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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Author:Steve Palmer
I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 - well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I'm no Samuel Pepys! If you're looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you've arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here โ it's all done with love!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
Christmas TV Listings (2024)
Weโve 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… โฆthat first Christmas meal? (this year, our first one was last Saturday ๐๐) โฆor when the John Lewis Christmas TV Ad first appears? (an …
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First Christmas Meal of 2024!
We’re already in December, and very unusually, we’ve not had a single Christmas meal yet! That’s so unusual for us, but we only arrived back from New Zealand last Sunday! At this point in 2023, we were on our third! It’s a tough life, ehh?? ๐ We picked up Paul & Karen in time for …
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Holiday: Day 33 – Heading Home/New Zealand Summary
6.05am: Morning all! ๐ As promised, here is the summary of our holiday in New Zealand during November 2024, where we visited both the North and South Islands. We used most forms of transport, but mainly travelled around using an Avis hire car. We can’t claim to have seen all of New Zealand, but having …
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Holiday: Day 32 – Singapore (Final Day)
5.30am: Morning all! ๐. It’s our last full day here in Singapore, and I was awake from about 3am. Missed one of my Daily Posts?Click HERE Our Photo-Reel of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore (and no chat!)Click HERE Day 32 – Where are we? (Saturday, 30th November) We’re staying in the Holiday Inn Express in …
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Holiday: Day 31 – Singapore Thing!
7.25pm: Morning all! It’s our penultimate day of our holiday and a VERY wet one here in Singapore! โ๏ธโ๏ธโโ โ 9am UK time/5pm Singapore time: There’s a major outage affecting my Blog on this side of the world. If you can read this Post, but there are no images showing, that’s the issue! I suggest …
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Holiday: Day 30 – Farewell New Zealand
6.45am: Morning all!. Phew! ๐. After more than a 1000 photographs and almost 2900 kilometres (c1800 miles) of driving, today, we say goodbye to New Zealand! We’ve packed/unpacked 13 times, stayed in 5 motels, 5 apartments, 2 B&Bs plus 1 hotel – and written daily about our 27-day adventure! Do you know what? I think …
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Holiday: Day 29 – Arrowtown Revisited!
6.30am: Hi everyone! ๐. Hard to believe, but we’re coming to the end of our New Zealand adventure! โน๏ธโน๏ธโน๏ธโน๏ธ. Thanks for all your questions, comments, and suggestions during our travels – every single one of them, very much appreciated! ๐๐ For those of you with a similar trip in mind, I’ll post a summary of …
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Holiday: Day 28 – Aiming for Arrowtown!
xx.xx: Hello-ee! ๐. Welcome to Tuesday – it’s another travel day for us. Day 28 – Where are we? (Tuesday, 26th November) 8.36am: With just a few days left in New Zealand, today, we said goodbye to Te Anau and drove south-eastwards and then north to Arrowtown, around 200km (121 miles) away. It’s an old …
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Holiday: Day 27 – The Sound of Milford
6.10am: Morning all! ๐. Thanks for your readership. We are now past the point of the longest holiday we’ve ever taken. Oh, the pressure!๐ Sorry for the late posting of this one – it was a long day (in almost a good way!) Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 27 – Where are we? (Monday, …
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Holiday: Day 26 – To Te Anau!
5.50am: Welcome to Sunday’s Post! ๐ Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 26 – Where are we? (Sunday, 24th November) 8.36am: We said goodbye to Dunedin and got off to an early start this morning as it’s another long drive ahead. In a way, it was a shame to be leaving, as the morning brought …
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Holiday: Day 25 – Dunedin – Done!
6.05am: Morning all! ๐ Welcome to the weekend! Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 25 – Where are we? (Saturday, 23rd November) We arrived in Dunedin (South Island’s second-largest city and part of the Otago region) yesterday afternoon, and took a brief look around (see yesterday’s photos HERE). We’re here for just today, and in …
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Holiday: Day 24 – Destination Dunedin!
5.50am: Morning loyal Reader! ๐. We hope you’re still enjoying reading about our time in New Zealand. Welcome to Friday’s adventure! ๐ Missed one of these Holiday Posts?Try clicking HERE๐โ๏ธ๐ Day 24 – Where are we? (Friday, 22nd November) 8.25am: Today, we said goodbye to a chilly Timaru (7โ) and continued southwards along South Island’s …
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Holiday: Day 23 – Timaru, where are you?
6 05am: Hi there Followers. Happy Thursday. Thanks for keeping up with our adventures! ๐. We’ve just eight more days left here in New Zealand before heading back to Singapore. Strangely, the BBC Weather Service hadn’t heard of Timaru, so this is the Weather Channel‘s forecast. Timaru, where are you? Still rubbish weather though! ๐ …
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Holiday: Day 22 – ‘Allo ‘Allo Akaroa!
6.05am: Hello all! ๐. Another day, another part of New Zealand to discover! ๐ Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 22 – Where are we? (Wednesday, 20th November) 8.58am: We left Christchurch today and headed for Akaroa, about 90 minutes away. We’d been advised that it was going to be a very twisty (=slow) road …
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Holiday: Day 21 – Trambusters! – Exploring Christchurch
6.25am: Hi Folks! Welcome to Tuesday! ๐. 20 days of great experiences so far, 12 to go! ๐ Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 21 – Where are we? (Tuesday, 19th November) TODAY’S TRIVIA: A typical New Zealand winter is from June until August, whilst their Summer is from December to February. It’s our first …
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Holiday: Day 20 – Blue Skies to Christchurch!
5.45am: Hi, all you dedicated Readers! – thanks for your readership and regular comments! ๐ It’s been a real push to publish these each day, but I’m enjoying the challenge. Today, it’s a super early one as we prepare for another long drive south. Missed a previous Post?Click HERE It’s hard to believe that we’re …
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Holiday: Day 19 – Grape Expectations!
Missed one of these Holiday Posts?Try clicking HERE(or scroll to the foot of this one)๐โ๏ธ๐ 6.15am: Welcome back loyal Reader! ๐. It’s Sunday, and we’re currently in Picton, our first stop on the SOUTH Island, having arrived early evening yesterday by Ferry from Wellington. As you might guess from the title, today, we’re on the …
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Holiday: Day 18 – North to South
6.15am: Howdy, loyal reader! ๐. Today’s the day it all goes south! Destination Picton! Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 18 – Where are we? (Saturday, 16th November) 9.45am: After checking out we had some time to kill. We grabbed a coffee, we spent some time looking around the shops in Wellington. For us, the …
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Holiday: Day 17 – Wellington (Last Day)
6.30am: Morning all! ๐. Thanks for continuing to read about our adventure in New Zealand. I’m enjoying your comments – they’re all very much appreciated! ๐๐. This is our second day without any driving as we’re continuing to explore Wellington on foot, dodging the forecasted showers. Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 17 – Where …
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John Lewis Christmas Advert (2024)
Yes, it’s that time of year again! It’s Friday, 14th November and right on cue, John Lewis has launched its Christmas TV advert. In past years, the offering was guaranteed to also boost the sales of Kleenex, but in more recent times, they’ve been a bit ‘lack-lustre’ and haven’t tugged the heartstrings quite so strongly! …
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Holiday: Day 16 – Wellington in Wellingtons?
6.45am: Morning all! ๐. Welcome back, loyal Reader! 6.45???? What a lightweight! Well, everyone deserves a lie-in occasionally – and have you seen the weather out there? โโ “Wellington in Wellingtons”?? – sometimes the Post titles just write themselves! ๐๐ We’re now halfway through our adventure on the other side of the world, and I …
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Holiday: Day 15 – Wellington Wander!
5.25am: Welcome back devoted Reader! ๐ An earlier start today for us as we’ve a long drive ahead… Missed a previous Post?Click HERE Day 15 – Where are we? (Wednesday, 13th November) TODAY’S TRIVIA: Wellington is the most southerly capital in the world Thanks for joining us on Day 15. Back in the hire car, …
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Holiday: Day 14 – Nipping to Napier!
5.55am: Welcome! or ‘Kia Ora’ as they sometimes say in these parts ๐ Thanks for your comments and likes so far – it makes it all worthwhile! ๐๐ Missed a Post?Click HERE Day 14 – Where are we? (Tuesday, 12th November) 8.59am: It’s Day 14 and we’re leaving Taupล and driving to the coast of …
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Holiday: Day 13 – Time for Taupo!
6.15am: Morning all! ๐. Well, that was a first – RAIN – and significant amounts of it! Luckily for us, it was overnight, but it was certainly hammered it down, waking us up in the early hours as it danced on the roof! โโ Thanks for all the likes and comments so far. If you’ve …
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Holiday: Day 12 – Hello Hamilton!
6.15am: Welcome back loyal Reader! Here for more news of our adventures on the other side of the world? I admire your stamina!! ๐๐ Day 12 – Where are we? (Sunday, 10th November) We’re just over a third of the way through our mega-holiday and where this morning, it’s time to say goodbye to gorgeous …
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Holiday: Day 11 – No Rush Russell!
7.05am: Morning All! Happy Saturday!! ๐โ๏ธ๐ Missed one of these Holiday Posts?Try clicking HERE๐โ๏ธ๐ Day 11 – Where are we? (Saturday, 9th November) 9.12am: Today, we’re planning a trip to the coastal town of Russell, north-east from our base here in Paihia. Historically, Russell was originally known as the ‘Hellhole of the Pacific’ and you …
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Holiday: Day 10 – Treaties and Tongues!
07.00am: Morning Readers! Thanks for all the likes and comments – and your continued readership! It’s very much appreciated๐๐ It’s slightly cooler this morning, but 20โ will do us nicely! ๐๐ Missed a Post?Scroll to the foot of this page Day 10 – Where are we? (Friday, 8th November) 11.15am: A later start to the …
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Holiday: Day 9 – Petrol and Paihia!
6.05am: Morning all! Well, we’ve now travelled on planes and trains (as well as boats and buses), and so, today, we try to complete the set – and hire a car. At least they drive on the ‘proper’ side of the road here, and it’ll be interesting to experience New Zealand roads and their road-users …
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Holiday: Day 8 – Blue Buses and Beauty!
07.00am: Hello Readers and hello to New Zealand! We’re finally here in Auckland! ๐ We arrived around 7pm last night, so it was really too late to soak up the sights. With only today and tomorrow here, we aim to remedy that today! ๐๐. And in other news, we both had a GREAT night’s sleep …
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