Bathroom with bath, shelving and tiles
Even though they are moving along it is good that we have a shower and a second loo downstairs otherwise it would be off to work via the gym for a shower.
Previously: Bathroom Update (2), (1), (0)
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Bathroom Update (3)
Friday the bath arrived and the plaster starts to dry out. Monday the shelving unit was installed over the cistern. Tuesday the tiler started work on the walls.
Bathroom with bath, shelving and tiles
Even though they are moving along it is good that we have a shower and a second loo downstairs otherwise it would be off to work via the gym for a shower.
Previously: Bathroom Update (2), (1), (0)
Bathroom with bath, shelving and tiles
Even though they are moving along it is good that we have a shower and a second loo downstairs otherwise it would be off to work via the gym for a shower.
Previously: Bathroom Update (2), (1), (0)
Monday, August 27, 2007
Putting on The Ritz
In the UK when you go self-employed it is more tax-efficient to be a limited company. When I left CSC back in 1999 the company name "M&M Enterprises Ltd" was already taken so I had to be "M&M Enterprises (Consulting) Limited".
Earlier this year "M&M Enterprises Ltd" was dissolved freeing up the name and the possibility to rename our company back to what we had originally wanted. To do this we had to pass a special resolution at a general meeting of the directors (i.e. Me and Mary).
It is, of course, important that refreshments are available at a board meeting so we held it at The Ritz, in the restaurant. And very fine six-course refreshments, with a different wine to match each course, they were too <G>
Earlier this year "M&M Enterprises Ltd" was dissolved freeing up the name and the possibility to rename our company back to what we had originally wanted. To do this we had to pass a special resolution at a general meeting of the directors (i.e. Me and Mary).
It is, of course, important that refreshments are available at a board meeting so we held it at The Ritz, in the restaurant. And very fine six-course refreshments, with a different wine to match each course, they were too <G>
Friday, August 24, 2007
It's Only Rock'n'Roll But I Like It
Went to see The Rolling Stones at the O2 last night and it was absolutely *expletive*deleted* brilliant!! Nearly 2 hours of non-stop greatest hits starting with Honky Tonk Women and ending with Brown Sugar by way of, amongst others, Paint It Black, Midnight Rambler, It's Only rock and Roll, and a stonking version of Sympathy for the Devil (whoo, whoo!).
We were at the far end of the arena directly facing the stage. Thank goodness for the large screen behind the stage, it showed Mick's every last gyration. I just hope I have his energy when I am 64, heck I wish I had that much now :-(
Even with the big screen I preferred to watch the small figure on the stage. To me it makes more (emotional) sense to focus on the real flesh and blood presence otherwise I might as well watch a DVD.
Then half way through the set a surprise. The whole centre section of the stage rolled out across the arena floor with the band on it till they were right up our end of the arena where they played a few numbers before wheeling back again. An excellent view of the band <cheesy grin>.
As an O2 subscriber I got access to the O2 lounge before (and after if we wished) and to the Blueroom during which was handy as the queues for the public bars were huge. The staff, the "O2 Angels", are well trained or well recruited - all very friendly and helpful (and young and pretty). Even ignoring the ego-stroking "exclusive" marketing appeal it did add positively to the whole experience.
We were at the far end of the arena directly facing the stage. Thank goodness for the large screen behind the stage, it showed Mick's every last gyration. I just hope I have his energy when I am 64, heck I wish I had that much now :-(
Even with the big screen I preferred to watch the small figure on the stage. To me it makes more (emotional) sense to focus on the real flesh and blood presence otherwise I might as well watch a DVD.
Then half way through the set a surprise. The whole centre section of the stage rolled out across the arena floor with the band on it till they were right up our end of the arena where they played a few numbers before wheeling back again. An excellent view of the band <cheesy grin>.
As an O2 subscriber I got access to the O2 lounge before (and after if we wished) and to the Blueroom during which was handy as the queues for the public bars were huge. The staff, the "O2 Angels", are well trained or well recruited - all very friendly and helpful (and young and pretty). Even ignoring the ego-stroking "exclusive" marketing appeal it did add positively to the whole experience.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Product Survey
Thank you for purchasing a Lockheed Martin military aircraft. In order to protect your new investment, please take a few moments to fill out the warranty registration card below. Answering the survey questions is not required, but the information will help us to develop new products that best meet your needs and desires.
1.
[_] Mr. [_] Mrs. [_] Ms. [_] Miss [_] Lt. [_] Gen. [_] Comrade [_]Classified [_] Other
First Name: ......................................................
Initial: ........
Last Name: ......................................................
Password: .............................. (max 8 char)
Code Name: ......................................................
Latitude-Longitude-Altitude: ........... ........... ..........
2. Which model aircraft did you purchase?
[_] F-14 Tomcat
[_] F-15 Eagle
[_] F-16 Falcon
[_] F-117A Stealth
[_] Classified
3. Date of purchase (Year/Month/Day): ....... / ....... /.......
4. Serial Number: .................................................
5. Please check where this product was purchased:
[_] Received as gift / aid package
[_] Catalog showroom
[_] Independent arms broker
[_] Mail order
[_] Discount store
[_] Government surplus
[_] Classified
6. Please check how you became aware of the Lockheed Martin product you have just purchased:
[_] Heard loud noise, looked up
[_] Store display
[_] Espionage
[_] Recommended by friend / relative / ally
[_] Political lobbying by manufacturer
[_] Was attacked by one
7. Please check the three (3) factors that most influenced your decision to purchase this Lockheed Martin product:
[_] Style / appearance
[_] Speed / maneuverability
[_] Price / value
[_] Comfort / convenience
[_] Kickback / bribe
[_] Recommended by salesperson
[_] Lockheed Martin reputation
[_] Advanced Weapons Systems
[_] Backroom politics
[_] Negative experience opposing one in combat
8. Please check the location(s) where this product will be used:
[_] North America
[_] Central / South America
[_] Aircraft carrier
[_] Europe
[_] Middle East
[_] Africa
[_] Asia / Far East
[_] Misc. Third World countries
[_] Classified
9. Please check the products that you currently own or intend to purchase in the near future:
[_] Color TV
[_] VCR
[_] ICBM
[_] Killer Satellite
[_] CD Player
[_] Air-to-Air Missiles
[_] Space Shuttle
[_] Home Computer
[_] Nuclear Weapon
10. How would you describe yourself or your organization? (Check all that apply:)
[_] Communist / Socialist
[_] Terrorist
[_] Crazed
[_] Neutral
[_] Democratic
[_] Dictatorship
[_] Corrupt
[_] Primitive / Tribal
11. How did you pay for your Lockheed Martin product?
[_] Deficit spending
[_] Cash
[_] Suitcases of cocaine
[_] Oil revenues
[_] Personal check
[_] Credit card
[_] Ransom money
[_] Traveler's check
12. Your occupation:
[_] Homemaker
[_] Sales / marketing
[_] Revolutionary
[_] Clerical
[_] Mercenary
[_] Tyrant
[_] Middle management
[_] Eccentric billionaire
[_] Defense Minister / General
[_] Retired
[_] Student
[_] Government Intern
13. To help us understand our customers' lifestyles, please indicate the interests and activities in which you and your spouse enjoy participating on a regular basis:
[_] Golf
[_] Boating / sailing
[_] Sabotage
[_] Running / jogging
[_] Propaganda / disinformation
[_] Destabilization / overthrow
[_] Default on loans
[_] Gardening
[_] Crafts
[_] Black market / smuggling
[_] Collectibles / collections
[_] Watching sports on TV
[_] Wines
[_] Interrogation / torture
[_] Household pets
[_] Crushing rebellions
[_] Espionage / reconnaissance
[_] Fashion clothing
[_] Border disputes
[_] Mutually Assured Destruction
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this questionnaire. Your answers will be used in market studies that will help Lockheed Martin serve you better in the future - as well as allowing you to receive mailings and special offers from other companies, governments, extremist groups, and mysterious consortia.
Comments or suggestions about our fighter planes? Please write to:
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Marketing Department
3601 NE Loop 820 # 150
Fort Worth
TX 76137
USA
1.
[_] Mr. [_] Mrs. [_] Ms. [_] Miss [_] Lt. [_] Gen. [_] Comrade [_]Classified [_] Other
First Name: ......................................................
Initial: ........
Last Name: ......................................................
Password: .............................. (max 8 char)
Code Name: ......................................................
Latitude-Longitude-Altitude: ........... ........... ..........
2. Which model aircraft did you purchase?
[_] F-14 Tomcat
[_] F-15 Eagle
[_] F-16 Falcon
[_] F-117A Stealth
[_] Classified
3. Date of purchase (Year/Month/Day): ....... / ....... /.......
4. Serial Number: .................................................
5. Please check where this product was purchased:
[_] Received as gift / aid package
[_] Catalog showroom
[_] Independent arms broker
[_] Mail order
[_] Discount store
[_] Government surplus
[_] Classified
6. Please check how you became aware of the Lockheed Martin product you have just purchased:
[_] Heard loud noise, looked up
[_] Store display
[_] Espionage
[_] Recommended by friend / relative / ally
[_] Political lobbying by manufacturer
[_] Was attacked by one
7. Please check the three (3) factors that most influenced your decision to purchase this Lockheed Martin product:
[_] Style / appearance
[_] Speed / maneuverability
[_] Price / value
[_] Comfort / convenience
[_] Kickback / bribe
[_] Recommended by salesperson
[_] Lockheed Martin reputation
[_] Advanced Weapons Systems
[_] Backroom politics
[_] Negative experience opposing one in combat
8. Please check the location(s) where this product will be used:
[_] North America
[_] Central / South America
[_] Aircraft carrier
[_] Europe
[_] Middle East
[_] Africa
[_] Asia / Far East
[_] Misc. Third World countries
[_] Classified
9. Please check the products that you currently own or intend to purchase in the near future:
[_] Color TV
[_] VCR
[_] ICBM
[_] Killer Satellite
[_] CD Player
[_] Air-to-Air Missiles
[_] Space Shuttle
[_] Home Computer
[_] Nuclear Weapon
10. How would you describe yourself or your organization? (Check all that apply:)
[_] Communist / Socialist
[_] Terrorist
[_] Crazed
[_] Neutral
[_] Democratic
[_] Dictatorship
[_] Corrupt
[_] Primitive / Tribal
11. How did you pay for your Lockheed Martin product?
[_] Deficit spending
[_] Cash
[_] Suitcases of cocaine
[_] Oil revenues
[_] Personal check
[_] Credit card
[_] Ransom money
[_] Traveler's check
12. Your occupation:
[_] Homemaker
[_] Sales / marketing
[_] Revolutionary
[_] Clerical
[_] Mercenary
[_] Tyrant
[_] Middle management
[_] Eccentric billionaire
[_] Defense Minister / General
[_] Retired
[_] Student
[_] Government Intern
13. To help us understand our customers' lifestyles, please indicate the interests and activities in which you and your spouse enjoy participating on a regular basis:
[_] Golf
[_] Boating / sailing
[_] Sabotage
[_] Running / jogging
[_] Propaganda / disinformation
[_] Destabilization / overthrow
[_] Default on loans
[_] Gardening
[_] Crafts
[_] Black market / smuggling
[_] Collectibles / collections
[_] Watching sports on TV
[_] Wines
[_] Interrogation / torture
[_] Household pets
[_] Crushing rebellions
[_] Espionage / reconnaissance
[_] Fashion clothing
[_] Border disputes
[_] Mutually Assured Destruction
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this questionnaire. Your answers will be used in market studies that will help Lockheed Martin serve you better in the future - as well as allowing you to receive mailings and special offers from other companies, governments, extremist groups, and mysterious consortia.
Comments or suggestions about our fighter planes? Please write to:
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Marketing Department
3601 NE Loop 820 # 150
Fort Worth
TX 76137
USA
Bathroom Update (2)
The shower plumbing is complete and the cistern for the loo* is there. The walls are all re-plastered as are most of the holes in the ceiling where the old lights were. Yesterday a pallet load of tiles arrived for the floor and walls. But still no bath!
* Checking with my American colleague on the next desk perhaps I should translate this as: "the water reservoir for the toilet"
Previously: Bathroom Update (1), (0)
* Checking with my American colleague on the next desk perhaps I should translate this as: "the water reservoir for the toilet"
Previously: Bathroom Update (1), (0)
Monday, August 20, 2007
Social Double Header
Middlesex Sevens and a Barbecue.
Sometimes on a Monday morning I joke that I come into work for rest. It feels a bit like that after this weekend.
Saturday was The Middlesex Sevens - an all day rugby knockout tournament at Twickenham complete with a picnic in the car park or "Tailgate party" as Americans would call it. It was the usual suspects of Bob&Lynn and Tim&Sarah. We had two spare tickets and persuaded Andrea and Christine to join us with the promise of a display of muscular thighs (on the pitch of course). Unfortunately T&S were unable to make it because of a blocked drain and flooded basement of the smelly variety.
The rugby was of variable quality as was the weather. It was all a bit gray and damp but not as damp as two years ago ["Middlesex Sevens in the Rain"]. We had even packed a gazebo but this year they changed the regulations and we discovered that only umbrellas were allowed in the car park. Still the rain mostly held off. Andrea and Bob&Lynn came back to stay with us.
Sunday we had a barbecue and invited people come and help us drink up our surplus stock of ready-for-drinking Burgundy. Given the forecast was not brilliant we bought a second gazebo from Argos. Our three guests, Bob, Lynn and Andrea, were stars and helped set up the gazebos, wash up the picnic glasses and generally get ready for the crowds. And crowds there were.
We reckon we had 44 guests - twice the number of last year's event -and they made a big dent in the '98 Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru from Bernard Morey and the 2000 Volnay from Nicolas Potel. To go with the ice creams we had a Sauternes '01 Cuvee D'Exception - rumoured to be declassified wine from "one of the greatest Châteaux in Bordeaux".
It seems to have been a most successful and enjoyable event but, as is often the case for the hosts, Mary and I were so busy rushing around seeing to everybody that we had no time to chat to our guests. However they made up for it by talking to each other.
Bathroom Update (1)
The lads are cracking on. Andy brought in a couple of electricians on Wednesday so we now have new ceiling lights: a couple of blue ones over the bath and five white ones across the rest of the ceiling. They are operated by a twin dimmer switch and all laid out in a neat diagonal pattern. Plus various other switches and boxes of unkown function, probably for the extractor fan and fuses and such like.
The plumbing also moves forward. The pipework for the basin is now plastered over and some new pipework has appeared where the shower will go. Now all we need is a bath. It was supposed to be delivered last Wednesday. Apparently it is in the country but not yet with the shop (Colourwash).
Previously: Bathroom Update (0)
The plumbing also moves forward. The pipework for the basin is now plastered over and some new pipework has appeared where the shower will go. Now all we need is a bath. It was supposed to be delivered last Wednesday. Apparently it is in the country but not yet with the shop (Colourwash).
Previously: Bathroom Update (0)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Bathroom Work Starts
Having agreed the design for the new bathroom in Wandsworth we commissioned the work and Andy started on Monday:
Bathroom before and after Monday
Of course it has to be "Demolition Derby" first!
Bathroom before and after Monday
Of course it has to be "Demolition Derby" first!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Uptown Top Rankin'...
... Inna me khaki suit and ting *
The mental jukebox has been playing this song since I wore my brown suit on Tuesday for an evening out with Pete&Amanada. We went to Rhodes W1 (the restaurant not the brasserie) for an extravagant meal:
- Amuse bouche (smoked eel croquettes, potatoe and truffle puree in puff pastry, crab in mayonnaise on avocado, foie grois on a wafer with onion compote)
- Suckling pig ravioli
- Salt Roast Pigeon
- Chocolate millefeuille
Champagne to start, bottle of white, bottle of red and dessert wine by the glass. I had to have 2 because a) they are only 100cl and b) I wasn't sure which of two would go best with my dessert so I had them both.
Superb quality with a price tag to match. But it was a bit like when we went to Gordon Ramsey's - you don't go to a restaurant run by a world class chef and expect a cheap meal. You go there to enjoy supreme gastronomic delights and to heck with the price tag.
* Uptown Top Rankin' by Althea & Donna
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
A New Boiler for Trullo Azzurro
Sunday morning, despite the late night, our alarm went off at the normal weekday time. We were off to Italy for another 24-hour visit to check out the new boiler. For the last 18 months we have had an intermittent Error Code 2 and cold showers. Ignazio, the heating engineer, had installed filters, changed parts, flushed out the system - all to no avail. In the end he and Daniele agreed to rip the bl**dy thing out and install a simpler boiler.
With our first real paying punters arriving this weekend we needed to reassure ourselves that this one would really work. Cold showers are not good for word-of-mouth recommendations! As it turned out this new boiler does appear to function. It is a lot simpler, no remote, wireless controller but a good old-fashioned knob that you turn.
We met up with our new neighbours, Chris&John, and went out to try a new (to us) restaurant that they had been recommended: Il Cucco in Corso Umberto I, Cisternino. It is also an enoteca (wine shop). We had an excellent meal; the antipasti were many and varied, there must have been well over 20 different starters! Then the main courses were slightly unusual: roast beef with lampascioni, and pork fillet with a zucchini flower sauce. And of course a good selection of wine; we are gradually introducing Chris&John to the local specialities.
Finally an view of the Lamia I have not posted before. Standing on the roof of the pizza oven this is a view showing the stairs to the roof and, hiding behind the leaves, you can just see the boiler room door.
With our first real paying punters arriving this weekend we needed to reassure ourselves that this one would really work. Cold showers are not good for word-of-mouth recommendations! As it turned out this new boiler does appear to function. It is a lot simpler, no remote, wireless controller but a good old-fashioned knob that you turn.
We met up with our new neighbours, Chris&John, and went out to try a new (to us) restaurant that they had been recommended: Il Cucco in Corso Umberto I, Cisternino. It is also an enoteca (wine shop). We had an excellent meal; the antipasti were many and varied, there must have been well over 20 different starters! Then the main courses were slightly unusual: roast beef with lampascioni, and pork fillet with a zucchini flower sauce. And of course a good selection of wine; we are gradually introducing Chris&John to the local specialities.
Finally an view of the Lamia I have not posted before. Standing on the roof of the pizza oven this is a view showing the stairs to the roof and, hiding behind the leaves, you can just see the boiler room door.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Prince - The Artist Formerly Known as Squiggle
But it was Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right *
We went to see the purple one at The O2 on Saturday and I was most impressed both by the concert and the venue. No point in writing a review - there are plenty out there [Google "prince at the o2 review"]. Suffice to say it was very good and my ears were still ringing the next morning.
The venue is pretty amazing especially compared to the last concert we went to (Genesis at Twickenham). No concrete behemoth here, it is all very slick with a massive foyer, no queues and plenty of catering. As my first visit to the place, I think they have done an excellent job converting the dome.
One of the highlights was a conversation with a couple of lasses from "oop north". We guessed they were fans by the matching symbols on their right shoulder blades. We had a chat and one said "It's my husband's fiftieth today. He said, 'I don't want a big fuss'. So we said 'right ho, we're off to see Prince in London'. He's sat at home on his own with our son." Oh how we laughed!
* Little Red Corvette from 1999 by Prince
We went to see the purple one at The O2 on Saturday and I was most impressed both by the concert and the venue. No point in writing a review - there are plenty out there [Google "prince at the o2 review"]. Suffice to say it was very good and my ears were still ringing the next morning.
The venue is pretty amazing especially compared to the last concert we went to (Genesis at Twickenham). No concrete behemoth here, it is all very slick with a massive foyer, no queues and plenty of catering. As my first visit to the place, I think they have done an excellent job converting the dome.
One of the highlights was a conversation with a couple of lasses from "oop north". We guessed they were fans by the matching symbols on their right shoulder blades. We had a chat and one said "It's my husband's fiftieth today. He said, 'I don't want a big fuss'. So we said 'right ho, we're off to see Prince in London'. He's sat at home on his own with our son." Oh how we laughed!
* Little Red Corvette from 1999 by Prince
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Street Life (Battersea Bridge Signs)
My cycle route takes me past Battersea Bridge which is adorned with two notices, one official, the other not.
Apparently the orginal brass version got stolen so many times this wooden replacement had to be installed.
A bit of ironic, self-referential, post-modern graffiti.
Apparently the orginal brass version got stolen so many times this wooden replacement had to be installed.
A bit of ironic, self-referential, post-modern graffiti.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Molly returns from Bristol
"It's got a cop motor, a 440 cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?" *
Molly Wing Repair
Molly Boot (US:Trunk) Repair
Molly and Friends at Charles Ware
Well not exactly but she does have servo-assisted brakes, she can now run on unleaded petrol and she does have normal indicator lights. Loads of other internal improvements *plus* metal instead of rust under the paint!
* Elwood: The Blues Brothers (1980)
Molly Wing Repair
Molly Boot (US:Trunk) Repair
Molly and Friends at Charles Ware
Well not exactly but she does have servo-assisted brakes, she can now run on unleaded petrol and she does have normal indicator lights. Loads of other internal improvements *plus* metal instead of rust under the paint!
* Elwood: The Blues Brothers (1980)
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Mother-in-Law Visits
It has been a quiet couple of weeks with not much of blogworthy note as we have had Mary's mum, May, down from Scotland while Mary's sister Sandra and family were on holiday. So mostly we have been leaving work promptly to go home for an early supper and a evening in watching the box. Weekends were a bit busier in order to keep May entertained.
The first weekend we went over to Ian and Sarah's for a family gathering to celebrate nephew Tom's 18th birthday. Sunday Mary and I took May down to Farnham for lunch with my mum and dad.
The next weekend we took May to a matinee of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Savoy. Musicals are not normally our first choice but May likes them and, as musicals go, this was good. Most of the tunes are instantly recognisable and it introduced me to a piece of history and culture I was ignorant of. See Wikipedia on Shtetl.
This weekend just gone we whizzed down to Bristol to collect Molly and drive her back to London. In the evening we had old friends from Glasgow for dinner. Geraldine and Alisdair were down for a funeral on Friday and came over to stay with us Saturday. We had a very enjoyable dinner party, I faded at one o'clock but Mary and Geraldine were chatting till gone 2. I must pop round to the neighbours and apologise in case our late night music disturbed them.
Sunday it was all off to Heathrow for their return to Scotland. For us it was a relaxing meal and an early night.
The first weekend we went over to Ian and Sarah's for a family gathering to celebrate nephew Tom's 18th birthday. Sunday Mary and I took May down to Farnham for lunch with my mum and dad.
The next weekend we took May to a matinee of "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Savoy. Musicals are not normally our first choice but May likes them and, as musicals go, this was good. Most of the tunes are instantly recognisable and it introduced me to a piece of history and culture I was ignorant of. See Wikipedia on Shtetl.
This weekend just gone we whizzed down to Bristol to collect Molly and drive her back to London. In the evening we had old friends from Glasgow for dinner. Geraldine and Alisdair were down for a funeral on Friday and came over to stay with us Saturday. We had a very enjoyable dinner party, I faded at one o'clock but Mary and Geraldine were chatting till gone 2. I must pop round to the neighbours and apologise in case our late night music disturbed them.
Sunday it was all off to Heathrow for their return to Scotland. For us it was a relaxing meal and an early night.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Pizza Oven Door
Italy still has a strong tradition of small local craftsmen; not everything is made in big factories. While we were round at Carole and Mino's we spotted a new wrought iron table base. We needed one as well so asked where they bought it. The answer was a local blacksmith. Perhaps he could make a door for our pizza oven as well?
The following Wednesday Mino guided us to a basement workshop down a back street where we met the man and, with Mino's help, discussed our requirements. The *following* afternoon we went back and collected a made-to-order table base and oven door. How is that for service!
Pizza Oven Door
It is a beautifully made door: solid, fits perfectly, opens smoothly, has a little spy hole to check on the inside, chunky rivets and little brass knobs. I am so pleased with it.
The following Wednesday Mino guided us to a basement workshop down a back street where we met the man and, with Mino's help, discussed our requirements. The *following* afternoon we went back and collected a made-to-order table base and oven door. How is that for service!
Pizza Oven Door
It is a beautifully made door: solid, fits perfectly, opens smoothly, has a little spy hole to check on the inside, chunky rivets and little brass knobs. I am so pleased with it.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Water Delivery for Trullo Azzurro
Shortly after our arrival I walked over the stone cover of the cistern and got a very hollow sounding echo. With guests arriving imminently that was cause for concern.
We got Daniele, the architect, to introduce us to the water man. Well actually he introduced us to the water man's Mum who lives in the nearest hamlet just 1km away and who gave us her son's phone number. He was able to come round that evening and dump a tankful of water down our "pozzo" (well).
When the house is fully occupied we will need about one of these a week. Fortunately the tankerful only costs 20 Euro a pop so that is not too bad.
In this photo you can also see the recent plantings and the new irrigation system. That should keep the plants alive until our next visit.
We got Daniele, the architect, to introduce us to the water man. Well actually he introduced us to the water man's Mum who lives in the nearest hamlet just 1km away and who gave us her son's phone number. He was able to come round that evening and dump a tankful of water down our "pozzo" (well).
When the house is fully occupied we will need about one of these a week. Fortunately the tankerful only costs 20 Euro a pop so that is not too bad.
In this photo you can also see the recent plantings and the new irrigation system. That should keep the plants alive until our next visit.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Meeting the Italian Neighbours (2)
Walking over to visit Carole and Mino we took a shortcut off-road down some dirt tracks. We passed a couple sitting out in their yard drinking a glass of wine and called out a cheery "Buon giorno" to which the reply was "Must be English!" I suspect my panama hat was the giveaway, plus Mary's tall blondeness.
To cut a long story short it turned out that Chris(tine) and John are in the process of retiring to Italy. On the way back we stopped, introduced ourselves and drank their wine. Subsequently we had each other over for dinner and we went out for a meal together on our last night in Italy.
Chris and John dine with us at Trullo Azzurro
Chris is a fluent Italian speaker courtesy of her Italian mother. We got on famously as they are really friendly and (dare I say it) pleased to have English speaking neighbours. Between them and Carole and Mino I feel we are starting to find our way in to the local community.
To cut a long story short it turned out that Chris(tine) and John are in the process of retiring to Italy. On the way back we stopped, introduced ourselves and drank their wine. Subsequently we had each other over for dinner and we went out for a meal together on our last night in Italy.
Chris and John dine with us at Trullo Azzurro
Chris is a fluent Italian speaker courtesy of her Italian mother. We got on famously as they are really friendly and (dare I say it) pleased to have English speaking neighbours. Between them and Carole and Mino I feel we are starting to find our way in to the local community.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Meeting the Italian Neighbours (1)
Carole is Welsh and met and married local boy Mino 30 years ago. They returned to Italy and have been there ever since. They are charming and friendly and said we could use their pool. We very gratefully accepted given the recent heatwave.
They also run a cookery school and do demonstration dinners. Mary and I are going on the course in September to learn how to cook real Italian, local style.
While we were out there with Bill, Andrea and Elaine they put on a demonstration dinner for their guests and us. Many of their guests were actually family so it was a very sociable evening. We arrived at 6 o'clock and watched while Mino and his sister Zia prepared and cooked the entire meal from scratch. We finally ate at 9 by which time we were ready for the food!
I was watching with great interest how Zia used the pizza oven hoping to pick up tips on how to use ours. More on the oven later...
Thursday, July 12, 2007
How to find GPS coordinates from Google Maps
How to extract the decimal coordinates of a location using Google maps for use in your GPS.
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html
- Find your location.
Go to http://maps.google.co.uk/ search on your destination and zoom in. - Centre on the location.
Right mouse on the exact spot and choose "Center map here" - Click on "Link to this Page".
This will display a URL something like: "http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=buckingham+palace&ie=UTF8&ll=51.500795,-0.142264&spn=0.003166,0.007231&z=17&iwloc=addr&om=1" - Extract the coordinates.
Embedded in the URL you will see "ll=" (that is double L for Lima). Immediately following that are the coordinates, in this example 51.500795,-0.142264. The first is N (S if negative) the second is E (W if negative).
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/DDDMMSS-decimal.html
Monday, July 09, 2007
If life gives you cherries...
...make cherry jam.
Market Stall
One of the fun features of any foreign land is the visit to the market. We are midway between Cisternino, market day Monday, and Locorotondo, market day Friday. So we have done a lot of wandering around the markets admiring the local fresh produce and the ludicrously cheap clothing and housewares.
Mary at a Market Stall
One old boy was selling cherries and it was the end of the day. We asked for mezzo kilo (just over a pound weight) but he kept piling them in the bag despite our cries of "basta!" (enough!). We ended up with 2 kilo (4½ pound) for 5 Euro.
Cherries before triage and stoning
What to do? We couldn't eat that many. So Mary consulted her Italian cook books and found "ciliegie sotto spirito" (cherries in alcohol) and I googled a cherry jam recipe in the internet cafe.
First step was to separate into eating, cooking and chucking. The alcoholic recipe was easy. Buy neat alcohol in the supermarket (not something you can do in the UK, maybe use gin or vodka instead), bung in some cinnamon stick, a couple of cloves and a spoonful of sugar then cover with alcohol.
Cherries under alcohol
The jam was not so successful because I chucked the sugar in then read the recipe which said boil the fruit first *then* add the sugar. I removed as much as I could and proceeded as instructed but I ended up with something more like cherries in syrup than jam. Still it was very tasty spread on toast so I'm happy.
Market Stall
One of the fun features of any foreign land is the visit to the market. We are midway between Cisternino, market day Monday, and Locorotondo, market day Friday. So we have done a lot of wandering around the markets admiring the local fresh produce and the ludicrously cheap clothing and housewares.
Mary at a Market Stall
One old boy was selling cherries and it was the end of the day. We asked for mezzo kilo (just over a pound weight) but he kept piling them in the bag despite our cries of "basta!" (enough!). We ended up with 2 kilo (4½ pound) for 5 Euro.
Cherries before triage and stoning
What to do? We couldn't eat that many. So Mary consulted her Italian cook books and found "ciliegie sotto spirito" (cherries in alcohol) and I googled a cherry jam recipe in the internet cafe.
First step was to separate into eating, cooking and chucking. The alcoholic recipe was easy. Buy neat alcohol in the supermarket (not something you can do in the UK, maybe use gin or vodka instead), bung in some cinnamon stick, a couple of cloves and a spoonful of sugar then cover with alcohol.
Cherries under alcohol
The jam was not so successful because I chucked the sugar in then read the recipe which said boil the fruit first *then* add the sugar. I removed as much as I could and proceeded as instructed but I ended up with something more like cherries in syrup than jam. Still it was very tasty spread on toast so I'm happy.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Roasting our visitors
The first half of this trip has been full of visitors.
On the Tuesday 19 June, Jim - a work colleague - arrived with his wife Debby and their three youngest daugthers. He is American of Sicilian ancestry and so took the opportunity while working in the UK to get the family over, visit Rome and then drive down to get the ferry over to Sicily. As this was while we where in Puglia I said "Come stay with us" and so he did!
They stayed overnight and left on Wednesday morning the same day as Bill (pictured here buying melons in the local market) arrived for a week. Then on Friday two girl friends of Mary's, Andrea and Elaine, joined us for a very long weekend. It has been a heatwave round here. Bari reached 47 C (117 F), the hottest since records began. Fortunately up in the hills we peaked at a mere 40 C (104 F)
Everybody left on Wednesday 27 June so now we have ten days to relax on our own.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Midway through our holiday
I have not been blogging because we are halfway through a three week holiday in Italy. This is a quick post as we have just popped into town to pick up a few items. So much to write about so here is a snippet to keep you going.
I did a full stock-take of the garden trees, with the help of our friend Bill who was visiting for a week, and can confirm that we have:
I did a full stock-take of the garden trees, with the help of our friend Bill who was visiting for a week, and can confirm that we have:
- 9 Olive
- 1 Walnut
- 1 White Mulberry
- 2 Fig
- 2 Pear
- 2 Unknown (probably apricot)
Now all I have to do is find out how to harvest and process raw olives.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Main courtyard before and after
In all the before and after pictures I had managed to miss those of the main courtyard.
Main courtyard before
So here is the very first time we went with the estate agents back in early 2004.
Main courtyard after
And this is how it ended up three and a half years and many euros later.
Main courtyard before
So here is the very first time we went with the estate agents back in early 2004.
Main courtyard after
And this is how it ended up three and a half years and many euros later.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Our house may be Georgian
I am beginning to suspect our house may not be Victorian (1837-1902) but in fact Georgian (1714-1830).
When we bought the house the vendor told us it was 1890 but there is nothing in the legal paperwork to confirm this date. Stylistically nothing about it really looks late-Victorian: the cube-like overall shape of the building, the horizontal (not-arched) window lintels, the small panes in the sashes, the original wooden shutters, the tall (12 foot, 3.66 meter) ceilings. We have been describing the house to our friends as Victorian but with Georgian dimensions.
On Sunday I was chatting to Jo next door and she tells me we are listed in the 1851 census. Suddenly that makes more sense of the Victorian extension at the back. Why build a house and almost immediately extend it? But if the original property was built at least 40 years earlier that is far more plausible scenario.
Wednesday evening I called in at Battersea Library Local History Service near Clapham Junction to inspect the census which they had on microfilm. It was not possible to identify our property exactly as the street had changed name and length. It was previously North Street and ran all the way to the river.
Apparently a lot of street naming went on at the request of the emergency services because there were so many North Streets, Victoria Roads, etc. There used to be a field where B & Q now stands which was the site of Wandsworth Fair, marked on the 1894 OS map as "Fairfield" hence the new name of our street. I will chat to Jo again then go back armed with the original address.
Further evidence came last night when Mike from The Original Box Sash Windows Company came round to quote for refurbishing the side and back windows. He looked at the bathroom window and exclaimed "Good Lord, I have never seen a window that old!" This from a man whose company specializes in repairing Victorian windows.
He explained that the thin profile of the wood and quality of the joinery spoke to an earlier age of craftsmanship. This was repeated around the house. He also, interestingly pointed out the slightly opaque pane in our bedroom window as "sugar glass" - low quality glass from a repair sometime during WW2.
Wandsworth in 1786
This map from 1786 shows a street there and buildings. North street runs from just above the "W" of Wandsworth to the "r" in Creek. Pickpocket Lane is now, more prosaically, York Road. Unfortunately the scale and detail are not sufficient to confirm anything useful, merely to encourage. Now I am getting excited at the prospect of playing House Detective and researching the true age of our home. Watch this space...
When we bought the house the vendor told us it was 1890 but there is nothing in the legal paperwork to confirm this date. Stylistically nothing about it really looks late-Victorian: the cube-like overall shape of the building, the horizontal (not-arched) window lintels, the small panes in the sashes, the original wooden shutters, the tall (12 foot, 3.66 meter) ceilings. We have been describing the house to our friends as Victorian but with Georgian dimensions.
On Sunday I was chatting to Jo next door and she tells me we are listed in the 1851 census. Suddenly that makes more sense of the Victorian extension at the back. Why build a house and almost immediately extend it? But if the original property was built at least 40 years earlier that is far more plausible scenario.
Wednesday evening I called in at Battersea Library Local History Service near Clapham Junction to inspect the census which they had on microfilm. It was not possible to identify our property exactly as the street had changed name and length. It was previously North Street and ran all the way to the river.
Apparently a lot of street naming went on at the request of the emergency services because there were so many North Streets, Victoria Roads, etc. There used to be a field where B & Q now stands which was the site of Wandsworth Fair, marked on the 1894 OS map as "Fairfield" hence the new name of our street. I will chat to Jo again then go back armed with the original address.
Further evidence came last night when Mike from The Original Box Sash Windows Company came round to quote for refurbishing the side and back windows. He looked at the bathroom window and exclaimed "Good Lord, I have never seen a window that old!" This from a man whose company specializes in repairing Victorian windows.
He explained that the thin profile of the wood and quality of the joinery spoke to an earlier age of craftsmanship. This was repeated around the house. He also, interestingly pointed out the slightly opaque pane in our bedroom window as "sugar glass" - low quality glass from a repair sometime during WW2.
Wandsworth in 1786
This map from 1786 shows a street there and buildings. North street runs from just above the "W" of Wandsworth to the "r" in Creek. Pickpocket Lane is now, more prosaically, York Road. Unfortunately the scale and detail are not sufficient to confirm anything useful, merely to encourage. Now I am getting excited at the prospect of playing House Detective and researching the true age of our home. Watch this space...
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat
You hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers *
I am back on the bike after two weeks dental recovery. Last week I bought myself a new heart rate monitor and the first cycle into work took 41:00 minutes at an average of 155 bpm. At one point I looked down at the wrist monitor and it was showing 169; who needs to go to the gym for a workout.
Sunday we watched a DVD of "The Queen" starring Helen Mirren where a key theme is the relationship between Blair and HRH. This week Horse Guards Road is closed for the Trooping of the Colour so my route has had to change. In a piece of elegant symmetry my route in takes me up Whitehall past Downing Street and my route home takes me down the Mall past Buck House.
Sunday I pulled the unicycle out of the bike shed known as "Arthur", pumped up the tyres and took it for a wobble round the patio. I have to say it is *not* like riding a bike. I will need more practice even to get back to my previous dubious level of proficiency.
* "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" by Sparks
I am back on the bike after two weeks dental recovery. Last week I bought myself a new heart rate monitor and the first cycle into work took 41:00 minutes at an average of 155 bpm. At one point I looked down at the wrist monitor and it was showing 169; who needs to go to the gym for a workout.
Sunday we watched a DVD of "The Queen" starring Helen Mirren where a key theme is the relationship between Blair and HRH. This week Horse Guards Road is closed for the Trooping of the Colour so my route has had to change. In a piece of elegant symmetry my route in takes me up Whitehall past Downing Street and my route home takes me down the Mall past Buck House.
Sunday I pulled the unicycle out of the bike shed known as "Arthur", pumped up the tyres and took it for a wobble round the patio. I have to say it is *not* like riding a bike. I will need more practice even to get back to my previous dubious level of proficiency.
* "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" by Sparks
Monday, June 11, 2007
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe *
The weekend was mostly spent in the garden completing the installation of an irrigation system to keep the plants watered while we are on holiday. This means we will return to a blooming garden unlike last year when absences and hose-pipe bans meant the spring planting did not survive the summer and we had a load of dead and dessicated plants.
It is also a fine example of "constructive laziness". My thighs may ache from hours hopping about in the shrubbery like a frog but that now means no more watering! At the appointed hour the hissing of summer lawns will announce the timer unleashing a trickle of drippers all around the garden.
I also realised that we now have a "wabe": The grass plot around a sundial. It is called a "wabe" because it goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it, and a long way beyond it on each side. This sundial was my 50th birthday present from the family and lived on the patio at Avon Cottage. Now it is on the Wandsworth lawn I have a "wabe". So that's nice.
* "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll
The weekend was mostly spent in the garden completing the installation of an irrigation system to keep the plants watered while we are on holiday. This means we will return to a blooming garden unlike last year when absences and hose-pipe bans meant the spring planting did not survive the summer and we had a load of dead and dessicated plants.
It is also a fine example of "constructive laziness". My thighs may ache from hours hopping about in the shrubbery like a frog but that now means no more watering! At the appointed hour the hissing of summer lawns will announce the timer unleashing a trickle of drippers all around the garden.
I also realised that we now have a "wabe": The grass plot around a sundial. It is called a "wabe" because it goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it, and a long way beyond it on each side. This sundial was my 50th birthday present from the family and lived on the patio at Avon Cottage. Now it is on the Wandsworth lawn I have a "wabe". So that's nice.
* "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Austrian Wine Tasting at Charteris Wine Society
Another interesting tasting at the Charteris Wine Society, this time Austrian wines. It is always good to try something different and expand one's wine horizon. This time the wines were ably presented by Christian Malnig of Kipferl, an Austrian Deli just around the corner at 70 Long Lane, London EC1A 9EJ.
I did not know the Gruner Veltliner grape but it seems Austria grows a lot of indigenous varieties and this is the most popular accounting for 36% of the nation's production. Very enjoyable and comparable to the best of Alsace varietals any day. Also it is a nation of small producers; the average grower has a mere 3 hectares!
Christian dealt with the high volume of chatter but doing not so much presenting standing at the front but more visiting each table in turn for a sit down chat. That worked well, especially as the individual attention meant we could ask specific questions.
He and his wife also presented us with platters of Austrian meats and, for the sweet wines, various delicious pastries.
I did not know the Gruner Veltliner grape but it seems Austria grows a lot of indigenous varieties and this is the most popular accounting for 36% of the nation's production. Very enjoyable and comparable to the best of Alsace varietals any day. Also it is a nation of small producers; the average grower has a mere 3 hectares!
Christian dealt with the high volume of chatter but doing not so much presenting standing at the front but more visiting each table in turn for a sit down chat. That worked well, especially as the individual attention meant we could ask specific questions.
He and his wife also presented us with platters of Austrian meats and, for the sweet wines, various delicious pastries.
- Notes
- C: colour; N: nose; P: palette; ** = favourite; -- = not favourite
- Whites
- Gruner Veltliner Alte Reuben, Selection, Weixelbaum 2005 (GBP 8.99) **
- C: mid-yellow; N: peppery / spicy; P rich complex, unctuous, steely aftertaste, bit of acid tingle. My favourite and that of several others.
- Gruner Veltliner Seeberg, Matthias Hager, Kamtal 2004 (GBP 14.49)
- C: darker yellow; N; Kiwi fruit; P: not as unctuous, smokey
- Reisling Reid Gaisberg, Wahre Werte, Weixelbaum 2005 (GBP 10.49) **
- C: yellow; N; powerfiul; P: sweetish Alsace style
- Rotgipfler Privat, Schaflerhof, Thermenregion 2005 (GBP 8.49) --
- N; very little; P slightly hollow, some grip.
- Scheurebe (Samling 88), Stefan Potzinger, Sudsteiermark 2006 (GBP 9.98)
- C: vary pale; N: v fragrant, lime-green (SB-like); P: tart apple / unripe melon
- Red
- Blauer Zweigelt, Daniel Jaunegg, Sudsteiermark 2005 (GBP 8.98)
- C: purple: N: sour cherry; P: merlot-like, redcurrant / raspberry
- Sweet white wines
- Traminer, Stefan Potzinger, Sudsteiermark 2003 (GBP 12.49) ** ½
- C: deep yellow; N: pungent / sour; P: sweet yet tangy (good with strudel)
- Ziefandler Beerenauslese, Beigler, Gumpoldskirchen 2003 (375cl - GBP 12.49) ***
- C: Golden yellow; N: honey, peach; P: very ripe pineapple, sui generis, my kind of wine <G>
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Call me Count Dracula
So it was back to Dr Ashok Sethi to have the stitches out and not before time. After 10 days my gums were telling me the stitches had done their job and were now more of a hindrance than a help.
X-ray of whole mouthful of teeth showing implants
I do not remember these X-rays being taken although I must have been led from the chair to the machine and back again. What I do remember is Ashok saying "Wider, Wider!" and me saying "Ow!"
It appears that, to be very sure of avoiding the nerve, he exposed it so he knew exactly where it was. This would explain why I felt some discomfort even through the anaesthetic and the sedative. talk about touching a raw nerve. Ugh and shudder.
X-ray of lower left teeth after implants
That it is for three months when I go back to get the OK for the permanent crowns to replace the current temporaries. Well apart that is from crowning the lower right 8 but Raj cannot take an impression for a least six weeks till these chaps have bonded in.
X-ray of whole mouthful of teeth showing implants
I do not remember these X-rays being taken although I must have been led from the chair to the machine and back again. What I do remember is Ashok saying "Wider, Wider!" and me saying "Ow!"
It appears that, to be very sure of avoiding the nerve, he exposed it so he knew exactly where it was. This would explain why I felt some discomfort even through the anaesthetic and the sedative. talk about touching a raw nerve. Ugh and shudder.
X-ray of lower left teeth after implants
That it is for three months when I go back to get the OK for the permanent crowns to replace the current temporaries. Well apart that is from crowning the lower right 8 but Raj cannot take an impression for a least six weeks till these chaps have bonded in.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Sunday in the Garden
At the weekend we bought *three* trolley-loads of plants and spent Sunday planting them in the beds.
Planting the lower bed
Mary did the planting, I did the big weeds and cutting the lawn.
The lower bed planted up
I also spiked all over the front lawn with a fork and now the muscles in my fingers ache. "My hand's can't feel to grip" - opening screw top bottles is real a challenge.
Planting the lower bed
Mary did the planting, I did the big weeds and cutting the lawn.
The lower bed planted up
I also spiked all over the front lawn with a fork and now the muscles in my fingers ache. "My hand's can't feel to grip" - opening screw top bottles is real a challenge.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Molly Goes to Bristol
Saturday we took Molly to Charles Ware's Morris Minor garage in Bristol for an Extreme Makeover (Upper body edition).
She has been sitting patiently in the garage of "Thatched Eaves" (aka "The Chocolate Box Cottage") next door to Avon Cottage since we moved out on Valentines Day. If you want to stay in a cute cottage in the New Forest I can thoroughly recommend "The Chocolate Box Cottage". Fran has kept Thatched Eaves immaculate, the garden is wonderful *and* you have "The Olde Beams Inn" next door!
Anyhow, we went down Friday afternoon, had a 'nouvelle' curry at Indigo in Ringwood High Street with Bob&Lynn and stayed the night. In the morning we picked up Molly after the guests had left. As usual she started first time - not bad for a 43 year-old car.
Molly at the end of her ride
We then drove 65 miles in convoy to Bristol with me behind in the Beemer and got to Charles Ware's before they closed for lunch.
We had Molly's 'bottom' done several years ago as Moggies (as they are affectionately known by us Brits) are prone to rust. The man looked her over and will give us a call in the week with estimates and options as to what we can do within our budget. Given how much I have just spent on my teeth I think it is only fair Mary has her extravagance too :-)
She has been sitting patiently in the garage of "Thatched Eaves" (aka "The Chocolate Box Cottage") next door to Avon Cottage since we moved out on Valentines Day. If you want to stay in a cute cottage in the New Forest I can thoroughly recommend "The Chocolate Box Cottage". Fran has kept Thatched Eaves immaculate, the garden is wonderful *and* you have "The Olde Beams Inn" next door!
Anyhow, we went down Friday afternoon, had a 'nouvelle' curry at Indigo in Ringwood High Street with Bob&Lynn and stayed the night. In the morning we picked up Molly after the guests had left. As usual she started first time - not bad for a 43 year-old car.
Molly at the end of her ride
We then drove 65 miles in convoy to Bristol with me behind in the Beemer and got to Charles Ware's before they closed for lunch.
We had Molly's 'bottom' done several years ago as Moggies (as they are affectionately known by us Brits) are prone to rust. The man looked her over and will give us a call in the week with estimates and options as to what we can do within our budget. Given how much I have just spent on my teeth I think it is only fair Mary has her extravagance too :-)
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
A New Bathroom for Wandsworth
Plan for new bathroom
Our bathroom is small and a previous owner has not made best use of the space.
The "before" as it is now has the bath against the window wall, the basin top left and the loo currently where the basin will be, bottom right.
The door opens the other way so, if you are sitting on the loo you get knee-capped as the door opens. Plus the shower window-side means the sill gets soaked and all the paint peels off.
This "after" was designed for us by the team at "H2OLondon". Hanging the door the other way and rearranging the units as you see here will make a big difference. Plus new everything and tiles and accessories will make a transformation. Well done chaps.
We have a final visit to the warehouse on Friday to see the bath in the flesh and choose tiles and colours. Then a six week lead time on the bath so the work won't be done till the end of July. Fortunately we have a shower room downstairs otherwise that might have meant a week of showering at work.
Monday, May 28, 2007
A Weekend in the Cotswolds
This weekend was a long weekend in the UK as today is a Bank Holiday (public holiday). Mary and I worked at home Friday and made a fast getaway to The Lamb Inn, Great Rissington in the hyper-cute Cotswolds. We joined usual suspects Bob&Lynn who had gone up Thursday and had just done a 17 mile walk around Bourton-on-the-Water with 100 of Lynn's work colleagues.
John&Andrea, formerly in St Albans, have recently relocated to Cranham, 25 miles down the road, so they joined us for dinner at the Lamb where we were on a "bed and evening meal" deal. The pub's "signature dish" is a slow roast half leg of lamb that just falls off the bone.
Saturday was a gentle 8 mile walk into BOTW and round in a big circle. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the countryside round there is delightful with gentle rolling hills and all the Cotswold stone houses. We ended up back at the Lamb for another fine meal - eaten very slowly by me.
Sunday was over to J&A's via the farmers' market in Bourton for a short walk to the Black Horse for a pint of local ale (except me - boo!) After lunch we headed back to London so we could get up early today and crack on with odd jobs about the house and garden.
John&Andrea, formerly in St Albans, have recently relocated to Cranham, 25 miles down the road, so they joined us for dinner at the Lamb where we were on a "bed and evening meal" deal. The pub's "signature dish" is a slow roast half leg of lamb that just falls off the bone.
Saturday was a gentle 8 mile walk into BOTW and round in a big circle. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the countryside round there is delightful with gentle rolling hills and all the Cotswold stone houses. We ended up back at the Lamb for another fine meal - eaten very slowly by me.
Sunday was over to J&A's via the farmers' market in Bourton for a short walk to the Black Horse for a pint of local ale (except me - boo!) After lunch we headed back to London so we could get up early today and crack on with odd jobs about the house and garden.
Friday, May 25, 2007
An extraction and two posts
Well that wasn't as painful as I was expecting but that was mainly because I was doped up to the eyeballs. The extraction of the molar was the part I was least looking forward to. The work was done under a local but I was also sedated with a drip feed into the arm. I don't know what was in there but three hours of my life disappeared down a chemical black hole.
When I came to Dad was there as the "responsible adult" to make sure I got home safely. I had an hour's kip, we strolled down to the chemist to pick up a prescription for antibiotics, then - duty discharged - Dad went back to Farnham. When the anaesthetic wore off it was not too painful, no need for more paracetamol this morning. Now it is a soft diet for three months while the bone grows in and bonds to the implants.
CT scan of jaw showing site of implants
This is the CT scan I had done last week with the implants superimposed. The yellow is the implant and the green is the post that takes the crown. Number 36 is where the cantelivered crown was. Number 37 is where the extraction was and had to move close to the adjacent tooth because of the hole left by the split root. That will fill with bone over the next few months - the human body is a wonderful thing!
When I came to Dad was there as the "responsible adult" to make sure I got home safely. I had an hour's kip, we strolled down to the chemist to pick up a prescription for antibiotics, then - duty discharged - Dad went back to Farnham. When the anaesthetic wore off it was not too painful, no need for more paracetamol this morning. Now it is a soft diet for three months while the bone grows in and bonds to the implants.
CT scan of jaw showing site of implants
This is the CT scan I had done last week with the implants superimposed. The yellow is the implant and the green is the post that takes the crown. Number 36 is where the cantelivered crown was. Number 37 is where the extraction was and had to move close to the adjacent tooth because of the hole left by the split root. That will fill with bone over the next few months - the human body is a wonderful thing!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Street Life (New Kids on the Block)
It was not for a couple of days that I noticed several more atop various office blocks and buildings of the South Bank Centre.
Then a couple of days later I spotted several more on rooftops on the North end of the bridge.
Turns out there are 31 of these statues according to the BBC. They are by Antony Gormley who did the Angel of the North and this work is entitled "Event Horizon". It tickled me.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Early May in Italy 07
Off to Italy *again* at the weekend. This time a free Alitalia flight courtesy of airmiles but the limited number of mile and availability meant we did have to catch an early flight. Up at 4am to catch a 6am flight and we only just caught it. The queues were horrendous and our flight got called forward twice: once at the check-in desks and again for the security screening.
As requested the gardener had started planting up the beds but has yet to start work on the automatic watering system. He has planted up the beds with typical Maquis shrubs plus some roses and iris.
Flower bed with shrubs
The weekend was spent doing a few useful things. Ordered a last couple of bits of furniture: a cupboard for the Lamia living room (storage is scarce) and a side table to put the small hi-fi on. We made another trip to Emmezetta (local hypermarket) and bought a giant parasol and an all-in-one TV and DVD player. We also bought a copy of The Blues Brothers to watch - in Italian of course - but I knew the lines so well that didn't really matter.
I also managed to clean out the pizza oven ready for my first attempt at real pizza cooking when we go out in June.
Note:
Edited post to replace camera photos with quality image from Mary's camera. [Tue 22-May-07]
As requested the gardener had started planting up the beds but has yet to start work on the automatic watering system. He has planted up the beds with typical Maquis shrubs plus some roses and iris.
Flower bed with shrubs
The weekend was spent doing a few useful things. Ordered a last couple of bits of furniture: a cupboard for the Lamia living room (storage is scarce) and a side table to put the small hi-fi on. We made another trip to Emmezetta (local hypermarket) and bought a giant parasol and an all-in-one TV and DVD player. We also bought a copy of The Blues Brothers to watch - in Italian of course - but I knew the lines so well that didn't really matter.
I also managed to clean out the pizza oven ready for my first attempt at real pizza cooking when we go out in June.
Note:
Edited post to replace camera photos with quality image from Mary's camera. [Tue 22-May-07]
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
CT Scan for Titanium Implants
Tuesday I went for a CT scan in preparation for a couple of titanium implants next Thursday. I swear I could feel the scan move down my head. The technicians said no-one had mentioned that before but I could feel a planar circular sensation rotating round and round and passing down my skull, most odd feeling!
Some while back I mentioned that I had 11 crowns (including 3 post and core) [1]. Here is the proof courtesy of the implant specialist Dr Ashok Sethi:
X-ray of whole mouthful of teeth
Below is the lower right 8 (on the left of the X-ray) that gave me such grief a while back [2]. But there will be no implant there. Raj will crown it and then wait till, one day, it eventually fails and then do two implants together.
X-ray of lower right teeth (8 & missing 7)
No, the implants will be where I had the extraction last October [3]. The extraction was tricky because I had a "siamese" crown. The lower left 6 only had one root; the tooth having cracked the other root had to go. Half a root wasn't enough to take the strain of a crown so Raj crowned the two as a pair. See diagram below.
Diagram of lower left teeth (6 & 7)
Eventually the other half root went and so it took had to be extracted *from under the crown*. That meant separating the root from the cantilevered crown then easing the root out sideways - not as bad as it sounds. Now the extra strain on the remaining tooth has caused its root to crack so that too will have to go and two implants go in their place.
X-ray of lower left teeth
Some while back I mentioned that I had 11 crowns (including 3 post and core) [1]. Here is the proof courtesy of the implant specialist Dr Ashok Sethi:
X-ray of whole mouthful of teeth
Below is the lower right 8 (on the left of the X-ray) that gave me such grief a while back [2]. But there will be no implant there. Raj will crown it and then wait till, one day, it eventually fails and then do two implants together.
X-ray of lower right teeth (8 & missing 7)
No, the implants will be where I had the extraction last October [3]. The extraction was tricky because I had a "siamese" crown. The lower left 6 only had one root; the tooth having cracked the other root had to go. Half a root wasn't enough to take the strain of a crown so Raj crowned the two as a pair. See diagram below.
Diagram of lower left teeth (6 & 7)
Eventually the other half root went and so it took had to be extracted *from under the crown*. That meant separating the root from the cantilevered crown then easing the root out sideways - not as bad as it sounds. Now the extra strain on the remaining tooth has caused its root to crack so that too will have to go and two implants go in their place.
X-ray of lower left teeth
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Charity Double Header
Sunday was all a bit hectic as we had signed up for the Stroke Association's Thames Bridges Bike Ride* and then Oddbins announced their annual wine fair** (all proceeds to charity) for the same weekend! What to do? Forget the bike ride? Start and wimp out halfway through? In the end Mary had a stroke of logistical genius: activate the Emergency Drinking Trousers (pat pending). So this it how it went:
Thames Bridges Bike Ride: Sunday morning we got up early so we could cycle to Clapham, got the train to Waterloo and cycled to the start line at Tower Bridge in order to be first away over the line at 8 o'clock. We were in the very first batch. We then cycled 32 miles over 16 bridges in 3 hours dead arriving at Hampton Court at 11:00.
Intermission: We then caught the 11:35 to Waterloo where we chained up our bikes on platform 16 and changed into our day clothes in the public loos. Lunch was a sandwich on the train. Hopped into a taxi and off to the Design Centre, Islington.
Oddbin's Wine Fair: As usual we started with champagnes; tasted about 17 and the Billecart-Salmon was this year's NV winner with an honourable mention for the Charles Lafitte. I cannot find my notes so cannot recall which was the vintage winner - ah found them - the Veuve Clicquot.
We then attended a master class on New Zealand Pinot Noir. Very educational and the best of the bunch was the Murdoch James "Fraser" Martinborough 2004. The rest of the afternoon tasting at will until it was time to stagger home with out friend John. Though, truth to tell, he was staggering more then we were!
* Previously:
Got the T-shirt
In Training for Charity Bike Ride 2
In Training for Charity Bike Ride
** Previously:
"Oddbin's Wine Fair 2006"
"Drinking for charity - It's a dirty job but..." (2004)
"Amethystos (under the counter)" (2005).
Thames Bridges Bike Ride: Sunday morning we got up early so we could cycle to Clapham, got the train to Waterloo and cycled to the start line at Tower Bridge in order to be first away over the line at 8 o'clock. We were in the very first batch. We then cycled 32 miles over 16 bridges in 3 hours dead arriving at Hampton Court at 11:00.
Intermission: We then caught the 11:35 to Waterloo where we chained up our bikes on platform 16 and changed into our day clothes in the public loos. Lunch was a sandwich on the train. Hopped into a taxi and off to the Design Centre, Islington.
Oddbin's Wine Fair: As usual we started with champagnes; tasted about 17 and the Billecart-Salmon was this year's NV winner with an honourable mention for the Charles Lafitte. I cannot find my notes so cannot recall which was the vintage winner - ah found them - the Veuve Clicquot.
We then attended a master class on New Zealand Pinot Noir. Very educational and the best of the bunch was the Murdoch James "Fraser" Martinborough 2004. The rest of the afternoon tasting at will until it was time to stagger home with out friend John. Though, truth to tell, he was staggering more then we were!
* Previously:
Got the T-shirt
In Training for Charity Bike Ride 2
In Training for Charity Bike Ride
** Previously:
"Oddbin's Wine Fair 2006"
"Drinking for charity - It's a dirty job but..." (2004)
"Amethystos (under the counter)" (2005).
Monday, May 14, 2007
Street Life (Counting Cars)
We live on the edge of an area of Wandsworth known as "The Tonsleys" (Street, Road, Place, Hill and some other streets). A half kilometer square of modest three bed-roomed Victorian terraced houses bounded by Fairfield Street, East Hill, Trinity Road and Swandon Way.
On Saturday we went to the Guinness Cup final at Twickenham with Bob and Lynn and afterwards went for a curry at The Chutney in Alma Road. In the short five minutes it took us to walk the 400m to the restaurant we counted 6 Porsche, 2 BMW Z4, 2 Mercedes SLK/CLK and a Maserati.
Mary's Mum once asked if we were not worried about having to park our 6-year old BMW 3 series on-street to which Mary replied "no" because there were lots of nicer cars for thieves to steal.
On Saturday we went to the Guinness Cup final at Twickenham with Bob and Lynn and afterwards went for a curry at The Chutney in Alma Road. In the short five minutes it took us to walk the 400m to the restaurant we counted 6 Porsche, 2 BMW Z4, 2 Mercedes SLK/CLK and a Maserati.
Mary's Mum once asked if we were not worried about having to park our 6-year old BMW 3 series on-street to which Mary replied "no" because there were lots of nicer cars for thieves to steal.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Dudok's Town Hall, Hilversum (1930)
A fabulous building. It was closed to the public but Ian chatted to the security guard and explained the cultural nature of our visit. The guy then very kindly not only let us in but also gave us a guided tour of the interior. We saw the concert hall, the registry office (where civil marriage ceremonies are performed) and even the mayor's private office. The detailed inside was gorgeous, gold tiled columns in the main hall, decorative tiles and stuff.
Duiker's Zonnestraal Sanatorium, Hilversum (1931)
We took the train to Hilversum to see two buildings, this sanatorium and the town hall. We haggled with three taxis to take the twelve of us to see this, wait for 20 minutes and then return us to the town hall. It was a beautiful, sunny day - we were very lucky with the weather.
This was built for TB sufferers, partly to help them recover with lots of fresh air and partly to isolate them from others so they did not spread the disease. The believed lots of fresh air was essentlal so there are plenty of balconies and windows - all very light and airy.
This was built for TB sufferers, partly to help them recover with lots of fresh air and partly to isolate them from others so they did not spread the disease. The believed lots of fresh air was essentlal so there are plenty of balconies and windows - all very light and airy.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Reitveld's Schroeder house (1924)
Team photo outside a house that looks like a Mondrian painting in 3-D (Reitveld was part of the same group as Mondrian). The upper floor inside was amazing but we were not allowed to take photos so you'll have to make do with the outside. A Unesco World Heritage Site
(see http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/rietveldschroderhuis.html)
Architectural Tour of Amsterdam
The reason there have been no posts over the week end is that I have been in Amsterdam on an four day architectural tour lead by Tim Bruce-Dick (in the hat).
Jane has accompanied Dad (in the grey jacket) on a couple of previous tours but this time Ian and I decided to join them to make is a "siblings spend quality time with father" event.
This is also a test of my new flicker account to see how seamless, or otherwise, they are.
We left Mum at home but rang her every day.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
The First Growths Tutored Tasting
Monday night was an extravagant tasting at BBR: eight first growth clarets.
To quote the BBR website, "Technically the term 'First Growth' should only be applied to the properties identified as such in the famous 1855 Classification of the Médoc, namely Châteaux Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Haut-Brion, subsequently joined in 1973 by Ch. Mouton-Rothschild. However, as the title is synonymous with the apogee of excellence in Bordeaux, we will use the term more informally here to include the other truly great names of Bordeaux - Châteaux Cheval Blanc, Ausone and Pétrus - which are felt to be unequivocally of First Growth quality.
Mark Pardoe MW will discuss each property in turn, explaining and unravelling the nuances that distinguish each of the First Growths from one another, while illuminating the intrinsic seam of quality that runs through all these eight great wines. The wines will all be from 2002, thereby filleting the distractions of vintage variation and also allowing some contemplation of this fine and classic year which deserves greater credit and admiration.
After a delicious aperitif of vintage Champagne, you will be guided through the following wines, served alongside a selection of cheese and canapés:"
These were the wines and my notes on the 'nose' (wine speak for 'smell'):
Wine 1: 2002 Ch. Cheval Blanc, St Emilion - soft cherry, bonfire.
Wine 2: 2002 Ch. Ausone, St Emilion - purple, blackcurrent, woody root / leaf.
Wine 3: 2002 Ch. Pétrus, Pomerol - clean, redcurrant, chocolate, vanilla.
Wine 4: 2002 Ch. Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan - cooler/warmer?, murky.
Wine 5: 2002 Ch. Margaux, Margaux - tall green (grassy) fruit, warm.
Wine 6: 2002 Ch. Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac - redcurrant, sweet.
Wine 7: 2002 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac - mushroom, cheese, soap.
Wine 8: 2002 Ch. Latour, Pauillac - clean deep fruit, cajun spices, coffee, deep.
My fave was the Latour (concentrated, stunning, "gobs of fruit") followed by the Cheval Blanc with the Margaux and Mouton-Rothschild in 3rd and 4th place. My least favourite was the Haut-Brion (muddied, not clean). As Bron observed I am in alignment with Mr Parker's ratings as regards best and worst in this group though I can safely say my palette is not up to Parker's standard.
The Petrus was the most complex on the nose but at GBP 750 a bottle (that is correct, not a typo, USD 1,490) I will not be rushing out to buy a bottle let alone a full case. A most educational tasting to confirm that we were well beyond my "VFM" point of diminishing returns.
To quote the BBR website, "Technically the term 'First Growth' should only be applied to the properties identified as such in the famous 1855 Classification of the Médoc, namely Châteaux Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Haut-Brion, subsequently joined in 1973 by Ch. Mouton-Rothschild. However, as the title is synonymous with the apogee of excellence in Bordeaux, we will use the term more informally here to include the other truly great names of Bordeaux - Châteaux Cheval Blanc, Ausone and Pétrus - which are felt to be unequivocally of First Growth quality.
Mark Pardoe MW will discuss each property in turn, explaining and unravelling the nuances that distinguish each of the First Growths from one another, while illuminating the intrinsic seam of quality that runs through all these eight great wines. The wines will all be from 2002, thereby filleting the distractions of vintage variation and also allowing some contemplation of this fine and classic year which deserves greater credit and admiration.
After a delicious aperitif of vintage Champagne, you will be guided through the following wines, served alongside a selection of cheese and canapés:"
These were the wines and my notes on the 'nose' (wine speak for 'smell'):
Wine 1: 2002 Ch. Cheval Blanc, St Emilion - soft cherry, bonfire.
Wine 2: 2002 Ch. Ausone, St Emilion - purple, blackcurrent, woody root / leaf.
Wine 3: 2002 Ch. Pétrus, Pomerol - clean, redcurrant, chocolate, vanilla.
Wine 4: 2002 Ch. Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan - cooler/warmer?, murky.
Wine 5: 2002 Ch. Margaux, Margaux - tall green (grassy) fruit, warm.
Wine 6: 2002 Ch. Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac - redcurrant, sweet.
Wine 7: 2002 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac - mushroom, cheese, soap.
Wine 8: 2002 Ch. Latour, Pauillac - clean deep fruit, cajun spices, coffee, deep.
My fave was the Latour (concentrated, stunning, "gobs of fruit") followed by the Cheval Blanc with the Margaux and Mouton-Rothschild in 3rd and 4th place. My least favourite was the Haut-Brion (muddied, not clean). As Bron observed I am in alignment with Mr Parker's ratings as regards best and worst in this group though I can safely say my palette is not up to Parker's standard.
The Petrus was the most complex on the nose but at GBP 750 a bottle (that is correct, not a typo, USD 1,490) I will not be rushing out to buy a bottle let alone a full case. A most educational tasting to confirm that we were well beyond my "VFM" point of diminishing returns.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Mum's 80th Birthday
Friday was Mum's 80th birthday so we celebrated twice. I took the afternoon off work as did Ian (and Jane is a "home-maker" as the Americans say). I caught the train down to Farnham where the three of us, Mum and Dad had lunch at the Loch Fyne Restaurant.
Present opening
Then on Saturday we all reconvened at Jane&Pete's place in Reigate where we were joined by most of the grandsons for a great present giving ceremony and birthday toast with a glass of champagne.
Cake with 8 candles
We then had a buffet lunch in the garden and fortunately is was a gloriously sunny day. This was followed by a cake which Sarah had made complete with eight inextinguishable candles - one for each decade.
Nephews: Chris, Tom, Tom 2, Lorenzo, Joe
Lorenzo (Ian's eldest) joined us halfway through the meal. Only Mike (Jane and Pete's eldest) wasn't able to make it as the band he is in (Thumpermonkey) had a gig in PLymouth the night before.
Mum, Dad and Balloons
Present opening
Then on Saturday we all reconvened at Jane&Pete's place in Reigate where we were joined by most of the grandsons for a great present giving ceremony and birthday toast with a glass of champagne.
Cake with 8 candles
We then had a buffet lunch in the garden and fortunately is was a gloriously sunny day. This was followed by a cake which Sarah had made complete with eight inextinguishable candles - one for each decade.
Nephews: Chris, Tom, Tom 2, Lorenzo, Joe
Lorenzo (Ian's eldest) joined us halfway through the meal. Only Mike (Jane and Pete's eldest) wasn't able to make it as the band he is in (Thumpermonkey) had a gig in PLymouth the night before.
Mum, Dad and Balloons
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Firewall blues
Well it had to happen I guess. Ever since working at the current client site their company firewall has banned access to inappropriate sites. Fair enough. Their definition of inappropriate has always included web mail, so no catching up on your correspondance even at lunchtime.
Now the inevitable has happened and they have added blog sites, discussion forums and photo-sharing sites to that list :-(
That means no blog-surfing at lunchtime to catch up on the blogroll; no more quick posts from work; no more commenting on others blogs. Oh well. Apologies to my regular reads.
Now the inevitable has happened and they have added blog sites, discussion forums and photo-sharing sites to that list :-(
That means no blog-surfing at lunchtime to catch up on the blogroll; no more quick posts from work; no more commenting on others blogs. Oh well. Apologies to my regular reads.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Street Life (Driver Does Not)
More corporate whimsy. This time on the side of a delivery truck for Wild Bean Cafe seen recently on my walk to work over Blackfriars Bridge:
DRIVER DOES NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO
MUFFINS
HAVE ACCESS TO
MUFFINS
Monday, April 16, 2007
Pasqua in Puglia 2007
I have been off air as we went to the Hovel-in-the-Hills™ for Easter. This was our first holiday there planned as a holiday not chivying the architect to fix the snagging list. We went out with friends Tim&Sarah, their two children Alex and Zoe plus an old friend Ros.
Alberobello: Of course the world heritage site of Alberobello is a must. A town of trulli only 20 minutes drive away.
Sarah, Tim, Mary and Ros relax: We managed to fit in a good amount of sunbathing.
Moore Family on the Lamia Roof: Watching the sunset from the roof top with a glass of prosecco in hand is a daily ritual after a hard day's sunbathing.
Alberobello: Of course the world heritage site of Alberobello is a must. A town of trulli only 20 minutes drive away.
Sarah, Tim, Mary and Ros relax: We managed to fit in a good amount of sunbathing.
Moore Family on the Lamia Roof: Watching the sunset from the roof top with a glass of prosecco in hand is a daily ritual after a hard day's sunbathing.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
American Visitors
Over the weekend Mary was in Scotland with her Mum and I was playing host to a couple of American visitors: Elizabeth (an old colleague) and Baylor, a friend of hers.
They arrived Friday morning and we immediately set off to Stonehenge with a couple of minor detours to look at where Elizabeth and I worked together for a while. Stonehenge was pretty chilly, grey and overcast but an unexpected bonus for Baylor; E and I have been there before but it is still an impressive sight.
Saturday they did not want to do the tourist thing so we chilled out around Wandsworth. We went to the farmers' market by the station and then for a walk along the Thames-side path. We took a route Mary and I do often over Wandle Creek, through the park (Grade 2 listed) to Putney Bridge and back through the residential streets. I was pointing out all the typical Victorian terraced housing. Then quick visits to Ros and to Sarah to drop off stuff for our visit to Italy on Saturday and finally home for a meal with the food from the market.
They arrived Friday morning and we immediately set off to Stonehenge with a couple of minor detours to look at where Elizabeth and I worked together for a while. Stonehenge was pretty chilly, grey and overcast but an unexpected bonus for Baylor; E and I have been there before but it is still an impressive sight.
Saturday they did not want to do the tourist thing so we chilled out around Wandsworth. We went to the farmers' market by the station and then for a walk along the Thames-side path. We took a route Mary and I do often over Wandle Creek, through the park (Grade 2 listed) to Putney Bridge and back through the residential streets. I was pointing out all the typical Victorian terraced housing. Then quick visits to Ros and to Sarah to drop off stuff for our visit to Italy on Saturday and finally home for a meal with the food from the market.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Restaurant Retro-Blogging.
You might be forgiven for thinking that my life has been quiet to judge from the paucity of recent posts. Of course the complete opposite is true. I feel like I have been burning the candle at both ends. Looking back over the last four weeks I seem to have been eating in restaurants an awful lot. So if you are looking for somewhere to eat these are all fine eateries:
- Wed 07: Cafe Espana with sister Jane
- Thu 08: Global with Ros
- Fri 09: Bank to celebrate Glen's 50th
- Sat 10: Centro Storico in Locorotondo, Italy with Mary
- Sun 11: Bar DiVino in Locorotondo, Italy with Mary
- Tue 13: The Groucho Club with family
- Wed 14: Quaglino's with Andrea
- Thu 15: Cork and Bottle before Little Shop of Horrors with Pete and Amanda
- Fri 16: Tony Tobin's Dining Room in Reigate with sister Jane and BIL Pete
- Sat 17: Ayudhya Thai to celebrate Kate's 40th
- Tue 20: Vinoteca with Andrea and Mary
- Thu 22: Shampers after burgundy tasting with Mary
- Mon 26: Criterion after Chateuneuf du Pape tasting with Bron
- Tue 27: Bankside SE1 with Andrea after Gilbert and George at Tate Modern
- Fri 30: Brady's fish and chip shop with Elizabeth and Baylor
- Sun 01: Konnigans after St Thomas's A&E with Mary (poked myself in the eye whilst gardening - no damage thank goodness)
- Mon 02: Vinoteca with Carolyn
- Tue 03: Da Mario with Bob and Robert
And just to round off the week we go late night shopping tomorrow followed by Enoteca Turi in Putney.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Chateauneuf-du-Pape Fine Wine Tutored Tasting
I started out on burgundy...
Last Thursday it was a walk-around tasting of burgundy in The Winery at Liberty. Can't be bothered to type up the full list of 14 wines, just my two favourites:
White: Monthélie Blanc 2002, Dubuet - grapefruit and tropical notes on the nose. (GBP 21.99)
Red: Gevrey-Chambertin "Aux Corvées" 2002, Richard - hints of chocolate on the nose and yummy palette heading towards the strawberry end of the soft fruit spectrum. (GBP 25.99)
Available from http://www.thewineryuk.com/
... but soon hit the harder stuff. *
Last night it was a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Fine Wine Tutored Tasting at BBR tutored by Simon Field MW, Rhone Buyer. Mary decided to drop out and have a quiet evening in. Instead I co-opted colleague and old friend Bron as last minute stand-in.
Wine 1: 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Ch la Nerthe
Wine 2: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine des Saumades
Wine 3: 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine des Sénéchaux
Wine 4: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Mourre des Perdix, Domaine de la Charbonnière
Wine 5: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Réserve, Domaine de Pegau
Wine 6: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée de Mon Aïeul, Pierre Usseglio
Wine 7: 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Prestige, Domaine Roger Sabon
Wine 8: 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes (en magnum)
Wine 9: 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Barbe Rac, Chapoutier (en magnum)
Wine 10: 1999 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Vieux Télégraphe
Wine 11: 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Ch de Rayas
Wine 12: 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Ch de Beaucastel
Bron says: "The whites were idiosyncratic, strong flavoured and not for wimps. The reds were uniformly good and showed the variety within the region. The '98s and '00s are for drinking now and over the next few years. The '99s and '03s definitely need cellaring a few more years."
Afterwards we dined at the Criterion which apparently had a brief, unsuccessful period as a "Frankies" but is now back to its Marco Pierre White style brasserie. We went straight into the main course and split a half bottle - after all we didn't really need much more to drink! My Lamb cutlets were absolutely delicious as were the veg, especially the little roast potatoes. Service was fine. I can recommend and it is easy to find - on Piccadilly Circus right opposite the statue of Eros.
* Tom Thumb Blues by Bob Dylan
Last Thursday it was a walk-around tasting of burgundy in The Winery at Liberty. Can't be bothered to type up the full list of 14 wines, just my two favourites:
White: Monthélie Blanc 2002, Dubuet - grapefruit and tropical notes on the nose. (GBP 21.99)
Red: Gevrey-Chambertin "Aux Corvées" 2002, Richard - hints of chocolate on the nose and yummy palette heading towards the strawberry end of the soft fruit spectrum. (GBP 25.99)
Available from http://www.thewineryuk.com/
... but soon hit the harder stuff. *
Last night it was a Châteauneuf-du-Pape Fine Wine Tutored Tasting at BBR tutored by Simon Field MW, Rhone Buyer. Mary decided to drop out and have a quiet evening in. Instead I co-opted colleague and old friend Bron as last minute stand-in.
Wine 1: 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Ch la Nerthe
Wine 2: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine des Saumades
Wine 3: 2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine des Sénéchaux
Wine 4: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Mourre des Perdix, Domaine de la Charbonnière
Wine 5: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Réserve, Domaine de Pegau
Wine 6: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée de Mon Aïeul, Pierre Usseglio
Wine 7: 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Prestige, Domaine Roger Sabon
Wine 8: 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes (en magnum)
Wine 9: 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Barbe Rac, Chapoutier (en magnum)
Wine 10: 1999 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Vieux Télégraphe
Wine 11: 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Ch de Rayas
Wine 12: 1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Ch de Beaucastel
Bron says: "The whites were idiosyncratic, strong flavoured and not for wimps. The reds were uniformly good and showed the variety within the region. The '98s and '00s are for drinking now and over the next few years. The '99s and '03s definitely need cellaring a few more years."
Afterwards we dined at the Criterion which apparently had a brief, unsuccessful period as a "Frankies" but is now back to its Marco Pierre White style brasserie. We went straight into the main course and split a half bottle - after all we didn't really need much more to drink! My Lamb cutlets were absolutely delicious as were the veg, especially the little roast potatoes. Service was fine. I can recommend and it is easy to find - on Piccadilly Circus right opposite the statue of Eros.
* Tom Thumb Blues by Bob Dylan
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Innocent Drinks Label
It would be unfair to mention Tom Bihn's Care Label without giving a mention to our very own Innocent Drinks fruit smoothie labels which keep Mary and I amused on a regular basis.
The ingredients often include spurious items with matching footnote, such as Rubber duck (* Pass the soap) or Double-decker bus (* Hold very tight please, ting, ting!). Here is a typical label (click on it for larger version):
They also make An Innocent Promise such as "We promise that anything innocent will always taste good and do you good. We promise that we'll never use concentrates, preservatives, stabilisers, or any weird stuff in our drinks. And we promise we'll never cheat at cards."
Or "... And we promise always to wipe our feet" or "... And if we do you can tell our mums" and so on.
More at "The Label Museum"
The ingredients often include spurious items with matching footnote, such as Rubber duck (* Pass the soap) or Double-decker bus (* Hold very tight please, ting, ting!). Here is a typical label (click on it for larger version):
They also make An Innocent Promise such as "We promise that anything innocent will always taste good and do you good. We promise that we'll never use concentrates, preservatives, stabilisers, or any weird stuff in our drinks. And we promise we'll never cheat at cards."
Or "... And we promise always to wipe our feet" or "... And if we do you can tell our mums" and so on.
More at "The Label Museum"
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Pictures from Restaurant Gordon Ramsey
When we went to Restaurant Gordon Ramsey I thought it would have been nice to show you what we had to eat. But I did not have a camera and did to think it the "done thing". But someone over at Muffin Top did just that. See this for a feast for the eyes and stomach: F*cking good! (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay)
Tom Bihn Care Label
Thanks to Paris Parfait for this one, nice to see companies with a sense of humour. Tom Bihn make travel bags. They have produced a novel care label:<quote>
The inside label carries instructions on washing and caring for the bags. Because the bags are sold in Canada, the instructions are also printed in French. The French version, however, contains an additional phrase: "NOUS SOMMES DESOLES QUE NOTRE PRESIDENT SOIT UN IDIOT. NOUS N'AVONS PAS VOTE POUR LUI." Translated to English, the phrase reads, "We are sorry that our President is an idiot. We did not vote for him."
</quote>
source="http://www.tombihn.com/"
Monday, March 19, 2007
Cleo's Ashes
Saturday morning I collected Cleo's ashes from the Vets. They are now nourishing the roots of a rosebush and not just any old rosebush.
When we lost Oliver, our Persian ginger tom, to an RTA a few years back we buried him near the bottom of the garden. You can do that when you have half an acre. Our neighbour, cat feeder and house-minder Mike bought us a rose called appropriately "Whiskey Mac" which we planted next to Oliver. When we lost Oscar ["Saddest news about Oscar"] we buried him next to his chum Oliver.
When we sold the cottage the rose was the one plant we had to bring with us; by that time we already knew Cleo's biopsy results. A small London garden is not really suitable for an inhumation so we had an individual cremation for Cleo. Her ashes went in first then a little soil to cover, then some fish and bone meal then the rose.
I cannot be doing with this macho "boys don't cry" b*ll*cks. I had a good old sob but in the summer I can look at the roses and smile.
When we lost Oliver, our Persian ginger tom, to an RTA a few years back we buried him near the bottom of the garden. You can do that when you have half an acre. Our neighbour, cat feeder and house-minder Mike bought us a rose called appropriately "Whiskey Mac" which we planted next to Oliver. When we lost Oscar ["Saddest news about Oscar"] we buried him next to his chum Oliver.
When we sold the cottage the rose was the one plant we had to bring with us; by that time we already knew Cleo's biopsy results. A small London garden is not really suitable for an inhumation so we had an individual cremation for Cleo. Her ashes went in first then a little soil to cover, then some fish and bone meal then the rose.
I cannot be doing with this macho "boys don't cry" b*ll*cks. I had a good old sob but in the summer I can look at the roses and smile.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Street Life (Non Verbal Communication)
I love how much can be conveyed with just the raise of an eyebrow or the lift of a finger.
On the North side of Waterloo Bridge there is a cycle path that crosses the pavement much to the startlement of many an unsuspecting pedestrian. As a cyclist I know it's there and cast a quick glance over my right shoulder. A cyclist is approaching so I pause mid-stride. We make eye contact, he give the slightest of nods ("thank you"), I echo back a nod ("you're welcome"), he whizzes by and on I go. Courtesies exchanged to complement the morning sunshine.
On the North side of Waterloo Bridge there is a cycle path that crosses the pavement much to the startlement of many an unsuspecting pedestrian. As a cyclist I know it's there and cast a quick glance over my right shoulder. A cyclist is approaching so I pause mid-stride. We make eye contact, he give the slightest of nods ("thank you"), I echo back a nod ("you're welcome"), he whizzes by and on I go. Courtesies exchanged to complement the morning sunshine.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Lunch at The Groucho Club
Tuesday Mum and Dad came up to London to see Jane&Pete's flat in Soho and brother Ian came to join us. It had been meant as a family gathering but at the last minute Pete's Aunt Freda and Jane's oldest friend JaneF were added to the roster.
The assembled company marvelled at the transformation of the flat then we went round the corner to The Groucho Club* for a family lunch. Another long lunch catching up on JaneF's French hovels and back to work to make up the hours.
* The name of the club was inspired by one of Groucho Marx's quips; "I don't want to join a club that will accept me as a member"
The assembled company marvelled at the transformation of the flat then we went round the corner to The Groucho Club* for a family lunch. Another long lunch catching up on JaneF's French hovels and back to work to make up the hours.
* The name of the club was inspired by one of Groucho Marx's quips; "I don't want to join a club that will accept me as a member"
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Opening up the Hovel
We had a couple of enquiries about renting "Trullo Azzurro" which have not, unfortunately, turned into bookings. However it was enough to prompt us to squeeze in an extra trip to Puglia to see how the Hovel-in-the-Hills ™ had survived the winter.
Mary was going to the Madame Butterfly on Friday with her friend Andrea so we had to fly out on Saturday. We could not face Ryanair and anyway they are not so cheap as you get close to the departure date. Instead we flew Alitalia changing in Milan Malpensa (MXP). That meant we arrived in daylight with the shops still open so we could get breakfast stuff and have time to examine the property on arrival.
It had survived the winter very well: last year's plasterwork had obviously finished drying out and the bags and boxes we used for storage had done the trick. The hot water and heating seemed to be working fine but the control box was being a little erratic. We got the underfloor heating working and the place slowly warmed up.
Sunday was a little overcast but Monday was bright and sunny so we could open all the doors and get the bedding aired on the line. We called in Daniele, the architect, and Ignazio, the heating engineer, to look at the boiler controls and discuss a few minor repair items about the place. Then lunch and back to Bari airport for the trip home.
Mary was going to the Madame Butterfly on Friday with her friend Andrea so we had to fly out on Saturday. We could not face Ryanair and anyway they are not so cheap as you get close to the departure date. Instead we flew Alitalia changing in Milan Malpensa (MXP). That meant we arrived in daylight with the shops still open so we could get breakfast stuff and have time to examine the property on arrival.
It had survived the winter very well: last year's plasterwork had obviously finished drying out and the bags and boxes we used for storage had done the trick. The hot water and heating seemed to be working fine but the control box was being a little erratic. We got the underfloor heating working and the place slowly warmed up.
Sunday was a little overcast but Monday was bright and sunny so we could open all the doors and get the bedding aired on the line. We called in Daniele, the architect, and Ignazio, the heating engineer, to look at the boiler controls and discuss a few minor repair items about the place. Then lunch and back to Bari airport for the trip home.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Lunchtime in Soho
Yesterday I met up with sister Jane to see how their pied-a-terre is coming along. She told me it was one year and one week to the day since they first went to see the flat. And now it is all but finished and they have done a good job on it. Just a few minor tweaks remaining.
It used to be basically one large room with a separate kitchen at one end and a bathroom. The whole place has been gutted and redone completely, new everything. The bathroom is great, all beige and tiled, it looks like a five star hotel bathroom.
The kitchen wall has been taken out and they have gone open plan. The bed area is now where the kitchen was and there is a small kitchen "corner" next to it which partially screens off the bed area. Then a TV and chairs in the actual corner and a desk / home office and storage in an alcove.
Having inspected the premises, we tested out the local Tapas restaurant to see if it would be OK for Mum and Dad's visit next week. Something of a leisurely lunch, I'll make up the hours later.
Previous visits:
• Walking in the Wild West End
• I'm up on the Eleventh Floor
It used to be basically one large room with a separate kitchen at one end and a bathroom. The whole place has been gutted and redone completely, new everything. The bathroom is great, all beige and tiled, it looks like a five star hotel bathroom.
The kitchen wall has been taken out and they have gone open plan. The bed area is now where the kitchen was and there is a small kitchen "corner" next to it which partially screens off the bed area. Then a TV and chairs in the actual corner and a desk / home office and storage in an alcove.
Having inspected the premises, we tested out the local Tapas restaurant to see if it would be OK for Mum and Dad's visit next week. Something of a leisurely lunch, I'll make up the hours later.
Previous visits:
• Walking in the Wild West End
• I'm up on the Eleventh Floor
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Eating the Elephant
We are slowing digesting the contents of Avon Cottage. I took Friday and Monday off which helped. More stuff went to the dump; loads of stuff went to charity - Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Oxfam, RSPCA, British Heart Foundation; a load of boxes and archive went up into the loft; the TV, DVD and video went on eBay - but not, unfortunately, the Vinosafe.
The back bedroom is finally clear ready for our guest on Friday. We were able to eat in the dining room on Sunday for the first time since the move.
The back bedroom is finally clear ready for our guest on Friday. We were able to eat in the dining room on Sunday for the first time since the move.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Street Life (Blackfriars bridge)
When I worked in the Drury Lane office my walk to Waterloo Station would take me over Waterloo Bridge with its fine views (see below). Now I mostly work in an office by City Thameslink some twenty minutes walk eastwards and a have a new walk and a new bridge to cross: Blackfriars.
The view isn't so pretty: I lose the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and half the London Eye but I do get a better view of the Oxo Tower and St Pauls. On the other hand I do get a stroll down memory lane.
If I choose the Stamford Street route it takes me past the old Sainsburys' Head Office where I worked in '78/79. New to the big city with a 33% pay rise (from 3k to 4k) and the bright lights to dazzle my eyes. Meeting the "Birmingham Crowd" and all those social nights out. Ah, the memories!
If I choose the Thameside Path I go past Doggetts Coat and Badge (public house) and Sea Container House once home to BIS Applied Systems a later employer '81/86. You will not be surprised, given their proximity that DC&B was our local when we were in the office.
Previous Waterloo Bridge Posts:
London So Good They Named It Once
Leaning Tower Of London
Street Life (Salty Dog)
Street Life (Pedestrian Chicken)
Metre Out Of Order
The view isn't so pretty: I lose the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and half the London Eye but I do get a better view of the Oxo Tower and St Pauls. On the other hand I do get a stroll down memory lane.
If I choose the Stamford Street route it takes me past the old Sainsburys' Head Office where I worked in '78/79. New to the big city with a 33% pay rise (from 3k to 4k) and the bright lights to dazzle my eyes. Meeting the "Birmingham Crowd" and all those social nights out. Ah, the memories!
If I choose the Thameside Path I go past Doggetts Coat and Badge (public house) and Sea Container House once home to BIS Applied Systems a later employer '81/86. You will not be surprised, given their proximity that DC&B was our local when we were in the office.
Previous Waterloo Bridge Posts:
London So Good They Named It Once
Leaning Tower Of London
Street Life (Salty Dog)
Street Life (Pedestrian Chicken)
Metre Out Of Order
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
