Madeira

To Madeira for a week 18-25 June. As BA flight left early from Gatwick we stayed at the Gatwick Hilton, where joy-of-joys we were upgraded to the exective floor. Free drinks and snacks in the evening and free breakfast in the executive room next morning.

First sight of Madeira was of its mountains rising above cloud cover as the plane descended. 

We stayed in Funchal at the Vida Mar Hotel on a fully inclusive basis.

Rooms were large with a seating area, balcony and full sea view. We were on the 8th floor.
 

View from balcony, restaurant at left

 Included house wines were Fonseca JMF.

We had red with dinner and white with lunch.

Lunch was at the sea-level restaurant. There were also a sushi, Italian and Madeira restaurant we could dine at.

We went to the Madeira restaurant on Thursday when they had folk singing and dancing. We ate espetata, chicken skewers cooked over charcoal.

A visit to Blandy's Madeira Lodge, a 30 minute walk from the hotel, was a must. We took two guided tours each followed by a tasting.

L>R - Rainwater (3yo), Verdelho (5yo) Malmsey (2010 vintage)

Barrels aging in heat of roof space

Me with a large barrel of 1948 Bual.

Old Satinwood vats

Near Blandy's is this castle by the sea

The Madeira flag

We took a trip around the island which stopped at the second highest cliff in the world with a glass bottomed viewing platform jutting out at the top.

Beautiful island, lovely wines, wecoming people, a super holiday.

Shame Thameslink cancelled all trains northbound from Gatwick after 21.40 so we had to get a taxi when we arrived home.

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Toby Runs St Albans Half Marathon

To Verulamium Park to see Toby sprint to the finish line of the annual St Albans Half-Marathon. 

Toby cools down with his finisher's icelolly.

The 2018 finisher's medal.

Seeing St Albans with Eleanor

Taking Eleanor Cosman on a walking tour of St Albans, we stopped for lunch at Britain's oldest pub.

Joan and Peter at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - Picture by Eleanor Cosman

Seven Sisters and Seaford

After checking out of Cavendish Hotel we headed west to the Seven Sisters Country Park. It was overcast , windy and cool. 

After reaching the beach we tried to follow the footpath back but issed a turning and took a much longer route, but the sun came out and it grew pleasantly warm.
 

The Seven Sisters

Lunch in park cafe, then a quick visit to Seaford before heading home. 

Seaford Martello Tower

 

Inside Seaford Martello Tower

Eastbourne Weekend

Arrived Friday evening, 18 May, staying in The Cavendish Hotel.
 

View of Wish Tower from room balcony

Saturday 19th walking and sightseeing in Eastbourne.

The Redoubt, one of only three huge circular gun platforms with 23 cannons as part of defences aginst Napoleon, was built in such a rush that no magazine to store gunpowder was planned.

Insie The Rodoubt

Redoubt's Dry Moat

Other end of beach is a Martello Tower (the Wish Tower) that would have mounted one cannon.

Wish Tower

Had a terrific lunch with home cooked food and good wine at Crown and Anchor pub. 

It was Royal Wedding day, Harry and Meghan so lots of bunting was about, and then more exploring.

End of beach, looking towards Seven Sisters cliffs.
 

Great Italian dinner and super wine at Rosetto Cafe Restaurant, and back in room watched end of a tribute band act on the bandstand below our balcony.

 

Business Needs Education

 

Today I broke my last IBM Education Services mug. This has the ES slogan  Business Needs Education, which I coined and proposed.

IBM gave me a small award for it. I was much cheaper than using a branding consultant :)

The slogan was on everything including course notes, pens, note pads and mugs. This one fell from its shelf and smashed one side in.

Gaucho and Criterion with Dan and Krisie

 Dan and Krisie stayed for a long weekend. On Sunday Dan showed the sights of London to Krisie. It was her first time in London and she'd never been on an escalator or tube train before. 

We met at Piccadilly Circus for an early dinner at Gaucho's in Swallow Street before seeing The Comedy about a Bank Robbery at the Criterion theatre, Dan had booked second row stall seats so we had an excellent view.

Tempted at Gaucho's  by laden plates of  Sunday Lunch topped by a huge Yorkshire Pudding still being served past 17:00 we all chose:

ROASTED SIRLOIN OF BEEF
The Gaucho Roast is served with roasted potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding cooked in beef dripping.  Accompanied by carrots tossed in churrasco marinade and broccoli. Served with a red wine gravy

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