In June Brendan and I went to the NEC in Birmingham to see the BBC Gardeners’ World Live exhibition. We went to the very first one in the early 1990’s, it was small and informal, and you could go up and chat to presenter Geoff Hamilton, a…

A Barrow St. James bellringers’ walk around Urswick, organised by Tower Captain, Andy. The 6.5 mile circuit that would take four hours, and preceded the Furness and South Lakeland Branch monthly ringing meeting at the church in the afternoon. W…

On Saturday the bell ringers met up in the Hawkshead Primary School car park for a walk to Blelham Tarn, Wray Castle and Latterbarrow. A walk organised by Andy, the Barrow, St. James Tower Captain, and led by Linda (Ulverston, St. Mary’s.) The…

On Saturday five Barrow St. James’ bellringers met up in Sedbergh to walk the 7 miles to Cautley Spout waterfall, and for lunch at the Cross Keys Inn at Cautley, before returning for a ringing meeting at the church in the afternoon. We had prev…

I went to Beetham Nurseries and as it was a nice day I took a walk into the Deer Park. This walk is only a couple of miles and only takes an hour or so, an easy stroll. Jo. …

Dalton Town Band’s Tour of North Yorkshire, playing in Filey and Whitby and staying in Scarborough, with plenty of free time to see the sights. We were also blessed with great weather. Our coach set off from Dalton at 7.30am on Friday, we would…

This year we opened our Walney Island garden to the public for the first time as part of The National Garden Scheme. This is the main reason I’ve not posted a fellwalk since May, as I was too busy getting everything ready. We opened on Sunday J…

I don’t usually venture up a hill at weekends, but on Saturday afternoon we would be visiting the Keswick garden of Bishop James and Alison Newcome. We sat next to Alison at the National Garden Scheme lunch, and I have met James a few times at…

Barrow St. James’ Tower Captain, Andy, had organised another bell ringers’ walk to be led by Ulverston St. Mary’s ringer, Linda. We were to meet at St. Mary’s Church Dalton, where the afternoon’s Furness Ringing Meeting…

Photos from walks in Scarborough, Staithes, Runswick Bay and Sandsend, during our stay in Whitby. There are still plenty of places to visit left for the next time we go to Whitby. Jo. …

An eight mile walk from Whitby to Robin Hood’s Bay on a blue sky day. The eight mile walk took just over four hours. A bit muddy at times on the cliff path, and a few steep descents, but otherwise no problems. Some great views! Jo….

Walks around Whitby during our four night stay. A great place to visit! Jo. …

On Sunday we visited Yewbarrow House gardens in Grange Over Sands, Cumbria, which were open as part of the National Open Garden Scheme. This was the fourth time this year the gardens had been open, and our first visit. The garden belongs to local hot…

On Bank Holiday Monday I played with Dalton Town Band at the Glebe bandstand in Bowness on Windermere. A coach had been organised to take us there and back, so we could go early and have a day out with no parking problems. We arrived about half past…

On Sunday the bellringers from St. James the Great, Barrow in Furness met up in the North Scale car park to walk the new coastal footpath. We would not go all the way to the north end today, but take the path through the fields to the tarns. A walk o…

On Sunday I met up with some bell ringing friends for a waterside walk around Cumbria’s largest coastal lagoon. This would take us along the causeway and include visits to the restored lighthouse, a hide, an old windmill, the old lighthouse and an op…

I was going to be cycling down to visit fellow bell ringer, Clarissa, at her cottage in South Walney Nature Reserve which is 9.1 miles from our house. Brendan and Tom would come later in the car, parking at the reserve and walking through the reserve…

On Wednesday I drove back to Moor Top car park in Grizedale Forest to cycle the Silurian Way, plus a few detours to see tarns and sculptures. My total route would be 18 miles. The 14 mile Silurian way encompasses both sides of the forest. The 18 mile…

The weather had improved after the wet and windy weekend, so I drove to Moor Top car park in Grizedale Forest to cycle the Hawkshead Moor Trail and the Goosey Foot Tarn Trail. 10.5 miles and 2 miles. The car park is currently free. Although these are…

On Thursday afternoon we drove to the Bogle Crag car park at Grizedale Forest. I was going to cycle the Grizedale Tarn Trail (10km/6 miles), Brendan would walk the Bogle Crag Trail (5km/3 miles) and son, Tom would run a combination of the two (5km)….

Wednesday was going to be too hot to head up a mountain, so we decided to cycle the Ennerdale Valley from Bowness Knot to Black Sail Hut. Riding up on the left side of the valley and coming back the other. A ride of 12.8 miles on forest roads. Ged an…

Nearly three years ago, when I retired from teaching, I decided that I needed a new challenge. I’d always thought that being able to play in a brass band would be both interesting and rewarding, but I’d never even held a brass instrument,…

I took the train from Brighton to Hassocks and met up with Fr. John for a walk from his house up to Ditchling Beacon on the South Downs. Another excellent day! Jo.   …

A walk from Eastbourne Pier via Beachy Head, Belle Tout Lighthouse, Birling Gap and The Seven Sisters to Cuckmere Haven. I had walked the Seven Sisters six years ago with Fr. John, but I fancied doing them again and extending the walk to include a co…

On Sunday afternoon I played with the South Cumbria Brass Band at Grange-Over-Sands bandstand. What could possibly be more British? It was my first time playing in a proper bandstand. There were also no sheep! 🙁 Or livestock of any description, so…

I haven’t posted a garden blog since 2015. After a few requests to see how my garden was growing, I have finally gotten around to it! When we moved in in 1991 the garden was just a field. All the houses had previously bought the field behind th…

On Wednesday I played with The South Cumbria Brass Band at Cartmel Show. We were playing from 12-4pm, but I arrived at 10am so I could have a look around the show before we started. It was a much bigger event than North Lonsdale, the previous week. T…

Playing with the South Cumbria Brass Band at the Ulverston and North Lonsdale Show. There had been torrential rain the night before, and on previous days, so it was going to be a bit muddy. Walking boots required! The forecast wasn’t too good,…

Brass band photos from the Ulverston Canal Gala, Ambleside Sports and playing outside the Coronation Hall. Next up is The Ulverston and North Lonsdale Show on Wednesday the 31st July, then Cartmel Show on the 7th August. Jo.    …

A St. James’ bell ringers’ walk to Lacra Stone Circles and the Giant’s Grave Standing Stones, plus stops en route to Kirksanton via Donkey Rock Geology Area and Millom Rock Park. An excellent day, just a pity it was so windy! Thanks…

On Saturday the Barrow St. James’ bell ringers and friends walked up to Great Asby Scar, a limestone pavement, before ringing the bells at Orton and Appleby. We were to meet up at Sunbiggin Tarn for 9am. The weather was excellent! After Appleby…

Photos of assorted brass playing, bell ringing, cats, short walks, and the views from the top of Barrow Town Hall, from over the Christmas period. Happy New Year, Jo.   …

Brendan had a five day conference at the International Atomic Energy Agency, so armed with a Vienna Travel Card I explored the streets of Vienna by myself. This post is what’s left after I removed all the church visits! There were many things I…

A visit to some of the churches, crypts and catacombs, in my five days of solo ‘street walking’ in Vienna. Plus the superb views out across the city from the North Tower of the Stephansdom and the dome of the Karlskirche. The rest of the…

On Sunday evening I went to visit Rob Mulholland’s Art Installation ‘Settlement’ on Birkrigg Common. I had seen it at Heysham on a dull day. Sunday was blue skies and sunshine and I went a half hour before sunset. The sculptures, a…

Ged’s dog, Kas, had to be put to sleep last week. A sad day. Despite being blind Kas found freedom in the fells, and loved to go out walking with us. He only went on a lead for awkward descents, or precipitous edges. He totally ignored sheep an…

On Saturday the St. James’ bell ringers and friends went for a ring and a walk in Beetham. Thankfully the sun was shining on us! Thanks to Tower Captain, Andy for organising the walk. Our walk was part of the Beetham Heritage Walk (see map ). T…

A trip to Liverpool to meet up with my sister, Ness. Plus the Ulverston Training Brass Band entertains the crowds at the Ulverston Canal Gala. I play First Cornet…..sometimes even in the right place! 😉 The day we went to Liverpool was rather…

Fellow bell ringer and lighthouse cottage resident, Clarissa, had invited us round to see the views from the top of the Lighthouse which is situated in the Nature Reserve at the southern most point on Walney Island. The lighthouse was built in 1804,…

A few bits and pieces from over the Christmas period. Plus a walk from Canal Foot. Have a great 2018! Jo.   …

A long weekend in London, visiting son, Tom. Including a walk from Westferry to Tate Modern along the Thames Path, via Limehouse and St. Katherine Dock; and attending a reception at the House of Commons. An excellent weekend! Jo.  …

Brendan was down in Brighton for the Labour Party Conference, so I went along too. I never saw him until 11pm at night, but I am always able to amuse myself! Brighton is never short of things to do! An excellent five days, mostly avoiding politics, a…

Dalton Safari Zoo is free this month so my sister, Ness and I paid a visit. I’ve not been for about eight years. I have never liked animals in cages, but this zoo has made a good effort in disguising this by using perspex and creating more natu…

A busy Saturday! Playing for the Ulverston Charter Day late morning, then ringing bells at Kirkby in Furness and Great Urswick in the afternoon. Just time to mow the lawn when I got home, before the rain. Then feet up for Strictly! 🙂 Jo.  …

On Wednesday afternoon the St. James’ bell ringers went on a tour of the bell tower of Barrow Town Hall, organised by ringer, Sue. I have done Town Hall Tours before when I accompanied my students from school, but I have never visited the tower…

On Saturday Andy, Cameron, Sue and myself drove to Ambleside to walk around Rydal Water, visit Rydal Cave and Grasmere and to ring the bells at St. Mary’s Church in the afternoon with ringers from the Furness and South Lakes Branch. For once we…

The final part of our trip was to Harris and Lewis. Thankfully the weather bucked up on Harris and Lewis. We will have to return in another 27 years….or so. 😉 Jo.   …

The next leg of our journey was from Barra to the Island of Eriskay then onto South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist and Berneray. Religion is divided on the Western Isles. Barra and South Uist are Catholic, North Uist and Harris and Lewis are Protestant….

‘Barra’ in Furness to Barra in the Outer Hebrides! We plan to work our way up from Barra to Eriskay, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Berneray, Harris and Lewis. We did a similar trip twenty seven years ago and camped out under the star…

On Saturday the Barrow, St. James’ ringers rang at Hawkshead church. We had planned to do a walk around Blea Tarn and up onto Side Pike, but the weather was dreadful so we visited the Ruskin Museum instead. Then we rang at Langdale Church in Ch…

On Bank Holiday Monday bell ringers from Furness and South Lakes attended their annual Branch Outing. This year we visited north Cumbria taking in towers at Shap, Penrith, Great Salkeld, Keswick and Cockermouth. I drove to Alan’s house in Bards…

On Saturday the St. James’ bellringers joined fellow ringers of the Furness and South Lakeland branch, at Kirkby Stephen in the afternoon. On our way we rang at Orton Church at 10am and visited the Farmers’ Market and Chocolate Shop. In b…

My neighbours Bill and Sandra have recently had to contend with an ankle replacement and a leg fracture between them, so I have become a dog walker to Buster, albeit a fair weather one! The photos are from a few dog walks on Walney Island. Thankfully…

We went to Dundee by rail over the Forth Rail Bridge and the Tay Bridge. My late Grandfather, Alexander Green, was born here, but I had never been to visit. We would have a walk around for four hours and see the sights. Dundee proved to be an interes…

One of the best things about the City of Edinburgh is that everything is in walking distance, so walk we did! I used ‘Great Breaks: Edinburgh’ (Insight Guides) to plan where to go. Next up is Dundee. Brendan wanted to go over the Forth Ra…

We arrived on our four day trip to Edinburgh in blue skies and sunshine. We had come to view the Turner paintings in the Scottish National Gallery, which are only on view in January due to the low light levels. As it was such a nice day, after droppi…

On Saturday the Barrow St. James’ bell ringers met up at the top of the Grange to Cartmel Road at 11.30am, to walk up Hampsfell. It was blue skies and sunshine, but still quite cold, and there was snow on the mountains. It was a short walk, jus…

A few bits and pieces from over the Christmas period. Happy New Year! Jo.   …

This year the theme of the Dalton, St. Mary’s Tree Festival was ‘A Name Remembered’. This is a yearly festival that raises money for local charities. There were far too many trees to photograph them all, below is just a selection of…

Today we would have a leisurely walk up The Rock of Gibraltar for the glorious views, we would visit St. Michael’s Caves again on the way down, then relax in the Rock Hotel. Our route up starts at the back of our hotel just past the Garrison Li…

We went to Gibraltar for Brendan’s birthday. We decided to stay at The O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel, because it was situated just off Main St. next to the Cathedral, and handy for everywhere. We have been to Gibraltar before so we would mainl…

On Saturday the Dalton, St. Mary’s ringers held their annual ringing tour. This year we were visiting bell towers in and around Clitheroe, Lancashire. Calling at Samlesbury, Ribchester, Clitheroe and Waddington. I left home at 7.40am to pick up…

On Thursday Tom and I went to Sedbergh to see the Sheepfest. Now in its third year, Sheepfest is organised by textile arts venue, Farfield Mill, to celebrate the town’s rich wool industry heritage. This year’s theme was book titles and ch…

On Thursday evening and Saturday and Sunday, St. James Church, Barrow, opened its doors for everyone to come in and have a look around at the various displays, listen to talks, watch videos about bell ringing as well as live demonstrations of rope sp…

On Saturday Barrow St. James’ ringers did a mini walk up the Hoad in Ulverston. We were originally going to walk around Hodbarrow Nature Reserve from Haverigg, but due to the discovery of asbestos in the heating system of St. George’s Chu…

On Sunday Brendan and I did a guided walk across the sands from Walney Island to Piel Island as part of the Morecambe Bay Partnership’s ‘Bay Archaeology Festival’. The walk was lead by archaeologist, Rachel Newman with assistance fr…

On Sunday morning I went along to Furness Golf Club for ‘Exploring Walney’s Military Heritage Interpretation Day’, where we would get together to look at what had been discovered so far. Morecambe Bay Partnership are working in coll…

On Wednesday I was working with Morecambe Bay Partnership in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University on a project to investigate and record the military heritage of South Walney Island. The team consisted of Dr. Ben Edwards, Senior Lect…

On Saturday the St. James’ ringers had planned another walk. This time we would ring at St. Andrew’s Church, Sedbergh at 9am for an hour, then walk the six mile section of the Dales Way to St. Andrew’s Church, Dent, and after a pub…

On Saturday morning the Barrow St. James’ bell ringers rang the bells at Brathay Church, then we walked to Hawkshead via a Roman Fort, took the ferry to Wray Castle, and made brief ‘detours’ to The Outgate Inn and the Red Lion in Ha…

Gleaston Castle is a Scheduled Monument in the village of Gleaston, South Cumbria. A twenty minute drive from my home on Walney Island. Last week I joined the volunteers, students and professional archaeologists from the University of Central Lancash…

This post documents the events of a busy weekend. A visit to St. Bees to see friends that Brendan was at Leeds University with many moons ago, and for me a ring at the Priory and a walk to the beach. Ringing for St. George’s Day, and a talk giv…

For our 30th wedding anniversary we went to stay in Portmeirion, North Wales. I have been visiting Portmeirion since my student days when I used to go to ‘The Prisoner’ Conventions back in the early eighties. ‘The Prisoner’ wa…

On Saturday the 12th of December the St. James’ ringers were due to ring the bells of Cartmel Priory then walk over Hampsfell to Grange-Over-Sands, catch the train to Cark and ring the bells at Flookburgh. Unfortunately we had to cancel the wal…

This year’s theme for the Dalton Christmas Tree Festival is ‘Let’s go to the Cinema’. There are 48 decorated trees sponsored by community groups in order to raise money for various charities. The Festival in St. Mary’s Church, Dalton-in-Furness…

It was another warm and blue sky day so I took a walk from my house down to the sea. Then I visited the tarns, walking through the North Walney Nature Reserve and over the dunes to the sea again, then back home. The walk takes less than two hours. It…

On Saturday, ringers and friends from St. Mary’s Church in Dalton in Furness headed for Lytham St. Annes, for our annual ringing tour, organised by Tower Captain, Stan. We had originally planned to remain in Lytham and ring at the two Roman Cat…

The steep wooded slopes of Glendalough in County Wicklow, harbours one of Ireland’s most atmospheric monastic sites. Established by St. Kevin in the 5th century it grew to be quite powerful by the 9th century, but started falling into ruin by 1…

Clonmacnoise is a medieval monastery in a remote spot by the River Shannon. It was founded by St. Ciaran in 544 AD, and lays at a crossroads of medieval routes linking all parts of Ireland. Known for its scholarship and piety, it thrived from the 7th…

We decided to take a few days driving back to Dublin. One of our stops was Holy Island on Lough Derg. On a previous Ireland trip we had been to see Station Island on the other Lough Derg in Donegal, known as St. Patrick’s Purgatory. So we thoug…

We have not climbed up Carran (2000ft) for a couple of years, so we decide to climb it via a different route and take in the summit of Knockantooreen too. It is a walk we can do from the cottage, as Carran is the mountain that looms over us. The walk…

A drive via Bantry to Mizen Head, County Cork, to visit the Signal Station on a beautiful day. Mizen Head has some great views out on a good weather day. The Visitor Centre is well worth a visit. Some of the later photos were taken on my mobile, havi…

Fellow bell ringers Anne and Keith had recommended a walk up to the waterfall at Gleninchaquin Park, County Kerry, which they did last September. I thought I had not been here before, but I recognised the waterfall from when we took Brendan’s M…

Our cottage in County Kerry is at Knockanhua, five miles down a single track lane from Kilgarvan and at an altitude of 850ft. It is at the end of the valley and very isolated. Brendan’s father grew up here. A few walks to follow. Jo.  …

A few photos from our Walney Island garden, most of which used to be part of a field. It is about 300ft long…..Plus a few cat photos too…..and squirrels…. and I certainly can’t leave out the sheep! 🙂 Jo.  …

On Friday night the Furness and South Lakes Branch of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers held their annual Six Bell Striking Competition at St George’s Church in Millom this year, and an excellent venue it turned out to be! Then on Sa…

Friday was Tom’s graduation ceremony at Lancaster University. Lancaster is a collegiate university. There are eight colleges. Tom was in Grizedale College and the students graduate by college not by faculty. Tom gained a BA (hons) 2:1 in Philos…

On Saturday we had a St. James’ bell ringers’ walk from Hawkshead to Bowness. We would ring the bells of St. Michael’s, Hawkshead for an hour, then walk via Latterbarrow, Claife Heights, Near Sawrey (for lunch) and Far Sawrey. Then…

On Thursday morning Brendan and I caught the train to London as we had been invited to a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. There is a strict dress code, and for women, unfortunately, it includes a hat. Bugger! I borrowed a ‘fascinator’ f…

On Friday Ged and I went to Patterdale to walk into the Grisedale Valley to see the Paper Bridge, an Art Installation by artist Steven Messam, it was due to be dismantled on Monday. We would then continue on up the valley to Ruthwaite Lodge. From the…

On Wednesday, as part of the ‘Believe in Barrow’ celebrations, we rang the St.James’ bells to welcome the Archbishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu and the Bishop of Carlisle, James Newcome to Barrow. St. James’ Vicar, John Hodgkin…

On Bank Holiday Monday members of the Furness Branch of the LACR toured six church bell towers in the west of Cumbria. We visited towers in Arlecdon, Cleator Moor, Egremont, St Bees, Hensingham and Whitehaven, ending with a meal at a local hostelry. …

On Saturday Andy, the Tower Captain of St. James’, Barrow, had organised a bell-ringers’ walk from Holy Trinity Church at Brathay, near Ambleside, to Holy Trinity Church, Great Langdale which is in Chapel Stile, and where the Furness Bran…

On Saturday morning I drove Andy, Barrow Tower Captain, and myself to Cartmel Priory for a Branch Training Day. I have never been up the bell tower of Cartmel Priory even though I spent three years teaching at Cartmel Priory CofE Secondary School, an…

On Saturday 7th March we marked the first anniversary of the re-dedication of the bells by holding a Bell Tower Open Day and having a celebratory meal in the evening at a local Italian. There were displays in the church, including archive material an…

On Saturday March 5th the St. James’ Church bell ringers marked the second anniversary since the re-dedication of the bells by having a meal at The Crown at North Scale, Walney Island. Great for me as I only live a few minutes walk away! In the…

On Sunday night we went to The Coronation Hall in Ulverston to see Fairport Convention once again, and to catch up with my old friend, Martin. Fairport have a new album out called ‘Myths and Heroes’, so they played a lot of their new mate…

A few photos from over the Christmas period including a walk up Gummers How, cats , Coast Road and Family. A very quiet Christmas! Happy New Year, Jo. …

This year’s theme for the Christmas Tree Festival is ‘Television Programmes’. There are 52 decorated trees sponsored by community groups in order to raise money for various charities. The Festival in St Mary’s Church, Dalton-i…

On Saturday the 25th of October Dalton St Mary’s bell ringers and friends held their annual Tower Outing. This year we would venture to Lancashire and North Yorkshire visiting bell towers in Whittington, Gargrave, Kirkby Malham and Giggleswick….

Today we were walking down into the valley to Deesert, to the house that belonged to Brendan’s Great Grandmother, and the house where his father was born. Sadly the house is now abandoned and going to ruin, mainly because of its isolation and l…

Bere Island lies at the entrance to the magnificent Bantry Bay and guards the deep water harbour of Berehaven, in West Cork, in the South West of Ireland. The island is just 2kms offshore from the town of Castletownbere, the largest white fishing por…

A few excursions here and there. Jo. …

One sunny afternoon we decided to take a trip to Gougane Barra in County Cork. We were last there a couple of years ago when we did the Pilgrimage Walk on Gougane Sunday, the Feast Day of St. Finbarr, which starts just below our cottage in Knockanuha…

On Friday night the Dalton St. Mary’s bell ringers headed for Holy Trinity Church at Brathay, near Ambleside, to take part in the annual Furness Branch Six Bell Striking Competition. We had an excellent evening, in a wonderful setting for a sum…

I left home at 6.30am on Friday so I could be back home by lunch in time to be at St. James’ church, Barrow, before the start of the Anniversary Peal, 137 years after the first peal, and the first peal to be rang this century. My plan was a wal…

Saturday the 28th of June was Alice and Gavin’s Wedding. It was held at St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Yealand Conyers, Lancashire. The reception was at The Low Wood Hotel on the shores of Windermere, which has excellent views out to the Lakel…

On Bank Holiday Monday the Furness Branch of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers held their annual church tower outing to six churches with six or more bells. This year it was an ‘expedition’ to the Preston Branch organised by Ke…

The bells of St. James’ Church had not been rung since 1999. The fittings were corroded and the timber frame was in a dire state. In 2007 ringer, Geoff Pullin, from Daventry was visiting his son who worked at the shipyard, and was made aware of…

This year Fairport Convention actually made it to Ulverston for the first time in their 47 year history! One of the things I love about Fairport gigs is that often I am one of the youngest there! A spring chicken in a sea of grey. Not so this year, a…

I was down in London this weekend, Brendan had a Labour Conference at the Excel Centre, so we stayed out at Beckton (via Dockland Light Railway), and I was let loose for a couple of days by myself. I used to live in London, so I know my way around. F…

A few of the highlights from our week in Kerry. I fly back to Manchester and Brendan will return in another week. Jo   …

Galway City…. Patsy next door has holes in his roof, and still has no bathroom or toilet in his house, so he will be moving into our cottage for the next few months. Should keep it well aired for the winter! Jo. …

From Bundoran we drove through Sligo and Mayo and passed Croagh Patrick in mist. It is another site of pilgrimage. A walk that is still on my list of things to do.The previous day had been Reek Sunday. 12,000 people had attempted the summit (2507ft)…

Today we headed for Londonderry/Derry…… Next stop Connemara and Galway…. Jo. …

We usually go to Kerry via Holyhead and Dublin, but this year we decided to have a few days travelling down via the north and west coast. We took the car ferry from Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne in Northern Ireland arriving about 4pm, then on to the…

View from the Costa Magica as we cruised past Venice. We would return for an overnight stop and do the sights! Venice was excellent! Need more time to do it justice…..at least five days! Plus a lottery win to pay for it. It is a very expensive…

We got an early start in order to walk around Dubrovnik’s Old Town. It was an even bigger task to embark 3000 people all wanting to leave Dubrovnik at the same time! But even then I think we only queued up for about 30 minutes. The Old Town of…

Today we were to visit Corfu Town. We had been to Corfu before when Tom was small and had stayed in the village of Kalami, directly opposite The White House where Lawrence Durrell wrote ‘Prospero’s Cell’. Quite possibly the dullest…

We have visited Santorini before, on a day trip from Crete. We had seen all the archaeological sites on that visit, so today we would just walk around Fira and relax. An excellent day. Jo. …

The next stop was the port of Piraeus. Which is the gateway to Athens. Piraeus turned out to be much better than we expected. It would have been far too hot to revisit The Acropolis. Jo.   …

Bari is the capital of Puglia. As usual we did our own thing, shunning the organised and expensive excursions. We walked from the ship. I just used the map from ‘Rough Guide to Italy’ which was more than sufficient to find your own way ar…

There were quite a few walks you could do from the hotel. An excellent three days! Jo. …

At the end of May we had a few days in Portmeirion. I have been visiting Portmeirion since 1984, when I was 22. It provided the set for the 1968 TV series ‘The Prisoner’.   …

We had planned to walk up Mt. Snowdon, but this time using a different route. Unfortunately my recent ascent of Scafell Pike had caused my knee to swell. I think another arthroscopy is imminent! The ascent of the Miners’ Track via the lakes and…

A few photos taken over the Christmas period 2013/14. Let us hope for a peaceful, non stormy new year! Jo.   …

Some sunsets from West Shore and North Walney Beach. …

Next stop was Valencia. Time constraints meant that we were unable to spend time inside any of these buildings. You would need at least a day for each of them anyway! But at least we know where to come the next time we are here! We headed back to the…

After looking at Google Earth I realised that the journey into Cartagena would be an interesting one, as the bay is surrounded by mountains.   Cartegena got less than two sides in The Rough Guide to Spain. I thought it an excellent place to visi…

Next stop is Malaga in Andalucia. Another interesting day! Jo….

Gibraltar has its very own micro-climate, and unfortunately its British! Whilst nearby Spain was in sunshine The Rock was shrouded in cloud. A bit of a home from home! I have always wanted to visit Gibraltar, my grandfather worked here for the MOD in…

This particular cruise included a few places we had never been before, plus we could explore every destination on foot. Next stop Gibraltar! …

Brendan’s brother, Tim had his 50th birthday party last weekend at the L ‘Arche Community in Preston where he lives. Everyone was there! I think Tim enjoyed himself!…

In 2001 I met John and Lesley Reid in Varadero Cuba. We got on very well. John was a scuba diver so we arranged to meet up again the following year in Cuba to do some diving together. John had been diving there for a few years and knew many of the be…