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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Ruby Do!
On possibly the hottest day of the year, we set off to David and Rosi’s for their Ruby Celebration Garden Party. As expected – and forecast – it was another scorcher of a day with temperatures heading into the low-30s. We picked up neighbours Paul and Karen (fresh back from their holiday in Italy) and …
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Tolethorpe Hall: Spider’s Web
We headed for Tolethorpe Hall today to catch the matinee performance of their latest production: Agatha Christie’s Spider’s Web. Where’s Tolethorpe Hall? Just like our other fave outdoor space at Kilworth Theatre, there’s the tradition of bringing a pre-performance picnic – and with the weather heading into serioius scorchio territory this week, it would have …
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A Packed Sunday!
Nope! Definitely not used to this! Pretty much OUT all day – although it was for all the right reasons! 😁. A longer walk, a new lunch venue and a movie! Yes, I know: ‘tough life!” 😜 The Kettering Walk First off, we met Jo & Janet outside Kettering Library for the ‘Kettering Walk’ – …
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Canons Ashby
Off to National Trust’s Canons Ashby today to meet up with long-time mates, Chris & Gill. Ordinarily, a straightforward journey using the A43, but not so today! It’s F1 Silverstone Weekend starting later and that means only two things – chaos on the main routes plus the local villages seeing an exponential increase in through-traffic. …
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Glorious Kelmarsh!
Thought I knew nearby Kelmarsh Hall very well, having got married there in 2011 and partied there for our 10th Anniversary last year! Apparently not! I saw parts of it today, that I’d never seen before! The House They’ve opened up parts that were inaccessible before, and it was all very well presented. There was …
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Film: Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Off to the flicks this evening to catch the final in the Jurassic Park movie franchise – Jurassic World: Dominion. Released on the 10th of June here in the UK and with a runtime of 2 hours and 25 minutes, it wasn’t just the dinos with monster proportions! Background Touted as the final instalment of …
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“We’re at the Theatre Dahling!” – Carousel
Here we are at Kilworth House Theatre with Jo, Janet & Carol for the theatre’s latest production – Rodger’s & Hammerstein’s Carousel! (the pair’s second collaboration from 1945). For those that haven’t heard of this Theatre, it’s local (ish), located in the grounds of next-door Kilworth House Hotel in leafy Leicestershire. Over the years, we’ve …
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Another ‘George’
It was a welcome return to that ‘other’ George today – The George in Great Oxendon! This time, lunch with Ian, Ann, Alan and Mags as of our semi-regular foody get-togethers. Last time we were here was back in January of this year with Paul, Sue, Geoff and Rhonda – and this was our fourth …
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Bonkers Beckworth’s
We picked up Helen today and headed for our favourite Emporium – Beckworth’s. And if people are supposed to be tightening their belts and cutting down on eating-out, then no-one told those ahead of us! When we arrived just before 1pm, it was bonkers busy! 😟. So much so, they’ve now introduced a pager system …
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What a Shower!
Even at the tender age of (almost) 66, I’m still up for trying new things. And today was one of those days! Ann and I were invited to our first Baby Shower. From what I’d read it was another of those celebratory imports from across the pond designed to mark the imminent arrival of a …
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First Visit: Ascough’s Bistro, Market Harborough
It was our first visit to Ascough’s tonight – and what a beautiful evening… the best we’ve had here weather-wise for a long time. Bev and Jules picked us up, and we took the very pleasant drive over to Market Harborough. It was obviously a popular venue as even though Jules had booked quite a …
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