Well, here we are, 100 miles north of yesterday’s soggy visit to Juneau, the capital – we’re now in Skagway, home to just 1000 locals. This town sees almost a million visitors a year and became the largest city in Alaska once gold had been discovered in the Yukon back in the 1890s. 7am: History …
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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!
Canada and Alaska – Part 2, Day 5: Alaska’s Capital – Juneau
The short overnight sailing meant we were in Juneau in good time, docking by the time we woke up. Compared to yesterday’s ‘return to the wilderness’, this place is sophisticated – cars, buildings… and people! (and hopefully, no bears!) On the stroke of 7am, the captain announced we’d been ‘cleared’ – and by 7.01, hoards …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 2, Day 4: Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Today the Ship docked at Icy Strait Point. By air, it’s about 50 miles west of the capital, Juneau, 60 miles north of Sitka, with Hoonah the nearest city. This isn’t your normal cruise destination as the landing area is completely man-made where many of the buildings have only been built in the past few …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 2, Day 3: Ketchikan, Alaska
We arrived in Ketchikan, Alaska around 7a.m. – and a cool 10 degrees! There were two other Cruise Ships also moored alongside us – and the town was clearly ready for the expected increase in trade with their shop doors wide open and the vendors offering plenty of words of encouragement to sample their wares! …
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Doctor Who – Series 10, Episode 9: “Empress of Mars”
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ OK, I watched this whilst getting over a rather nasty virus and I was jet-lagged too! 😵💫 All-in-all, I found it at ‘OK’ episode, but nothing special. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 2, Day 2: Alaska Itinerary
We’re all at sea today, so that gives us plenty of time to get our head around the itinerary for Alaska. Sunday (tomorrow): Ketchikan (bottom right on the map) Monday: Icy Strait Point (not shown, but just left of Juneau) Tuesday: Juneau (Alaska’s capital) Wednesday: Skagway Thursday: At sea – the highlight will be sailing …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 2, Day 1: Heading for Alaska
We checked-out of the Apartment around 11am and booked a taxi to take us to the Cruise terminal. Luckily for us, there was only ONE Cruise Ship in port today – ours!, so our ride was able to drop us off without too much time queuing. In spite of the mandatory fingerprint requirement (of all …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 1, Day 4: Thursday in Vancouver
What a deterioration in the weather compared to all the other days we’ve been here! ‘Chucking it down’ doesn’t begin to describe the amount of rain falling! So, the perfect cue for a ‘Plan B’ of some sort! – somewhere that’s going to put us INSIDE, in the dry, rather than outside! As it’s our …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 1, Day 3: Wednesday in Vancouver
Neither of us slept too well and consequently, we were awake early – drinking tea at 5.30am! On the positive side though, it meant we were one of the first down to breakfast at 7am which meant we got first pick of the pastries! Today’s weather forecast… Scorchio! Given this rather excellent forecast for today …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 1, Day 2: Tuesday in Vancouver
We slept well and by morning, we were fully refreshed and ready to take on the Apartment’s continental breakfast! We arrived just as they were refreshing the stocks of pastries – and I’m pleased to report that they lived up to expectations! After breakfast, our first stop, was a bit of instant retail therapy – …
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Canada and Alaska – Part 1, Day 1: Pre-Cruise, Arrival in Vancouver
Well, this is a big one! There are three parts to our latest adventure and it began with getting the 11.56 out of Kettering – destination Vancouver, Canada! Things didn’t start well! The train was late and after we got to T3 at Heathrow, checked in and boarded the plane, the pilot calmly announced that …
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Doctor Who – Series 10, Episode 8: ‘The Lie of the Land’
Wow! Another great episode – and that’s the truth – although I did feel that the ending was a bit of an anti-climax. Still, at least the leaked images of the ‘regeneration scene’ have now been satisfactorily explained! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – …
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Laptop Coaching: Recap – Google Maps
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: With only about 6 lessons left for this Class, we’re going to use the remaining time we have left to recap a range of topics. Today, it’s a return to using the many features of Google Maps. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my …
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Return to Canon’s Ashby
It was off to National Trust’s Canon’s Ashby today to meet up with Ian and Ann. With a communal picnic arranged and a pukka parking spot for their motor-home just outside the main car-park, we had all the ingredients of a perfect day! We haven’t been here since (we think) since the early 80s, and …
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Doctor Who – Series 10, Episode 7: ‘The Pyramid at the End of the Earth’
Excellent! Best episode in a very long time… and what a cliff-hanger! Steve PalmerI 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 …
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First Visit: The Marquess of Exeter
We headed off to The Marquess of Exeter in Lyddington tonight to meet up with Mick and Jane S. The Pub/Restaurant/Hotel boasts: “One of the finest restaurants, pubs and hotels in Rutland” – so expectations were high! On one of the hottest days of the year so far, what could be better than taking the …
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Laptop Coaching: File Management and Memory Sticks
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we looked at how to organise files and folders using File Explorer. We also covered how to manage files held on a ‘memory stick’. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love …
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Laptop Coaching: Keyboard (Physical and Virtual)
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today we discussed the layout of a typical keyboard and the subtle differences between different laptop manufacturers. We also looked at the benefits of using the virtual keyboard built-in to Windows 10. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – …
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Doctor Who – Series 10, Episode 6: ‘Extremis’
Wow! This was a good one – and I definitely think I’ll re-watch it! Another creepy episode (more than just scary) with twists and turns at every point. It seemed to start quite slowly, but then I learned it’s the first of a three-parter, so I can’t wait until next week’s episode. For me, this …
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Short Break: Beaulieu and Brockenhurst
We slept badly. In an effort to give us a different impression of Winchester, just before midnight, some local drunks had chosen the space under our window to exchange words of wisdom. I can’t recall the details, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a replay of the five-party political debate on TV last night! If …
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Short Break: Gin taster, Win chester!
We headed for Winchester today courtesy of Ann’s friend Nicki – and her gift of a hotel voucher. The route there just happened to take us in the direction of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill (with its own fascinating history). We set off around 9am and pulled into the car-park at Laverstoke Mill just …
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Tablet Coaching: Certification Day
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Congratulations to Robert, Keith, Patsy, Paul and Anita, who completed their final Tablet lesson today and received their Certificates. We celebrated with a few nibbles and discussed a new(ish) feature of Google Maps: ‘Offline use’. All the best! It’s been a pleasure to help you discover more about your …
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Laptop Coaching: Essential Browser Tips
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we looked at the common features of the most popular browsers for Windows 10 – and how to use them. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my …
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Laptop Coaching: Inside your Laptop
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we gave the group a broad understanding of what’s inside their laptop. We then discussed various keyboard layouts and the functions of the most-used keys. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until …
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Doctor Who – Series 10, Episode 5: ‘Oxygen’
I couldn’t watch this episode live as we were travelling back from Hull, so I watched it on Sunday. After last week’s more traditional Who-storyline, designed to have us regularly inspecting the backs of our sofas, this one tapped into TV’s current obsession with the undead and featured a yarn based around zombies – but …
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To Hull and Back
We headed off to Hull today to meet up with our friends, Dennis and Sandra, for a cultural day out! It was an early start – leaving just after 7am – heading for Peterborough Station to pick-up the train to Doncaster and then changing for our final destination. It was a hassle-free journey (although the …
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Blooz News
We drove over to Babe Blooz in Market Harborough tonight to meet up with Ian and Mags. It was all part of our normal three-monthly catch-up where we’ve been a few times before – but not since June 2011! It’s amazing how the years have flown by! The memorable thing about the restaurant the last …
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Tablet Coaching: Recapping – ‘Calendar App’
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: In today’s penultimate lesson for this Class, we continued our recapping sessions and re-visited the versatile ‘Calendar’ App. Filed under: Delivery, Skills Development, Staff Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong …
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Laptop Coaching: Google Search
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: In today’s lesson, we covered the many features of ‘Google Search’. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI 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 …
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Laptop Coaching: Laptop Overview
Auto cross-posted from my WordPress Blog: Today, we continued our ‘tour of a laptop’. We also began to identify individual needs that will form the basis of the Lesson Plans for this group. Filed under: Delivery, Salvation Army, Skills Development, Volunteer Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post …
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