English Heritage – the ‘First Three’

by

In Colchester to book some theatre tickets so took the opportunity to visit our first three English Heritage sites since joining (other than Dover Castle, which we tagged on to the last holiday). Went to St. Botolph’s Priory and St. John’s Abbey Gate in Colchester and the Mistley Towers in, unsurprisingly, Mistley. Unfortunately, these are all free – gutted. Planning project to put one photo …

Continue Reading…

Burghley House

by

Afternoon visit to Burghley House on the way back from Sheffield last weekend. After a recent visit to Holkham Hall  in Norfolk managed to get in on a ‘two for one’ (the Yorkshire stereotype rears its head again). Whatever your views on the historical wealth of the privileged few, it was still fascinating to see the interior of a still lived in house. Furniture and …

Continue Reading…

Viking Expedition

by

Stretching credulity a little with the title as we actually toured in more than a degree of comfort, but tenuously justifiable as we visited a number of places that the Vikings had at some time traded with, invaded, pillaged, or simply popped round to for a cup of tea……..

Continue Reading…

Maverick Festival 2012

by

Good Saturday at the Maverick at Easton Farm Park. Just the one day again (like last year), next time should really try all three days. A few quirks this time (the odd power problem early on had the knock-on effect of yours truly queuing 50 minutes for coffees, which is no fun, and quite a few of the ales were sold out by early evening.

Continue Reading…

The Sunshine Boys

by

Down to London last week to see the matinee performance of the well reviewed staging of The Sunshine Boys at the Savoy Theatre. Couldn’t help but recall the wonderful George Burns and Walter Matthau film adaptation of the Neil Simon play so intrigued to find out how well it stood up to the tests of time and taste. (Across the board excellent reviews had of course given me more than a gentle hint).

Continue Reading…

League One Play Off Final

by

I believe there was a play off final at Wembley last Saturday. I was in York so please don’t tell me the score……I’m sure if the unthinkable happened McCabe will now be telling us all that we will be making significant strides next season and challenging for automatic promotion, whilst simulataneously letting our best players leave and cutting the rug from under Danny Wilson’s feet. But, …

Continue Reading…

O Lucky Man!

by

Has it come to this? Last night’s gig was a 70 year old Geordie who walked out on the Animals at the height of the band’s fame and once had a reputation for being ever so slightly chippy. However, that would hardly phase any Van Morrison fan, even if true…

Continue Reading…

Trying To Stay Optimistic

by

As United snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, it’s hard for any United fan to remain optimistic, especially as there was almost a sad inevitability about the results yesterday. It’s a hard old life supporting this club……leaving the Premier league under harsh circumstances on the last day of the season and now this.

Continue Reading…

Northumberland Break

by

Excellent few days in Northumberland and North Yorkshire. Good to revisit Corbridge, Hexham etc. after many, many years away. Also got to the very picturesque village of Blanchland, which I never managed to visit when living in Sunderland all those years ago. Lovely Abbey, and the famous Lord Crewe Arms, visited by W. H. Auden Philip Larkin, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears amongst others.  It …

Continue Reading…

×