Another superb performance from the Kilworth House Theatre tonight as they sang their hearts out performing South Pacific. It wasn’t quite a packed house (only about 99% full), but everyone clearly enjoyed themselves (including us – Ann, Jo, Janet, Carol, Chris and Pete) on one of those rare very warm evenings (that inevitably turned to …
Read More
Lazy Day
A lazy (ish) day today! – which is very unusual for us, even though it is a Saturday! I took Ann’s car to Richards in for its ‘A’ Service – it only took just over the hour, but they did spot a balding back tyre and front brakes that will need replacing in a few …
Read More
Omid Djalili – The Castle, Wellingborough
Val, Ann and I headed off to see Omid Djalili tonight. Luckily, Ann pointed out at the last moment that it was at The Castle, Wellingborough, as I almost sailed past the A14 turning for Wellingborough, thinking it was at The Derngate – another ‘senior moment’! He’s not everyone’s ‘cup-of-tea’, but he was certainly ours …
Read More
Bank Holiday Break – Ipswich (Day 2)
It’s our last full day here and we’re heading off to Southwold (as no doubt many other locals will be doing). The weather forecast indicates that it’ll be a heatwave of 13C rising to 14C – not exactly sunbathing weather, but we plan to make the most of it! Actually, as the day rolled on, …
Read More
Bank Holiday Break – Ipswich (Day 1)
We woke to the sound of torrential rain – and I do mean torrential! Still, at least we knew it was coming. Looks like today will be a day for staying under cover – whatever we do. The smartest choice seemed to be to spend the time shopping! So, dodging the persistent showers, we drove …
Read More
Bank Holiday Break – Ipswich (Arrival)
We’re staying at Kesgrave Hall Hotel for the Bank Holiday. It’s close to Ipswich in err, Kesgrave, and is a rather unique venue in a number of ways. First up, for a Hotel, it’s quite small – just 20-or-so bedrooms. It’s also very ‘old-school’ in terms of look and feel – big rooms, high ceilings, …
Read More
Ten Years a Blogger!
Whoosh! It all started on Sunday 23rd May, 2004, with my first blog, so that means I’ve now been blogging for 10 years (as of 11.10am), 2373 posts and 66656 views later, it’s time to re-sharpen my pencil!
The Pillage People and a BBQ
We headed off to London today, and the British Museum. Originally, Lee was planning to join us, but she hasn’t been feeling too well, so she stayed home. The train was very busy (with seating arrangements not helped by the automatic seat reservation system having a ‘day off’!), but at least we arrived on time …
Read More
Scorchio!
Wow! What gorgeous weather – I think it must have topped 23 or 24 here today. So, for the first time this year, we ate our evening meal OUTSIDE – and even by 9.30, it was a very pleasant. Let’s hope it stays that way – at least for the weekend – as we’re round …
Read More
Flat Day – My Final Visit
A bitter-sweet day today as I travelled down to my Brother’s at ‘silly o’clock’, and then onto Mum’s flat for the ‘final clear-out’. It was hard to believe that it’s highly likely I’ll never need to visit there again in the future – a poignant moment. Our day began with the obligatory : ) early-morning …
Read More
Meal with the Girls
And so it was off to London today to meet up with ‘the gang’ – June, Angela and Antoinette – for our regular three-monthly evening meal/get-together. Originally, I’d also planned to catch up with Peter J earlier in the afternoon, but he had to cancel at the last minute. First stop was meeting Angela at …
Read More
Tech Alert No. 0514
Come on… open the box! Technology waits for no-one – even for tech-heads like me! After almost four years of faithful service, today, we pensioned off the current Panasonic Plasma 46 inch TV (the ‘TX46P20B’) in favour of a shiny new ‘smart TV’ – a Samsung LED 46 incher (the ‘UE46F800’). It was an offer …
Read More
Guinness and Prosecco Party
A great way to start the evening… Those that know us well, know that our two fave things are being with friends and eating out – if we can combine the two, then it’s the makings of a great night out! So, tonight was a simply the perfect evening, just waiting to happen. Trish and …
Read More
Waiter, there’s a Soup in my Hare!
We met up with David and Valerie and headed for The Hare in Loddington tonight. In spite of our early booking for 7pm, the car-park was already almost full when we arrived (perhaps a good sign?). Inside the Pub, the numbers confirmed the car-park situation – the place was already buzzing! It’s only our second visit …
Read More
Track Day – Jaguar f-type
Neil and I were lucky enough to secure a couple of tickets for an invite-only track day for the new Jaguar f-type at Millbrook. What fantastic day! Perfectly hosted by Jaguar with an opportunity to try-out all the variants of this gorgeous car! There were 25 of us – and rather spookily 25 cars. So, …
Read More
Because We’re Worth(ing) It
Friday We left around 8.30 heading in the direction of Worthing, and our good friends Ian and Sharon. I say, ‘heading’ as the need for retail therapy kicked-in, and we dropped into Guildford – our first visit ever – for a quick punt around the local shops. We parked easily and were soon helping Guildford …
Read More
A Meal fit for a Duke!
David and Valerie invited to a private do at the Citadel in town tonight, where we sampled the delights of Michelin Star Chef, Mike North, from The Nut Tree. First up was a cooking demonstration on how to prepare the perfect Beef Wellington (involving pancakes!!!), then we sat down a full three-courser to see if …
Read More
Messing about in Boats (sort of!)
David and I went over to David’s boat – Osprey One – at Buckden Marina today with a plan to wash and polish it. The weather had other ideas, and we had to abandon the mission having only really given it a good wash! We’ll be back!!!!
The Journey
I met up with Ian today in London, near the Houses of Parliament. First up was the historical part of our day, where we visited the Jewel House, the Chapter House and Pyx Chamber and then, after a brisk walk taking us past Buckingham Palace (and an ice-cream van), we ended up at Wellington Arch, …
Read More
The Weekend Starts Here
After the significant events of this week, it was good to chill-out this weekend. Ralph and Karen came to stay, and arrived around tea-time on Friday. After a quick catch-up, it was off to the Shuckburgh Arms in Stoke Doyle for a meal – the photos below say it all! – a fantastic meal all …
Read More
And so, farewell Mum
It was a difficult day for the Palmer/Gambles clans today, as we said goodbye to Mum. We drove to the Flat, met up Neil, Debbie, Alfie and Frankie, and then our Celebrant, Richard Woolnough. We then went onto Beckenham Crematorium by car, for the Service at 1.30. I’d agreed to lead the tributes with a …
Read More
Play: The 39 Steps
It was off to London today, to meet up with Angela C. Our destination was the Criterion Theatre to see the Play: The 39 Steps. I was hoping to try out my new camera-phone and snap a photograph of Eros, but the statue was covered in scaffolding and hidden from view, so I had to …
Read More
Family Lunch
The Calm before the Starter! Who’s Who! Ann, together with Lee’s help pulled together a superb Easter Lunch for the family today. Even though Mum wouldn’t travel such a distance for these things, it did still feel a little odd that she wasn’t ‘around’.Let Battle Commence… Italian Meats & Fruit Bev’s TrifleGuess who’s washing up?
Lent… Spent!
OK, so here we are, with just 1 minute left to go, I’m at the end of the Lent period for 2014. And, as the clock strikes midnight, it’s then end to my 44-day enforced denial of all the food and drink I really love! After nearly caving in LAST year, trying to do the …
Read More
Tech Alert: Sky Updates its Sky-Guide
I put on the TV to find that the ‘homepage’ on my Sky-Box downstairs had changed dramatically. The Box upstairs is still showing the old layout, but I guess they’re rolling it out over a period of time. Plenty of details HERE, but my first impressions are good, in that everything just seems to be …
Read More
A Flat Day
It was a very surreal day yesterday. Ann and I, together with Neil and Debbie, met at Mum’s Flat, and began the task of working through everything. Thanks for your kind thoughts everyone, together with the cards – they mean a lot. All your suggestions about ‘trying to remember the good times’ was the philosophy …
Read More
RIP – Eileen Mabel Palmer
b: 1 July 1927, d: 2 April 2014 Mum passed away in the early hours of this morning, after sustaining serious burns last Friday in an accident at her Flat. We visited her at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital on Sunday, where she had been admitted to the Specialist Burns Unit. Thankfully, due to the medication they’d …
Read More
Family Meal: Fortescue Arms
As part of Ann’s Birthday celebrations, we headed up to The Fortescue Arms in Billingborough for a surprise pre-birthday lunch treat. Unknown to Ann, the rest of her family were going to be there too! – Roger, Jane, Oliver, Bev and of course, her Dad, Denis. We were first to arrive, followed by Denis and …
Read More
Day Out in Oxford
A packed day of activities today! We picked-up David and Valerie and headed off in the direction of the Oxford’s Peartree Park and Ride for a day out in – you guessed it – Oxford. First stop was the Ashmolean Museum – a place we just can’t seem to get enough of, having been there …
Read More
Care Hare
You wait for ages for a great eatery to come along and then… (well, you know the rest!) Not content with discovering the Beckworth Emporium on our doorstep last week – tonight, we discovered another local gem. We met up with our friends, Paul and Sue at The Hare in the nearby village, Loddington. They …
Read More