A busy period. Family with us before Christmas and family with us for New Year. In between we went to the Forest Hills Golf Club for Christmas Lunch, something we have done before and really enjoyed. With the chance to catch up on some films, including "The Foreigneer"; "The Christmas Chronicles" and "Rex", it was feet up and a glass or two.
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A planned surprise for hubby's 70th birthday saw us meeting up with son and daughter-in-law in London, a meal near Shaftsbury Avenue Theatre where we saw "Motown the Musical", an overnight in a hotel before visiting the Sky Garden, a fantastic and unique garden on the 35th floor of a glass building in the business quarter, where you could look out over London from an open-air balcony.
Recent visits to the cinema to see "Johnny English Returns Again" with Roan Atkinson (a good laugh); and "Bohemian Rhapsody" (the story of Freddy Mercury and Queen), the latter quite a sad and emotional film.
Besides the above, we've met up with friends in Lincolnshire, and also visited Batsford Arboretum (in the Cotswolds) with its spectacular autumn colours. We eventually got to see Andre Rieu, albeit a cinema broadcast from Maastricht. It was a fantastic show, but I felt the lack of cinema audience (about 20 at most) didn't give it the atmosphere it could have. However, having seen it, we have decided we are going to go to Maastricht next year to see him "in the flesh".
Since then, we've been for a visit with family in Brighton, and had our Lincolnshire friends here for a few days Went to see "Mamma Mia 2" at Cinderford this week. Good film although a little weak in parts. The main problem was somone decided it was a good idea to bring a baby/2 yr old into the cinema who cried and shouted through most of the film.
Mike Masse and Jeff Hall were returning to the UK for a one-night show on Friday 29 June so we decided we would extend the weekend and also find a musical to see. The Masse/Hall concert was very good and was held at "Under the Bridge" (Chelsea Stadium). We met at the local Pizza Express before the performance. Fortunately the venue was only a walk-away from where we were staying. Saturday we had breakfast al fresco (pancakes and strawberries and blueberries with maple syrup and coffee mascarpone) at a local eatery before using our bus passes and travelling into the city centre. We hunted down Leadenhall Market - recommended to us, and I must admit it was historically a lovely place, but there is little of it left as many gigantic structures overpower it in the business quarter. We had lunch at Wetherspoons and then made our way to the Aldwych to see "Tina". It was rather expensive but worth it - a fantastic musical giving the story of the awful life Tina Turner had as a child and early in her adult life with Ike. The temperature in the city was overwhelming and we eventually got back to our accommodation to rest and freshen up before walking down to Cote Brasserie for a meal al fresco again. We returned home on Sunday via the Cotswolds (don't like motorways).
Went to see the film "The Book Club" at Cribbs Causeway Vue. It's a good "chick flick" and a laugh here and there, but go with your girlfriend, not your partner or husband. They just don't get it. Four elderly ladies (Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenbergen and Candice Bergen) meet up each month to discuss their chosen book. One of them brings "50 Shades of Grey" and during the course of the next few months, they also read the sequels, and decide that their lives need livening up. This includes dropping an overdose of Viagra into one husband's beer, registering onto a dating agency, not accepting family invitation to "move in" and become the resident baby-sitter, and letting go of the business venture which has taken up 100% of her life.
Well, we were supposed to be in Vienna (see previous blog) but have enjoyed a long weekend at Warners, Alvaston Hall, Cheshire. Blew the bank account and had a Royale Suite this time overlooking the gardens. This weekend was a Motown Weekend, and it was very good, and so was the weather (up to 27 deg C on the Sunday). As we have a cousin living in Mold, we thought we could meet up in Chester on the Saturday and have lunch. However, they had plans to meet up with my brother in law and wife in Shrewsbury so we joined them (much to the surprise of brother in law). Had lunch at a quaint pub and a walk round the town before returning for a rest and dinner at Alvaston. Sunday we visited the Anderton Boat Lift and then met up with cousin again, in Chester this time. Having never been to Chester before, it is a very quaint and historic town, with lots of black and white buildings. Caught the Park and Ride for £2 return rather than try to find a car park in the town, which was much easier. Couldn't leave without having a cake and coffee at Patisserie Valerie in the High Street! Monday on leaving Alvaston Hall, we had arranged to meet up with our friends John and Jane for lunch near Stourbridge so took the country route (which was far more pleasant than the motorway).
I said I would let you know about why I don't like holidays unless I have control of them. Several times I've booked holidays via travel agents or companies, and it's turned out disastrous.
Four years ago, we decided to revisit Malta, so booked through Co-Op Travel, Cinderford. We had researched where we wanted to stay (Valetta) having been to Malta before, and all was well until we got to Malta. Without any prior notice, at the airport they arranged to take us to our hotel, approx 3/4 hour away from Valetta, halfway up the coast. With lots of phone calls to our travel agent, and arguments with the resident courier, we got nowhere, but we did find out that their system is at fault. We had given the travel agent details of where we wanted to stay, and paid a deposit to them. However, the hotel booking had not been confirmed nor the deposit paid to the hotel until days before we were due to arrive, and so the hotel had taken it that we didn't want the booking because the enquiry hadn't been followed up, so had taken another booking. This year, we decided we would like to go to Vienna for four days, including a live concert to see Andre Rieu. The package, arranged by Newmarket Travel gave us the choice of airport we would like to travel from (Birmingham late afternoon), a choice of hotels, a city tour, the concert and transport to and from the airport to the various venues. On our return from our Norwegian trip in March (which we personally arranged every step of the way), we got a phone call from Newmarket Travel to say we could no longer travel from Birmingham as no direct flights were now existing; and we could choose from Manchester or Luton at 6am! Let's think about that. While thinking we phoned the airline at Birmingham and they said there were direct flights, just not on that particular day and they had us on their list for the next day flight. We went back to Newmarket Travel who didn't offer us a flight the next day, and even if we chose to fly from Birmingham, miss out on the city tour, they would not give us transport to and from the airport, and only recompense for one night's hotel accommodation we would lose. Needless to say, we found Newmarket Travel totally inflexible, especially considering they had not told us the whole story, and were not prepared to accommodate the people they had disrupted. Now you know why I don't like package deals. This was one off our "bucket list". We had planned to make this journey in 2019 but then decided, while we're able, why not do it now. We arranged each stage individually ourselves (not keen on package deals as will tell you shortly) so we travelled to Heathrow by coach from Chepstow, spent the night at Heathrow as it was such an early start the next day, flew to Tromso via Oslo and stayed in a very nice hotel in the centre of Tromso. We also booked a night safari in a Tesla electric car with Pukka Travel who were very very helpful. Once there, we booked a trip to Tromso Domes (yet to become an ice hotel next year), and took the cable car above Tromso both at night and during the day, both times giving us fantastic views (of the aurora and mountainous region around). We only stayed four days, but it was a fantastic trip helped by specifically kitting us out with the proper clothing for the region (minus 10 deg C most of the time there, but very good weather). If you want to see what we saw, choose Photo Gallery from the menu and then Aurora Hunt.
A sudden unexpected death amongst the Forest Ladies which was a complete shock, having met up with and spoken to Brenda a couple of days before.
Not such a good start to the New Year. Stayed with family in Staffordshire but came back a day early as I went down with "flu", a strain not anticipated, I'm told, when the flu jabs were issued. Of course, I didn't keep it to myself, so hubby ended up with it a couple of days later, and my sister has not been well since. Let's hope it clears up soon!
We've had a busy December so far. Firstly, we went with a couple of neighbours to the Royal Spring for their very reasonable Christmas Lunch. Then we, as the Lunch Club, went to the Royal Spring for a very good Christmas Lunch with 18 of us enjoying the meal, a raffle,and a quiz. Besides this, I've had my sister, brother in law and two Jack Russells for a long weekend, exchanging presents and getting snowed-in with quite a lot of snow; and then my son, his wife and grandson for a long weekend. I had quite a peaceful Saturday while the latter group went to see the new Star Wars film in Cardiff!
We recently drove to Kent. Fortunately on the Friday afternoon, it didn't appear to be "burnt-tea night" on the M25 and we had what can only be described as a reasonably pleasant trip (for the M25). We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express at the Dartford Crossing for a couple of nights, and during the Saturday visited Bluewater (which was just being considered when we left Kent 21 years ago), and Rochester (where we used to live). I can only say that having taken 35 minutes to travel about 200 yards on the A2 which runs parallel with the High Street in Rochester, it is definite I will never return to live in Kent. The traffic was horrendous. We decided to have lunch at The Leather Bottle, Cobham, which is a lovely quaint old pub about ten miles outside Rochester, and then celebrated a friend's 60th birthday bash on the evening. Sunday after breakfast, we drove home, and stopped on the way in Cheltenham at the Kings Head for lunch.
A wonderful evening at Cheltenham Town Hall to see Rich Wakeman and the promotion of his new album "Piano Portraits". His piano performance was interspersed with anecdotes but his playing was exceptional, with different styles to show his very wide knowledge. Would really recommend him as someone to see.
Over the last couple of months, we have been away for a few days here and there. First to Bodelwyddan Castle, a Warners hotel in North Wales, just for couple of nights to celebrate our anniversary. The weather wasn't particularly good, but we achieved one wish, to go to the top of the Great Orme, something I'd done as a school-child years ago. Then, we had to walk up (and down) it, but this time we drove up (and down). The views were good, although we couldn't see the Isle of Man, somewhere we were told you could see on a really good day. While at Bodelwyddan, who should we bump into but my cousin, Pat, who was on a short break with a group of friends. Small world, isn't it?
We then spent a couple of days down in Brighton visiting son and his wife, and while there went round the Brighton Pavilion, something new to us, and which was very interesting. A couple of meals out, and a few sunny periods while there. Lastly, we spent five nights with friends in Lincolnshire, again eating out while there and visiting old haunts. So, we picked a day and kept our fingers crossed, and as it happened it was a perfect day. Twelve neighbours turned up and enjoyed a few hours getting to know one another better, along with plenty to drink and eat. Perhaps someone else will "take the reins" next year?
More like April showers than an English summer! Had hoped for a sunny, dry day on Sunday 23rd July to have a small bbq with a few neighbours, but "rain stopped play". So, although able to freeze most of our purchases, we've been eating fruit and salad till it's come out of our ears! Hoping for a dry day next Sunday, but looking at the weather forecast, it could be a "no go" again!
We spent a lovely sunny week at Warners Hotel, Bembridge, Isle of Wight recently and really enjoyed being able to relax. We hadn't been to the Isle of Wight for over 35 years and so enjoyed seeing as many places as we could; Shanklin, Sandown, Ventnor, Cowes, the Needles, Newport, Ryde, the Garlic Farm, Osborne House. Warners think of everything you need, besides toiletries, bottles of wine, biscuits, you can choose their activities and entertainment to suit; archery, shooting, swimming, quizzes, singing, pampering and gym work, etc. We had several good entertainment evenings with tributes to Abba, Queen and Neil Diamond as well as popular opera and songs from the musicals. This will be the third Warners we have visited, Cricket St Thomas, Sinah Warren and now Bembridge.
We were given two kinds of vouchers for Christmas last year, so utilised the first for dinner, bed and breakfast at the White Hart, Winchcombe this week. Winchcombe is a lovely Cotswold village, very quaint with several touristy shops. Had a wonderful dinner at the White Hart and a very comfortable bed for the night, overlooking the countryside and a local llama farm. A good breakfast was followed by a visit to Burford, then Lechlade where we enjoyed a drink overlooking the River Thames, then went on to Cirencester for a wander, before utilising our second voucher for a Champagne Afternoon Tea at the Hatton Court Hotel near Gloucester. A very civilised couple of days, and the good weather made it all the more enjoyable.
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About MeRetired, grandmother who enjoys cardmaking, gardening and genealogy with not enough hours in the day. Married to Tony who enjoys my gardening (!), and is an amateur radio operator with his own website. 
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