Convention Centre

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

Washington #1

The breakfast in Ramsay Plan Food at Heathrow terminal 5 was very good. Not large, just one sausage, a couple of rashers of bacon, half a tomato and a few slices of mushrooom, but it was well cooked and immensely flavoursome.

Food on the plane was average, and the leg room and elbow room was limited, but livable. The entertainment system is digital - not games, but a big choice of videos and TV shows, all of which start when you want to watch them, so you don't miss the beginning if you join "late". I watched Control (film about the life of Ian Curtis, lead singer with Joy Division) and then saw an episode of Mitchell and Webb show. Both were interesting, for very different reasons. Ian Curtis's story was rather sad; M&W was funny (Robert Webb won the Red Nose Dancing program, remember?). I finished my book (David Peace, Red Riding 1974) just as we landed. Good timing!

We got a pre-booked car from the airport to the hotel. The photo shows Juggie leering from the back window!

The hotel is nice. I have a nice river view plus two double beds and an enormous bathroom - see the other photos.

We're not very close to central Washington. Apparently, the convention centre and neighbourhood were built recently on reclaimed land on the side of the Potomac river. It's a funny area: just rthe convention centre, hotels, touristy shops, and restaurants. No sense of community here. Anyway, it's nice and clean and new, and the sun is very bright - though not quite as warm as the brightness would suggest.

Washington

I arrived in Washington yesterday, had dinner with Steve M, Steve O'D, Juggie and Jag. Nice breakfast this morning, and I've now registered for the conference and found a wi-fi area.

Monday morning again

Just leaving Leigh Delamere. Heading to Severn bridge and payment of £5.40. Yes, you have to pay to get into Wales along this route. But there's no charge when you leave :)

Having paid £4.50 for coffee and cake, I shall be £10 down before I even get to the office!

Sorry to see J was ill last night. I hope you're feeling better this morning

Mussel Chowder with Safron

The SAS boys are largely finished and so there are none staying here this week. Plus, Richard (my B&B companion) finished last week, so I'm all on my own! Well, not quite because Richard's replacement is somebody I know - I used to work with Ellen at Barclays. She's staying at a different B&B, so not a regular companion, but we had dinner together Monday evening. Tredegar Arms; I had sausage & mash, which arrived with nothing else but sausage and mash, not even a tomato garnish; disappointing. Ellen had Hunters Chicken (chicken with a rich gravy and covered in cheese); it looked greasy and horrid but she politely said she enjoyed it.

Last night I took myself and my laptop to the nearest pub (Rhiwderin Arms) and had a nice steak & ale pie with peas and new potatoes. And made a start on my book.

Tonight I'm at the Ruperra Arms. Nice atmosphere - quiet music Simply Red followed by Rod Stewart Sings Songs From The American Songbook. Food has been lovely: mussel chowder with safron to begin, then braised ox cheek with herb mash (very nice rich gravy, but cheek was a little lacking in taste). I'm using an unsecured wi-fi connection. I don't know who it belongs to (maybe a neighbour!)

I'm looking forward to being home tomorrow evening (yes, Thursday). And looking forward to duck :) Weekends so far have disappeared too fast. It'll be nice to gain the extra day.

Monday morning

Up at 5.10, out of the house at 5.50. Not bad

Having brekkie at membury services for a change.

Have left my office pass in my old bag. damn

Richard's last night

Busy day today. Met Andrea and Dave at office at 7:30 (no brekkie), Andrea drove us (3 hours) to office in Titchfield near Southampton), attended five 1 hour meetings back-to-back, then Andrea drove us back to office (another 3 hours), then I drove back to farm, changed cloth, picked-up Richard and drove to Cardiff for dinner.

It's Richard's last day tomorrow. He arrived at Pentre Tai / office one week after me. He was due to stay until end of March but grandma is v unwell and has no other close family.

So we all (incl. SAS boys) went to Italian pace (Bellini's) in Cariff Bay. I had Caprese for starters (mozarella and tomatoes) followed by steak. It was nice. Sorry to see Richard go, but sadder about the reasons. R's glad to leave Pentre Tai - his bog;s been busted for the last couple of days, and George hasn't been able to fix it :(

It was nice to hear that Hobbit was good, and prize for costume. I'm hoping to leave office earlier than in previous weeks tomorrow...

Early start

I'm already at the office this morning! Andrea (ONS), Dave (SAS) and I are going to ONS in Titchfield, near Southampton. Andrea's driving, so I might get some extra sleep along the way

We went to Spice Merchant in Cardiff Bay last night. Very tasty, if slow. I had tandoori trout to start, and duck main course. Very filling.

Richard (contractor) is leaving ONS and Pentre Tainted tomorrow (his Nan's unwell), so we'll go somewhere of his choice this evening.

Quiz night at Tredegar

Like last Tuesday, we went to Tredegar Arms tonight. Reasonably priced but nicely cooked food, and decent beer too.

We'd forgotten it was quiz night. Last week we passd-up the chance to enter, but informally answered the questions and thought we'd done well. This week we put our money in the tin and entered the "arena". Sadly, despite having the largest team (7 people) we could only manage 5th out of 10 teams. We were joint leaders after round one (theme for the round was food), but couldn't sustain the pace thereafter.

Bah! Perhaps next week

My fish cakes were nice :)

Monday evening

If it's Monday it has to be Friendly Fox - 2 meals for £7.99. Or, in my case tonight, £2.99 for chef's curry, i.e. yesterday's carvery chopped-up and with curry sauce added. It filled a spot. Richard had steak & ale pie, looked nice

Monday arrival

Quite a pleasant journey. Just arrived. The sun's shining nicely. Looks like a lovely day

Monday morning

Brrrr, it's chilly this morning.

I fumbled the alarm this morning and didn't get up 'til 4:55. Managed to leave the house at 5:30.

Traffic's been light, but the low, bright sun has been in my rear-view mirror for the last half hour. Changing lanes is tricky.

Now stopped at Leigh Delamere for brekkie (trade english today, couldn't resist!)