modern insulation means the house doesn't get that hot, but not having the air vents open (for winter) means its just too hot if I forget that.
Turned the house heating off completely even for hot water, as it appears one 1 hour of "hot" is enough for 2 days showers and all cleaning etc.
Tonight going home, bike ride for at least an hour as its another 25 celcius day.... then going to be back home to read one of the new books, relax, and then a early night..
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starquake's journal