Hi all,
The Blog site is now in the correct order, plus some new posts added in, of note, the Bristol Balloon Festival. Some good pics to check out.
You need to scroll down to find it though!
We still just have to add the London trip in then we are totally up to date..
Cheers.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
Late Summer Ball at Clifton Zoo
On Friday night our Work Social Group organised a Late Summer Ball at the Bristol Zoo (22.09.2006).
Dress was formal, but food was more of a bbq style. Suprising considering the amount the Zoo charged to attend! Plus the fact that most of the animals were asleep and many enclosures were closed, including the Penguin cage, and the bird averies. We did see a Hippo, Lions, Some monkeys, and we were able to walk the grounds at dusk which was quite pleasant.
Once the Zoo Grounds were closed we headed inside for a bbq style dinner. After that we sat around chatting until the band started up. They were an interesting outfit, but need work on their song choices and vocals. The music was played well though.
Beers were the same cost as Spirits, so Whiskey all night was the order of the evening!
After catching up with a few work friends, and meeting some new people we headed home in a cab for a good nights rest.
Apologies on the quality of shots. Flashes at dusk on my camera don't seem to work to well...
Lions Sleeping Zzzz...
Turtle (red from the flash, not the enclosure!)
Monkey
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
5-A-Side Football Tournament
5-A-Side Football Tournament
On Sunday afternoon (10 September 06), our Faber Maunsell work side played in the 5 a side football competition at Filton College.
The format was an 8 teams tournament, 2 groups of 4, with the top qualifying teams going through to the finals.
The pitch was a lot smaller than a normal football field, only about 30m long, but you could pass of the walls legally, essentially similar to indoor sports where the netting can be used.
We played each team in our Group twice, totalling 6 games of 10 minutes each.
We started well, winning 2-1 in the first game. But then it started going downhill. We lost the next 4 games in varying style, often going down within the first minutes due to silly penalties or not backing up in defence.
I rotated on and off the field during the day and also as goalie for a few of the games, saving a few hard ones but also letting a few others thru. When the opposition gets a breakaway it is very hard to defend!
We had 7 players so there were plenty of opportunities for rests, but some of the other lads had already played a full 90 minute game the day before, so there were some tired legs out there.
Our final game ended in a 2-2 draw which capped off an enjoyable afternoon of mid twenty temperatures.
Not making the finals, we packed up and headed home, not stopping for a pint as I had hoped… oh well maybe next time. I did have a beer once I got home though.
A couple of snaps from the game included. We are in the purple and white tops.
On Sunday afternoon (10 September 06), our Faber Maunsell work side played in the 5 a side football competition at Filton College.
The format was an 8 teams tournament, 2 groups of 4, with the top qualifying teams going through to the finals.
The pitch was a lot smaller than a normal football field, only about 30m long, but you could pass of the walls legally, essentially similar to indoor sports where the netting can be used.
We played each team in our Group twice, totalling 6 games of 10 minutes each.
We started well, winning 2-1 in the first game. But then it started going downhill. We lost the next 4 games in varying style, often going down within the first minutes due to silly penalties or not backing up in defence.
I rotated on and off the field during the day and also as goalie for a few of the games, saving a few hard ones but also letting a few others thru. When the opposition gets a breakaway it is very hard to defend!
We had 7 players so there were plenty of opportunities for rests, but some of the other lads had already played a full 90 minute game the day before, so there were some tired legs out there.
Our final game ended in a 2-2 draw which capped off an enjoyable afternoon of mid twenty temperatures.
Not making the finals, we packed up and headed home, not stopping for a pint as I had hoped… oh well maybe next time. I did have a beer once I got home though.
A couple of snaps from the game included. We are in the purple and white tops.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Oxford Road Tripping… 02.09.06
A dreary and overcast day met us on Saturday (no surprise with this English Summer Weather). We managed to sleep in, but luckily were ready to leave when Phil and Megan picked us up from our place in their car.
We headed straight for Oxford via the Major motorways, and the trip there took around 1.5 hrs, to travel the 80-odd miles. Speed limits vary here from 30 mph on the roads in towns to 70 mph on the motorways. Not very heavily policed so most people speed on the motorways to some degree, and when there is a traffic speed camera, they warn you with a sign so you have time to slow down. Unlike back home in Oz.
In Oxford we left the Car at a ‘park and ride’ station for 60 pence (all day), and paid the £1.80 charge each to get the return bus into Oxford. Quite a good system as no need to fight for a car park in town.
First port of call in Oxford was the Tourist Information Centre to pick up some free maps, on the way we found a huge Lego Thomas the tank engine, so took a few photos to show Nada’s nephew Kyle, who is a huge fan.
We headed straight for Oxford via the Major motorways, and the trip there took around 1.5 hrs, to travel the 80-odd miles. Speed limits vary here from 30 mph on the roads in towns to 70 mph on the motorways. Not very heavily policed so most people speed on the motorways to some degree, and when there is a traffic speed camera, they warn you with a sign so you have time to slow down. Unlike back home in Oz.
In Oxford we left the Car at a ‘park and ride’ station for 60 pence (all day), and paid the £1.80 charge each to get the return bus into Oxford. Quite a good system as no need to fight for a car park in town.
First port of call in Oxford was the Tourist Information Centre to pick up some free maps, on the way we found a huge Lego Thomas the tank engine, so took a few photos to show Nada’s nephew Kyle, who is a huge fan.
Lego Thomas the Tank Engine
It was then time for food as we were all hungry. We literally smelt out the bakery in the main mall in Oxford, and were soon tucking into a large traditional pasty, very tasty indeed. Big chunks of meat included. A great feed that left us full for hours.
First major attraction to check out was the Christ College. This is the most famous College in Oxford, due to its influence, age, size, and now most recently from some scenes from the Harry Potter films. The College included the main Cathedral (shaped in a cross), Chapter House, and other parts of the College including the Great Hall.
Southern Entry to Christ College
Christ College Gardens
We arrived at the main entrance, and found out that the Great Hall (where the meal scenes for Harry Potter is filmed) was closed until later in the afternoon (as the Hall was being used for meals at that time).
So we went for a walk around to other spots in Oxford, including Radcliffe Square, St Aldate Church, St Ebbes Church and Oxford Castle.
Typical College Buildings
Oxford Castle had just been opened recently after being refurbished, but they wanted £7 each to get in so we just walked around it and took some snaps.
Oxford Castle
You are better off seeing the Castles in Wales for half that price, and they are better there too! On the way back to the College we stopped in at a Modern Art Gallery, and it was awful indeed (Brad’s suggestion to check this out was a bad one). The most interesting piece on display was a painting of a black person painted on a black background. So all you could see was two eyes and teeth – modern art indeed.
Upon returning to Christ College (the main college in Oxford), we got in for only £3.70 each as it was a discount since the hall was closed, but by the time we got through past a number of other sections of the College, it was open, so a saving of one pound each there! The Great Hall is the main dining area for the college. Nearly a hundred old style paintings hang around the Halls walls all of which are the previous students, lecturers involved in the College.
Great Hall
Stain Glassed Windows in the Great Hall
Next to the Hall, was the main Quad, then into the Christ Church (Cathedral shaped in a Large Cross), Picture Gallery, and Tom Tower.
Tom Tower viewed from the Quad inside Christ College
(From Phil and Megan’s blog site) – I did not know this info!
Tom Tower was designed by Architect Sir Christopher Wren who was a student at Christ College. He also designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the monument for the great fire of London. A few other famous people studied here including Albert Einstein, John Locke, and 13 British Prime Ministers.
After the college we spent more time walking around the city, dropping past a local game of schoolboy cricket,
Bridge of Sigh
Radcliffe Camera
Museum Buildings
Old Oxford Wall
Phil and I had a pint at a local Pub, and it was a local Bitter (served warm from a ‘push and pull‘ tap – no gas in this keg!). Megan had a juice, and Nada indulged in a real cappuccino at last, and we all rested our legs and feet from the extended walking done during the day.
Work Site Visit to Paignton, Torbay (near Exeter) 01.09.06
Work Site Visit to Paignton, Torbay (near Exeter) 1 September 2006
I had my first formal site inspection on Friday. Taking the train from Bristol to Exeter, then changing trains from Exeter to Newton Abbott station. A total of 1.5 hrs just to visit a site.
They certainly do it different here in the UK compared to grabbing the work car back in Oz.
This site is a warehouse type development with a new road and parking for three large warehouse structures, that incorporate 12 units (4 per warehouse).
My involvement is to design and document the roads, sewer (referred to as Foul over here), stormwater (referred to as Surface Water). The structural aspects of the project are undertaken by the structural engineer in the Exeter office. No Civil engineers are in the Exeter office, as one left for Perth, in Oz, and the other is on maternity leave. So as the newbie Senior Engineer I am running many of the hand me down projects from Exeter to finish off.
One of the Contractors had his new excavator onsite, and I managed to sneak a photo of him washing it down after use. Something you would never normally see back home. Usually the muddier the better.
I had my first formal site inspection on Friday. Taking the train from Bristol to Exeter, then changing trains from Exeter to Newton Abbott station. A total of 1.5 hrs just to visit a site.
They certainly do it different here in the UK compared to grabbing the work car back in Oz.
This site is a warehouse type development with a new road and parking for three large warehouse structures, that incorporate 12 units (4 per warehouse).
My involvement is to design and document the roads, sewer (referred to as Foul over here), stormwater (referred to as Surface Water). The structural aspects of the project are undertaken by the structural engineer in the Exeter office. No Civil engineers are in the Exeter office, as one left for Perth, in Oz, and the other is on maternity leave. So as the newbie Senior Engineer I am running many of the hand me down projects from Exeter to finish off.
One of the Contractors had his new excavator onsite, and I managed to sneak a photo of him washing it down after use. Something you would never normally see back home. Usually the muddier the better.
Washing the excavator
The train ride there was good, the first leg on a Virgin Train, very nice inside, but outside is was foggy and threatening to rain. Fortunately when it did rain I was either in the train or onsite in the site office or in the Structural Engineers car on the way back to the Exeter Office.
I was going to train it back to Bristol, however a colleague was also in Exeter that day and leaving about the same time, so I grabbed a lift back into work. So much for my planned early end to the day. By train I would’ve been home around 4.30. Not to worry though, rest assured I was home with a beer in hand just after 5.00 after finishing on time for once.
This weekend we are heading to Oxford with Phil and Megan (our mates from Canada – who also work in Bristol).
Cheers.
River Cruise to Bath 01.09.06
River Cruise to Bath
1 September 2006
The Social Club at Work had organised a River Cruise (with a bar of course… aka a Booze Cruz) for employees and partners on Thursday night. Ten pounds between us to go and drinks were extra. We of course went and enjoyed meeting some new people along the way. The cruise went along the River Avon from Bristol towards Bath. There were not too many sights of note along the way, apart from the traditional Pubs and old Church buildings, but I have included some photos for interest. The Boat never actually got to Bath, nor did it stop at the three pubs intended. Instead we just went to one pub on the way and after one pint (more than one for some others!) it was back on the boat for some more bitters on tap, or spirits as was required.
Ed Rycroft doing his best Titanic impression
It was fairly cool as the night went on but the three and a half hours on the boat were very relaxing indeed. Straight after we headed to the Old Duke Pub for a few more pints before heading home.
A few of the lads at work had sore heads from what I heard, but I was in Exeter the next day for a site meeting, which is described next.
1 September 2006
The Social Club at Work had organised a River Cruise (with a bar of course… aka a Booze Cruz) for employees and partners on Thursday night. Ten pounds between us to go and drinks were extra. We of course went and enjoyed meeting some new people along the way. The cruise went along the River Avon from Bristol towards Bath. There were not too many sights of note along the way, apart from the traditional Pubs and old Church buildings, but I have included some photos for interest. The Boat never actually got to Bath, nor did it stop at the three pubs intended. Instead we just went to one pub on the way and after one pint (more than one for some others!) it was back on the boat for some more bitters on tap, or spirits as was required.
Ed Rycroft doing his best Titanic impressionIt was fairly cool as the night went on but the three and a half hours on the boat were very relaxing indeed. Straight after we headed to the Old Duke Pub for a few more pints before heading home.
A few of the lads at work had sore heads from what I heard, but I was in Exeter the next day for a site meeting, which is described next.
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