Sunday, 24th April Morning Reader! 👍 We arrived here at our holiday home The Tractor Shed in Kinnerley yesterday. As we don’t know this part of the world at all (I think the last time we were in Shropshire was back in November 2006 for a pre-Christmas break), we’re firmly in ‘explorer mode’ to soak …
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Holiday: Shropshire (in a Shed!) – Arrival!
Continuing our holiday breaks here in the UK, this time, we’re spending time in a shed! (an ex-tractor shed that is!) courtesy of Sykes Cottages. Located north-west of Shrewsbury, sandwiched between the A483 and the A5 in the village of Kinnerley (population just 1108!), it’s a new(ish) addition to the Sykes Cottages property portfolio, imaginatively …
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Return to the other George!
A welcome return to the newly refurbished ‘other’ ‘The George’ today – the Pub/Bistro/Hotel in Buckden. Since we were last here back in April 2019, the place has had a complete makeover – not just the eatery but the whole Hotel! The ladies’ loos had gold taps and were immaculate from top to bottom (so …
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Doctor Who Special: The Legend of the Sea Devils
The BBC first released a one-minute clip on Twitter on Saturday, 2nd April revealing the next Doctor Who ‘Special’. It’s been a while since anything Who-related has been marketed and this was an important episode for a number of reasons: First, it will be Jodie Whittaker’s penultimate appearance as our time-travelling hero. Next, we see …
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Film: Operation Mincemeat (2022)
A little bit outside our usual routine today as we headed for Cineworld at Rushden Lakes. Crikey! Rushden Lakes on a Saturday! Are we mad? Easter Saturday too! Madder than mad!!! But you probably knew that already! Why Cineworld? Mobile phone operator THREE gave away two Adult tickets for just £3 each to its customers …
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The Wheatsheaf – Again!
We returned to The Wheatsheaf in Titchmarsh today to meet up with good friends Mick and Jane. We were last here in January, again with Mick and Jane, and we’d chosen today’s repeated visit for the simple reason that previously, we’d all been mighty impressed with the food and service! 👍 We arrived just a …
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Holiday: Oman (2022) – Day 5
Monday, March 28th Morning all! 😉😉. I see the weather appears to be on the turn here. It’s 7am and it’s only 27℃. Good job we packed mittens! 🤔 It’s our last full day here and where Monday brings more of the same – eat, doze, sleep, eat and finally, sleep (repeat)! 8.25am: Thankfully, eating …
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Holiday: Oman (2022) – Day 4
Sunday, March 27th Welcome back, and a happy Sunday to you, dedicated reader. This is our fourth day here in Oman. 👍👍 I hope the Sun is shining where you are. The grill is already ‘full on’ here at ’27’ – and it’s only 7am! Somewhat predictably, it’s forecast to hit the mid-30s again today! …
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Holiday: Oman (2022) – Day 3
Saturday, March 26th Greetings, my loyal Reader… 👍 Well, I guess that’s not a bad view to wake up to! Hello Saturday!!!! 😀 9.05am: Breakfast time! And after last night’s feast, I’m eating light this morning (but we’re surrounded by so much variety, it’s a real exercise in will-power).☹️ 9.45am: We’re about an hour earlier …
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Holiday: Oman (2022) – Day 2
Friday, March 25th Morning all! 😁 It’s our second day here and one of us is celebrating their birthday! (CLUE: It’s not me!). Absolutely no plans at all for today except for a celebratory meal tonight! What you might have missed…DepartureandOman – Day 1 9.40am: Phew! Another day in the oven Paradise!! A late breakfast …
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Holiday: Oman (2022) – Day 1
Thursday, March 24th 8.15am: Morning loyal reader! We arrived just 15 minutes ago – we’re at the rather splendid Kempinski Hotel in Muscat, Oman. Opened just four years ago, it’s an all-in-one resort hotel, meaning there is no need to leave the hotel area for anything! Looks like the weather is on our side (for …
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Holiday: Oman (2022) – Departure
Wednesday, March 23rd We’re off..! As part of Ann’s birthday celebrations (in a few days), we’re flying to Oman! Like many, attempting to holiday abroad in recent times (because of you-know-what) has been somewhat challenging – but we do love a challenge! Consequently, this is our first trip overseas for about two years! Last time …
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Film: The Batman (2022)
In complete contrast to our recent outing to see The Duke – a rather light-hearted affair – here we are once again at the local Odeon (sans Meerkat) to see the new Batman film – by comparison, it looks like a much, much darker offering! 😯 It seems only yesterday that we had Director Chris Nolan’s …
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Friends Reunutted!
Here we are at The George in Great Oxendon reuniting with The Northants NuttersⓇ, aka Geoff & Rhonda and Paul & Sue. We last got together for our Warner Weekend at Alveston Hall, back in January and it was good to see everyone again! 😀 As we arrived in the car-park, it was clearly a …
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Film: The Duke (2022)
We headed for the local Odeon today to see the much-praised movie: The Duke starring Jim Broadbent and Helen Mirren.
Lunchtime Fill at The Mill!
A welcome return to one of our favourite eateries – The Saxon Mill in Warwick! ?
Film: Death on the Nile (2022)
With the weather looking like we might soon need an Ark, David, Valerie, Ann and I fired up the Meerkat App and headed for a half-price visit to the local Odeon. Yes, I know, we’re living the dream! 😉 The movie in mind was Death on the Nile, the highly anticipated follow-up to Kenneth Branagh’s …
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Beckworth’s beckons…
Those from around these parts will already know of Beckworth’s – or to give it its full title: Beckworth Emporium. For once, Emporium sounds like an accurate description! For those of my readers outside the area, think old-school supermarket plus an expansive (but not expensive) garden centre, all topped-off with a rather sizeable eatery. Oh, …
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Film: Eternals (2021)
The movie juggernaut that is Marvel Studios, thunders on with their 26th production – “Eternals“. For reasons that I can’t quite recall, I didn’t get around to seeing this at the cinema when it was first released in the UK on the 5th of November last year. And that’s quite rare for me – I’m …
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Return to The Wheatsheaf
Warner Weekend 2022
Yes, it’s that time again! We’re off to Warner’s with great mates Geoff & Rhonda and Paul & Sue, known collectively as our alter-egos – “The Northants Nutters”. 👍This year, our destination is Alvaston Hall, Nantwich. The highlight of the weekend is the ELO tribute band – “ELO Again” – on Saturday night! We’re now …
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Pantomime (Jack and the Beanstalk) 2022
With 2021 behind us “(Oh no it isn’t!”)… it’s Panto time! 😉 Janet and Jo picked us up and after a late breakfast at The Old Forge, and we headed for Milton Keynes Theatre. We haven’t been to a Pantomime, we think, for about 15 years. Back then, the cast would likely to have been …
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Return to Great Oxendon
A new year and time to begin resuming many of the enjoyable routines from 2021! 👍 And one of those routines is our regular lunch date with friends and neighbours, David and Valerie. Living where we do means that we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to eateries on our doorstep. We could probably find …
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Film: The Matrix: Resurrections (2021)
I’m back at the local Odeon with Jo and Janet to see ‘The Matrix: Resurrections‘. I loved the two original Matrix movies (even if I didn’t fully understand what was always going on – I sensed where it was all going!), and this promises more of the same – but whether it was any good …
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Doctor Who – New Year Special 2022: “Eve of the Daleks”
Synopsis and Context The Thirteenth Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) and friends will kick-start 2022 with an action-packed spectacular episode set to air on BBC One on New Year’s Day. The festive special will feature guest stars Aisling Bea (This Way Up, Living With Yourself, Quiz), Adjani Salmon (Dreaming Whilst Black, Enterprice) and Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, …
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New Year’s Eve 2021
New Year’s Eve Here we are at Carol’s with Jo and Janet to see in the New Year – what fun! 😁👍 It’s certainly a lot different to last year at this time when we were making last-minute preparations to spend a few days in Suffolk – and because of you-know-what had to cancel at …
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Christmas 2021
How was your Christmas? For us, as I begin penning this during the week leading up to the big day, I really didn’t think we would STILL be worrying about Coronavirus! Why worry? The dreaded Omicron variant was spreading and there was the potential for the Government to lock us all down again! Almost ‘right …
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Film: The King’s Man (2021)
Our Christmas movie! With Ralph and Karen, we headed off to Cineworld in Castleford to see The King’s Man. SPOILER-FREE! Any good? Well, we’d seen both the original Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) and Kingsman: the Golden Circle (2017) – and they were quite entertaining and loosely based around the comic book series that debuted …
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The Costello Christmas Meal (2021)
What with our 10th Anniversary Party still ringing in our ears from last Saturday, tonight we headed off to John & Trish’s for their annual Christmas meal! As usual, most of our close neighbourly friends were invited – and we all had a great time! Sean & Kellie and Conor were also able to join …
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Our Anniversary Break 2021 (10/37)
Whoosh! That came around quickly! It’s 2021 and our 10th Anniversary (also our 37th since our first date). 😀 In keeping with previous years, as part of our celebration, we spent a few days away – this year, it was at Chatham Dockyard and the Ship and Trades Hotel. This was preceded by a slap-up …
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