Birthdays and Recognition

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...

The Crown at Celtic Manor

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

TC@CM Photo - Decor

J28 Pictures

Junction 28

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?