Sunday – 4 January

We woke to a freezing cold Kettering! It felt much colder than the forecast suggested. Well, at least it was dry!

But we weren’t at home for long, as we’re off to our favourite City – London – where it was a tad ‘warmer’.

We’re with friends, John & Trish and in celebration of Trish’s birthday on Monday, where we’re going to be tourists for a few days! It’s a packed programme!!

With the programme sorted for the next few days, we grabbed the 11.48 out of Kettering. Despite the weather, the train was initially on time, but in true tradition, ended up arriving slightly late into St Pancras International.

1.30pm: We’d booked the 2pm slot at Mail Rail, and because we were now slightly short on time, we decided to grab a cab (instead of taking the Tube/Bus) to drop off our suitcases at the Premier Inn, The Cut, Southwark. I thought I knew that area quite well, but the immediate surroundings seemed to have changed quite a bit, with our Hotel literally next door to the restaurant where we’d booked a table for tonight! It was clearly new to our seasoned Black Cab driver Larry too, who took a few turns to get us to where we needed to be.

1.40pm: With our suitcases safely stored at the Premier Inn, our next stop was Mail Rail at Mount Pleasant, courtesy of Larry and his Cab, ticking over outside.

London’s ‘Mail Rail’

1.58pm: We were on the 2pm timed-ticket and in an example of perfect timing, we arrived with just a few minutes to spare!

We were first here back in December 2023 as part of our Wedding Anniversary celebrations.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with ‘Mail Rail’, we’d totally recommend it. It’s the rail service that ran under the streets of London from 1920 until 2003. These days, it’s a tourist attraction where you can become ‘a letter for 60 minutes’ and experience part of that journey in a ‘converted carriage’. It was a bit cramped, and we recommend just ONE person in the two-seaters (unless it’s a first date! ). It was totally worth the slightly cramped accommodation though!

Part exhibition, part audio-visual presentation, from the comfort of a slightly ‘cramped carriage’, we learned the history of this unique, but valuable part of London’s mail sorting and delivery process. There was plenty to see from the glass-topped carriages – either looking at the well-lit tunnels or in areas where the ‘station’ walls had been repainted white to act as a screen. Great stuff!

It was all very well put together and gave an entertaining and informative account of the importance of this service that processed millions of letters a day at its height.

Want more? After leaving the Train, there was an Exhibition on-site showing a wide range of the mechanical marvels that made up the Mail Rail service. From trains to carriages – and pretty much everything in between!

We weren’t done yet! A quick 5 minute wander up the road, led to The Postal Museum – and a short break for coffee & hot chocolate! Well, HOT was a bit of a stretch for both, but it was wet and warm(ish). Entry to the Exhibition was free, covered by the price of the ticket to Mail Rail (£19ish each).

It wasn’t particularly a large space, but it packed a lot in! The Royal Mail Coach ‘No 105’ was stunning!

Checking in

3.58pm: A short taxi ride later, we were back at our Hotel. The check-in process took no time at all, and the Hotel itself looked like a fairly new development. We were soon grabbing our bags from storage, and taking the lift to the 1st floor. We we in room 144 with our friends, next door in 146.

Tas Restaurant – The Cut

5.20pm: With our table booked for 5.30pm, we braved the cold night air and wandered the 50 metres to the Restaurant!

Ann and I had eaten here before – but not for about 5 years. Prior to that, it had always been a popular destination in my working days. So, no pressure then, in taking a couple of good friends there – their first time! – for a pre-birthday treat, hoping it was as good as it used to be! .

We needn’t have worried! The service and the food especially, was a good as we remember it. Packed with flavour and lovingly presented.

A really great experience all round! I remember now why I ate here on so many occasions back in the noughties!

7.10pm: We were stuffed – and none of us had managed a Dessert either! . We all agreed that a walk in the cold night air would help us all ‘work off’ at least some of the food we’d just enjoyed.

The area around here has certainly changed. Gone was the very busy road that I recalled some 20 years ago! A closer inspection revealed that, as we headed towards Waterloo, the main drag, or at least part of it, had been made a no-car zone! It gave the area a more tranquil, relaxed (and quiet) feel – we liked it, we like it a lot! . We passed the Young Vic, The Old Vic, Waterloo Station and got almost as far as Blackfriars Bridge before turning around and heading back in the direction of the Hotel. The area was really buzzing!

8.02pm: Twenty minutes later, we were in striking distance of the Hotel, but it was still quite early! We headed for a nightcap opposite the Hotel – The Bar & Block Steakhouse. I’d not heard of the chain before, but inside looked very welcoming, even if it was a little quiet (it was Sunday evening!). Our breakfast, courtesy of Premier Inn, is here for the rest of our stay, so we’ll have a more rounded view of the venue in a few days.

Still, it would have been rude not to try it out for ‘research purposes’, where a few Gins and a Bailey’s later, our research had begun! .

We left Trish & John to continue the quality control whilst we headed for our room to unpack and grab an early night! It had been a great first day and tomorrow is an even busier one! We’ve a tour of the new Guinness Factory, a boat trip down the Thames, a look at the newly refurbished Battersea Power Station and finally a ‘birthday inspired’ Indian meal at Dishoom in Battersea. Phew!

10.05pm: Nighty night!

Monday – 5 January (Birthday Girl!)

6.05am: We woke to another chilly one! Luckily, the walk from our Hotel to breakfast required only about 5 seconds in the open air! . It was Trish’s Birthday today and a packed day followed, although we postponed our visit to the Transport Museum to give the day a more relaxed feel.

8.05am: Time for Breakfast! We thought we were quite early, but the Steakhouse was already busy when we arrived just after 8. You can’t beat a Premier Inn Breakfast for variety – and it’s even better when it’s rolled into the price of the stay! We ate healthily (for some of us, at least, initially) and that set us up perfectly for our walk to Covent Garden.

Guinness Brewery Tour (Covent Garden)

This new Guinness Brewery only opened late last year, and it was no ordinary opening! To be precise, on the 18th December 2025, His Majesty The King arrived to officially cut the ribbon on the £73m Guinness Open Gate Brewery London in the heart of Covent Garden.

10.15am: After a quick look around the Merchandise area (kerrching!!!), we headed for the entrance to the Brewery Tour. After being supplied with hi-viz jackets, we were ready, where Colm introduced himself as our Tour Guide.

We learned such a lot about the process of manufacturing the perfect Guinness. Ironic then, that NONE is made here. Yes, you read that correctly. Covent Garden Brewery is actually the innovation hub for the brand, where they look and develop NEW Guinness products! . Factoid of the Day? Every Guinness has 300,000,000 bubbles! (Nope, me neither!)

Next on the Tour was the opportunity to taste-test some of Covent Garden’s non-Guinness products. It was well run, where we had four different products to taste. They were ALL delicious, but the majority of us preferred the IPA (bottom row, in the middle).

After the tasting session, there was an opportunity to learn how to pull the perfect pint of Guinness! . We all did very well, and we spent the next hour-or-so, sampling our wares!

Four perfect pints pulled – and tasted! Next stop? Battersea Power Station. We could have used the Tube, but instead, we decided to take the Thames Clipper service from Westminster. It was a bit of a hike, and cold too, but we knew we were all the better for the 25-minute trot!

Battersea Power Station

1.15pm: It was only a fifteen-minute journey (and much more scenic than the Tube!)

1.30pm: We seemed to arrive in a flash, and after a short walk to the interior, we all agreed that a light snack would be in order . Paris Baguette was our choice!

Up the Chimney!

Suitably refreshed, it was then a short wander to the Chimney. Ann and I had been here before, back in July 2023 with David & Valerie, but it was good to have a second opportunity to see some unrivalled views across the capital.

3.05pm: After a thorough look around the exhibition that explained the history of Battersea Power Station, we were ready to ascend! Weather-wise, it was the perfect day for the spectacular view across and around London.

It didn’t disappoint! . We now had some time to kill before our Curry, so we looked for a Café nearby! That was easy! Just a few doors away from our Delhi destination – Tozi ticked all the boxes.

It worked perfectly! We got out of the cold for about an hour, and we were also close to our next stop!

Dishoom Restaurant

5.00pm: It was already busy when we arrived – surely a good sign!

Newbies beware! The main food menu isn’t laid out in a traditional sense and took some getting used to. It’s ‘all in there’, it was just a question of finding it!!

After last night’s outstanding meal, err, ANOTHER outstanding meal! They really did impress here tonight. The food was delicious, and the service was lightning fast without making us feel that we were hurried. By the time we left just before 6.30, the place was absolutely heaving, so we wondered what they’re like on a Thursday or Friday!

In a final flourish, they presented Trish with her ‘Happy Birthday’ Dessert!

6.30pm: We headed for the Clipper pier at Battersea, just a 10-minute walk away and were soon saying goodbye to a beautifully lit, almost silhouetted, Battersea Power Station – a great memory for Trish! . As we departed the Clipper at Blackfriars, we noticed something strange! It seemed like we had London all to ourselves. In fact, thinking back to the day as a whole, the capital had been very quiet – hardly any people and certainly a lack of traffic. Was it the weather? The time of year? Who knows?

7.45pm: We’d walked quite a few miles today, and so we said goodnight to Trish & John and headed back to our room. It’s a packed programme tomorrow that includes the Churchill War Rooms and the Globe Theatre.

Tuesday – 6 January

6.05am: Morning all! A quick look out of the window confirmed it’s another cold one!

After a hearty breakfast at the now familiar ‘Block & Stone’ Steakhouse opposite, we made our way, by Tube, to the Churchill War Rooms.

Churchill War Rooms

9.55am: Hidden beneath Westminster, the Churchill War Rooms was the secret underground HQ of the PM during the Second World War. Now augmented by a wide range of exhibits, it tells the story of the PM during this wartime period in the greatest of detail. It’s a popular place, and we had a timed ticket for 10am.

The experience is split into two distinct halves. First, there are various rooms where the Cabinet and support staff met (and often slept!). Second, the remaining space is the exhibition devoted to Churchill’s life. The whole process was helped by the optional commentary via personal headsets – these were a must, as there is a mind-boggling amount of information to absorb. I felt that it’s typically one of those exhibitions where a second or even third visit makes sense .

There was plenty to see here – more than we expected, and for Ann and me, it certainly felt like they’d added to the already comprehensive history of this iconic war leader since we were last here in 2017. Whatever your views of Winston, he certainly lived a full and colourful life and got the country through what is often called our ‘darkest hour’. I’m not sure there are many Politicians around now with that much mental (and physical) stamina! Given his larger-than-life persona, it was advised to allow more than 2 hours to take it all in – we could have done with even more time by the time we left at 11.45.

Next stop? The Globe Theatre. We’d originally planned to walk, but the weather had deteriorated, and we took the Tube instead!

It turned out to be one of our wiser decisions as down came the snow. Yes, snow in London! I can’t recall the last time I saw that!

Globe Theatre Tour

In spite of being slowed down by the appalling weather as we took the short walk from the Tube station and across the ‘wobbly (and now slippery) bridge’, we arrived in good time.

There were around a dozen of us in the group, and we were all looking forward to our ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour of The Globe.

Gerard introduced himself as our Tour Guide, and in the next hour, he impressed us all with his knowledge about the rise, fall, rise, fall and rise of this well-known building! We’d last been here with mates, Ralph & Karen, back in August, 2007 to see Othello. Since then, we noticed something about the Stage area had changed. Gerard confirmed that it had been ‘decorated’ based on further research some years ago.

What an amazing building… and the amazing story that led to its ‘resurrection’! Gerard certainly did a great job in keeping us engaged and it was clear that he was an actor ‘between projects’. We’ve certainly been blessed with excellent Guides during our time here in the Capital – thanks Gerard!

Tourists in need of Shelter!

1.55pm: As we exited The Globe, we all agreed it was now much colder than yesterday. Luckily The Swan, next door, was open and we took refuge in there for an hour-or-so (and based on yesterday’s visit to the Guinness Factory, assessed the Barman’s skills at pulling a pint!). Phew! We needed that!

A Wander…

2.30pm: With our circulation restored, we set off for a wander along the Thames Path, close to the seaworthy replica of The Golden Hinde and towards Borough Market.

Borough Market

2.45pm: As expected, the Market was heaving – and it was only Tuesday! Although it was good to look around, ideally, we were looking for somewhere to sit down and eat. There was plenty to eat, but seats? Not so much!!! Even the local Pubs didn’t tickle our tastebuds, especially as Trish had a fishy wish for Salmon .

Lunch

3.10pm: We backtracked from Borough Market and stumbled into The Old Thameside Inn (right next to the Golden Hinde).

It was virtually deserted inside, and the need to order via an App made it an experience where we almost got to the end of the meal without conversing with any of the staff! (and if that’s the future, I don’t like it, especially as the App asked if we wanted to add a tip!). What we DID like however, was the food! Trish got her Salmon, whilst we three tucked into their Pies – Steak for Ann and Beef Rib, Shin & Brisket for John and me. Good to see that my carrots were arranged to imitate the famous Chuchillian gesture!

Southwark Cathedral

4.15pm: I’m not sure where the day had gone, but it was now getting dark, and we finished off our day by visiting the nearby Southwark Cathedral. Dating back to 1106, it used to be called the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie. No wonder attendances at Church are dropping!!

Splendid architecture! Well worth visiting, although the smell of stagnant water/blocked drains as we entered was a bit of a turn off!

5.00pm: By the time we left, the weather outside had lost all traces of the mini-blizzard from earlier in the day. It was still colder though, and we quickened our step.

5.35pm: We walked back to the Premier Inn, passing the Tate Modern and my old watering hole The Founders Arms and the rather impressive Blackfriars Station, whose platforms now dominate the skyline. After dropping into the Tesco Express near the hotel for some essentials, we ended our day at the now-familiar Block & Stone opposite the Premier Inn, for a nightcap.

Wow! What a day! It had been a busy one – but in a good way. The snowy conditions as we approached The Globe surprised us (as well as the numerous joggers in t-shirts and shorts!), but it had all been totally worth it.

The Tower of London tomorrow!

Wednesday – 7 January

A change of plan this morning! Due to a situation at home, our friends now needed to get back to Kettering much earlier. We postponed the Tower of London and the rest of today’s itinerary until another time.

Bye-bye London!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post London Calling! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Morning All! It’s our last day in Margate today . Before we take the Train back to reality later this afternoon , we had a list – albeit a short one – of a few more places to visit here!

Welcome to ‘Day 4’ loyal Reader! – good to have you back – final day, final Post!

On our list is the nearby Turner Contemporary and the famous Shell Grotto. Thanks to all of you who suggested the latter as a ‘must-see’. We’re mostly inside today, but at least we can enjoy the weather on the walk to our first stop.

10.45am: We checked-out and headed for our first stop. The Sun was now out making it perfect day for a walk and taking in our final views of Margate Seafront and Harbour (just!).

Turner Contemporary

11.10am: The building dominates the skyline here and it’s therefore impossible to miss!

Opened in 2011, Turner Contemporary is an art gallery intended as a contemporary arts space and catalyst for the regeneration of the town. The title commemorates the association of the town with noted landscape painter J. M. W. Turner, who went to school there, and visited throughout his life.

For the size of the building, there didn’t seem to be much to see! The more observant of you will have immediately spotted that there’s more than one building, but we just looked in the first.

Thirty minutes later, across the Ground and First Floor, all we could say was: “Well, that was all a major disappointment!” . Whilst we all appreciated the creativity clearly in evidence here, there just wasn’t much to see – a real waste of the public space and a missed opportuniy IMHO! . We hoped our next stop would be more interesting!

Shell Grotto

It was!

11.58am: After a fifteen-minute stroll, we arrived at the Grotto. All we’d read was that it is an ornate subterranean passageway full of shells. Almost all the surface area of the walls and roof is covered in mosaics created entirely of seashells, totalling about 2,000 square feet of mosaic, or 4.6 million shells.

Admission was £4.50 for the youngster and £4 for the rest of us. Even before we went in, this place looked interesting!

Shell we go in?…

There was a helpful information area just before we descended, where it explained the history of this unusual attraction.

The detailed backstory revealed that the Grotto was a real mystery! Nothing was known about WHO created it, nor WHY or HOW! In some respects, it all sounded a bit ‘Stonehenge’ where, in its own way, had the same ‘Wow!’ factor albeit on a smaller scale.

It was 30 metres/100 feet in length and contained 4.6 million shells

It was fascinating! . Well worth the visit, even if they doubled or even tripled the entry fee, we still would have visited! All the more fascinating because of the lack of information about its reason for being! Here are some of the mysterious facts we learned:_

– Discovered by chance in 1835
– Grade-I listed
– No documentation found about it prior to its discovery
– Some theories suggest it was a Roman Villa or an 18th century folly or built by the Knight’s Templars

Just ONE world really to describe this place…

WOW!

This is is a must-see, but it left us with more questions than answers. Who?, When? but perhaps mostly, Why?

12.15pm: A quick glance at our watches suggested it was time to head in the general direction of the Station if we were to make our various connections. As it was also almost ‘coffee o’clock’, we headed back to the seafront in search of a sit-down.

1.04pm: A 99 (with obligatory flake), a banana milkshake, a Caramel Magnum and a Coke Zero (cheers Sue!), it did the job for us, and with batteries recharged, we were ready for the final push.

We headed back towards the Premier Inn to retrieve our luggage and said our final farewell to Margate.

Well, that’s it for this visit! Goodbye Margate, it’s been good getting to know you! You were a town of contrasts:- Old/New… Loved/Unloved… Hot/cold… ‘Buzzy’/deserted!… We’ll miss you!

1.39pm: We’re on the Train! It’s a slightly different return route allowing our driver to show off the potential of the HS1 track… An hour later, the Train was flexing its muscles!!!

Next stop St Pancras International and then Kettering! See you on the other side!

Missed a Post?

Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3

Photo Reel HERE (No chat!)

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Holiday: Margate (Day 4) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Morning all After last night’s celebrations, I’m feeling just a little frayed around the edges! . I think it’s a combination of too much food, too much drink and too much fun! I know… ‘poor love!’

9.40am: Consequently, it was an agreed later start for us all this morning and by the time we all met for breakfast, I was almost human again! . The promise to myself of ‘no more food ever’ after last night’s stuffing was a faded memory, as I tucked into a Full English courtesy of our hosts, Premier Inn. C’mon, you can’t fault the food here in terms of variety and quality!

Wow! Whitstable!

11.31am: After breakfast, we took the train (a Javelin), as planned, heading West to Whitstable. The town is an affluent area with trains direct to/from London.

It’s therefore no surprise that many people from the capital have second homes in Whitstable. The population is around 32000, and it’s expanding!

It was only a 15-minute journey, and so it was over in a flash. At £13.40 Return in total for both of us (using a RailCard), it was great value too. Better still, we had the pick of the seats as it wasn’t very busy. We weren’t sure that was usual for Saturday, but it was good not to have to wrestle any crowds.

We weren’t 100% sure of which direction to head once we left Whitstable Station, but the signage helped! It was about a fifteen-minute brisk walk, but the weather today was even better than the forecast. When the Sun came out, so did the locals and we almost didn’t need top coats.

Whitstable Market

There were about a dozen stalls here selling food, art and oysters! In fact, it’s maybe no surprise that in these parts, oysters for sale are pretty much everywhere.

Looking out from the Harbour made for a dramatic photo where the good weather helped! In the distance? The Isle of Sheppey.

Today was turning into a gorgeous day, and we could feel the Sun beating down on us – although when it went in, we were glad to have coats as the breeze off the water made it a contrasting experience.

12.10pm: We continued our walk along the Harbour and then towards the Town itself via the ‘old part’. Judging by the number of people – and dogs! – it was a popular pastime for a Saturday afternoon! Did I mention ‘oysters’?

12.55pm: Pitstop! or ‘coffee o’clock’ as we Nutettes like to call it!

We grabbed a seat in the very popular Revival – the town’s ‘Family-Friendly Cafe and Mental Health Hub’. An unlikely combination, but it was certainly popular. Ann and I recommend the Jaffa Cake, inspired by a traditional Jaffa Cake biscuit but super-sized into a full-blown gateaux-like creation . Free wifi too, together with probably the most vibrant and interesting wall decoration you’ll ever see.

1.25pm: With the variety of wall decorations still burned into our retinas, but with our tummies full, we said goodbye to Revival and decided to explore the High Street. I don’t think we were prepared for the sheer number of shops – and the variety!

Well-known chains nestled in amongst lesser-known independents, together with Pubs (plural!), a Theatre and at least a dozen or more Eateries. It took us about 20 minutes to cover the length of the High Street and then, of course, another 20 on the other side of the road. It was busy too! Yes, it was a Saturday, but there was a real buzz about Whitstable. We loved it!!

The type of independent shop suggested there was money here – and that was confirmed by the sheer number of posh cars and the obligatory personalised number plates. Looking back, I don’t recall seeing any Vape Shops at all! Surely a good sign in itself!

Heading back…

We left Paul & Sue to continue exploring whilst we four headed for the Station. It had been a great day looking around and I’m sure we’ll be back sometime in the future.

2.57pm: We were soon back at the Premier Inn and with plenty of time to recharge our batteries (both personally and our phones too!). We were out on the Town tonight.

The George and Heart, Margate

Tonight consisted of a twenty-minute walk to a local Pub for a meal in their Restaurant.

It was a very pleasant walk to our destination – even the occasional biting breeze that had greeted us a few days ago, when we first arrived, had taken the evening off. The Pub was quite old judging by the lowish ceilings and its general dimensions and layout, but we were given a warm greeting and were soon perusing the menu.

Menu-wise, unlike many Pubs these days, the choices were limited, and that was probably a good thing given the size of the kitchen opposite where we were seated. Happily, the service was beyond excellent! and I feel a TripAdvisor Review coming on for all the right reasons! Top marks for the food too, that went down a treat – so much so, that I forgot to take any photos of the Mains! Doh!

It was good to see the Pub so busy, and it had a really good ‘Saturday Night vibe’ about it. But to confirm that I AM definitely getting old (older?) it was noisy… really noisy! Mostly from the table of 20 just along from where we were sitting. Still, they were having a good time and so were we – and it didn’t stop us enjoying our evening!

8.50pm: We settled up, and took a slow wander back to the Premier Inn.

Saturday night in Margate! Like most towns and cities, it was one of contrasts. In places, it was eerily quiet with not a soul in sight, whilst elsewhere, music (and people!) were spilling out onto the streets enjoying the local food and drink. As we passed the town’s Wetherspoons, opposite the seafront, it was almost deserted inside. Once we passed the Clock Tower, the sight of any Saturday night revellers became a very rare sight indeed. That whole ‘Saturday Night vibe’ that we’d experienced earlier, had now sadly disappeared, replaced by a quiet, more tranquil opportunity for an evening stroll. Suited me!

Once back at the Premier Inn, we grabbed a nightcap and reflected on the day. It had been another good one, but we concluded that if you are staying in Margate and looking for a vibrant night scene, it WASN’T in the area that we were!

9.50pm: Just one drink later and we were all done!

Tomorrow

We travel home tomorrow, but as it’s a later Train, we’re going to make the most of the morning by visiting the Turner Contemporary and if we have time, the famous Shell Grotto.

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Holiday: Margate (Day 3) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Happy Birthday to me! . We’re with Paul & Sue in Margate for a few days, soaking up the sights and sounds of a town I’ve never been to before! Richard & Nicki are joining us after Breakfast.

Birthday Breakfast

9.20am: Paul & Sue joined us for my Birthday breakfast. They surprised with me with some gifts to celebrate my special day too! Lucky me!!

10.25am: After breakfast, we headed for the nearby Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum. It was only a short distance away, and we grabbed a cab from the Station next door. Luckily, there was one already there, driven by Hassan – and as the day would unfold, he would become our new BFF.

Spitfire and Hurricane Museum

10.45am: We were soon at our destination where, from that point on, Hassan became our ‘driver for the day’!

The Memorial Museum is situated on one of the very few surviving airfields that participated in the Battle of Britain – RAF Manston. Its location meant it was only 10 minutes from occupied France but it also bore the brunt of Luftwaffe attacks in the early days of WWII.

We met Richard & Nicki and the six of us began to explore the Museum. If you love the shape and sound of Spitfires as much as I do, this is one of the few places where it’s possible to get ‘up close and personal’ to these iconic warbirds.

The main attraction of the Museum was a fully restored a Spitfire Mk XVI and similarly, a Hurricane Mk IIc.

With a bit of PRE-booking it’s possible to try out their flight simulator to pilot either a ‘Spit’ or a Lancaster. Sadly, we hadn’t, and both were fully booked today. . Meanwhile, in the other half of the Museum, the Hurricane awaited.

We all agreed that it had been a great visit! There was plenty to see, where it was all presented in easily digestible ‘bite-sized chunks’. There were plenty of staff on hand too – all Volunteers, but better still, it was a free entry! It was one of those Museums that really should charge for entry, even if it’s only a fiver . Definitely worth a look, if you’re in the area.

Broadstairs

11.32am: Hassan picked us up in double-quick time, and we headed for Broadstairs. He took us, by mutual agreement, on a slightly convoluted route. Originally from Turkiye and now a local (for 15 years), he wanted to show us how the area was being decimated by all the new house building. We’re used to that back at home, but this was in a different league! New builds EVERYWHERE, it seemed. We also saw the massive out-of-town retail park called ‘Westwood Retail Park’ in the middle of the Isle of Thanet. It was simply enormous, and easily explains why the town ‘centres’ of Ramsgate and Margate are struggling.

12.05pm: We were soon mooching around Broadstairs. It was coldISH, but we were suitably dressed for the occasion. The town was busier than Margate, and we got a sense that it was more affluent than its neighbours – and certainly very popular for dogs! Like the new builds earlier, they were everywhere!

If I only ever remember one thing about Broadstairs, it’ll be its gorgeous beaches – there’s sandy beaches and very sandy beaches and then there’s Broadstairs! Fantastic!!

It was great, just wandering around, soaking up the sights. In addition to the beauty of the beaches, the town looked good too. Many of the buildings were quite old and from an architectural point of view, very interesting to look at. We even saw a Church that date back to the 11th century.

Elevenses in Broadstairs

12.20pm: Elevenses? Well, it was close! It was still somewhat breezy out there so we sought refuge in the nearest eatery – The Pavilion (& Garden on the Sand).

Not quite the full complement of ‘Northants Nutters’ (Geoff & Rhonda are sunning it in Cyprus!)

Service was swift, and we were soon assembling our table for six before tucking into some delicious mid-morning snacks. We spent about an hour there before deciding to continue our exploration of the town and a beach walk too around the area of of Louisa Bay.

1.15pm: The beach, maybe understandably, was pretty much deserted except for a few brave souls taking in the view out to sea. We couldn’t see anyone actually in the sea, but it was easy to imagine how busy the area would be during the Summer months.

Yes, Broadstairs certainly got our vote today, even if the weather could have been warmer! Not only did the area look affluent, so did the seagulls! Easily about twice the size of ones I’d seen elsewhere!

As we wandered away from Louisa Bay and towards the shopping area, we could see that the town appeared to be in rude health. There were plenty of people shopping (including US stocking up on Lottery tickets for the big draw tonight!) and the numerous eateries, easily outnumbering what we’d seen in Margate, were all doing very well, thank-you.

We liked Broadstairs!

A quick call to Hassan and we were soon heading back to the Premier Inn. On the journey back, we took a slight diversion to learn more about the area. Just coming out of Broadstairs, we passed ‘Millionaires Row’ (not its proper name, but you get the picture!) a very long development of properties where the very rich people of the area reside. Not only gated, it had security barriers too, as if to say: ‘Begone, riff-raff! Next stop took us past the Lido and Botany Bay Beach and then onward through the area of Cliftonville. Hassan explained that a lot of the ‘proper English’ shops had already closed here, although to me, the area still looked quite busy.

On a more positive front, as we approached the now familiar seafront area of Margate, Hassan explained that things could be on the up here. For those of you who have fond memories of the area, it seems that there has been significant investment in the area in recent times. As an example, Hassan pointed out about five retail units that until recently, had been boarded up – were now trading under new owners

2.55pm: As we arrived back at the Premier Inn, we said our farewells to Hassan, as Richard & Nicki arrived around the same time. A quick hello and then time for ‘feet up’ for a short while before my Birthday celebrations began.

Pre Dinner Dwinkies

5.20pm: It was all around to ours for some Birthday fizz! As six of us attempted to cram into an area designed for two, we were soon beginning the celebrations!

6.15pm: Time to jump aboard the Taxi for the short ride to my Birthday celebration.

Secret Spices Restaurant

6.32pm: Here we are at ‘Secret Spices’ a well-known Indian Restaurant in Margate. You can’t beat a good curry – especially on your Birthday!

The slightly tired exterior gave way to a very modern interior, and on looking through the menu, we knew immediately we were in for something ‘a little different’. The ‘Staff Curry’ and ‘Dangerous Curry’ immediately stood out! Nice prices too!

There was a bit of a wait for our food to arrive, but it was worth it! It gave us time to look at their numerous awards!

The obligatory pile of Poppadoms made their appearance, and tempted by the ‘Dangerous Curry’ on the menu, Nicki and I asked for a small sample of the sauce, to act as an accompaniment.

As Richard, Nicki and I dived in, we could immediately see how it got its name. The spiciness didn’t ‘hit’ immediately, it was more of a slow burn – but when it did, what a burn!! Most of us like it hot, but even we thought that a WHOLE CURRY with this as the sauce, would be too much!

The above is just a small sample of the food we’d ordered. Typically, we had all chosen too much, and with the rice and the various naan breads, we almost needed a bigger table! But ‘over-ordering’ is all part of the fun isn’t it!? It was certainly a meal to remember – for all the right reasons – and good to be sharing it with friends.

No Indian Meal would be complete without the usually appalling Dessert choice – and judging by the menu, it all looked pretty ‘usual’. But do you know what? For the few of us who had room, our choices were delicious! . And if that wasn’t enough, my scheming friends had arranged an ‘extra’ something spookily accompanied by the restaurant’s dimmed lights and supporting soundtrack by 50 Cent: ‘It’s your Birthday!’ Luckily for my friends and the other guests in the restaurant, I chose not to dance to it, preferring to concentrate on the ‘gift of Cheesecake’!

8.55pm: The time passed quickly, and even though we’d allowed 2½ hours, it ended all too soon. Not surprisingly, we were all full, and I vowed never to eat food ever again! (yeah, right!)

And when I said: “I’ll never eat food again” that didn’t include drinking. We grabbed our Taxi and headed back to the Premier Inn – and their Bar!

9.05pm: What a perfect end to the evening! Chilling out over a drink or two with friends! Thanks for sharing my day with me. We’d seen a lot, eaten a lot and were especially appreciative of Hassan (and later, his son Burak) who did much more than just ‘taxi us’ around today. Another example of the ‘kindness of strangers’ and as I said goodbye to the last of my ‘sixty something’ Birthdays, somehow, it made the day even more special

I have no idea what time this Birthday Boy eventually went to bed – 10.30pm maybe? Today, for once, I was almost a ‘Party Animal’ . Almost!! Nighty-night!

Tomorrow

We’ve got plans to head off to Whitstable by train and maybe nearby Herne Bay, if time allows. We’ve also got another celebratory meal booked at the George and Heart in Margate in the evening. See you then!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Holiday: Margate (Day 2) – Birthday Boy (2025) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Canada, Greenland, Iceland and now Margate. My travel dreams are fulfilled!

Margate is a seaside town on the southeast coast. Although Mum and Dad were great sandy beach lovers, they preferred the south coast resorts instead, so that’s where I spent most of my summer holidays in my younger years.

As a result, I’ve NEVER been to Margate, where ironically, it’s also known for its sandy beaches. We want to make the most of our short stay here and there’s a few nearby museums and the famous Turner Contemporary Art Gallery. There’s the iconic ‘Dreamland’ with vintage rides as well as the ‘old town’. So, plenty to see, but I hope the weather holds!

We set off from home by boarding the 11.19am out of Kettering. We’re sharing the trip with great mates Paul & Sue heading for St Pancras International. Ben was good enough to pick us up, and we were soon on the platform waiting for the train.

The second and final part of our journey was a short walk to the other side of St Pancras to grab a ‘Javelin’ high-speed train – the 12.40 -that would whisk us to our destination. What could possibly go wrong!?

Well, plenty! Our train was cancelled and the legions of customer service staff weren’t exactly falling over themselves to explain the alternatives! Eventually, a CSA pointed us to… another CSA who pointed to the screen. Thanks, South Eastern Trains, we couldn’t have done it without you!

The next train was at 1.20 and so with about 40 minutes to wait, we grabbed a seat on the platform and tucked into our pre-prepared light lunch!

Thankfully, our train arrived and left on time and so we continued our nutritious lunch on board!

It was ponderous journey! I thought the train would be reaching speeds of a 100mph plus, but it topped out at just under 90 for just the final few miles.

2.59pm: Hello Margate!

Our later train meant it was ‘perfect timing’ for our 3pm check-in as our hotel was just a few minutes walk from the railway station.

We were soon checking-in and receiving the keys for our rooms at the Premier Inn.

It wasn’t the most attractive of views, but purely from a functional perspective, it ticked all the boxes as it was close to the beach, the eateries, and the town itself.

Actually, the drab exterior betrayed the modern interior and we were very impressed with our room. Thirty-minutes later, with our accommodation sorted, we headed for the town to orient ourselves.

The Seafront

4.03pm: We hit the seafront. It was cold and windy, but we braved the elements and no-one died of exposure!

On the plus side, Margate has super-sandy beaches. However, looking around the seafront, it all looked a bit ‘tired’ and unloved – such a shame!

Old Margate

Away from the seafront, we explored the back streets of the old town. Again, somewhat sad in places with a lot of boarded-up shops with the plethora of vape outlets.

Pre Dinner Drinks

Actually, it was all a bit sad and depressing. Maybe fifty years ago, this whole area would have been a much more vibrant area, but not today! .

4.45pm: We chilled out in the Premier Inn’s Bar before taking the short (but very windy) back into town looking for somewhere to eat.

Margate Menu!

We’d spotted this one on our earlier walk around the town. In truth, we didn’t find that many places to eat, but we all fancied Fish & Chips, and this one ticked all the boxes – The Sunset Fish Bar.

A great plaice!

It was very quiet and initially, we were the only customers! We were even offered our drinks for free! – and that suited us!! . The service was swift and shortly after our arrival a group of about six arrived to swell the numbers. The food was all freshly cooked and the portions were generous.

8.25pm: We all agreed that it had been a great meal. The only disappointment that they didn’t have ANY of the advertised Desserts – depriving me of my daily ‘choc fix’!

As we wandered back to the Premier Inn, we commented how quiet the town was! It was sad to see that the iconic Margate was looking somewhat forgotten wit hhardly anyone else on the streets. Maybe it’ll come alive tomorrow night and over the weekend?

8.50pm: On arriving back at the Premier Inn, we left Paul & Sue to test the Bar’s nightcaps, whilst we headed back to our room.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day for me… 69 years young – and we have plans. I have a celebratory Indian Meal in the evening with Paul, Sue and fellow Nutters, Richard & Nicki who are joining us in the morning, heading for the nearby Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum. If time allows there’s also the Hornby Museum aka ‘WonderWorks’, too!

Nighty-night!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Holiday: Margate (Day 1) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Tonight, we headed off to the famous Brockleby’s Pies – where else but in Melton Mowbray!

Jo and Janet brought me a ‘Pie Making Experience’ voucher for my birthday in 2024, but it’s only now that I’ve got around to redeeming it. Luckily, Ann came along too, guaranteeing at least one masterpiece!

It was a slow journey there – just 40 miles – but it took over an hour! However, we were first to arrive and had the pick of the massive car-park adjacent to Brockleby’s HQ! By 6.25pm we joined the 14 other willing souls about to exercise their pie-making skills in the official Brockleby’s production kitchen. After a quick snackette of (what else!) a pork pie and a coffee, we were ready.

Nigel, our Pie-Maker-in-Chief, introduced himself and after a short, but thorough ‘housekeeping’ session, he began the session with a short history of Melton Mowbray’s most famous export. Then, it was eyes down and hands-on for the rest of the evening. We were all enthusiastic about adding to our skill set tonight where even the hammering of the heavy rain on the roof didn’t distract us .

We’d all brought our own aprons, but then something terrifying appeared – authentic Brockleby’s hair nets! They were necessary, but it wasn’t a good look!

Nigel then got into the detail of the evening, formally introducing the two-hour session. We’d be using raw ingredients from the off and inside the allotted time, we would finish with an authentic Melton Mowbray Pork Pie. He explained the process in digestible bite-sized chunks, but whether our pies would be the same, only time would tell.

The most important tool of the evening was the ‘dolly’. Looking like a early product from Ann Summers (oh, just me then!) it was to prove essential in the production process. Made from rare tulipwood (nope, me neither!) its surprisingly simple design helped us turn a lump of ‘hot water’ pastry into something that looked almost… beautiful!

Flour was our constant friend as we fashioned the pastry around the dolly.

Slowly, it all came together – from a lump of pastry to an immediately identifiable Pork Pie in just six stages!

The pastry, initially quite tough, became very pliable as we worked it into shape. As we progressed, not only were we scrutinising our own work, but we were also looking at our fellow pioneering efforts. Do you know what? They all looked good. Thanks, Nigel! With just flour, water, a spoon and of course, the dolly, we’d created something that we all felt exceeded our expectations.

As Nigel made his final inspection, and after placing our creation in the official Brockleby’s box, it looked good enough to eat (but only after we’ve baked them at home and added the jelly) .

By 8.35, it was all over. Nigel allowed us to ‘raid the freezer’ and purchase some ‘proper’ Pies at heavily discounted prices – we duly obliged and left with a Cocky Leeky , a Wild Deer and a slightly less annoyed Scrumper’s Pie (aka Apple & Blackberry). Yum yum!

The Sat-Nav kept things interesting going home by taking us on a different (but faster) route, and we were indoors just before 10pm.

Things we learned…
– How to make an authentic Melton Mowbray Pork Pie (obviously!)
– Brockleby’s is a small operation. Just 13 staff work there on pie production
– They don’t make pies for anyone else
– Their Pork Pies are all handmade – no machinery as such, apart from the dolly

What a great evening that was! I’m probably not going to give up my day job, but we both had a great time! Nigel presented the perfect blend of information, expertise, and entertainment!

Thanks to Nigel for his skills and patience, and Jo and Janet for the gift! .

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Pie Guy! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Day 1 – Sunday, 23rd

Last year, it was (only) Olney, this year, we’re further afield, heading for Stoke-on-Trent.

We left around 9.15 for the straightforward journey to our destination: A14 > M1 > A50.

We arrived just before 10.45, so we grabbed a quick coffee, making the best use of the time before the Gladstone Pottery Museum opened at 11. The Museum is of course home to the popular Channel 4 Programme: ‘The Great British Throwdown’, and the success of the show has certainly put Stoke back on the map as well as the Museum itself (judging by how many people arrived at the same time as us!).

After paying our entry fee of £8.50 (for younger peeps) and £6.95 (for the old ‘un) we were soon throwing ourselves into it (see what I did there?). I think the location all felt a little smaller than when seeing it on TV, but there is certainly a lot packed in here. The Pottery closed in 1970 and re-opened as the Museum just four years later. The Grant they received in 2000 from the Lottery had been put to good use, making it possible to display a lot more of their proud history than would have otherwise been possible.

We both felt they’d re-created the look and feel of the Pottery really well through the numerous exhibits, information boards and various facts and figures from when Gladstone was at the top of their game.

They had also blended ‘new’ with ‘old’ and there were various exhibits featuring works from the latest series of TGPT.

And if pottery itself isn’t your thing, then the old machines (seen running today!) that powered it all was a must-see!

Want more? There were plenty of ‘facts and figures’ boards to remind you of how much it was all worth – including the wage costs!

With the Pottery itself leaving a lasting impression, our final visit was to the on-site exhibition of… toilets!! Imaginatively named: ‘Flushed with Pride” (arf, arf!) this turned out to be the last word in WC evolution. Pretty much the A to Z of everything you wanted to know about managing crap (but in a very good way!) – and maybe some detail you didn’t!! . Luckily, no stools to sit on, but there was an interactive quiz. It appealed to our slightly warped sense of humour and featured the sound of a flushing loo if you got the answer correct, plus a rather loud ‘breaking wind’ effect, if you got it wrong! ‘Tasteful’ doesn’t begin to describe it… . Young kids loved it (and so did the older ones!).

It was strangely entertaining! Neither of us realised there was so much history associated with something that we very much take for granted these days! A suitable end to our visit here. Gladstone had been very enjoyable and even as just a day-trip, we felt that the experience was worth it. Even us, who normally cover these things in record time, took us just over 90 minutes. The signage suggested two hours for a visit, and that seems about right.

No, not thunder – our stomachs were rumbling….

Sunday Lunch

Next stop was a short drive to The Black Lake Inn for Sunday Lunch. We arrived just after 12.30 and considering it only opened at noon, we took one of the last spaces in the car-park. Once inside, we were soon shown to our table and presented with the menus. It seemed that the rest of the citizens of Stoke had got a head start on us, where most of the covers were already tucking into their main courses.

Service was swift and we had soon placed our orders.

We could see why the place was so busy. The food was delicious and the portions enormous! Even I couldn’t finish all of mine! No room even for Desserts (really???)

After topping up OUR energy supplies, it was time to do the same for EVie and we took the short three-mile drive to a new(ish) BP Pulse Charging Station located behind the Costa Coffee just off the Baths Road. These were the newer 350kW monsters, and we’d topped up an additional 100 miles in no time at all (costing us around £18).

Sad Spode

Our final stop for the day was The Spode Factory. Just like the Gladstone Pottery this was also now a Museum – its glory days also sadly past. In fact it was all a tad depressing. The whole factory area that was once ALL part of the Spode empire had gradually been reduced over the years and sold off for Bars and small businesses leaving the smallish Museum run by Volunteers.

The Museum was interesting but not on the same size and scale as Gladstone. The three staff on duty were very positive about the outlook, but the upper floor featuring some Spode’s past creations were being sold off at a fraction of the original price. To add a further insult, to fill the space, they displayed some of their competitors’ products too!

We learned that one of the larger contributors to the demise of their highly decorated products was, of all things, the dishwasher! Apparently, the shift to simpler, dishwasher-proof designs, sealed its fate (well, that and the high price point!).

An enjoyable visit, but there wasn’t much to see, and it all felt as if in a few more years, this will have all disappeared too! Ahh, the march of progress!!!

Our Accommodation: Premier Inn

Here we are for two-night sleepover at the Premier Inn, Stoke-on-Trent.

This is a newly built Premier Inn – and it showed! Everything was shiny and well-appointed. The only disappointment – their ‘Ultimate WiFi’ – proved to be an additional challenge, but the friendly and helpful staff were soon scratching their head (as was I) before, without any input by any of us, began to behave as advertised! . Technology, ehh!?!?

All-in-all, it was a very enjoyable day, but tinged with some sadness – here’s why… It was my first visit to Stoke and even though the weather was brighter than expected (no rain!), the city centre itself had a very ‘grey’ and downbeat feel about it (sorry, Stoke!). Was it the roadworks that seemed to be everywhere, or the fact that there was no-one about (except in McDonald’s or in their cars)? One thing was for certain – this clearly IS the training ground for would-be F1 drivers! Everyone was tearing around at about twice the speed limit and also showing zero respect for other drivers. No, I think the ‘grey’ effect was down to the aftermath of the old pottery industry that, for so many years, had made this city famous. Now, these proud businesses just looked like they were ‘hanging on by their fingernails’. Worse still, everywhere else seemed to have caught the disease. Overall, it felt like the city had lost its mojo with a lot of boarded-up premises that all desperately needed some TLC. Well, at least our accommodation was spot on, even if the view wasn’t!!

We ended our first day watching some TV and planning our second day here. Hopefully, a brighter day tomorrow, when we’re going full-on Pottery visiting! Living the dream, ehh?!?!

Day 2 – Monday, 24th

Morning all! Looks like a brighter day ahead as we switched into FPM (that’s Full Pottery Mode!) with the Emma Bridgewater Factory, the Dudson Centre and Museum plus the famous Wedgwood Factory on the list.

After a hearty breakfast – Premier Inn style – we took the short drive to the Emma Bridgewater Factory, just 0.9 miles away. So close in fact, we could have walked it… but we didn’t! . This Pottery is one of the few still going and has recently celebrated 40 years of throwing!

Parking was easy and just opposite the Factory. However, it was clearly the same space for staff too, so it was already 99% full when we arrived. We’d pre-booked the 10am tour as we parted with £10 each.

After a quick look around the gift shop, we joined the queue of TWO outside waiting for the Tour to start. A minute before 10am, we realised that we should have been assembling inside and we joined the dozen-or-so already waiting. After allocating our security lanyards, we were all set! Neil, our Guide, introduced himself and the Tour began!

Neil was excellent throughout the 60-minute experience! A scouser with an infectious sense of humour, he managed to bring the whole thing alive. Photography was limited as we had to avoid photographs of the staff AND any product that might (or might not) be a new product, yet to be launched. Tricky, but not impossible!

It certainly was an educational experience. EB bought up a derelict factory, kicked much of the machinery into life and re-recruited many of the staff who’d lost their jobs when the factory closed. In short, There’s a lot of love for this company in the city as it brought back (in part) the Pottery industry back to Stoke! What makes them different and desirable? Their colourful designs are less fussy than the traditional tableware that had graced the table of the UK in bygone times. Their prices seem to be more affordable too.

In a word: ‘Superb’!

Dudson Museum

Our next stop was the Dudson Centre and Museum, just over a mile away. Huzzah! It was FREE admission! .

Named after Richard Dudson who opened his first factory here in 1800. By the early 1980s, the Hope Street site was no longer viable for modern production, and it was shifted to the newly expanded, state-of-the-art J.E. Heath and Duraline factories.

In 1994 the original factory site was donated by the Dudson family to the voluntary sector, and an ambitious renovation project began in 1996 with donations from The Dudson Group and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. This has resulted in new housing being built right alongside the Museum and a small business centre inside the Dudson Centre. Note that parking is NOT free (£1.20 at the time of writing – and in spite of all the machines suggesting you can only pay by using an App, cash worked just as well!)

In spite of it feeling rather cramped inside, they’d packed a lot in across two floors. A short visit – in and out in under half an hour.

World of Wedgwood

Next? Another world… the World of Wedgwood – a mighty 7 miles away!!! As we got close to this Barlaston-based business, I felt myself wanting to take back everything I said yesterday about Stoke. We’d only driven from an ST1 to an ST12 postcode, but what a difference in the houses, the roads and the green open spaces – this was like we were in a different country, and it felt very upmarket.

Just £12 each for admission, where on arrival at World of Wedgwood’s entrance, the feeling of wealth continued and we found ourselves forced to do a double-take on what was before us…

How so? Well, given that so far it had been a somewhat SAD backstory to the Pottery Industry here in Stoke with 32000 jobs lost in the 70s – this one bucked the trend!

The site was absolutely massive (it took us over five minutes just to get to the car-park!) and looked VERY upmarket. How could it be that (based on yesterday) with the local Pottery Industry really struggling, this one seemed to be in rude health. They were obviously doing something very right – but what was it? A secret way of making tableware that gave an enormous margin? A way to mass-produce at minimal cost? A touch of AI? Nope, nothing quite so dramatic! – read on!

Step forward ‘Fiskars‘ – an old Finnish Company famous for making garden tools and scissors! Apparently, in 2009, Wedgwood finally threw in the towel after 250 years, and that included their other brands such Royal Doulton and Waterford Crystal going under too! Fiskards to the rescue, taking on the brand names and giving this dying industry the necessary shot in the bank statement! And so, here we are, some 15 years later, and it looked like Wedgwood (at least) had risen from the ashes – and some!

Financial assistance from the Heritage Fund and Art Fund also helped their cause. First impressions once we got inside? ‘No expense spared’ Second impressions? Perfectly pitched for the tourist market.

We had around 30 minutes to spare before our Tour began at 1.15, so we dropped into their cafeteria. Posh or what????

Gold-plated cutlery and ‘best’ china was everywhere! A good cuppa though and the savoury scones went down a treat!

We joined around a dozen others for the Tour and Pete introduced himself, where the instruction (again) not to take photographs that included product nor people was reinforced. They seemed to be a little more paranoid about it here compared with Emma Bridgewater – and so we complied! As we watched the staff in action, one thing became very clear – irrespective of brand – and that was how solitary some of the roles are. The Decorators who paint on/transfer the designs work at a frantic pace. Most of them had ear-buds in, and silently got on with their work. If you don’t like precision, nor repetition, this ISN’T the job for you.

The Tour went by in a flash and it soon became obvious that Wedgwood’s target market was so very different to Emma Bridgewater’s. Here, it was high volume, high price and high margin – very high! How about £8000 per plate that included 22-carat-gold edging! I’ll take 100… Any discount for cash? Err, no, I thought not! . Whilst EB aimed itself squarely at the ‘everyday’ customer, Wedgwood was all about attracting the wealthy – wherever they lived. And, in contrast to yesterday’s visit to Spode, at least Wedgwood had continued to produce new and more modern designs to keep pace with the changes in taste and fashion.

After the tour, we took a look around the V&A-sponsored Museum. Another jaw-dropping experience showing off its 165000 objects!

This had been another very worthwhile visit, just like all the others today – but for very different reasons. Fiskar has clearly seen the potential in the Wedgwood brand and has ‘splashed the cash’ with its eye on continuing to pitch the Wedgwood as a high value/highly sought after brand – even if it’s mostly for the overseas market. It’s no coincidence that all the signage explaining how the business operates was not only in English, but yes, you guessed it: Chinese and Japanese too!

Tomorrow, we check out after breakfast and head for Fosse Park in Leicester for some retail therapy and maybe even a birthday treat! . See you then!

Day 3 – Tuesday, 25th

Happy Birthday, Mrs P!

We checked out of the Hotel and headed for Fosse Park, Leicester. Fosse Park is one of Britain’s biggest out-of-town shopping areas, and we haven’t been there for about 10 years!

Boy, it’s certainly grown, and we confined ourselves to the ‘central’ part today as we’d probably need another two days to absorb the increase in the number of shops.

And it was busy too, judging by how full our first stop was – the M&S Coffee Shop! Suitably refreshed, it was time to seek out a suitable birthday gift for Mrs P, where Chanel fitted the bill perfectly!

Having clocked-up just over 100 miles, it wasn’t our longest trip we’ve driven for a birthday celebration, but it was a mighty interesting few days away. We headed home, skillfully avoiding a massive tailback on the A14 at Capthorpe. We were back indoors just after 1.30 to continue the celebration.

We ended the day with a celebratory Curry at home.

Happy Birthday, Mrs P!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Birthday Girl 2025! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Another day, another Birthday!

After my celebrations yesterday, tonight, it was our turn to act as a taxi service, picking up neighbours David & Valerie, and heading off to The Pheasant in Keyston (a 25-minute drive away, halfway between here and Huntingdon). It was David’s ‘special day’, and where I used to think it was a startling coincidence that we both had our birthdays so close together – as well as our homes – but maybe NOT!. They say as you get older, you get wiser – and maybe that’s the case – but apparently, it’s not so startling a coincidence! It turns out that September 26th is THE most popular birth date in the West. And, as our cousins across the pond say: ‘Do the Math’.

How did I miss that? It was probably the best birthday present my Dad ever had! And one that didn’t need any wrapping either!

Quite apart from the very enjoyable company and the excellent food and service, it was good to see the place so busy. The Pheasant has had quite a few owners over the years, but it was boarded-up just before COVID hit and stayed that way sometime after. So, this was good news and felt more like it used to be when we first started coming here. . The Pheasant had a real buzz about it tonight and as we left around 8pm, it was still filling up!

Happy Birthday, David What a very pheasant pheast!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post What a Pheast! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Yes, it’s that time again – my Birthday!! . We usually try and get away somewhere to celebrate, but this year is a little different!

Last year, we were in Greece, whilst the year before it was Switzerland – but in 2024, we’re celebrating here at home! It’s a full 12 years since we last had my Birthday at home. With our mega-break to New Zealand coming up later this year, getting away today/this week, just all felt a bit unnecessary!

Still, it’s what you make of the day isn’t it, and we’re looking forward to a Birthday Lunch with our great friends Paul & Sue later. The weather? Totally unpredictable as it turned out! The day began with rain (which has been a regular feature this week) then, out came the sun before returning to the wet stuff for the rest of the day!

Surrounded by cards and gifts today makes me feel a lot younger on the inside. Everyone has been so generous! – some great gifts, helped these days by the obligatory (heavily distributed) ‘birthday list’ around family and friends who asked for inspiration (apparently, I’m a nightmare to buy for! – surely not!)

Actually, even before my special lunch, the morning turned out to be a busy and very pleasant one! We planned to sit down and watch episode 1 of the brand-new series of Ludwig on BBC1, but instead, Janet dropped by, followed by neighbours David and Valerie and then Paul. All armed with gifts and cards – and in D & V’s case, Sausage Rolls too – it was a much better alternative than watching the box! . Needless to say, the Sausage Rolls didn’t last long!

Well, that was all a very welcome surprise and a great start to my day of celebration!

Birthday Lunch – Pig & Waffle

Paul & Sue drove over to ours and after a quick ‘hello’ and the sharing my birthday gift (chocolate!), we made our way to the Pig and Waffle in nearby Grafton Underwood. I’m not sure why we’ve never been here before – they’re on our doorstep and part of the Greedy Gordon’s group (who also manage the Snooty Fox in Lowick, the Red Lion in Cranford and the The Buttery Cafe in Woodford – all very well-respected watering holes).

For the size of the establishment, it sported an extensive and varied menu. There was outside seating (but not today, unless you were very brave!). If you like Gin, there was also a great selection and plenty of continental beers too! Food-wise, it didn’t disappoint and a yummy overall experience. Whilst Paul and Sue opted for the Tapas (again, lots of choices!), Ann for the ‘Breakfast Bap’, I was as predictable as ever – tackling their ‘Greedy Burger’. It was to be one of the best burger-combos I’d had in a long time – those red onions and the onion chutney made all the difference! . The Tapas were also well-received where the generous portions almost beat us… Almost! – and I was happy to assist! . None of us could manage a Dessert (even me!) and with the bill settled, it was back to ours.

With Coffees all around, back at base, we spent a couple of hours chatting about nothing in particular and it was all very chilled and very enjoyable. Perfect! A couple of hours later, we said our goodbyes and Paul and Sue headed home. It had been great to share my birthday lunch with our good friends!

Briefly, it was back to the TV and after finishing watching Ludwig (good wasn’t it!?), we had a quick tidy-up in readiness for Dave and Rosi who arrived early evening. Another card and another gift were sandwiched between plenty of chat, catching up with all their news from their recent holiday to Mallorca. Well, they certainly had the better weather than here, right now! The rain today, has been biblical, where it had been chucking it down since Paul and Sue‘s left.

And that’s how it stayed for the rest of the evening. In fact, by the time, we turned in for the night, it was STILL hammering it down! Yuk!

Still, weather aside, it had been a very memorable day for all the right reasons – just how I hoped it would be! We may not have enjoyed good weather, but it was more than made up for by the legion of friends popping in and showering me with gifts and good wishes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Birthday Boy (2024) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

For me, the most eagerly anticipated theatre trip in a long, long time – “Fawlty Towers – The Play”.

The ‘Famous Five’ aka Jo, Janet, Carol, Ann and yours truly jumped on board the 10.28 out of Kettering, heading for the capital.

The train was busy, and I think we got the last seats. Noisy too, with multiple Hen Parties all attempting to see who could be the loudest and dress using the least amount of clothing. Don’t they know I’m on blood pressure tablets?!?!

Our trip to London was in part a celebration of Janet’s birthday (yesterday) and we’d also booked the Apollo Theatre a while back with plans to also squeeze in a ‘cheeky Chinese’ before the performance.

And if the train was busy, London itself was even busier! Just to keep things interesting, most of the roads near the Theatre had been fully closed-off meaning there were people spilling out onto the road as well. Manic!!! . We later learned that it was all down to a march involving far-Right, Tommy Robinson as well as a counter protest by Stand Up To Racism.

Our eatery of choice was The Orient in Wardour Street, right in the heart of London’s China Town. It was an excellent meal! If anything, there was far TOO MUCH food!! . Note to self: Next time, stop ordering after you get to the Crispy Duck course!

Yes, far too much!

2.15pm: We took our seats for the matinée performance. The Apollo is one of the smaller Theatres in London, and it filled up pretty quickly. By the time the curtain went up, it was pretty much a ‘full house’. Surely a good sign of things to come?

THE Fawlty Towers?

The real Fawlty Towers? Yes, pretty much! The Play is a comedy also penned by John Cleese based on the TV sitcom of the same name that he co-wrote with Connie Booth. The theatrical version is adapted from three episodes of the TV series forming one seamless storyline; “Hotel Inspectors”, “The Germans” and “Communication Problems” – three of my favourites, but let’s face it, they were ALL hilarious, weren’t they?

Sadly, none of the original stars is in this, the theatrical version, but you would have never have known it! The actors captured their alter-egoes perfectly, with a special shout-out to Adam Jackson-Smith who played Basil.

…and we shouldn’t forget the creatives that made it happen on the night…

The Verdict

I guess it was a risky business, attempting to transfer such an iconic show as TV’s 12-episode Fawlty Towers to a West End production. Would it be as funny as we remember it and would it ‘work’ as live production? Well, based on our collective thoughts (and based on the laughter around the Theatre) – a resounding success!

Yes, we knew every line before it was delivered, yes, we knew where the multiple stories were heading, and yes, we knew ALL the punchlines, but it didn’t stop us laughing at all those familiar iconic scenes as if we were seeing them for the first time.

So, if you’re worried that they might have ruined a classic – don’t! This was a hilarious 90 minutes of nostalgic fun where it literally was: ‘a laugh a minute’.

The performance finished around 4.30 and we were soon back on the Tube heading for St Pancras International where thankfully, it was a lot less busy heading home. Janet dropped us off at Dave and Rosi’s so we could wish Dave ‘Happy Birthday’ from earlier in the week. Paul & Karen were there together with John & Trish. We stayed for a quick chat and a few nibbles (more food!)

8pm: Phew! What a memorable day – for all the right reasons! . Happy Birthday Janet and Dave!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Theatre: Fawlty Towers appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Celebrations began early this year for Ann’s birthday!

Yesterday, it was down to Ann’s brother for a celebratory Birthday Lunch – and it didn’t disappoint! Roast Lamb, cooked to perfection and bags of opportunities to catch up with all Roger, Jane and Oli’s news!

Today, just before 9.30, we headed over to MK for a generous slice of retail therapy to follow-up on some online searching for a pair of suitable suitcases! Living the dream, ehh?!?! . Actually, I had plans to offer to buy Ann some jewellery …or some clothes …or some shoes, but we didn’t really see anything that jumped out at us, and we left MK feeling slightly underwhelmed.

Next stop, was the quaint town of Olney…

Olney is on the route back from MK to ours and I think we’ve spent most of our lives driving THROUGH it over the years! It’s a lovely place, full of lots of independent shops – some with prices to match!

We hadn’t booked, but we took a chance of grabbing a table at Olney’s famous Cherry Tree Bistro. It was a first visit for us, but it had a good reputation, so we were looking forward to the experience.

Well, given it was a Monday, we weren’t expecting it to be very busy, but it soon filled up (mainly with ‘ladies who lunch’) – and that was surely a good sign! Actually, it was!! Friendly service with food freshly cooked meant we were soon tucking-in to our respective choices. Sausages and Mash for me, whilst Ann opted for the Bolognese Pizza.

We were home just after 3 where all that was left to do was for Ann to open her pressies and cards – and there were plenty of each! Lucky girl!!

Happy Birthday Mrs P!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Olney another Birthday! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Tuesday, 26th
Day 5 (of 8)

Why Thessaloniki?
(Click to
read more…)

We’re in Thessaloniki, Greece for a week, in part to celebrate my Birthday today! . The location is also known as Thessalonica and is the second-largest city in Greece, with just over one million inhabitants. It is Greece’s second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major transportation hub for Greece and southeastern Europe, mostly through the Port of Thessaloniki.

We’re staying at the Electra Palace Hotel, and they have a photo gallery HERE.

It’s primarily a cultural holiday where we’re going to soak up as much as we can during our short stay.

Morning all! Did someone mention birthday? I’m getting seriously old on the outside, but I’m still only a 14-year-old on the inside – it must be the love of a good woman!

(…but don’t tell the Wife! )

We brought all the cards that had arrived before we left last Friday – the rest are on the doormat, so I get to celebrate again when we get back! . That’s when I’ll open my presents too! Thanks, everyone for all your good wishes and gifts! . As one of the cards read…

“Don’t worry, you’re still cool…
…it’s just not as obvious!”

We always try and do something special on this day – mostly it’s travelling abroad somewhere, but occasionally, it’s a simple ‘chill-out’ at home.

Previous birthday
celebrations
HERE

Welcome back, my very loyal band of readers. This is Day 5 (of 8) of our holiday and cultural exploration of Thessaloniki. . If you missed a few Posts, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered – see below.

Bedtime reading?

<<Day 1
Arrival in Thessaloniki

<<Day 2
Sax, Stuffed Leaves
and a surprise

<<Day 3
Carpet tiles, culture
and the perfect coffee

<<Day 4
Museums, Magnificent views
and Mega-miles

Birthday aside (I’ve got a birthday dinner later tonight!) today, we continued our appreciation of Thessaloniki and its proud history. On the list today…

Museum of Byzantine Culture

Museum of Illusions

9:15am: But first, of course, it’s my Birthday Breakfast! No sign of the man on a sax this morning, but the cornflakes (that taste-wise, double-up as carpet tiles) seemed to be back for another performance! . I’ll be avoiding those!

10:58am: Our first stop…

The Museum of Byzantine Culture

Opened in September 1994, The Museum of Byzantine Culture proudly offers 11 galleries of the permanent exhibition taking the visitor back to the Byzantium world through displays and exhibits describing the daily private and public life; worship; the burial customs; the architecture and art and finally, the commercial and business activity. Phew! It’s a biggy!!!

Again, it’s the statutory €8 for admission at this time of year (€4 during the Winter months), but we were taking advantage of the Thessaloniki Pass that we were told about yesterday when we visited the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki – and so we got in for free! .

Best news of all? There are no stairs at all, as all the galleries are accessed via gentle slopes! . The air-conditioning was just right too!

We had both been impressed with our visit to the Archaeological Museum yesterday, but this one was in a different league. Everything was so colourful and well-preserved. And what a range of exhibits too! Hard to believe the sophistication of many of the artefacts given that at the time, ‘we’ were surviving in mud huts!

If you love your global history, this is another ‘must visit’ and probably sits in the top five Museums we’ve visited around the world.

12.21pm: We’re all ‘cultured out’, and so time for a pitstop along the Bay. As usual, there was plenty of choice and after skipping a few, we settled for Castello’s (mainly because it had big fluffy cushions!).

We weren’t there for long. Just enough time for some serious people-watching (why are so many young Grecian girls so thin???), a couple of coffees and a slice of their Orange Cake, we were recharged and ready for our second stop of the day. In complete contrast to earlier, we headed for something quite frivolous – The Museum of Illusions requiring us to enter the unchartered territory of the Docks (well, for us anyway).

It made me laugh (but I think I was the only one!) that the Illusion Museum was actually quite hard to find!

(Just me then!)

Museum of Illusions

1.10pm: Finally, we found it! Even Mr Google Maps got confused (so that made three of us!) but maybe that was all part of the ‘illusion’ marketing of this location? Or maybe it was just the non-existent signage? .

The Museum of Illusions offered all sorts of illusions, mostly visual, with some experiential – but all educational! .I could see Science-based school trips having a great time here. It cost us just €11 each to get in (and is NOT part of the Thessaloniki Pass scheme that I mentioned earlier). Some of the exhibits I’d seen before, but most of it was a completely new experience. Helpfully, there were staff on hand to explain some of the more complex exhibits and where they also offered to use your own phone to grab ‘the’ photograph when the illusion was experiential.

For us, those illusions where you actually took part were probably the more memorable ones for us.

1.50pm: Overall, it was an OK experience. It probably would have benefited from even more exhibits (and certainly better signposting to find it), but it was a fun way to spend 30 minutes or so – especially on my Birthday!

On exiting the Museum, we realised we were in the older part of the city’s Docks. Back in the day, this would have been filled with tattooists and prostitutes going about their business. Sadly, even though it was my Birthday, we were probably a little early for either! . Nowadays, the original buildings are still there, but they’d been renovated. The larger ones seemed to have been converted exclusively to Night Clubs leaving just a few small constructions as private dwellings or Bars. Obviously, a ‘happening place’ for the ‘yoof’ of Thessaloniki!

We headed back towards the Hotel. Thankfully, it had been a much cooler day today, and we certainly felt like we’d walked further.

2.05pm: Yes, we had! At just over 4 miles today, that’s the most we’ve walked in one go, since we arrived.

Time for the now-customary siesta before my Birthday Dinner tonight.

Birthday Dinner

Rather than scour the streets to attempt to find a suitable eatery, we stayed local – very local! Our Hotel has a good reputation for its food, and so we booked a table for 7.15. In the evening, it assumes a different persona, and becomes Orizontes Roof Garden Restaurant. More practically speaking, one of the benefits of eating here is that we could walk stagger ‘home’ afterwards, and no need to call for a taxi!

7.15pm: They reserved our table outside for us – and it was perfect! 26°C with a cool gentle breeze coming in off of the Bay.

Here’s their Menu…

All in all, a brilliant meal in perfect weather – and outside too! It doesn’t get better than that!

Cheers

It’s been a great day, and I’ve enjoyed reading all your cards and your good wishes posted online – I never knew I had so many friends! , so thanks for remembering.

Tomorrow…

No idea at all, I’ve drunk wine!!!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Holiday: Day 5 – Thessaloniki, Greece (2023) “Birthday Boy” appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Another year and another Birthday – as Ann celebrated her special day today! It was a day with friends, food, cards and gift!

8.35am: After a quick ‘Birthday Bacon Sarny’, Ann began opening her presents and cards. Soon after, the ritual was briefly interrupted (in a good way) by a surprise video call from Nicki and Richard wishing her ‘happy birthday’. Then, just before 9, Sean (with little Athena) stopped by to wish Ann well and drop off another birthday gift.

11.02am: Then, at just after 11 it was off to nearby Oakham for more celebrations with a planned return to Hitchen’s Barn for Ann’s Birthday lunch. On arrival in the town, the weather was atrocious, but there was just time to look around and grab some fresh flowers for Ann from the Saturday Market. It was now blowing a gale, and so we abandoned any further plans to wander round the town and headed back to the car to lose the flowers. Next stop? The Pub!

12.31pm: Nick and Celina met us at the nearby Lord Nelson for a ‘swift pre-lunch half’. Initially, this ‘old fashioned’ boozer was deserted, but it soon filled up! After a quick catch-up, it was on to the main event.

12.55pm: Over the past few years, Hitchen’s Barn has quickly become our ‘go to’ eatery for high quality food complemented by imaginative menus, together with excellent service and well-trained staff! Last time we were here was back in December 2022 for our 38th Anniversary, and we were all looking forward to returning! We decided to arrive slightly earlier than our 1.15 slot mainly down to the remaining minutes left on our ticket in the car-park. They took our coats and we were soon seated and perusing their mouthwatering menus!

As usual, there were two menus on offer where it was easy to mix-and-match. Ann chose the Creamy Lincolnshire Poacher & Red Leicester Souffle followed by Breast of Chicken with Fondant Potato, Creamed Leaks & Morel Mushrooms. I opted for the Cauliflower Soup & (rather ginormous) Welsh Rarebit Crouton and then the Fillet of Cod with Herb Crust, Crushed New Potatoes and Mustard Sauce. As has become the norm, the food was packed with flavour and attractively presented. It really WAS good to be back – what a real treat for our tastebuds!

The restaurant was super-busy and somewhat noisier than we remember, but it didn’t stop us enjoying every mouthful. We were all stuffed by the time they tempted us with Desserts. All-in-all Hitchen’s Barn had done us proud and ticked all the boxes making it a great birthday celebration for Ann.

2.35pm: We walked back to the car-park (in the pouring rain!) and then said our goodbyes to Nick & Celina. It’s not too long before we see them again, as they’ll be round at ours in late May for a meal with Ralph & Karen.

3.17pm: It was a straightforward drive home, where the weather shifted from a cold wind with torrential rain to bright sunshine, by the time we pulled up on the drive.

3.55pm: Trish dropped in with presents for Ann, and we spent an hour-or-so catching up on her news.

It had been a great day (in spite of the ‘variable’ weather!) and Ann had received some great cards and presents. A relaxed evening followed (not forgetting to put the clocks forward!)

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Birthday Girl 2023 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It was John C’s 65th Birthday last Monday – a perfect excuse for a belated neighbourly get-together tonight!

We picked up Paul & Karen and arrived just before 6.30. Everyone else was already there by the time we arrived – and we were all soon in a party mood!

Yes, pretty much a full house round at Trish’s, with our usual friendly collective of neighbours, starring Paul & Karen, David & Rosi, Tom & Julie together with Richard & Mandy joining us (who we haven’t seen for quite a few years!).

Trish has a real knack of being able to cater for lots of people without issue, and tonight didn’t disappoint! (It never does!). She had prepared the Starter – Smoked Salmon and the Mains – Chicken in Red Wine with enough vegetables for the whole of the county! Delicious!!

And with Ann sorting out the Desserts, tempting us with TWO kinds of pies, it was all very yummy!! - Lemon Meringue plus Chocolate & Toffee Banoffee (Damn! Forgot to get a photo of the Banoffee!)

…and Rosie had brought along a mini-birthday cake collection!

In between the Main and Dessert, we turned our attention to the Quiz (which is fast becoming a staple at these events!). This time, I wrote it, based around John’s year of birth…

…creating a five-round-four-questions-per-round-multi-choice challenge and arranging our friends in teams of two. With each group armed with a novelty buzzer and the rules clearly spelt out at the start by Mrs P, what could possibly go wrong!?!?

Well, apart from the fact that some of the buzzers couldn’t be heard above the (ahem!) ‘enthusiasm’ of the groups and the concept of ‘don’t answer until you’ve heard ALL the options’ not being fully grasped, it all went down very well. In fact, the somewhat chaotic nature of what followed made it an even more memorable event! University Challenge this WASN’T but what a laugh!

Anyone who thinks it’s the ‘taking part’ NOT the ‘winning’ should see us lot competing with each other . I think we might need to adopt the ‘red card’ system (plus VAR) next time to avoid a riot!! . Copy of the quiz is HERE.

Scores on the doors…

With the Quiz completed, if we hadn’t had enough food, we tempted our tummies once last time with not one, but two, large cheeseboards thanks to Julie and Mandy. So, not a great time for my phone to die just as I was about to take a photo of the ‘cheese mountain’!

We all had a great time, but at just after midnight, we called it a night (our partying days until the wee small hours are, I think, well and truly over!). We said our goodbyes and headed home and were tucked-up in bed just before 1am. Thanks Trish, you did a FANTASTIC job in pulling the event together!!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post 65, not out! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We drove over to The George in Buckden today. The reason? A celebration of brother-in-law Roger’s ‘significant’ birthday! The last time we were here was in April, last year, with Roy & Susan for a lunchtime catchup – and it was good to be back!

After a slightly torturous journey (the Sat-Nav) had a bit of a wobble, we arrived pretty much on the stroke of 1pm literally followed by Roger and Jane who were just a minute behind us arriving in the car-park.

The Restaurant was already pretty busy, but we were soon seated and looking through the menu. Service was efficient (and with a smile) and after placing our drinks’ order, we were catching up with each other’s news.

We soon picked from the menu and whilst the girls opted to go alcohol-free, Roger tucked into to an ‘Apple Pie’ cocktail whilst I was slightly more traditional -and hit the Stout. Starters all round, where three of chose the Prawns and Roger had the Goat’s Cheese & Caramelised Onion Tart. Mains were also an easy decision: Roger & Jane – Angus Roast Sirloin of Beef; Ann, the Garlic & Lemon Roast Chicken, whilst I tried the Pork Belly.

Only two of us made it to Dessert, with Roger tucking into their Chocolate Delisse with yours truly going for the Almond Tart with Toffee Ice-Cream. A great experience today with lots of time to chat surrounded by plenty of great good and great service – in other words, perfect! .

It was a long lunch too, and we didn’t leave until just after 3.30! — a good sign! . Thanks, The George, you were as good as we remember from last year! Great to see Roger & Jane too!

On the way home, we dropped into John & Trish for a quick catchup and to drop off John’s birthday presents.

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Buckden Bound – The George appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We headed off to our old stomping ground of Peterborough tonight for long-time friends Mick and Jane to celebrate their 60ths!

Our Party invitations seem less frequent as each year passes, but we were especially looking forward to this one, as we’ve known Mick and Jane for what seems like forever! We last saw them at ours, back in January, and it was great to get together tonight and be part of the celebrations.

Our Party destination was Longthorpe Village Hall which, even with the precision of Google Maps, took ‘a couple of laps’ to locate! When we arrived just after 7.15, the party was already in full-swing. After a quick chat with our hosts, we caught up with Phil and Karen, who we haven’t seen in the flesh since our holiday in Dubrovnik back in June, 2018.

The numbers filled the venue nicely – we reckon around 80 people. Most of that number seemed to be on the dance floor all night thanks to a selection of ‘proper’ music from our era …

…where we also did our fair share of grooving! There was also plenty of (good) food and drink on offer with a catering van outside together with an ‘endless’ supply of low-alcohol beer, soft drinks and the occasional hard stuff inside. Perfect!

Mick gave a short speech towards the end of the evening which rounded things off nicely, followed by Jane’s homemade cupcakes making their appearance, with enough flavours for each day of the year! Yummy! We restricted ourselves to just one each, but we could have easily succumbed to ‘a few’ more each!! .

Given the location of Longthorpe Hall, curfew was at 11pm, where we managed to stay on our feet until just 15 minutes before the end.

It had been great to catch up with our long-time friends and we’d enjoyed a GREAT evening. A trouble-free journey home followed (as you might expect at that time of night) as there was nothing on the roads, meaning we were home just before 11.30.

Happy Birthday you two!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Party Animals appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Day 3 – Friday, 4th November

Morning all! It’s going to be another very pleasantly warm day here! . Wish you were here!

Today’s itinerary? A lazy morning + a lazy afternoon + Geoff’s Party!

So far…

Six Days in Cyprus – Arrival (Tuesday)

Day 1 (Wednesday)

Day 2 (Yesterday)

Camera Roll

10.36am: After a strenuous start to the day trying to decide what to have for Breakfast, we headed for the sun-loungers! There’s a gazillion of them here, so it was just a matter of finding the optimum spot of sun and shade – our second difficult decision of the morning!

In an effort to minimise any need for excess movement by its sunbathing guests, the Hotel had thoughtfully installed the above. We first saw these in Oman back in March – and they made a lazy man even lazier! No need to queue at the Bar; no need to wave your arms to attract the Waiter’s attention and no long waits for the bill to sign – just hit the button, lie back, and think of…Beer!!

And so, with our position secured, drinks on order and suntan lotion applied, there was nothing left to do but nothing! suiting us all perfectly! We didn’t move (much) for the next three hours. The umbrellas earned their keep, especially initially, when the Sun seemed to be at its hottest. By lunchtime, it had cooled a little, but it was still very pleasant. It also quietened down significantly, as the majority of sun worshippers took a pause to worship something else – Lunch!

1.55pm: That’s enough vitamin D for us today! We left Paul & Sue to ‘take one for the team’ whilst we sorted our taxi requirements with Reception for tonight.

6.30pm: We’re almost ready.

6.50pm: The four of us met In Reception ready to dance the night away

Party, Party!

Yes, we were all in a party mood and just when it seemed the whole world has dropped the requirement to wear masks, we did the opposite! It was a Masked Party after all!

7.00pm: Our Taxi arrived on time, and in our rather swanky Mercedes, we were soon on our the journey north to the Anesi Restaurant in Pegeia. The roads were quiet and twenty-five minutes later we arrived.

We knew we were in the right place as there were a few others outside in the dark attempting to affix their masks – made a little more challenging without any street lighting. Any passing member of the public would have either been totally confused or frightened to death given the imagination that many of the guests had put into their choice!!

7.30pm: Here we are at the Anesi Restaurant. Pretty much everyone was there by the time we arrived – around 50(ish) friends, where, in one case, a friendship went back 50 years! Nice! (I clocked-in at around 38!). Our 50-strong group dominated the restaurant, but by the end of the evening, even tsome who weren’t part of the celebration (who’d just popped out for a meal) joined us all on the dance floor!

Geoff and Rhonda had also laid on a hot buffet with Salad together with Dessert, and it all went down a treat!

8.45pm: After Geoff’s thank-you speech, it was time to introduce the entertainment for the evening…

Our entertainment for the evening was Cyprus’s very own Ben Mills. And wow! this guy was really gifted (and probably, based on tonight’s performance, deserved a wider audience). He was very personable too, resulting in the dance-floor being busy for most of the evening! Perfect! He even occasionally tweaked the lyrics of his playlist to suit Geoff’s celebration too! On a broader note, it was good to see that our age group had still got the dance moves – although some of those moves were best savoured in the safety of a private party! Good to see striped jerseys back in fashion too!

Ben was a massive part of the celebration and performed for just over two hours, hit after hit after hit – from Roy Orbison, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra to George Ezra by way of Yazoo, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond and Tina Turner! And much (much) more! Was there any song he couldn’t sing? Ben even did requests! Not the easiest song to perform, one of those requests was Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody which Ben performed with ease. What a talent – one that definitely deserved a wider audience.

More about Ben HERE.

11.25pm: It was a great evening in every respect – one of those nights when you don’t want your taxi to arrive early (ours did! ). We’d eaten, we’d drunk and we’d danced the night away, but all good things must come to an end (my feet were grateful!) and we headed back to the Annabelle. It had been great to be part of Geoff’s celebration and one of the best parties we’d been to in a long while! If you’re reading this, Geoff & Rhonda, thanks for inviting us. We don’t normally travel far for celebrations these days, but this one was worth every mile!

11.55pm: Back at the Hotel, we slipped into the ByzBar for a nightcap. Like we needed more alcohol! . A perfect end to a perfect day!

00.14am: Nighty-night! Given that we’re not quite the ‘Party Animals’ that we were, I feel that we’ll be taking it easy tomorrow (so, what’s new!)

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Six Days in Cyprus (2022) – Day 3 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Day 3 – Monday, 26th – Bern, Baby, Bern!

Morning my loyal reader! Yes, ‘Birthday Boy’ today! — 66 on the outside, but only 16 on the inside!

What you might have missed

Arrival in Switzerland

Day 1 – Zurich to Wengen

Day 2 – A Wander around Wengen

Look what turned up, just before we left on Friday! . My very own official Bus Pass! Oooo, the travel possibilities!

6.05am: We were up with the lark this morning including breakfast at the unGodly hour of 7.35am! The restaurant was busy even at that time, but at least we got (almost) first pickings of the wide range of their breakfast goodies.

I love exploring cities – especially ones I’ve never been to before – and so today, we’re off by train to Switzerland’s capital city, Bern (pop, c144,000). We were up with the lark and began our multiple train journey to the capital.

8.25am: We left for the station – a challenging journey of about 100 metres! So that was easy!

Our journey involved a number of changes…

The route? Wengen Lauterbrunen Spiez Interlaken Ost Bern. Total travel time was about two hours. The tickets cost us about £80 each, return (and that was half-price using the easily available (and imaginatively titled) ‘Swiss Half Fare Card’ – details HERE.

It was a hassle-free journey, although the trains were really packed! Who are all these people? Yes, some were, like us, tourists, but there were a lot of Americans and quite a few youngsters sans luggage.

10.35am: Hello Bern! Well, at least the weather was on our side today – it was now dry! (ish)

Not content with being the capital city, Bern is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s the first time here for me where the big attraction is looking around the Old City.

Old City

10.55am: In truth, where the ‘new’ became the ‘old’ City (and vice-versa) was a bit blurred, and I think we were both looking for more examples of really old buildings/architecture. One thing was immediately obvious though… how clean the city was. Not a sign of discarded anything, anywhere!

If you’ve a fetish for ornamental fountains, you won’t be disappointed here in Bern, as within just five minutes walk of the Railway Station, up they popped! Apparently, there are over 100 of them in the City!

More about The Old City

Bern’s Minster

10.55am: Disappointingly, no photography was allowed INSIDE and a rather confused queuing system for getting our tickets meant that we eventually gave up!

More about Bern’s Minster

The Zytglogge Tower

10.57am: This is probably the go-to tourist attraction when visiting Bern. The (now) Clock-Tower has had many roles through its years – prison, fire observation tower and a lookout point for the City.

We arrived in plenty of time before the 11 o’clock chimes. Not only are visitors treated to the traditional ‘bongs’, they get to see the mechanical figures, including a parade of bears, a jester, a golden rooster and Chronos all ‘doing their thing’.

But not today, it seems! .

If you watch the video below, can you see them?

More about The Zytglogge Tower

Einstein’s House

11.25am: I was looking forward to this thinking it might be something quite special. The ‘House’ turned out to be a single room that he rented back in the day now sitting above a modernish café. Disappointing!

More about Einstein’s House

11.35pm: One thing that became immediately obvious as we wandered around Switzerland’s capital city – and their shops – it oozed wealth! A sort of ‘Guildford-on-steroids’.

From uber-expensive watch shops and jewellers to many private independent clothes shops jostling for position, this was the place to visit to easily melt the family credit card or simply empty your pockets of all that cash that’s burning a hole in it. Know someone who likes Le Creuset and has a large family? Checkout the above at a cool £800! Ridiculous!

11.45pm: I felt the need to spend money (and we’ve already got plenty of Le Creuset), so the next best thing was the nearby Starbucks (yes, I know, cheap date!!), but it was getting close to lunchtime . Its other attraction was that after quite a bit wandering around, it was the ONLY place that seemed to have FREE WiFi! Unlike in the UK where it’s pretty-much in every shop, it seems to be the exact opposite out here. Having finally got used to the TRAINS only providing it if you pay for it, I thought the shops might be different in Bern? – Nope!

Oh good, a chance to catchup with all those lovely online birthday wishes that had been arriving since we left this morning now that I had connectivity! So, whilst Ann took out a second mortgage for the two coffees and two muffins (more about that later), I got us online. Well, that certainly gave the Starbuck’s router a good workout… around 50+ messages from various sources in the queue and now arriving on my phone in quick succession. Lovely! Thank you all, you’re too kind! .

Our banquet arrived! I say ‘banquet’ because the price was similar! . If you pinch and zoom the photo above, you’ll see that the total was 21.10 CHF (just over 21 Swiss Francs). A quick and dirty conversion to Sterling meant my birthday treat had relieved us of…

…just under £20!

I wouldn’t have minded, but it took ages to get served and where the muffins were that special sort that were slightly frozen in the middle!

Weird Object of the Day!

We stumbled across this! No signage as to what is was, or what it represented. We learned later that it’s called the Meret Oppenheim Fountain. Built in 1983, according to its official description, it represents a symbol of Bern’s power. Well, obviously!

12.22pm: After the ‘whip-round’ for lunch, we decided to call it a day a bit earlier than we planned. All-in-all, we were both a bit disappointed with Bern. Perhaps we didn’t delve hard enough into the older part of the city, but the whole area was just felt a bit ‘average’ (apart from the prices!). One of the penalties of getting there as early as we did was that the City was still waking up, and very few eateries were open. Consequently, it lacked any sort of ‘buzzy’ feel about it. So maybe the moral of this story is: get there later next time?

2.25pm: After a quick visit to the nearest Co-Op (they’re big out here) we bought in enough supplies for a birthday ‘carpet picnic’!

Birthday Dinner

7.05pm: The food offer here at our Hotel in the evening has been superb, however you choose to measure it – quality, variety, presentation or service – and so we celebrated my Birthday VERY locally. It’s only a five-courser tonight though!

Tomorrow, we staying local (and testing our head for heights!). We’re taking the Cable Car to Männlichen.

Thanks again for all the cards and birthday messages – you’re too kind! Nighty-night!

Previous Birthday Celebrations

2021: Devon & Cornwall
2020: Scotland
2019: London
2018: France
2017: Stroud House
2016: Scotland (My 60th)
2015: Corby, Harrogate, York
2014: Monmouth
2013: London
2012: Home
2011: Ipswich (aborted)
2010: Bury St Edmunds
2009: Worthing
2008: Chinese Meal in Market Harborough
2007: Home
2006: Naxos/Messina (My 50th)
2005: Home
2004: Home

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Holiday: Switzerland Day 3 – Birthday Boy (2022) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Here we are at the rather flashy ‘The Goring Hotel‘ in fashionable Belgravia, London (albeit belatedly) courtesy of a rather generous birthday gift for Ann back in 2021 from Roger, Jane & Oliver. Thanks everyone!

Friday, 5th

Yes, this is possibly the most sumptuous Hotel we’ve ever stayed in – and we’re here until Sunday to soak up the opulence of it all. Yep! It’s a tough life!!

After the typical congestion of London traffic on a Friday (some things don’t change!) our (electric) black cab dropped us right outside, and we were soon checking-in and heading for Room 50! The hotel is quite small by premium hotel standards and is privately owned by the Goring family offering just 69 rooms. Nothing so vulgar (dahling!) as tea & coffee making facilities in the room – if you want a cuppa, they fly a member of staff to the appropriate country where they handpick the leaves/beans for you*

*Not really! But this place is oozing OTTness and is a rare example of how to get it right, all the time, everywhere! Nothing is too much trouble for the team here where everyone knows your name! Cheers! I love it already!!!

We soon unpacked and “Oh, the pressure!”, it’s coming up to 4.30 and that can only mean one thing… Afternoon Tea at The Goring!

The hotel’s veranda area was pretty-much full when we arrived at 4.30, so it was obviously a popular place to enjoy this quaint English tradition. Their Afternoon Tea, was, as expected, super-yummy with excellent service too!

Just enough time for ‘feet-up’ before heading out to the theatre…

Where and what? The London Coliseum Theatre to see ‘My Fair Lady’.

7.00pm Curtain up! I felt a bit overdressed in long trousers and a traditional shirt – note to self: pack trainers, a baseball cap and shorts for next time! Clearly, ‘dressing up’ for the theatre is no longer de-rigueur! OK, some were ‘smart’ but many looked like they’d just stepped off the beach! Yes, I’m getting old, and turning into my Dad!

OK, Victor Meldrew moment over, but would the person in Row A, to my right, stop texting during the performance, please!!!

Wow! What a show! Pitch-perfect singing, great acting, faultless comic-timing and superb choreography made this, for us, the perfect evening out for entertainment. And if all this wasn’t to your taste (why not!?!?) then the innovative set design and the way they choreographed the scene changes – was a performance in itself! Brilliant!!. We pretty much knew all the tunes: “Wouldn’t it Be Luvverley!“, “I’m Getting Married in the Morning“, “I Could Have Danced All Night”, “On The Street Where You Live”.

Additionally – and controversially – “Why Can’t a Woman Be More Like a Man?”. Ahh, bless! They don’t write them like that anymore – which may be a good thing, otherwise, our ‘wonderful NHS’ would be overwhelmed with injured men! .

Any glitches? Generally, a very (very) well-oiled machine, however, the orchestra/vocal/sound mix was a bit ‘off’ during the initial scenes of Act 1 – but they soon put that right!

A word about the Theatre itself: In spite of its age – it was opened in 1904 – there was plenty of legroom, we had a great view (Row B, Dress Circle) and the perfect temperature too! (well, maybe a touch too cool!). Tickets were a whisper under £100 each which we considered a bargain for this part of town!

10.04pm: The curtain came down just after 10pm and after the mass exodus, we were lucky enough to find a cab pretty quickly as we wandered down towards Trafalgar Square. We were soon back at The Goring looking for some nightly nibbles (it must have been the ‘London Air’!)

Ooo! It’s past 10.30 on a Friday night, and we’re staying up late! We headed for the Lounge and tucked into some sandwiches and a cheeky glass each of Pink Port.

11.23pm: That’s it! We’re done! . We’re off to Greenwich and the maritime area tomorrow – we haven’t been there since February, 2016!

Saturday, 6th

9.10am: A lazy start to the weekend! Helpfully, there was an in-room menu to tempt us, and where the Full English (at just under £40 a plate) was prominently displayed.

Maybe,  we should have brought sandwiches, but I think instead, we’ll try the restaurant, and blend in with the other guests (who seem to be 99.9% non-natives). Maybe, Brits can’t afford to stay here – consequently, this felt like an EXTRA special treat from the family.

10.22am: Suitably stuffed for the day ahead, we headed for Westminster Pier. It was a gorgeous day out there and as planned, we headed for Greenwich. We grabbed the nearby 148 Bus and then the famous Thames Clipper (at the time of writing, now managed by Uber), so we half-expected to be heading for the English Channel whilst our ‘driver’ consulted his sat-nav.

10.45am: No such worries, as we skimmed our way along the Thames and arrived at our destination within about 45 minutes. Actually, this was a really good service and a good alternative to trains and the Underground – and the Clippers accepted Oyster Cards too!

Yes, a really relaxing journey taking in the sights of the riverside along the way!

…and a short techy note! Just logged the fastest 5G speeds I think I’ve ever experienced IN THE WORLD – and we’re on a boat, just east of Tower Bridge! Thanks, Three Mobile!

Hello Greenwich!

11.32am: It’s been a while since we were last here. We love the Maritime area and clearly so did a lot of other people – it was buzzing (even though the above pic must have been during a quiet moment!).

The Chapel

11.40am: First stop would have been The Painted Hall, but they were now charging £13 for entry, so we skipped that as we saw it on the previous visit anyway! – and instead, headed for the St Peter & St Paul Chapel (still free!)

It’s still as beautiful as ever, but today, just slightly spoilt by the erected scaffolding at one end!

Next stop? The Queen’s House (where we’d also visited last time)

The Queen’s House

11.55am: As we approached the House, it was just as we remembered it (well, the exterior was!)…

We had only been looking around for a short while and initially, it all looked pretty much as expected, with the gorgeous Black and White floor by Inigo Jones located in the Great Hall.

…but then we spotted a lot of new content…

The new content was a mix of paintings, pottery and busts – and neither of us recall seeing any of it last time. Was it just a bad memory, or something more significant? As it turned out, according to one of the Guides we spoke with, there had been a lot of money spent here in the intervening years since we were last here. The ceiling in the Great Hall had been completely renovated and the art collection had been bolstered. That explained it! .

Probably the painting getting most attention was the complete restoration of the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I known as The Armada Portrait (one of only three in existence in the world). It looked brand new and the colours were spectacular.

We were now all ‘cultured out’ and Lunch was calling us! The nearby Pubs were rammed and there didn’t seem to many places to just get a drink, so we headed for the nearest M&S for some takeout.

12.54pm: We found a nice shady spot within sight of the Cutty Sark and sank our ciders and vegetarian ‘sausage’ rolls (some mistake surely???) in record time. Actually, the pseudo sausage creation was quite tasty!! .

1.20pm: Then, after a short wait, it was back on the Thames Clipper for our return journey back to Westminster Pier.

2.30pm: Back in the room and time for a glass of champers and a shut-eye for an hour-or-two! It had been a GREAT day at Greenwich with the journey there and back trouble-free, and where Greenwich itself had been a delight! It’s still one of our favourite destinations when we’re in the capital!

Time for our evening treat – a visit to Rules Restaurant in Covent Garden, the oldest restaurant in London dating back to 1798 and so-named, after its founder Thomas Rule.

7.06pm: It was already buzzing when we arrived. We were a tad late after the ‘journey from Hell’ in the taxi that meant it took three times as long to get there (and cost twice as much!). We were given a very warm welcome and were soon seated, attempting to decide what to choose. Decisions decisions!

And because the restaurant still thought it was Ann’s Birthday, she was surprised by her ‘celebratory’ Sticky Toffee Pudding!

9.06pm: A perfect evening! Thankfully, the journey back to the Hotel by Taxi was without incident and we were back in Room 50 just after 9pm.

Sunday, 7th

What a great break! It’s been good to be back in London again – especially to see the Greenwich Maritime area enjoying so many visitors! The food and drink everywhere didn’t disappoint (does it ever with me?) and the weather was kind throughout our stay. Some things don’t change though, and the traffic jams were just as we remember them! Horrid!!! But good to see so many electric cars amongst the gas-guzzlers! The Hotel was beyond excellent! The staff were super-attentive, and it was good to be staying somewhere that WASN’T part of a big hotel group!

Sadly, time to head for home and say farewell to London and The Goring Hotel

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post The Goring (not boring!) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Today, was our second visit this year to Hitchen’s Barn in Oakham. The reason? A belated Birthday lunch for Janet – ably assisted by Jo, Carol, Ann and me!

Our first visit here was back in May (with Nick & Celina) and we were so impressed, we were itching to return. In our view, it’s toppled the better-known George Hotel in nearby Stamford for its food quality, food presentation and customer service – and is now our go-to eatery in this area! Praise indeed!

Good to see nothing had changed! The same (very) warm welcome by the waiting staff offering a menu that changes daily. The restaurant itself had a cosy unhurried feel about it, even though it was full by the time we left!

We chose the fixed-price three-courser, where I started with the Goat’s Cheese Cheesecake…

…followed by Duck…

…finishing with dark chocolate Panna Cotta.

It was all absolutely delicious (again!) . So good, that we’ve booked two further visits!

We finished our visit to Oakham with a brief wander around the town taking in the Market, the Castle, and the town’s All Saint’s Church.

Happy belated Birthday Janet!!!

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!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Itchin’ for Hitchen’s – a Birthday Celebration! appeared first on Steve's Blog.