Andy's Web Log

Blog Transfer

2011-01-22T14:53:00.002+00:00

I just transferred my blog from one Google account ID to another. I'm trying to consolidate all my stuff under xandy@ytheratcliffes.znet and move it away from aandrew@bratcliffe.co.uk. With Blogger it seems straightforward because you can have many administrators, so I've got the old and new accounts as administrators. But you can only have one owner of a Feedburner feed, so I clicked the "transfer" button and chose the new owner's ID and then the new owner responded to the resulting email message and accepted the transfer.

So, here's the post from the new owner. Let's see if the feed sends it properly :)

Details:

1) I had to go to Feedburner settings and change the "from email address" setting.
2) The picture slideshow, photos within blog posts, Odiogo & Snapshot are still attached to my old ID

Little Venice - from waterside cafe

2010-08-05T13:01:00.000+01:00

Sent from my HTC

Citrus & water - Nice!

2010-08-04T08:42:00.001+01:00

Sent from my HTC

Two for the price of one - almost

2010-05-25T21:10:00.001+01:00

Quite a good day today. The air conditioning got fixed at work, and I got praise from fairly big boss and from big boss :)

Yesterday I said I'd spend this evening at either the Goose and Cuckoo or The Newbridge. Well, I went to the Goose and Cuckoo and it was shut, so I'm now at The Newbridge!

The Goose and Cuckoo sounded attractive because it gets a good write-up on the CAMRA web site, and its own web site lists awards, and its in the countryside so ideal for a summer's evening. All of those things are doubtless true, but it's also true to tell that it doesn't open until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I got there at 6:15pm. 45 minutes was too long to wait. There was no mobile phone reception, so couldn't even make productive use of waiting.

I'll revisit on another day though. It looks nice and it's got gorgeous views. I've included two photos: the front - with closed sign on the gate - and the back - with views to distant hills. Click to enlarge. The phone's camera takes decent pictures, I think.

So I drove south west towards Chris Evans' Welsh investment in the village of Tredunnock on the river Usk.

But before I got there I saw the sweetest little ponies and foal in a field along the roadside. I had to stop and take some piccies for the horse-lover in the family - plus for my own benefit too.

The foal was laying down and completely motionless. I'll confess that it did cross my mind that it might be dead. However, to my relief, it briefly flicked a leg, lifted its neck and had a look around, and then flopped its head back down again and went back to sleep. Must be a tough life it's living! The mother stood over it in a motherly fashion throughout.

I presume they're Shetlands. They're the right height, but less plump than I associate with Shetlands.

Anyway, there was a white one on its own and it quietly wandered over to see what I was doing. It was surprisingly timid, so it didn't get close enough for me to touch.

I was parked in a dodgy place on a main road so I decided to move on and finish my journey.

The Newbridge Inn is in a beautiful location. On a bend on the river Usk with a beautiful old stone bridge and with views over surrounding countryside and hills. The location alone must be worth hundreds of thousands!

And Chris (I assume that we'd be on first name terms if I ever met him) must have spent several more hundreds of thousands on doing-up the place and building a separate block for accommodation. It's a very impressive place upon arrival.

But, and you knew I was leading to a but, I wasn't 100% convinced of the quality of the cooking and the value on my previous visit. Today's visit has confirmed that it's over-priced for the quality of cooking that it offers - despite the location and view.

I had pilchards wrapped in parma ham, followed by welsh lamb with gnocci, then cheese board. It's not very often that I describe a restaurant is poor value, but £9.50 for a cheeseboard with three measly bits of cheese on it is too much, even though it also had millions of crackers plus celery, chutney and grapes. The choice of cheeses was more than 50% French; my lamb was not pink; and the wi-fi is too weak and I have resorted to using my mobile phone for an internet connection (good signal sat by the window).

Alright, I'll stop grumbling, but I don't see me re-visiting. Sadly, not recommended. C'mon Chris, you can do better.

Good luck in the Chinbrook tomorrow J. I hope Mum's pasta stuff-up does the trick ;

Sunny Week

2010-05-24T23:06:00.000+01:00

Lovely weather today. Nice journey to Newport, albeit with dreadfully heavy traffic on the M25.

Air conditioning has failed in the office so it's enormously stuffy and very hot - the windows don't open. It failed on Friday. Today we were issued with USB-powered fans. Clever! Saves any health & safety issues over untested electrical equipment and wires trailing over the floor. Due to be fixed by Wednesday. I'll believe that when I see it!

I did my usual Monday evening trip to Tredegar Arms this evening (photo from car park). Bumped into Kev - fellow contractor at ONS. We had a nice chat. He's a Geordie, so we slightly struggle to understand each other :)

Tomorrow is blog night, and Wednesday some of us are playing boule at the Wheatsheaf.

I think I'll try to find somewhere new tomorrow evening. Up in the hills, but with wi-fi or good mobile phone reception! Maybe the Goose & Cuckoo, else I may play safe and go to the Newbridge Inn (I knowfor sure they've got wi-fi).

I've not played boules before. We've been to the Wheatsheaf a few times over the winter. They have a fortnightly pub quiz and we've actually won it one and cam second or third on another occasion. Boule should be interesting. I'll try to get some photos.

Old favourite

2010-05-19T19:06:00.005+01:00

Back to one of my favourite haunts tonight - The Hollybush. I'm hoping to knock-out a more solid blog entry for next week's NoteColon. Assisting me with this task will be a lamb chop & garlic mash.

[Later]

OMG the bar just got full with 30 muddy cyclists all looking smart (in a muddy and sweaty kind of way) in their club shirts: Machen Miggly Moos. I love the Injured in Action page on their web site!

The Hollybush is a popular stopping-off point for ramblers, and I've seen squads of cyclists in here too, but never 30 in one go.

They've all got their pints and gone back outside. Must be nice cycling the welsh hills at this time of year (if only they weren't so steep!).

The lamb chop (actually three - the menu's underselling the product) was very nice. Big plate.

Right, now I focus on my NoteColon article...

Dinner en train

2010-05-18T18:51:00.003+01:00

The carriage room

Dinner at Junction 28 tonight and an attempt to get back on my old schedule for NoteColon.info blog writing on Tuesdays. I'm in the old carriage - the restaurant used to be a railway station.

I'm having cauliflower & cheese soup, followed by brill with a king prawn wanton.

[Later]

It was very nice, and I followed it with cheese.

More importantly, I caught-up with a lot of emails and managed to squeeze-out a small blog article for next week.

Sunny evening

2010-05-17T20:46:00.001+01:00

I've been very busy lately and haven't had time (or inclination) to write either of my blogs. I've managed to trim stuff back now and so I managed to get some NoteColon stuff done last week.

It was really rather nice driving to Wales this morning; the early morning sun was lovely. And it's the same this evening. So did I go to a nice, riverside pub for dinner? No, actually I went to Morrisons cafe!! When I spoke to J earlier in the evening I was planning to do what's become a regular Monday evening thing and go the Tredegar Arms. Having realised I was getting predictable I decided to go somewhere different. I'm not really sure why I chose M's cafe. It was okay. I had fish and chips.

When I got back to George's I found a sheep tied-up in the field with her youngster in tow (not tied-up, but assumed not to wander to far from mother). But soon the youngster was exploring my car (parked in same field) and then further still. George has no put ma and bearn into the barn for the night.

More blogging tomorrow. I'm trying to get back to my regular weekly schedule of fencing on Monday and blogging on Tuesday.

Lots to Do

2010-03-25T21:25:00.011+00:00

It's a busy week. I've done my hours for the week (and some) already. And I have a 7am meeting tomorrow to keep things rolling. Next week won't be any better. I have a two-day evaluation meeting on Monday/Tuesday with folks from London and Southampton. It'll be very intense and I'll have work to do between times.

I'm in Junction 28. I think I was somewhat unfair in my original comments on J28.It is a bit of a throwback to the 70s, but the food is very thoughtfully cooked & of good quality, and the staff are well-trained. They have a private dining room; I'm bringing my evaluation team here on Monday evening so that we can make the most of the two days, i.e. a working dinner (getting best value for taxpayers!).

Sue & George (landlord)'s son Richard works here on occasions. He's just got a good job in London, starting September. He's heading off on a world tour on Easter Sunday, making the most of his time between now and September. Lucky devil!

It's a very big place, though it doesn't feel big because it's divided into separate dining rooms. Despite its size and the financial squeeze, it's very well used - reflecting the quality and value-for-money.

I left work after 9pm last night, so dinner was a pint and a packet of crisps (cheese & onion) in the Tredegar Arms :(

Tonight, in J28, I had creamy seafood risotto starter (nicely sized, not too big) followed by baked trout with baked sweet potato. All very nice, but potato was more than I could comfortably eat. I finished with Tiramisu with a dousing of coffee - very nice indeed.

I actually attended fencing on Monday - my first appearance in perhaps 2 months. I enjoyed it and wasn't as knackered as I might have expected, although my legs felt a bit tight for the next day or so. I didn't fence very well, but what can you expect after a 2 month lay-off.

Off to bed now...

Spring has sprung

2010-03-16T06:24:00.001+00:00

we've got campers in the field. Mad fools!

-Andy (sent from my Windows Mobile device)

Last minute tactics

2010-03-15T21:10:00.000+00:00

Check the score. Eltham have 40 and Elf is about to take the last leg

-Andy (sent from my Windows Mobile device)

Fencer of the week

2010-03-15T21:08:00.000+00:00

-Andy (sent from my Windows Mobile device)

Disaster!

2010-03-15T20:38:00.000+00:00

Argh. I forgot to pack my pyjamas. I hope there's no fire in the night!!

On the plus side, I'm in my room and unpacked in time to watch Raymond in his kitchen. Salmon and beetroot. Nice.

Oh, did you notice I skipped fencing tonight?! My excuse being that I needed to do a blog post for NOTE: and I have an early start tomorrow. I haven't been for weeks. I MUST go next week.

However, last Monday I saw film A Bit Of Tom Jones at the Arts Centre. Very funny. Made just down the road from Newport, on a very small budget, but getting a lot of news coverage. Well deserved. The film's director brought the can of film with him to the Arts Centre and spoke to us beforehand and explained the background, etc.

Medal picture

2010-03-15T20:08:00.000+00:00

Not sure if this may be too big for Blogger...

-Andy (sent from my Windows Mobile device)

Trevor's bought a new car

2010-03-15T20:04:00.000+00:00

I forgot to say, Trevor's bought a new car (well, new to him). It's a 54-reg blue MG TF (soft-top sports car). No doubt we'll get to see it soon. Stay tuned for pictures (but don't hold your breath coz he hasn't paid for it yet... it was a bit of an impulse buy methinks)

Back by popular demand

2010-03-15T20:02:00.002+00:00

Okay J & Flo, you better be reading this ;)

The weekend was an odd one. As I sit here in the Tredegar Arms and reflect, it doesn't seem like I was actually at home all weekend. However, any amount of driving and sitting around was worth the pleasure of seeing J and his team win silver. Elf was very focused, put all of his energy into it, and offered good leadership; J and Noisy backed him up in their own individual styles. They made a good team.

Flo was a star, sitting around patiently all weekend; taking a turn in the tuck shop to relieve her boredom. Tim awarded her Fencer of the Week, which pleased her greatly.

I hope J gets some good results this week at Crystal Palace. He deserves it and it'll be interesting to compare his results between foil and epee (and sabre!).

Prior to writing this post I just finished my NOTE: blog posts for tomorrow. It's great that I can schedule them to be automatically posted when it suits me; so I can write the posts when it suits me and then see them automatically published at the same time on the same day each week, so the audience know what to expect (and when to expect it). I'm pleased with the growing audience. I seem to have found a solid 150 subscribers and (with a few fluctuations) it's on an upward trend. 200 here I come! However, I've got some distance to go to match the 4,000 subscribers that I used to have for my email newsletter. And it was worth the effort because I got a number of contracts on the back of people knowing me. Indeed, I noticed a couple of weeks ago that there were a handful of folks at ONS who subscribed to my email newsletter (including Keith who interviewed me for my current project!).

I'm off to the ONS office in Titchfield (near Southampton) tomorrow. It's a 3 hour journey, so it'll be an early start (leaving Newport at 7am) and a late return. Paul Wharin's staying in Cardiff for a couple of nights (I used to work with him at MAFF and BT and Motorola) so I'm meeting him tomorrow night when I get back from Titchfield. It'll be a long day. Oh, and I need to text George to request brekkie at 6:30am. Hang on... there, done (although George is bound to deny all knowledge of the text in the morning anyway).

Well, time to leave Tredegar Arms and ... [ah, Sue just texted confirmation of early Brekkie (Sue's reliable, so my tea and toast are secured)] ... head back to B&B to unpack and pop into bed.

Bon nuit y'all

Birthdays and Recognition

2009-09-30T23:48:00.002+01:00

Not nice being unable to give J a hug on his 14th birthday today, nor F on her 10th last month. Not nice at all. I was rather downcast at work this morning. I hope J had a nice day. He sounded cheerful when I spoke with him this morning and this evening.

By this evening I was quite cheerful too because I'd received some noteworthy recognition of my SAS blog (www.NoteColon.info or NoteColon.blogspot.com) (the blog is named NOTE: for reasons understood only by SAS programmers)...

Chris Hemedinger is a senior manager in R&D at SAS and he's editor of the SASdummy blog - an official SAS blog (and he wrote the SAS for Dummies book). In his post today entitled "Other SAS Blogs of NOTE:", Chris wrote:

Hello Knowledge Thirsters,

Today I discovered that the NOTE: newsletter (pronounced /note colon/) has migrated to the blogosphere. I'm pleased and humbled to admit I've already learned a few things by reading it.

This site and others like Angela's SAS BI blog, the "SAS Tips" site, and the cacophony of voices on sasCommunity.org all contribute to the growing number of excellent resources from real-world SAS users.

And of course, you can always count on me here to provide an insular SAS perspective. I'm happy to be one voice in the chorus.

While I've seen a pleasingly increasing number of people reading my blog over the last few weeks, it's nice to get some recognition from SAS themselves. Unexpected, and appreciated all the more for it.

TC@CM Photo - Coffee and...

2009-09-02T20:35:00.004+01:00

The Crown at Celtic Manor

2009-09-02T20:35:00.003+01:00

Crap day. Will nobody make a constructive contribution that eases us to delivering this project? I'm looking for an evening that delivers some degree of comfort and sympathy. I try The Crown at Celtic Manor and it delivers in spades.

The Celtic Manor is Newport's top star hotel (and resort). Towering above the M4 like a smiling Colditz, it's unmissable for anybody travelling the South Wales autoroute. Home to the Ryder Cup 2010, its golf courses are a prime feature (but, at a reputed £200 per round, I've not sampled any of them).

The Crown at Whitebrook is Wales's only Michelin-starred restaurant (only 40 mins from Newport, but I've not been there). TC@CM is its junior sister, but a well-developed sister nonetheless.

CM is an impressive location with its huge underground car park, imposing reception area and wide range of eateries. TC@CM is modern in decor yet still welcoming (photo).

Imaginative canapes were enjoyed in a comfie archair in the lounge/bar area. At table, a tantalising amuse bouche began the proceedings. I had chosen the 4-course weekday (Tue-Thurs) menu at £28. It proved to offer value for money, running from the Confit Salmon, Horseradish and Cucumber Tagliatelle, through Chicken with Sweet Potato and Smoked Jus, then Goat's Cheese, Honey, Pickled Walnut and Green Apple (photo), finishing with Chocolate Fondant, Roast Pineapple and Coconut Ice Cream.

Service was attentive but not over-powering Coffee was accompanied by a fab selection of sweet items (photo).

All-in-all, my crap day is forgotten. Thank you TC@CM.

TC@CM Photo - Goats Cheese

2009-09-02T20:35:00.001+01:00

TC@CM Photo - Decor

2009-09-02T20:34:00.000+01:00

J28 Pictures

2009-05-07T08:48:00.000+01:00

Junction 28

2009-05-06T19:22:00.001+01:00

Dinner straight from work at Junction 28. Hidden round the back of Tredegar Arms and the church. An old (ex-) railway station. Thanks Dr Beeching. It's a well respected eatery.

Plenty of free parking this early evening, but I know the large car park gets full later in the evening. It's a large place, yet it still feels welcoming and intimate.

Sat in the whicker chair of the lounge, I relax and allow the atmosphere to waft over me... music, decor, staff attire... I'm in my childhood, enjoying a visit to an expensive restaurant.

Frank Sinatra croons, Richard Clayderman tinkles, The Carpenters harmonise. The waiters are for the most part men in white shirts, black waistcoat and trousers, slight midriff bulge, (fake?) italian accent, aged 30+. But, there's no prawn cocktail nor black forest gateau on the menu. It's a good, varied selection of meats and fish in European style.

I skip starters (still feeling quesy over the broken cam belt) and select monkfish with king prawns and basil ravioli. The combination of prawn, basil and pasta is very good, leaving the monkfish as a poor sibling. I skip desert and request a coffee. This is delivered with the offer of cream. The subsequent, unprompted offer to refill my cup is welcome.

It's cheaper before 7pm, but not by much - the prix fix menu is 16.50 instead of 19.50.

All-in-all a pleasantly relaxing end to the working day and start to the evening. A welcome trip back to my early teenage years. Now, have I saved enough for that Sinclair ZX81 yet?

Barry Island Last Week

2009-05-05T08:36:00.000+01:00

I went to Barry Island last week but forgot to post photos. It was a nice sunny evening. Nice beach and view over to England, but the place was shut!

-Andy
-------------------
Mob: 07714-719206
Sent from my Windows Mobile device

Convention Centre

2009-03-22T16:27:00.002+00:00

The hotel's just a few minutes walk from the convention centre. Actually it's a Resort Hotel and Convention Centre. I think it opened April 2008. It's very large. It has five or six floors, 2,000 rooms, and has an enormous atrium that's got shops and eateries. Very nice a light and airy. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-national/

Steve O'D and I have a speaker's briefing at 4pm and then Futrix forum at 5pm and then opening session at 6:30pm and then we'll find some dinner after that.

We're presenting our paper at 2pm on Tuesday, so I'd better find time to remind myself of the content beforehand.

My first paper is at 8am tomorrow morning. As usual, it's an early start.

Breakfast was nice this morning: Asparagus and cheese omelette.

I'm hoping you all have a good week. I hope fencing trip is good.

ttfn