VW Polo – ‘Marco’ We’re lucky enough to have lots of friends – friends, who over the years, have been very generous to us. Today was another of those times when we were ‘bowled-over’ by a someone’s actions. Lee, our good friend of many years, told us today, that after a lifetime of driving, she’s …
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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!
DVD Frenzy (Part 2)
I’m still wading through all the DVDs I got for Christmas and after yesterday’s viewing that left me a tad disappointed, today’s session was much more satisfying. It was only when I was assembling my comments, that I noticed that they all had a single theme in common – alternative/parallel universes. So, if you’re a …
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DVD Frenzy
The weather’s been rubbish, the washing and ironing is done, there’s a new web-site on its way, so there’s nothing left to do but catch-up on all those Christmas DVDs! “Parker”Statham, six-packs and a stetson..oh and quite a bit of blood, but not as much as normal in JS’s films. Nice open-top Bentley Continental out-acts …
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Website Relaunched
After what seems like an infinite amount of time ‘faffing’ around, I have finally completed the redesign of my website – StevePalmer.com. If anyone spots any typos, or something’s not working, I’ll be pleased to hear from you! Thanks! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 …
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Hey Prezzo
After my previous get-together with Ian and Mags at the underwhelming Chimichanga’s back in October last year, this time we headed ‘next-door’ to Prezzo’s – hopefully this was going to be a better experience. I needn’t have worried, as the food was delicious, and given how busy the place was (on a Monday!!!) , others …
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Film: Cuban Fury
After the thoroughly depressing 12 years a Slave, from a month or so ago, we felt that our next visit to the cinema ought to be something a ‘little lighter’! So, we picked up Jo and Janet and headed for local Odeon to see Cuban Fury. Starring Nick Frost and (a rather wrinkled) Ian McShane, …
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Valentine’s Day 2014 – mmmmmm and mmmmmm
Ten-out-of-ten for originality this year as I surprised Ann with a box of personalised M&Ms (courtesy of https://www.mymms.co.uk/). …and by personalised, I mean it’s a photograph and words of your choice etched onto an individual M&M – unfortunately though, they don’t come with reading-glasses! Luckily, a book of love poems and a single red-rose were …
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Holiday – Muscat (Day 5)
Our last day here and we’re planning to sun-worship for as long as we can (before the boring, but necessary task of packing begins this afternoon). But still one last opportunity for indulgence in the shape of a half-price (I am a pensioner!) back-and-shoulder massage in the fully equipped Spa. Actually, it was a smart …
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Holiday – Muscat (Day 4)
Well, 25C is the coldest day so far – but I guess we’ll cope! It’s day 4 of 5 here and we plan to do no planning at all! We took a quick look around the ‘recreated’ heritage village next door and that was a bit disappointing in term of content. It was fun trying …
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Holiday – Muscat – Nizwa Fort (Day 3)
Yes, another early breakfast for us so that we would be ready for Tour Guide at 8am. Then, just as we headed for Reception, we got a call to say his car had broken down and we should be ready for 8.30! Doh!!! He was early – and at 8.20 we zoomed off in a …
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Holiday – Muscat (Day 2)
Sometimes difficult decisions need to be made – even on holiday – so here we are in the gym at 8am!!! Some mistake surely??? Death in Paradise? Even by my standards (very low), this is a well-equipped gym – and better still, it was empty, so no fear of embarrassment either as I fumbled with …
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Holiday – Muscat (Day 1)
Another ‘silly o’clock’ start with the car picking us up at 6.30am to get us to the airport for our 8.50 flight. So, it was Rice Al-Krispies at 5.45am and goodbye to what’s been possibly the best hotel we’ve ever stayed at. The journey to the airport was incident-free and we were soon joining the …
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Holiday – Abu Dhabi (Day 3)
Those that know me, know that I don’t do ‘lie-ins’ – as soon as I’m awake, and the brain kicks in (more slowly these days!), I’m normally up and doing stuff. So, it was quite a surprise that we didn’t get up until 9.30 this morning! Eeeek! that’s nearly lunchtime for me!!! It’s our …
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Holiday – Abu Dhabi (Day 2)
It’s our second day here and we’re off on a conducted half-day tour of Abu-Dhabi.We don’t know much about the place, so it’ll be good to see the ’bigger picture’ given that our first impressions of the people, customs, climate and food have impressed us both in equal measure. So, it was an early breakfast …
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Holiday – Abu Dhabi (Day 1)
Well, here we are at the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Hotel in Abu Dhabi. We’re here until Monday morning and then we fly to Oman. Now. we’ve had a good night’s sleep, we’re going to take a walk around the hotel. First, inside our room: After breakfast and the briefing from the Tour Guide, …
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Delayed Flight!
Our flight to Abu Dhabi had been delayed, but at least we’re on board! Reason given: ‘ice on the runway’ 🙁 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 …
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Holiday – We’re on our way
It’s ‘silly o’clock’ (also known as 3.20 am – yes A.M.!) here in the UK and the ever-reliable ‘John le Taxi’ has arrived to speed us to Heathrow. Next stop is Abu Dhabi and the rather splendid Qaryat Al Beri hotel. Lee is cat-sitting, so all is right with the world! We’re here until Sunday, …
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Cross-posting test
This is a test to see if my Blogs are automatically cross-posted to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you’re reading this on one of those three, then it’s all back to normal and working!!! Steve PalmerI got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! …
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Test Cross-post
Hhhmmmm, I think my blogs aren’t cross-posting to my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages – something needs fixing. If you are seeing this post on any of those sites, I’m WRONG! 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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Website Makeover
The last time I gave my website a makeover was in 2010 – so it’s time for a rethink. Hard to believe, I’ve been working on it since Christmas – and it’s still not quite finished! 😲 Anyway, with the major structure and content now completed (apart from my ‘photography’ page where I still haven’t …
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Theatre Trip – ‘Hello Sailor’
As part of their Christmas present, we took Lee and Denis to see HMS Pinafore at the Royal Auditorium at the Derngate. First stop though was ASK (the Italian restaurant chain), just round the corner. It was pretty busy when arrived just before 1pm, but as we’d pre-booked, we had no trouble getting a table. …
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Film: Twelve Years a Slave
And so, as planned, it was off to the local Odeon this evening to the must-see-film-of-the-moment: 12 Years a Slave. Directed by Steve McQueen (no, not that Steve McQueen, that Steve McQueen) and starring Michael Fassbender and Brad Pitt (who was also part of the production team) – and the not-so-well-known-but-ultimately-the-main-star: Hiwetel Ejiofor. The film …
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Catching up
This was a weekend of catching-up with old(er) friends. Steve and Helen Humphrey joined us (all the way from France) and their holiday-let business on Friday evening and Chris and Gill A joined the four of us on Saturday evening – and together we tackled one of Ann’s super-scrummy three-coursers! (bang goes the diet -and it’s …
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HSL Project – Completed
The HSL (Hall, Stairs and Landing) Project is now completed, and here are some before and after photographs. The Old… Strip away! The New… Sorted! 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 …
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Education, Education… Curry!
I met up with Angela C at King’s Cross and we headed to the Barbican and the Museum of London. This was the first part of our ‘educational’ day in London.The Museum was fab – I haven’t been there for a good 10 years and it’s changed a lot. It was good last time…. but …
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Film: The Railway Man
Ann and I took a rare trip to Kettering Odeon today to see The Railway Man. I say rare as it’s been ages since we both went together – the last time was when we saw Skyfall back in October, last year. The Railway Man was the true story of Eric Lomax, who was one …
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A Tough Month Ahead
Warning! Smug comment alert!!! Looks like a tough month ahead as I try and wade through all the DVDs from Christmas!!! 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 …
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A Fine Fox
Our annual pilgrimage to meet up with Jane and Mick S for pressy-swaps took us back to The Fox Inn in Thorpe Waterville. We’d only been there once before back in April last year, but were so impressed with the food (and the size of the portions), we thought they deserved a return visit! We …
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The Year of the DoDO – 2013
Warning: This blog contains overt references to Doctor Who – those of a nervous disposition should hide behind the sofa! The recent 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who – ‘The Day of the Doctor’ – may have been a global hit, but much more important to me was my first year in retirement – The …
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New Year’s Eve 2013
The Wheatsheaf We drove over to The Wheatsheaf at Titchmarsh for their celebratory NYE meal. We got together a party of ten – Carol, Jo, Janet, Lee, Nick, Celina, Ralph, Karen, Ann and me – and made an evening of it! The food was superb and although we got their relatively early – 8pm – …
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