The 7th series (or 33rd in ‘old money’) of Doctor Who re-materialised onto TV screens tonight with ‘The Moff’ promising blockbuster type episodes rather than the long story-arcs of previous series. It seems like an age since the series was last on TV, so what do we know about what’s coming up in this series? …
Read More
Holiday – Day 5: Free Day
As it’s a free day today, there was no need for workday-type reveilles at silly-o’clock – so we lied-in until 7.30. The weather has changed. It’s a lot greyer today – not quite fifty shades, but nowhere near as warm as the type of weather we’ve enjoyed so far. By 8.30 we were ready for …
Read More
Holiday – Day 4: Cruise on the Mosel and Wine Tasting
The best way to describe today would be ‘lazy’. In short, we’re going to jump on a boat, sail for a few hours down the Mosel and then spend the next hour or so, getting pissed, sampling the fine wines of the region courtesy of a local vineyard. Finally, we’ll stagger onto a train taking …
Read More
Holiday – Day 3: Exploring Triere
Triere is calling us – so we called a taxi! Peter, our holiday co-ordinator, had enthusiastically suggested that we walk from the hotel to the station, quoting ‘only fifteen minutes’. Given that the taxi took ten when we arrived, his estimation felt a little on the optimistic side – and we had to think of …
Read More
Holiday – Day 2: Exploring Cochem
So, here are in the rather lovely Mosel Region of the Rhineland. We’re staying at the Brixiade Hotel, part of the Moselstern Hotels group. Its sister hotel, The Triton, is just 10 metres away and we have the option to share some of their facilities too. We went to bed last night shattered! it …
Read More
Holiday – Day 1: Travel day to Germany
It’s Sunday, so why are we up at 4am? Well, our holiday to Germany with Lee and Denis by train started badly with us realising a few days ago that there wasn’t a train a train out of Kettering, that would get us to St Pancras International by the required check-in time of 7am. Plan …
Read More
Exotic again
We dropped into The Exotic Dining tonight with Jo and Janet. It’s currently our fave Indian Restaurant for the quality of the food (and the 2-for-1 vouchers help!). We last went there back in July, but it’s felt like we haven’t been there for ages! As always, the service and the food was excellent and …
Read More
Almost a Full House!
Getting the family together is always a logistical challenge – and this weekend we managed to fill the house with most of the Gambles clan. Bev arrived on Friday night around 7.30, and whilst we gossiped, we devoured one of Ann’s cheese-boards (and a rather tasty 2011 Sauvignon Blanc from Mr Sainsbury ‘Coolwater Blue’ from …
Read More
Can you see us?
Just before the BBC transmitted the Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday at 9pm, there was a short (two minute) ‘countdown’ programme. Ralph just alerted me to the fact that if you look closely, you can see us gearing-up for the celebration. The programme is currently available on iPlayer and our fifteen (milli)seconds of fame is …
Read More
Olympic Weekend – Sunday
Well this is THE main reason we’re in London – the Olympic Closing Ceremony which starts at 7.30 tonight. 09.30am: The day started well with us heading down to the restaurant to be greeted by about the most positive and energetic person I think I’d ever met (at breakfast anyway !) Dwayne, clearly was …
Read More
Olympic Weekend – Saturday
We caught the 9.56 from Kettering into St Pancras International for our once-in-a-lifetime Olympic weekend. We were lucky enough to secure four tickets for the Closing Ceremony and we’re meeting Ralph and Karen as soon as we arrive . The train arrived on time and as we trundled into St Pancras, we only waited a …
Read More
The Only Way is… Tooway
OK, after years of constantly below-par broadband speeds here, I finally ‘bit the bullet’ and did something about it. For as long as I can remember, it seemed like everyone else (apart from the rest of the neighbours in our immediate area) were getting faster connection speeds than us. When the houses were built 20+ …
Read More
London Calling
I met up with Keith (an ex-committee member from the OCA) for our annual get-together today. We met at London Bridge station (which seems to have changed out of all recognition, since I was last there). With the Olympics going on, the station was heaving, but luckily there was plenty of Olympic Volunteers on hand …
Read More
Fancy a Big Mac?
Some say that Big Macs aren’t good for you, but having spent a couple of hours at Ian’s helping him set up his shiny new 27 inch iMac, I beg to differ! What a super looking piece of kit! I could be tempted!!! 🙂
Coughton Court
We drove to Ian and Ann’s for lunch today. The weather had been a bit mixed but we were lucky enough to eat outside. Alice was there and later, Dermot and Caroline arrived complete with the twins. After lunch, the four of us took the short drive to National Trust’s Coughton Court, about a 10 …
Read More
Dalek anyone?
Series 7 of Doctor Who starts next month here in the UK!
A Mocha, a Matt and an iMac
I met up with Ian today in Solihull (The Touchwood Shopping Centre) – our mission was to consider the various options for his replacement computer. First stop was a coffee to discuss our plans – Macs first and then possibly John Lewis for PCs. Luckily, there was …
Read More
Tech Alert (Part 972)
Yummy! In preparation for satellite broadband that’s being installed next week, I’ve invested in one of these toys – the Devolo dLAN 500 AVTriple Starter Kit, (try saying that quickly!!!) – it’ll allow me to network the internet downstairs to the TV, Sky Box and Blu-ray DVD player – all via the domestic mains socket! …
Read More
How Very ‘English’
Ann, Lee and I went for afternoon tea at The Old Forge in Cranford this afternoon – invited by Janet as part of her birthday celebrations. I can’t believe we’ve not been there before. It was a unique way to celebrate – the sandwiches, cakes and scones were yummy!! Quintessentially ‘English’ and a great way …
Read More
What a Tart!
Denis and Bev came for lunch today. Ann had prepared a full lamb roast and Bev did us proud by baking a variation on a Bakewell Tart with lemon curd instead of jam – the yummiest dessert I’ve had a in a long while. Cheers Bev!! After stuffing ourselves, Lee and I rescued the kitchen, …
Read More
The 2012 Olympics: The Opening Ceremony
Wow! What an event!!! Sheep, geese, James Bond, Mr Bean, Mike Oldfield, JK Rowling, The NHS, Mary Poppins, Sir Simon Rattle and a cast of thousands. Welcome to the ‘Isles of Wonder’ – Great Britain.
Chatham Dockyard – Scorchio!!
I think today was one of the sunniest days this year. It was pushing 24 degrees by the time we got to Chatham – perfect! Chatham Dockyard has a proud history, starting with building the famous Victory there! It was a pretty good journey there to including my first trip on the High Speed train …
Read More
DVD: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
This Blu-ray DVD had sat gathering dust here for a few months and I wasn’t sure whether this latest ‘re-imagining’, inspired by the original films from the 60s was really going to be worth it. How wrong I was! – this was definitely worth the wait and right up there on my list of fave …
Read More
Sky Go and Ice Cream Sandwich
Occasionally an app comes along that makes a big difference to getting the most out of your Smartphone and its data allowance. Step forward the ‘Sky Go’ app from err, Sky. At last, this is now available for Android’s newish operating system ‘ICS’ (Ice Cream Sandwich) and a range of Smartphones including my HTC Sensation. …
Read More
Fifty Shades of Grey
Raunchy or what!!!! 🙂
Mum’s Progress
We are now experts in form filling and completion! Completed ‘Application for Higher Level of Attendance Allowance’ form (29 pages) – check Completed ‘Application to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney – Property and Financial’ form (14 pages) – check Completed ‘Application to Register a Lasting Power of Attorney – Health and Welfare’ form (14 …
Read More
Paul and Sue’s 25th
We drove the short distance to Rothwell this afternoon, arriving around 5pm to join the celebrations for Paul and Sue’s 25th Anniversary Party. It was an outside event and mercifully, the rain had stopped – and that got the whole thing off to a great start. I guess …
Read More
Mum’s Progress – Two Steps Forward…
Writing about Mum’s condition is good therapy for me – bear with me! I’m not normally indecisive – especially with really important stuff, but Mum’s condition has got me scratching my head. Physically she is in about as best condition as anyone would expect for an 85 year old. With her three stents and her …
Read More
Curry in a Hurry
Ann’s Lamb Tikka – Yum Yum! Our regular monthly meal out with David and Val saw us returning to The Exotic Dining Indian restaurant in town with a subtle difference – no Val and initially, no Ann. I’d got the dates mixed up and Val was elsewhere on a work-thing and Ann had got caught …
Read More
Mum’s Progress
Thanks everyone, for asking about Mum – this seemed the most effective way to let you all know the latest news. Mum was a little tearful when we first arrived, but we were soon having a thorough heart-to-heart conversation confirming the exact state of her health. The stents are fine and so is the pacemaker …
Read More