travels with an ageing punkrocker/publisher
Today we caught up with L’s cousin E, who lives somewhere south of woop-woop (actually in the commuting belt for London, but outside the M25 so therefore in the boonies). We rushed down breakfast in order to make all the right trains, and got ourselves to Hampden Court, locale of the famous palace where Henry VIII liked to park his […]
Read moreToday was L’s birthday. Regardless of how old she claims to be, in London she is a baby (I would say spring chicken but we’ve seen that on a few menus lately). The hotel building is many times her age; our local underground station is three times her age; and London had grey hair before she was born. We spent […]
Read moreAnother catching up binge. It seems that time flies when you’re … tired. As much as anyone loves travel, it is tiring being a long way from home for any length of time, and it’s starting to catch up with me. With the zombie cold from hell that has been following us back with a vengeance, I miss the comfort […]
Read moreA new day, a hint off bluesky and sunshine. A quick skype with L’s mum and it was time for more continental breakfast. I know it’s been days since I had bacon and a fried egg but I’m sure my digestive system will thank me for it one day. Today was Oxford St, with a bit of the rest of […]
Read moreAfter everything we’ve been eating, a continental breakfast at the hotel sounded sweet. A little light toast, tea, all-bran and some yogurt and honey to add a bit of balance to the system and top up the immune system. London at this time of year can be a bit of a challenge to the system, as there aren’t many seasonal […]
Read moreAnother day catching up on a backlog of blogposts. Now caught up, this one’s live. Checked the weather last night, and the Met Office had issued some cautions for wind and rain. North of Scotland can expect snow, possibly a blizzard, so it looks like we’ve picked the right day to head south. Some minor drama at Waverley station, our […]
Read moreToday was a designated shopping day, looking for interesting shiny things as well as tacky souvenirs for all you folks brainwashed by capitalism to expect more from out travels than the experience of reading our journals. Fortunately, another thing Scotland does well is its ability to stick some tartan or a St Andrew’s Cross on almost anythingand flog it off […]
Read moreWoke up stiff and sore, joints aching, as if we’d spent the night before partying in slippery mud and rain. Funny that. We gave the hotel breakfast a miss, as it wasn’t very good, and wandered over the road to the COnan Doyle for a full breakfast. Haggis, bacon, black pudding, all the usual suspects except the potato scone that […]
Read moreSpent the last morning of 2011 wandering around Edinburgh with L, checking out the Old Town and Royal Mile. Wandered up to the castle, and as always stunned by the view. The Scots certainly knew where to build castles: find the biggest piece of fuck-off rock, completely inaccessible from 3 sides with a fair incline on the fourth, and stick […]
Read moreThe last day off 2011 is upon us. As I write, it has just ticked over into 2012 in Perth (Australia, not Perth in Scotland). Kind of a weird feeling, as the only other time I’ve been out of WA at New Year’s was in Melbourne, where we were 3 hours ahead. So being behind seems weird. I’m not unhappy […]
Read moreA day of three countries. Started with another fine breakfast at TL, more laverbread, bacon, black pudding and other breakfasty goodness. Overall the food has been pretty good here, possibly slightly below other Michelin-starred experiences but still very fine. Packing up the car we caught a good sight of many of our fellow guests, shooters up for a bit of […]
Read moreAfter farewelling mum, we headed off to Portmeirion, the seaside locale where weird and strange building features go to retire. Bizarre features, out of place architecture, statues that would otherwise be considered grotesque, and random hanging sheep signs are the norm here. So far, so weird. The place’s cool credentials come from being the location where The Prisoner, that fabulous […]
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