We set of for Matlock quite early for a Saturday – 7.30am. Hopefully that would give us a good journey and get us there for 9.30. We’re staying over until Sunday when we have to get back for the Plumber! (I seem to have single-headedly destroyed the flushing mechanism in the wet-room loo!) We had …
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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!
Doctor Who – Series 8, Episode 10: In the Forest of the Night
A very unusual episode this one – think of the main ‘Who Premise’ (saving the Earth from invading monsters) …and turn it on its head! – and although it did feel like an episode aimed at CBBC rather than mainstream BBC One, there was a certainly a lot going on for kids and adults alike! …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 8) – Final Day
It’s our final day of our holiday in Germany today. We’re travelling to Lübeck – another old town, as well as the home to some massive marzipan manufacture! The weather is the worst we’ve had so far – absolutely chucking it down, and VERY cold too – with the forecast for the rest of the …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 7)
Today’s adventure takes us to the ancient (and we do mean ancient, it was first mentioned in 994 AD!) town of Stade. We’re not sure what to expect, but it looked very nice in the photographs. After another quick breakfast with what seemed like the rest of Germany in the Holiday Inn Express, we took …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 6)
We both enjoyed a good night’s sleep at our new home for the next three days – The Holiday Inn Express, Hamburg. Breakfast was continental or continental – and that suited us fine – although the traffic-light system posted in the lifts for regulating the flow to-and-from breakfast, seemed to have imploded, as it seemed …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 5)
Today, we said goodbye to Berlin and took the train to our next destination – Hamburg. It was the perfect day to leave as the weather was truly atrocious – rain, rain and more rain. If we stayed in Berlin, I’m not sure how we would have spent the day! Getting soaked I reckon!!!! The …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 4)
It’s our last full day here today, before we take the two-hour train journey tomorrow, to Hamburg. The weather forecast is cloudy but at least dry, and we’ve got a few cultural places to visit, so we’ll probably spend most of the day inside. As the day turned out, the weather held, and we did …
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Doctor Who – Series 8, Episode 9: Flatline
Another one of those very creepy episodes, on par with ‘Listen’, earlier in the series. Once again, some fine acting from all concerned, with the twist that Clara and The Doctor swapped roles. But was it any good? Well, I enjoyed it, although I suspect that the internet will probably be buzzing more about the …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 3)
Today’s Blog is brought to you by the colour grey and dark grey! The weather forecast says: cloudy this morning and rain this afternoon – and with that in mind, we decided to explore Berlin on the inside wherever possible. As soon as ventured outside, it looked like it was about to p*** it down …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 2)
Yay! A great night’s sleep. No doubt helped by yesterday’s combo of German wine and what seemed like a very long and exhausting journey getting here! One thing we immediately noticed about our rented city-apartment is how very quiet it is round here. OK, it may be because it’s a Sunday, but there’s not a …
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Holiday – Germany (Day 1)
We were up with the birdies to ensure we got a good run to Birmingham Airport – leaving the house at 5.30am. Weather was atrocious (so, a good week to be leaving the UK), but being a Saturday, at least the roads were fairly quiet. We checked-in at Brum without any problem, but as boarding …
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Lunch with Alison W
Time for my twice-yearly catchup with Alison W, so I drove over to Peterborough heading for the Fox and Hounds. Last time I was there back in September 2013, it was a real challenge actually getting to the Pub itself, because of some very complex roadworks and poor diversion signage (well, that’s my excuse anyway!). …
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Always a Trainer
A very pleasant morning over at Gill’s today, discussing good web design and SEO tactics. Nice bacon sarnies too! 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 …
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Messing about in Boats
I just got back from Buckden Marina, after helping David with the process of ‘winterising’ Osprey One. A nice day weather-wise and I even got watch a chemical toilet being emptied! 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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Doctor Who – Series 8, Episode 8: Mummy on the Orient Express
I’m just not getting into this series at all – and that surprises me! This was a good story, with some great performances, including fan-boy, Frank Skinner, who, acted his socks off, and was believable throughout – and would maybe make a good future companion! I’m not sure what it is, I just feel something …
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“To Infinity and Beyond…”
After last month’s aborted installation of my broadband upgrade from BT, due to “a routing issue”, today is the day when Tynan Close gets its first superfast broadband customer, – that’s me! Finally, after most of us round here suffering for what feels like forever, with crappy internet speeds (1.5 Mb/s on a good day), …
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Doctor Who – Series 8, Episode 7: Kill the Moon
Grand in concept, and publicised and a pivotal episode for the Doctor and Clara, this episode promised much. Science and Fiction – what’s not to like!? Actually, all it gave me was a headache, trying to figure out wtf was going on (I must pay more attention in future!). Some of the special effects were …
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The Derngate – Michael Palin
Fresh from the ‘jolly’ in Birmingham this weekend, tonight we drove over to The Derngate in the evening, to see ‘Travelling to Work’ with Michael Palin. By a spooky coincidence, our friend Sue was there with her son Ben. The evening was pretty good – part one covered his travels as seen through the many …
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5ive Go To… Birmingham
So, here we are again – it’s that time of year, when a few of us Trainers get together for a long weekend of drink, food, drink, drink and culture. We started this now regular event, two years ago in Stratford-upon-Avon, and last year, we visited Bath. It’s the ‘usual suspects’ of Philip P, Antoinette …
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Dining Room
Out with the ‘Old’ Hot on the heels of the Kitchen makeover, is the Dining Room. The final addition – the furniture – was delivered today, and I can now say, we are free from any more makeovers (for at least a month or so!!) …and in with the New Steve PalmerI got into blogging …
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Doctor Who – Series 8, Episode 6: The Caretaker
Hmmmmm, a bit too ‘earth-bound’ for my tastes, although I did find it a strangely interesting storyline – and I loved the word-play between the lead characters. My only wish is that it doesn’t get too ‘soapy’ – The Danny/Clara storyline is already feeling a bit like EastEnders – in a BAD way! Steve PalmerI …
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Birthday 2014 – Steve Serenaded/Men with Pikes/High Points/Low Points/Swans on the Bed/Pigeon Paranoia/East v West/Wow Factor 11
As the title suggests, this year’s birthday celebrations have been especially memorable. Loyal reader, read on… Even before the celebrations began today, I had a rather unexpected birthday-call the previous evening. The phone rang, and I didn’t recognise the number that came up, nor the voice at the other end. The mystery voice immediately sprang …
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Here but not HERE!
Ahh, that’s where it is. Fibre Broadband might be there, but it’s not HERE, if you get my drift. This is the latest piece of tech to have been installed just up the road from us, to finally make Fibre Broadband a reality – but I reckon it’s VIRTUAL reality. Apparently, we’ve almost got it, …
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A Flaw in our Kitchen Plans
OK, do I get ‘pun’ of the year’? At last, the kitchen makeover is almost complete. The floor was completed yesterday and all we’re waiting for now, is the splashback behind the hob, and the swishy red window-sills. Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – …
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Doctor Who – Series 8, Episode 5: Time Heist
Some great acting, superb special effects and a unique ‘stand-alone’ episode that didn’t rely on a story-arc as part of the narrative. So, why did it just NOT do it for me? Apart from the last five minutes or so, where all is revealed, it all just felt a bit bland! – I can’t see …
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Holiday – Domaine de Peyrecaty, Belves, France (Day 4)
It’s our last day here in this most beautiful part of France and whilst Steve and Helen are concentrating on getting ready for their new guests for the coming week, that leaves us to do some more exploring of the surrounding area. We’re off to Villefranche-du-Perigord and then onto the Castle at Bonaguil. Even though …
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Holiday – Domaine de Peyrecaty, Belves, France (Day 3)
It was another very warm night that included a short visit by the resident mossie in the early hours attempting to interrupt our alcohol-infused sleeping pattern. It’s amazing how useful a folded map can be when the need arises! SPLAT! and back to sleep! We re-awoke around 7am, and after switching on the Tablet, learned …
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Holiday – Domaine de Peyrecaty, Belves, France (Day 2)
What a warm night! – even with all the windows open, and because there was no breeze, it just stayed sweaty! It’s only 8am (ish) and just look at the temperature below. As the Sun rose, surprisingly, it actually got a bit cooler, but we could hear thunder in the background. The updated forecast for …
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Holiday – Domaine de Peyrecaty, Belves, France (Day 1)
After getting up at ‘silly-o’clock’, we jumped in the car and headed for East Midland’s Airport, and our flight at 7am to Bergerac Airport, courtesy of Ryanair. On arrival, the airport was heaving – much busier than I remember it back in my working days! In turn, and this added to the pressure at Security. …
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Tynan Close joins the 21st Century (but not today!)
The Mighty ‘BT Home Hub 5’Ancient HistoryEver since we moved here, one of things that made the area unique (apart from the Spinney, the quietness of the area and the great neighbours) was the appalling broadband speed. In the days of dial-up we had a really sloooow connection, and over the years that followed, as …
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