We picked up Helen, and headed to the ever-reliable Beckworth’s for one of their Afternoon Teas! Yumminess predicted! The food and service didn’t disappoint, and judging by the fact that the rest of Northamptonshire were also there, others were equally impressed! Afterwards, we took a look round their Garden Centre and chose one of their …
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Category:Friends
Big Band for a Big Event
You might remember Paul – he joined forces with David and me for our ‘£1-a-Day’ fund-raising event in 2017 and 2018. Well, he’s mad enough – in a good way – to continue his generous nature and has volunteered to do a 94km sponsored walk. Yes, you read that correctly – 94km!!! And this is …
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Fully Charged Live 2019
It seemed appropriate that our first major outing in our very first EV would be the Fully Charged Live Show at nearby Silverstone! After picking up Chris and Mark in Northampton, we headed for this iconic location, where, in addition to plenty of ‘talkie-bits’, there was also an opportunity to test drive the latests EVs …
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Barn Dance
This was only our second foray into the skills needed for Barn Dancing – Kettering A&E were on standby, especially the foot and toe unit! 😁 Last time, back in the stone-age, I recall I had the floor to myself! Less a scene from Saturday Night Fever where the crowd were wowed by my moves, …
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The Weekend – Sponsored by the letter ‘f’
A weekend of fun, friends, fine food, F1 and err, a fone! Friday Ralph and Karen are joining us for the weekend. We haven’t seen each other for a while and there was plenty to catch-up with! Probably the most important task was to begin finalising details for joint trip to China including understanding the …
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Bank Holiday Weekend in Banstead
We travelled down to Banstead today to meet up with good friends Richard and Nicki. What made today different was that we decided to do it all by train (given the poor journey we had back last time by car!). Whether it’s a sign of getting a bit older, or simply the thought of the …
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Movie of the Year: ‘Avengers: Endgame’
If Sci-Fi is your preferred film genre, then I reckon this movie is as important as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Star Wars (1977)… Read on… But what makes this latest blockbuster different is the sheer scale and ambition by those responsible for its existence – Marvel Studios (more about all this later). So, …
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Two Locals and Two Towneys
We caught up with Nick and Celina today. After a quick look round their local Garden Centre, we headed off to another local for Lunch – The Black Bull, in nearby Market Overton. Then it was back to theirs for a coffee and to admire how much they’ve done with their Home since we were …
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Easter (2019)
This year, we spent most of Easter with Denis in Heckington. Good Friday We left home fairly early (8.15am) and there was hardly another car on the road. As a result, we made record time and arrived just before 9.45. We’ve got plans to catch-up with Bev too whilst we’re up here, but that’s tomorrow, …
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Out… Foxed
We went to The Fox Inn at Thorpe Waterville tonight to meet up with Mick and Jane. Last time we all saw each other was back in November last year for our Christmas get-together at Loch Fyne in Elton – and the last time we were here was back in January 2014. We went to …
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Leeds, Feeds and Boats
7.50am: A relatively early start today as we planned to catch the 8.51 Train from Peterborough Rail Station heading for its counterpart in Leeds. We’re catching-up with Dennis & Sandra for one of our semi-regular day-outs together. We’re starting to build up quite a history now, as this will be our seventh get-together, having already …
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Film: Split
We took the long journey (just short of 600m!) down to Jo and Janet’s tonight for some ‘nosebag’ and to watch the Film – Split. The film is part of the trilogy that includes Unbreakable (2000) and the (very) recent Glass (2019) that we saw back in January. The Director M. Nigh Shyamalan is actually …
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‘The 5ive’ do Lunch
Well, here we are, I’m in my favourite city – London – and meeting with ‘The 5ive’ for Lunch. We’re ‘The 5ive’ because there are 7 of us (I know! Don’t ask, it’s complicated!) who met and collaborated on a training project back in 1999. We’ve met semi-regularly ever since – and just to keep …
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Warner Weekend 2019
Well, this is a first for us! We’re off for a Warner Weekend with our like-minded friends: Geoff, Rhonda, Paul and Sue. We’re staying at Warner’s Littlecote House Hotel in Berkshire. It’s a themed long-weekend entitled: ‘Oh! What A Feeling‘, celebrating the music of Lionel Richie & The Commodores as well as Tom Jones. There’s …
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Film: Captain Marvel
Much has already been written about the significance of the arrival of Captain Marvel into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Happily by others! 😁 Welcome then, to my spoiler-free review of Captain Marvel. The Film was released on March 8th and Critics (the paid ones) had already pronounced that although it was no Black Panther, …
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Valentine Meal (2019)
Auto Cross-posted from my Blog… Valentine Meal (2019)
Lunch: Return to the Lamport Swan
It was a welcome return today to The Swan at Lamport (or the Lamport Swan as it’s also known). We haven’t been there for about a year (1st February 2018, in fact) and today we were catching-up with Ian & Ann, Alan & Mags for Lunch. And our verdict? An impressive experience all-round! 😉 Julie, …
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Easy PC!
Off to Cambridge today to meet up with Sally B. We’re on a mission to seek out a replacement Laptop to replace ‘Isla‘ (who has enjoyed a great innings since February 2015, but it’s time to retire her!) 👍 First stop was to be John Lewis who had some cracking good deals and where we’d …
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Lunch: Too Many Arms
Auto Cross-posted from my Blog…
Film: Glass
Breaking News! ?
Laddies (and Ladies) who Lunch – Part 783!
We never need any excuse at all to enjoy a good Pub Lunch – and today was no exception! It was another of our regular gatherings with local friends (and fellow retirees). Step forward then, Geoff, Rhonda, Paul and Sue – and of course, Ann – to sample the delights of The Swan at Braybrooke. …
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Cirque de Soleil – Totem
A welcome return to the Royal Albert Hall today! After my last visit for Prog Rockers, Camel, back in September, last year, today was a complete contrast – Cirque du Soleil‘s Totem. We picked up Janet, Jo and Carol and headed for Kettering Station and the 12.51. An hour-and-a-half later, we were taking our seats …
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Floats my Boat!
Another first today for me, as David & I travelled over to Leamington to visit the Annual International Model Boat Show for 2018 at the Warwickshire Events Centre. Today was the first day, and the event runs until Sunday. Programme and more information HERE (.pdf) We arrived just before the doors opened at 10am – …
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Camel: Moonmadness Tour 2018 (Royal Albert Hall)
What a treat! I haven’t seen these guys in concert for quite a few years – and tonight was the final gig in their 2018 World Tour. I’ve seen only them twice before, live – once in the late 70s at Fairfield Halls, Croydon and more recently, at some point in the 90s (where I’m embarrassed to …
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Modern Men!
I met up with Stuart and Stephen today at the Tate Modern. I haven’t visited here for a good few years and it was great to be reminded of its extensive collection. OK, it had the obligatory weird stuff – Lobster on a Telephone anyone? ☹️ … but there was plenty of more traditional stuff …
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Remember the 60s?
It’s getting to that point where many of our social circle are reaching a ‘certain’ age (although some have past it, and some feel past it!) Guilty on both counts! 😁😁 Tonight was another of those events, with John C (below, not facing the camera!) reaching that milestone where a Public Library (if there …
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Film: The Post
It was off to the Kettering Odeon tonight for 5.45pm performance of The Post. We were very much looking forward to this, given the partnership of Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg (apparently, the first time they’ve all worked together on the same film). The storyline follows the New York Times’ and Washington Post’s …
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Biggles Flies Again
Biggles? More like Giggles! as I took control of a real aeroplane courtesy of last year’s birthday pressy from Ian and Mags – a 45 minute flight over the skies of Northamptonshire! Ian & Ann, Ralph and Karen and my Ann were there to witness my performance as just after 11am, I ‘took the stick’ …
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Cuba – Day 4
After yesterday morning’s scrum in ‘our’ restaurant (masquerading as guests having breakfast) we decided that we’d return to the relative calm of the ‘other’ restaurant by way of the tunnel connecting the two parts of the hotel. Although busy, this turned out to be a smart move, in spite of the slightly chaotic atmosphere. After …
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Too Early to Mention ‘Christmas’?
Yes, quite possibly! Today, we began to get into ‘Christmas-mode’. First task of the day was to review our Christmas card address list. This is always worthwhile, but always takes far longer than I think it’s going to. Every year, I think ‘Oh, there won’t be many address changes’, and every year, I discover there …
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