Wednesday 9th September - To France I leave home at a very civilised 9a.m. to head for Calais and the ferry. I’ve decided to drive down to Beaune, it’s years since I’ve used the ferry and driven in France. I would have liked to have gone through the Channel Tunnel but the ferry is a much cheaper option. I’ve decided to break my journey and stop over near Calais. I’m heading for a B&B recommended by Nick, Les Fuchsias in the village of Bois-en-Ardres about 10 miles from Calais. And 10 miles of driving in France will probably be enough practice for today! The journey down to Dover was completely uneventful and checking in and getting onto the Seafrance ferry was a lot more straight forward and stress free than I seem to remember. It’s while ... read more

Monday - Going Home Yet another quiet day!! We’re meant to be out of our rooms by 11a.m. At 10:30 the only person awake is one of the Old Farts. It doesn’t take us long to get ready, though - we don’t have a lot to pack - and the hotel, Aparthotel Martinique, are fine with us being a bit late checking out. They must be used to the large groups staying there being unable to wake up in the morning. We don’t fly until 7p.m. so the hotel gives us somewhere to keep our bags and, once again, it’s down to the pool to sleep off the previous night. Time for one last meal at, guess where, Arfur’s Bar, and a last round of drinks. The drinks order is 3 cokes 1 lemonade 1 orange ... read more

Saturday - Pullin’ Triggers I’ve had a reasonable night’s sleep! I woke up a couple of times in the night and everywhere was quiet!! No noise outside the hotel and nobody running up and down the corridors. Weird!! Perhaps it’s really early and the partying hasn’t started yet? I begin to worry that the world has ended because there is no noise. Apparently, though, we were disturbed a few times and Henry had to get up to answer the door but I slept through it. Here’s a handy tip for anyone going to Magaluf and wanting an early night - don’t stay in the room next to the lift. All the drunks fall out of the lift and try to get in through the first door they see. The Old Farts are first up at about ... read more

Thursday - Stag Weekend. So when I left work making the vague statement that I was going to “go travelling” I’m sure I will have conjured up the stereotype of a Baby Boomer backpacker, disappearing off into the Third World in search of different and unusual cultures. Well, if it’s strange cultures you’re looking for, they don’t come much stranger than Magaluf! Brits will know all about Magaluf. They affectionately refer to it as “Shagaluf”. It is a holiday resort in Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands. It is often described as “catering for young parties” and the “party resort”. Unfortunately large “young parties” of British tourists have a reputation for binge drinking and violence. Whilst writing this I’m reading a news story about a British tourist being in a coma after a brawl in Magaluf. ... read more