It’s Easter Saturday, and we’re off to the Salvation Army’s Citadel in Kettering to see the 7pm performance of Handel’s Messiah. Composed in 1741, there had also been a TV programme on recently featuring Gareth Malone coaching eight amateur singers to take on this monumental piece. Yes, it’s definitely Easter, and the TV programme reminded …
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Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 2: Lux
Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 2: Lux Overnight viewing figures for last week’s debut episode came in at 2 million (actually, the second most watched show on BBC 1 behind Gladiators at 2.9 million). The number will increase once streaming/catchup viewers are added in, but 2 million isn’t that good! 😬. The full numbers …
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Every Doggett’s Has Its Day!
Today was an opportunity to meet up with some of the Old Croydonians Association Committee from my days as their Chair (2010 until 2016). It was one of those increasingly rare occasions when I took the train to London from Kettering to St Pancras International (I don’t get out much these days!). Roger met me …
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Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 1: The Robot Revolution
It’s back! 🤔 The first episode of eight begins tonight. Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 1: The Robot Revolution Transmitted at 6:50pm on BBC1, I watched it on iPlayer earlier in the day. How so? Beginning with this series, here in the UK, it’s available to stream from 8am, so you can guess where …
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Carrington Arms – Nutters Assemble!
The good weather continues! So, it was a drive over to The Carrington Arms for an assembly of the Northants Nutters aka Paul & Sue, Geoff & Rhonda, Rich & Nicki and us two. I recall visiting this watering hole ‘back in the day’ when I was working. It was a central(ish) location to meet …
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Pig and Waffle
Pig and Waffle? No, not the opening paragraph on my LinkedIn profile, but the name of one of our many nearby eateries! The Pig and Waffle is in Grafton Underwood, and only a 15-minute drive away. We booked a lunchtime table with long-time friends and neighbours Paul & Karen on what was the hottest day …
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Doctor Who Returns (almost!)
Season Series 2 (under the new global marketing numbering scheme) returns NEXT Saturday. It’s season series 15 in ‘old money’ or season series 41 if you’ve been following it since the beginning in November, 1963. I have!!🤔 This long-running series is set to return to Disney+ and BBC/BBC iPlayer on April 12, picking up after …
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Winner, Winner! TV Dinner! – Paddington in Peru
It’s another of our ‘Winner Winner, TV Dinner’ Nights. Jo & Janet joined us for 2024’s ‘Paddington in Peru‘. On the ‘Dinner, Dinner’ front, a rare evening off (pretty much) for Ann as J&J supplied the Mains and the Dessert – all we needed to do was prepare the veg and the custard!! 😀 When …
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The Olde Victoria
Today, a welcome return to the Olde Victoria – our local – to meet up for lunch with long-time friends, Richard & Pauline. The last time we four got together was June last year (also at the Olde Vic!), and it was good to catch up. For the first time EVER (20+ years!) we couldn’t …
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Birthday Girl 2025!
Day 1 – Sunday, 23rd Last year, it was (only) Olney, this year, we’re further afield, heading for Stoke-on-Trent. 👍 We left around 9.15 for the straightforward journey to our destination: A14 > M1 > A50. We arrived just before 10.45, so we grabbed a quick coffee, making the best use of the time before …
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Film: Black Bag (2025)
This afternoon we joined Jo & Janet on a trip to the Corby’s Savoy Cinema (our new ‘go-to’ picture house) to see the new film: Black Bag for its early evening performance. It was only our third visit here since our local Odeon closed down – and it’s been worth the extra miles, in every …
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The Countryman, Staverton
Today, we caught up with long-time friends Ian & Ann and Alan & Margaret. Our eatery of choice today? The Countryman in Staverton Village. Last time we were here was in November, 2022 with Ian & Ann, celebrating their Golden Wedding. After a slightly mystifying route to the Pub (Sat Nav took us the LONG …
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Film: Captain America – Brave New World (2025)
I’m back into my ‘Marvel Movie Phase’. 👍 Actually, I never went away, but I think Marvel Films itself (who are desperate to rekindle their past box-office successes) have drastically reduced their output of late – so there hasn’t been much to go and see! 🤔 Our destination? My second visit to the Savoy Cinema …
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Winner, Winner! TV Dinner! – Avatar, The Way of Water
We haven’t done one of these for a while – it’s another of our ‘Winner Winner, TV Dinner’ Nights. Jo & Janet joined us and with Ann on cooking duties and me in charge of the DVD remote control tonight – on the menu was a fish dish, a couple of puds and 2022’s ‘Avatar …
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Film: Bridget Jones – Mad About The Boy (2025)
This wouldn’t usually be my first choice of film — I’m more into ones in ‘spandex’! However, we had an ulterior motive! With the local Odeon recently closing its doors for good, we wanted to see what ‘The Savoy’ was like in nearby Corby. Apart from CineWorld at Rushden Lakes, this one is now probably …
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Valentine’s Day (2025)
14th February Well actually, a TWO-day celebration, this year, as we headed for Buckingham and the White Hart Hotel for a romantic day and sleepover. 💑💑. It’s 10.30 and we’re off! But before all that, an opportunity to explore the town of Buckingham. We arrived just before 11.45 and although the town seemed quite quiet, …
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Odeon Kettering – The Final Visit
This was a milestone event – our final visit to the local Odeon. The building is due for demolition next week (Tuesday, the 28th), leaving the town with no cinema at all. Apparently, the town has had a cinema, somewhere in the town, for the past 100 years! And now it doesn’t – and the …
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Return to the Wheatsheaf
We met up with Mick & Jane at The Wheatsheaf in Titchmarsh for Lunch today. We were last here (again, with Mick & Jane) in April 2022 and it was good to be back. This used to be our go-to Pub/Restaurant when we first moved here (we must have visited close on 50 times!), but …
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Movie Night: Grease
We got together with John & Trish round at ours for our first Movie Night of 2025. Our Film of choice was the iconic Grease, from 1978. Ann laid on some food too! We even squeezed in a Cheeseboard!! It was great to see Grease again. I think we knew all the tunes and all …
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Ohme, Sweet Ohme!
Technology waits for no man – but I do try and keep up! 😯 Way back in June 2019, we took the plunge and bought our first BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle). At the time, one of the attractions was a sizeable financial subsidy from the State to buy the car AND a Grant to have …
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A Very Pheasant New Year’s Day
Happy New Year! We began the new year with David & Valerie – and lunch at The Pheasant in Keyston! Wow! It was the best meal of the year! 😀. Seriously though, the food was excellent! Really good value too, at just £47 per head for three courses and tea/coffee (and chocs!). We were given …
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Pantomime – Peter Pan
Yes, it’s that time of year again (‘Oh no, it isn’t!), it was off to Milton Keynes for our annual Panto visit! Going to MK at this time of year for our Panto-fix has become quite a tradition, having seen Cinderella in late 2023, Snow White in early 2023 and Jack and the Beanstalk in …
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Christmas 2024
Merry Christmas! After last year’s aborted efforts to celebrate due to me seriously lacerating my left hand on the Friday before Christmas (and subsequent operation on Christmas Day, 2023) we’re looking forward to this Christmas, even more so than usual! 👍😀 As the week leading up to Cbig day began (Christmas Day was on a …
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Doctor Who Christmas Special (2024): Joy to the World
It’s Christmas Day and there’s a Doctor Who Special on TV again this year. Written by ex-Showrunner, Steven Moffat, we’re promised a proper festive-themed episode. The Christmas Day Special was revived last year when Russell T Davies took over from Chris Chibnall as Showrunner (who always preferred New Year’s Day to showcase the latest episode). …
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Carol Concert 2024
Merry Christmas! This year, we had a bit of a dilemma for our annual Christmas Carol Concert! 🤔 Usually, we go to TWO with Jo & Janet – the local Church and the Salvation Army’s in town. But this year, it was one OR the other, simply because they were both on the same day …
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Doctor Who – Something special for Christmas!
Doctor Who fans get an extra gift from Santa this year! …and I’m not talking about the forthcoming 2024 Christmas Special starring the current Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa! If Patrick Troughton was your Doctor (he was mine!) this was to be pure nostalgia combined with TV technology at its best! 👍 In 1969, the BBC showed …
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Nutters Reunited for Christmas!
It had been a busy day already – and it was only 7am! Ralph & Karen had slept over after helping us celebrate our Anniversary, yesterday. After a rather hurried breakfast at 9.30 and having said goodbye to them both, it was straight into final prep for today’s gathering! Paul & Sue, Geoff & Rhonda, …
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Our Anniversary (13/40)
Hi everyone! It’s our Anniversary – thanks for all your good wishes! 👍 😁 😁. As many of you know, we met and married on the same date – 14 December – so it’s our ’13th’ today or ’40th’, depending on when you begin counting! Having somewhat prematurely celebrated with a mega-holiday to Australia, Singapore …
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First Visit: Hilltop Farm & Café, Leamington Spa
We met up with Ian & Ann and Alan and Mags today, part of our three-monthly catchup. Today’s venue-of-choice was Hilltop Farm in Leamington Spa – a first visit for us! It was a grotty day weather-wise (typical December) – mizzle! – but on arrival, looking at how packed the car-park was, suggested this was …
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Christmas TV Listings (2024)
We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins. For many, it’s probably when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early isn’t it? So how about… …that first Christmas meal? (this year, our first one was last Saturday 😋😃) …or when the John Lewis Christmas TV Ad first appears? (an …
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