For the last couple of days I've been in York. This is where Dan lives and we've been having a couple of meetings to determine where we're going (business-wise) next year. I stayed in the Best Western hotel...I actually had a sunken bathroom and a four poster!
York itself was actually really nice...I saw York Minster and walked along the river a few times. On Monday night we ate at a bar called Revolution - surprisingly enough a Vodka bar...after that we had some Kaprioska's at a bar called Evil Eye.
I headed back on the Tuesday as I had a terrible cold...
Yesterday & today has been spent in training in our head offices in Luton. These were for a couple of our new products - Tofino & CSL Zone 1 Networking components. Over the weekend, we took the dogs for a walk on one of the routes that Joan (one of the Radlett neighbours) had given to us. Was a really good walk actually - about 4.5 miles. It took us just over two hours so I'm not entirely sure it wasn't longer but still...
For the last couple of days I've been in Twickenham for work...we'd hired the Spirit of Rugby Stand for a forum for our customers. The whole event was a great success with well over 100 people attending. We stayed in The Holiday Inn in Brentford which, although it was a new hotel, was very nice. At the end of the day, we also had a tour round the stadium...very intersting I must say...
For the final part of SJ's birthday present, I'd bought tickets to go and see Paul Merton's Silent Clowns. This is something I'd heard about on the radio. essentially, this was to watch the old silent movies, on a big screen, accompanied by a live pianist.
We set off for London on the now ubiquitous train...we arrived in Faringdon and made our way to Smithfields fr something to eat...unfortunately, we were a bit early and all was shut! Anyway, we had a nice walk round and so decided to catch a cab to the Hackney Empire where the show was on. We arrived in Hackney and (starving) tried to find somewhere to eat...well, all the places looked a tad rough but eventually we thought we'd try a Chinese where Chinese people were eating, figuring that it must be good...and good it was...! It was the nicest Chinese I've ever had and I'd definitely go back there! It was worth the trip to Hackney just for the food!
Anyway, meal over, we headed intothe theatre for the show. It was really good...Paul Mwrton introduced his favourite clips of Hrold Lloyd, Laurel & Hardy, etc and it was al plaed on the big screen, live, and accompanied by a live pianist...it was brill...!
We had no such palaver as the ast time we went into London...we got home no problems...
Today was SJ's birthday...I'd stayed in Radlett so we managed to spend most of the day together. I bought her a diamond necklace, the Buddy tickets and also Paul Merton Silent Clowns tickets...more on that later.
Anyway, we went into Radlett on the night to a restaurant called Marisha...it was a beautiful meal...oysters, scallops, absolutely fantastic!
I hope SJ had a good day...I know I did!
Its SJ's birthday on 13th so I decided to take her to see the Buddy Holly show on Saturday. We caught the train into Blackfriars and then intended to catch a cab to Covent Garden...however, here's where our nights performance started! The Lord Mayor's show was on which meant all the roads were shut...no cabs...
We decided to walk as its only a mile or so. We (briskly) walked up to Covent Garden and then tried to find the theatre...slight problem as we didn't know the address as we expected to arrive in a cab...anyway, no matter, we found it. Its called the Duchess Theatre and it was beautiful. As we were (surprisingly) early, we thought we'd go and grab a bite to eat. Second problem of the evening - no vacant restaurants! Eventually we found a table at The Palm Court Brasserie - somewhere we've eaten before, so knew it was nice. And, nice it was! We had Chateaubriand and it was magnificent!
We headed back to the Duchess and lined up for the show. The actual performance was brilliant, we were all singing along and clapping, etc, etc. No doubt helped by the pint of wine we'd both consumed during the interval! As it finished, we thought it'd be a good idea to have some more drinks! Off we trotted to a bar for some Kaprioska's...and they were fine!
By now, we were pretty well oiled so we thought we'd get a cab. No problem except we didn't have enough money. A stop for the cash point later and we arrived at Faringdon. Got on the train just in time and settled in to Radlett.
The next thing I knew, I was being screamed at by Sarah to get off the train...I raised myself from my slumber and slowly realised we were at St. Albans - a stop past where we should have got off...Sarah by now, had jumped past me and shot out of the train doors...I (jumped) up and tried to get out just as the doors were closing...there was no way I was getting out of that train...sure enough, the doors closed, I waved and the train moved on. Now, I should say that at this point, my last image of Sarah was her killing hereslf laughing on St. Albans station platform...I had to walk back into the carriage of people, who by now, were completely awake (from SJ's screaming) and tried to pass it off as if it was the most natural thing in the world...it wasn't, and they all knew it!
Next stop was Harpenden, so my intention was to get off there and just get the next train back. Great plan, however Sarah range to tell me that the next train was at 7:00am...she'd just got into a taxi and advised I did the same...
I arrived in Harpenden and headed for the taxi rank...huge queue so for some odd reason I thought I'd be able to walk it! Off I trotted in the vague direction of Radlett. At this point, SJ rang (who was in a taxi) and basically told me that it was too far to walk (which it was) and that she had a number for another taxi firm. I rang them and, sure enough, they arrived almost as soon as I put the phone down!
The driver took me straight back to Radlett and all was well. Our £7 return (cheap) ticket turned into a £70 nightmare...never mind...twas an experience...!
Tonight I went to an IMC Dinner at Old Trafford (Cricket) in Manchester. Was a work thing but it was pretty good. The comedian was actually quite funny...
Well, I went back down to Radlett on Wednesday as I attended an IMC lecture on the night at MTL. Was great, was good to be back in Radlett. In terms of the journey, it was dead easy...no probs there, no probs back...
