Blogs from Widnes, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

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Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes September 15th 2014

Having previously sailed across the Black Sea and been lucky enough to visit the site of the 1945 Yalta Conference and seen where the files were kept in Odessa, when we finally received notice that our cruise was no longer calling at these ports, Roisin and I took it in our stride and were looking forward to the replacement destinations. Hopefully the rescheduling would take us to somewhere new and equally exciting… …Burgas and Volos: Well, they were certainly places we hadn't been before. As for exciting, let's leave it there for now. There is so much to experience before we get to these new destinations; some places we have been to (more than once) and some we are not as familiar with so, as normal, several weeks before we set off, the internet took a ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes March 24th 2014

2 years ago Roisin and I were lucky enough to cruise from Genoa in Italy to Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf via the Suez Canal. From pirates to dish-dashers, the adventure was certainly a once in a lifetime experience. However, during a visit to some port or other, Roisin must have approached one of those 'rub its belly and you'll return to this place' statues. Whilst I wasn't looking she had a ‘go' Roisin must have rubbed the statue up the wrong way!! I don't mean in a provoking anger sort of way but rubbed the statue anti-clockwise!! Although, not being the superstitious type it obviously worked for we ARE returning to the lands of Frankincense, Ferrari world and feckin' taxi drivers!! However, not in the footsteps of our last trip but this time we're ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes January 14th 2014

It all started quite innocently one Saturday evening 5 months ago. We had made ourselves comfortable on the sofa in front of the TV. The DVD was titled 'Gulag; a 1985 cold war thriller about a sportsman turned journalist who was sent to cover the athletics at the Moscow Olympics in 1980. He is framed and forced to admit spying for the US. Half way through the movie, Roisin turned to me and said, "I wouldn't mind going there." “Where?” I asked, “the dark, dank interior of a KGB interrogation cell? Or perhaps a barbaric camp in the wilds of Siberia? I don't think MSC sail there at the moment…although give it a few more years!!!” Things seemed to snowball after that. We checked our holiday plans for 2014 and agreed we had a free window ... read more
The obverse: a little piece of Roisin & Chris...
...and the reverse: our wedding anniversary!

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes November 3rd 2011

It's been over a month since our return from the Arabian Gulf and in that time the temperature has dropped from Phew!!! to Brrr!! It is December in the UK and the nights are cold, they're damp, they're dark and miserable. During these winter months, looking back on yet another memorable holiday full of new experiences fills us with the warmth we felt throughout our trip. We have compiled all the photos from this blog in to a slide show so you can sit back and enjoy all the photos in one continuous stream. It's just over 19 minutes long so I'd crack open a bottle of wine if I were you!!! (if nothing else, it might numb the pain half way through!!!) Click on the link below Crusing From Genoa to The Arabian Gulf Slideshow ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes November 2nd 2011

We've been home for just over two weeks now and we feel like we have jumped from the frying pan and in to the fridge. I forgot what 'grey' looked like!! This entry in the blog is really to tie everything up in a nice package. Look on it as an early Christmas present!! There was so much we had planned to see while we were in Dubai; a trip on a dhow across the creek. To watch the dancing fountains at the Burj Khalifa marina: the majestic Atlantis Hotel on the Jumeira Palm. On reflection, if we ever return we would definitely invest in a hop on-hop off bus ticket. Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing! Our flight back to Heathrow was at 11am local time. This meant we were up at 7am. ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes October 30th 2010

Well this is it. Going home time. Our mum's are calling us for our tea. The final chapter. No more sarcastic observations. It was a blast while it lasted. Hey but the flight isn't until 23:30 tonight. There is still stuff to do… Chris and Roisin checked out of the hotel at 12-noon. They had managed to fill the 3rd suitcase they had bought the other day. Not sure how. The hotel was happy to store the luggage in their strong room until Chris and Roisin were ready to depart for the airport. This gave Chris and Roisin one last 'samba' around the dance floor of new experiences known as the Big Buddha. The big Buddha lies on Lantau Island and the best way to reach this is by cable car, glass bottom optional. Chris and ... read more
Sun visor or spot welder??!
The way to enlightenment
The Bodhi Wishing Shrine

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes September 10th 2010

7 get ups to go… …Chris and Roisin can't believe that the trip is almost up on them. Packing has not even commenced. Mind you that's nothing new. They have been known to pack the night before their holidays or I should say; Roisin (the sensible one) packs the luggage with (as Chris would put it) minor items such as clothes and toiletries!! He has, however, compiled a list of things to take with him. He's up to item 8 and still not a shoe or shirt in sight. In fact, his monopod comes in at number 6! What is a monopod you may well ask? The best way to describe it is that it is a tripod with 2 of its legs missing!! This is the final entry before Chris and Roisin depart. So this ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes February 28th 2010

Geo: 53.35, -2.7333 199 get-ups to go.... …The trip is coming together nicely. The cruise is booked and paid for. 30 days sailing the South Pacific aboard the magnificent Sapphire Princess. The latest update on the bits either side of the cruise is that Roisin has spent days trawling for decent hotels in San Francisco. She manged to get a brilliant deal in the comically named Nob Hill. Chris is already wondering how much mileage this name has and has already started to think up inuendos and other gags (purely for comic effect!!) in the months to come. Anyhoo, the room should have cost £380 per night. Roisin's price - £95 per night!! Chris is contemplating having one of those 'Gentleman's manicure' thingies. Last year it was his £10 patent leather shoes from Primark to finish ... read more
The Huntington Concierge
Accommodation Normanhurst

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Cheshire » Widnes October 13th 2009

Geo: 53.35, -2.7333 340 get-ups to go... ...the year was 2007. Roisin and Chris had always dreamt of doing something special for their 'big 5-0'. It was just lurking around the corner and the Travel show at the G-Mex was upon us. The obvious 'ultimate' was an around the world trip. It was one of Chris's ambitions to circumnavigate the globe. In years gone by he has never seemed to get further than Poland!! You may well laugh but it wasn't called ‘the Iron Curtain' for nothing!!! Prior to 2002, Roisin had managed a trip the Pwllelli Butlins and a couple of trips to Ireland to visit the relatives. Her first major trip abroad saw her witness Schumacher's umpteenth F1 win at Spa Francochamps in Belgium! In recent years Roisin and Chris have ventured a little ... read more




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