Great Scot

I took a morning train to Edinburgh today for a long weekend. I had a moment of panic when I arrived at the station and asked the ticket guy about the platform for the 8.15 to Edinburgh. Deadly seriously, he told me there was no 8.15 to Edinburgh . I asked when the next one was. He said “8.14”. Anyway I found the platform and the correct train. Booking at the last minute means that the exorbitantly priced tickets are about the same in standard and first class, so I booked the nice one and enjoyed the wifi and the breakfast. My nose was pressed to the window for most of the trip - very picturesque, with rolling green countryside and oceanfront farms. We stopped briefly in Newcastle but the photo op with the station sign was spoilt by a train going in the other direction. 

I had grand plans to stay in a fancy hotel, but Edinburgh seems to be the destination of choice this weekend and everything was booked out, leaving me to slum it at the Mercure near the train station (albeit with a great view)

This is a gorgeous city with winding streets and picturesque buildings in the Old town, and wide avenues with Georgian edifices in the New town (although not so New anymore since it was built in the 17 hundreds). The highlight of the first day was a fascinating tour “underground” through the original houses and streets from the 17th century. The area was partially demolished and buried when they built the Royal exchange on top of it. Sadly no photos allowed, but I have plenty from the rest of my wanderings on the Royal mile. As you can imagine, it’s bagpipe busking central, creating a constant awareness that it’s Scotland, not England. Other than that, it feels very similar to Northern England although it’s a lot colder, and there are more masks, and less smokers.

There is nothing Royal on the street itself (it’s largely tourist shops) and it’s more than a mile (1.1 miles), but down all the tiny streets surrounding it are treasures- very old architecture, tiny pubs, tea shops  and gardens. I stopped for a scone with strawberries and a pot of tea.

It was 4 degrees and a bit too cold to wander about so I opted for an early night and watched the nightlife from my balcony . I had great plans to try haggis so I could call this post “Scotland the Brave” but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. 

 

Every breath you take

An update on my work week. We were pounced on by security as we arrived on Thursday to get a Covid test before we entered the building. One of the people in the office has tested positive so anyone that had contact needed a test. The rapid lateral flow tests are plentiful here and it seems to be the norm for people to test themselves if they are not feeling well. Other work highlights included problem solving for our cleaners, who were in a flap due to the ”sights they see” when the gents use the urinal while they are cleaning “there’s a great big mirror luv and they just whip it out right in front of you” They now have a safety tape barrier they can use to block the door.

It’s been really interesting to talk to the team here about the change in owners. The previous owners were Hard with a capital H. They had 20 security cameras installed in the workshop and used to berate people over the PA if they saw them slacking, logging in on a phone App even when on holiday. They famously fired someone over the PA. The staff however were loyal (and tough) and there are many with over 15 years of service. The new CEO is somewhat of a visionary, implementing sweeping change at a pace that scares me. The crew here have accepted his changes with interest and a banked excitement about what their business could become, although I understand there were rumours early on that the removal of the spy cameras was a trick and they were still there. The phrase I’ve heard many times now is “a breath of fresh air”. 

On the theme of breathing and clean air, I wanted to post a photo of the Veolia recycling centre that we drive by on the way home sometimes. The navigation is still providing tours of the country by suggesting a different route home almost every day. Despite having now driven to and from work to Leeds for almost two weeks, we are none the wiser as to the best “normal” way to get there. Anyway, the building has a huge green living wall. 

On Thursday night the CEO and COO were up from London and organised dinner at a Brazilian restaurant for my birthday. We had cocktails beforehand at a rooftop bar. I lost any credibility I may have had by ordering a “Pink Ballet Fizz” but it had Moet and Rhubarb syrup in it and sounded good (it was!). I contributed a bottle of wine to the celebrations that caused great excitement as it was a special one from our CEO’s hometown - a Penfolds RWT Shiraz. He explained the provenance to the rest of the group and asked the barman to decant it first so it could breathe. It was a short walk back to the apartments after dinner but it was quite late and so very cold - I think the temperature is about to get low very quickly from here on. 

Sorry no photos from these few days. I promise the Edinburgh post next is photo heavy. 

Fire and Rain

Where there’s smoke there’s… actually no. We had a fire alarm in the middle of the night Saturday night. It was a bit of a blur - jolted awake by the alarm, throwing on clothes and a jacket and going down many flights of stairs with the other residents. There were lots dressing gowns and pjs. We hung about till they told us it was a false alarm (someone smoking). 

It was cold and rainy in Leeds so I stayed close to home and explored the Corn exchange (Indi shops), the Museum and  the Art Gallery. I brought a little umbrella with me but I was the only person I could see with one. Maybe there is so much rain here that anything other than a downpour is too light for an umbrella for the locals. I enjoyed downtime in the afternoon at the apartment- a bit of cooking and some Netflix.

It’s been an odd experience living in the apartment so far. For the last twenty one years have been first and foremost a parent and I’ve never lived on my own. Shopping and cooking just for me, laundry for one - all a learning curve. I don’t know how to use up the groceries while they are still fresh (loaf of bread anyone?) and after only four days I have a fridge full of odds and ends of veggies, leftovers and open containers. I’m really enjoying the stillness and the complete quiet after a busy day, and I like the lack of responsibility/consideration for anyone but myself, but it’s an adjustment. 

Here, There and Everywere

 It was such a treat to wake up in my own little apartment instead of a hotel. Here’s the front steps. 

After unpacking completely I reassessed my food plans for the month, which are complicated by the lack of a freezer or a microwave. Hmmm. I shelved the problem for later. On reflection, I think the stress yesterday was a result of the continuous problem solving that is part and parcel of a trip - how do I get from A to B, where can I do laundry,  how does the washer/dryer combo work, where can I buy food etc etc. Every single thing needs a decision. In any event, I’m feeling much better today although we did get a parking ticket for our transgression last night.

I headed out to spend the morning at Harwood House, a gorgeous manor house that was the home of Princess Mary after her marriage. It turns out it was also used as a film site for Victoria (one of my absolute favourite shows), and the Downton Abby movie. It’s hard to describe how peaceful it was walking around the grounds in the cold. The gravel crunched underfoot and the birds were out but there was nothing else - no car noises, no people talking, just peace. The self guided house tour was interesting, and there was a guide in every room keen to chat and tell stories.

I stopped for cake (Passionfruit & Prosecco sponge) and a pot of tea on the terrace and then explored the little church on the estate before heading back to Leeds. 

I wandered the streets around the apartment in the afternoon. There are lots of shops and restaurants, some gorgeous heritage malls and a lot of buskers and food stalls. It was very busy and vibrant - such a contrast to all the lockdown at home. I tried the corn kernels in a cup with butter and flavoured salt. Pretty good but not up to the standard of the corn on a stick at the Rocks market. Im not sure why it is “Hollywood” sweet corn. The stall next to this guy, with the exact same setup said “Asian” sweet corn. I was tempted to get one of those to compare.

Under Pressure

Today we moved from the hotel to the apartments, with a big day at work in the middle. The PLAN was to head off from work a bit early. The reality was arrival at the apartments at 8pm, but I’m getting ahead of myself. 

We “decided” not to go the scenic route from Leeds to South Kirby this morning, having finally managed to get navigation going in the car, but after that the day went south (not SOUTH).

My task for the day was to finish a model and a presentation for the Australian business start up. It was substantially complete, but I wrote it before I arrived here, so it was theoretical, and I spent the day talking to people to compare reality to the theory. My stress levels were high - that underlying tension that comes with having to produce a result that everyone is going to look at and critique.  Luckily it was “Chippie Friday” and the day was broken up with a nice but greasy chip buttie for lunch.

 

By the time the model was done it was after five and the traffic back to Leeds was ridiculous. We decided to stop at a supermarket to get supplies for the apartments on the way. This was the single most difficult task I have undertaken on the trip so far. Unfamiliar products, unfamiliar layout, no idea as to whether the apartment has a freezer (no) or supplies like salt and pepper (yes) and no shopping list. Ugh. The checkout lady was horrified that I didn’t have shopping bags and needed to buy them (“these are 20p each love - you don’t want to spend money on those). The traffic was worse not better for the second half of the trip and it was 8pm before we reached the hotel. Something was on in the city so there was literally NO parking, we ended up parking illegally and lugging three loads of suitcases and groceries down the street and up a lot of stairs. The apartment is cute and it’s nice to have my own space. Tea, toast and bed. Looking forward to a rest tomorrow.

A few apartment photos. 

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You say potato, I say patahto

We have two hundred or so people here and clearly at least half of them are up to speed on my Yorkshire dialect skills - no one said “hi” - it was Eh up Anna all the way. They were ready at lunchtime to teach me more (today’s lesson “si’thi”) and there was a lot of interest in similar and different food (have I ever had a pie sandwich and do I want to join in on “chippie Friday”).

Here’s a photo of the Yorkshire pudding wrap from the other day. It was pretty good! I was keen for a snooze afterwards due to the sheer  size of the thing, but it was delicious.

There are so many parallels with Newcastle and many of the guys in the lunchroom had stories and opinions about the cessation of steel making, the change in mining operations and the different employment options nowadays. They are a lot chattier than the workshop crew at home, but I’ve spent a lot of time on the shop floor so perhaps that makes it different to my finance role at home. 

They have been so very friendly and welcoming here. The cleaner paid for my coffee when the eftpos card reader didn’t work (“you can’t go without a hot drink luv”) and I have a real name tag on the clock in wall (although the first version said Anna “Starlett” which I would have been quite ok with).  They are completely comfortable giving me a hard time about the pink laces in my shoes and it feels like I’m an accepted part of the business already. 

I’m very tired though, probably due to the mix of jet lag and sheer fatigue from the pace. I’m learning SO much all the time and my brain is a little overwhelmed. That being said, snoozers are losers so I explored Leeds a bit and found a great little restaurant which I have now eaten at twice. 

Culture club

 I’ve caved in to the clamour for proof I’m working… 

This will probably be my only “work” blog post, but since I put a photo up, I guess I had better provide some commentary. My task is to set up a branch of this business in Australia, and I have six weeks or so to learn the business, build relationships, and figure out what will be done here, what will be done in Aus and what will be done in both places. They are completely into Lean six sigma and there is a daily meeting in the Obeya room, which has been purposely fitted out for this function

I’m having to do a bit of night time research to get up to speed with all the terminology. I’m also brushing up on the local dialect. I tried out my “ey up” greeting on a number of unsuspecting colleagues today to great hilarity. Apparently my accent was too posh. 

The Tim Tams I brought with me, were a big hit and there was universal agreement that they were better than “penguins”. I was closely questioned by one of the ladies as to whether I liked Kylie Minogue, it it was very well received when I said that I had been to one of her concerts. I’m being inducted tomorrow into a local delicacy from the takeaway- Yorkshire pudding wrap. It’s chicken and gravy wrapped up in a flat Yorkshire pudding… watch this space for reviews.