Malaga

A winter escape to Málaga unfolds with dry humour and gentle mishaps: storms, sleepless nights, Brexit bureaucracy, stubborn machines, and unexpected cold. Madam’s meticulous ways contrast with the narrator’s wry observations as they explore museums, beaches, queues, and cafés, finding warmth mainly in food and shared amusement.

Las Palmas

‘I don't want to go on camel rides, do you?’ asks Madam. ‘Umm,’ I reply, ‘I remember donkey rides on the beach, but not camels, my sweet.’ ‘I don’t want to visit the crocodile park, do you?’ ‘Crocodiles? No, I'm fairly certain there aren't any crocodiles in Eastbourne. It would have been in the paper … Continue reading Las Palmas →

A Week in Tenerife

The skies are leaden, there is a fine drizzle. A northerly wind, which the weatherman describes as blustery, blows a fine rain horizontally. He says, with masterful understatement, that it will feel a little chilly today. Spring seems late this year. No daffodils, to me the first sign of spring, are showing. I recently bought … Continue reading A Week in Tenerife →

Land’s End and a Snow Globe

The sea spray splattered my glasses and the wind tugged at my hair causing it to stick up in an unusually expressive and interesting manner. I looked like a cross between a mad scientist and just plain mad. I zipped up my jacket. “Amazing! It’s like something from National Geographic!” Madam shouted above the wind. She was pointing … Continue reading Land’s End and a Snow Globe →

Grandma’s Bedroom in Penzance

We reached Penzance and I went up to the hotel reception to check in. We had booked into a more expensive hotel for tonight, mostly due to a lack of availability on a Saturday night rather than a desire for a better hotel. The hotel was probably upmarket fifty years ago. The world has moved on since then … Continue reading Grandma’s Bedroom in Penzance →

Charmouth to Exmouth and Jurassic Coast Fossil Hunting

Charmouth to Exmouth on our West Country road trip. Hunting for fossils along the Jurassic Coast and a trip to Lyme Regis. We headed to the Charmouth Heritage Centre and had a polite look round at the locally found fossils on display. The centre was set up in 1985 to encourage safe and sustainable collecting … Continue reading Charmouth to Exmouth and Jurassic Coast Fossil Hunting →

Bournemouth to Durdle Door

First stops at the Durdle Door, Dorset, the beach and Bournemouth on our road trip to the south-west. Due to Madam’s impressive driving skills we arrived in Bournemouth two hours before we could check into the hotel so we found a multi-story car park close to the pier where I parted with £4.50 for two … Continue reading Bournemouth to Durdle Door →

Portugal

It is a little before 7am and Madam is poking me awake. “Come on, wake up and go and make some tea! It’s packing day!” “Packing day?” I say. “Yes, get a move on, we are going to Portugal tomorrow.” ‘We are? Oh.’ I say. There isn’t anything useful I can add to that statement … Continue reading Portugal →

Cotswolds and Beyond

Cotswolds Travel Blog: Including Highclere Castle, Avebury Stones, Marlborough, Bibury, Chedworth Roman Villa, Bourton on the Water and a spot of Shakespeare. “So, you want to go to Norfolk next?” I asked Madam. “I guess so…” she replied somewhat hesitantly. “It’s very flat,” I said, “you can wave to people in Birmingham.” “Really? You can … Continue reading Cotswolds and Beyond →

Isle of Wight

"We could go away," Madam suggested, “you have a week between appointments.” "But I've been in hospit..." I started to say but she gave me a look that spoke of daggers and I fell into silence. She stared at me a little longer then said, "You're looking much better today. We're going to run out … Continue reading Isle of Wight →