Fast cars and loose change

Wednesday

Another day in the office. I read through some existing reports and specifications and added my comments as well as writing a technical overview.

They seem to find my work valuable and I hope this will lead to further collaboration.

I found out more about the office and grounds.

It was at one time a visitor centre for a gardening organisation and you can still see the information written on some of the walls.

The gardens are extensive, some 6 acres and stretch all the way to the road where the b&b is located. About 4 or 5 times larger than my initial impression on Monday.

 I took a bit of a stroll through it and saw a couple of deer at the lower levels.

They are committed to restoring it but initially the goal was just to make sure it didn't get worse after several years of neglect while it was on the market.

Iain allows school groups, scouts etc. to use the grounds and there is evenb a playground In one corner.

The company also has a pool car that can be used by staff when they need to drive on company business. Actually there are two, but the old Volvo was at the airport since one of the guys had used it to get there for a flight.


Iain drove me to lunch at the pub in the other one.

It's an Aston Martin DB9!

It is well badged with the company logo and is a bit of a talking point and advertising method for the company.




We arranged for the taxi to come at 5 instead of 6, since they tend to close the office at that time and it made me much more comfortable making the flight with time to spare.

I also found out as I arrived at the airport later that they sponsor a memorial to a RAF squadron. The picture left shows the iconic control tower as well.

Once back at Heathrow, I collected my left luggage. When I went to pay with my visa I couldn't find my card. I had enough cash to pay the   20 pounds for that and 9 pounds for a rerun bus ticket to the hotel. I finished up with less than a pound in coins left.

Fortunately I didn't need to buy anything because a search of purse, wallet, laptop case to failed to turn it up.

I rang the bank to report it but since I didn't have it I didn't know the number or my account number. All he stuff was at home. Likewise I didn't have the codes to log into the web site.

They can find info using last name and post code but this only works for uk post codes. This seems to be a serious flaw in the system and I will have to wait till I get home now.