Day 1 – Wednesday, 2nd November Morning all! Not a bad view! I think I could get used to this!😊🌞. It’s Day 1 of our Cyprus adventure with great mates Paul & Sue! We’ve got a lazy one planned for today, including a birthday lunch with Geoff at 1pm! Until then, it’s… very little indeed! …
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Six Days in Cyprus (2022) – “Hello Annabelle”
Arrival – Tuesday, 1st November 10.28am: We’re off to Cyprus! 11.01am: After picking up our friends, Paul & Sue, we headed to Birmingham Airport. 11.39am: We had a good journey to the Airport (in spite of the torrential rain!). The downpour continued as we arrived at Car Park 4 and played ‘hunt the space’. I …
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Coldplay in Concert from Buenos Aires (2022)
We went to see Coldplay in Concert from Buenos Aires – and it only took us 20 minutes to get there! 🤔 How so? Well, on the 29th, their performance was being beamed to a range of UK cinemas! So, together with Jo and Janet we headed for the local Odeon for the 7pm performance. …
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Doctor Who Special: The Power of the Doctor
This pivotal episode has been clouded in secrecy with very little official online content to comment upon as the transmission date got closer. That all changed on Saturday, October 8, 2022, when the BBC released this short, official Trailer (below). The episode is part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations and what made this one so …
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First Visit: Arrow Mill, Alcester
Off for one of our semi-regular get-togethers with Ian & Ann and Alan & Mags at the Arrow Mill in Alcester. Located west of Stratford-upon-Avon, just off the A46, it was our first visit to this rather posh-looking Pub/Restaurant (with Rooms too!). It took us a while to get there though! It may have been …
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It’s official – I’m OLD!
A pivotal moment today! It’s official – I’m OLD! I received my VERY FIRST State Pension payment overnight! 😲
Movie Night: The King’s Man – Revisited
It’s Movie Night at the Palmer’s! But really, it was just a good excuse to catch up with great friends and neighbours – Jo & Janet. 💏 We originally saw The King’s Man with Ralph & Karen on Boxing Day last year when it first came out at the cinema – and it didn’t disappoint. …
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Holiday: Switzerland Day 6 – Final Day
Day 6 – Thursday, 29th (our last day) – Up the Mountain! Morning Reader! 👍. Two important pieces of news… One: it’s our last full day here and Two: it’s NOT raining! 😁 A Journey Well Travelled Last Friday – Arrival in Zurich Saturday – Zurich to Wengen Sunday – A Wander in Wengen Monday …
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Holiday: Switzerland Day 5
Day 5 – Wednesday, 28th – Fun in Thun! Welcome to Day 5 – our penultimate full day here in Wengen, Switzerland. The weather, especially over the past few days, has been at best ‘variable’ (that’s the polite version) and today’s forecast looks much the same! Just like yesterday, we woke to the sound of …
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Holiday: Switzerland Day 4
Day 4 – Tuesday, 27th – The Damp Patch! 7.45am: Welcome back! and to Day 4 of our six-day holiday here in Wengen, Switzerland! Well, the weather deteriorated overnight, and we woke to find it absolutely hammering it down! It’s colder too, so I think we’ll be keeping it local today! SO FAR… Friday – …
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Holiday: Switzerland Day 3 – Birthday Boy (2022)
Day 3 – Monday, 26th – Bern, Baby, Bern! Morning my loyal reader! Yes, ‘Birthday Boy’ today! — 66 on the outside, but only 16 on the inside! 😁 What you might have missed Arrival in Switzerland Day 1 – Zurich to Wengen Day 2 – A Wander around Wengen Look what turned up, just …
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Holiday: Switzerland Day 2
Day 2 – Sunday, 24th – A Wander in Wengen Guten morgen Freunde und Familie! 😉 Whatever they’re slipping into the cocoa here, it’s working, as we slept really deeply last night. The first thing we noticed, once we’d come-to, was how quiet it was. Sure, the banning of non-electric vehicles here in the village …
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Holiday: Switzerland Day 1
Day 1, Saturday, 24th – Zurich to Wengen Morning all! 😁 There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to set you up for the day is there? We slept like we’d been drugged and were now ready for whatever the day threw at us! 8.14am: Before we check-out, here in Zurich, our first stop was …
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Holiday: Arrival in Switzerland
Yes, it’s that time of year again! We’re heading abroad as part of my birthday celebration week. 👍 For 2022, our celebratory trip started, as we set off for Birmingham Airport. We’ve got a single overnight stay in Zurich, before heading for our ultimate destination, Wengen (pop. c1300) in Switzerland for six days in the …
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The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
We watched it live on BBC1. It was full-on so we took a break every so often and watched something else! It was emotionally draining but essential viewing! The queue (to end all queues!) was closed a little after 10.40pm on Sunday. Queuing time was reported to have been over 12 hours at some points …
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Return to Ascoughs Bistro
The first time we visited Ascoughs Bistro in Market Harborough was with Bev & Jules back in June. The food and service was really good, and we decided to visit there again as soon as we could. Today was that day and David & Valerie joined us as part of our semi-regular ‘monthly-eat-outs’ and an …
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Ashmolean (again!)
We never turn down an opportunity to visit The Ashmolean (having been there in November 2011, March 2012, September 2013, March 2014, May 2018 and August 2021). Yes, it’s no surprise then, that this Museum is probably our favourite out of any of those we’ve visited ANYWHERE! 😁. On this occasion, it was to meet …
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Dubious Dovecote and a Great Garden!
Off to the Dovecote Buttery today for Sunday lunch with Helen. We haven’t been here for about a year – and it was good to be back. Well, that’s how we felt when we arrived! Disappointingly, the place was so busy, the service levels fell well below how we remember it. Additionally, the food was …
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Nutters Reunutted (again!)
After yesterday’s sad news, it felt a little odd going out for lunch and meeting up with friends! ☹️ Geoff, Rhonda, Paul, Sue, Ann and I got together for lunch at the Olde Victoria to discuss next year’s ‘Northant’s Nutters Annual Getaway’. In amongst the excellent food and service (as usual!) we narrowed down our …
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RIP HM Queen Elizabeth II
Nothing to add that hasn’t already been said.
Virgin in our Post Code!
Well, after writing to Virgin Media in 1992, asking about the chances of improving my then pathetic Internet speed of about 1Mbps – it’s finally happened! Back then, their reply was ‘there was no demand in your immediate area for our services’. Today, finally, in August 2022, Cable has arrived! — Aw Bless! It only …
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Rocking up to Rockingham Castle
It’s on our doorstep, but the last time we think we visited Rockingham Castle was probably 25 years ago! Before I even began blogging! 🤔 These days (at the time of writing anyway) it’s only open Tuesdays and Sundays from midday until 5pm – so today was a good decision! 😉 After yesterday’s trip over …
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Dead Centre!
Maybe not everyone’s idea of fun on a Sunday morning, but here we are at Kettering Cemetery in London Road! Fortunately, it’s not for the reasons you might imagine! 👍 We’re actually here as part of our semi-regular ‘Sunday Hosted Walks’ courtesy of Friends of Kettering Art Gallery & Museum! ‘Tour Leader’ today was David …
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Belvoir Castle with Dennis and Sandra
We drove to Belvoir Castle today to meet up with mates (and newly retired) Dennis & Sandra. We’ve built up quite a portfolio of venues over the past five years for our ‘days out’ together. Venues past… Kedlestone Hall (May 2021)Hardwick Hall (August 2020)Castle Howard (December 2019)The Royal Armouries Museum (March 2019)Bolsover Castle (October 2018)Belton …
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The Goring (not boring!)
Here we are at the rather flashy ‘The Goring Hotel‘ in fashionable Belgravia, London (albeit belatedly) courtesy of a rather generous birthday gift for Ann back in 2021 from Roger, Jane & Oliver. Thanks everyone! 😍😍 Friday, 5th Yes, this is possibly the most sumptuous Hotel we’ve ever stayed in – and we’re here until …
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Itchin’ for Hitchen’s – a Birthday Celebration!
Today, was our second visit this year to Hitchen’s Barn in Oakham. The reason? A belated Birthday lunch for Janet – ably assisted by Jo, Carol, Ann and me! Our first visit here was back in May (with Nick & Celina) and we were so impressed, we were itching to return. In our view, it’s …
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Summer School 2022
They say: ‘Every day’s a School Day’, and for us, the past five days was to be taken literally. It had been time for our first visit to Marlborough College and its annual Summer School. The popular event had been cancelled for two years in a row because of Coronavirus, but at last, we were …
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Family Outing – Hampton Court (2022)
Yes, it’s that time again when we have a day out with Ann’s side of the family. Last time, last year (back in October, 21) the venue-of-choice was Kew Gardens and before that, Shuttleworth in July, 2021. This year’s venue? Hampton Court Palace! Just a few of us MiA this time around – Chris & …
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Cat’s Away (Day)!
Ann and I aren’t often apart these days – but today was an exception! 🤔 We drove down to Roy & Susan’s today for a sleepover – and a catchup! Whilst Ann and Susan headed off in the direction of RHS Wisley for the day, Roy and I had other plans! 😁 With the girls …
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Film: Thor: Love and Thunder
Another busy Sunday (in a good way) as we headed straight from Rosi and David’s ‘Ruby Do’ to the local Odeon (meeting up with Janet & Jo) to see the latest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) franchise – Thor: Love and Thunder. This is a direct sequel to Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and the 29th …
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