Breakfast was included in my guesthouse, so I made my way to the restaurant. I had a nice, strong cup of coffee and fried egg on toast, which was pretty basic but good and filling. The homemade dumplings were the stand out dish. I really, really enjoyed those and could have eaten another plate or two. Looking out the window, the streets were still quiet, it was still early though. To see all the s Read on...
Last night wed stopped at Gretna Green to have a break in the long drive home. As we have been to Gretna Green before, we werent overly excited at visiting it again. So I looked at the map and decided we should do a detour through the Pennine Way as as far as I recall, Ive never been there before.
The Pennine Way is AONB (Area of National Beauty) and Glyn thinks thats just bragging. I dont even a Read on...
Today, John did errands and I him. We needed to go to the Omani consulate for my visa to visit the Musandam Peninsula (Straits of Hurmuz) on Thursday. So, I got up at 7:00 and we dropped Peggy at work (Dubai Womens College).
Then we went to the Omani consulate. Outside, there was a little building for visas. We were apparently the first there, and no one was inside to help. After a brief wait, tw Read on...
Lachung is a small village near Tibetan border situated at 9,000 ft. It is a very scenic place – for that matter, entire Sikkim is a scenic beauty. On 5th May, day time temperature forecast was 6°C and night temperature forecast was 1°C.
We were told that taxi will arrive anytime between 9 and 11! This is a major problem in Sikkim. Taxi operators have formed a cartel and they dictate the term Read on...
Following Roys Gay Hat Party, I was certainly not feeling too flash when woken next morning around 9am. I was out on the road soon after with a lift from Mary, but I didnt manage to get a hitch until an hour later. I then got a lucky run of around 200 miles down the A1, with the day also turning out warm and sunny. However, my luck ran out after that, and after reaching Stamford, some 60 miles eas Read on...
Yesterday morning, May 13th 2022, I learnt from the Guardian newspaper that Robert Gillmor, the bird artist, had died. I was slightly shocked. He is probably the most famous person I have ever spoken to. We have several things he loved birds; he was Reading born and bred; he was a teacher (at Leighton Park School in Reading); he knew my mother.
I first came across him in Reading in the At that t Read on...
This morning, at 9:30 AM and 83 degrees (and it seemed like 100% humidity), we put Satellite Beach in our rear view mirror and headed for the panhandle of Florida. For anyone who has made this trip, you know well that it is less than interesting and largely boring. We crossed the state to and drove up to and west to Panama City Beach. We had expected to hit a lot of rain, remnants of Nicholas, b Read on...
What a year!! We had two overseas trips planned and paid for but struck and so they were on hold. However, we saw that The Ghan was and there was a generous package being offered for a trip on the train, seven nights in Darwin and various excursions all for the price of what it usually costs for the train alone!
So here we are, on the train on our way tot he Top End. We left on Sunday morning. T Read on...
We are headed to to hike on a 4.8 km trail. We take the number 2 tram to Nice Port. We walk a few blocks and take the number 15 bus to It is sprinkling when we arrive so we find a outdoor restaurant with large umbrellas. We have fish and chips which seems appropriate since we are at a port. After lunch we follow a group of people who look like they are out for a hike. We find the trail a short d Read on...
Beautiful blue sky awoke us. The peacock sounded his alarm that it is time to get up. We have an exiting plan today. Kayaking into the gorge of the Stormy River. After our kayaking in Umngazi was washed out, we really are looking forward to this. Breakfast with a view was served high up over the blue Indian Ocean, who was smiling at us. The Peacocks were by monkeys who were, what else, looking for Read on...