Days 10/11/12 Monday, 11th August to Wednesday 13th AugustSailing to Greenland Morning all. Welcome back to our BIG Holiday of 2025! It’s another period at sea as we head for Greenland. On Monday morning, we got the internet back too, but it’s all a bit temperamental. Consider this an extra ‘simplified’ Post that I didn’t …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 9 – Havre St Pierre, Quebec
Day 9 — Sunday, 10th AugustHavre St Pierre, Quebec Welcome back, loyal reader! 👍👍. After a sea day yesterday, we’re back to our itinerary. Sorry that this one is a bit late – we temporarily lost the internet around 7pm last night. Yesterday, at sea, was spent catching up with my reading, where, in the …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 8 – At Sea
Day 8 — Saturday, 9th AugustAt Sea Nothing to see here! It’s a ‘Sea Day’ – technically it’s actually a RIVER Day as we’re sailing along the St Lawrence River. Time to catch up with my reading! Tomorrow… We say hello to Havre St Pierre, Quebec Province.
Amazing Azamara – Day 7 – Saguenay, Quebec
Morning all! Is it Friday, already? 🤔. Welcome to our BIG Holiday of 2025! We’re with our mates, Ralph and Karen, taking in Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Day 7 — Friday, 8th AugustSaguenay, Quebec, Canada It’s silly o’clock (5am!, local time, 10am, UK) and I’m up. Why so early? (especially after last night’s late one). …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 6 – More of Quebec City
Morning all! Happy Thursday! Thanks for following my Blog – I’m enjoying reading your comments. 👍😊. Welcome to our BIG Holiday of 2025! We’re with great mates, Ralph and Karen, taking in Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Day 6 — Thursday, 7th AugustMore of Quebec City Missed a Post? Day 1 – Heading for MontrealDay 2 …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 5 – Quebec City (1st Day)
Welcome to our BIG Holiday of 2025! We’re with our good friends Ralph and Karen, taking in Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Day 5 — Wednesday, 6th AugustQuebec City Missed a previous Post?Day 1 – Onwards to MontrealDay 2 – Montreal – 2nd DayDay 3 – Montreal – 3rd DayDay 4 – Joining the Azamara Quest …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 4 – All Aboard!
Day 4 — Tuesday, 5th AugustAll Aboard the Azamara Quest! Missed a Post? Day 1 – Montréal Bound! Day 2 – Montréal: Day 1 Day 3 – Montréal Day 2 It’s all change today as we say au revoir to Montréal and begin the next chapter of our holiday. We’re with great mates, Ralph and …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 3 – Montreal (2nd Day)
Welcome to our BIG Holiday of 2025! We’re with our great friends, Ralph and Karen, taking in Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Day 3 — Monday, 4th AugustEven More of Montreal! Morning!… or as they say in these parts… ‘Bonjour!’. Yes, we’re in Montreal, Canada, where it helps if you can speak a little French! It’s …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 2 – Montreal (1st Day)
Welcome to our BIG Holiday of 2025! We’re with great mates, Ralph and Karen, taking in Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Day 2 — Sunday, 3rd AugustMontreal (1st Day) Morning all! Happy Sunday! 👍😎☀️ We arrived late evening, yesterday. And so today was about orienting ourselves and soaking up the sights before we join the Cruise …
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Amazing Azamara – Day 1 – Montreal Bound!
Welcome to ‘Day 1’ of our BIG Holiday of 2025 – a 21-day experience! We’re with great mates, Ralph and Karen, taking in Canada, Greenland and Iceland. Day 1 – Saturday, 2nd AugustMontreal Before boarding the good ship Azamara Quest on Tuesday, we’ve got a few days in Montreal to soak up the sights. But …
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School Reunion 2025
It’s late July, and that can only mean one thing! My annual School Reunion & AGM! 👍 Wary that last year’s journey out of Kettering resembled a sardine convention, I assumed that it had been a one-off – err, No! As the 9.11 with its 6 carriages pulled in, it welcomed enough passengers on the …
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Bomber Command – Revisited
Today was a welcome return to ‘Bomber Command’ in Bourne, Lincolnshire. This time, with great mates John & Trish. Its full title is International Bomber Command Centre (the IBCC). July 2019 – Denis’s 90thSeptember 2023 – with Dennis & Sandra It wasn’t our first visit, but it’s such a well-laid-out and comprehensive record of that …
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Cousins Catchup 2025 – Knebworth House
It’s that time of year again – time to catch up with our recently discovered cousins and nephews. In fact, these get-togethers are turning into a regular (and very enjoyable) ‘gathering of the clans’. Gathering of the Clans! 2024 – Windsor2023 – Hatfield House2022 – Hampton Court2021- Kew Gardens2021 – Shuttleworth Collection This year, it …
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Kilworth House Theatre – 42nd Street
Luckily, we didn’t need the Sat-Nav to get us to 42nd Street today, as it was a welcome return to Kilworth House Theatre where we’ve been about a gazillion times before! But before the Show, we stopped off at The Wharf Inn in nearby Welford for an early nibble. Last time (and the first time!) …
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Tolethorpe Hall – The Mirror Crack’d
A day of culture today as we headed for Tolethorpe Hall with Jo, Janet and Carol to see the matinée performance of Agatha Christie’s, The Mirror Crack’d. The last time we all there was back in August last year, to see The Recruiting Officer and we’ve built up quite a track record of visits here! …
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First Visit: Rose and Crown, Yardley Hastings
We drove to the Rose & Crown Bistro in Yardley Hastings today to meet up with Chris & Gill and Steve & Denise for Lunch. It was our first visit and came highly recommended (although this was our second attempt as we cancelled on the 24th April, because I was down with a cold and …
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Return to The Countryman, Staverton Village
Today, we caught up with long-time friends Ian & Ann and Alan & Margaret. Our eatery of choice today was a return to The Countryman in Staverton Village. Here we are again at what’s turning out to be one of our favourite ‘out-of-town’ Pubs for eating! We must have been here around half a dozen …
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Nottingham Castle with Dennis and Sandra
Postponed from 2nd April, today was another of our cultural days out with mates, Dennis and Sandra. This time it was Nottingham Castle and then lunch at the famous Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Pub, nearby! We let the train take the strain and grabbed the 9.28 out of Kettering that got us to Nottingham …
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Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 8: The Reality War
Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 8: The Reality War Here we are, about to watch the final episode of Series 2. For some, this one might be the last episode EVER! 😮. More details later in this Post. Actually, watching this week’s finalé episode was a tad convoluted. First, there was NO early iPlayer …
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Return to the Montagu Arms, Barnwell
We haven’t been here for AGES – today, we returned to the Montagu Arms, voted “Best Traditional Pub in Northamptonshire” in 2022. We met up with longtime friends, Mick & Jane (postponed from 4 April!) for a catch-up and a meal. Looks like the last time we all met here was back in 2009, but …
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Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 7: Wish World
Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 7: Wish World This week’s outing is the first of the two-part finale. I watched it on iPlayer at just before 1pm (I’d been in Rothwell all morning with Sue, dressing a window! Yes, you read that right… a hidden talent!). As usual, I chose not to post this …
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Film: Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)
Off to Cineworld in Rushden Lakes with Jo and Janet to see the 6.20pm performance of ‘Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning’. This is the concluding part to 2023’s blockbuster of a similar name – Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part 1 (later re-titled to Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning). I guess we all …
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Computer Nerds
It’s official! I’m a computer nerd! (who knew?). Actually, probably most people!!! 😉👍 Why so? I drove over to meet Chris today in Northampton, and we took the short drive to the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley, having been there with Ann as part of our Valentine’s Break earlier this year – how’s that …
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Party, Party! (Literally)
How popular are we? Well, I don’t know about that, but today, we had the unusual situation where we were invited to two events pretty much at the same time! Both included great food and great friends – and the weather looked promising too! 👍😎 Party 1 Beginning at the very sociable time of 1.30pm, …
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Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 6: The Interstellar Song Contest
Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 6: The Interstellar Song Contest As per normal these days, I plan to watch this ahead of tonight’s transmission, courtesy of iPlayer. I won’t post my comments until AFTER tonight’s prime-time showing. Written by Juno Dawson, directed by Ben A. Williams, and with only two more episodes to go …
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Boys’ Day Out
D’you know, I’ve never been as busy as I’ve been lately – and I’m retired! So, today, was a special treat! I took the short drive over to techy-mate Chris and we motored on to Gtechnic’s HQ in Upper Heyford, The reason? A half-day ‘hands-on’ Car Detailing Workshop organised by Alex, one of their experienced …
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Return to the Tollemache Arms
Tonight was a welcome return to The Tollemache Arms. The last time I was here was in June 2019, and since then, it’s had a makeover through a crowdfunding campaign where they smashed their target of raising 30k by amassing 33k in just 4 days! We picked up Bev & Jules for 7pm and headed …
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Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 5: The Story and the Engine
Doctor Who – Series 2, Episode 5: The Story and the Engine Over halfway through the series now, and things are looking good! Viewer numbers might be down, but the general consensus about this series is that pretty much all aspects are infinitely better than the previous series! As usual, I’m watching this on iPlayer …
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Liverpool and North Wales: Day 9 (Last Day)
Friday, 9th May It’s our last full day today in North Wales – tomorrow we’re heading home bright and early. On our itinerary today, we’re going to explore the nearby town of Porthmadog and then travel the short distance to Portmeirion – 4 miles, around 15 minutes away! – somewhere I’ve always wanted to see, …
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Liverpool and North Wales: Day 8
Thursday, 8th May Welcome back! It’s our third day in cosy Borth-y-Gest, North Wales. It’s a very quiet spot close to the town of Porthmadog. After breakfast, we made plans for today and decided to head West! We’re heading for another Castle, a famous Museum and some photo opportunities of the gorgeous Welsh beaches. The …
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