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 …
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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 – it's all done with love!
I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!
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 …
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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 …
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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? …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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Northants Nutters at Sea – Day 5
Monday 14th August Morning all! 👋 Whoosh! That’s passed very quickly! It’s our final day (Day 5) where, for the past five days, the Northants Nutters® have been ‘all at sea’ courtesy of P&O and the good ship, Aurora! We’ve taken in Hamburg and Zeebrugge along the way and the weather has, overall, been very …
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Northants Nutters at Sea – Day 4
Sunday 13th August What you may have missed…Thursday 10th: Day 1 – Leaving SouthamptonFriday 11th: Day 2 – All at SeaSaturday 12th: Day 3 – Loving Lübeck (and Hamburg!) Phew! A busy one yesterday, where, as a result, ONE of us, is feeling a bit tender this morning! 🥴 (clue: it’s NOT Ann). It’s now …
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Northants Nutters at Sea – Day 3
Saturday 12th August Guten Morgen! It’s Day 3! The Northants Nutters are ‘all at sea’ courtesy of P&O and the good ship Aurora! Yes, we’re in Germany – Hamburg Docks to be precise. It’s part of our five-nighter, taking in Hamburg and Zeebrugge and we’re here overnight – but only briefly, setting sail at 5.30am …
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Northants Nutters at Sea – Day 2
Friday 11th August Good morning all! It’s Day 2! The Northants Nutters are ‘all at sea’ courtesy of P&O and the good ship Aurora! We’re enjoying a five-nighter, taking in Hamburg and Zeebrugge. Missed yesterday’s Post? – Day 1 click HERE Breakfast! There’s a lot of choice here for HOW you take your breakfast on …
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Northants Nutters at Sea – Day 1
Thursday 10th August Good morning Landlubbers! It’s Day 1 and the Northants Nutters (aka Paul & Sue, Geoff & Rhonda and us two) are heading for the wet stuff, courtesy of P&O and the good ship Aurora! Our friends, Richard and Nicki have also booked the same Cruise and were later sworn-in as ‘Honorary Nutters®’!👍😉 …
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Theatre: Hairspray (2023)
Off to our favourite West-End-Theatre-that’s-not in-the-West-End… Kilworth House Theatre! Well, it is west of Kettering! 😉 Kilworth House Theatre? I must admit, I’d never heard of Kilworth Theatre before we moved to Northamptonshire. Since our discovery, we’ve been coming here pretty much every year to see their latest production. The Theatre is unique in that …
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Film: Oppenheimer (2023)
We dithered about this one – do we see it at the cinema? or wait for its home release? I’m not sure why we put it off (too dark? too depressing?) but I had this nagging doubt that, as brilliant as Director Christopher Nolan is, he has occasionally given us movies that because of their …
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First Visit: The Bell, Alderminster
Yes, it’s that time again! Our three-monthly catch-up, over a Shandy (or three!) with ex-business colleagues (and great friends), Ian and Mags, together with their respective other halves, Ann and Alan. It’s been a while (January?), as Ian was unwell the last time we were due to meet, but we were soon back into the …
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Return to ‘332’
Today, together with my first boss – Ken Barden – we returned to the location of my very first ‘proper’ job: Sainsbury’s, Central Croydon aka ‘Store 332′. The reason? We’d heard that Sainsbury’s HQ had taken the commercial decision to close down the store permanently in a few months’ time 🤔 and we both felt …
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School Reunion 2023
They say ‘every day’s a school day’ – today was literally true! 🤔 Today, I took the rather long journey by car to my old school. Keeping me company, was Roger Hill, one-time Head Boy, and fellow committee colleague from a few years back. What made today different was that this was my first visit …
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Stamford Stroll
We haven’t done this in a while – a wander around the beautiful town of Stamford. The weather forecast wasn’t brilliant, but we aimed to dodge the showers, even if that meant, diving into the shops for cover! 😉. We must get out more though, as we realised that we hadn’t done this for at …
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Film: Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning – Part 1 (2023)
Off to see the 7th instalment of the Mission Impossible franchise. As an extra treat, Jo, Janet and Ann and I drove over to Rushden Lakes to enjoy the superior sound and picture quality. Official Poster Mission Creep? The runtime for this one is a mighty 2 hours 43 minutes. Mission Brief The IMF team …
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Nicki’s Here!
It’s that time again – we’re catching up with Ann’s good friend, Nicki! Unfortunately, it was just Nicki, this time, as Richard had a work event to go to. No matter, the girls had plenty of catching-up to do – and I just kept the teas and coffees flowing, together with some Orange & Cranberry …
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Taste of India
No, not another one of our holiday Posts from the other side of the world! 🙄 Tonight, we returned to Taste of India in Bridge Street, Rothwell. Gosh! The last time we were here was in February 2012 (also with Paul and Sue!) — and before that, way back in 2005! Where does the time …
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London Bound!
Off to London today with David & Valerie to watch the ‘Beating Retreat’ performance or to give its official title: The Household Division Beating Retreat. We’ve never seen this event before and we’re looking forward to ‘a Military Musical Spectacular, on Horse Guards Parade, London‘. This event has evolved over the years and is now …
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The Olde Victoria
Off to our ‘Local’ today to catch up with long-time friends Richard & Pauline. The food and service has always been good in all the (many) years we’ve eaten here – and it was great to be back! 👍👍. Burgers all around today and most of us even squeezed in a Pud too! Thanks for …
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Film: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
For us, the most anticipated film of the year! 👍👍 >> Running Time: 154 mins << Synopsis Strangely (and widely reported) there doesn’t appear to be an ‘official’ synopsis for this final outing for ‘Indy’. Not sure why not, so here’s my take on it… “Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary …
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Nutters on Tour 2023 – The Planning
The Northants Nutters (aka, Geoff, Rhonda, Paul, Sue, Ann and yours truly) gathered around ours today to discuss the finer points of our next ‘Nutters’ event. In previous years, we initially restricted ourselves to the UK only centred around the infamous ‘Warner Weekends’… Our first Warner experienceWarner Weekend 2019 – Littlecote House Hotel(March 2019) Our …
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RIP: Pete Murdin
Today, we attended Pete’s Funeral – a long-time friend for us both. Pete hadn’t been well for a while now, in and out of hospital on multiple occasions and because of that, we hadn’t been to see either Pete (or Chris) for a while – we think, pre-Covid was our most recent get-together. The Service, …
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RIP: Peter Juniper
Today, I (and a lot of others) said their final goodbyes to Peter. The service was held at Bluebell Cemetery in Halstead at 11.15 on a gloriously warm day. I met the current Chairman of the OCA, Cortland Fransella, in the car park and we grabbed a cuppa and sat outside reflecting on the man …
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Family Get Together – Hatfield House
Saturday the 17th Time to meet up with our cousins (on Ann’s side) for another of our cultural days out! 👍😀. Afterwards, we’re heading back with Roger, Jane and Oliver for a sleepover. Today we met up at Hatfield House in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Sadly, Chris and Kate couldn’t make it as Kate had injured her …
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