Day 2 – Saturday, November 25th 7.20am: Morning all! Here we are in Colchester, feeling somewhat nostalgic, re-treading old ground from our working days in and around the area. 9.10am: It might be freezing cold outside, but at least it’s dry! And, after yesterday’s ‘going nowhere fast’ adventure, today, we’re doing everything on foot! On …
Read More
Author:Steve Palmer
Return to Colchester – Day 1
We’re off to Colchester for a few days. Gosh! We haven’t visited here for quite a few years! 👍😁 Day 1 – Friday, November 24th (Arrival) We’re off! We set off just after 9.45 this morning, heading for the A14/M11. 11.10am: Our first planned stop along the way was Gridserve Charging Station in Great Notley. …
Read More
The Pheasant – Revisited
David, Valerie, Ann and I returned to The Pheasant in Keyston today for Sunday Lunch. Since we moved to our current home in 1996, The Pheasant had been our ‘go-to’ quality eatery around these parts. In the intervening years though, we’d discovered plenty of alternatives (Northamptonshire’s well served!) and for no other reason apart from …
Read More
Film: The Marvels (2023)
It’s been a while since I last went to the cinema – and being a Marvel Studio addict, today was the perfect excuse with the release of their latest blockbuster, The Marvels. Official Trailer It’s fair to say that Marvel’s output hasn’t been quite so marvellous of late! Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3 (May …
Read More
The George for Lunch (again!)
This is fast becoming one of our top five ‘go-to’ hostelries for a high-quality Lunch. We were last here back in January, making today our sixth visit in just a couple of years – they’ve never put a foot wrong, and it was good to be back!👍 Today, we met up with Alan, Mags, Ian …
Read More
John Lewis Christmas Advert (2023)
In spite of me being a bit of a fan of these, I nearly missed this one when it was launched today at 7.30am UK time. Good job my friend Geoff was on the ball and let me know (and he was in Cyprus!) 👍😁. Cheers, Geoff! This year, John Lewis has gone more light-hearted …
Read More
7even in Cambridge (Almost!)
First, there were five of us (Philip, Angela, Antoinette, Carey and me) – the ‘5ive’… then we welcomed both Rick and June to the group, screwing the Maths and demanding a rebrand. After a bit of head-scratching, we became ‘The Magnificent 7even‘. Oh! Such originality! 😉. For those new here, we’re a group of like-minded …
Read More
Curry Night
Well, we haven’t done this in a while! A Curry Night at ours, plus an opportunity to catch up with Tom & Julie and John & Trish. We had an extra benefit tonight because the clocks went back an hour! 😊👍 Tom & Julie were just back from their holiday in Greece, so there was …
Read More
School Trip
A trip to London today! My old school’s ex-pupil Association had arranged a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Royal Opera House! 😁. Our train connections were good and we even had time to drop into Fortnum & Masons beforehand for a few Christmas gifts! It was a well-supported event with around 20+ ex-pupils, partners …
Read More
Return to The Old Bridge Hotel
It’s been a really long while, since I was last here at The Old Bridge Hotel & Restaurant in Huntingdon. A conservative estimate would suggest that it was the early 90s when I was working with one of my first clients – Nokia. Thirty-or-so years on, and we were here to catch up with Steve …
Read More
Supper for Six – Again!
Not content with ‘Supper for Six‘ last Saturday, tonight we were planning something similar, this time for Bev, Jules, Jo and Janet. Unfortunately, Janet went down with the dreaded Covid a few days before, and sadly, quickly followed by Jo! 😒😒 So, we ended up with just ‘Food for Four!’ 🤔 And there was obviously …
Read More
Supper for Six
We invited Paul, Karen, David and Rosi to ours tonight for a catch-up and some good food! Ann, as usual, had played to her strengths, and created a mouthwatering menu! The Mains… The Desserts… …and of course, Cheese! All helped along with a couple of these, although we’ve all known each other long enough now …
Read More
Return to The George & Dragon
Today was a return visit for us to the George & Dragon in Seaton for Lunch – this time, with good friends, David and Valerie. The reason? A post-birthday celebratory meal for David and me! 😊 With David acting as chauffeur, we set off just before 11. We first came here back in August on …
Read More
Lunch at The Olde Victoria
We haven’t done this in a while! Off to our ‘local’ for Lunch! We picked up Helen along the way by way of a treat, and were soon at our table for 12.45. The food and service was, as always, ‘top-notch’ where the generous main course meant that none of us could squeeze in a …
Read More
Holiday: Day 8 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Friday, 29thDay 8 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (click for more) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week that incorporated my Birthday celebrations a few days ago! 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial …
Read More
Holiday: Day 7 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Thursday, 28thDay 7 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (read more…) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, incorporating my Birthday celebrations (a couple of days ago)! 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and …
Read More
Holiday: Day 6 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Wednesday, 27thDay 6 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (click here for more) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week (incorporating my Birthday celebrations, yesterday) 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, …
Read More
Holiday: Day 5 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023) “Birthday Boy”
Tuesday, 26thDay 5 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (Click toread more…) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, in part to celebrate my Birthday today! 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political …
Read More
Holiday: Day 4 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Monday, 23rdDay 4 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (read more…) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, incorporating my Birthday celebrations too! 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a …
Read More
Holiday: Day 3 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Sunday, 24thDay 3 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (click for more) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, incorporating my Birthday celebrations too (in a few days)! 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is also Greece’s second major economic, industrial, …
Read More
Holiday: Day 2 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Saturday, 23rdDay 2 (of 8) Why Thessaloniki? (click for more) We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, incorporating my Birthday celebrations too (in a few days!) 👍. The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is also Greece’s second major economic, industrial, …
Read More
Holiday: Day 1 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023)
Friday, 22nd – Day 1 (of 8) We’re off to Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, incorporating my Birthday celebrations too! 👍 The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is also Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre together with …
Read More
International Bomber Command Centre with Dennis and Sandra
Yes, it’s another of our cultural days out with Dennis and Sandra. Today, we headed for the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. The International Bomber Command Centre is a memorial and a series of exhibits telling the story of RAF Bomber Command. Bomber Command suffered extensive losses of aircraft and crews during the Bombing …
Read More
Lunch with the Girls
Today, we invited Jo, Janet, Carol and recently widowed Chris around to ours for Lunch. We were hoping that the glorious weather this past week would continue, and we could eat outside – maybe for the final opportunity this year! 🙄. The country has experienced five consecutive days of 30-degree temperatures in the week just …
Read More
First Visit: The White Swan
Off to The White Swan in Shawell, south of Lutterworth today, to check out its suitability for a subsequent visit with friends later this year. It was a bit off the beaten track, but we were soon parked in their sizeable car-park and heading for our table. Their Friday Lunch Menu is HERE First impressions? …
Read More
Ruby Do – Two!
Our first Do of the Ruby variety was for David & Rosi back in July, last year, but today, we’re slightly further afield, and off to Mick & Jane‘s to help celebrate their recent Ruby Anniversary (last Wednesday). It was a very relaxed affair around at theirs, where we had the chance to get together …
Read More
Concert: The Eagles by Candlelight
Here we are with David & Valerie having taken the thirty-mile drive to the iconic Peterborough Cathedral. No, not for a spot of spiritual guidance, nor a choral recital – instead, it was (almost) The Eagles in Concert – but with a twist! Tonight was a performance of their music by West End singers and …
Read More
Winner, Winner! TV Dinner! – Top Gun: Maverick (again!)
Well, I think that’s a record (even for us, as big Tom Cruise fans!). We first saw Top Gun – Maverick with Jo & Janet just after it first came out (June 2022). Next, it was at one of our TV Dinners with David & Valerie (February 2023) and more recently, at Boughton House (May …
Read More
Toddington Trip
Off to catch up with a long-time friend (and ex-Trainer colleague from our British Airways project), Angela C. We normally do this once a year, and it’s a great opportunity to combine a ‘social’ plus offering a bit of 1-to-1 ‘technical support’ for Angela too! Our venue of choice? Bistro Twenty Four that’s located in …
Read More
First Visit: George & Dragon
This was our first visit to the George & Dragon in Seaton today. It’s about half-an-hour, north, from home. We were here catching up with long-time mates, Mick & Jane, who we haven’t seen since we met at their joint birthday party back in February. By the time we arrived, just before 12.30, it was …
Read More