Rocknrolla

On Wednesday night we had tickets to the MySpace event taking place to launch Guy Ritchie's new film - Rocknrolla. It was a first come, first served basis so we went early. It was at a bar called (I think) seOne, just round the corner from Guy's Hospital. We queued up for about 30 minutes and whilst we were in the queue they had cars and actors from the film all playing the respective parts. It was really well done I must say and quite an experience. We entered the club and they had set it up like the file so there was a lap dancing clubb, couple of bars, card tables etc. We were then led into a room where the screening was - we had brilliant seats in the second row. Guy Ritchie came on to introduce the film and give a little speech and then the film started...it's great! If you like Snatch and Lock, Stock, you're going to love Rocknrolla. Plenty of East End gangster humour all round!!

Edinburgh

I came back from UAE on Thursday night and caught the train from Manchester to Stafford as SJ had the car (she was due to come up on Friday). On Saturday we caught a coach trip up to Edinburgh for the Military Tattoo. This is something organised by R & J and they go every year. SJ had been before but I hadn't. We traipsed over to Shareshill for 9:30 on Saturday morning and then caught the coach to Edinburgh. We had a couple of stops on the way - Tebay services where we all had a bit of a picnic and then Moffat where it was pub time. We finally arrived in Stirling (where we were staying) around 17:30...it's a long trip on a coach. We were staying in a Holiday Inn Express so it was OK - always clean and modern. We headed to the pub opposite for some tea before heading into Edinburgh for the Tattoo.

The Tattoo itself was really good and the castle was lit brilliantly. They have bands from all over the world and then a firework display at the end. We had to queue for ages in and out of the arena - this is the price we now pay for extra security I guess, but we made it back to the coach and finally (after a brief diversion) back to the hotel.



The next morning it was back into the city to do a bit of exploring. I'd not been before so was interested to see the sights and sounds of the Fringe Festival which is also on at the moment. This really was amazing, the performers were excellent. A special mention I think to Juzzie Smith who redefines the term one-man band, and also the Aluminum Show - fantastic!

M and I climbed the Scott monument which was surprisingly easy, despite the steps being very narrow - not for the claustrophobic I'd suggest!

We headed into Stirling for a meal at Italia Nostra which was excellent and well recommended.

Sunday we headed back onto the coach for our very long trip back down to the Midlands. All in all a good trip but I think next time it would be better to drive. You just spend too much time on a coach for my liking...

Abu Dhabi

On Sunday I flew to Abu Dhabi for a few days. I flew out of Manchester via Etihad Airways. I had tried to get a flight from London but they were all really bizarre times. Etihad was recommended to me by our guys in the UAE. They're the national airline of UAE which I actually thought was Emirates. Anyway, they were very good, really smooth flight, good service, food etc.

We landed in Abu Dhabi around 20:30 - the temperature was 40 degrees!! I go tpicked up by the taxi and taken to my hotel - the Al Diar Capital Hotel. This was OK...nothing special. I ordered some room service and went to bed. The next few days were taken up with work and I travelled to Jebel Ali on Wednesday. This is about halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai. On the way I noticed a sign saying that they're building 70km's of new coastline!! I must say that the building work in UAE is phenomenal. They essentially extended the coastline in Abu Dhabi to make a new motorway and promenade area called the Corniche. This is also the area that apparently Top Gear closed to film three Bugatti Veyron's along it. I think this is to be broadcast in the next series.

The temperature was very hot and interestingly, apparently pretty humid. This surprised me as I thought being a desert it would be dry, however not so in the summer I gather. An =other intersting fact is that of the 4 million or so people who live in UAE, only around 800,000 are Emiratians. The rest are migrant workers, particularly Indians.

Amsterdam

Took an Easyjet flight from Luton to Schihpol on Wednesday. We had a meeting with a very large Energy company on Thursday. It was the first time I'd been to Amsterdam since I was a kid. We landed in Schihpol and drove to Arnhem which is about an hour or so outside of Amsterdam. I was staying in The Golden Tulip Hotel which, despite the name was actually quite nice, although bizarrely, the bar was closed...

Next day we headed into the city - the traffic was horrendous and apparently that was a good day! We mad it over to the tunnel only to find that it was shut and we needed to do a 25 mile detour. Eventually we arrived, had an OK meeting and I later headed back to the airport for my flight back to Luton. Schipol airport is a nice place, pretty big and fairly modern. I'd got some time to kill so I bought myself a new Moleskin Notebook. I write really terrible notes, so I thought if I had a decent notebook, I'd be encouraged to write decent notes - time will tell I suppose...

Upon the Fields of barley

Was out walking with the dogs the other day and came across this field...its not a great shot as its taken from my phone but this field was bricks and rubble less than a year ago...who would have thought it would turn into this?

I also thought I'd try and get some pics of the dogs...well, I'd just got Indi lined up for a shot and who should stick their head in the way? Still, got them both in the end...

SJ goes to Paris

When the Ozzies were over, they decided to go to Paris for a couple of days. This was just SJ & V though as G had had to fly back the day before. They got a great deal with Eurostar, return trip plus five star hotel for about £190!! Brilliant!! Here's some of the pics SJ took...

The Dark Knight

On Saturday, we went to watch The Dark Knight at the IMAX in Birmingham. We'd not been to this IMAX before, its at Millenium Point, just off Curzon Street. It was packed...a sellout. There were a few disappointed people who'd expected to just get tickets on the day...no chance!

I was intrigued to watch this film for a number of reasons:

1. It's (at the time of writing) the highest rated film on IMDB.

2. Heath Ledger died shortly after it was made.

3. His protrayal of The Joker was supposed to be legendary.

Well, I reckon on all counts, its true. The film is amazing, well worth the IMDB rating. Heath Ledger's performance is stunning and I would think a shoe-in for a posthumous Oscar.

I don't think I'd go back to that IMAX though. It's not in a great spot and to be honest, I think I'd go to Star City Gold Class if I had the choice.

Munich...

On Thursday, I flew to Munich for a meeting with one of our customers. I was using the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow. It's very nice! I had no problems going through security, had some breakfast at Giraffe cafe and then boarded the flight. It was running a little late though - about 20 minutes or so but overall the experience was quite pleasant.

Munich itself was very warm, about 30 degrees. I caught a cab from the airport to the customers (about 20 minutes away) and then stopped at McDonalds for a burger before meeting up. For dinner, we headed into the nearby town of Unterschleissheim where we had a couple of steaks. Back to the airport for the (delayed) flight back to Heathrow. Coming back to Terminal 5 was not so easy...many escalators, walking, a transit system etc. I then waited over 20 minutes for the bus back to the car park. I eventually got back in just after midnight...a long day...

Edinburgh

On Tuesday, I headed up on Easyjet from Luton to Edinburgh. I was spending the day with our Scottish Account Manager. We had quite a good day...good meetings and an absolutely fantastic dinner at a little pub called The Steading. Jacket potato with Haddock & Mushroom!

London heat...

The last few weeks have been (relatively) hot here...Indi & Chief are not particularly keen on this weather...basically they just sleep all day...it's a dog's life!!

Conning bast**ds

We were due to head back up to Rugeley this weekend as we'd got tickets for the Shugborough Proms night again, however...

I was loading the car up and had just put the suitcase in when a guy pulled up on the pavement and asked me for directions to a Polo Club. I said I didn't know where a Polo Club was, to which he then changed it to Golf club. Again, I didn't know where the nearest Golf club was either, so he said OK and went on his way. Meanwhile, it transpired that whilst I was distracted talking to this guy, his mate was going through the gloveboxes of the car! I couldn't believe it! The doors were open because I was loading the car - I was standing on the drive and still they had the cheek to try it on! Luckily, they only managed to get away with iPod and phone chargers as for some reason, SJ had removed all the kit the night before...lucky really as normally, the car would be full. Not any more though. They did also get away with my Oakley's though as well...robbing bast**ds!!

Anyway, we couldn't take the risk that this guy had seen the cases in the car and could come back that night as the car wouldn't be there so we had to cancel the Rugeley trip...although I still drove up to visit my Grandad (still in the Manor) and then back down the same night. What a waste of time really...still it was better to be safe than sorry...

Saturday we went into Covent Garden to get me some new sunglasses from the Oakley shop. We also had some lunch whilst we were there (can't remember the name of the place though)...

On Saturday night, we'd invited our next-door and their next-door neighbours round for some drinks. They arrived about 7:00 and we had some wine and nibbles. About 9:00 we decided to head to Va Pensiero for a bit to eat...was gorgeous food again...I really can't fault this place. We headed back about 11:00 having had a very satisfying night!

Sunday was a day spent with the doggies - relaxing, reading the papers, watching the Grand Prix (how lucky was Lewis Hamiton?). I then tried out one of the new iTunes Movie Downloads. They're very good quality but perhaps a little overpriced at £2.49...

The Ozzies are in town...

So, having arrived back on Tuesday into Gatwick...it was back down to Gatwick on Friday to pick up G & V - SJ's friends who were staying with us for a few days. They're both from Sydney and it was whom SJ and I were staying with when we were over there earlier this year. The traffic back from Gatwick was horrendous - a 30 mile queue...

We eventually arrived back in Radlett and got ready to go out as we had a table booked at Hakkasan. I've been doing some digging on Hakkasan and apparently, its been voted the world's 18th best restaraunt which co-incidentally makes it the world's best Chinese restaurant. Anyway, it's very nice...I had the Cod again which was fantastic, however to be honest, all the food is fantastic!

On Saturday, they went off to do some serious shopping on Oxford St...needless to say I did not need to be asked twice not to go...! Saturday night, we stayed in and just had some drinks on the new Outdoor set.

Sunday, we headed into London to meet up with some other friends at a pub in Battersea. We had a nice meal and then went back to their house for some drinks. Caught the train back to Radlett and then more drinking...good night...!

Monday, G had to catch her flight back to Oz, however it wasn't until teatime so they had some time to pop into Watford and get some last minute presents. SJ drove G back to Heathrow (not Gatwick, thank God) with plenty of time to spare.

Tuesday - SJ and V were booked on the 5:30 Eurostar to Paris. The trains from Radlett to St. Pancras weren't particularly convenient so I drove them down. They stayed overnight and came back on Wednesday so on the night we went to The Red Lion for a meal.

On Thursday, it was V's turn to fly home, so we drove her down around midday to Heathrow. Again, no probs with the traffic and we made it with plenty of time to spare.

Cuba...signing off...

We came back from Cuba on 22nd July...here's a couple of final piccies...

Havana...

We thought that whilst we were in Cuba, it would be a bit of a waste if we didn't go to Havana. We booked in for the trip with Hector (our Thomas Cook rep) and got up bright and early for the trip on Thursday morning...it's not that far but the roads are terrible! Even the "motorways" are unable to be tackled at anything more that about 40mph...the potholes are like craters! Consequently, it takes about 2 and a half hours to get from Varadero to Havana.

Anyway, once we were there it's a pretty amazing place with some stunning architecture but equally some really squalid living conditions...

Nice Cuban Architecture

Revolutionary Square


el Capitolio - the old Capital Building

Christopher Columbus' cemetery

Ernest Hemmingway's favourite hotel