It’s that time of year again – time to catch up with our recently discovered cousins and nephews. In fact, these get-togethers are turning into a regular (and very enjoyable) ‘gathering of the clans’. Gathering of the Clans! 2024 – Windsor2023 – Hatfield House2022 – Hampton Court2021- Kew Gardens2021 – Shuttleworth Collection This year, it …
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Category:Days-out
Nottingham Castle with Dennis and Sandra
Postponed from 2nd April, today was another of our cultural days out with mates, Dennis and Sandra. This time it was Nottingham Castle and then lunch at the famous Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Pub, nearby! We let the train take the strain and grabbed the 9.28 out of Kettering that got us to Nottingham …
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Computer Nerds
It’s official! I’m a computer nerd! (who knew?). Actually, probably most people!!! 😉👍 Why so? I drove over to meet Chris today in Northampton, and we took the short drive to the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley, having been there with Ann as part of our Valentine’s Break earlier this year – how’s that …
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Boys’ Day Out
D’you know, I’ve never been as busy as I’ve been lately – and I’m retired! So, today, was a special treat! I took the short drive over to techy-mate Chris and we motored on to Gtechnic’s HQ in Upper Heyford, The reason? A half-day ‘hands-on’ Car Detailing Workshop organised by Alex, one of their experienced …
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Valentine’s Day (2025)
14th February Well actually, a TWO-day celebration, this year, as we headed for Buckingham and the White Hart Hotel for a romantic day and sleepover. 💑💑. It’s 10.30 and we’re off! But before all that, an opportunity to explore the town of Buckingham. We arrived just before 11.45 and although the town seemed quite quiet, …
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Wollaton Hall with Dennis and Sandra
Here we are again – another of our cultural days out with Dennis & Sandra! Today, it’s Wollaton Hall in Nottingham. 9.02am: We left home just after 9am and for once, the traffic on the M1 behaved itself and we were there in good time. Well, apart from me initially putting the wrong post-code into …
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EXCELlent!
Today, Chris A and I took the train from Northampton and headed for the Excel International Exhibition & Convention Centre in the Docklands for the F1 Exhibition. Actually, this was the very first time I’ve visited Excel! Getting there was easy by taking the Elizabeth Line and getting off at Customs House and then taking …
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Greenwich and Beyond!
We travelled down to Greenwich today for our annual cultural day out, courtesy of The Old Croydonians’ Association – the ex-pupil association of my old School. Last year, in October, the OCA organised a behind the scenes at the Royal Opera House, and it was great day out. This time, we’re looking ‘beyond the obvious’ …
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First Visit: Cromwell Museum
We drove over to Huntingdon today for our first visit to the Cromwell Museum. Neither of us could remember when we last visited Huntingdon, so we weren’t sure what to expect from the town. Parking was certainly challenging and it wasn’t helped by EVie’s Sat-Nav having a complete fit in mis-identifying the road that SHOULD …
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Cousins Catchup 2024 – Windsor Castle
It’s that time of year again! It’s our annual get-together with our cousins (from Ann’s side of the family). We try and meet as a family group at least once a year around this time, where for 2024, we’ve picked the iconic Windsor Castle as the destination. Last time we were here was way back …
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More Pie!
This was a first for us! We headed for Melton Mowbray and their annual PieFest. Melton Mowbray is, of course, famous for its home-grown Pork Pie where the town is considered to be the UK’s ‘Capital of Pies’ and the ‘Rural Capital of Food‘! 😋😋 No prizes then, for guessing what the Festival was all …
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Return to Bletchley Park
The past week-or-so has had a recurring theme – ‘return to…’. Last Saturday, it was a return to my old school for their annual reunion, whilst on Monday, I made my second visit to Silverstone Museum. Tough life, ehh?!?!? 😉 Today, we’re with mates, John & Trish heading for the famous ‘Bletchley Park‘. We were …
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Return to Silverstone!
A return to Silverstone Museum for me, this time with super-techy-mate, Chris A. The reason? Well, nothing specific, we just fancied going there, and it’s only a short drive away! 👍 I was last here back in December, last year with John C for exactly the same reason! 😀 With today’s weather looking and feeling …
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Le Picnic – Lamport Hall
Took a drive to nearby Lamport Hall today for ‘Le Picnic’ with Chris & Gill and Steve & Denise. It’s on our doorstep and given our love of old stately piles, I can’t believe we’ve never been here before! 🤔 You can’t beat a good picnic and if the sun is shining (as it was …
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Bosworth Bound
On one of sunniest days of the year (so far) we headed off to the quaint town of Market Bosworth. A smooth journey there, although the sat-nav did take us through Hinkley town which slowed things down a tad. It seemed that the good weather had brought everybody out today! Parking was challenging, but we …
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That Lyveden Feeling!
Off to National Trust’s Lyveden New Bield this morning for a wander around. Looks like we were last here back in December 2017 and since then, it’s had a fair bit of money spent on it. Everywhere had received a serious makeover, there was a new car-park and the Manor House was now open to …
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Stamford Stroll
It was a gorgeous day today (the best for ages) so we took a short drive to Stamford. It seems the rest of the world had the same plans and to say that the town was ‘buzzing’ was a massive understatement! We managed to pick up pretty much everything we set out to buy, including …
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Nottingham with Dennis and Sandra
Today was another of our cultural days out with Dennis and Sandra – this time it’s Nottingham. Since we first started doing these in 2017, we’ve built up quite a list – today will be our 16th ‘day out’ together! 👍😀 Doddington Hall (December 2023)International Bomber Command (September 2023)Southwell (March 2023)Chatsworth House (November 2022)Belvoir Castle …
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Anniversary Break – London (Day 3)
Day 3 – Friday, December 15, 2023 Good Morning London! 😎. Here we are in London as part of our Wedding Anniversary celebration (yesterday) staying at the rather posh Tower Hotel. It’s day three – our final day! What you might have missed… Day 1 – Arrival at the Tower Hotel/Moulin Rouge/Indian Meal/Embankment Walk Day …
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Anniversary Break – London (Day 1)
We headed for London today, as part of our Anniversary celebration (tomorrow). We’re in the capital for three days, taking in some shows and catching up with my brother and his family. Busy Busy!!! 😁👍. So, it was all aboard the 9.48 out of Kettering made much easier by neighbour, Valerie, acting as our taxi …
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Doddington Hall with Dennis and Sandra
It’s another of our cultural days out with mates, Dennis & Sandra. We’ve built up quite a list over the years… International Bomber Command (September 2023)Southwell (March 2023)Chatsworth House (November 2022)Belvoir Castle (August 2022)Kedlestone Hall (May 2021)Hardwick Hall (August 2020)Castle Howard (December 2019)The Royal Armouries Museum (March 2019)Bolsover Castle (October 2018)Belton House (May 2018)York (February …
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Silverstone Museum
Off to Silverstone Museum with John C today to look around. It’s a first visit for both of us and John had kindly invited me along to help spend his birthday voucher! Our first impressions were good ones! The museum building is partially interactive and there is plenty of variety displayed in a very large, …
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Return to Colchester – Day 2
Day 2 – Saturday, November 25th 7.20am: Morning all! Here we are in Colchester, feeling somewhat nostalgic, re-treading old ground from our working days in and around the area. 9.10am: It might be freezing cold outside, but at least it’s dry! And, after yesterday’s ‘going nowhere fast’ adventure, today, we’re doing everything on foot! On …
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Return to Colchester – Day 1
We’re off to Colchester for a few days. Gosh! We haven’t visited here for quite a few years! 👍😁 Day 1 – Friday, November 24th (Arrival) We’re off! We set off just after 9.45 this morning, heading for the A14/M11. 11.10am: Our first planned stop along the way was Gridserve Charging Station in Great Notley. …
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International Bomber Command Centre with Dennis and Sandra
Yes, it’s another of our cultural days out with Dennis and Sandra. Today, we headed for the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. The International Bomber Command Centre is a memorial and a series of exhibits telling the story of RAF Bomber Command. Bomber Command suffered extensive losses of aircraft and crews during the Bombing …
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Stamford Stroll
We haven’t done this in a while – a wander around the beautiful town of Stamford. The weather forecast wasn’t brilliant, but we aimed to dodge the showers, even if that meant, diving into the shops for cover! 😉. We must get out more though, as we realised that we hadn’t done this for at …
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London Bound!
Off to London today with David & Valerie to watch the ‘Beating Retreat’ performance or to give its official title: The Household Division Beating Retreat. We’ve never seen this event before and we’re looking forward to ‘a Military Musical Spectacular, on Horse Guards Parade, London‘. This event has evolved over the years and is now …
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Family Get Together – Hatfield House
Saturday the 17th Time to meet up with our cousins (on Ann’s side) for another of our cultural days out! 👍😀. Afterwards, we’re heading back with Roger, Jane and Oliver for a sleepover. Today we met up at Hatfield House in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Sadly, Chris and Kate couldn’t make it as Kate had injured her …
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First Visit: The Chester House Estate
Off for a ‘day out’ (just the two of us) to the Chester House Estate in nearby Irchester, Wellingborough. Bought originally by North Northamptonshire Council in 2004 as Chester Farm. Re-branded and then re-opened in 2016 as Chester House Estate, it opens from 10-4 and is free to get in with free parking too! 😀👍 …
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Kelmarsh 2023
Not content with getting married and having our 10-year anniversary here, as well as a visit last year around this time, we took a drive over to nearby Kelmarsh Hall today. 😀 It was certainly a lovely day for it and the Gardens (where Ann volunteers) were looking amazing! We also took a look around …
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