09 Mar: Here I am in Riga, the capital of the Baltic country of Latvia, where we have an office. The journey here on Sunday was eventless, and I was well prepared for the cold, as it was -10C here when I arrived in the evening. I am in the lovely hotel like last time and enjoying the food. Hotel was quiet last night but seems very busy this evening. Last night I had a bit of a strange experience as there is an ironing room you use when you have been a lazy git in London and packed un-ironed shirts for the trip. Whilst ironing away I was entertained by 80s music coming from one of the nearby bedrooms - quite surreal! Today marks the end of the second day of training and the three youngsters I am talking to are very bright as can be expected in the Baltics and are taking it all in like sponges. Tomorrow marks FJT's birthday over in Australia and I am sure she will have a great time. Have not watched a single bit of TV since arrived as I have some DVDs to watch and books to read, and my LSE lecture to finalise for 24th March. Phew! I am a busy bee! Here is the view of the Latvian Orthodox cathedral I can see from outside my window. Quite beautiful in the sunrise I am sure you will agree.
06 Mar: I am 47 today
01 Mar: Well that turned out to be an exciting weekend right enough! Not content with food tasting and planning discussions on Friday night, we took a long, long walk (as in "Are we there yet") down Grays Inn Road to have a look at the morning suits in the window - sadly none on display this weekend. So I suggested having a trip up Hatton Garden to have a look at rings. Only half way down one side (east side to be factual) and Anthony was already losing the will to live. We crossed over and on the corner finally found a jewel er who offered palladium in the window. In we went to be measured and have a look at widths and shapes. Fat Boy is only a M+0.5 and I am O+0.5 which is really strange as my fingers look longer and bonier than his do. I had been surprised earlier in the window shopping experience from Hell that MyA wanted engraving in Cyrillic - not that he speaks or reads it! So to my surprise after me taking ages to choose, he chose in about 5 seconds and we agreed the inscription (date) for the inside. All now done and dusted and to be picked up in about three weeks. I have to say, big old sloppy guy that I am, that it was the happiest day of my life. Naturally, after a jump or two in the air, and a punch or two in the arm of someone NOT taking it at all seriously or emotionally, I realised that the rings now have no pawn value - however as I said to the lady in the shop, "There is still time to get a stand-in" for the day... A drink in the Melton Mowbery, and then a long walk through Holborn to Oxford Street and another one watching the end of the England-Ireland game and then home. Sunday we were up early and off to see "Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief" which has great effects and an ok story. The trailers and Pearl and Dean before hand is always a highlight for me, and especially as Anthony was going "No", "Never" or "You are on your own for that one". Sunday out with Laurie, home for a cuppa with Hudson and then out across the road to laugh and joke with Adam before he goes on his Internaltional Travels to the Colonies. Working this week in the West End so not online until Thursday... Oh, and some pages on cuthbertmaclean have been updated or released.
27 Feb: Had an away few days this week on a course. This was a 20 minute Hoppa bus from Heathrow on the side of the M4 motorway and started at 18:00 Wednesday night until nine, and started again Thursday and Friday at 08:30 - phew on the long, long days! Had to rush back across the whole of London Village to be in KX in time go to to the food tasting. Thankfully this was not in Hackney Wick but in Finsbury Town Hall! Were we impressed? Did we like it? OMG My tasting notes on one of the dishes just said "OMG -Fantastic". I really wish I was getting married more often as I could have a great night out on those choices! The mains are chosen (chicken, veg from one, other potatoes from another), the fabulous starter chosen too which will be almost the same for our Vegetarian guests, and finally the decision, decision, decision on the pudding - the mouse was amazing but we went for the pear tart tatin which is just the most wonderful thing I have tasted. Adam the Chef had been a bit distressed with the Evening grub, but when we opened the Mutton Pie and tasted it beside the Lorne Sausage, we were in HEAVEN! As the food was coming out, we sorted out the arrangements for the day with Madeline, so tables are done, linens selected, buffet discussed, wines discussed... We were in a state of shock at the end of the evening it was so good! They certainly know their stuff and how to arrange a great day!
17 Feb: Just read in the paper today of the death of a real gentleman, Iain Ruaraidh MacNeil, The MacNeil of Barra. I knew him quite well, from his card playing skills with his lovely lady of a wife, Nancy, who also has a way of throttling you at Whist that you don't mind at all. What a gentleman he was, and you can see from the Wiki entry, a true scholar. The world is sadder now, but the 46th Chief of Clan Neil is a nice guy too...
13 Feb: Just back from Cafe Oz, where the spectre of an approaching beer hangover was squashed into submission. Laundry on and feeling fine! Last night was out for John's Almost Forty birthday celebrations which were in Smithy's Wine Bar - such a nice change from the usual haunts! It was good to see a nice crowd and we all had a good laugh. Freezing cold outside of course! This weekend not doing much at all as last week was very busy. Had a nice night out at the theatre with Hudson on Tuesday to see the Bette Bourne conversation piece which was very good. How inspiring he is. We were both very good and well behaved as sitting in the row in front of us, in a very poor quality Regina Fong wig was none other than Fenella Fielding! How good she looks at 82! It was only once safely away from the theatre that we could let rip, and a theatrical "Frying Tonight" came out - naughty! Work has been busy, getting ready for last minute trips to Ireland and my ten days in Riga, Latvia from 07 March. Marie and Caroline in Glasgow seem to have put things together for the Stag Night at the end of March, so that should be a night to remember!
06 Feb: Naughty, naughty, naughty. So much time since I last wrote this Diary! Very busy at work, lots of challenges coming up this year and the home life is going fine. Anthony and I have decided to go to Toronto in September for a few days and will add a few days with the Newlyweds in Philadelphia before then. We had a Burns Supper In The Afternoon for Anthony's work colleagues which went very well. So well that the guests who arrived at 1pm were still sitting and laughing and chatting at 11:45pm! What a nice day and I held my tongue as I promised! Things are moving forward, and sixteen weeks today I shall be walking up the aisle. Some music has been chosen, fun stuff mainly but I would like to have some Respighi (listening to La Fuga in Eggitto right now...) as well but we shall see how that all goes! Met up with TimC for lunch yesterday which was really fun and we had a good laugh in Liverpool St Station. Next week we have a get-together for John's Almost Forty on Friday night which should be a good laugh. Thankfully we are not starting off too early! Sadly this week, my favourite cousin Mandi was diagnosed with leukaemia and is in hospital getting treatment. Such a lovely, fun, loving person and at twenty has her whole life ahead of her, so she needs support!
19 Jan: What a time it has been! I am really far behind in writing this so pease excuse the cheats in the Philly stories below! This weekend we had Ellen and Steve's wedding party in West London. They got married in Jamaica on New Year's Eve which is very romantic. The party was great fun and there were lots of old BFT-ers there to make the night pass all too quickly. Naturally we missed the last tube so it was a case of a fast Black Cab around the North Circular and home. Sunday was very exciting as Mary Burns and Noreen Kent were in London for a few days so I offered myself as tour guide. That was lovely and ages since I had done that. We started off at Houses of Parliament, then up Whitehall past Downing Street and into Trafalgar Square before tea in Lower Regent Street, a bus along Piccadilly to Victoria and a look at Buckingham Palace and a wander through St James' Park to see the huge pelicans! Later in the day Anthony joined us for dinner in St Pancras Grand which was as lovely as I remember it. Sunday of this week, Anthony is cooking his first ever Burns Supper, but during the day. Photos of any and all disasters will be published here! I am sure he will be fine. Which brings me right to date, with the missing element which was a trip to Islington Council to give Notice of our event in May. Very serious indeed!

Pics of the Great Wedding Day in Philly are here The day started off well, with me not having a hangover but Anthony having one large enough for a rugby supporters group. So it was off to an old fashioned diner for breakfast which I enjoyed but not too sure about him! It is only a real American Diner if the waitress is chewing gum, approaching 60 and has far too tight skirt on. All three elemets were ticked in my book! Eggs, bacon and pancakes with as much coffee as you could face! We then braved the underground which is fast and in need of some love and attention, but it got us where we wanted which is fine! This gave us time to do some small shopping, getting some Union Suit reds for back home where we understood it was still snowing and cold! What a winter it has been and not a single sack of rock salt to be had anywhere in the UK. The walk to our Tesco is like bing on a lumpy ice-rink, so you take most of your life in your hands to go for goodies! End of moan and back to Philly adventures! Back to hotel in time to get changed for the wedding at 4pm - kilts take such a long time to get on! Outside the venue I acted as a mascot for the day, with unsure guests guessing that where I was standing was the venue! How right they were. The ceremony was lovely, Sandra looked wonderful, Gazo looked so happy. The rest of the evening consisted of photography, eating, drinking and dancing - what more could you ask for? A totally wonderful day and well worth the nightmare journey to be a part of such happiness.

George and Anthony looking good,

...but dwarfed by the fireplace!

Pics of Day One in Philly are here After an interminable queue, search and more search we traveled not on the 11:20 flight to Philly but on the 16:00 - yes it took that long to get through the heightened security! Once we were airborne we could relax, and in style as we had been bumped up to Business Class which was rather nice. Sandra and Gazo met us at the airport and drove us to our hotel and I was more than glad to have an early night. First day in Philly meant walking through deep snow and doing a bit of shopping before gate crashing the Bridal Home where there was a houseful of guests and after a while we arranged to meet Gazo in a lovely restaurant for late lunch. We were joined later by some of the other UK guests which then meant we had to decant to the Irish bar next door! Alarm! Alarm! There was a holdup in the bank next to the Irish bar which had gone wrong - the robbers raided the armoured car only to discover they could not drive a stick shift vehicle so abandoned it! Later, and well oiled, we joined the dinner party for about 25 guests which was lovely. Such a laugh. Sandra and Gazo were perfect hosts in the restaurant and again all too soon time for bed.

Notice the veg with the duck!!

04 Jan: Quiet start to the weekend as we suffered in almost silence from the effects of Hogmanay, then were invaded by kiddies on Saturday which was really nice as we went out for dinner with Pam and Talya and laughed so much it HURT. Lawrie had brought along his children but Alex was not able to join us which is a shame. Sunday tidied up, put the decorations and tree away and Anthony created the plushie heaven that is the North Wing as you can see.

Click Image for more!

A late breakfast and then headed to Adam's Club Birthday Party which was great fun. We met up with Dean the old neighbour who was back from HK for the holidays, had a laugh with Adam and met up with some old faces in the club. Nice to see them all again! Home hammered and a chinese take-away and bed! Phew! Only a few days to go before we head off to Philly, and I am really looking forward to that. Today the fruits of our invitation writing were posted, and I feel really good about that. Shame there are a couple which cannot be delivered on my side, but I know they will both be with me on the day!

02 Jan: Did absolutely nothing at all yesterday except watch crap tv and watch the end of Dr Who which was fab, twisted and fun. Cannot even remember what we did as it was so relaxing and just let the dishes pile up. Suffered from that today though as I had a mountain of plates, cups and pots to wash which are all done. Later today we are having a dining out experience with my soon-to-be in-laws which should be fun as Alex is well enough to travel from Earls Court and it will be good to see her again. As the week is only short for me, flying off to Philly as I am on Thursday, there is a lot to do! Niamh is out in the garden, trying her best to stalk the fat squirrel, but failing miserably as you can see below.

 

Bliadhna Mhath Ur!