Life

The Great Canadian Road Trip

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Heathrow, hiccups and a flight worth waiting for

After more than a year of planning, the day had finally arrived: the start of our Great Canadian Road Trip. My husband Andrew and I, along with our friends Nick and Julie, were setting off on a 17-day adventure—travelling from Vancouver to Banff, on through Jasper, back to Vancouver, and finally across to Vancouver Island.

In the run-up to our departure, wildfires were affecting several areas along our route. The news footage was shocking, and we began making  a Plan B in case we had to change our route.  Thankfully, cooler weather and plenty of rain arrived before we travelled. It was an enormous relief—and our original route was back on.

First Stop: Heathrow

Because our flight left from Heathrow, we travelled down the day before and booked a room at the Thistle Hotel, with on-site parking. Our first impression was not exactly inspiring. There was no lift—which seems extraordinary for an airport hotel—so we dragged six suitcases and four bags up a long flight of stairs. Thankfully, we were only on the first floor.

Our evening meal did little to improve matters. We were shown to a table still covered with the previous diners’ plates, and when nobody came to clear them, Andrew did it himself and went in search of menus. We then had to track someone down again to order drinks and food. The meal was fine, but forgettable. After a chat, we called it a night ready for sleep.  

The following morning, however, things took a turn for the better. We travelled from the hotel to Terminal 5 in a fully automated pod that glides along its own track. It took about five minutes—and it was brilliant. Check-in was quick, and before long we headed for the Aspire Lounge. Our flight was delayed by 45 minutes, though, and oddly we were not allowed into the lounge straight away. Apparently, that is how the system works, but it still felt a little frustrating.

Once inside, relaxation had to wait. We suddenly remembered that we had prepaid for only 15 days of parking and were meant to settle the balance at the hotel. We had forgotten—and getting hold of someone to fix it took what felt like forever.

Then came problem number two: the payment for one of our Booking.com hotels had failed. For a few tense minutes, visions of arriving without anywhere to sleep flashed through our minds. Luckily, we found a motel in the same area and booked it on the spot. Crisis averted.

Premium Economy to Vancouver

For the flight out, we had treated ourselves to premium economy—and it was worth every penny. The seats were noticeably wider, with generous legroom, and the meal arrived on proper crockery with metal cutlery. We even received a printed menu, which made the whole experience feel that little bit more special. Drinks were offered regularly, so staying hydrated was easy. Best of all, after nine hours in the air, we stepped off the plane without the usual aches and pains of being folded into a tiny seat.

Automated border checks and baggage collection were impressively quick, and soon we were on our way to our hotel for our first night in Vancouver. After a year of planning, a few last-minute panics and one very comfortable flight, our Canadian adventure had finally begun.

First night fatigue

We arrived in Vancouver with a mixture of excitement and exhaustion. Although our bodies insisted it was midnight in the UK, the local clock said 4pm. We caught a taxi to take us into the city and to our base for the stay, the Paradox Hotel.

From the moment we walked in, the hotel felt elegant and inviting, and the staff could not have made us feel more welcome. Once we had settled into our rooms, we headed to the bar to make use of our complimentary drinks voucher hunger soon caught up with us.  Although none of us could decide exactly what we fancied. A charcuterie board with fries proved to be the perfect answer: meats, cheeses, bread, crackers and olives to share while we chatted in the bar. By then, however, the time difference was winning. Staying awake until 9pm—5am back in the UK—felt like an achievement, but eventually we admitted defeat and headed to bed, eager to discover Vancouver properly the next morning.

First real sight of Vancouver

The following morning, we were wide awake at about 430am, due to the time difference. It was lovely and comfortable just relaxing in the room and not rushing to get ready. However, at about 7am we were all ready to go out for the day and set off to look for breakfast. We headed towards a place recommended on TripAdvisor, but the route took us through a quieter area near several people experiencing homelessness and substance abuse. Like most cities, Vancouver has challenges.  Feeling uneasy, we decided to turn back towards a busier area and found a café called Bellagios. Whilst we were looking at the menu, an English chap who was passing said it was excellent food, so we opted to go in.

The owner was extremely welcoming and all the staff were so pleasant and helpful. The food was of an amazing quality, with breakfast potatoes which were incredibly tasty. After a really good meal and topped up with tea and coffee, we were ready to face the day.

Our next job was to find a point to get into the hop on hop off trolley bus tour. We have found this is a good way to see a city in a short space of time, getting off to visit things which catch your eye. After a short walk, we found the stop and a trolley came along within a few minutes. It was a little bit more of a novelty than the usual open top bus. The young man doing the commentary was also knowledgeable and very amusing.

Our first hop off was at Granville Island. Originally an industrial area with shipyards, sawmills, and foundries, it was transformed in the late 1970s into a public space with quirky independent shops and markets, arts centres and community theatres. We had a lovely couple of hours walking round the area, then picked up the aqua bus on the harbour to take us to Yaletown to catch up again with the Trolley Bus. After a couple of stops, we got off at the Public Library. I had read there was a roof top garden and platform with great views. The library itself was pretty impressive, but, there wasn’t much of a garden or a view to be honest. Heading back for the Trolley, we got off at Canada Place. The waterfront area, designed to look like a ship, houses a Convention Centre, the cruise ship terminal, shops and restaurants.

While looking for lunch, we saw a huge queue snaking along the cruise terminal and wondered if it was people waiting to board a ship. There was one in the terminal, that had reportedly broken down. Over a light lunch at Marneys, our waitress informed us it was for Aritzia’s famous sale, with some shoppers queuing for days.

After lunch we walked back up to the town and came across “The Round House”,  a historic Railway complex which has now been converted into an arts and cultural centre. It still houses the enormous Engine 374, which pulled the first intercontinental passenger train into the city in 1887. It was a beautiful train looked after by friendly and informative volunteers. We then headed back to the trolley and stayed on longer this time, passing various landmarks, including the A-maze-ing laughter sculpture and travelling through the great expanse of Stanley Park. There is lots to see and do at the park, but as we had been out most of the day, we decided to save a further visit for when we visited Vancouver again later in the holiday.

After a rest and shower at the Paradox, we braved the now pouring rain and returned to Canada Place for dinner at the Tap and Barrel. Unfortunately, the indifferent service, limited menu and unremarkable food made it one of the few disappointing meals of our Canadian adventure.

A few drinks later, we made our way back to the hotel, amazed by how much we had packed into one day—and thoroughly impressed by our first taste of Canada.

A Weekend in York

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Last weekend we travelled to York for the weekend with my brother and sister in law. York is a beautiful city and is only about an hours drive for us, which makes it easily accessible.

We were later setting off than we intended, for a number of reasons, but we eventually arrived in York at around 8pm. It was a much needed break and we had been looking forward to it all week, but were a little bit stressed out and very tired by the time we arrived. Luckily, when we arrived my lovely sister in law presented us with freshly cooked pizzas which were very much needed after a long day. After eating and a good chat, putting the world to rights, we went off to bed.

We were staying at “Clearly Apartments” on Bootham Crescent, which is a short walk into the city. The apartment was a little surprising at first. It was smaller than I had expected (and how it appeared on the photos), with not much space for four adults to sit comfortably. There was a very small kitchen area, a dining table in the corner and a sofa and armchair. It was darkly decorated, which made it seem a little bit dreary. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms which were all clean and tidy. The ensuite was a little bit of a squeeze, but over the weekend we got accustomed to the space and enjoyed our weekend together.

An Outdoor Treasure Hunt

Our daughter bought us a Mystery City Treasure Hunt for Christmas, as she knows we like escape rooms and quizzes. This was specifically for York and was based on the Gunpowder Plot. It was in a book rather than on phones, which worked really well. You could also use the QR code to get extra visual clues via your phone if you needed them. The hunt took us around many streets of York with clues outside buildings, pubs and places of interest. Some of the clues were really straight forward and some were a little more difficult to find and solve. It took us about 4 hours all together, including a lovely stop for coffee and cake in a little coffee shop. Luckily the weather was great and we walked over 12000 steps which was pretty good for just wandering around the city. I would recommend one of these city treasure hunts, as it helps you to learn about the city itself, gets you walking and thinking, as well as working together as a team.

A couple of highlights of the day were seeing the statue of Paddington on a bench in Minster Yard, which we had our photo taken with as our grandson is a huge Paddington Bear fan. The second was the coffee shop we called at, which was tucked out of the way in Coffee Yard, at Barley Hall. We probably would not have otherwise come across this place had it not been for the treasure hunt. I had cake, but the others had black pudding sausage roll, which was apparently amazing!

After finishing the hunt, we headed through the market and shops, before heading back to the apartment. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the rugby, reading and just chilling out.

Great Food at The Churchill Hotel

On the way in to York on Friday night we passed The Churchill Hotel which had a lovely beer garden all lit up with fairy lights and braziers near the tables. Having had a quick look at the menu, we decided to book for our meal in the evening. What a great decision that turned out to be.

The hotel is stunning, obviously on a Churchill theme, with quirky furniture and decorations. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. The food was amazing! It was all clearly freshly cooked and although it took a while to arrive, we weren’t in any rush and it was lovely just to sit in the nice surroundings.

There was a set menu, with plenty of choice and you can choose to have two or three courses. We all chose to have mains and puddings. The main courses were hot and very tasty, with just the right amount of food to leave room for a desert. The Baked Alaska was one of the best deserts I have tasted for a long time, with a warm brownie topped with caramel ice cream and soft marshmallow meringue.

It was so good that on the Sunday afternoon, we returned for lunch as we struggled to find anywhere in the city centre which wasn’t packed. the food was great, although they got my brothers order wrong and he had to wait for it to be recooked. However the Baked Alaska was just as good the second time.

Castle Museum

On Sunday we headed to the Castle Museum. I haven’t been here for years, probably since i was a child. The entrance tickets allows you to return again anytime within the next 12 months, which is always good.

The museum is good with a variety of exhibits on show, including a fashion exhibition, with clothing throughout the years. There are period rooms showing how homes have changed over the years. Each one has a story behind it, to help explain what was going on at the time. It was interesting to see how fashion has changed from minimalistic to having every surface full of nick knacks. Kirkgate is an area of reconstructed shops on cobbled streets, which are incredible and it was great to wander around the streets as they were dating back as far as Victorian times (or “back in the day” as referred to by my husband for most historical periods)

The 1960’s exhibition was fascinating having lots of the items we all recognised from our childhoods. There is also an exhibition about the First World War. This was interesting and moving in parts, following the stories of people who had lived through the war. It was also a real eye opener reading the cost both in finance terms and the lives that were lost and changed forever as a result of the war “to end all wars”(If only that were true)

One of my favourite parts of the museum was the prison exhibition. The Castle Museum had been a prison for many years and some of the cells and other rooms now form part of the exhibition. I find it fascinating how the views of crime and punishment have changed over the years. It added a little extra interest to read and hear the stories of the people in the felons cells, why they were there and what happened to them. People being imprisoned for debt was one of the saddest things to hear alongside hearing that a woman who killed her husband would be tried for treason. Seeing the conditions people were held in and how things have changed really interests me and I spent quite a while in this exhibition.

A Work In Progress

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For any of you reading my blog over the last few years, you will be aware I have had a constant battle with my weight. I have always been a yoyo dieter, with an all or nothing attitude. I am either sticking to a diet 100% or I am completely off it, consuming everything and anything that I think I shouldn’t be eating. I have tried all the usual avenues of slimming clubs, weight loss shakes and online diets. Each time I have lost weight, but always put it all back on, each time becoming heavier

A Diabetes Diagnosis

During the earlier summer of 2024, I started to feel generally unwell. My eating was out of control as I was craving sugary foods all the time and eating far too many processed foods. I was constantly tired, my joints were aching, I was irritable and had tummy upsets most of the time and had started with a pain in the right hand side of my stomach. After going away on holiday a couple of times and feeling unwell i decided that I need to see the doctor. I presumed that it was my IBS that was flaring up, particularly due to my bad eating habits.

At the end of September I went to see my GP, who listened to all my symptoms and carried out a number of tests to check for anything serious. Luckily all the tests came back without any major concerns, apart from my blood sugar being very high and my liver function being poor. The tests for these were completed again four weeks later. At that point my liver function had improved, but my blood sugar had increased (HbA1c test) and was now at 68. It was at this point I was informed that when I had been for a wellness check 2 years prior to this, my blood sugar was slightly high at 48 and I was considered diabetic at that point. Unfortunately no one had ever given me these results and my blood sugar had slowly been increasing over two years.

I was prescribed metformin to try and reduce my blood sugar and was referred to the diabetic nurse for further advice and other health checks which I now needed. The appointment with the diabetic nurse was at the beginning of December. Prior to the appointment I tried to cut down on the amount of sugary and processed foods I was eating. I had just read Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, which was a real eye opener regarding the ingredients in processed food and the reasons why it was so difficult to stop eating them.

A change in direction

After my appointment with the diabetic nurse, I was ready to start a drastic change in my eating habits. Luckily I had no issues with my feet when they had been checked, but was advised to be really careful with my feet, particularly as I love walking around in bare feet, even outside. I was also referred for an eye screening, which again came back clear.

Once I had made the decision to change my eating habits, I found it exciting exploring what I should avoid eating and the types of foods that I could actually eat, which I had avoided whilst on “low fat diets”. I was advised to eat lots of protein, full fat dairy products, lots of vegetables and not as much fruit. I found it easier to fill up and stay full, without snacking all the time. I thought avoiding rice, pasta, bread and potatoes as the basis for my meals, but once I got going I really started to enjoy it. It was the first time in most of my adult life that I wasn’t concentrating on eating to lose weight. I was now concentrating on eating healthily, keeping full and reducing my blood sugar.

I started to really read the ingredients on packages of food and avoiding anything that had a lot of ingredients in them, particularly ones that I did not recognise the names of. I started really thinking about anything that I might have as a treat and asking myself if it would be worth it rather than just eating mindlessly. I did have a few setbacks along the way and occasionally slip back into bad habits of eating things like cereal for breakfast, toast and sandwiches for lunch, or having a day where I really just want to eat cakes and biscuits.

The really exciting thing about all this was that I started to lose weight steadily but each week my weight was dropping. I was not counting calories, points or sins and I wasn’t starving myself. I was eating good healthy foods, healthy fats, nuts, eggs, dairy produce and adding a small amount of carbs to some of my meals.

Reintroducing Exercise

Once I had lost a little bit of weight I decided that I needed to start introducing some proper exercise again. Although I love walking, I knew that in order to tone up and keep the weight off I would have to do something more than just going out for a walk. My daughter Izzy had just completed her training to become a personal trainer and wanted to specialise in women’s fitness, particularly around pregnancy, post natal and menopause.

I joined the gym and she helped me to build a programme around the areas I wanted to improve. As I was losing more weight, I was unhappy with the tone of my skin and the flabbiness around the areas where the fat had gone. Izzy helped me with some weight training to help build muscle around where I was looking a bit floppy and also concentrated on “functional fitness”, which will help me keep flexible and mobile as I get older.

The exercise and healthy eating has really made a difference. Izzy took photos of me in January and again in April, as its quite often hard to see the changes in yourself. I was really pleased with the changes I had made and when I went on holiday this year and throughout the warm weather through the summer I have felt more confident wearing shorts and other outfits that I would not normally wear.

Just keep going

By March, my blood sugars had come down to 48 and I had lost over two stones in weight. By June, this had dropped to 42 and another half a stone in weight. I was taken off the metformin and was no longer classed as diabetic. I still need to lose some more weight, but I still need to concentrate on keeping healthy, avoiding the sugar and the processed foods. I am still being monitored and remain under the supervision of the diabetic nurse.

I have slipped back into some old habits over the summer months, particularly cold fizzy drinks, ice creams and picnic foods, which are all high in sugar and processed ingredients, However I still eat really healthy meals and try wherever possible to keep within the guidelines. I know that this is not a quick fix, or losing weight for a special occasion, this will be a lifelong journey and in order to keep as fit and healthy as possible I need to just keep going.

Izzy is really great at motivating me, both with healthy eating, exercise and just the general encouragement whenever I need it.

If you are looking for some help with a fitness plan I have copied Izzy’s link below.

https://www.instagram.com/improvewithiz/

Reflections For A New Year

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Thoughts on Being a Grandparent

In July 2023 my husband and I became grandparents to a gorgeous little boy called Walter. I hadn’t mentioned this on my blog before for a number of reasons, but as it is new year, it is a good time to reflect on this huge change in our lives. There aren’t any photographs on the blog as my daughter made the decision (very wise, in my opinion) not to have his photo on any social media. My youngest daughter, Isobel, really wanted to be a mum and after moving in with her partner to their new house, they announced in December 2023 that they were having a baby.

I must admit that my initial reaction wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was really pleased for them, but not sure I was ready to be a grandparent. I also felt anxious about her and the baby and worried that something would happen along the way. When I was pregnant all those years ago, I never felt any of these fears, but for some reason with her, these stayed with me throughout the whole pregnancy. It was something I only voiced to a few people, as it was a difficult thing to explain.

I was very excited about a baby in the family and felt an enormous relief when he arrived safely. The moment of joy on seeing him for the first time was indescribable. Anyone who is a grandparent will know this instant feeling of love towards a child who isn’t your own, but is the closest thing to it. Over the next few weeks it became clear that Isobel was an amazing mum and it was incredible seeing Walter changing each time we saw him. It was wonderful to spend time with him and be part of his little world.

In November 2023 we had a shock when Isobel and her partner split up. It was a difficult time for all of us, but we adjusted and supported her as much as we could. In June 2024 when she was due to return to work, she moved back in with us. Over time we have made adjustments to the house to accommodate her and Walter.

He is now almost 18 months old and is so funny and clever. Watching him learn new things almost every day is just astounding. He has a cheeky little personality and keeps us all on our toes. Seeing things through a child’s eyes makes everything seem much brighter somehow. His eagerness and wonder at seeing things for the fist time makes those things exciting again. The major milestones such as sitting up, crawling and walking are some of the greatest moments. You can’t help but smile when you hear him chattering as soon as he wakes up on a morning, even though we don’t always know what he says. Him waving and saying “hiya” when you come through the door after work is delightful. Seeing him fast asleep after a busy day is heart warming.

I sometimes worry that I have become one of those people who talks about their grandchild all the time. Am I at risk of becoming a baby bore? I probably am and quite frankly I don’t really care. Many of our friends and family have grandchildren too and they are always the first thing we chat about when we meet up.

At times it has been exhausting having broken sleep or running around after him all day. There have been difficult and frustrating moments. Having 3 adults and a child living under one roof again can sometimes be stressful. We very rarely have the house to ourselves and it is even rarer that our house is spotlessly clean and tidy. It wasn’t what we planned for this time in our lives, but being able to spend so much time with our grandson whilst he is so young is wonderful. We have developed such a bond with him and we really miss him when we don’t see him for a few days. We know that he won’t be little for ever and these moments are so precious.

In the future we hope that he will remember this as a very happy time in his life and the bonds we have built now will remain strong throughout his life.

A Scotland Getaway (4)

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Bone Caves

Thursday morning was misty and drizzly, but the forecast promised dry and warm weather for the afternoon. We had a late breakfast and a drive into Lochinver to buy pies for tea from the Lochinver Larder.
Around 2pm we made our way to the car park for the walk to Bone Caves. We had seen lots of deer rutting here on a previous visit and some of us were not keen to encounter them on this occasion. However, there were no deer in sight, so we were able to set off on our walk.
The walk follows the river up the valley, passing a waterfall and lots of underground springs. Crossing a dry river bed, we then started the climb up the stone steps towards the caves. It is quite steep and rocky underfoot, but worth the climb, as you are soon able to see the caves at the top.
The caves are small, but you can go inside each one and almost stand up. The caves were excavated in 1889 by the geologists Peach and Horne. They found the remains of animals which once roamed the Highlands including lynx, polar bear, arctic fox and lemmings. It is believed that the caves may have once sheltered these animals and also the humans who hunted them.
There is a slightly different path setting off down from the caves, but it soon meets the original path back into the car park. There were a few deer to see on the hillside on the walk down, but luckily none that we had to come into close contact with.

The Old Man of Stoer

Today the weather was good in the morning, although a little blustery. We decided to set of earlier and walk in the morning before the storm came in which was forecast for the afternoon.
The walk began at Stoer Lighthouse and is mostly a sheep track which is tricky underfoot due to the rocks and the boggy grass and mud. Very soon we were treated to some gorgeous views of the rugged coast and eventually the Old Man of Stoer. This impressive stack reaches out of the sea at 70 metres high.

We continued to walk along the coastal path, reaching the Point of Stoer, giving stunning views in all directions. We sheltered out of the wind whilst we ate our lunch.
The path back to the lighthouse is a little less wet and rugged and eventually leads onto a track which is much steadier underfoot.
Once back at the car, we made our way back to the lodge for a final dip in the hot tub and packing ready to begin our journey home.


A Scotland Getaway (3)

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The Drumbeg Loop & Scourie

On Tuesday the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear blue. We decided to go out for a drive, heading off towards the beach at Scourie.

It’s a very scenic drive from Lochinver, with some winding roads. The beach at Scourie is beautiful, with lots of pebbles and shells. After a hit chocolate from the food van, we had a lovely stroll on the beach, taking in the scenery and the fresh air.

We then drove around the Drimbeg loop, another scenic route, taking us back to the lodge.
In the evening, after cooking chilli for tea, we lit the fire pit and sat outside toasting marshmallows. It was quite a windy evening, so we didn’t stay out too long, but it was a lovely way to spend the evening outdoors.

River Inver and Glencanisp Circuit

On Wednesday the rain was lashing down, but the forecast said it would blow over and we would have a fine afternoon. In anticipation we packed sandwiches, ready for a walk when the weather changed.

As promised the rain blew over and the afternoon was fine and unseasonably warm. We walked from the lodge down into Lochinver then followed the circuit which takes you along the River Inver then over the glen, past Canisp Lodge and back into Lochinver.
The first part of the walk is by the fast flowing river, but you are soon climbing with the river below you. Further up you drop again to the side of the river, which is more sedate and there are areas set for anglers. Eventually you leave the river and head upwards across the glen, giving great views. Due to the rain, it was muddy in parts, but it was a great walk. We stopped off near the lodge and it was warm enough to sit without jackets whilst we ate our sandwiches.
Once back down in Lochinver, we made the steady climb back to the lodge and into the hot tub and a restful evening.

A Scotland Getaway (2)

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On our first day at Waterloo Lodge, it was a little bit overcast with a watery sun trying to break through. We had a lovely brunch (it should have been breakfast, but eggs had been missed from our shopping, so someone had to go and pick up eggs before we could start!) of poached eggs on toast, with potato cakes made with leftover mash from the previous evening.

Culag Woods

We set off from the lodge and headed off down towards the harbour at Lochinver. We were surprised to see, what was once a busy working port, now looking abandoned, almost as if everyone had left in a hurry.
Once past the harbour we turned left into the woods on “Billy’s Path”. The walk is extremely pretty, with plenty to see along the way, including a wishing tree, sculptures of dragon flies and a beautiful pebble beach. There are also lots of viewpoints. It is undulating and a bit slippy in parts. I managed to slip on the boardwalk, hitting my face on my husband’s knee as he reached it to stop me, banging my nose. I recovered quickly and other than a slight bloody nose, I was relatively unscathed. Everyone made sure I was okay before bursting into fits of laughter.
The trees in the woods are covered in lichen, which indicates good air quality. It definitely felt you were breathing in clear air and despite being near the harbour it felt like you were in the middle of nowhere, especially as we saw very few people along the way.


The walk took a couple of hours, as we took time to enjoy the views and scenery. We then walked back up the hill to the lodge.

We had a restful afternoon and evening, cooking curry for tea and then relaxing watching a film.

Achmelvic Beach Coastal Walk

On Monday it was a fine, but blustery day. After breakfast we set off towards Achmelvic beach to walk along the coast.

This is another area of outstanding coastal views and stunning beaches. The walk is fairly easy, with an undulating path, but fairly well marked paths. Near the end of the walk, before returning, there is an old mill ruin, which you get to by crossing stepping stones through the stream. However, there has been so much rain the steps were covered in water which was running really fast, so we decided not to cross.
Our return took us almost the same route, stopping at a couple of beaches on the way.
Returning to the lodge, we had an afternoon of chilling in the hot tub and sauna, leaving us feeling relaxed at the end of a great day.


Return to Amsterdam

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It’s five years since we visited Amsterdam and it felt like time for a return visit. This blog is a little delayed as we went at the beginning of September. We went with different friends, who had never visited Amsterdam before. We travelled from Manchester Airport on Monday afternoon but stayed overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Manchester Airport. Although we are only about an hour from Manchester Airport, the journey can often take much longer and we felt that it would be nice to start the break relaxed rather than worrying about being in traffic and arriving late at the airport.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel was very clean, with large bedrooms and an extremely comfy bed. On the Sunday evening, we ate in the Asian Fusion Restaurant called Sampans. The food was extremely tasty. The staff were friendly and helpful. We had a relaxed evening ad a few drinks before heading off to bed

Our flight on Monday afternoon was delayed by about half an hour, but we landed at almost the correct time. Getting through passport control took some time, but we soon got a taxi and headed off to the Hotel.

We chose to stay at WestCord fashion Hotel on the outskirts of Amsterdam. We previously stayed here and found it to be comfortable, clean and with very friendly staff. Once again it did not disappoint. From the moment we checked in, the staff were extremely helpful and always cheery and smiling.

We did not go out in the evening but went to the restaurant and bar within the hotel. The food was good and the prices in the bar were reasonable, comparing well to the prices in the UK.

Heineken Brewery Tour

The following morning, we were booked in at the Heineken Brewery Tour. We headed out first thing and bought a multi-day ticket for the tram. This is really convenient as it travels all over Amsterdam, has a very efficient, frequent service and is always clean. It cost €26 for four days of travel. We travelled on the tram to the area nearest the brewery and looked for somewhere to have breakfast.

We found a lovely little café called Bakers and Roasters. We sat outside, as it was very warm and humid, although a little overcast. The breakfast was tasty. We all had “Sunrise Bircher”, which was overnight oats packed with fruit, nuts and seeds.

Afterwards we had a wander before heading to the Heineken Brewery. The tour was mostly self-guided but has some guides along the way to explain some parts of the brewery. It was an interesting tour and we took our time to read the information and watch the videos as we travelled through. I am always astounded by the amount of people who book a tour and then wander around with a phone in front of their face and don’t really look at what is going on or interact with anything.

The reading and listening paid off, as part way round there was a quiz and we were real swats, getting all the questions right and winning Heineken pin badges!

One section of the tour teaches you how to taste the beer rather than just drink it. We were asked to hold our glasses up to the light and describe the colour. My friend called out “Amber”, at which point the guide threatened to call security and throw her out! The correct answer in case you’re wondering, is gold.

Once we had completed the tour and free samples, we went to the rooftop, where there is a 360-degree view of the city. We had a further free drink there and enjoyed the view, until it started to rain, cutting the visit a little short.

We had a walk and a bit of sightseeing, but the rain continued, so we headed to the “Sex Museum”. It seemed that everyone else had also headed here to get out of the rain. The museum is entertaining to a point, but considering the things that people can access on TV and via the internet these days, it was nothing particularly shocking or unusual (or maybe my years at work has desensitised me). It was interesting to see the difference in cultural attitudes regarding sex as well as the way views have changed over the years. The overwhelming thoughts were it was a large pornography collection and “you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all”.

Rather than wandering in the rain for the rest of the afternoon, we headed back to the hotel. We had a coffee and a rest before showering and heading back out in the rain for something to eat. We chose a tapas restaurant and enjoyed a relaxing evening before returning to the hotel for the night.

A day of museums and sightseeing

The following day was lovely and sunny, so we set out mid-morning to have brunch before our booking for Anne Frank House. We finished our brunch quite early and went for a walk. We ended up in the gardens of the Rijksmuseuem. We sat in deck chairs enjoying the pretty gardens and the warm sunshine, before heading off to the museum. We had booked a half-hour introductory talk prior to entering the museum, which was well worth it, as it gave more insight into the Frank family and the people who helped them. Despite having visited the house before, it was still worth the visit and is it’s always good to be reminded of how awful humans can be to each other. After we came out of the museum, it started to rain. 

We had booked onto a canal boat tour, but they kindly said we could postpone to another day due to the weather. We chose then to go to the Albert Cuyp Market. This was a huge market, with some nice stalls with food, gifts and household products. 

Windmills in Zaanse Schans

On Thursday, we decided to take a trip out to Zaanse Schans. It was a beautiful sunny day. After some research we discovered that it was easy to get there by train from Central Station to Zaandijk Zaaanse Schans, followed by a short walk from the station.

We started off our day at the library close to Central Station. Although we had been here before, it is still an impressive building. We had coffee and cake, before heading off to the station. The trains run regularly and the return fare was just over €8. The platform was busy and it was clear that most people were heading the same way. The train journey was about 2o minutes and then we walked for 15 minutes before walking over the bridge on the river Zaan where we were treated to a spectacular view of the windmills. 

Entrance to the area is free, but you can also opt to pay to enter some of the windmills and other museums on the site. We paid to visit the inside of the paint windmill, which houses two pairs of millstones, one for chalk and one for paint pigment. Going on on to the platform and hearing the sails whooshing by was great to see and the view was amazing.  There is so much to see here, with gift shops, traditional clog making, cheese making, cafes as well as just walking around the beautiful area built on the dykes. The traditional Dutch timber buildings were reconstructed here from other areas in Amsterdam, giving an authentic feel. Although there were lots of tourists here, the place is huge and it never felt cramped. It was an excellent day out, helped by the beautiful weather. 

Canal Boat Tour

On our final morning, we headed in the centre for breakfast. We ate at Kessen’s which was close to the start point for our canal boat tour.  The food here was delicious, the café was sparklingly clean and the staff were really friendly. 

We then went to board our boat for the canal tour. We booked with Flagship Tours, on an open canal boat. The guide was extremely entertaining. As well as being knowledgeable about the area, he also had personal anecdotes, which added humour to the tour. It was a really good way to spend an hour in the sunshine, finding out more about the area and seeing some of the sites. Unfortunately, after the tour, it was time to go back to the hotel and get ready for our return to England.

Back on the Canal (3)

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Leaving Ansty, we headed along the Oxford Canal towards our next overnight stop at Braunston Junction. The majority of the journey, other than the area around Rugby was rural with fields and woods.

We passed through our first swing bridge at Stratton Top and filled up with water. At Brinklow we came to an area that had suffered from a landslide some time ago. The canal had been closed here due to the blockage. Lots of work has taken place to clear the area, but there is still work going on and you can see the remains of the devastation caused due mainly to the high amounts of rainfall.

Our next new experience was travelling through Newbould Tunnel, which is quite a short tunnel at only 250 yards long. Just before entering the tunnel you are advised to put your light on and toot the horn. I took great delight in tooting the horn, whilst our friends were sat on the front of the boat, completely oblivious until the sudden sound made them both jump a mile! After some abuse, I let them settle down and tooted it again telling them I was only following the rules.

Continuing through beautiful landscape we came to the very pretty area of Hillmorton Locks. Here there are two sets of locks at each level, to allow the swift passage of boats on a busy stretch of canal. Here we purchased some duck food, as we had given them some cereal previously but were aware that some human foods aren’t great for ducks.

We travelled past Barby Marina, again very rural and peaceful. There was very little breeze, so it was warmer afternoon, although there was the odd short shower. Before long we could see the spire of the church at Braunston. The turn at Braunston took us on to the Grand Union Canal, as all the moorings in the area were busy, we continued a little further, mooring up and having our tea before relaxing for the evening.

Return To Cornwall

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It was lovely to return, with my husband and our friends for a third stay at Ruan Dinas, a beautiful house on the estuary of the River Fal in Cornwall. We were blessed with beautiful weather for most of the time. After an amazing summer in the UK, we were disappointed to see the weather forecast saying rain for the first week of our holiday, but thankfully this was not to be, and we were able to enjoy the last of the summer sun in beautiful surroundings.

The first couple of days were spent relaxing in the garden and by the river, as we were all exhausted from hard work in the previous weeks and the long journey. We managed to get out on our kayaks and paddle boards, as there was very little breeze and the water was really calm. I finally managed to get from kneeling to standing and back down again without any assistance, which felt like a great achievement. Now I can do it, I ask myself why it took so long!

Once we had recuperated, we were ready to enjoy some days out and about. We enjoyed repeating some of the things we had done on previous trips, but also visited some places we had not seen before.

Bodmin and Wentford Railway – A Murder Mystery

As we had one day of rain, we booked to go to a murder mystery evening on the Bodmin and Wentford Railway. On arrival, we were given a glass of bucks fizz and a pasty (it is Cornwall so no event is complete without a pasty)

We were then given directed to our table seat in one of the carriages of the train. As the train moved off, the actors moved down the train and a story unfolded of a valuable diamond being transported on the train in a secure vault, with a number of suspicious characters plotting to steal the diamond.

The acting was great and as the train came into the station to change lines, we were allowed onto the platform to ask questions of all the characters. Once we were back on the train, a murder occurred and we were all invited to walk down the train to look at the murder scene. We were then asked to identify the murderer and hand in our answers. Back on the platform the true identity of the murderer was revealed.

It was an entertaining evening, with an interesting story, amusing characters and good food. It was also excellent value for money. There is something special about travelling on a steam train and the murder mystery theme added an extra dimension to it, making it a worthwhile visit.

Pendennis Castle

The castle is an English Heritage site and is situated on the coast near Falmouth. From a distance you can see the Tudor Fortress, which was built by Henry V111, but in the grounds there is so much more to see. There have been many additions to the castle and its surroundings to protect it and equip it for the various stages and developments in warfare over the years.

Firstly, we visited the First World War barracks. This is set in a beautiful looking building with the Royal Artillery coat of arms above the door. It tells the history of the men who were stationed there during the war, for training before going to the front line in France and Belgium. It never ceases to shock me how many young men lost their lives and it was sad to hear and see their stories.

We then looked at the various guns and artillery spaced out amongst the walls of the castle, before going to see the developments made during the second World War, where the castle was fitted with equipment to defend against torpedoes and long-range guns from warships.

Lastly, we joined a guided tour of the Tudor Fortress. The guide was friendly and knowledgeable and brought the stories of the castle to life. It was a great tour and so much better than just looking around without the knowledge of the guide. The views from the top of the castle are well worth the climb to the top.

The visit would not be complete without visiting the café, which is situated in the barracks. It was a lovely setting and the food was excellent. Once again, we enjoyed a great day out, learned so much and had great value for money.

Bodmin Jail

We weren’t sure what to expect from Bodmin Jail, but having looked online, we decided it would be worth a visit. We booked a Heritage Guided Tour, which included “The Dark Walk”, which uses technology and theatrical effects to transport you back in time, telling the history of Bodmin and introducing the characters from the past who had been sent to Bodmin Jail. It was an effective way of telling their stories and setting the scene for the visit.

The rest of the tour was with a guide who took us through the history of the jail, its changes over the years and continued the stories of the characters we had been introduced to during the Dark walk. The tour was about two hours long and was crammed with information and anecdotes. It is macabre in places, but also truly fascinating. I never knew so many of our common phrases came from such a gruesome background.

Along the way, there were a few discussions around should it be punishment or rehabilitation, are prisons too soft, should the characters have met such a grisly end? It certainly gets you thinking about things and once again we came away having learned so much.

The Camel Trail

I haven’t ridden a bike for many years and was never a very confident cyclist, but agreed that it would be nice to hire bikes and cycle along the camel trail from Wadebridge to Padstow.

I started off very wobbly, but soon got into the rhythm. One thing I do have a problem with, is that when there is an obstacle in the way, I tend to veer towards it, rather than around it. It takes an inordinate amount of concentration to avoid doing this. Needless to say, there were a lot of walkers and cyclists on the path, so I had to be careful not to lose my concentration for fear of wiping out whole groups of people. Luckily my husband rode behind me all the way ensuring he rang his bell and coached me through. We managed to reach Padtsow, without killing anyone and only once being given a stern word from my husband for stopping suddenly without warning, causing him to brake hard to avoid running into the back of me or flying over his handlebars. Once we reached Padstow, I felt a sense of relief, but realised that I had lost the feeling in my hands as I had gripped on so hard.

We had a walk around the very picturesque Padstow, and some lunch, before setting off back on the bikes. I started to relax on the way back and felt more confident. There were no incidents or accidents, but at one point, a large group of people were walking along, taking up the whole of the path. Despite my husband ringing his bell, they seemed oblivious to anyone else needing any space, resulting in me shouting “Unstable cyclist coming through!”. I’m not sure what they thought of that, but they finally moved over to let me pass.

St Ives

We had visited St Ives a couple of years ago but had just come out of the pandemic restrictions. It was really busy, so we did not spend much time there as felt uncomfortable in crowds of people.

This time however we took the park and ride option from St Erth. Once you have parked, you take a 10-minute train ride into St Ives. The train runs along the coast, taking in beautiful views of the beaches on one side and some impressive houses on the opposite side.

St Ives is a gorgeous fishing village. The kind of thing you imagine when you think of Cornwall. The weather was stunning and as we walked along the harbour wall, we were amazed to see a seal swimming in behind the fishing boats, hoping to catch some leftover scraps of fish. It was captivating to see it in its natural environment and was an added bonus to an impressive day out.