29th November 2024 We had breakfast in the buffet at 7 am, as we were scheduled to assemble in the Meridian Restaurant at 8 am, ready for disembarkation. Reassuringly, our suitcases, which we’d dutifully left outside the cabin the night before, had vanished overnight, as planned. Always a good sign. As part of the first… Continue Reading

27th November 2024 Dawn was breaking as we made our way to breakfast. Through the windows of the buffet restaurant, the dark silhouette of the mountains loomed behind Santa Cruz, the capital of La Palma. The ship had already docked, the necessary paperwork had been handed over to the port authorities, and the captain had… Continue Reading

22nd November 2024 We were both wide awake well before Google’s alarm sounded at 1:30 am. Quickly dressing, we snatched a hasty coffee and loaded the car with our suitcases, ready for the dash to Birmingham Airport and our flight to Tenerife. There, the P&O cruise ship Azura awaited, ready to whisk us around the… Continue Reading

31st October 2024 October concluded with Halloween festivities. While the celebration has Christian associations, its origins trace back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits; a little smoke and some face paint seemed to do the trick. Over the centuries, these traditions blended, giving… Continue Reading

10th October 2024 Upon my return from Romania, Jamie departed for Dubai to attend the 2024 Forex Exhibition. With tensions mounting in the Middle East, he was fortunate to secure a seat on one of the last available flights to the region. With a few days to spare before the exhibition commenced, Jamie took the… Continue Reading

2nd October 2024: Bucharest Just after 1 a.m., I collected a rather weary-looking Sean from outside his house, then trundled across Harborough to scoop up Jim before heading out of town to rendezvous with Suraj in Rothwell some twenty minutes later. Our little band of adventurers was off to Transylvania to soak up a bit of… Continue Reading

31st August 2024 On the final day of August, Sue drove me to Leicester General Hospital for an eye injection. On this occasion, the dosage was higher than usual and intended to extend the interval between future treatments. The only noticeable side effect was the appearance of numerous dark bubbles in my vision, although these… Continue Reading

1st August 2024 The morning of the 1st brought a much-needed shower of rain. Although it wasn’t enough to satisfy my watering-can-dependent vegetables, an afternoon thunderstorm added considerably to the water table, welcome news for farmers, allotment holders, and gardeners, though rather inconvenient for me. At 5.05 p.m., Sean, Jim, and I caught the bus… Continue Reading

3rd August 2024 On a rainy 3rd of July, I drove Sue to Leicester General Hospital for her operation. She was first on the list for surgery that morning and needed to be there by 7 a.m. Naturally, we arrived early, at 6.30 a.m., and found ourselves waiting outside the still-closed doors of Theatre Arrivals.… Continue Reading

20th June 2024 Whilst in Ecuador, I was contacted by my Welsh cousin David, who informed me of the sad news that his sister, Pauline, had sadly passed away. As soon as we returned home, I spoke to my Aunt Josie, found out details of the funeral, and made arrangements to attend. As the UK… Continue Reading