30th September 2021 A Testing Day Before breakfast, we had to take our UK government-mandated Covid ‘Fit to Fly’ tests,  a process that felt only slightly less dramatic than diving underwater. The test itself was straightforward. Although we were officially supposed to stream a video of the procedure, our Fit to Fly organiser simply required… Continue Reading

28th September 2021. Crater wandering. For the first time on this trip, we awoke to a bright, sunny day instead of the usual heavy rain. After breakfast, we were soon on our way to explore the highlands. The surrounding mountains and volcanoes were free of cloud, promising good visibility for those willing to risk the… Continue Reading

26th September 2021 Breakfast at the hotel was a substantial buffet, though COVID regulations required guests to wear masks when not seated and to use plastic gloves while selecting and handling food. By the time we arrived at 8 a.m., the restaurant was already very busy, and we were fortunate to find a vacant table.… Continue Reading

24-25 September 2021 With some trepidation, I met Jamie at the ‘Test to Fly’ office in Syston on the 24th. In my view, he had booked the RT-PCR test rather too late to allow for any contingency, should anything go wrong. However, as it turned out, my concerns were unfounded. We were tested, provided with… Continue Reading

28th August 2021 The week after returning from Iceland was, as expected, a whirlwind of domestic chaos. The house and garden both seemed to have thrown a tantrum in our absence, demanding immediate attention. True to form, the ever-unreliable British weather did its best to dampen spirits, literally, but Sue soldiered on and mostly conquered… Continue Reading

21st August 2021 A sea-day of forms. The clocks went forward an hour last night, so breakfast at 7.30 am felt rather early. It took a while to come round, and the choppy North Atlantic swell, combined with the realisation that we’re homeward bound, didn’t do much to lift the spirits. Still, all good things… Continue Reading

19th August 2021 Waterfalls, fumaroles, lava fields and craters. The Bolearis slid into her mooring alongside the quay in Akureyri at around 6.00 am. We had arrived in Akureyri, nicknamed the ‘Capital of the North’ and known as an important port and fishing centre. As we vacated our cabin for breakfast at 7.00 am, the… Continue Reading

17th August 2021 The Golden Circle. Borealis docked quietly in Reykjavik around 6 am. It was a misty, drizzly morning, with thick clouds draped over the horizon, hiding any hint of the dramatic mountains we’d seen in brochures. Not exactly the welcome we’d hoped for, but it did lend a certain Nordic mystery to the… Continue Reading

13th August  2021 A wayward journey to Liverpool. With our bags packed the night before and all essentials accounted for, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and shower before loading the suitcases into the car, setting the house alarm, and heading northeast. The previous afternoon, I had entered the address of our hotel (Campanile) into the… Continue Reading

22nd July 2021 It’s become something of a summer tradition among my ex-rugby-playing comrades to convene at a handful of local beer festivals, ostensibly for the cultural experience, though the thirst-quenching aspect does tend to take centre stage. Last summer, however, our plans were thoroughly scuppered by the all-too-familiar villain, Covid-19. With the country in… Continue Reading