We’ve all got different ‘triggers’ for when ‘Christmas’ officially begins. For many, it’s probably when the Supermarkets start displaying their Christmas lines! But that’s obscenely early, so how about……that first Christmas lunch?…when the John Lewis Christmas Ad appears?…or receiving your first Christmas Card? 😁 For TV lovers obsessives like me, it’s probably when the BBC …
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Return to The Palmichael (2020)
It felt almost like a return to normality tonight, as we took the short drive to The Palmichael joining David and Valerie to celebrate a recent birthday. The last time we were there was for Janet’s retirement ‘do’ back in March 2018 and a lot has happened to restaurants since then — especially since Coronavirus restrictions …
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A Smart Octopus!
Back in June last year, we took the first steps to improving our environmental footprint by going ‘all-electric’ for our main car. Then, in April 2020, we ditched British Gas as our dual-energy provider, and based on recommendations from friends who’d already made the switch, moved to the rather weirdly named Octopus Energy. Today was …
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‘Doctor Who Festive Special’ Announced: ‘Revolution of the Daleks’
7.24pm: Just before the Strictly Come Dancing results show last night the BBC showed the trailer for this year’s Doctor Who festive special. Actually, it caught a few of us out, as the rumour was that it was going to be on after the show, just before the latest episode of His Dark Materials. I …
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Tiers for Fears
At just after 11.30 this morning, the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock announced from the House of Commons which-areas-were-in-which-tier. Unfortunately, just before the announcement, the Government website that listed the tier-breakdown in more detail buckled under the sheer volume of people all trying to type in their post-code! These new restrictions kick-in next week – December …
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TV: The Crown (Series 4)
After much hype and anticipation, at just after 10.30am, the mighty Netflix marketing machine swung into action announcing that The Crown (Series 4) was available to watch! It was a very powerful opening episode, and we narrowly avoided the temptation of binge-watching the whole series based on how good this single episode was! We’re going …
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John Lewis Christmas Advert (2020)
It’s 8am on Friday, November 13, 2020 and if the rumours are true, the John Lewis Christmas Advert for 2020 has just been released. They ARE true! 😁 This year’s production is called “A Little Love” and its release officially signals the beginning of the Christmas Shopping season. The advert is being used to promote …
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Holiday: Devon in Seven! (Day 4)
No stress at all for ‘the driver’ today as we’re leaving the car at the station and travelling by train to Plymouth! Thanks to ‘Lockdown 2.0’, it’s also our final FULL day here as we’re heading home tomorrow (instead of Saturday). I shan’t miss those narrow, twisty-turny roads at all! 😏 10.05am: It was a …
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Holiday: Devon in Seven! (Day 3)
Here we are on day three of our seven-day five-day break here in Devon. Last night felt like the Cottage might take-off with the gales blowing for most of the night. A quick inspection this morning revealed that there wasn’t any damage and everything of significant weight was still where we left it! (The car… …
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Holiday: Devon in Seven! (Day 2)
Just when you create a title for your blog-post that works perfectly, along comes something to ruin it! After BoJo’s announcement last night, it looks like ‘Lockdown 2.0’ will require us to pack up early here in Totnes, and return home on Wednesday! – two days short!! “Devon in Seven!“ – now, what rhymes with …
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Holiday: Devon in Seven! (Day 1)
With our foreign holiday plans in tatters (for this year at least) due to you-know-what, we’re still travelling, but instead, we’re staying closer to home and re-discovering the UK. Recently, we spent a brilliant time in Scotland and for this latest trip, we’re the opposite end of the country – in Devon. But first we …
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The Greenhouse Effect
Letting me loose on any DIY task is always a risk! 😮 And recently was one of those (ahem!) ‘opportunities’ to demonstrate my talents (or lack of them!). Specifically, Ann’s new mini-greenhouse. It looked splendid in the pictures online, but like most things these days, it arrived (from those very nice people at Access Garden …
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First Visit: The Bell Inn, Finedon
It was our monthly eat-out with neighbours David and Valerie tonight. I say ‘monthly’, but that’s been interrupted of late by you-know-what. …anyway, it was good to get back into the routine! 😋 Based on Valerie’s recommendation, which in turn was based on the August 2020 article in the Daily Telegraph by William Sitwell accompanied …
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Tiers Before Bedtime!
As the second spike of this dreaded Coronavirus continues to take hold, today, the Government spoke to the nation. In what turned out to be one of those typically ‘worst kept secrets’ (the media was headlining it all three days ago!) the State announced a ‘tiered system of restrictions’ – in reality, a revised set …
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Return to the Olde Victoria
Nicki arrived last night and slept over. After a lazy morning, the theme continued with a welcome return to the Olde Victoria – and a lazy lunch! 😁 We haven’t been here since February, and it was good to be back enjoying the excellent service and yummy menu – you just can’t go wrong here! …
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Coronavirus – 200 Days and Counting! 😮
Crikey, I can’t believe we’re now 200 days since they announced the first Lockdown! When I wrote about this after (just!) 100 days, I don’t think anyone imagined we’d still be trying to cope with the reality of the coronavirus nearly 7 months on!! In fact, as I type, it looks like things are going …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 8, Seven Days a Highlander!
Well, we’ve just spent the past seven days in Scotland. The first half was a bit ‘off the beaten track’ with friends in Gartly, Aberdeenshire and then we drove to Inverness’s largest hotel – The Kingsmills – for the remainder. Not sure if that makes me a (temporary) ‘Highlander’ or not!? Although we’ve been to …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 7(8): My Birthday 2020
Thanks for all your good wishes, cards and gifts! They’re mostly all back at home and I’ll enjoy them when we’re back tomorrow! Here we are then, in Bonnie Scotland, on the occasion of my 64th. It’s another day of discovery today and we’ve got two locations in mind:- Nairn – a well-known seaside town …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 6(8)
My last day of ’63-ness’ today, and we’re off to Loch Ness! Given our complete failure to spot any dolphins during this trip, I don’t hold out much hope for an encounter with Nessie! KEY FACTS ABOUT THE LOCH22 miles longAverage depth of 433 feetMaximum depth of 744.6 feet1.8 cubic miles of water1 monster We’re …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 5(8)
We have a grand plan today! We’re off to the large land-mass to the north of us that is the Black Isle – perversely named because it’s actually not an island and not particularly black! We won’t have time to cover it all, but we want to give it a damn good thrashing! Surrounded on …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 4(8)
Well, that’s the first half of our Scottish break over – and it passed really quickly! After a relaxing and VERY enjoyable few days with Richard and Lynn in Gartly, we’re off to our next (and final) ‘home’ for the final four-days – the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness. In some respects, our leaving was perfect …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 3(8)
It’s our last full day here before we drive to Inverness tomorrow – and we’ve a busy one planned (nothing new there ehh?!) After yesterday’s adventure that took us to the rather beautiful areas of Banff, Portsoy and Cullen (ending with a drive through next-door Buckie) today, we’re soaking-up more of the area to the …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 2(8)
I was up early, mainly down to me setting the clock an hour fast! The weather forecast looks promising (although not quite as warm as it predicted yesterday) and so on Richard’s advice, we’re heading for the Moray Coast about a 40 minute drive from base-camp. 11.15am: First stop was Banff, a small town and …
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Holiday: Scotland – Day 1(8)
We always go away for my birthday and this year is no exception. Although the official celebration is still a week away, we thought we’d start early! What a difference a year makes! Twelve months ago for my celebration, we were in central London, shoulder-to-shoulder on a sweaty tube-train! This year, we’re heading in completely …
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Film: TENET
Here we are then, my first visit to the cinema since before lockdown. And what better movie to blow the cobwebs away than Christopher Nolan’s latest epic – TENET? Nolan is famous for his dislike of green-screen and CGI, so we were looking forward not only to the story, but the ‘set pieces’ too. Apparently, …
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The IKEA Experience
As part of our regular dose of ‘retail therapy’, we headed over to IKEA in Bletchley today. Trish and Sean joined us, with a view to them getting some ideas for Sean’s new place in Burton Latimer – and maybe bag a bargain! I can’t remember the last time we shopped here, but judging by …
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Return to Kelmarsh
Well, I haven’t been here since the 14th of December 2011! – for my wedding! 😍😍😍! Click on the button below for a trip down memory lane… Wedding Pics (Unofficial) Welcome back to 2020! The reason for today’s visit was an invitation to a private tour around Kelmarsh’s well-known Gardens (where Mrs P is a …
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Hardwick Hall with Dennis and Sandra
9.55am: We drove the (just under) 90-mile journey to Hardwick Hall today, to meet up with fellow lovers-of-old-buildings and all-things National Trust, Dennis and Sandra. We last visited here back in October 2010 for a Murder-Mystery evening with Ralph and Karen (BTW, the Butler DIDN’T do it!). Hardwick is a spectacular Elizabethan house filled with …
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Weekend with Ralph and Karen
Friday 11.35am: Ralph and Karen arrived after a trouble-free journey from theirs. With hardly a moment to catch their breath, we whisked them off to The Old Forge for a pre-arranged lunch at 12.20. We hadn’t been here for a while (July 2012 according to my Blog, but I definitely think we’d been more recently), …
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Holiday: Marlborough – Day 5 (of 5)
7.00am: Morning! 😁 The latest weather forecast suggests that it’s not going to be as bad as we thought, but we still need our weekly dose of ‘retail therapy’! So, we’re NOT packing the sun cream, instead, we’re heading for Swindon Designer Outlet. Last time we were here was back in March 2012 during Ann’s …
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