Adventures, road trips, music & gigs.
Paddington, Regents Canal. Well this was a little quirky! A floating restaurant on the Regents Canal in Paddington. The weather was kind to us as we walked along the towpath in search of the barge. Emma had heard of this place from a friend on ….read more
Watched Matt Maeson at the Electric Brixton, an American singer songwriter doing an acoustic tour across Europe. Great evening with Emma and Hannah. The layout to the Electric in Brixton is similar to the Brook in Southampton – but much much larger. TOP TIP for ….read more
We don’t often get to spend time exploring the local area, so during October we thought we’d not travel too far, but explore some of the local villages and towns close to my Southampton home. Hampshire is a beautiful county of England, and much overlooked. ….read more
A last minute trip to visit an old friend in Scotland ended up taking me on a detour via the Lake District, Northumberland and Scottish Borders. The weather played a big part in most decisions which is why I ended up zig zagging across northern ….read more
We spent the week exploring the remote and unspoilt eastern corners of Andalusia and its neighbouring region, Murcia. This part of Spain has much to offer, from its Moorish influence and Roman ruins to its mountains ranges and beautiful beaches, which rival any in the ….read more
This has got to be our favourite Indian restaurant – hands down! The menu here is nothing like you’d expect in a more “traditional UK based” Indian restaurant. It appears to draw from influences from all over the place. The main dish in the centre ….read more
I’ve always loved the colours, dance and music of Notting Hill Carnival – and this year, the warm weather and blue skies made everything even more vibrant. We’ve not been able to make it here for a few years, so when the opportunity arose last ….read more
A few weeks ago I found myself travelling along the B2139 through England’s newest National Park for work. The scenery was so stunning that I took note of the location and made a promise to myself to come back and explore. Well, with the weather ….read more
The final night for this old Blues band at the Platform Tavern Southampton. A great intimate venue by the waterfront just along the road from the Red Funnel terminal.
We headed for the small market town of Saffron Waldron and the English Heritage site of Audley End House, Cambridgeshire where OMD, Heaven 17 and Soft Cell were playing on a stage right next to a stunning 17th century country house. Peroxide blondes and slap ….read more
A weekend away at Ynot music festival in the middle of the Peak District with Emma, Hannah and Rachael. It was the first time we’ve tried this one, and with about 30,000 people it is a little larger than many of the festivals we generally ….read more
Wow. Blur knocked it out of the park last night in a packed house at Wembley stadium. It’s the first time they’ve played here, and you could see how much it meant to them – and the audience! It was pretty emotional with Damien Albarn ….read more
With no plans or fixed agenda, we took our time exploring the hidden corners of Venice (including Lido-Pellestrina, the beaches of Punta Sabbioni, and the islands of Burano and Murano). Our base for the week was a small one bedroom apartment in the centre of ….read more
This short four day trip saw us head for Paris via the stunning town of Arras, where we stopped a couple of hours for a late morning coffee and brunch. Arras is only an hour south of Calais and so was ideal for a leisurely ….read more
So here we are again at Bearded Theory festival in Derbyshire, along with the group from Sheffield we met here last year. The pirate ship corner has been taken over by a green man with a mushroom head – but with infectious sounds, it still ….read more
The Shard, London Bridge Now this was an experience to remember. The views across London are spectacular and I’d certainly recommend it for a special occasion. It’s not your average place to dine. Don’t blink or you’ll miss the journey on the super fast lift ….read more
After a fabulous trip to the Mekong, I left Fabrice behind in his home in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and headed north for the final phase of my Vietnam trip. I was travelling on a standard 1 month tourist visa entering Vietnam via HCMC ….read more
If you want to go from A to B without being sat in endless traffic whilst in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, the ONLY way to get about is by calling a Grab bike, and putting faith in the rider. The Grab App is ….read more
When Fabrice told me he was heading out to work in Vietnam I knew it was only a matter of time before I ended up over here. Sure enough, after consuming a few pints of Belgium beer with him last year I promised to pop over. ….read more
A short off-season break to New England and the historic city of Boston, Massachusetts. It’s my first visit here and wow, somewhere I’d definitely recommend for a short break! We were joined by Hannah who flew in from Minneapolis along with Ben, who came by ….read more
Of all the Alpine villages of this region, this has to be one of my favourites. At the top of a valley half way up the Montafon you’ll find Gargellen. This tiny picture-post-card village sits above the snow line at this time of the year ….read more
This may look a little ostentatious, but when you break down the cost, and consider the benefits, it’s really not… especially when you consider the price of a meal, pint of beer or even bottle of water at an airport which soon racks up… especially ….read more
I love this place! Every neighbourhood of the city has a completely different vibe; from the calmness of the parks, to the buzz of Broadway and Times Square, or the bohemian nature of Hells Kitchen and Greenwich Village, and that’s just a handful of locations ….read more
What better way to spend Hogmanay than with a ceilidh in a Gothic/Baronial style castle by the side of a Loch, in the Highlands of Scotland? It was bitterly cold with snow still on the ground when we arrived at Tigh Mor, the log fire ….read more
A return to the Brook for an awesome band called Dub Pistols, who we’ve seen several times over the years. These guys are legends !
Another budget flight took us to the twin city of Budapest where some of our best finds came about by complete accident, like walking into a bar on the Buda side of the Danube river and finding a group of locals singing Hungarian revolutionary folk ….read more
Within minutes of arriving in Montenegro I just knew this would be an experience I wouldn’t forget. My landlady at my accommodation explained that she came here from Lichtenstein back in the 1980s when Montenegro was part of the Soviet Union’s Yugoslavia. She married a ….read more
A last minute birthday weekend in the Algarve, courtesy of a crazily low priced (hand luggage only) flight to Faro! The first morning took us across the Ria Formosa lagoon to the empty beaches and turquoise waters of the Península do Ancão. The final stop ….read more
The final leg – Appalachian mountains to New York. Summary: For the last week of our trip we swapped the peace & tranquility of the Great Lakes and wilderness of the north for the noise and vibrancy of New York City. We travelled across four ….read more
Second leg – Road trip around the Great Lakes of Northern USA and Canada. Breathtaking views, unspoilt wilderness, endless expanse of forests, wide open roads, crystal clear waters, huge freshwater “seas”, long sandy beaches, deep blue skies and crazy temperatures. We headed for the remote ….read more
Minneapolis is a destination that wasn’t on my radar of places to visit, smack bang in the middle of nowhere! So had it not been for Hannah (Emma’s daughter) completing her degree at the University of Minnesota, I doubt I’d have ever visited this city ….read more
An early dash from Cornwall meant we avoided the traffic rush and managed to get to “Boomtown” festival with plenty of time in hand. Boomtown is an amazing festival, it’s a little like a movie set with multiple themes. The Dub Pistols were performing late ….read more
A busy few days, starting at an idyllic sandy beach in Cornwall, a few miles south of the popular beach of Bude. The sea, tide and weather conditions were just perfect for a morning and evening kayak along the coast from our base with some ….read more
A great weekend with family at Bristol Harbour Festival! Live music and DJ sets everywhere, entertainment on every corner and pubs full to the brim. A huge West Country event. So glad we went! The perfect weather for camping out in the Mendip Hills, so ….read more
We spent the morning exploring Columbia Road flower market, this is an old market that has been going for over a century and a half in this part of London. I didn’t realise until recently that the unusual trading day was switched from Saturday to ….read more
We’ve just spent a few days exploring a little slice of Belgium and the Netherlands from our base in Bruges. What a fantastic part of the world! The beaches just across the border in Cadzand were pristine with some great beach bars and restaurants hidden ….read more
Four fabulous nights away at ‘Bearded Theory Spring Gathering’ with Em and a whole bunch of other crazy folk! Somehow we managed to dodge the rain – with blue sky and sunshine for most of the event. It’s a relatively small independent festival in Derbyshire ….read more
Spent the week exploring the East Sussex coastline from our base at a campsite hidden away in the rolling hills and forests near the village of Crowhurst. Over the five days we visited Battle, Bodiam, Hastings, Rye and Eastbourne, explored castles and historic buildings, walked ….read more
This is a great way to enjoy a meal, tapas style and sharing dishes. We had a gift from Emma’s kids, but the staff managed to give us an accidental upgrade which meant an absolute feast of a meal which was also incredibly good quality ….read more
OK.. So the weather wasn’t playing ball, as we headed along the Southbank from London Bridge station popping into the Anchor pub before seeking out “Lumin Beach” a Caribbean themed food-shack just past the OXO tower. We headed inside (for warmth) despite the lure of ….read more
A few days away with some spectacular scenery in and around Ullswater in the Lake District. The trekking started on Sunday when we broke off from our cycle ride from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding and headed up to Gowbarrow Fell via the waterfalls at Aira ….read more
Undeterred by our aborted Ski trip to Austria (on account of Covid entry rules for youths) Natty and I decided to travel by car to Italy where the entry rules are a lot less restrictive. Our accommodation was quirky to say the least, an old ….read more
Step 1 London Bridge to Tower of London. Walk along the river past HMS Belfast and walk across tower bridge. Once at the other side of the river wander the Tower of London site for photos. If you have time there is a footpath along ….read more
Royal Exchange Never been here before, but walked past it many times. Again, we doubled up a trip here with a wander around London both before and after. I don’t have any photos of the food, but we really enjoyed the evening. The location is ….read more
Just back from a fabulous weekend in Sicily exploring Palermo and the surrounding region from our base on a quirky wooden boat moored up in the old harbour. The weather was mostly kind to us, with the exception of Monday when the heavens opened, but ….read more
I woke to witness the most astonishing display of stars at 03:30, just ahead of a three hour ascent to the summit of mount Toubkal, north Africa’s highest peak. Only a handful of others were on the mountain at this time, all with the same ….read more
We’ve just about recovered from sensory overload at last week’s Isle of Wight Festival. We were surrounded by deliriously happy people and entertained by bands, many of which seemed to be playing for pure fun; thankful for the end of the live music drought and ….read more
Just the two of us, on a near empty beach, exploring the many ancient shipwrecks exposed by this week’s spring tide at Sandwich bay. This part of Kent is a beautiful part of the world and a nice way to extend the holiday feeling earlier ….read more
We have just spent the last two weeks exploring southwest France 🇫🇷.Our destination, a roomy Gîte (HPB site) just north of the Dordogne river, near the village of St-Felix-de-Villadeix, was closer both in time and distance than the area I visited in the highlands of ….read more
…a cracking weekend with the kids (I include myself in that description) exploring the Wye Valley during the daytime and playing games back at the campsite well into the night.Hardly a phone signal here, let alone 4g, so a great place to check out and ….read more
Hiking, biking, kayaking and camping in the Highlands and Islands of west Scotland. No Emma this trip 😞 just me.I had to pinch myself at times to remind myself that this is only a car journey away and not a long haul flight to some ….read more
After the wonderful family weekend just passed, and with great weather forecast, Emma and I continued the fun from our base in the Southwest. We fitted in some cycling in Exmoor, kayaking in Salcombe and hill walking above Porlock Weir. We found breathtaking scenery, discovered ….read more
Some weekends stand out, and this has been one! No real plans going into it, and nothing but great memories coming out. Started off by watching the sunrise at Stonehenge, which meant a 4am start – it was magical! Then a cycle around the Wiltshire ….read more
After the weekend of rain, a short mid-week break in the sun. We headed west! A stop over in the cottage in Somerset followed by a jaunt to my favourite coastline. Lucked out with the weather, and the sea conditions. They almost mirrored the time ….read more
As long weekends go, this was just about perfect! Emma and I headed off to explore the area around Faversham Creek, Sandwich and its nearby Bay. Camping of course. Lots of outdoor exercise and al fresco eating. The local Kent scenery is simply jaw dropping ….read more
We decided to take advantage of the amazing weather and head off to the cottage in Somerset for a quiet but active weekend. I know I’m so lucky to have this on my doorstep, but I still pinch myself on occasions as this region is ….read more
Taking advantage of the empty streets, we took a few lockdown walks and cycles. Starting off at Blackheath Common (where you can park the car for free nearby), cycle to Isle of Dogs via Greenwich pedestrian tunnel, then onto tower bridge and into tourist central. ….read more
We checked into a delightful Tuscan vineyard for two nights on our route back to northern Italy.Sited midway between Sienna and Florence adjacent to the local hill top village of Radda in Chianti, this charming place is steeped in history, beauty and scenery! Point the ….read more
We found the unspoilt Mediterranean beaches we were seeking. The first near Conca dei Marini. It invited us in for a welcome swim after a hot and lengthy trek down the coastal path. ‘Twas sheer bliss and for most of the time we were the ….read more
So the second leg of our socially distanced mystery tour of Europe (well at least of those countries with a lower rate than the U.K.) brought us to Rome.Yes Rome! And no… I can’t find another British car anywhere. No one mad enough I hear ….read more
With COVID-19, neither of us wanted to fly anywhere for our summer break, especially with the quarantine rules on return and the chances of being left stranded. But with the weather back home looking bleak we decided on a last minute tour of countries with ….read more
With our choice of holiday destination somewhat limited this year (Covid), Natty and I decided to explore the English coast instead of our usual trip to Europe, and we are so glad we did. We headed for Porthcurno and the nearby coastline. We found a ….read more
Lockdown diary #1 – MARCH 29th 2020 A weekend for taking stock and preparing for the months ahead. Like many of us, I spent time in the garden doing the things that needed to be done after a long, dark and wet winter… And of ….read more
It’s been another amazing blast with Natty in the Montafon region of Austria. This year we were joined by Emma, her first time skiing for 23 years! Conditions could not have been better with two fantastic fresh powder days and lots of sunshine in between. ….read more
I paid a fleeting visit here in August with Natty and Django on our annual tour de Europe. It was no where near long enough! I made a promise to return. So here I am again, this time with Emma, soaking up the last of ….read more
I really don’t know where to start to describe what is almost certainly one of the best holiday we’ve both had in our lives. Swimming with a huge pod of wild dolphins with Emma in the middle of the Indian ocean with no other people ….read more
Perched on the fields overlooking the Severn Estuary on the North Somerset coast, this year’s Music Festival at Watchet was simply sublime.Talented musicians everywhere and a real happy vibe. It was made even more spectacular by the weather. We didn’t see a cloud all weekend. ….read more
It’s about this time of year that Natty and I head off on our European tour. Last year was magical. We had no idea where we were going then, much the same as now. This year has started off even better. The rough plan “was” ….read more
It’s not every day in the UK that you spot a pair of brightly coloured macaws flying in the forest over your head. But then this is Larmer Tree Festival – set in a magical corner of Wiltshire. What a great line up this year ….read more
France is a dream destination for cycling enthusiasts, not just because of its sheer size, but also due to its relatively low population compared to other European countries. If you travel outside the peak tourist season, you’ll find vast stretches of countryside where it feels ….read more
A lovely weekend in Pembrokeshire, Wales at Valley View Cottages with Clare and Chris. It’s everything I imagined it to be. Spent the day walking the coastal paths between various points starting a Mwnt, finishing at Ynys Lochtyn. Breathtaking scenery. Drank a few too many ….read more
My second “proper” trip away with Emma found us heading to Norfolk where we stayed with Nikki and Phil, some of Emma’s old Uni friends. Twas only the second time I’d met Emma’s close friends, less alcohol on this occasion! The first occasion saw us ….read more
A wonderful weekend in Jersey! Out of season, this British Isle is amazing. It is only a short 30 minute flight from Southampton and cheaper than a return train ticket to London. Amazing weather, superb restaurants, £1 notes, great local ales, daffodils everywhere and only ….read more
This little corner of Austria is not to be found in most British ski tour guides – so I am thankful to my Godmother for marrying a “local” and moving here back in the 1970’s, else I’d have probably never found it. What has made ….read more
Being only a short 15 minute drive from my home in Bishops Lydeard, we couldn’t believe our luck with the lineup this year which included Ferocious Dog, The Leylines, Dub Pistols and Aswad! It was lovely weather, and nice to be joined by our neighbours ….read more