Beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

finally.

Now that I've finished work (not back working until 10 jan and not back in the office until 12 jan), all the shopping is done (or won't ever be done), Ciaran has arrived, and the wrapping is about to start,
I finally feel like its Christmas. The carol service the other night helped, but the bad weather affecting deliveries has meant the the christmassy aisles of the shops are all empty and being turned back into normal aisles. me being sick and then in wales at the start of the month didn't help either.

Perhaps the sight of North beach frozen with me now not needing to leave the house for a few days just moved me enough?

Carol service

Fiona and I went out to the carol service at Ayr Cathedral. Her friend David was the organist and they just have a new digital organ.
What a lovely evening! I normally I don't like singing at church - the old choir used to be a few wifeys who would try and outdo each other with how high they could get leaving the congregation mouthing down towards the bass end. This choir was good with all the high notes, but also had bits for us to sing at a more amateur level.
Starting with an organ solo while we lit our candles, in total there were seven readings, 9 musical pieces by the congregation, and 8 by the choir - all in all a good balance.

It was also my first time in the new cathedral.  The old cathedral (both were built in the 1950's) was closed a few years ago and the seat transferred to St Margaret's. It was quite different from a usual Sunday. Troon church is a Grade A listed building, designed by Reginald Fairlie in 1911, while the cathedral is much more modern, almost industrially so, with it plain white walls.

But it does have a cool organ.

Worst Snow in 40 years...

... and I missed it all.
I flew out of Glasgow at 0630 on Monday morning. The taxi ride from Troon was quick with the driver commenting on just how warm it was that morning. The flight to Cardiff it self was quite pleasant in a small Dash 8 and we made good time. The weather was beautiful - as the sun rose it was clear with good visibility
As we lined up for final approach we could see bright white cloud which turned out to be quite thick ground fog. We made our approach and at what seemed the last possible minute the engines went into full power and we entered a steep climb - the pilot rapidly climbing to 4000ft. We circled for another 90 minutes while we waited for it to thin and landed on the second approach. At least I would have something to tell people about!

What a difference on the ground. Cardiff was quite fog bound with the resultant overcast and cold damp feel. At almost 2 hours late we headed direct to the customer for the first of 5 training and discussion sessions with local and remote staff. It went quite well. By the time I take over this business stream in the new year I would like to think our order intake is already above target.
As an bonus we were staying in the Hilton in Cardiff, just opposite Cardiff Castle. As usual, there was no time to see anything but after dinner we took the long walk back t the hotel and passed through the Winter party which was being held - Ferris wheel, ice rink, mulled wine but we had an early start again on Tuesday. Headed up to the room where I finally saw the news reports about Glasgow and Scotland. Hard to believe all the disruption caused in such a short time.
Tuesday morning Andy and I met at 0600 for breakfast to find that the breakfast doesn't start til 0700. We were early enough to go back to his room and order room service so at least it wasn't a second day of no breakfast. How he's going to account for "room-service, breakfast for 2" on his expenses is something I look forward to hearing.
Andy's son Ian is coming across for Bristol this evening so there is just enough time for a quick lounge in the pool/sauna before the three of us head out for a meal and back to the hotel for a drink.

Wednesday is more leisurely. Instead of training we are discussing proposals before another application training session this afternoon, so we don't have to be in quite so early. As its bright enough I finally get a picture of the castle right outside my bedroom and Andy is charged with taking some pictures as we drive.
We finish the day with time to spare and head for a leisurely trip back to the airport. The airport itself is quite quiet. The shops are slowly closing and the one bar is closed. We get some food while we wait for the check in to open. So far everything looks good. Looks can deceive. But in all fairness it wasn't that bad. Our flight out should have left Glasgow at 1400 but by 1800 still hadn't left. The check in opened and we were assured that the flight would go so we went through security and went down to the pub to wait. At about the time we were due to board it took off from Glasgow, and made good time. It turned around quite quickly and we finally made it back into Glasgow just after 2300. Luckily the taxi driver was waiting (though not where I was waiting) and despite a few hairy moments the drive home was straight forward.

Another trip survived. Seen a hotel other than that one in Aberdeen. And missed a huge amount of disruption.