Steve's Blog Blogging since 2004, about the significant people, places, sights and sounds of my world. Now dabbling with retirement!

The ship hugged the coast of Spain today, so we got a spectacular view all day. The obligatory ‘man-overboard’ drill (or to be more precise, the ‘plastic-floaty-orangey-thing overboard’) went without a hitch. The ‘man’ was in the water for just 11 minutes. Apparently that’s an OK amount of time! La Coruna, northern Spain tomorrow…

Near the foothills of the Pyrenees. St Jean de Luz is the principle centre of the French Basque country. Another beautiful place, completely unspoilt and lots of nice expensive looking shops and a wonderful beach. We also took a short train ride to Biarritz, which was also brimming with beautiful beaches and shops. We were …
Read More

Ten miles west of Brittany’s shoreline is the island of ‘Belle Ile’. 11 miles long and 5 miles wide, it’s a beautiful island, unspoilt and very scenic. 8000 years ago, it was part of France’s mainland, but a gradual rise in sea levels led to its separation from the mainland. The island once belonged to …
Read More

Wow! What a beautiful warm day again! Cloudless blue sky and a chance to soak-up some rays. Sufficient breeze for the ship’s sails to be un-furled and to see the ship in its full splendour. Add to that, dolphins off the starboard bow, and lashings of ice-cream for lunch and it doesn’t come much better …
Read More

Docked in Le Havre, France at around 8am. It’s France’s second largest port. What a gloriously hot day – feels like 30 degrees! We’re now off to Rouen by train, in need of some retail therapy. What a lovely place, a beautiful Cathedral, and the old town is full of, well, old things! A croque …
Read More

Almost set to depart from Dover on the good ship, “Wind Surf” bound for Le Havre. Blue skies, Dover Castle in the distance…oh, and a free afternoon buffet with lots of cakes and sandwiches! 🙂 More news tomorrow, from France! More photographs at https://www.stevepalmer.com/myphotographs/index.html

Tomorrow we sail! ..on the fabulous WindSurf

Today, Mae, Denis, Mum, Ann and I went to the International Glenn Miller Festival at Twinwood airfield in Clapham, near Bedford Twinwood, was the airfield that Glenn Miller flew from right before his mysterious disappearance in the air – spooky!

Our friends, Janet, Jo and Carol got us some tickets for National Trust’s ‘Battle Proms’ evening at Stowe. Wow! what an event! Took Mum along and we had a great time. It was packed, should have got there at least three hours before. A fantastic orchestra, military parades, real big guns salute and a superb …
Read More

Popped down to London to enjoy a superb Chinese meal (The Great Wall, Tooley St) with my good friends Angela, Antoinette and Carey. Passed where Dad’s office used to be. It’s now a teaching hospital!

This weekend, we spent Saturday and Sunday with Roger and Jane, and of course, Oliver. Wow! Is he growing!

Today, we went to the ‘Festival of History’ day at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry with our friends, Nick, Celina, Alex, Laura and Hannah Hottest day of the year? It certainly felt like it! See more photos HERE

We went up to Ludlow and Shrewsbury for the weekend and stayed at the excellent Crown Pub, restaurant and B and B. Glorious weather too! SATURDAY Took a look around Ludlow and also visited Berrington Hall and Croft Castle Berrington Hall Croft Castle SUNDAY Wandered around Shrewsbury town and the Castle. Also visited Attingham Park. …
Read More

Today, I beefed up my PaintShop Pro skills at Knuston Hall, Northamptonshire with Kay Gugliotta – a superb teacher!

This evening’s Blog comes fom the gardens of Hall’s Croft in Stratford upon Avon, England where we saw Second Thought’s outside production of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ Great stuff! 

Today’s Blog comes from St Paul’s Church in Hoddesdon, England where we went to Oliver’s baptism   

Today’s Blog comes from very near the home of the Queen – Windsor, England, where I met my friend Susan Sheridan   

Tonight’s Blog comes from the Jazz Festival in Oundle, near Peterbrough Acker Bilk was great! Courtenay Pine was strange!

Today’s Blog comes from the Hotel Amigo, Rue de l’Amigo, Brussels

Today’s Blog comes from the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire

Today, we went to Newmarket races for the first time with our friends Nick and Celina ..and we won 67 pounds!

..from the Yes Anniversary Tour at the NEC Arena, Birmingham, England

Today’s Blog comes from the ‘Three Horseshoes’ public house in Yaxley, Peterborough

Today, all the hard work in our garden paid off.

Today, I finally sorted out the christening gift for Oliver – his own web domain!

Today’s Blog comes from the popular ‘Wicksteed Park’ in Kettering, Northamptonshire