Brideshead Visited

It’s another cultural day-out with our friends, Dennis and Sandra, this being our eighth adventure. Together, we’ve previously enjoyed:- The Royal Armouries Museum (March 2019)Bolsover Castle (October 2018)Belton House (May 2018)York (February 2018)Burghley House (October 2017)Hull (May 2017)Leeds (February 2017) Castle Howard is a private residence, north of York and has been the home of …
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Oliver – Live in Concert

We drove down to Roger, Jane and Oliver’s this afternoon. The weather was horrendous, but it was well worth it as we were going to see Oliver playing flute in the East Herts Concert Band at their Christmas Concert. The venue was the delightful St Mary’s Church in the village of Standon, a Grade 1 …
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Yummy Mummy

11.30am: I’m off to the capital today with Ann to meet up with Janet and Carol. We’re all visiting the recently opened Tutankhamen Exhibition at the Saachi Gallery and whilst we’re in the area, home of the ‘Chelsea Pensioners’ too — the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. For the King Tut Exhibition, it’s £24.50 for the young …
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London Mini-Break – Day 3 (of 3): Suits you Sir!

Our final day in London today! Ahh, that’s better! I feel a walk down Oxford Street coming on (before midday!) On our list today… 9.20am: We were out earlier than yesterday, but confident we’d miss the rush on the Tube. How wrong we were! It was nose-to-armpit for the whole of our journey in, and …
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London Mini-Break – Day 2 (of 3): Birthday Boy (2019)

Here we are then, in the capital for my Birthday celebrations! After yesterday’s retail therapy, today, it’s all about sightseeing, and we’re off to visit Westminster Abbey and The Banqueting House …and maybe more!That means there’s at least THREE relics on show in London today then! 😉 7.20am: Another lie-in – that’s the second one …
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London Mini-Break – Day 1 (of 3)

We’re on a three-day mini-break in London that’ll incorporate my birthday celebrations tomorrow. Last time we visited the capital was back in August when we stayed ‘up-west’. This time though, we’re on the opposite side (literally) and heading for east London where Stratford will be our home for the duration. 9.35am: OK, the weather forecast …
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Queen’s Greatest Bits II

It’s another day-out with friends – this time, we’re heading for Buckingham Palace, meeting Roy and Susan. So, we headed off to London (via Huntingdon Station) by train, for the 12.30 Palace Tour. We’re choosing Huntingdon these days over Bedford and Kettering simply because: there’s more trains; the tickets are cheaper and the parking is …
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Family Weekend

Roger, Jane and Oliver joined us for the weekend! 😍 Saturday The main event for today was a picnic at Belton House and then a walk around the historic Mansion and Gardens. I think it’s our most oft-visited stately home having been there recently (ish) with with Dennis and Sandra back in May, 2018 and …
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August Bank Holiday 2019 – West London

We always like to do something a little special for the August Bank Holiday – and this year was no different as we’d planned a two-day break in London. The weather forecast promised a scorcher (especially in the capital) where temperatures are predicted to hit the low-thirties! Apparently another temperature-record will be broken today according …
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First Visit: The National Memorial Arboretum

Today, a planned day out with David and Valerie to the National Memorial Arboretum. It was a return visit for David and Valerie, but it was our first! Thank goodness then, that the rain has stopped, as a month’s worth fell in a day yesterday over the UK! (although it did belt it down briefly …
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First Visit: Farnborough Hall

Another one our of cultural days out, meeting up with Ian and Ann along the way, heading for National Trust’s Farnborough Hall. Located off the M40 between Banbury and Gaydon, the Grade I listed property (and its gardens) has been owned by the National Trust since 1960, when the Holbech family endowed it to them. …
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♪♪ Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening! ♪♪

With both A Star is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody (planned for LunaFlix’s outdoor cinema this weekend at Boughton House) postponed because of the weather forecast, we needed a ‘Plan B’! That’s the first time that the weather has disrupted this annual event – totally unexpected in AUGUST! 😮 The replacement dates didn’t work for any …
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The Palace and the Pub

Off to visit Apethorpe Palace today with Chris and Gill! The Palace We last visited here back in August 2011 with Nicki, when it was known simply as Apethorpe Hall. Since that time, it’s been sold-off by English Heritage (December 2014) to one Baron von Pfetten, a French anglophile. English Heritage are still responsible for …
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Silverstone Classic 2019 – The Cars are the Stars

We headed over to Chris and Gill’s today, and then to this year’s Silverstone Classic. Obviously, it’s all about the cars and so I’ll minimise the word-count in this Post and let the pictures tell the story! The weather was spot-on today. After the mega-heatwave of the past few days, it was just perfect! – …
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The Black Country Living Museum

Our very first visit to The Black Country Living Museum! 9.30am: We picked-up David and Valerie and headed by car for ‘the smoke’. Located in Dudley, the journey took us a lot longer than we planned, (due to some serious congestion on the A14 in the direction of the M6). So, after some inspired diversionary …
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Joseph – And the Pub of Many Burgers

We headed for Kilworth Theatre today to see their latest outdoor production… Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joseph… Running from 26th May until 5th July 2019, this production was back by popular demand. Given the track record here, we knew we were in for a treat! Starring Jacob Fisher in the titular role; Carole …
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Da Da Daaaa..!

Just imagine being part of Jeff Wayne’s 1978 Album “Musical Version of The War of the Worlds”… …Well, imagine no longer! 1.30pm: We’re off… Jo and I left Kettering in plenty of time heading for this unique experience in London. Our expectations were high, as we’d both read (and heard) some excellent reviews. Our destination …
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Fully Charged Live 2019

It seemed appropriate that our first major outing in our very first EV would be the Fully Charged Live Show at nearby Silverstone! After picking up Chris and Mark in Northampton, we headed for this iconic location, where, in addition to plenty of ‘talkie-bits’, there was also an opportunity to test drive the latests EVs …
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Cottesbrooke Hall and Brixworth Church

Fresh from our soaking at Deene Park a few days ago, we braved the elements and headed off to Cottesbrooke Hall today. The Queen Anne style House dates from 1702 and enjoys Grade I listed status. It has Gardens too! It’s not the first visit for me (apparently, we came here 20ish years ago), although …
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Sealed with…

a Knot! It was off to Deene Park for a Bank Holiday treat! It’s the home of the Brudenell family – pretty well-known around these parts, but probably best remembered for the 7th Earl (James) who led the charge of the Light Brigade. Instead, The Sealed Knot (the re-enactment group) are in attendance, bringing the …
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Leeds, Feeds and Boats

7.50am: A relatively early start today as we planned to catch the 8.51 Train from Peterborough Rail Station heading for its counterpart in Leeds. We’re catching-up with Dennis & Sandra for one of our semi-regular day-outs together. We’re starting to build up quite a history now, as this will be our seventh get-together, having already …
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Cirque de Soleil – Totem

A welcome return to the Royal Albert Hall today! After my last visit for Prog Rockers, Camel, back in September, last year, today was a complete contrast – Cirque du Soleil‘s Totem. We picked up Janet, Jo and Carol and headed for Kettering Station and the 12.51. An hour-and-a-half later, we were taking our seats …
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