Battered and Deep Fried…
Saturday
Up early and packed we headed down to the train station for our four hour journey up to the frozen wiles of the North.
The journey passed by relatively quickly, and before I knew it I had my first sight of Scotland since I can rememer (apparently I was last there when 1, and there’s a photo of me eating ice cream to prove it, I remain sceptical.)
We booked into our b&b (though we were initially shown to the wrong room, which only became evident when we noticed someone elses backpack and trainers in there!) after a short walk from waverly and went to meet alsion on Princes street, which simultaneously offered me my first sight of the castle - impressive!
We met and went for a quick pint in one of the pubs around there - everywhere sells Duechar’s IPA - which is ace! - and then we headed out for food.
From food we went to watch a band, containing one of Alsions orchestral mates who was also having his birthday. They were decent, and very very loud so we decided to leave after their set to try and find somewhere where we could talk and drink.
After a fair amount of heckling from a fella who seemed to have the impression that I was dating both of the girls I was out with, we decided on some food in a basket. I had a fine fish n chips, and then we headed out of the centre and towards alsion’s place… stopping at another pub on the way.
Alsion’s house cats didn’t make me feel too bad, but we were only there briefly. We met the sleepy people on the sofa and had a tour around the flat… seems like a nice place! … It wasn’t long til we were back out in a bar though - this time a slightly more expensive effort on the way back in to town. We found a precotious talent for word up between us - before we lost all our money on the other quiz games in the machine!
back to the centre to check out another band we were informed by the bouncer (as we were descending) that they weren’t actually playing. We decided to head home after a fine night out (it was about 1am) and having seen the taxi queue, Sarah and I decided to start by walking it.
By the time we had arrived at Waverley we pretty much decided that we were going to walk the whole way, but not without sustenance - so we joined the local take-aways queue… Quickly becoming our turn and not yet decided we carried on discussing, only to be barked at by our Scottish host - so we ordered on the spur - me a cheeseburger, Sarah curry and chips…
both were interesting.
The cheeseburger arrived deep fried and battered in a bun with ketchup… and tasted fantastic!
The curry on the chips was one of hottest I’ve ever had of it’s type, also very nice.
Arriving back late to the b&b we went straight to bed.
Sunday
Was a bit hungover, but the scottish breakfast (read : English breakfast with potato pancake, but no beans) hit the spot nicely. Sarah had beans on toast, so I nicked some.
Checked out and headed into town. Went to a food court for a bit of wake up juice (tea!) and a doughnut which I thoroughly failed to eat without licking my lips.
Comedy club followed. The guys were merely ok, but I also had a beer, Irn-bru (EVERYONE drinks irn-bru in edinburgh) and a big chilli which served to act as a brilliant way to spend early afternoon on a Sunday… the comedy was free too!
By then it had started to rain a little bit but we decided it’d be an idea to check out some more of the city and went up the royal mile, including seeing the “Heart of Midlothian” which we declined to spit on.
Several rug shops and touristy shops followed before we decided to sample another local hostelry and play a bit more on a quizzer, before running our own quiz which I failed to win on the question (alsion asking;) “What colour socks am I wearing?”.
Answering Black and Pick, the answer turned out to be simply “Black”. D’oh!
Still Alsion then failed to avoid coming last by getting her last question “Where are the toilets in here?” wrong. ah well.
Another wandering occurred and I found a place that sells sherbet strawberries, and then it was time for home.
4 more hours on the train and then a taxi back for around an 11pm arrival.
Great weekend!
Monday
Back home for some work and finally getting loads of things re-installed on to my computer.
Tuesday
More work, and into the office for my demonstrating - then out to watch “Children of Men” at the AMC with the missus, very good film (5/5) recommended.
Wednesday
Work then mini-roast around Sarah’s
Thursday
Work Work Work, then stayed in to watch Sneakers… which is a film I’ve had for ages. Staying in lots at the moment - but then this weekend should be fun.
Friday
today!
