Jo, Janet, Carol, Ann and I headed for the SciFi Museum in Milton Keynes today.

This was a first visit for us two and I can’t think why we’ve I’ve never been before. As we set off, the skies opened and it certainly wasn’t the weather for it today! It was now cold and chucking it down with rain. Thankfully, Janet offered to drive and with the wipers ofn double-speed for most of the journey, we were looking forward to a hot drink!

So, we took a very pleasant (and slight) diversion to Alban Hall Nurseries, in nearby Sherington for a cheeky beverage and nibbles! . After the mad dash in the torrential rain from the car to our table, we were soon perusing the menu and Specials Board. First impressions? Very busy, a good selection of food, all served with a smile.

This was nice! Possibly the smallest Tea-Room I’ve ever been to! – and super quick service too!

That was all very pleasant! Just what we needed. Next ? A dash back to the car, avoiding the rain (yes, it was still bucketing it down!) and continue our journey to the Museum.

The Museum

The Museum is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and exhibition of the art and skills that goes into delivering some of the world’s most successful films and TV shows. These artefacts and relics are created and used for only a very short time, before being discarded, and most are never seen again by the audience or their creators.

The Museum was easy to find, but perhaps NOT where you expect it – located ABOVE a series of shops in MK, rather than a separate building. We entered via a staircase that revealed an expansive space for displays.

The National Film and Sci-Fi Museum opened just after COVID and preserves these amazing creations, making them available for everyone to see and enjoy. There will be something for everyone, with many artefacts being shown for the very first time to the public. Displays from Star Wars to Indiana Jones, James Bond to Ghostbusters, Harry Potter to Marvel, and over 100 films and shows we all love, are on view here.

There was certainly plenty to see here and it certainly lived-up to the boast of the wealth of materials on show. Sadly, but maybe understandably, generally NO photography was allowed, with only a few selected areas promoting ‘selfie opportunities’. That was a shame, because quantity of materials was its strength.

Where it fell down for us was HOW it was displayed. There didn’t seem to be much logic to the sequence – one minute, Indiana Jones, the next, Gerry Anderson memorabilia, the next? Star Trek with the Game of Thrones ‘Iron Chair’ in amongst the props. It was all very weird and off-putting. Did it matter? Yes, I think so, as we were dragged mentally from one era to another with indecent haste. What this place really needed was a Curator.

It took us around 45 minutes to get around and if you’re in the area and have a liking for this sort of thing, it’s worth a visit (but be prepared to be disoriented) by their display decisions! It was £14 each to get in but you must pre-book a timed ticket. Opening times: Tuesday to Thursday 11am – 5pm Friday 10.30am – 6pm Saturday 10.30am – 6pm Sunday 10.30am – 4.30pm. A final point: We thought it was a bit of a stretch calling it a ‘museum’ – there just wasn’t enough information about each exhibit, and the signage was a bit of a rarity. Think of it as someone’s extended ‘collection’ and that fits the description perfectly.

Right outside the Museum Collection was their Lego Museum. It was well lit, and contained a massive series of varied exhibits, together with a detailed timeline of the LEGO® brand.

Whether you’re a traditionalist (just a few rectangular bricks and some imagination!) or more ‘new wave’ with their Technics sub-brand and/or their more modern, elaborate and lifelike constructions, there was something here for every fan of these versatile pieces of plastic!

It was certainly very bright!

It took us just 30 minutes to see it all, and there was an opportunity to buy LEGO® kits in their many shapes and sizes on the way out. (we didn’t, but it was close!)

So, taken both together, it was a worthwhile afternoon out. We all felt a little disappointed with the Film/TV/SciFi exhibits (but only because of the way it was all displayed). We headed back to the car where, yes, it was still raining hard and again, Jan took the wheel.

Good to see the girls again (but the weather could have been kinder!)

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 So Far SciFi for Five! appeared first on Steve's Blog.

This is fast becoming my most frequently visited pub in recent months. We’re here in Staverton and the very understated ‘The Countryman‘ Pub and Restaurant.

It’s always a good sign when you arrive in a Pub car park, just 15 minutes after opening – and it’s pretty much already full! OK, it’s not the biggest of car parks, but there had to be 15 vehicles already parked with their owners inside.

Today was part of our usual three-monthly catch-up with ex-business colleagues, Ian and Mags plus their partners Ann and Alan. The venue is a well-oiled machine, where my first visit was back in 2008 (a client lunch) and my most recent, as part of my 70-70-70 celebrations about a month ago. I reckon I’ve been here over a dozen times and it never disappoints!

The Specials Board is always worth a look, even though the ‘Classics’ and ‘A la Carte’ menu always impresses!

As expected, it was already fullish in the Restaurant

Another excellent dining experience! This is fast becoming one of our favourite ‘out-of-town’ eateries! So good, in fact, we immediately booked it for our next get-together in late January, next year. By then, the talking point will be Alan & Mags’ holiday to Japan and our trip down the Nile. As we said our goodbyes, a word (or ten) of praise for the excellent waiting staff – always efficient, always smiling and always professional! . What a great experience!

We can’t recommend The Countryman highly enough. It quietly gets on with doing a great job, offering great customer service and food that punches well above its weight.

The only negative was our journey home. Being a Friday, we weren’t expecting it to be trouble-free, and it sure lived up to our expectations! . As we joined the A14 from Welford, ‘Doris’ alerted us to congestion ahead near Rothwell. A swift exit off the main A-road at the next opportunity and a journey to NN15 via the back roads followed. It added about 10-15 minutes to the journey, but we were happily, queue-free for the whole of the diversion.

By 3.45, we were home, enjoying a cuppa! . What a great start to the weekend!

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 Countryman (again!) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We’re at the Theatre later with Jo, Janet & Carol, but before that – Lunch! Janet knows pretty much ALL the Farm Cafés and small eateries in Northamptonshire so we were in reliable hands!

Today’s choice? ‘New Lodge Farm‘ in Bulwick (pop. 171), about 20 minutes north-east of Kettering. This one has even got a spa (but that’s for another day! – maybe?!)

What a very pleasant surprise this place was! We’ve driven past it gazillion times since we moved here and had never visited! Our loss!!! The area is also a parking area for Camper-Vans/Caravans etc so there was plenty of room for everything (and anything, so that’s probably why they have a spa too!

We ate in their rather airy ‘Lockdown Café’ that was enjoying a busy lunch period (good for them!). It not only served tasty tasty food (cakes too!), it was all delivered quickly and with a smile!

We were all tempted by the CAKE selection, where Ann and I shared the oddly named ‘Banana Split’ Cake – yum yum! . Thirty minutes later, we were all ‘caked out’, and we just had enough time to look around their Farm Shop – and that was impressive too! Wow! That certainly scratched our individual and collective retail therapy itch! I think New Lodge Farm will be somewhere that we are definitely going to return to in the future!

With the clock ticking, we headed for the famous Tolethorpe Hall, home of the Stamford Shakespeare Company to see the well-known Play, One Man, Two Guvnors. Last time we saw this was at The Derngate, on my Birthday, in 2014.

Tolethorpe Hall’s Synopsis

It’s Brighton in 1963, where Francis Henshall, freshly fired from his job, is now a man in search of his destiny – as long as his destiny includes fish, chips, mushy peas, and a pint or two. But with no money and a rumbling in his belly, Francis accepts not just one job, but two. And there’s more to both his new bosses than meets the eye. Guvnor one, gangster on the run, Roscoe Crabbe, is actually his own sister, Rachel Crabbe, in disguise. Guvnor number two is Stanley Stubbers, a public school toff who may have “accidentally” murdered the real Roscoe to win Rachel’s hand. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart long enough to earn some money to buy some food. He should be fine, but he can’t stop thinking about chips, and it’s hard to concentrate when you’re hungry and you’ve got two guvnors!
Based on Carlo Goldoni’s classic Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters, this smash hit comedy is packed with laughs for all to enjoy!

How was it?

With a running time of three hours (including the interval) it was longer than I remember it back in 2014. It’s one of those performances that is ‘laugh-out-loud’ funny – and we certainly did plenty of that!! I’d actually forgotten most of the big punchlines, so that made it even more enjoyable (one of the ‘benefits’ of getting older!) . It was a full house for this afternoon’s matinee and no doubt, it’ll be the same for tonight’s performance – I’ve never seen Tolethorpe so busy!

Scene changes were imaginatively handled with the help of a supporting trio of singers called The Serviettes performing their own take on classics from the 60s.

Sadly (but as expected) no photography was allowed once the performance began, but that was OK as I don’t think I could have handled a camera-phone as well as my giggling!

All in all, then, a really REALLY enjoyable performance. The ‘fruity’ language in places and the main character breaking the fourth wall all added to the enjoyment. It’s not particularly ‘PC’, but if you’re looking for an easy performance to enjoy, where the humour is very physical – this is for you! Go see!

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: One Man, Two Guvnors, (Five Lunches!) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

There have been quite a few Spider-Man films over the years, but in recent times, they’ve officially become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) where these have included:-

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

These all star Tom Holland in the titular role and are all interlinked in some way. However, you can see this latest one without knowing much about what went before as it’s all explained in the opening ten minutes. Prior to being integrated into the MCU, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield donned the scarlet spandex!

For the complete history and summary of Spider-Man on the big screen, there’s a great article HERE, courtesy of Odeon Cinemas.

Official Synopsis

Peter Parker fights crime full-time as a street-level Spider-Man in a world that completely forgot his civilian identity following the events of the previous film: No Way Home. Four years after his sacrifice, the immense pressure of isolation and watching his old friends Ned and MJ move on with their lives triggers an unexpected, terrifying physical metamorphosis within him.

RUNTIME = 2 hours 25 minutes

Official Trailer

Main Cast

For more details on each cast member, click HERE to visit IMDB.com

See the remaining cast and the creative team behind this one HERE at IMDB.com

We headed for an early one with Janet, with Jo picking us up at 5.45 for the 6.15pm performance at our now, go-to Cinema. In spite of the short distance, the Sat-Nav went all ‘AI’ and took us on another variant on this well-worn journey! We got there with minutes to spare and just in time for the now-mandatory pre-film promotions. Looks like there are plenty of sci-fi yarns coming our way, including Dune Part 3 and, of course, Marvel’s much-hyped Avengers: Doomsday (both coming in December)

The first thing to note when we joined Screen 2 was that it was already almost three-quarters full! We haven’t seen attendance like that since the Bond era, and it certainly explained why we couldn’t book our favourite seats. We headed for the next favourite position — the back row — but even then we were ‘relegated’ to the left side rather than our preferred more central position. And they kept coming! By the time the lights eventually went down, it looked pretty much 100% full . Yikes! This looks like it’s going to be a noisy affair!

Not so! No noisy sprogs and even better, no-one appeared to be faffing around with their phones or having loud conversations! . That’s a first for a long while: it looked like the audience were simply here to watch the latest Marvel Film production – how refreshing!

Marvel Productions?

It’s been a while, but this was the 38th Film in the Marvel’s Cinematic Universe series – 38th!! Yes, really!

The quality had dipped just a few years back (2022’s Thor – Love and Thunder, anyone? Nope, didn’t think so! ). This was mainly due to Marvel attempting too many productions in any year, but the aforementioned was a real disappointment!

As a result, Box office numbers had dwindled as we all suffered from what became known as ‘super-hero fatigue’ where even Marvel finally admitted that they’d prioritised quanTITY over quaLITY. Subsequently, they chose to restrict their blockbusters to maybe one or two per year, going forward. In the past few years, QUALITY has thankfully returned (Fantastic Four – First Steps being a great example!)

If you’re feeling brave and have staying power, check out the full list below that stretches back as far as 2011.

Any Good?

‘SPOILER LITE’
Don’t read any further if you’ve booked tickets and want to be genuinely surprised

Gosh! We haven’t seen a Marvel Blockbuster on the big screen since March 2025 – Captain America – Brave New World – so Jo and I were especially looking forward to this one!

Just before the Film began, Tom Holland appeared in a short piece-to-camera, thanking us all for coming and praising the team that pulled it all together. I’m not sure if I’m a fan of this approach, but having seen it before in previous Marvel Movies, it’s clearly part of the overall marketing strategy to help us fall in love with what’s to come

So, did anyone have to be familiar with the previous Marvel productions, and more especially, the Spider-Man series to make sense of this one? Happily no! As a standalone offering, Spider-Man: Brand New Day held its own really well and was a great introduction to the superhero genre. As a sequel to Spider-Man: No Way Home, it continued the narrative seamlessly, whilst as part of the wider MCU, it positioned the lead character as a pivotal player in the superhero series.

As you might expect, in 2026, and anything of this genre, there’s plenty of action (right from the ‘off’), where the stunt work was some of the best we’ve seen. The fight scenes were expertly choreographed and introduced some sequences that I’ve never seen in any other film. There’s a fair bit of violence, but it’s all done very tastefully (if that were possible), avoiding the blood and gore often seen elsewhere.

Tom Holland, as Spider-Man, is in pretty much ALL the scenes, and he carried the part very well, even if, in reality, when ‘suited-up’, it was probably one of the stunt team. There are a number of flashback scenes to earlier Spider-Man outings, for context, and it was interesting to see how the character (and the actor) has grown into the part from naive schoolboy, first seen in 2016’s film Captain America: Civil War, to a fully fleshed-out mature superhero. For MCU and Spider-Man addicts, there are cameo appearances by some VERY well-known characters plus one you won’t have expected — their first on the big screen — and better known in Marvel circles on the Disney+ Channel. Intrigued? Click HERE for the reveal! .

Actor Zendaya is also in the film and happens to be Mrs H too! She’s in a lot of big-screen adventures at the moment, but what is her real name? Oh, I didn’t know that! – I expected her to be ‘Doris’ or ‘Pauline’ or something similarly ‘ordinary’!

Back to the Film! It’s not the most complicated of plots, although there’s a lot going on. Those new to the whole MCU ‘thing’ won’t feel disadvantaged, but it’s a fast-paced affair, and so it’s probably not a good idea to pop to the loo or grab a trough of chilli partway through! .

The production features a multi-layered storyline too! At one level, you have the expected ‘good vs evil’ trope, whilst simmering in the background is a heartfelt tale of lost love and friendship. Add to that a broader and bigger storyline revealing that some characters aren’t who they appear to be, and some organisations aren’t as ‘white’ as their business card suggests (does anyone carry business cards anymore?) . There’s also the not-so-small matter of Spidey having a personal crisis of his own that impacts the whole story as it unfolds.

Criticisms? Well, not many. For me, the film structure didn’t follow the tried-and-tested ‘three-act’ convention, which fooled me slightly! Just as I thought the film was concluding, up sprang a twist… and it was a significant one!

The runtime (unlike The Odyssey) felt a little long, and maybe slicing 15 minutes off the 2-hour 25-minute runtime might have helped.

Marvel pioneered the ‘mid-credit’ and ‘end-credit’ scenes. It was first used by Marvel in 2008’s Iron Man. On the positive side, it’s a clever way to ensure we watch the (always long these days, but thoroughly deserved) credits! . Cleverly though, it’s used to present a short scene of ‘what’s to come’ and get everyone talking. Sadly, this one was, to be honest, a massive let-down! It was short in length and detail, leaving those of us left (whilst the Savoy cleaning crew, armed with black bin bags, attempted to do their job) feeling massively underwhelmed!

Having said all that, we ALL enjoyed the visit. Jo gave it a full 10/10, Janet and I, a solid 9, whilst Ann scored it 7/10 for the ‘weak plot’ and preferred The Odyssey. So, if you fancy an introduction to the Super-hero genre or just want to see a great, well-acted production that requires no prior knowledge of what went before, this is a great place to start – just don’t stay for the end-credit scene!

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 Film: Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Today, we met Dennis & Sandra at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens (North of Sheffield, East of Manchester). It’s an English Heritage country house conserved as it was found after the death of its last owner in 1988. Along with restored gardens full of surprises and family-friendly features, it offers a grand Yorkshire day out!

We decided to drive all the way – almost two hours by car, totalling almost 100 miles. It all started well until we got onto the A43 near Deene (population c100). Chockablock (oh, joy!) where the mapping in the car showed a solid red line for quite a way ahead. We turned around in an attempt to find another route. It took a while, with our frequent ‘twisting and turning’ into some of the local back roads, taking us through some interesting places – including Nassington (c800) and then Wansford (c500). Eventually, we finally joined the A1.

That’s all we needed, and we were soon heading in the right direction! Phew! . The roads were busy, but the traffic kept moving, and the recently resurfaced A1 made the journey feel even smoother! The result? We arrived just 10 minutes later than we planned at just after 11.10am (having diverted for about 25!). We met Dennis and Sandra in the car-park where it was now already ferociously hot, but they’d saved us a space under a tree to keep the car cool!

Journeys well travelled!

There were two reasons for today’s get-together. First, as part of our regular twice-yearly get-togethers, where we’re building up quite an impressive list of cultural visits (although we are running out of suitable options located between our respective homes!). Hard to believe that this one is our 21st cultural day out together!

Return to Hardwick Hall (April 2026)
Lincoln Castle and Prison (October 2025)
Nottingham Castle (June 2025)
Wollaton Hall (October 2024)
Nottingham City (May 2024)
Doddington Hall (December 2023)
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 2018)
Burghley House (October 2017)
Hull (May 2017)
Leeds (February 2017)

and second: Making it part of my continuing ’70-70-70′ pre-birthday celebrations, where today was my THIRD get-together.

Inside the Hall

After a well-earned pitstop in their Café, we headed for the Hall. Inside, ‘Shabby Chic‘ or just shabby? Actually, the latter! The decision to freeze the house in time was no doubt a difficult decision for English Heritage and I’m slightly conflicted on whether seeing these places ‘as-was’ is the right move. However, it does help to accentuate how much work goes into other English Heritage assets when they choose the ‘restore’ option.

Here the reality was a somewhat drab interior, with all its cracks and wrinkles! Yes, it was as expected, but the word ‘Wow!’ wasn’t the most obvious of descriptions – it simply ‘was as it was’ and there was a temptation to whip out the Mr Sheen (Oh! Just me then!!!). Talking of wrinkles, after some head scratching, us two had apparently been here over 25 years ago, but apart from the exterior, inside felt completely new to me, although Ann’s razor-sharp memory found it more familiar!

The house was quite busy, and there were plenty of English Heritage Volunteers on duty, all anxious to impart their extensive knowledge of the Hall

Spread across two floors, there were plenty of rooms to look at. The ‘au natural look’ meant that some were tidier and more attractive than others!

All in all, an interesting visit to the Hall (especially as NOTHING looked familiar to me!) . Next stop were the Gardens that neither of us could recall at all.

The Gardens

Sunglasses at the ready!! Nothing could prepare us for this. After the drabness of the Hall, we were amazed at the vivid colours on display here. Now this WAS time to use the Wow! – many times! Those Marigolds and Begonias, especially, were a feast for the eyes – the whole ‘colour explosion’ was jaw-dropping!

The lawns may have looked like pretty much all of the UK’s at the moment with the succession of heatwaves here reducing the lush green ‘carpet’ to nothing more than ‘crispy straw’, but the immaculate planting and lush foliage more than made up for it. In short, stunning! (especially given the continuing hot weather at the moment).

Lunch

At just after 1pm, we were ‘all done’ and the baking Sun made us quicken our step towards the car park. Lunch was a short drive away – about 5 miles. Sandra had looked through the reviews and booked us a table at the unusually named: ‘1903‘ in sleepy Hooton Pagnell (population c200) In fact, as we drove through the village, we could have been in parts of France based on the look of the houses in this beautiful spot. Beautiful!

We weren’t sure what to expect, but we needn’t have worried, as this was to turn out to be a really good experience, overall. Good choice, Sandra! Again!

The pub/restaurant itself was already doing a really good trade when we arrived just before 1.30pm. They gave us a table near the (wide open) window, and that helped a lot with ventilation on this scorcher of a day.

There was a wide range of food on offer – and for the indecisive, multiple menus ensuring something for everyone, including a variety of ‘small plate’ offerings.

Whilst Ann picked the Lasagne, Sandra, the Caesar Salad and Dennis, the Haddock, I tempted fate and opted for the ‘1903 Demon Burger’. The ‘Demon’ referred to the spiciness level, where our Server confirmed that on a scale of 0 to 10, the burger was a 6/7. The food didn’t disappoint, but it was a little sluggish getting it to us. Clearly the popularity of the place had put the Kitchen under extra pressure. The food didn’t disappoint, although I’d rate my burger as more of an 8/9 (lovely!! )

The meal was a great end to our day together. The food and the decor ticked all the boxes, and although the service was initially quite slow, the staff were at the top of their game with their hospitality skills – such happy staff too! A bit of a rarity these days in my experience. The slightly more ‘relaxed’ (ahem!) gave us time for a good long natter ranging from ‘cranky websites’ to ‘the perfect politician’ (and pretty much, everything in between!)

Where did the time go? As the clock approached 4pm, we said our goodbyes (until the next time) and headed in our respective directions. Ann took the wheel, and we had another very smooth and trouble-free journey on the A1M/A1. We were home inside two hours and didn’t encounter any congestion at all

What a great day! It’s always good to spend time with Dennis and Sandra. The Hall, Gardens, and Sandra’s choice for Lunch turned out to be the perfect combination. Until the next time!

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 Brodsworth Hall with Dennis and Sandra appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Given all the hype, this one was the must-see Film for us in 2026. I like the majority of Christopher Nolan‘s work; he has a knack for producing movies with a BIG ‘feel’ about them – and this one promised to be more of the same.

Christopher Nolan Filmography 2000 –>

Memento (2000)
Insomnia (2002)
Batman Begins (2005)
The Prestige (2006)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Inception (2010)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Man of Steel (2013)
Interstellar (2014)
Dunkirk (2017)
Tenet (2020) –Yikes! That was a struggle!
Oppenheimer (2023)
The Odyssey (2026)

For Christopher Nolan’s latest venture, all the familiar film critics seemed to love it, whilst online, youngsters were revolting!

I’d seen a large backlash by these ‘enlightened yoofs’ citing historical inaccuracies including: (“their armour wouldn’t have looked like that“), colour-blind casting (“Helen of Troy wasn’t a woman of colour”/“Why are there no real Greeks in it?”) and also, unrealistic modernised dialogue (“Let’s go!” / “OK Dad” etc).

I guess they were hoping to grow their online followers by being controversial! . Err, it’s entertainment, kids, NOT a history lesson!

Tech Alert!

Technically speaking, what makes this one special is that it’s the first ever to be shot entirely using IMAX cameras, meaning, amongst other things, a bigger, more detailed picture – ideal for this sort of epic production. If you want the precise details of why IMAX is so special, have a look here at this very informative video, but be warned it gets nerdy, very quickly! (lovely!!)

Official Synopsis

Based on the poem attributed to Homer, ‘The Odyssey’ follows the legendary King of Ithaca, Odysseus (Matt Damon), who is trapped on a gruelling ten-year journey home after winning the Trojan War. While he braves mythical creatures and perilous seas, his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) fight to protect their home from greedy suitors vying for the throne.

Official Trailer

Main Cast

For more details on each cast member, click HERE to visit IMDB.com

See the creative team behind this one HERE at IMDB.com

After a super lunch at nearby Sondes Arms in celebration of Janet’s Birthday, we four headed for The Savoy in Corby – and our favourite seats – to see what all the fuss was about.

OK, it did fill up about 10 minutes later!

Any Good?

SPOILER FREE!

My first comment would be to say: it’s a long one, coming in at just under three hours (2 hours 53 minutes). Mind you, we all recently survived Avatar – Fire and Ash totalling a mighty 3 hours, 17 minutes, so we were already ‘battle-hardened’

There are blockbusters, and then there are Christopher Nolan blockbusters. Consequently, this was a great piece of storytelling that moved along at some pace (except for the opening 45 minutes that ‘plodded’ somewhat, whilst the storyline was established, and the scene was set for what was to come). Personally, I was expecting more action to grab my attention in those early scenes. My advice? Stick with it, and you won’t be disappointed!

If you’re familiar with Homer’s Odyssey, then you’ll appreciate that to cram as much as they did in less than three hours was a miracle in itself! Ten years of ‘odysseying’ in under 180 minutes is a feat in itself! Did it feel long? Hmm, not really, as we spent most of the time on the edge of our seats (and that’s not easy here at the Savoy because the seats recline!!! ). Yes, an energetic movie (once it got going) with Matt Damon in pretty much ALL of the scenes, acting his socks off. The rest of the cast gave it their all and must have been exhausted when the film finally wrapped on August 5, 2025, ahead of schedule.

Director Christopher Nolan is well known for minimising the amount of CGI he employs. If you want to put a load of soldiers in a boat and ask them to cope with rough seas and row like their lives depended on it – then why not do exactly that? This made every action scene really impressive (and believable too)

Was this absence of excessive CGI noticeable? Yes, it was (but in a good way!), and we all commented independently on how gritty the production felt.

Throughout, it was packed with ‘wow!’ moments and maybe just one scene where I simply thought ‘yuk!’ . If you’re like me, you’ll never look at sausages in the same way again. Gross!! . Sausages aside, overall, it was all very watchable.

Our screen presented the film in ‘Dolby 7.1‘ and this was really noticeable with sounds coming from behind, left, right and even above (I think?!). Despite some reports, the dialogue was crisp and clear throughout.

The final 30 minutes-or-so is where it all comes together and brings everything to a very satisfactory conclusion. In many ways, it’s also an exhausting experience for the audience (again, in a good way).

Go see!

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 Film: The Odyssey (2026) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It’s another of our TV Dinners and Movie Nights with mates! Tonight, it’s The Mandalorian and Grogu released earlier this year in Cinemas and available, digitally, courtesy of Amazon Prime.

We’re getting into a rhythm with our Movie Nights (see the bottom of this Post for the list so far). Film, Food and Friends – perfect!

And this was our 13th . In the audience tonight: Jo, Janet – and of course, Ann.

On the Menu..

Tempting our tastebuds tonight was Salmon with a panko breadcrumb topping (and optional Hollandaise Sauce) with Baked Jackets, Oven-baked Courgettes and Garden Peas. Fish isn’t my usual first-choice, but this was super-scrummy!

…followed by a tasty Cheeseboard.

Official Trailer

Main Cast

More details and the full Cast list is HERE, (courtesy of IMDB).

Theme Tune

For us, probably one of the best film theme tunes ever by Ludwig Göransson

OK, we’re going in!!

This movie spin-off from the very successful Disney+ series had been on my list for a while. We all missed it the first time around back in May, when it hit the cinemas, so it was good to be able to catch up in the comfort of our own home. All helped along, of course, with a yummy Supper, courtesy of Ann!

But was it any good? Given that technically, it was considered to be a commercial ‘flop’ (only taking $344m at the Box Office), was it as bad as the bank balance suggested? $344m??? . It sounds fine to me given the budget of $165m. But apparently not. I read recently that having taken into account the marketing costs and all the other ‘bits and bobs’ that go with making a movie successful these days, total costs came in at a whopping £265m-$320m!

Ouch! That’s a bit close!

Forgetting the finances then, from a purely entertainment viewpoint, we all thoroughly enjoyed it – even Ann, who usually avoids sci-fi movies like the plague! Just over two hours later, we’d enjoyed a good ol’ fashioned good vs evil plot supported by excellent special effects – and who can resist ‘Baby Yoda’ – aka Grogu? Think of a typical ‘Western’ but with spaceships! The humans, meanwhile, acted their socks off, which was tough, given that (like many films of this genre) they’d been acting in a totally green-screen environment. If you like or love the Star Wars franchise, you’ll enjoy this one!

I actually can’t understand why it didn’t do better on the big screen. Those in the know suggest that audiences just weren’t used to seeing the characters on the BIG SCREEN (given that the initial success was in a Disney+ series via your humble TV!). Perhaps that’s why WE enjoyed it so much!? . Also in its favour was the storyline itself. Compared to our other recent film night – Avatar – Fire and Ash, this had a much simpler plot, so almost no brain required – just knives and forks and a comfy seat!

Maybe, sometimes, small screen and a simple plot is the magic formula!

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 Winner, Winner! TV Dinner: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It’s another of our TV Dinners and Movie Nights with mates!

We’ve enjoyed a growing number of these in the past few years (see the bottom of this Post for the list so far). For us, they’re the perfect blend of the three Fs! – good friends, good food and a good film! This was our 12th in recent years

With us tonight were Nicki, Jo, Janet and Carol who joined us just before 5.30pm.

Dinner!

Ann was in the Galley and prepared a feast for us all. On tonight’s menu – being a Friday – it was Fish ‘n’ Chips! . Hate Mushy Peas? Ann had us covered with the more traditional sort too!

It all went down a treat! And if that wasn’t enough, we followed it with a homemade Orange & Almond Cake with Crème Fraîche – so yummy, I forgot to take any photos of it! . We ate on our laps as the film’s long run-time.

OK, we’re going in!!

Official Cinema Poster

Official Trailer

Main Cast

More details and the full Cast list is HERE, (courtesy of IMDB).

Rated 12 and running for a bladder-testing 3 hours 17 minutes, this was a difficult one to rate. On one hand, we all marvelled at the sheer imagination that went into the story and how it looked, on screen! James Cameron is another of those Directors who likes to ‘think big’ – and this one was absolutely massive in scope and vision. The storyline, however, was err, ‘challenging’, where other less generous folk might have labelled it, ‘incomprehensible’, instead! . Plenty of famous faces in this one, although you’d be hard pushed to spot who-was-who beneath the CGI-ness of it all!

On one level this was a sci-fantasy tale on a grand scale – think Star Wars on steroids (good vs evil/man vs machine/hope vs destiny etc etc), whilst on another level, it was allegorical, exploring the reality of humanity and nature working in harmony. No-one would consider this a lightweight story by any means, and it required a lot of concentration to stay on top of it. Consequently, tonight, the pause button was used frequently to cater for loo breaks (remember the run-time!), food preparation and drinks refills! . You couldn’t really afford to miss any of it to stay ahead of the curve, and it certainly wasn’t one to watch if you’d had one too many glasses of grape! And, even though we tried (we really did!) there were moments where – speaking personally – my brain was whispering: “what is going on here… and more importantly, why?“

Overall, did it matter that some of us hadn’t seen, or couldn’t remember the previous two instalments in the series? Yes, probably definitely! With that in mind, and you are following in our footsteps, if you can’t manage BOTH of the previous films in the series, then rewatching the very first, is a must!

As the final credits rolled at just after 9.30pm, we were shattered! The sheer amount of brain cells required to keep up with what was going on had left us confused/confounded/impressed in (roughly) equal measure.

Phew!

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 Winner, Winner! TV Dinner: Avatar – Fire and Ash (2025) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Off to The Wheatsheaf at Titchmarsh today to meet up with longtime friends – Chris and Gill. Gosh! We haven’t been here since we met up with Mick & Jane back in January 2025.

The Wheatsheaf has been on our go-to eateries list for many years. Like many similar establishments, it’s had its highs and lows – and seen a few owners too! When we were here back in 2025, it was ‘OK’ rather than ‘Wow!’.
– Food… but service…

We all arrived about the same time, and after grabbing a drink at the Bar, it was a gorgeous day, so we sat outside for eating.

Happily, the service levels were back to their usual high standard, and we were soon perusing their Lunch Menu.

It had to be the Homemade Steak & Ale Pie for me, whilst Ann tucked into their Beef-Burger (sans bun!) and Chris and Gill picked the Fish & Chips. The food was as good as ever, and it was good to experience the great service that we remember from earlier years. In fact, it felt like the perfect day, soaking up the sun, and catching up with great friends! .

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 Chris and Gill Catchup appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Here we are at our (mostly) annual pilgrimage to Kilworth House Theatre.

Familiar faces all round as we shared the experience with Jo, Janet, Carol and Helen after meeting up at Portly Farm (better known for its Christmas Trees) for a light bite! This year’s offering was Cole Porter’s: ‘Anything Goes’ and it’s running from 23rd June to 2nd August 2026. Today was a little unusual as it was the first time we’d be seeing a title that we’d seen before here – back in August 2013.

Synopsis

Set aboard the luxurious ocean liner S.S. American, Anything Goes is a madcap musical comedy brimming with mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and high-seas hijinks. When nightclub singer Reno Sweeney boards the ship bound for London, she finds herself entangled in a tangled web of love triangles, disguises, and outrageous schemes involving a lovestruck stowaway, a debutante, her eccentric fiancé, and a gangster posing as a minister. With its witty dialogue, dazzling dance numbers, and a score packed with Cole Porter’s most beloved songs – including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” “Friendship,” and the show-stopping “Anything Goes” It’s easy to see why Anything Goes is widely regarded as one of the best Broadway Musicals of all time.
©Kilworth House & Theatre

Runtime = 165 minutes

For new readers, or those unfamiliar with the venue, this is like going to a London West End Theatre production – but on our doorstep! We’ve been coming here for quite a few years, and it ALWAYS impresses us with the quality of its productions.

Not surprisingly, by curtain up, today was a sell-out, even if the car-park, on arrival, had suggested otherwise.

Boy! It sure was hot as the second heatwave continues in the UK and is showing no sign of leaving. In fact, Anglian Water (in keeping with most of the other Water Companies) has declared a hosepipe ban for us in the last 24 hours.

Kilworth House Theatre Visits

We’re building quite a list!

Kilworth 2025 – 42nd Street
Kilworth 2023 – Hairspray
Kilworth 2022 – Carousel
Kilworth 2021 – Memory of the Musicals
Kilworth 2019 (2) – Cats
Kilworth 2019 (1) – Joseph
Kilworth 2017 – Top Hat
Kilworth 2014 (2) – South Pacific
Kilworth 2014 (1) – Sister Act
Kilworth 2013 (2) – My Fair Lady
Kilworth 2013 (1) – Anything Goes
Kilworth 2012 – The Sound of Music

We don’t go every year, splitting our cultural time with Tolethorpe Hall that also caters for luvvies like us AND it’s an outside Theatre too! They really are all top-notch performances at both venues, and the fact that they’re outdoors, adds a certain extra something to the experience.

Cast & Creatives

Emily Mae Walker (Hamilton) as Reno Sweeney, Richard Carson (Titanique) as Billy Crocker, Megan Gardiner (Wicked, UK and Ireland Tour) as Hope Harcourt, Tom Hopcroft (Sister Act The Musical) as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, Dougie Carter (The Phantom of the Opera) as Moonface Martin, Sophie Naglik (Back to the Future The Musical) as Erna and Penelope Woodman (Wicked) as Evangeline Harcourt. Joining them were Lindsay Atherton, Lauren Dawes, Tia Gyngell, Helen Rose George, Alanna Panditaratne, Poppy Sharman, Ellie-Grace Cousins, Charlie Bishop, Robert Adam McNeilly, Toby Seddon, Charlie Robert Gary Miller, Thomas Walton, Gregor McCann and Aidan Stuart.

Produced by Celia Mackay, the creative team includes Musical Supervisor & Director Rick Coates, Set and Costume Designer Phillip Witcomb, Lighting Designer Jason Taylor, Sound Designer Chris Whybrow, Associate Director and Choreographer Emma Hunter and Casting Director Sarah Goggin.

Wow!

Well, as expected, it was a brilliant production! – possibly one of the best we’ve seen here. Emily Mae Walker in the lead female role absolutely dominated the performance with her stage presence. Given the soaring temperatures and the energetic routines, the cast took it all in their stride and (literally) didn’t break a sweat!

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 Kilworth Theatre – Anything Goes appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It’s pretty much on our doorstep, but 30 years after we moved to Northamptonshire, we finally got around to visiting Althorp House. Good mates and neighbours, Jo & Janet, joined us, in place of David & Valerie (who sadly, couldn’t make it today) heading for Althorp House.

Althorp is a Grade I-listed stately home and estate in the civil parish of Althorp, in West Northamptonshire, England covering about 13,000 acres. Althorp became one of the prominent stately homes in England where it dates back to 1688, replacing an earlier house that was once visited by Charles I. Inside and out, there have been some significant architectural changes , but on the whole, you’d never know and the House is one of the more attractive ones that we’ve visited over the years.

The estate was first opened to the public in 1953 by Albert Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer (1892–1975), to mitigate against taxation, where Althorp even had its own railway station called Althorp Park on the Northampton Loop Line until 1960. After his death, Albert passed Althorp to his son Edward John, 8th Earl Spencer, who had served as Equerry to King George VI (1950–52) and to Queen Elizabeth II (1952–54). Edward was a wine connoisseur and had an extensive wine cellar at Althorp. He made his own wine and attracted fellow connoisseurs from around the world to Althorp, although he did not sell much of it. During Edward’s ownership of Althorp, approximately 20% of the furnishings of Althorp were sold off. The divestment included eleven Van Dykes and nearly every religious painting in the collection, as well as estate housing, and drew severe public criticism, including from the heir. Edward left the estate to his son, the current owner Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, after his death in 1992. As a teenager, Charles served as a tour guide at the house and acquired a deep knowledge of Althorp, where he grew up with his sister – Diana, Princess of Wales.

We began the day with some coffee and cake at their café, taking advantage of the spacious courtyard.

It certainly was a lovely day for it! The perfect temperature for just wandering about, and soaking up the scenery and the good weather!

I was looking forward to snapping pictures of the interior as I’d heard they were ‘quite something’. But, it wasn’t to be, as we were reminded on entry that ‘no photography was allowed’.

That was a real shame! So, take my word for it, as about an hour later, with both floors covered, we had now seen the inside of the House for ourselves – and it was simply jaw-dropping! Not only was the decor stunning, but there were also so many paintings, it could have easily doubled as an Art Gallery. Plenty of well-trained staff on duty too, who only too eager to assist our understanding of this impressive pile of stone! Paintings aside, it had an impressive Library with over 100000 books!

I suppose if I was being unkind, it was simply ‘conspicuous wealth’ at its most, err, conspicuous and where for some, therefore, all of this would be almost obscene – but they’re probably not the type who would have visited anyway! For us four though, we loved it! It was just how you might imagine a country pile to be! . Even the Gardener’s House here is listed as a Grade II*

Reflecting on what we’d just seen, we took a wander with the ducks around the Oval Lake, where Diana, Princess of Wales is buried. The whole area was very tranquil and felt like the perfect resting place for this once-troubled Royal. Now, at last, at peace.

At one end was her Memorial where clearly the loss is still felt by some based on the fresh flowers that had been left there.

All that was left to do was have a final wander around, taking the Stable Block (now an exhibition hall) and the surrounding landscape.

We then headed back to the car for the straightforward journey home – or, it would have been if I’d dialled in the correct address on the Sat-Nav!

Instead, EVie took the more scenic route back taking us through Northampton (with all its customary congestion!). Usually, the Sat-Nav is pretty good at diagnosing the traffic flow and always picks the best route – but not today! How so? It turned out that I’d hit the wrong ‘previous destination’ and EVie returned from whence it came – the local Kia Dealer in Northampton!

How we laughed!

In spite of the more scenic route home, it had been a great way to spend a Friday!

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 First Visit: Althorp House appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It was a welcome return to The Saxon Mill in Warwick today for one of our regular three-monthly get-togethers with Ian & Ann and Alan & Mags. The six of us were last here back in February, this year after giving it a break for a year or two.

We set off just after 11.30, and that meant plenty of time to get there. Well, that was the theory! Friday + late morning + A14/M6/A46, what could possibly go wrong? It began well, but a lorry shredding a tyre just before the exit to the A46 meant a substantial tailback, adding nearly 20 minutes to our journey. We eventually arrived just after 12.45 (table booked for 12.30) after negotiating an incredibly busy Saxon Mill car park.

Consequently, we were last to arrive, but it wasn’t long before we were catching up with our friends and all their news.

Given that there’s a feeling, nationally, that everyone is hard up and watching the pennies, someone forgot to tell this lot! – I don’t think I’ve ever seen Saxon Mill so busy! Good to know, and we were soon perusing their Menu that sported a 2 or 3 course menu (great value at just £21.95 or £25.95 respectively plus the usual à la carte option). This all meant there was a fair amount of choice in front of us. Decisions made, we now had to get someone’s attention. Maybe due to how busy they were, service was a bit sluggish, but it came (eventually) with a smile from our Server, who was clearly enjoying his job!

It all went down a treat with my choice offering some of the tastiest bangers I’ve eaten in a long time!

It was (just as it should be) a very relaxed Lunch as we spent nearly two hours chatting over this and that including UK Passport Control, Thunderbirds, Second Thoughts productions and Ian & Ann’s impending arrival of half of Australia! (well, not quite!).

After paying the bill (just under £67 per couple) we headed to the car park, said our goodbyes and contemplated what our journey might be like in reverse on a Friday afternoon. Actually, it was hassle-free, and we were home in just under an hour.

Next time, we’re meeting at Ascoughs Bistro in Market Harborough as part of my forthcoming 70-70-70 celebrations.

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 Return to (the return to) Saxon Mill appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We haven’t been to Audley End House & Gardens for quite a few years, and today, we’re taking Nicki and joining Jo, Janet and Carol there. Given the gap between today and our previous visit, I was hoping to find a previous reference here in my Blog, but nothing… nada..! So that means we must have last been here BEFORE I first began blogging – that’s pre-May 2004! .

If the weather forecast is to be trusted, we had a fine day ahead with 15℃ predicted. As we were spending a lot of our time inside the House, a scorching hot day wasn’t that important, but it was good to know the weather was on our side.

10.05am: As Nicki, Ann and I left home just after 10, quite by coincidence, Jo, Janet and Carol appeared just behind us – what are the chances, ehh?!?!?

11.10am: About an hour (ish) later, after a trouble-free journey, we arrived at our destination. Finding the parking area was pretty straightforward, though at first it was a tad confusing since the main public car park was (much) farther up the road – not right by the entrance on our left. On the other hand, disabled parking was way more convenient, located via the main entrance. Temporarily, we went our separate ways!

After parking the car, the three of us took the short walk down the gentle slope towards the House and we were soon through the entrance and looking for our friends.

Our first task was to track down Jo, Janet and Carol who were now slightly ahead of us. ‘If in doubt, I thought, ‘try the Tearoom’ and sure enough, they had secured a table in the corner. The Café was already quite busy as we joined the queue for some initial sustenance but we were served quickly and were soon catching up with everyone’s news over a cuppa and some light nibbles.

Time for a group selfie, testing out my (usually appalling) selfie-taking skills!

Although I’m not bad with a phone camera, selfies have always turned out poor by comparison. Thankfully, after what seems like 30 years or so, I’m finally getting the hang of it (helped along by a tech-tip from Nicki of engaging a countdown timer in order to frame the shot in good time. Every day a school day, ehh?! . Cheers, Nicki!

Midday: There is lots to see here – it’s not just the House. The Estate included the 1880’s Service Wing, the Stable Yard, the Coach House, the Temple of Concord, the Polish War Memorial, the Organic Kitchen Garden, the Pond Garden, the Vine House and yet another garden – ‘The Elysian’.

Twenty minutes later, with beaming smiles captured, we were ready to explore the House… and Audley End is a big one!

First impressions? From the outside, the House already looked fantastic and was in excellent condition – and once inside, it continued to impress.

Clearly, a lot of time and money had been spent on restoring everything here so it looked like new. It’s one of EH’s most popular properties, so it’s money well spent!

Case in point: The massive Tudor Screen had been restored to its original appearance — having been painted white at some point in the past!

Helpfully, one of the Volunteers carried out a short history lesson about the House and the families who lived there. Another sign of (very) visible wealth? Oh yes! In fact, as every schoolboy knows: a Library in a house was always the sign of wealth – and Audley End House has TWO!

In spite of all of this money, the irony was that in the 1940s, the House (now occupied by just one person) was eventually handed over to the Government. In 1983, it became the responsibility of English Heritage.

12.50pm: Another fascination of the time was collecting stuffed dead things. It’s not to everyone’s taste – I’m more used to just stuffed peppers – and the above photos capture just a small proportion of the collection on display here.

1.05pm: One of the many great things about this House was that very little of the House seemed to be off limits. With the ground floor explored, we now headed upstairs, where even the Attic (that included ‘The Coal Gallery’) was put to good use. Another ‘first’ in that it’s the only country pile that I’ve been to where they used ‘upstairs’ as a store for piles of coal! A great idea when you think about it, but certainly very unusual!

Upstairs also housed the Nursery for their growing collection of kids – eight in total. Looking at the beds and the general decor, they certainly wanted for nothing.

1.15pm: An opportunity of silliness followed (and why not!) where the sight of period costumes (including hats) were ‘wasting away’ just sitting in the corner of the room. Yes, it would have been rude not to, so we slipped into something more elegant (well, the girls did!). Me? I’m not sure what I ‘came as’, but it looked – and felt – very disturbing!

Next stop was all the way back downstairs to the Kitchens.

1.25pm: With the kitchens now conquered, we dropped into the nearby Laundry Room. Tucked away in the corner was this…

None of us had a clue what it was. It looked like it was something to do with a door… maybe some form of repair tool. After a lot of head-scratching we deduced it was maybe something to do with pressing laundry. Maybe?

And it was – as the diagram above shows. Another first, as I’ve never seen one before.

1.40pm: Lunch was now calling – quite loudly! We headed back to where we’d met when we arrived. Boy, was it busy!! Whilst the girls queued, I secured us a table (as they were being taken in double-quick time).

Whilst the House may have been on the grand side, you couldn’t say the same for the food selection! It was all delicious, but the range was very limited. It therefore didn’t take us long to empty our plates, and we were soon on the final stretch, looking for the Gardens.

1.55pm: In spite of the six sharpest minds on the case AND with the map, finding the Gardens took us in some ‘interesting’ directions. On the way, the views were spectacular, and we eventually found the most direct route, but not before taking a short diversion to the Stables.

For those who have watched me ride a horse, I know some of you are still having therapy! Whilst others still haven’t stopped laughing! . So, for me, today, a much safer option was on offer…

3.00pm: Eventually, we discovered the Kitchen Garden.

In truth, there wasn’t an awful lot to see, but what was obvious, just looking around, was that this was a BIG space! It would have therefore needed quite a lot of labour to keep on top of all the gardening tasks. What DID make a lasting memory was the Gardeners’ Bothy (a refuge for the hard-working staff). It was also large, full of tools – and included an office too! It was also clear that it was the domain of a VERY tidy person (I could easily have moved in tomorrow!)

3.20pm: We finished our day near the Polish War Memorial then slowly headed around the back of the House.

Phew! . According to my walking monitor, it told me I’d covered just over 48 miles today. It certainly felt like a LONG walk around the Estate, but it clearly wasn’t that far! Then I realised that somehow my sedate driving style (yeah, right!) on the way there had confused the software and it thought I had walked – from Northamptonshire to North Essex!

3.35pm: We said our goodbyes and headed back in slightly different directions to our cars. It had been a FANTASTIC day, where we realised that this was our first day out together, and ALL of us are now retired! . The weather had delivered a beautifully warm day that was at least 2-3 degrees warmer than the forecast had suggested – perfect! .

5.02pm: We had a trouble-free journey home and indoors, sipping a cuppa just after 5.

More days like this, please!!

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 Audley End House and Gardens appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Hot on the heels of Wednesday’s get-together with Jo & Janet, watching Superman, it’s another of our TV Dinners with mates! And it’s our second ‘away match’ as we’re at Trish & John’s.

We’ve enjoyed a growing number of ‘TV Dinners’ in the past few years (see the foot of this Post). For us, they’re the perfect combo of the three Fs – good friends, good food and a good film! This was our 11th, and Trish has been scouring the cookbooks in the past few days to serve up something special

Yum Yum!

You can’t go wrong with Trish in the kitchen – and tonight was certainly no exception. Trish had created ‘Middle-Eastern Braised Beef’: a spicy concoction of guess what? Beef with courgettes, celery and tomatoes and the fragrance of fresh orange. But to start, err, Starters…

Yes, that all went down a treat! For me, the sauce was amazing!

Waiting for us on-screen is the recently released: Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. We watched it on Netflix (where, unusually, it was also on at many cinemas at the same time too!).

Official Cinema Poster

Official Trailer

Synopsis

“Amid the chaos of World War II, Tommy Shelby returns from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of his family and country at stake, Shelby must face his demons and choose whether to confront his legacy or burn it to the ground“.

Rated 15 and running for 1 hour 52 minutes, this big-screen outing had received mixed reviews from professional critics and fans. This short review is completely spoiler-free, so read away!

Either way, as all four of us were already BIG fans of the series, and it was good to see the character of Thomas Shelby back in the spotlight. It was appropriate too, as the TV series and its 36 episodes left a few narrative strands unresolved when the final episode was shown on TV in April, 2022 (Can it be 6 years ago?)

Visually, it was a treat. It was a dark tale, both figuratively and literally. The subdued hues of the first couple of acts complemented the bleak storyline and the haunted figure of a man, who appeared to be a shadow of his former self. The way they’d lit the scenes brought out the moodiness of the unfolding tale of love, death, revenge and ultimately, peace (but maybe not in the way fans might expect). It didn’t take long to work out where the story was heading – and in doing so, the tension (already on at least ‘5’ from the beginning) was threatening to settle in at ’11’ for rest of the film! Yikes! . Somewhere in amongst all that bleakness, back in Kettering, Dessert was served (thank heavens for the pause button!) – in the shape of Tiramisu – dark too! . I see what you did there, Trish!

Main Cast

The cast all did a great job in portraying their characters and more widely, the world of a Peaky Blinder. I wasn’t sure whether the character of Duke Shelby had inherited all of his Dad’s traits – charisma, menacing persona, steely stare and most of all, impossible cheekbones, but he made a fair fist of it (see what I did there?) No? Just me then!

As all good stories do, the plot built to a suitably climactic finish, and when the curtain came down, we all took a breath! Phew! It has been an exhausting watch – but in a good way. All in all, for us, a very worthwhile and watchable experience. Prepare for a reasonably high body count (but not on the scale of a typical John Wick yarn); a clear line between the bad guys and the very bad guys, plus a brief glimpse of the (already famous and local to us) Kelmarsh Tunnel. Memorable and moody lighting was a real standout for me, and I’d watch it again, just for that experience!

We all loved it! It may not have given us the ending we were expecting, but it did serve as an appropriate final curtain to the Peaky Blinders saga. Or, did it?

We finished the evening with a suitably-sized cheeseboard (we’re all self-confessed ‘cheese monsters’!), listening to music courtesy of YouTube.

10.45pm: A late one for us and another great evening with T&J – here’s to the next one!

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 Winner, Winner! TV Dinner: Peaky Blinders – The Immortal Man (2026) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

It’s another of our TV Dinners with good friends! On this occasion, it’s an ‘away fixture’ as we’re down at Jo & Janet’s watching the 2025 version of Superman on 4K DVD. It forms part of my growing 4K DVD collection, where this latest addition was a gift from Nicki a few months back for helping her out setting up her shiny new laptop – cheers, Nicki!

We’ve enjoyed a growing number of ‘TV Dinners’ in the past few years (see the foot of this Post). For us, they’re the perfect combo of the three Fs – good friends, good food and a good film! This was our tenth, and with Janet as Chef tonight, we knew we were in for some yummy food too!

I’m not sure how I missed this one last year when it hit the cinema circuit, but this evening, we definitely had the ‘best seats in the house’.

And with G & Ts immediately on arrival, the evening was off to a great start! This was followed by a really delicious home-cooked Lamb Tagine with an unseasonal (and generous) slice of Christmas Pudding, helped along by lashings of custard! . Is it me, or does Christmas Pudding taste even better when eaten outside of the Christmas period?

NOT just me then!!!

Well, the food certainly didn’t disappoint – thanks Janet, but how about the DVD?

Synopsis
When Superman gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions are questioned, allowing tech billionaire Lex Luthor to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good. Will intrepid reporter Lois Lane and Superman’s four-legged companion, Krypto, be able to help him before it’s too late?

I’m just old enough to have seen quite a few Superman adventures on the big screen over the years. The first (for me): the iconic Christopher Reeve outings between 1978 and 1987 probably started my love for superheroes on the big screen. In later years, Henry Cavill donned the cape and left me with even more positive impressions of the Man of Steel.

So, this latest interpretation starring David Corenswetis (nope, me neither!) in the titular role and starring, largely, a cast of unknowns, it was directed by Superhero supremo, James Gunn, who has form for directing Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy outings before being poached to become head of DC Studios – Marvel’s rival!

All the publicity at the time of release focused on a retelling of the Superman story. As the opening scenes unfolded, it was immediately clear that this was going to be an interpretation like no other! So, if you came here to experience the familiar backstory – Kal-El being evacuated to Earth/growing up as a foster child/his initial awkwardness fitting in at work, etc., etc. – forget it!

This was all assumed knowledge, and we were soon into a familiar good vs evil battle between our hero and Superman’s nemesis: Lex Luther (played convincingly by Nicholas Hoult). Oh, good, I’d heard of him! . Whilst we’re on the subject of characters, I think it’s fair to say that an unexpected cast member eventually stole the whole film! I won’t reveal who it is here, but this film is worth a watch, just for those scenes! (and there’s a lot of them!). Yes, he wears a cape too!

For me, acting aside, the storyline was a bit all over the place, but by the third act, it was clear where it was all heading. The script was similarly afflicted, but good to hear the familiar tones of the familiar Superman Theme from earlier productions.

As expected, the SFX were outstanding (as they always are these days!) and the story ended with the obligatory – for those on the other side of the pond – sugary-sweet happy ending. Aww, God Bless America!

Would I watch it again? . Probably not, but for those who haven’t, and want to – it’s worth it.

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 Winner, Winner! TV Dinner: Superman (2025) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Off to The Fox Inn in nearby Thorpe Waterville. It’s our regular catch-up with (very) long-time friends, Mick & Jane

The Fox Inn has been receiving good reviews of late, and we thought we’d give it a go, having not been there (I think) since April 2019! The Pub gets a lot of passing traffic but has seen quite a few owners over the years. In the latest round of ‘Pass the Pub’, it had remained closed for over a year and finally re-opened in October 2025, having been bought from the Brewery.

It was already fairly busy when we arrived just before 1pm. We were soon shown to our table for four by the window and ordered our drinks whilst we perused their menus. For us, it ALL looked yummy, and it therefore didn’t take us long to make up our minds.

Our friends arrived shortly afterwards, and with our choices now made, we spent some quality time catching up with everyone’s news.

Well, that all went down a treat! The food had always been very good here, but today’s was exceptional! If they keep serving food of this quality, then they deserve to be a success! . We were all too full for a Dessert… or even teas and coffees, so we chatted for a while, then settled the bill – and said our goodbyes until the next time.

It was a straightforward journey home for us, but we chose the back-roads having spotted a potential jam on the opposite carriageway on the A14 on our way to the Pub. Mick decided to cycle home whilst Jane took the wheel of their Beemer.

Home by 3!

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 Return to The Fox (2026) appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Today, we’re off to meet Dennis & Sandra at Hardwick Hall (south of Bolsover, east of Matlock). The eagle-eyed amongst you will spot that we four have done this before!

And you’re correct – back in August 2020. This time, however, we’re heading inside the Hall itself (last time we only explored the grounds due to Covid restrictions).

We set off just before 9.15am planning to meet up at 11am. It was a smooth and straightforward journey covering the near-90 mile journey, where again, we’d forgotten how busy the roads can get during a weekday. Still, it moved at pace but it was not a great surprise to see that some drivers still relied on telepathy alone to let others know their intentions when changing lanes! (‘BMW for sale with indicator stalk in perfect un-used condition’ ). We arrived around 10.45 with Dennis and Sandra just a few minutes behind us – a perfect start to the day.

Considering the Hall didn’t open until 11am, we were amazed at how busy the car-park was. It’s a sizeable parking area, but I reckon it was 90% full already! . Surely Hardwick Hall isn’t THAT popular???

11.25am: After the obligatory elevenses, we approached the Hall, it suddenly all felt quite familiar (although this time, Covid-free, there were a lot more people!). The crowds seemed to be mostly families (the sprogs are on holiday for Easter at the moment) with the younger members sporting rabbit ears where it seemed there was some sort of ‘Egg Hunt’ going on. Maybe that explained why the car-park was so busy?

It was good to be out in the fresh air, but my optimism in wearing my sunglasses was somewhat misplaced as there was a nip in the air. But we don’t let the weather get in the way of our adventures, this being our 20th cultural day out together with our friends since we started them back in February, 2017.

So far…

Lincoln Castle and Prison (October 2025)
Nottingham Castle (June 2025)
Wollaton Hall (October 2024)
Nottingham City (May 2024)
Doddington Hall (December 2023)
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 2018)
Burghley House (October 2017)
Hull (May 2017)
Leeds (February 2017)

Inside Hardwick Hall

The property was built towards the end of the 1590s and is an Elizabethan-era country house. The owner, Elizabeth Cavendish, later Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, but better known as simply ‘Bess of Hardwick’ became one of the richest woman in the England at the time (second only to Queen Elizabeth) – where some reports suggest she was actually richer than the Queen!

Yes, Bess managed to work her way through FOUR Husbands – Robert Barlow (married 1543, d. 1544), Sir William Cavendish (m. 1547, d. 1557), Sir William St Loe (m. 1559, d. 1565), and George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury (m. 1568, d. 1590) – Phew!! . History records that her wealth was mainly down to these careful marriages, where she rose to the highest levels of English nobility.

And it showed! If windows were a sign of wealth (they were!), then this proved that Bess was loaded! The House is a window cleaner’s nightmare (or salvation!) and oozes ‘money no object’. Having seen off FOUR husbands, the Hall represented a conspicuous sign of wealth of the time. But wait, there’s more! More in the shape of ANOTHER Hardwick Hall, helpfully named ‘Hardwick Old Hall’ next door (more about that later!).

In the safe hands of the National Trust, the building has been tastefully conserved/restored without going overboard. The tapestries are faded, and there are plenty of layers of dust in places. It felt like it had been frozen in time, and the dimly lit rooms gave a real sense of ‘how it was’.

Best let the photos do the talking…

Yes, there was plenty to see here! Plenty of Volunteers on duty too!

All in all, then it was all very impressive, but as I mentioned earlier, we weren’t done yet – there was ‘old’ Hardwick Hall literally next door.

Hardwick Old Hall

A short walk away, the National Trust look after this one too, but unusually ‘on behalf’ of English Heritage. By comparison, the old Harwick Hall looked like the ‘poor relation’ to its much larger neighbour, looking somewhat unloved and forgotten. Thanks to Volunteer, Chris, we learned more…

Initially, we thought this building must have been the original Hall, but according to Chris, it was actually constructed around the same time. Hmm, why did it look like the poor relation? Apparently, the building just wasn’t impressive enough for the family and they ‘started again’, only bigger, better – and with more windows! . But what about the fact that it looked like a ruin? Was it simply neglect? Nothing so dramatic!! The answer was simply, practicalities – they needed the stonework for the other constructions. Who knew? Not me, for sure!

Good old NT and English Heritage! They weren’t going to let the larger next-door neighbour steal all the limelight and serious money is being spent on further conservation here. Sadly we couldn’t get up close, as the perimeter was roped off whilst a survey was in progress assessing the safety of the remaining stonework. Holy flying mammals, apparently, bats are resident here too, so there’s even MORE to be concerned about!

A suitable end to our visit here today, where we saw (and learned) much more than we imagined. Time for Lunch!

Lunch

1.35pm: A short walk away was The Hardwick Inn. It was easily spotted as it looked like most of Derbyshire was already ahead of us, judging by the number of cars outside. Surely a good sign, given it was ‘only’ a murky Wednesday? It’s a well-known destination for the locals (as we spotted!), dating back to the 15th century and built of locally quarried sandstone, situated on the south gate of Hardwick Park,

Inside, it soon became obvious that most of Derbyshire was here! It was packed! The eatery sprawled in all directions, and it was clear that it had been extended many times

It all felt very welcoming inside. The staff were friendly, and the menu was extensive. Steak & Guinness Pie for me, all helped along with a pint of Old Peculiar (surely one of the best ales around?). Yes, it was all very enjoyable and the perfect end to our get-together. Almost two hours later, we said our goodbyes and headed for the M1.

5.15pm: After dropping into Dunelm (domestic crisis – the ironing board had self-destructed just before we left this morning! ) and the Post Office (goodbye Three’s 5G Router – one of my better tech decisions back in 2022), we were now 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 Return to Hardwick Hall with Dennis and Sandra appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Day 8 – Monday 16th March

Welcome back, everyone! I appreciate your readership over the past week – there’s been plenty going on! Today’s a short one as we’re heading back to the Airport this afternoon – and home! . The last Post for this holiday!

As I’m sure you know by now, we’ve been staying here in Fuerteventura with great mates, Paul & Sue for the past week. Last time we were all together was in Corralejo, back in January, 2024, and we had a great time (in spite of my left hand being in a cast! . This year, we timed the break to coincide with the annual Corralejo Carnival that ran from the 5th until the 15th March. For 2026, where the headline celebrations included: the Grand Parade (Cabalgata) last Saturday, March 14th, with other major events including the Drag Queen Gala, Adult Queen Gala, and yesterday’s Burning of the Sardine (yes, really!). 

Our home for the week has been the Las Marismas Hotel in Corralejo and we’ve bagged a one-bedroom apartment each with bed (obviously!) & breakfast for the duration of our stay. We had also hired a car on arrival at the airport to give us the flexibility to explore more of the area.

10.55am: After checking out, we took the drive to Castillo Caleta de Fuste on the east coast. It’s a holiday resort developed in the 80s and ‘loved by the Brits’. In my book that’s either welcome news or ‘something else!’ . In spite of the very precise sat-nav directions, the route was ‘interesting’, mainly down to the construction/extension of the FV-2.

12.24pm: It took a while to find the area’s famous beach, but when we did, parking was easy AND free.

Actually, as we attempted to finish our journey ,it was all quite confusing as to exactly where we were. We deduced that although the beach was in our intended location, we were actually slightly off-kilter, in nearby, Puerto Castillo.

Nothing wrong with that, of course, wherever we were, it was all very nice! Warm? Just bordering on too warm as we settled down for a well-deserved beer!.

1.05pm: We grabbed a seat in the nearby Barcelo Resort called The Show Factory and attempted to order some drinks and a light snack. Barcelo seemed to own the whole area around here, and it showed in the shocking service. Yikes! A challenging task in itself just to order drinks and nachos! And we weren’t the only ones, as the table next door was getting increasingly agitated playing ‘spot the waiter’! Whilst we waited, we people-watched! We eventually got our drinks and snacks, but it was easily the WORST service we’d experienced since being out here.

Still, the Sun had definitely got its hat on – and that eased the frustration. Just! .

2.40pm: We decided to head back to the hire-car that by now had been roasting for the past few hours. Ann and I concluded that it wasn’t our kind of area at all – it all felt a bit ‘false’ and ‘manufactured’. It had all the right ingredients – plenty of places to eat/drink, wall-to-wall sunshine and a constant parade of people to observe going about their business, just not very ‘natural’. After a final wander around the nearby Souvenir Shop, we said our goodbyes.

Back in the car, I drove us on the short journey back to the airport. Thankfully, the sprint was short and jam-free.

3.15pm: We returned the hire-car without any fuss, and once we found the Departures area. We easily found four seats whilst we waited for the departure desks to open.

4.22pm: In fact, for once, things got BETTER. After a fairly swift piece of ‘extreme queuing’, our bags were all checked in, and then we noticed they had called the flight early.

7.01pm: We were soon boarded and on our way home! The flight was pretty full – and pretty full of people who had clearly forgotten their suntan lotion. Ouch! Pink is the new mahogany! . Those easyJet seats were uncomfortable enough without needing any extra help from super-sensitive skin!

10.28pm: Less than four hours later, the early departure and the wind in our direction meant we made good time, and we were soon retrieving our bags and queuing with the rest of mankind to get through Immigration. Good to see that the eGates at Brum were as reliable as ever – but selfishly, at least I got through without incident (and that makes a change!)

00.07am: After picking up Sue’s car, we were soon negotiating the national collection of bollards as we exited Birmingham Airport (what are they doing here? HS2? ). A clear run meant we were on familiar roads until the overhead gantry announced that J2&3 were closed on the A14. A swift detour by Sue around the back roads near Kelmarsh saw us avoiding cats and badgers who were also out late, and we arrived back on the Farm at just after midnight. Quick hugs all around, and after transferring our bags to our car, we were on our way home.

00.47am: Unpack tonight? Nope! Put on the first (of many) washing loads? Absolutely not! A quick check of the post? Not a chance! Wonder why DPD threw a package over the back gate even though we put a big notice on the door to place anything in the porch or deliver to a neighbour? That conundrum is for tomorrow!

Back to reality then!!?? . See you on our next adventure!

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 Four go to Fuerteventura (2026) – Day 8 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Day 7 – Sunday 16th March

Morning, my loyal reader! Boy, that was a late one last night!

We’re here in Fuerteventura with great mates, Paul & Sue. Last time we were all together in Corralejo was back in January, 2024, and we had a great time. This year, we’ve timed the break to coincide with the annual Corralejo Carnival that runs from the 5th until the 15th March. For 2026, the headline celebrations includes the Grand Parade (Cabalgata) on Saturday, March 14th, and you can read about that HERE.

Our home has been Las Marismas Hotel in Corralejo and we’ve bagged a one-bedroom apartment each with a bed (obviously!) & breakfast for the duration of our stay. We also hired a car at the airport to give us the flexibility to explore more of the area.

The weather has been pretty consistent during our stay. We could have all coped with it being a tad warmer, but all-in-all, it’s been OK.

9.35am: So, what to do today on our penultimate day here? Over breakfast, we decided, as a start, on a slow mooch around the Town. No particular destination in mind – just a gentle stroll, taking in the sights and sounds of Corralejo. We also have the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ to investigate. Or is that the BURNING of the Sardine? No-one seems to be sure, including the residents here (more about that later!). So, at this stage, we have no idea of the details surrounding this pivotal and final part of the Corralego Carnival – but we do love a mystery!!!!

11.10am: We’re off!

Once we got outside, it became clear this was one of the best days so far for the weather, with temperatures already exceeding the forecast by a few degrees – but the cool breeze was back. With our Hotel about 1½ miles from our destination, its proximity to the main action has certainly helped with our step-count and distance – pretty much 1½ miles x 2 every day since we arrived (and sometimes more)

11.35am: Once we arrived in the main shopping area, Corralejo looked just like it always does – busy and scrupulously clean! The Street Cleaners (who we caught a glimpse of last night as we were walking back to the Hotel) had done a grand job in clearing up the litter from the Carnival. We’ve always found the area to be completely litter-free, but last night was an exception with bins overflowing and some areas looking like the worst of the UK! . Hats off to these hidden heroes!!

Today, it was just great to be wandering in the sunshine with no particular place to go! On our walkabout, we spotted the OFFICIAL Tourist Information Office and thought that would be an ideal place to clear up the mystery of the Carnival-related sardine’s destiny starring in tonight’s event (we’re kind, like that!) – and exactly WHERE the event would be taking place.

Sadly, the Spanish member of staff didn’t quite understand what we were asking, but a nearby Brit DID! It turned out that she had lived in Fuerteventura for over 30 years and was part of the big procession last night. This sounded promising, and she was therefore happy to clear up the confusion. We explained that we’d seen the event referred to as the BURNING of the Sardine, but elsewhere it was referred to as the BURIAL of the Sardine! (You can tell we had nothing more pressing on our minds!)

A detailed and helpful conversation from our newest BFF revealed where the event would take place, and that it definitely wouldn’t be BURIAL (as that wouldn’t be allowed). So BURNING it was going to be, and finally, the mystery was solved! Oh! And one final point, the event involves the Town Mayor. All good then!

Err, ‘no!’ On leaving, we took a closer look at the Poster pinned up right outside the Tourist Office, that clearly listed the event as BURIAL of the Sardine. Doh! . Well, at least we know WHERE to see the sardine spectacle – and at 7pm tonight, the mystery will be ‘put to bed’

12.05pm: With the Sardine’s destiny still causing confusion (and in the absence of a darkened room to lie down in), we stopped for coffee in the harbour area. Restaurant La Longa caught our eye as we’d been here last time we visited the island, and we recall the coffee being very good! Another great opportunity for us to look out across the water, people watch and continue to enjoy the sunshine.

12.25pm: That was a yummy coffee. Eventually, we left Paul & Sue to do their thing, whilst we did ours – looking for somewhere for us all to eat tonight. In truth, there was just (still) too much choice, even though we’ve eaten out every night since we arrived. It would be an interesting exercise to see how many days we could eat here in the evening before we’d tried them all!? I’m sure there’s someone, somewhere, who’s already worked this out! As they say: ‘Answers on a postcard, please’

12.35pm: We meandered our way back to the Hotel, where a mix of sunbathing and siesta followed. Yes, it’s still a tough life here, but we better soon start getting used to the reality of heading home tomorrow!

4.45pm: Ann began the process of packing, whilst I did very little to help – you got to play to your skillsets, haven’t you!?

6.00pm: Later, it was the familiar walk back into Town for our evening meal. Having not seen anywhere in particular on our wanderings earlier today, it was just a case of ‘seeing what took our fancy’. Having already enjoyed Indian, Pizza, Steak and Fish eateries, we fancied Chinese, if only because we hadn’t already!

6.35pm: With the Sardine event due in around half an hour at 7pm (which we’ve learned is err, ‘flexible’ in Spanish time), we grabbed a few nibbles at the familiar Alma Brunch where we’d enjoyed a late-night hot chocolate a few days ago.

7.00pm: As expected, the scheduled time for ‘sardine ahoy’ came and went!

The crowds were now building, and after another fifteen minutes or so, to the sound of beating drums, the procession began to make its way towards the Pier. Led by the Town’s Mayor and various generations of Carnival Queens, just like last night, there was a lot of enthusiasm for the event.

And then, the real star of the show: the Corralejo Sardine! OK, it wasn’t a REAL one, so that was the first mystery cleared up. The fish looked pretty contented given its future, propelled by a small group of dedicated Chinese mourners, supported by two large, VERY capable Drum Bands and followed by what appeared to be the grieving ‘Sardine family’ dressed in black (but dancing the night away!). Yes, it was all very weird but I’m sure there’s a symbolic backstory that explains all this!

There was certainly no need for any grief counselling as the dancing families seemed to be having a great time!!! . The procession wasn’t on the scale of last night’s Grand Parade, but what they lacked in numbers they more than made up for in noise! As they disappeared into the distance, we followed the crowd, heading for the Town’s Pier.

7.57pm: The area near the Pier was quite crowded, but we managed to get a good position. Burning or Burial of the Sardine was about to be revealed. As the pictures show, it turned out to be the former. As the entourage gathered near the fish’s funeral, in true keeping with modern H&S practices, they were accompanied by the local Fire Service! It took a while for the fire to take hold, but when it did, it was quite a spectacle. Thinking about it now, I’m not sure how, given the size of the fish, and that it was now pitch black, how they would have conducted the burial

So, now we know! They don’t BURY Sardines here in Corralejo, it’s a cremation all the way!

8.14pm: And, as the Sardine gently toasted on the beach, its demise gave way to the firework display. What a display! Ten minutes of really good quality pyrotechnics.

This included a type that none of us had seen before. Most firewoks go in a single direction – UP, but the display tonight included a number that were fired HORIZONTALLY. They pointed out to sea and then, after a short pause, headed for the heavens! This was a really effective way to see fireworks on the water without the need for them being fired FROM the water. Genius!

8.25pm: With the firework display coming to an end, there was a mass exodus from the Pier area, before things quietened down as we arrived back in the main strip. Most restaurants seemed to be busy as we headed for ‘Asia Garden’ – and our final evening meal here in Corralejo.

The Restaurant was heaving, but after a short wait, they found us a table. Just like all good Chinese restaurants, the range was enormous, but in the end, we settled for one of their preset Buffets.

I’m not sure where the time went! One minute we were sipping our sweetcorn soup (easy for you to say!!) and the next moment, we were paying the (very reasonable) bill!

10.45pm: As we wandered back towards the Hotel for the very last time this holiday, we spotted something very unusual! An EMPTY Corralejo! I guess it showed it MUST be a Sunday, and for many, there was work tomorrow. It was a comfortable 18℃ and completely breeze-free making it a very pleasant final mooch!

11.20pm: Time for some beauty sleep . They’ll be a final SHORT Post tomorrow as we’re heading back to the Airport, but not before we take a drive to the town of Caleta De Fuste (which is on the way). 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 Four go to Fuerteventura (2026) – Day 7 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Day 6 – Saturday 14th March

Morning readers! Thanks for following our latest adventure! Just a couple of days left before we return to Blighty, where the highlight of TODAY is to be the Grand Parade tonight in town – all part of the annual Corralejo Carnival!

We’re here with great mates, Paul & Sue. Last time we were all together, was in Corralejo, back in January, 2024 and we had a great time. This year, we’ve timed the break to coincide with the annual Corralejo Carnival that runs from the 5th until the 15th March. For 2026, the headline celebrations include: the Grand Parade (Cabalgata) on Saturday, March 14th, with other major events including the Drag Queen Gala, Adult Queen Gala, and the Burial of the Sardine (yes, really!). 

Our temporary home is at Las Marismas Hotel in Corralejo and we’ve bagged a one-bedroom apartment each with bed (obviously!) & breakfast for the duration of our stay. We also hired a car at the airport to give us the flexibility to explore more of the area.

10.30am: After our now-familiar late, late Breakfast, as we made plans for another tough day – guess where?

11.15am: Slap on the lotion, find the best spot, grab the free lounger-cushions and remember my reading glasses. Yep! We’re poolside again!! . Flanked by Paul & Sue, that’s where we stayed. Better still, if anything, it was actually warmer than yesterday, where the occasional breeze was, for once, a welcome and occasional interruption

1.55pm: In that time, I finally finished my reading quota for this week – “Hair of the Dog to Paint the Town Red” by Andrew Thompson (thanks, Janet!) – a great book packed full of ‘I never knew that‘ moments. Reading aside, that was now enough rays for us today, and it was now back to the room for the obligatory siesta

5.45pm: Time to head into Town and join the rest of mankind to see the Grand Parade and then grab a bite to eat.

6.15pm: By the time we arrived, it was already quite busy with the ‘Avenue’ lined on both sides with people like us awaiting the start of this year’s celebrations. We had agreed yesterday that initially, we’d try and find a position higher up to get an uninterrupted view. We spotted a Bar on an upper floor that was all part of the Las Palmeras (how appropriate!) shopping area, appropriately named ‘The Lager & Ale Sports Bar‘. From a distance, it didn’t look too busy, so we tried the closest lift (switched off!) and then the nearby stairs that got us to our vantage point.

This turned out to be a good decision as we could see almost to the start of the planned procession. We also got our drinks in double-quick time AND a seat too – albeit a concrete bench! Still, we were in position and ready for the off.

Since we arrived, it had been challenging to find out the specifics of this year’s event. Given that this is a big annual celebration, we expected the town to be awash with posters and general information. Not quite! Even our hotel didn’t seem to know the precise timings of events. Now in position, with drinks in hand, we took our cue from a drone flying overhead, that we assumed must be ‘in the know’. It sat in the air, hovering, for a good 20 minutes before ‘returning to home’ (presumably because it was in need of a new battery!). It clearly wasn’t just us then who wondered WHEN it would all officially begin.

7.10pm: We wondered no longer! We could see movement in the distance and heard the sound of distant drums (we were to learn that these would be a BIG feature of the event as the evening unfolded!). Let the evening begin!

The Grand Parade

Another uncertainty for us was the SCALE of the event. Would it be ‘just a few’ Floats and performers… or something bigger? By now, the streets were packed on both sides and we congratulated ourselves on our position above the organised chaos down below.. I decided to get a lot closer – and I’m pleased I did. Five minutes later, I was in amongst the action and that turned out to be a good decision.

It soon became apparent that this was, in terms of scale, a really BIG event! With my new ‘ground level view’ looking up the Avenue, there appeared to be miles of vehicles and performers. As the procession passed, all became clear as the crowd prepared itself for an assault on the senses- in a very good way!

I’ll just leave these here!

We had Drum Bands alternating with dancers all supported by Float after highly decorated Float. Visually, it was absolutely stunning. The Drum Bands were dressed in their finery and playing as if their lives depended on it! Fantastic! In all my days, I’ve never seen anything that approached the colour, the size, the spectacle and the pure enjoyment that was on display tonight!

And they kept coming. I lost count of the number of Floats, but later we estimated there were more that 50/60!

In amongst the highly regimented Drum Bands and the immaculately dressed Floats, there was room for a lot of quirkiness too! We had no idea who some of the characters represented, but it didn’t matter as everyone was having a lot of fun getting into the spirit of the event!

I was only close to the action for about 30 minutes, but there was clearly a lot more to come! I headed back upstairs to join the others where Ann had been snapping some ‘distance shots’.

We decided to get ahead of the crowds and walk to the Restaurant, just 10 minutes further on.

8.05pm: Would the restaurant be mobbed? Would we get a seat? Slightly bizarrely – ‘no’ and ‘yes’. They easily found us a table even though the restaurant was already quite busy.

They even put us by a window, and so we got a reasonably good view of the procession as the evening wore on.

9.55pm: The meal and the service were excellent (especially the latter, as they were now getting very busy). For me, it was probably the best meal of this holiday as they clearly know how to serve a steak. Being able to see the action too, was a real bonus. The procession was continuous throughout our meal – two-and-a-half hours of dancing, drumming and waving finally brought this year’s celebrations to a close just after 9.45. We skipped Dessert and headed out amongst the crowds.

It had been an excellent evening and we all agreed it had been worth booking the holiday to coincide with the town’s annual event.

10.30pm: We wandered along to the now-familiar marquee, where a Salsa Band was playing. Not surprisingly, it was the busiest we’d seen it since we arrived last Monday. By now, some of the more quirky performers had ‘broken ranks’ and were wandering aimlessly around the town in various states of inebriation. In fact, some weren’t walking it all, preferring to be carried or simply propping themselves up in vacant corners. It was easy to spot the Brits amongst it all. Loud, proud and with more than a few dressed as Batman (nope, me neither!). It became clear that over and above the official Carnival performances, some had simply used the event to dress up – after all, it was a Saturday night!

10.45pm: Ann and I went in search of ice-cream – and El Momento Gelato Artesanal came to the rescue with its generous scoops of multiple flavours – Snickers/Cherry/Caramel and Strawberry combo for me, whilst Ann (on standby with Rennies for me!) was far more refined and restrained with (just) Snickers and Caramelised Toffee. Paul and Sue stayed on to enjoy a hot chocolate whilst we took the now familiar walk back to the Hotel, following (at a safe distance) three paralytic Scotsmen who had clearly enjoyed the evening and wanted to sing about it whilst walking along the middle of the road. Brits abroad, ehh!? Almost as memorable as the Carnival itself!

Wow! What an evening! Thanks Corralejo for an unforgettable event!

11.35pm: . 11.35???? See you tomorrow (maybe!) .

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 Four go to Fuerteventura (2026) – Day 6 appeared first on Steve's Blog.