I climbed on the back of a giant albatross

Linda and Meggie

2013-05-14T12:25:16Z

Linda riding Meggie a few days ago...

Rugby

2013-05-14T12:14:32Z

Just wanted to mention I'm in Rugby this week (and also last week). It's near Coventry, not far from Shakespeare country. As usual, this is for work so not much time to look around. The Oxford canal goes thru this area, and there are quite a few nice canal boats that I've seen on it. Rugby football was invented at the Rugby School here in Rugby by the way.

Clan of the Cave Bear

2013-05-13T04:03:20Z

Yesterday was Mother's Day in the U.S. We lost my mother about three and a half years ago in Autumn of 2009...

My mother used to read books from a series that included "Clan of the Cave Bear". I remember buying her one or two of the books for birthdays or mothers day... and I just found out today that "Ayla", the name of my new grand-daughter, is also the name of the main female character in that book and series. Nice.

Here's a picture of Ayla and big brother Adam from about two weeks ago...

Happy Birthday, Tess!

2013-05-01T22:44:11Z

We took Tess on a nice long walk today... and bought her a few squeaky toys. Happy 14th birthday, Tess!

Meeting Ayla

2013-04-27T19:33:29Z

I flew back from Germany yesterday so I was slightly delayed in meeting grand-daughter Ayla, who was born on Thursday.

Here's a picture or two from this morning's hospital visit:

New arrival

2013-04-25T12:39:54Z

Got a call from Linda and a text from Andy: "Adam has a sister. Ayla Rachel McNay born at 10:06am weighing 7, 10. Mum and baby doing well.😊"

A grand-daughter!

In Munich on the big day

2013-04-25T05:54:09Z

I'm in Munich, still training and helping out with a system installation at a customer site. Two days ago I was at a different customer site in Bavaria closer to the Austrian border in a town called Traunreut. I fly home tomorrow from Frankfurt.

And today is the big day. Jenny is scheduled to go in and have a caesarean section to give birth to a little brother or sister to Adam.

To Bavaria

2013-04-22T06:09:37Z

So for my second week of training, I'm going to a few installations here in Germany. I was picked up about a half hour ago and am currently on the road heading out to A town near the Austrian border. Later in the week, I'll be at another customer site in Munich.

I saw on the news that Lufthansa is going on strike, so I'm hoping it gets resolved soon because I fly back home with them on Friday.

Some pix from today

2013-04-20T14:24:36Z

Museum

2013-04-20T14:15:03Z

It was a drizzly, rainy day so I ended up going into the Landesmuseum Wurttemburg (State Museum of Wurttemburg) in Stuttgart which ended up being pretty interesting. I explored the history and artefacts of Wurttemburg which was a kingdom here until World War I. Saw the crown jewels, some prehistoric art, very nice religious carvings from the Middle Ages, Roman history of the area, etc etc etc. (not in that order). It was worth my while. I also walked around outside in Stuttgart a bit, in the shopping areas and in the park.

To Stuttgart

2013-04-20T07:45:50Z

I'm on the train heading to Stuttgart, which is about an hour's journey. It's a bit drizzly today, unfortunately, but I've got my Red Sox hat to keep me dry.

I've been watching the live coverage of the manhunt back in the Boston area and woke up to the news that they caught the younger brother that was still at large. Must be a relief to the people around there.

So my suspicions about it being a crazed tea party activist were incorrect. The suspects were young men originally from Chechnya... would've expected them to bomb Moscow instead of Boston, but I guess they couldn't be bothered to go that far. Strange that everyone who knew them said they were totally decent seeming people who never spoke about anything that might suggest they would be violent whacked out terrorists.

Bad Wimpfen

2013-04-19T07:29:53Z

Things are going alright with my training in Germany. The weather's been good this week. I took a nice walk to the next town over, Bad Wimpfen, where they had a nice Old Town section where I had a few beers then walked back to Bad Friedrichshall.

Here are some photos:

Actually, I realise I took the best photos with my work phone, not this one, but I can only post from my phone these... But you get the idea.

To Deutchland

2013-04-14T12:23:05Z

Well, I'm on my way to Germany now for two weeks of training. Two weeks will be a long time to be away...

Flying into Frankfurt and staying in a town called Bad Friedrichshall (or similar spelling). Not sure what's bad about it but I'll soon find out. Actually, "Bad" means it's an old spa town. It's south of Frankfurt, north of Stuttgart and east of Heidleberg. I'll have next weekend free so I'll probably try to venture out somewhere interesting. Otherwise, it'll just be training mostly I suppose.

albatrossumi @ 2013-04-10T18:37:00

2013-04-10T17:37:55Z

Linda and I celebrated our 14th anniversary a few days ago. We bought a nice little picture of Dumfries town centre's Midsteeple for each other. It's by a local artist...

Belfast again

2013-04-03T14:09:00Z

So, here I am in Belfast again. Work called me up yesterday and asked if I could come over and fill in for someone so I made a last minute trip on the ferry yesterday afternoon to be here working today. So I wasn't expecting to be here, but here I am.

Adam makes stuff for Easter

2013-03-29T15:12:23Z

Adam made some little cakes and painted some eggs for Easter, with the help of his Granny.

albatrossumi @ 2013-03-28T14:14:00

2013-03-28T14:13:51Z

albatrossumi @ 2013-03-27T15:05:00

2013-03-27T15:05:46Z

Snowing again today, but not too bad. Just got back from a half day trip to Glasgow for work... Also had a half day trip up to Edinburgh on Monday. Nothing overnight this week, tho.

I get a free car wash when I use my Nectar card at a local petrol station, so today I took the van thru the automated car wash.... remind me to think twice about doing that again... it was a very tight squeeze... a bit of a harrowing experience, actually.

We have grandson Adam visiting us tomorrow and it looks like Linda has plans to paint some eggs for Easter. On the weekend, we've been invited to go along to Glenkiln to roll some eggs. I haven't been to Glenkiln in a long time... it's a place not far from here that has some Henry Moore and Rodin sculptures around a picturesque reservoir.

albatrossumi @ 2013-03-24T14:17:00

2013-03-24T14:17:24Z

Here are excerpts from The Sun about the snow closure of the main Dumfries and Galloway road, the A75, which I was caught in yesterday and the night before....

"HUNDREDS of frozen lorry drivers were left stranded overnight by ferocious blizzards — in treacherous conditions just like those in telly’s Ice Road Truckers.

They came to a shuddering halt in five-mile jams when ploughs were powerless to shift thousands of tons of snow after Arctic blasts whipped up drifts as high as FIFTEEN FEET.

The whiteout also trapped motorists and families on the A75 near Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, in nightmare scenes described by locals as the worst for 40 years."

(snip)

"Maintenance firm Amey had 20 ploughs clearing a 96-mile stretch of the busy route between Stranraer’s ferry terminal and the north of England — but could not cope with gales and drifting snow.

More than 500 people were put up overnight at rest centres across the south-west in Newton Stewart and Stranraer as well as Girvan and Ballantrae in Ayrshire.

A Dumfries and Galloway Council spokesman said: “There are over 100 vehicles stuck in various locations. Galloway Mountain Rescue have been checking on people stuck in vehicles to keep them informed and ensure they’re safe.”

The tailback of trucks built up before a single lane westbound was re-opened last night by a team of DIGGERS while ploughs also managed to clear the A77 at Ballantrae.

But furious cops blasted drivers for ignoring the dangers and taking to the roads in the blizzards.

A Dumfries and Galloway Police spokesman said: “It’s the busiest we’ve been in several years dealing with the weather.

“This is compounded by many drivers not adhering to public warnings about the roads by the force which is disappointing.

“People are getting stuck in vehicles in the drifts and some remained in their cars overnight.”

A plough crashed off the road yesterday morning in whiteout conditions near Broughton, Peeblesshire, but there were no casualties.

Locals said the snowfall was two feet deep in low-lying areas while 15ft drifts resembled “giant icebergs”. Farmers in rural areas faced losing livestock after they were cut off from their animals.

Andrew McCormick, whose Barnbackle holding is near Dumfries, said: “We’re totally marooned and can’t get to the 700 sheep and lambs with food.

“Even with a tractor we can’t get to them, the conditions are still too severe. The only thing we can do is wait but I’ve accepted the fact it’s not going to end well.

“We’re going to lose a lot of livestock out of this. The dairy farmers can’t get off their farm either — everyone is stuck.”

(snip)

“Every effort is being made by our road operating companies, local authorities and other partners to clear main routes. Some drivers chose to stay in their cars overnight on the A75 and they were supported by emergency services. We’re not aware of anyone who was not offered a form of accommodation last night.

“I would like to offer my continuing thanks to everyone involved, including emergency staff, mountain rescue, volunteers, power companies and Transport Scotland.”

A man was found dead in deep snow yesterday after a night out.The victim, 27, was discovered in a field after trying to walk home in Briercliffe, Lancs. The Met Office blamed the weather on a rain-laden Atlantic front colliding with bitter air from Russia.

And the country is now on ICE alert with temperatures set to plummet to -15°C (5°F).

Temperatures were so low yesterday it was colder here than at the base of Mount Everest in Nepal where temperatures hit 10°C. "

Newton Stewart relief services

2013-03-23T18:32:34Z

Well done to the town hall folks at Newton Stewart where I was stuck (I'm home now). All sorts of free food for breakfast.

Had a long wait for the road to be cleared. There were a couple of jack-knifed lorries blocking the A75... and all alternate routes are also blocked with snow and abandoned vehicles.

albatrossumi @ 2013-03-23T03:37:00

2013-03-23T03:36:47Z

Saw a few murals in Belfast as I had a little extra time before the ferry. Took some pix for the geograph website which I do.

Got a free pizza on the ferry because they completely forgot to make my order. I said I'll just take my money back, which I got, then they went ahead and made me a pizza anyway.

Snowbound

2013-03-23T00:31:59Z

Oh dear. Here I am in the town hall in Newton Stewart with a few dozen other refugees spending the night in a chair.

The A75, the main road between the ferry at Cairnryan and home, is shut off due to a blizzard we're experiencing.

Instead of finding a place to stay in Stranraer, I decided to go against advice and try to make it home, but the traffic just stopped east of Newton Stewart and the police told everyone to turn around.

I got stuck in the snow with the van a few times, including when trying to park near this refugee hall. A nice man helped me out, tho and I got unstuck. But I'm here for the night...

albatrossumi @ 2013-03-21T22:18:00

2013-03-21T22:18:06Z

In Ireland again, just outside Dublin, for work... just like last week. And again, unfortunately, too busy to look around very much. Will travel back home via ferry from Belfast tomorrow.

Was hoping to be finished and be able to leave earlier tomorrow... and maybe visit the Battle of the Boyne site or Titanic Museum or something before catching the ferry, but it doesn't look to be. Maybe next time.

True Love Ways

2013-03-18T12:17:52Z

Entering my personal Song Hall of Fame... "True Love Ways" by Buddy Holly.

At my first wedding (to F in 1990), this song was for our first dance. It was going to be "Strangers" by the Kinks but I forgot to bring the CD to the reception. Thinking quickly, we had to choose a replacement song for the first dance which the DJ was likely to have... so I came up with "True Love Ways."

I've read on Wikipedia that Buddy Holly actually wrote this song for his wife as a wedding gift... recorded it shortly after marrying in 1958 and before dying in the airplane crash in early 1959. The song was released in 1960, posthumously.

Just you know why
Why you and I
Will by and by
Know true love ways

Sometimes we'll sigh
Sometimes we'll cry
And we'll know why
Just you and I know true love ways

Dun Laoghaire

2013-03-14T20:34:48Z

This week, since Monday, I'm in Dun Laoghaire (near Dublin) at a customer site. Unfortunately, I work all day and don't have much time or energy to otherwise go sightseeing, etc. Maybe Linda can come with me next time, then it'd be fun to go around a bit. She loves Dublin.