I dropped the car off at Forest Gate just before 8 to have the tyre sensor looked at again, and they kindly gave me a lift to the station. I took the train down to London, quickly followed by the short tube journey across to Holborn. Denise is now more-or-less full-time in London with her …
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Category:Days-out
Weekend with Roy, Susan and Lauren
We drove over to Roy, Susan’s and Lauren’s in Ramsey today and got there about 2.30. We kicked off with a nice cuppa and spent the afternoon chatting about this and that – putting the world right, as you do. Lauren was ‘super-chef’ for the day beginning with some delicious blueberry muffins – they were …
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Vauxhall Ampera/Jane Eyre/Colombiana/Last Night of the Proms
Ralph, Karen, Lee, Ann and I took the 9.30 out of Kettering today and headed for London. For Karen, Lee and Ann, the mission was to seek out some suitable material for THE wedding dress. For Ralph and I, we concentrated on much more important things like Vauxhall’s soon-to-be-launched Ampera – their first extended range …
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Weekend with Roger, Jane and Oliver – Saturday
We left ours around 10.30 and arrived at theirs just after 12. After a light lunch of sandwiches and soft drinks, we set off for Hatfield House. It’s one we’ve never actually been to, and it was definitely worth the short drive. The place is massive, and unusually, these days, in private hands. We had …
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Trip to Lyveden New Bield
On the spur of the moment (unusual for us!), we decided to risk the iffy weather and take the short drive, about 25 minutes away, to the NT property – Lyveden New Bield (a bit of a mouthful!). Apparently, we went there around 10 years ago – but I don’t remember it at all! The …
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Planet of the Ape(thorpe)
Nicki joined us today and after the girls popped to the bra shop (it’s not really my thing), we headed off to Apethorpe Hall, a newly opened (and currently being restored) property about half an hour away located at the ‘back-of-beyond’ in the village of (spookily) Apethorpe! On arrival, there were already about half a …
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Lunch with Denis and Bev
We picked up Lee around 9.30 and headed for Denis’. Bev is cooking, so that’s bound to be a treat – I’m hungry already! Food, as expected, was excellent. We all tucked into shepherd’s pie, swede and cabbage – yummy! Dessert was Christmas pudding and cheesecake – double yummy!! We dropped into Downtown on the …
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Ring, Ring
We drove over to Leicester this morning, specifically to look for a pair of wedding rings. Our first stop was our last, courtesy of George Tarratt specialist Jewellers, and after just 40 minutes of discussion and viewing, it was ‘mission accomplished’. So, that’s two bespoke white gold rings with added diamonds now on order. Easy-peasy! …
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Play: Cider with Rosie
We took the drive over to Stratford upon Avon to see Second Thoughts’ Production of Cider with Rosie. Luckily, Ian was able to get us a ticket for Lee, who we invited at the last minute. Although I wouldn’t say it’s my type of Play, you couldn’t fault the production values on the night. Superb …
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Photo shoot II – Insignia
It was an early morning – even by my standards (3.45am!) – and the plan was to take some more shots of the car and make the most of the summer, specifically to catch the Sun rising. God and the BBC weather-team, however, had other ideas – and it was a misty start, and no …
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Lunch with Keith W
After meeting up with Tim C for a (very useful) business meeting at Victoria Station, it was onwards to the other side of the station to meet Keith W for lunch. We decided to head for Zilli’s in Dean Street, where we’d been before back in March 2009. It was a gorgeous day, but our …
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Long Weekend in London – Saturday
After our early morning call at 5.47 (the hotel’s fire klaxon went off!), we couldn’t get back off to sleep afterwards, so we were up earlier than planned. The highlight of the day is going to be our visit to the Royal Opera House to see Madame Madama Butterfly at the Royal …
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Long Weekend in London – Friday
A quick look out the window and it looks like a gorgeous day ahead. After last night’s stuffing, Ann skipped breakfast, but we three decided to try the hotel’s offerings. It was most impressive – everything you could possibly want on an ‘all-you-can-eat’ basis. Top marks for quality and quantity! After brekky, the girls went …
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Long Weekend in London – Thursday
We arrived in London just after 11am – Ralph and Karen arrived a few minutes later. We grabbed a taxi and headed for the Premier Inn at County Hall. We were too early to check-in so we took a walk along the South Bank towards Blackfriars and stopped off for a rather swishy lunch …
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Five Go Mad on the River (sort of!)
Image by Steve Palmer (UK) via Flickr ‘The Boys’ – Ian, Roger, Ralph, David and me met up today for a river trip to The Cock in Hemingford Grey– a sort of Stag Do minus the Stagness. By car, it would have taken just 10 minutes, but by boat, it was much more leisurely! Brilliant!!! …
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Wimpole Hall
Lee, Nicki, Ann and I drove over to Wimpole Hall today. Luckily the weather held and we had a fine day. We started off with lunch (perfect scheduling) and then did the House followed by the Farm – plenty of pigs, rabbits, chickens and the biggest horse I’ve ever seen…and of course, plenty of screaming …
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Another trip to ‘Ireland’
What a spooky coincidence! I’d already to planned to catch-up with Denise for lunch in London, but due to a change in both our schedules, we realised we didn’t need to travel that far! Instead, we went to the village of Ireland, in Shefford, and The Black Horse, a lovely Pub/Restaurant – the coincidence being …
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Bank Holiday Weekend with Ian and Sharon – Arundel
Another fine day down here and we’re going to make the most of it and drive over to Arundel. Shops first, then the Castle! But not before we visited our fave posh ‘greasy spoon’ here: The Moat house in the town centre, and enjoyed a full-English brekky!!! Then it was a mooch round the …
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Bank Holiday Weekend with Ian and Sharon
Image by Steve Palmer (UK) via Flickr The day began early – earlier than planned – Neil rang to say that the M11 was closed in both directions, so we left around 7.30. Lee is cat-sitting for us and looking after the numerous ironing duties – thanks Lee! The plan was to drop into Mum’s, …
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Easter Day (2011)
After dropping into Central Garage to have the locking wheel nuts changed on Ann’s Fiesta, we headed up to Denis’ for lunch. It was another fine day here and even hotter there – 27 degrees – another scorcher! After a full-scale roast chicken lunch followed by Ann’s ‘plums cooked in red wine and served with …
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Nicki joins us
Nicki joined us today. The weather seemed to get better and better, so we decided to pop down to Kelmarsh Hall for their annual Game and Country Fair. Apparently it’s been running for over 20 years and yet, we’d never heard of it! By the time we got there, it was a proper Summer’s day …
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Ralph and Karen here for the Weekend
FRIDAYRalph and Karen joined us tonight – they’re here until just after breakfast on Sunday. The plan is that Ann and Karen will take the train to London on Saturday for shopping (now there’s a surprise) whilst Ralph and I waited news of my new car. SATURDAYGood news to start our day then! At around …
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Lashing it down in Lincoln!
We drove up to Lincoln with Lee today to meet up with Denis, Bev, Roger, Jane and Oliver. – a sort of family get-together, mainly to give Oliver his birthday pressys and to sort out some residual finances as a result of Mae’s Will. We left around 9am and had a fast run north, even …
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Another ‘full-on’ day
Here we are then – Sunday – where I’m trying to cram three-days of work into just this morning!!! (cue: Mission Impossible theme!!) We’re on holiday from next Saturday, (Lee is house-sitting), and I’m out for most of this week too! We’re also out later today with Lee to take her for her birthday lunch …
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The Butler didn’t do it!
We’re off to join Karen and Ralph for the weekend in Matlock, then tonight, we’re going to Hardwick Hall to solve one of their murder mysteries.We left about 9am and got to theirs just after 11 – a good journey! We had a lazy lunch of Indian nibbles and then whilst the girls went off …
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That Syncing Feeling
Most of us have more than one PC these days – you’ve probably got one at home, and the other is your laptop or netbook. On each of those PCs you are probably using email at different times for different things. I’m the same, and the major frustration for me, is that some emails that …
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Chichester for the day
Morning reader! After last night’s lack-lustre meal in the hotel’s restaurant, we were hoping for an improvement at breakfast. It wasn’t to be! Ann opted for poached eggs and bacon, whilst I went for the Full-English. Mine wasn’t bad, but Ann’s bacon meant we didn’t need a trip to the shoe-repairers! Still, at least we …
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Long Weekend: Bognor Regis (Friday)
We drove down to the south coast today to meet-up with Sharon and Ian – and to make a long(ish) weekend of it. We’re home Sunday afternoon and we’re going to drop-in and see Mum on the way back. The weather steadily improved on the way down and we arrived at The World’s End pub …
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Hippo Bathday!
It’s my birthday. As we’re away, I’m going to open my presents when we get back from Bury St Edmunds later. We were both up around 8, and started to get packed. We initially planned to go to Ely Cathedral and have a look round, but the weather was cold with heavy rain, so we …
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Saturday in Bury St Edmunds
Image by Steve Palmer (UK) via Flickr As part of my pre-birthday treat, we’re here in Bury St Edmunds with Lee, David and Val – staying at The Angel. After a really (really) good night’s sleep (I was shattered after eight days training in two weeks) – I’m ready to take on the world…and The …
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