And ...

09:00
Q: Did the flooring fitter come?
A: No.

09:30: He's arrived!

11:10 - Oh dear! He thought the floor was dry, so I made him take up the damp-proof membrane & it was wet underneath! Damn!

More Moving ...

Looks like I may have survived the office move - we'll see.

Spent Sunday emptying the dining room at home. There's a problem with the laminate floor that we laid about 5 years ago and it's being replaced.


The picture indicates some of the stuff we had to move (the cupboards as well as the contents) + dining table & chairs, guitars, etc., etc. Took most of the day. It has motivated me to try to sell the 'portable' harmonium (that used to belong to Redditch Salvation Army) on eBay: should be intereating, at least.

Of course, al the upheaval has disturbed the cat - who's getting a bit old for sudden changes, I think. Oh well, she'll probably forgive me in time...

Office Move

The Department's move back to Muirhead Tower went quite smoothly, really. Lots of minor issues of course, lost boxes, won filing cabinets, etc. Largest irritation was the fact that (apparently) no key existed for my office -- in fact, my office didn't exist! While this, clearly, has some potential advantages, it's a bit problematic in terms of access and security. Eventually, they realised that the corridor outside my office has a room number (but no lockable doors) that had been confused with mine. What fun!

Work on the book proceeds, with my colleague Liz doing wonderful things!

Taste of Birmingham

The Taste festival has been on again this weekend, lots of restaurants demonstrating, etc. Had decided not to go, but then won free tickets, so sat in the VIP enclosure downing gallons of free gin and watching the world go by. There are worse ways of spending an afternoon!

ESTA

Because we're travelling to the US in September, I thought I'd better check the visa waiver position, since there have been some changes this year. The nasty green forms that one used to have to complete on the plane have been replaced with Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) - which (of course) has to be completed on-line. I was looking at some very official appearing websites for this which were charging somewhere between £8 and £20 (non-refundable, no matter what the outcome) which were top of the list in the Google search. Luckily, I also looked at the US Homeland Security website where -- what do you know -- you can complete the form for free! I suppose this means we all have to be more careful about Google-sponsored sites?

For me, the on-line completion is excellent, but there are still lots of people in the UK who don't have easy access to the Internet -- they're getting more excluded, I guess ...

Lift (elevator) instructions

I'm shortly moving back into the office tower we vacated 2 years ago that has now been renovated. I thought I'd like to share the new lift instructions with you (readers in the US please substitute 'elevator' for 'lift').

THE LIFTS AT MUIRHEAD TOWER

Welcome to Muirhead Tower. The four lifts in the central core are equipped with the latest technology Destination Control System. This system may be unfamiliar to some intending lift passengers. However, it is simple to operate, providing the following key steps are undertaken.

• When entering one of the central lift lobbies move to a lift Destination Operating Panel (DOP). There are two at each lobby (one of those at the G floor is located just outside the lobby entrance on the wall opposite the reception desk).

• Register your required destination floor in the DOP by means of the numerical buttons or specific alphabetic buttons for LG, G and M floors. For floors above level 9 it will be necessary to press two numerical buttons i.e. 1 and then 2, for the 12th floor.

• It is important that each intending lift passenger enters their required destination floor into a DOP. Do not simply enter a lift without registering your destination because you are following other people you know may be going to your floor. The lift system needs to know how many passengers require transportation to a floor such that it can perform efficiently.

• The DOP display screen will now indicate the floor you have selected followed by the lift (A, B, C or D), which will take you to your selected floor.

• Each lift has an identifier indicator located above the lift entrance within the lobby. Move towards your assigned lift and await its arrival.

• When the lift arrives the identifier indicator will illuminate and an audible chime will sound.

• Upon entering the lift there are two display screens within each of the two car operating panels, one of which indicate the position of the lift and direction of travel and the other indicates the next stops at floors that the lift will make. Your required floor will be shown on that display. It is not necessary for you to register any further call information, indeed there is no means for you to do so.

• The lift will now travel to your required floor, but please note that it may stop at other floors on the way for other passengers, so please look at one of the position indicator displays to ensure that you exit at your correct destination.

• You will note that within the car operating panels buttons are provided for the lift alarm, open door and close door functions. These operate in the same manner as for all lifts. The alarm button will initiate voice communication with a 24 hour manned rescue service should there be a situation requiring this.

• In the event of a power failure occurring in the building, the lifts incorporate a feature that will automatically drive them to a floor at reduced speed, should they stop between floors. This will take 20-30 seconds to initiate and passengers should not attempt to leave a lift until it reaches a floor and opens the doors.

• If there is a fire alarm within the building the lifts will automatically return to a main floor without responding to further destination calls. Once the lift has reached the floor and opened the doors passengers should exit the building by the nearest fire escape exit and not re-enter until directed to do so by University staff.

Gourmand Week (2)

The highpoint of this week was yesterday's visit to Cheltenham. We had lunch in the Blanc Brasserie (what Petit Blanc became when it was partly financed by Loch Fyne restaurants) which was more than OK. The main reason however, was to visit Le Champignon Sauvage a Michelin 2-star run by David Everitt-Matthias and his wife, Helen.

I had: Cured pigeon breast, pigeon rillettes and tartare with fig compote, followed by Gloucester Old Spot pork (belly & cheek) with home made macaroni and wilted hogweed, followed by cheese.

Ali had: Dexter beef cooked 2 ways, then Cinderford lamb with its gayette, lentils braised with morteau sausage, then warm prune cake, pressed apples and wild cherry stone ice cream.

There were the usual extra, cheese savouries, canapes, pre-dessert (a pre-cheese[!] for me) and petits fours with the coffee. A great wine list too, with lots of half-bottles (not something we see enough of in the UK).

Overall, a fantastic experience (that actually cost a lot less than I expected!).

Gourmand Week (1)

We'd usually be away on holiday this week, but other committments mean we're not (I'll be SO glad when that book is finished!).

So, we're eating out a lot instead - as well as doing some interesting cooking.

Saturday, we went to Liaison: wild mushroom velouté, lamb done 2 ways, duck (confit & breast) and some nice cheese.

Sunday, I cooked scallops with a broad bean & pea salad and pheasant with a wine sauce, peas and garlic potatoes.

Tuesday (in Wales) visited a gastropub - The Lime Kiln - near Oswestry. Had a decent steak (lots of the food was obviously frozen though).

More to come ...