The calm after the storm
Oct. 11th, 2007 08:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
suzyscottdotcomI vowed to carry on, and went back to the flat briefly to drop off some bags. I had received several texts and phone calls from Caroline, who was working from home to accommodate a BT Engineer coming to fit a new phone line into the study (long story, but the current ISP isn’t playing ball with a migration code, so getting a new phone line in had to happen, to ensure we always have a broadband connection available. Remember C works from home from time to time, so I guess it is more important than just for me!). Anyway, the reason for mentioning this is that I’d received a card with a Dundee postmark (and from the names, it was from the Dundee City Council Sustainable Transport Team), wishing me good luck with the events occurring next week.
That was very interesting timing, as I’d been invited to visit a Travelwise Showcase event in the committee rooms at Dundee City Square. The event was largely a meeting of stakeholders, but they did find room to squeeze me in (they mentioned this to me the day before)! The event was organised by Merry Scott of TACTRAN, who reused her name badge by turning over, and writing my name on in felt pen! Creative, and also meant I’d had a haul of two name badges in six days!
Anyway, I was offered to stay, but I had to make this just a fleeting visit. Neil and friends from DCC were thanked for their card (to which Linda said “That’s good, we only posted it yesterday…”), and I proceeded to thank them for their help and encouragement over the months. I have known a few of them since I was very tiny indeed, back to TRC’s Transport Unit, and these things aren’t forgotten.
After doing all my thanks (and apologies if I didn’t get a chance to speak to you, as it was just a flying visit!), I called Bobby Burns, who was visiting Dundee with his new car. He sent me a text saying he was at Ward Road, so I walked up Reform Street… bumping into Jack L in the process! (How come when you are brilliantly presented, no-one sees you, yet when you are tired, stubbly and sweaty, everyone is around?) Most of the shopping I intended to do while I was up here was put off uintil tomorrow, largely because I’d lost so much time on the way up. I made it to Ward Road, and Bobby was pleased to see me, before reeling off all the ‘chicken’ jokes he’d heard on the traffic radio (i.e. fowl traffic)! Grrh! It wasn’t clucking funny at the time!
Anyway, sat down in B’s car, and we drove off. He wanted to have a drive-around, and I’d already passed through Perth on the way in, and I did have a few things to see to in Dundee. After a u-turn in Ward Road, we drove up Lochee Road, Glamis Road, and into the Ninewells car park. I got the change out for the pay & display car park, only to realise we were actually in the only car park in Ninewells Hospital which is pay-on-exit! I found the right office at Ninewells, and shortly after, we were on our way again – this time via Perth Road and Riverside Drive back to town, before proceeding up Lower Princes Street (the new ski-ramp) to Wallacetown Health Centre (to pick up a pack of bed pads, intended for use during dilation and stuff once I get out of hospital in a few weeks!)
We then drove via Arbroath Road and Craigie Avenue onto the A930, stopping briefly at the ACCESS offices in Monifieth and Carnoustie, and continuing along to Easthaven Village, onto the A92, and then straight through Arbroath. Although Bobby was driving, I directed him passed Arbroath Abbey, so I could show him The Round O for himself! (He’d been asking about it some time ago). We drove into Montrose, and after initially stopping in the free car park near the town house, we decided to have lunch. So, we did what everyone else does round here – parked the car in Tesco’s car park.
On the way up, saw a Dart on the 47 town service – but not the usual one, in fact, one of the Bluebird vehicles which arrived when Montrose started doing some services for Bluebird. Notice the stuck destination display, and rolled-up 'Ferryden' blind in the window! (the bus was actually going towards Hillside at this point…)
Anyway, as Roadrunner’s was closed by this point, we decided to go for a late lunch at The Little Mermaid in Murray Street, and I had the first deep fried pizza in batter that I had for many months! (I should point out, in the interests of my diet, I only had half of one, not a whole one!) After this, we did a few shops, before walking down Railway Close to the station, and then onto Tesco’s.
We then drove out via the A935 towards Brechin, and turning back just after East Mill Brae, then via the A933 via Froickheim Toll to Arbroath, and then back to Dundee via the A92. I was worn out after all that, and Bobby dropped me off outside my place in Dundee. When I got home, called Caroline, and then read up on the stuff that Bobby picked up for me, as well as the contents of the show bag, and then an early-ish night. Many thanks to Bobby for the hurl, which he seemed to enjoy (the scenery mostly) as much as I did.
That was very interesting timing, as I’d been invited to visit a Travelwise Showcase event in the committee rooms at Dundee City Square. The event was largely a meeting of stakeholders, but they did find room to squeeze me in (they mentioned this to me the day before)! The event was organised by Merry Scott of TACTRAN, who reused her name badge by turning over, and writing my name on in felt pen! Creative, and also meant I’d had a haul of two name badges in six days!
Anyway, I was offered to stay, but I had to make this just a fleeting visit. Neil and friends from DCC were thanked for their card (to which Linda said “That’s good, we only posted it yesterday…”), and I proceeded to thank them for their help and encouragement over the months. I have known a few of them since I was very tiny indeed, back to TRC’s Transport Unit, and these things aren’t forgotten.
After doing all my thanks (and apologies if I didn’t get a chance to speak to you, as it was just a flying visit!), I called Bobby Burns, who was visiting Dundee with his new car. He sent me a text saying he was at Ward Road, so I walked up Reform Street… bumping into Jack L in the process! (How come when you are brilliantly presented, no-one sees you, yet when you are tired, stubbly and sweaty, everyone is around?) Most of the shopping I intended to do while I was up here was put off uintil tomorrow, largely because I’d lost so much time on the way up. I made it to Ward Road, and Bobby was pleased to see me, before reeling off all the ‘chicken’ jokes he’d heard on the traffic radio (i.e. fowl traffic)! Grrh! It wasn’t clucking funny at the time!
Anyway, sat down in B’s car, and we drove off. He wanted to have a drive-around, and I’d already passed through Perth on the way in, and I did have a few things to see to in Dundee. After a u-turn in Ward Road, we drove up Lochee Road, Glamis Road, and into the Ninewells car park. I got the change out for the pay & display car park, only to realise we were actually in the only car park in Ninewells Hospital which is pay-on-exit! I found the right office at Ninewells, and shortly after, we were on our way again – this time via Perth Road and Riverside Drive back to town, before proceeding up Lower Princes Street (the new ski-ramp) to Wallacetown Health Centre (to pick up a pack of bed pads, intended for use during dilation and stuff once I get out of hospital in a few weeks!)
We then drove via Arbroath Road and Craigie Avenue onto the A930, stopping briefly at the ACCESS offices in Monifieth and Carnoustie, and continuing along to Easthaven Village, onto the A92, and then straight through Arbroath. Although Bobby was driving, I directed him passed Arbroath Abbey, so I could show him The Round O for himself! (He’d been asking about it some time ago). We drove into Montrose, and after initially stopping in the free car park near the town house, we decided to have lunch. So, we did what everyone else does round here – parked the car in Tesco’s car park.
On the way up, saw a Dart on the 47 town service – but not the usual one, in fact, one of the Bluebird vehicles which arrived when Montrose started doing some services for Bluebird. Notice the stuck destination display, and rolled-up 'Ferryden' blind in the window! (the bus was actually going towards Hillside at this point…)
Anyway, as Roadrunner’s was closed by this point, we decided to go for a late lunch at The Little Mermaid in Murray Street, and I had the first deep fried pizza in batter that I had for many months! (I should point out, in the interests of my diet, I only had half of one, not a whole one!) After this, we did a few shops, before walking down Railway Close to the station, and then onto Tesco’s.
We then drove out via the A935 towards Brechin, and turning back just after East Mill Brae, then via the A933 via Froickheim Toll to Arbroath, and then back to Dundee via the A92. I was worn out after all that, and Bobby dropped me off outside my place in Dundee. When I got home, called Caroline, and then read up on the stuff that Bobby picked up for me, as well as the contents of the show bag, and then an early-ish night. Many thanks to Bobby for the hurl, which he seemed to enjoy (the scenery mostly) as much as I did.
