Fresh from our soaking at Deene Park a few days ago, we braved the elements and headed off to Cottesbrooke Hall today. The Queen Anne style House dates from 1702 and enjoys Grade I listed status. It has Gardens too! It’s not the first visit for me (apparently, we came here 20ish years ago), although …
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Sealed with…
a Knot! It was off to Deene Park for a Bank Holiday treat! It’s the home of the Brudenell family – pretty well-known around these parts, but probably best remembered for the 7th Earl (James) who led the charge of the Light Brigade. Instead, The Sealed Knot (the re-enactment group) are in attendance, bringing the …
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Bow Guest
After last Friday’s and Saturday’s expert coaching, tonight, we headed down to town for 6.30pm to enjoy some more archery practice, as guests of Kettering Archers. It was great fun, and the weather was on our side – a beautiful evening! It was very well attended with around 20 of us on recurve bows, a …
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15 Years a Blogger!
In what seemed like a quirky and innovative exercise back in 2004, today marks 15 years exactly since I began blogging. Back then, actually publishing anything online (especially whilst out-and-about) was definitely NOT the norm! Still, those that know me, know I was always one to ‘push the envelope’ with my tech! 😁 Since that …
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Quivering in Kettering
With the local residents advised to stay indoors, and the adjacent roads closed or on diversion – it can only mean one thing! No, not another major crime in Kettering, just Ann and I taking archery lessons! 😁 The coaching is split into two-parts. Part 1 is a class just for us two (as we …
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A Nagging Thirsk
We’re ‘up north’ for a few daysand taking in the sights! This includes a visit to the Nags at York Racecourse on Thursday! (Extra shirts packed!). I’ve only ever betted on a horse twice before in my life – back in 2004 and again in July 2006 – the former returned me an embarrassment of …
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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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Bank Holiday Weekend in Banstead
We travelled down to Banstead today to meet up with good friends Richard and Nicki. What made today different was that we decided to do it all by train (given the poor journey we had back last time by car!). Whether it’s a sign of getting a bit older, or simply the thought of 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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The (other) George
Our weekend of socialising continued today with a welcome return to The George – this time, it was the one found in Buckden and not its namesake – The George in Stamford – our other favourite! Today, we met up with Roger, Jane and Oliver for 12.30 – last time we were all together here …
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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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Easter (2019)
This year, we spent most of Easter with Denis in Heckington. Good Friday We left home fairly early (8.15am) and there was hardly another car on the road. As a result, we made record time and arrived just before 9.45. We’ve got plans to catch-up with Bev too whilst we’re up here, but that’s tomorrow, …
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Visit to Bletchley Park (2019)
We haven’t been to Bletchley Park since, well, I don’t know when! It was certainly before I started blogging regularly – a rough guess was back in the early 90s! We set-off just before 9.30, picked up Conor C (our treat for getting himself into the Army), and headed-off to see what had changed there. …
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Out… Foxed
We went to The Fox Inn at Thorpe Waterville tonight to meet up with Mick and Jane. Last time we all saw each other was back in November last year for our Christmas get-together at Loch Fyne in Elton – and the last time we were here was back in January 2014. We went to …
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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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Film: Split
We took the long journey (just short of 600m!) down to Jo and Janet’s tonight for some ‘nosebag’ and to watch the Film – Split. The film is part of the trilogy that includes Unbreakable (2000) and the (very) recent Glass (2019) that we saw back in January. The Director M. Nigh Shyamalan is actually …
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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 from Oz – Day 18 (of 18): By the Numbers
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Holiday: Return to Oz – Day 17 (of 18): Jakarta – In Search of the Man in Yellow!
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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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