The Pryordurkins

Posts Tagged ‘weather’

With the weather having turned very cold and snow being forecast I decided to get the train from York to Reading today, instead of driving, as has been the norm for the last two weeks. Paul dropped me off at York station just after 8am and with my train due at 8.27am I was pleased to see it being reported on the information boards, as on time. I had therefore had a little time to sit down in the Costa Coffee bar for a medium Americano. The lady serving, well girl, was on her own and a little underwhelming with her friendly personality and broad smile.

Anyway as indicated, the Cross Country train from Newcastle to Reading via York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Birmingham New Street, Leamington Spa, Banbury and Oxford was on time. I took my seat in carriage A. The carriage was clean and quite warm but the seats were a little more suited for short commuter rides than long distance inter city journeys. There was also not a great deal of luggage space and had the carriage being full this would have been a problem. As it was for most of the journey I had the carriage more or less to myself.

There was a power point for my laptop and each seat had either its own table or a shared table. Being the miserable sod I am, I always try and get a seat on my own. There is no free wireless access though and if I didn’t have my own mobile wireless network card, this would have been a big problem. As we pulled out of York I immediately noticed that this wasn’t going to be one of the quieter train rides I had. I am not saying it was noisy, but the rumbling that was immediately evident would no doubt start to annoy me after about an hour of my four hour journey that lay ahead.

The train offers up light snacks to keep you going and where I was sitting, complimentary drinks and Bacon Butty’s were a very welcome treat. The service from the young lady was attentive and regular. With a genuine warm smile on her face as she asked if you needed any more refreshments, I compared her with the cold hard faced witch that I so often came across on the National Express East Coast mainline train service.

The toilets were those that come with an electric door, which I hate. You never quite trust these things and I have seen a number of people suitably embarrassed because of the inadvertent opening that continues to be a high risk. As for their cleanliness, it left a little to be desired and I will even more fervently follow the rule of no number twos in a public loo!

A good thing about this journey is that it is certainly more scenic than the usual East Coast main line which I know so well. This line trundles through many a town and village offering the bored commuter, who has finished doing any preparation for work and exhausted the morning paper, a chance to see other parts of old blighty. With much of the country being covered in snow today, this is quite a treat. The only slight problem is a pretty poor wireless network signal as you travel across the countryside.

There was of course a momentary panic as we pulled out of Birmingham New Street train station. The journey up to that point had me facing forwards in the direction of travel. For a brief moment, I panicked that I was on the wrong train as upon leaving Birmingham New Street, we suddenly started going backwards and continued to do so for the rest of the journey. I could have just moved seats, but this one by now had taken the shape of my cheeks and was nicely warmed through!

Anyway we are now nearing the end of this journey and while it has been a long one, it has in the main being comfortable, relaxing and on time.

Pryordurkin rating 3 stars.

Having complete dinner at a nearby restaurant last night, with a colleague I went to the Island Bar and Restaurant on Pipers Island near Caversham Bridge in Reading.  The place was near empty except for a couple and the bar man.  The place has clearly been renovated and is actually very stylish.  It has both indoor seating and outdoor decking where during warmer weather I could imagine many people enjoying themselves.  The music playing in the background was very mediteranean in style and this only added to the sophisticated nature of the place.   We ordered up a couple of Remy Martin Brandies and I was very pleased when the said bar man offered to warm our glasses and bring our drinks over to where by this point we had taken a seat.  With fantastic views of the river and only a short stroll from my hotel room at the Crowne Plaza a pleasant wind down from a reasonably busy day was underway.

I would certainly go back here and look forward to the warmer weather if I am in Reading again.

Pryordurkin rating. 4 stars.

Telephone +44 (0) 1189 479530

The weather was (by comparison) mild yesterday getting up to around 8 degrees centigrade which made working outside in the garden possible.  Paul was therefore keen to get on with things and headed outside spending quite a bit of time making up some new raised beds for planting and having a general tidy around.

I didn’t want to seem lazy myself! So while carrying on with a little more restoration work on my laptop  (PS If we have ever given you a CD/DVD with photographs on over the years, we would love you to make us a COPY and post one back!) I started to tidy the garage and in between feeding CD’s into my laptop drive, I filled my car boot with rubbish from the garage and garden that needed skipping.  Of course an added incentive for getting rid of the rubbish in my car this weekend, is that my car is going into the garage tomorrow to be replaced with another one.  So I wouldn’t want to be using my new car for carrying rubbish, now would I.  At least not so soon!

Waking up Sunday, the weather looks like it is going to hold again, so another day involving fresh air seems to be in order.   As a little treat though, we’ve booked ourselves into Hazelwood Castle for Sunday Lunch.  Look out for the review!

After walking around Pickering, we wanted a spot of lunch.  The nice people in the Art Shop we had just visited recommended Mulberries on Bridget Street.  Entering at around 2pm, the lights were out, but we were greeted by a friendly looking chap who said they were still serving food in response to our question.  We sat at a table near the small window and next to a glowing electric fire.  The friendly chap then turned the lights on for us and an assistant took our order.  We both went for the Carrot and Ginger Soup at £3.50.  To follow, I chose the Home Made Cottage pie with vegetables from the specials menu and Paul opted for a Roast Port with Apple Bap.

This is a small restaurant / coffee shop.  It had a look of a mediterranean cafe about it with white washed walls and bare brickwork showing in places.  It was very nice and clean but I got the feeling that it hadn’t quite decided whether it wanted to be a restaurant or an upmarket coffee shop.

Anyway, after a short while, the soup arrived.   It was excellent.  No other way to describe it.  Piping hot, perfectly seasoned and clearly home cooked.  Served up with warm crusty bread it was just what was needed to counteract the winter weather outside.  The mains quickly followed.  Pauls Roast Pork Bap was again excellent.  Moist, tender and accompanied by warm freshly cooked apple slice.  I took a bite myself to check and it was worth every penny of the £3.50 cost!  A bargain for that price, given in most places you pay that for a limp takeaway sandwhich.

My cottage pie (£5.95) however was a little bit of a disappointment.  It was tasty enough but the minced beef used looked as though it had come out of a can.  This was a major surprise given my starter was so excellent.  Accompanied by roasted parsnips I was just left a little unhappy.

As we left, a young boy was closing up the restaurant for the afternoon at around 3pm.   Our total bill came to £18 which for lunch was fantastic value indeed.  I think this place could be onto a real winner.  The setting was certainly perfect for a cosy meal with other quiet respectful diners.   We’ll pop back some time to see how they are getting on.

Pryordurkin rating 3 Stars.  01751 472337

Instead of settling down to watch a little TV or catching up on the (Paul) Weather / (Michael) Pryordurkin website, we decided to do something a little more energetic.  For starters we went Bowling.  As usual in these situations, despite Paul having very good Bowling genes (Mavis was a master), I easily won the game.  Being slightly moist from all this exercise we decided upon a sedentary game of darts only this time, Paul came into his own and won hands down.  Looking for best of three, it was time to have a boxing match and I floored Paul within one round with a fantastic left-right-right hook.

It was time for a break so we put the kettle on and packed away all the boxes that our new Wii system had arrived in.

Later that evening before retiring to bed, Paul had managed to fight off a large bear having fallen into a cave while trying to swing on a grapple hook dressed in rather tight fitting lycra while calling himself Lara.

As you know I am never one to harp on about my ailments or complain about being under the weather.

But……

I’m all alone in London and suffering the most awful sore throat imaginable.  I blame all those rude and inconsiderate people who travel by Tube and Train for my predicament and if I were Prime Minister would make it an offence punishable by one week in public stocks for anyone who coughed or sneezed without a handkerchief.

I’m hoping the night nurse will see me through till morning until I can find someone who’ll listen to me moan all day about my Man Flu and perhaps offer me just a tiny little piece of sympathy.

Poor me…. and er yes…. OK I do harp on….

Well, despite many people thinking otherwise, we did get out of bed early Sunday morning to hike nearly nine miles across the North Yorkshire Moors.  Joining quite a few people from the Biology dept of York University we hiked up and down the hills and farm tracks on the Staunton Estate.  Heading to Ana Cross from Hutton Le Hole. It was generally a mild climb for the first half with a gentle descent for the second.  Except of course for the last bit, which took me by surprise.  Quite a steep climb and very steep descents at times.  My knee was playing up by this point but being a brave little soldier not prone to complaining or letting others know of my discomfort, I battled on.  We kept our energy levels up by sipping hot coffee from our flask throughout and eating the salmon sandwiches Paul made earlier that morning.  (National Trust membership beckons!)  I was a little disapointed with my ONE chocolate biscuit though. (Long story!)

The weather kept changing throughout; at one point being too hot we had to lose layers and the next minute being freezing cold.  The scenery was fantastic though and well worth the effort.  I doubt of course I will be able to walk tomorrow

Clearly feeling guilty having caused so much trouble in Switzerland, the Pryordurkin effect has taken a holiday as well.  With it safely out of harms way we arrived at our holiday hotel to be greeted in style.  Discovering champagne on arrival and another freshly chilled bottle in our room, got us off to a great start. Monday was therefore a joy and the evening ended quite early with a nice Italian…meal.  Tuesday has been quite busy so far!  The day started late with breakfast in the club house, followed by a little stroll before a light lunch poolside.  We then endured a couple of hours in the Spa, having a double Swedish Massage before retiring to our own private pool, to take a little sun while drinking a drop of the complimentary red wine.  This evening will see us joining the general manager who is throwing a cocktail party for (we like to think) a select few guests

All in all the holiday has been trouble free, very relaxing and going to plan.  Here’s to the pryordurkin effect taking more holidays itself.  Hoping the weather back home is great for you

Question. What happened to good manners and polite society?

Example A)

I sat for breakfast at my little square table this morning.  To my right was a young girl.  Within minutes of sitting down, two other young girls sat at a table to my left.  You get the picture by now.  I was in the middle.  Did that stop them talking about last nights shag or how much they drank and who they fancied; at the same time leaning backwards and forwards so as to see each other past me.  Not a bit of it.  I gave it a couple of minutes thinking they would realise how rude it was to talk over/past/through someone.  Five minutes later, they clearly had no concept of how rude this was.   I could take it no more.  I asked in a slow voice, with a face like thunder, whether they had any concept of what was rude.  Looking completely blank, with mouths ajar, they didn’t need to tell me the answer.  With that they left looking back in a way only teenage girls can.

Example B)

On Monday as I sat on the train praying for a quiet event free journey, a large weathered gentleman whose nose betrayed the drinking of far too much red wine over his time on this planet sat down opposite.  The next thirty minutes (and to be frank I have no idea how I lasted this long) were full of him, snorting, sneezing, sniffling, coughing and clearing his disgusting throat using a combination of sleeves and ‘what looked like’ green hanker chiefs.  I had to move to another carriage before running the risk of throwing up.

Answer.  They are long gone.

PS.  You couldn’t make this up!  I’ve just been joined at my table on the train home by two race going gentlemen at Doncaster.  Dressed in suits, but clearly drunk, the last ten minutes have included more swear words than I have heard all week.

Me Grumpy? …….

With two colleagues I went along to the Lotus Thai Restaurant on Cleveland Street in London this evening.  I had passed this restaurant by on previous occasions primarily because the menus listed outside were tatty and weather beaten.  However this evening, on the recommendation of my colleague, I went in.  The restaurant is very small, catering for around 36 people at most.  The place was nicely decorated and seemed clean.  Unfortunately paper napkins were the order of the day; so not a great start.  We ordered up our food from the plastic menus presented and opted of a bottle of New Zealand Pinot Noir by Marlborough which is best described as unique, light and fizzy.  The food arrived very quickly.  My chicken satay starter was OK but nothing special to taste.  It was presented on the dish very well though.  My main; green Thai chicken curry was again OK, but nothing to write home about.  The coconut milk had not quite mixed well and looked a little curdled in the bowl, but tasted OK.  There was little by the way of authentic Thai vegetables and I suspect the paste came out of a plastic tub.

The total bill for three people including wine came to less than £73 so was very good and the service was friendly and efficient.  With good company, I had a very pleasant time.

Rating. 2 Stars.