Well, that’s the first half of our Scottish break over – and it passed really quickly! After a relaxing and VERY enjoyable few days with Richard and Lynn in Gartly, we’re off to our next (and final) ‘home’ for the final four-days – the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness. In some respects, our leaving was perfect …
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Category:Birthday
Holiday: Scotland – Day 3(8)
It’s our last full day here before we drive to Inverness tomorrow – and we’ve a busy one planned (nothing new there ehh?!) After yesterday’s adventure that took us to the rather beautiful areas of Banff, Portsoy and Cullen (ending with a drive through next-door Buckie) today, we’re soaking-up more of the area to the …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 2(8)
I was up early, mainly down to me setting the clock an hour fast! The weather forecast looks promising (although not quite as warm as it predicted yesterday) and so on Richard’s advice, we’re heading for the Moray Coast about a 40 minute drive from base-camp. 11.15am: First stop was Banff, a small town and …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 1(8)
We always go away for my birthday and this year is no exception. Although the official celebration is still a week away, we thought we’d start early! What a difference a year makes! Twelve months ago for my celebration, we were in central London, shoulder-to-shoulder on a sweaty tube-train! This year, we’re heading in completely …
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Party, Party!
Well, we haven’t done this in a while! It’s fair to say that many of our immediate circle of neighbours have all had significant things to ‘deal with’ these past few months, so tonight was the perfect opportunity to get together. We played to our strengths, Ann weaving her magic in the kitchen and creating …
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London Mini-Break – Day 2 (of 3): Birthday Boy (2019)
Here we are then, in the capital for my Birthday celebrations! After yesterday’s retail therapy, today, it’s all about sightseeing, and we’re off to visit Westminster Abbey and The Banqueting House …and maybe more!That means there’s at least THREE relics on show in London today then! 😉 7.20am: Another lie-in – that’s the second one …
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London Mini-Break – Day 1 (of 3)
We’re on a three-day mini-break in London that’ll incorporate my birthday celebrations tomorrow. Last time we visited the capital was back in August when we stayed ‘up-west’. This time though, we’re on the opposite side (literally) and heading for east London where Stratford will be our home for the duration. 9.35am: OK, the weather forecast …
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90 – Over and (not) Out!
It was Denis’s 90th Birthday today! As part of his Birthday treat, and in keeping with Dad’s RAF experience, we took him to the IBCC (International Bomber Command Centre) in nearby Canwick Hill, Lincoln. Opened in 2011, the aim of the IBCC is to tell the personal stories of service men and women of RAF …
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Birthday Girl 2019
It was a welcome return to The Tollemache Arms in Harrington today. We met David, Valerie and little Evie there – where my natural charm with children took a back-seat and reduced Evie to a mega-sulk for most of the meal! Young children and me? It’s NEVER an easy relationship! 👍 Today was to celebrate …
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Moggy Birthday – Biscuit at 14
Biscuit turned 14 today. With Bon-Bon looking down on her sister, Biscuit continues to be ‘top-cat’. She’s still VERY vocal at times – quite spontaneously – and a year since it first started, we’ve still no idea what she wants. It’s amazing how such a small mouth can emit such a loud noise. Luckily, her …
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Ahoy Sailor!
Ann bought me a remote control boat for my Birthday – the snappily titled gizmovine t01 – and today was my first opportunity to try it out. Click on the picture for a short video So, David and I headed down to Wicksteed Park and their boating pool. The conditions were perfect in that there was no …
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France 2018: Day 7 – Chateau d’If and Birthday Boy
Our Adventures so far… Arrival in Lyon (Wednesday) Day 1 – Lyon (Thursday) Day 2 – Vienne by Train (Friday) Day 3 – Arrival in Nimes (Saturday) Day 4 – Nimes in more detail(Sunday) Day 5 – Marseille, here we come!(Monday) Day 6 – On the Buses!(Tuesday) Wednesday Whilst most would be content with a trip to …
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France 2018: Day 6 – On the Buses!
Our Adventures so far… Arrival in Lyon (Wednesday) Day 1 – Lyon (Thursday) Day 2 – Vienne by Train (Friday) Day 3 – Arrival in Nimes (Saturday) Day 4 – Nimes in more detail(Sunday) Day 5 – Marseille, here we come!(Monday) Tuesday Blakey might have hated Butler, but he would have loved the route today. We’re on the …
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France 2018: Day 5 – Marseille, here we come!
Our Adventures so far… Arrival in Lyon (Wednesday) Day 1 – Lyon (Thursday) Day 2 – Vienne by Train (Friday) Day 3 – Arrival in Nimes (Saturday) Day 4 – Nimes in more detail(Sunday) Monday Welcome back loyal Reader! (The Bodyguard finalé was good wasn’t it!?) Today, we travel to our third and final Hotel. Our new …
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France 2018: Day 4 – More about Nimes
Our Adventures so far… Arrival in Lyon (Wednesday) Day 1 – Lyon (Thursday) Day 2 – Vienne by Train (Friday) Day 3 – Arrival in Nimes(Saturday) Sunday We’re remaining very local today, and exploring Nimes in more detail. You can download a VERY large map (3448 X 2419 pixels) of the local area HERE Another …
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France 2018: Day 3 – All aboard the Train to Nimes
Our Adventure so far… Arrival in Lyon (Wednesday) Day 1 – Lyon (Thursday) Day 2 – Vienne by Train (Friday) Saturday 8.45am: A lazy breakfast here in Lyon before boarding the TGV Train bound for Nimes, or Nîmes as most of the French write it. It’s famous for being the ‘most Roman city outside Italy’ – …
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France 2018: Day 2 – Vienne by Train
Our adventures so far… Arrival(Wednesday) Day 1(Yesterday) Friday Today is our final full day here, and we’re jumping on the Train to visit nearby Vienne. Vienne is located 35 kilometres south of Lyon, on the river Rhône and is famous for its ancient Roman Theatre. Built in 1AD, It was re-inaugurated in 1938 and since …
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France 2018: Day 1 – Sightseeing in Lyon
Our adventures so far… Yesterday… (click to view) Thursday A local commented last night that the temperature here is a full 10 degrees above the average for this time of year – and there’s another scorcher in store for us today. In celebration, as well as the Sun, my kneecaps are out of trousers, but …
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France 2018: Day 0 – Arrival
Bonjour loyal Readers! Our next travel adventure means we’re off to France as part of my Birthday celebrations! What makes this a tad unique is that after flying to Lyon, we’re doing the rest of it using the French train network!8.45am: So, first of all, it’s off to Brum Airport… …and then we’re flying to …
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Denis at 89
Today, we celebrated Denis’s 89th Birthday. So the Gambles assembled here Bev, Roger, Jane and Oliver for a slap-up Lunch and more… As expected, we spoilt Denis rotten with gifts and Ann’s unrivalled kitchen skills! Denis may not have eaten as much as he used to, but he certainly seemed to enjoy the food – …
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You Wait for Ages…
“…for a bus to come along, then two arrive together!” So goes the saying, and the same could be said for Chinese Buffets too!Having had Lunch there on Thursday, we were at The Mandarin Buffet in Weston Favell again today – this time for Pauline’s surprise 70th Birthday celebration. Jonathan, their son, had done all …
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Gambles Reunited for Ann’s Birthday Celebrations
Well, I think that’s a first (not sure why though!) – the Gambles family reunited here for Ann’s Birthday!! Denis, Roger, Jane, Oliver and Bev batting for the Gambles, whilst Lee and I were in the other corner! A little like that odd tradition where the person whose birthday it is, provides cakes, Ann provided …
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Remember the 60s?
It’s getting to that point where many of our social circle are reaching a ‘certain’ age (although some have past it, and some feel past it!) Guilty on both counts! 😁😁 Tonight was another of those events, with John C (below, not facing the camera!) reaching that milestone where a Public Library (if there …
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Moggy Birthday – Biscuit at 13!
Biscuit turned 13 today and by my calculation that makes her about 68 in human years. Our previous two Persians (Mumsy and Bubsy) made it to almost 15 and 14 years old respectively, but were both unwell in their final years. I therefore expect, going forward, we’ll be making more trips to and from the …
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A Birthday Surprise for Trish
What a nice thought! Rosi arranged a surprise afternoon get-together for Trish who recently celebrated a ‘significant’ birthday. A cunning plan was hatched! We were all to arrive around 3pm, with Trish and John arriving at 3.30, thinking they were just popping-in for a post-birthday cuppa and a nibble! It all went perfectly to plan …
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George and the Flame Thrower
Ian and Ann met us at ours today. We had a long-standing date to take them out for a slap-up lunch at The George Hotel in Stamford in celebration of their birthdays last year. It’s always more than just a meal at The George, and today was no exception……superb food, fantastic service resulting in a …
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82, not out!
Not content with enjoying ourselves at Ian’s 70th birthday celebration yesterday, today, we laid on a birthday lunch for Lee’s 82nd! Pick up from Yeoman’s Court was just after 11am (carefully avoiding the planned Armistice celebrations in Burton Latimer) and then we headed back to ours for the birthday lunch. But, before lunch, there was …
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70, not out!
We celebrated Ian’s 70th tonight, together with 30-or-so friends and family at his place. His birthday had been on the previous Monday and this significant get-together had been organised by his other half, Ann – with military precision – and been in our diary for a year! With plenty of food and drink, some familiar …
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Holiday: National Trust’s ‘Strode House’ (Day 5) – Birthday Boy!
Well, here we are – In Somerset for my 61st. It was good to wake up and (when I eventually got a signal) to see all the good wishes via social media. I think for the first time, there were more ‘happy birthdays’ via the ‘interweb’ than by traditional cards. The main event for today …
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Neighbours get-together
Well, we haven’t done this for a while, so it was good to see everyone today. We never need an excuse to get together but today we had one! Rosi had organised a party for hubby Dave’s birthday. A tricky manoeuvre considering the weather has been all over the place these past few days – …
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