The Weekend – Sponsored by the letter ‘f’

A weekend of fun, friends, fine food, F1 and err, a fone! Friday Ralph and Karen are joining us for the weekend. We haven’t seen each other for a while and there was plenty to catch-up with! Probably the most important task was to begin finalising details for joint trip to China including understanding the …
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Movie of the Year: ‘Avengers: Endgame’

If Sci-Fi is your preferred film genre, then I reckon this movie is as important as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Star Wars (1977)… Read on… But what makes this latest blockbuster different is the sheer scale and ambition by those responsible for its existence – Marvel Studios (more about all this later). So, …
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Two Locals and Two Towneys

We caught up with Nick and Celina today. After a quick look round their local Garden Centre, we headed off to another local for Lunch – The Black Bull, in nearby Market Overton. Then it was back to theirs for a coffee and to admire how much they’ve done with their Home since we were …
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Leeds, Feeds and Boats

7.50am: A relatively early start today as we planned to catch the 8.51 Train from Peterborough Rail Station heading for its counterpart in Leeds. We’re catching-up with Dennis & Sandra for one of our semi-regular day-outs together. We’re starting to build up quite a history now, as this will be our seventh get-together, having already …
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Birthday Girl 2019

It was a welcome return to The Tollemache Arms in Harrington today. We met David, Valerie and little Evie there – where my natural charm with children took a back-seat and reduced Evie to a mega-sulk for most of the meal! Young children and me? It’s NEVER an easy relationship! 👍 Today was to celebrate …
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‘The 5ive’ do Lunch

Well, here we are, I’m in my favourite city – London – and meeting with ‘The 5ive’ for Lunch. We’re ‘The 5ive’ because there are 7 of us (I know! Don’t ask, it’s complicated!) who met and collaborated on a training project back in 1999. We’ve met semi-regularly ever since – and just to keep …
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Warner Weekend 2019

Well, this is a first for us! We’re off for a Warner Weekend with our like-minded friends: Geoff, Rhonda, Paul and Sue. We’re staying at Warner’s Littlecote House Hotel in Berkshire. It’s a themed long-weekend entitled: ‘Oh! What A Feeling‘, celebrating the music of Lionel Richie & The Commodores as well as Tom Jones. There’s …
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Film: Captain Marvel

Much has already been written about the significance of the arrival of Captain Marvel into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Happily by others! 😁 Welcome then, to my spoiler-free review of Captain Marvel. The Film was released on March 8th and Critics (the paid ones) had already pronounced that although it was no Black Panther, …
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Moggy Birthday – Biscuit at 14

Biscuit turned 14 today. With Bon-Bon looking down on her sister, Biscuit continues to be ‘top-cat’. She’s still VERY vocal at times – quite spontaneously – and a year since it first started, we’ve still no idea what she wants. It’s amazing how such a small mouth can emit such a loud noise. Luckily, her …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 16 (of 18): Moist from Mornington!

WEDNESDAY the 6th March. Morning loyal Readers! Something strange in the air overnight! 🌧️🌧️ Rain! And severe bucket-loads of it too! When it falls here, it does it big-style, and it’s the first we’ve seen (and felt) since we arrived! Mind you, the area needs it… Droughtier than Danny Drier from Droughtsville! ☔ 8.15am: Our …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 15 (of 18): More of Mornington!

TUESDAY the 5th. Greetings Galahs! 😀 “What’s that Skip? The last full day of sight-seeing in Oz?” Yes, our last full day here today before we fly home Thursday afternoon. Melbourne ✈ Jakarta ✈ Schipol ✈ London then finally, Kettering. So, after our delightful, but brief, visit to Dromana last night, we’re making the most …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 14 (of 18): Meandering in Mornington

MONDAY the 4th March Morning Bushwhackers! 7.30am: Another good night’s sleep – that’s two in a row! 👍 A fair part of today is taken up with travel. We’re flying to Melbourne and then hiring a car, driving south-east to a settlement called Red Hill (population c924 + 2!). It’s in an area called The …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 13 (of 18): Sightseeing in Canberra

SUNDAY the 3rd March. Evening Emus! (sorry, I’m running out of animal-names – it is Day 13!). A day of sight-seeing is planned! 😉 7.00am: At last, a proper night’s sleep. I think by the time we leave Australia, I will have got my sleep pattern sorted! 9.35am: Breakfast isn’t included with our Hotel package, …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 12 (of 18): Coaching for Beginners

SATURDAY the 2nd March. 6.15am: Welcome Wombats! A better night’s sleep (thankfully) so I’m almost ready to take on the world. So far this holiday, we’ve used planes, trains and automobiles PLUS boats, taxis, hire-cars, the Metro – and our own two (four?) feet. It’s now time for something completely different, and only two options …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 11 (of 18): A Busy Day in Sydney!

FRIDAY the 1st March Morning Skippy! “What’s that Skip, another day in Paradise!?” 06.30am: Uh-oh, another bad night’s sleep! But who needs sleep anyway! Onwards and upwards (hopefully!) But Sydney waits for no-one – especially an ‘inPOMniac’ – and as it’s our final full-day here, we have people and places to see! …and stuff to …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 10 (of 18): Life’s a Beach!

THURSDAY the 28th. 6.45am: Morning Beach-Bunnies! 😀😀 Ahh! a proper night’s sleep, that’s a good start to the day! Life’s a beach and then you fry… (With apologies to NAZ for butchering his lyrics) Today, we’re walking! We’re starting at Coogee Beach and walking via the purpose-built coastal walkway to Bondi Beach – more details …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 9 (of 18): Sydney with Manly Pursuits

WEDNESDAY the 27th. 6.30am: Morning All! ?? In spite of the very comfy bed, it wasn’t the best night’s sleep we’ve had since we arrived. In my case, I blame the late night cheese pie! ? and that crowing cock that began its operatic aria at 3.30am! Definitely a case of Nessun Dorma… The mathematicians…

Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 8 (of 18): Lazy Morning and a Liquid Lunch

Tuesday the 26th. 08.00am: Greetings Wombats! Wow! That’s what I call a sleep – it must have been all the stress yesterday! After Monday’s tyre tantrum, today we’re keeping it local, and we’re not going anywhere unless there’s a tyre shop within view! 😁😁 Oh, and if there’s also a Restaurant nearby with some wine, …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 7 (of 18): Launceston for the Retyred

MONDAY the 24th. Morning Kanga, Morning Roo! (Sorry it’s a bit late – see later!) 06.30am: An extra thirty-minutes in bed this morning! This must mean our bodies are finally switching into ‘holiday-mode’. 07.45am: Ahh, the legendary Meredith House Breakfast experience is well documented on various feedback sites, so we just couldn’t wait for 8am!! …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 5 (of 18): Hobart – Day 2 (Salamanca Market and Port Arthur)

SATURDAY the 22nd. Morning Bruce, morning Sheila 😉 6.00am: Up before the Lark today! It’s our last full day here in Hobart and we’ve two attractions planned. After yesterday’s adventure at sea, we’re firmly on terra-firma today! We’re taking the short walk to Salamanca – the famous Saturday Market – and afterwards, we’re motoring to …
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 4 (of 18): Hobart – Day 1 (Bruny Island)

FRIDAY the 21st. Morning Cobbers!! 7.45am: Up and about at ‘silly o’clock’ (must be the jet-lag) that ensured we were ready to leave in good time. We’re off to Bruny Island, located off the south-east coast of Tasmania – an island off an island! It’s an organised tour, courtesy of Pennicott Wilderness Journeys that we …
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