Last night we had an excellent dinner in the hotel and both had the pan seared stone bass, which was to die for! We shared a potion of whitebait as a starter, and the sun on the sea was spectacular.
After another superb breakfast, we sadly had to say goodbye to the Harbour Heights Hotel and headed for a place called Compton Acres, which is a large garden complex.
The gardens were beautiful and although we had lots of spaces to choose from to park, by the time we left it was a completely different story.
The weather was sunny and warm (how lucky have we been!) Yesterday was a wash out at home and my dear chum Mike, from round the corner, cautioned us to be careful of the Orca in our garden upon our return! 😂🤣 Yes, that much rain! As we left at least four people were fighting for our parking space; a victim of their own success?
So that’s that folks. A wonderful break and I would go back there at the drop of a hat, just for that view if nothing else. Funny how your eyes feel rested.
Who knew that deer liked Tulips? Well you do now.
Take care until the next time. Mary and Malcolm ⛴️🥢🥡🪷🌹🌺
With two sets of chums in the States right now, Poole may just seem a little pedestrian but life is what you make it! We had a superb Chinese meal in the hotel last night and Mary declared it, “Better than Rice, and better than Sandhurst!” Which are two of our favourite local eateries.
And after a hearty breakfast, we were off to the ferry at Sandbanks to Studland and Swanage. That’s not it in the picture, that is the Channel Islands Condor service. I had poached eggs, that if you remember the Hotel health and spa place in Essex could hardly remember having made for anyone. The waitress was delightful and when she saw me making my own toast in the toaster, told me to sit back down and she would bring it to the table. I sent a couple of pictures to my neighbour in Yateley who lives just at the back of us. He was unimpressed by the cloudy bright (remember that camera setting!) conditions as it was incredibly wet and soggy back home, indeed pouring with rain.
This was knoll beach, where folk were swimming, where the water temperature was posted as ten degrees! Some were going for a dip then rushing back into sauna huts – sensible folk.
I certainly didn’t need a coat and the King Harry’s rocks glistened in the sunshine. It was at this point I received an email from Mike my neighbour, saying he was now going to ignore me! Knoll beach is National Trust and even has a book shop!
We then headed for Swanage and a walk on the pier and a light lunch of a prawn sandwich, shared between the two of us.
A lot quieter than at the height of the Victorian season! Really very pleasant with so few people around; I’m guessing they might all rock up tomorrow for the bank holiday weekend.
That clock tower in the distance came from London Bridge in 1868 and was brought down as ballast! It’s an interesting story if you google it! Tonight is the Italian restaurant in the hotel and home tomorrow but as it is going to be sunny again, we may not rush returning to Treen Towers!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments; there will be one more installment tomorrow.
We just needed a break and almost just stuck a pin in the map and plumped; not quite but it wasn’t far off the truth. So, our chosen spot was Poole and the Harbour Heights Hotel, just for two nights but a chance to look at the sea and relax. The journey down was fairly easy, when you are not in a rush or hurry they often are, aren’t they?
We arrived slightly ahead of the check in time of three o’clock but to our delight the room was ready. It has a very pleasant view and is fully equipped with tea and coffee making facilities. Sandwiches for lunch in a very pleasant dining room, again with a view and then a post lunch snooze for me and the crossword for Mary.
We headed towards Sandbanks and it seems no matter what the season, whatever the weather the kite surfing folk are always in the bay opposite Brownsea Island. (With recent publicity about water companies, that name now takes on a rather dubious meaning!)
That’s Brownsea Island Castle, bought by the National Trust and leased to John Lewis, for use as a corporate hotel only by their employees. We marveled at the houses along Sandbanks, there are some awesome gaffs there and I might go a tad wild on the Euro millions and Lotto on Saturday; wouldn’t it be wonderful to own one of those? However, down one of the side roads was someone who had obviously been waiting for a long time for his winning ticket to pop up!
A short walk finished off the excursion and tonight we are heading for a Chinese meal in the hotel restaurant. Bon appétit everyone! Whatever it is in Chinese.
Thanks for reading – more tomorrow. Mary and Malcolm 🥢🥡 🌊
Dinner on Wednesday evening was again back to the restaurant just across the street. I was going to have fish but the temptation of the duck was far too strong and Mathieu had a huge bowl of moules (mussels) that he didn’t know the restaurant did! So that was a revelation! He spotted two chaps noshing them on an adjoining table.
Come the dawn, we had a leisurely breakfast dans le maison de Mathieu.
Possibly the biggest baguette in the world! And then another adventure on the Metro to the place de la republique and time for a coffee and to watch the world go by.
We then strolled leisurely through an Arabic quarter and then into a Chinese district, heading towards a Thai restaurant for lunch. It was in an area that Mathieu grew up in and knew very well indeed.
Some amazing buildings and the odd window display that nearly spoilt my appetite! It reminded me of the, butchers where I grew up in Salford, where rabbits were hung happily outside the premises. It’s remarkable how sanitised we have become in the UK. We paused at yet another bar but this time for a pre lunch beer. The little restaurant was very quiet and you could hear yourself talk very easily; such a blessing that is not possible in many English restaurants these days – or is that just me?
I forgot to take a picture of the delicious Thai salad starter before I ate it. Sorry! But as unbelievable as it may seem I plumped once more for duck. At least I’m consistent, if also incredibly unadventurous! And that was that folks. My flight was at 18-05 and Mathieu very kindly drove me to the airport. There is no charge for dropping someone off at Charles de Gaulle – Gatwick and Heathrow please note! Why do we put up with being ripped off in this country?
We left Paris as the sun set and the flight was only delayed by thirty minutes, and at least this time I did have a window seat – paying £8 again to change it. Why? They do see me coming don’t they? We flew in over London and you can see Battersea Power station to the right of the bridge. Landing at a C gate meant a good old walk to the little shuttle train and by the time I got to passport control, I must have looked fairly old and knackered because a kind lady raised one of those ribbon partitions so I didn’t have to do that pointless zig-zagging. These are fine when there is a crowd to control but a tad stupid when there isn’t. So happily hobbling to the automated Heathrow pod parking, imagine my deflation as a sign and a load of barriers told me it wasn’t working. I had instead to go in search of bus stop number 28. Fantastic! I always love a happy ending, don’t you?
Thanks for reading – hope you enjoyed the trip! Malcolm 🇫🇷✈️🇬🇧🥖🍷
Left Heathrow just after one o’clock yesterday. I had paid £8 to change my seat from one in the middle of the row to one by the window. I was quite happy in the Hub going to Terminal 5. Not so happy when I realised 30F, the seat I had paid to sit in, had no blooming window!
Also despite having a wonderful selection of foods and drink in front of me in their little brochure non were served on board! So bang went my idea of a gin and tonic and wonderful Tom Kerridge sandwich! A double whammy!
Hey ho! Mathieu was there to collect me, after what seemed like a walking holiday of Terminal 2D at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Traffic was really bad heading back into town but we safely arrived and finally a gin was taken! We ate in the wonderful restaurant just opposite Mathieu’s lovely apartment.
After breakfast of croissants and coffee we headed for the Metro and the centre of Paris.
Arriving at Notre Dame via the flower market, we sat for a while watching the world go by and wondering why so many police confronted a driver in a parked Mercedes.
A short stroll brought us to a small cafe and the very nice maître d, decided we looked so friendly he would offer us all three courses on the menu of the day, instead of just a choice of two!
You can see above a huge starter of meats various, steak and frites (again!) and a very light chocolate dessert. Tonight I promise to eat something different! And that did for both of us frankly. Back to the apartment for a snooze!
The clock is on de la Conciergerie and was originally a prison. The weather was perfect – no rain -not too hot and not too cold! We have to leave tomorrow at three, a shame because ex LWT chums by sheer coincidence are arriving in Paris. Sarah from the locations office and David Fitzgerald are both rocking into town on Eurostar! Life just gets very odd sometimes! We could have all met up but alas it ain’t going to happen.
Back last night to the Restaurant des Remparts, we do like it and it is the closest in the rain! It didn’t disappoint. I had a vol au vent that was simply delicious and Mary some beautifully presented Gruyeres cheese and salad.
I think it was chicken and mushroom, it simply said ‘house vol au vent,’ and the vegetables were outstanding. Mary then chose a splendid ice cream concoction, and I plumped for the crème brûlée. Both of which rounded the evening off beautifully. We weren’t quite the last to leave!
I have mentioned before the Swiss preference to eat early, which applies not only to lunch but also to dinner. For lunch, they are normally in the restaurant by twelve o’clock and you would be hard pushed to find one open after two.
Breakfast was more of a success because I kept my eye on looking out for the waitress topping up the scrambled egg. Despite the fact that the contraption doesn’t seem to keep the food hot, if you pounce immediately she has replenished the compartments various, you are on to a winner.
The bacon, is not bacon as we know it Jim. It is that incredibly fatty type that has a bacon content of some 1%. And once the rind is removed, as recommended by Slimming World, it is hardly worth the effort of putting it on the plate.
Across the top of the mountain we went, to greet the troops at Laura’s flat in Romont. And the snow was certainly present up there and it had been snowing in Gruyeres as we left.
Zach was sporting his rather splendid illuminated baseball cap, that we bought him as a Christmas present and we admired, yet again, what skill Laura has as an artist.
Then off for lunch to one of our favourite Romont haunts, La Poularde restaurant. Incredibly quiet for a Saturday but we arrived at about one fifteen, probably after the main lunchtime rush! It does the most reasonably priced chicken in a basket and that is exactly what we all had. Really good value and tasty with it.
I did mean to take a group shot but failed miserably but did remember to take a shot of the car – it’s a Ford Focus. So there we are folks. Home tomorrow with Laura, probably leaving behind a snowy Switzerland in exchange for a wet Darby Green and a week of medical appointments to look forward to for both of us!
Hope you enjoyed the trip. Here’s to the next one! 🥂
Look after yourselves. Malcolm and Mary 🇨🇭 🚗💨 ✈️ 🇬🇧
Last night we went to the Restaurant des Remparts, an old haunt of ours in Gruyeres. I was still quite replete from the trout, so just had a ham omelette and Mary had a rosti, but it was quite large and did defeat her! I must start taking pictures again of the food! Bit late they cried, only one more day left. Anyway, the place looked stunningly very seasonal still.
I tried the scrambled egg, baked beans and tomato’s for breakfast but it was all lukewarm; so that option will be discounted tomorrow. If you can’t keep it hot then don’t bother serving it, is my take. What grumpy old man, where?
The view of the mountains was completely obscured so off to Bulle we went and had a very pleasant coffee, waiting for the gang to arrive.
We had lunch in a self service Chinese establishment that was so big, it felt like it should be in the States! Children were a reduced rate but not if they were a certain height! Work (or should that be wok?) that one out? So, of course our two tall grandchildren got classed as adults. It was £24 per head but eat as much as you liked, so in order to get my monies worth I’m afraid I did just that. I guess you could spend all afternoon in there and just graze. But the evening price went up to £42 per head! No way sunbeam.
Away to the exhibition and a fascinating look back at Swiss history it was. Exactly the right place for a very, very wet afternoon.
As you can see from my photo above, Gruyere really has not changed much and the fountain in the middle has obviously been there forever. Some of the exhibits were a little risqué especially the very odd group picture and the traditional (?) costume gave a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘give us a twirl, Anthea.’ (God that dates me!)
But on the whole educational as well as entertaining!
And that was that, another day came and it went. We have seen the horrendous flooding pictures from the UK, on social media. Amazingly although the TV in the room has finally gone HD, with goodness knows how many channels, it still has not got one English speaking feed. Not even BBC World or an annoying American outlet.
Stay dry if you can, and thank you for reading. Comments absolutely welcome and thank you to those who have – even anonymously! Just pop yer name on the end then we will know who it’s from.
Malcolm and Mary 🇨🇭🎄🚗💨🥢🥡 That promised picture of our red car tomorrow.
Last night we ventured into the new restaurant now almost part of the Hotel. You do get 10% off if you are a resident. It specializes in cheese fondue and raclette but also does other dishes on a fairly limited menu. Having had quite a late lunch we only needed a glass of wine and a dessert of some sort. Very pleasant surroundings and very pleasant staff.
Mary threw caution to the wind and had meringue and Gruyeres cream, I settled for two scoops of ice cream. As we ate the rain began to pour down, the wind began to blow, and there was one huge flash of lightening followed by a roll of very loud thunder. Thankfully a one off!
Dawn brought blue skies and the plan was for Laura and the grandchildren to come to us, open up their Christmas presents and then we were to head for lunch up the top of the nearby Moléson. The breakfast area of the hotel had changed quite a bit since our last visit. You may remember stories from the past of the intricacies of the egg boiling machine; well this is sadly a thing of the past.
The picture above is from 2019 (the one on the right today) and probably the staff had got fed up with cleaning it every time someone got over excited with the heating control and their egg cracked and made a real mess of the interior. Also, you are now no longer served personally with tea or coffee, you are pointed towards the Nespresso machine or the kettle, however hot scrambled egg, bacon and tomatoes are available from the self service area. Historically all the food had been cold apart from the boiled eggs. And there was a major change in the room in that that it now possesses a kettle for coffee or tea making. It never has had and, of course, Mary remembered this and we had brought our own little travel one out with us! Never mind we have a good supply of Yorkshire tea bags.
There was entertainment to be had in watching a helicopter moving huge portions of a tree, which we took to be one fallen down as a result of the high winds last night and blocking some important thoroughfare. Pure speculation on our part but we couldn’t think of any other reason a helicopter would be deployed for such a use.
We went for a stroll round the village, where Christmas carols were still playing on the public address system and the decorations had not yet come down. We paused for a coffee and waited for Laura to arrive.
By the time the gang made it, we decided to have lunch in Gruyeres (I had trout again!) and by the time that had finished, the trip up the mountain was aborted as the last cable car down would have left very little time for viewing. So we shall see what tomorrow brings weather wise; no point paying 35 Swiss francs each, if there isn’t a view, Laura quite rightly pointed out. So the gang went for another village stroll, while I sat outside the restaurant and watched humanity pass by. And in some ways it was as good as parking yourself outside Terminal 5 arrivals for a bit of quality time.
The place is pretty busy but I guess that there isn’t strictly a tourist season. This little Robin, that Mary spotted, like me also seemed happy to watch the world go by.
It does seem strange not to see it as a winter wonderland (see below) but I’m sure David Attenborough would tell me why it doesn’t look like it did in 2019, although that was February not January. Let’s keep an eye on the forecast!
The alarm going off at 4am was a tad intrusive. The amount of traffic on the roads at five o’clock in the morning still amazes me and I know I should get out more! Gatwick was fairly efficient, they seemed to have put families traveling together with passenger assist people, which causes reasonable queues through security and Mary wished she had not declined the offer of a wheelchair as we found ourselves standing for quite a time, which does cause her grief at the moment.
Anyway, lounge no.1 was a pleasant oasis away from the hullabaloo outside and a very nice man came to pick us up and transported us in a buggy to the departure gate, which was some distance. He imparted a fact that we never knew and that was that the landing fees were cheaper the further you were away from the terminal. As we were flying EasyJet, it suddenly made sense. Mary was transferred to a wheelchair at the gate and we sped past the queue waiting to board. At Geneva we were transported off the plane in the usual transportation device and sped through security to baggage reclaim; Mary once more in a wheelchair.
The hire car was efficiently obtained from Avis and for the first time we have a red one – picture tomorrow. The lady did offer me an electric one for the same price and I was tempted but I decided that the worry about availability of charging points in a foreign country was probably not the best place to have my first try out of such a vehicle.
For once the road from Geneva towards Romont contained no road works. Ever since we have graced Switzerland with our presence, there have always been road works along the dual carriageway leading out of town. Always.
We met up with Laura and Safi and Zach (joyous reunion) at her flat and went off in search of lunch. Finally finding a restaurant open (It was Wednesday – remember the old days of Wednesday afternoons in England?) near Gruyères, where we are staying and as we pulled up outside, irony of ironies we were faced with two electric car chargers!
All three adults had the trout and all the kids had the steak. The steak came on hot slabs, and was from the children’s menu!!! English restaurants please note! The lad on the right young Enzo, was being minded for the day by Laura, he is the son of a good chum of hers Nico. I should have taken pictures of the food, it was all beautifully presented. And no we didn’t try the snails in Absinthe, the drink was banned in France in 1915, when the wormwood used to make it was thought to cause hallucinations and madness. Absinthe was blamed for Van Gogh’s ear-lopping incident. It was invented in Switzerland in the canton of Neuchâtel and I guess if you have it with snails, you just go mad very slowly?
That’s all folks! Until tomorrow. Thank you for reading! Malcolm and Mary. 👍✈️🚗💨🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭
We finished last night by saving the absolute best till last. We ordered chateaubriand for dinner and were totally rewarded by our last feast.
The meat was cooked to perfection and the bottle of red from Chile was divine. We had absolutely no room for dessert! It was an amazing meal; Mary declaring that indeed one of the best meals she had ever had. As I found and booked the hotel, you can imagine my relief!
Overnight rain and our last breakfast, where one more more thing finally dawned on me after four mornings! I know, it does take a while! There was no fruit to be seen, nor has there ever been. Most hotels offer a poached egg and indeed always at least a banana but not this one; an apple then? Nope. Sorry to bang on about this, but a health gaff that does not offer any fruit? My brain just hurt slightly when the penny dropped.
Anyway, there they all were in their white bath robes, ready to eat their healthy breakfasts! Fried eggs in oil or scrambled in butter. Is it me?
Above – a couple of Mary’s pictures that escaped. And we packed our bags and said bye bye to what was a very pleasant stay at the Lifehouse Spa and hotel. The food has certainly been exquisite. The Essex accents cracked us up occasionally and the eyelashes even more, and we won’t mention the Botox, but each to his own and thank god we are all different. The staff were all absolutely brilliant and all very polite. Our waitress last night looked about eighteen years old but had three children! We must be getting old.
We traveled back via that dreadful M25 but we turned off at Rickmansworth, even so it still took us four hours to get home! But never mind, we kept moving. Hope you have enjoyed the journey, do let us know. All comments welcome.
The same again – bright then cloudy, then drizzle.
Last nights dinner was a pork chop for Mary and rump steak for me. A strange absence of vegetables pervades the menu, but some broccoli did save the evening!
Mary had a salmon starter and I had the pear and blue cheese, both of which were delicious. A bottle of house red from Italy, grown by a New Zealander helped the meat digest beautifully and left us too full for dessert.
At breakfast, a disappointed client, ahead of me in the queue, asked for a poached egg and was declined. Still find this odd. A quick change into swimming trunks and costume and away to the pool. Mary swam and I swam; a big landmark for me and my colostomy bag and a sense of achievement did creep over me! This was probably my last post cancer operation, mental hurdle.
There is an upstairs lounge where you can relax and overlook the lake. The big draw back of the pool, we both agreed, is the noise level, even minus children (no kids under 16!) the adults managed to make enough noise to very quickly do your head in. If we had stayed all day, this would in no sense be a relaxing experience. A quick change, although you can dine in your toweling robe; and away to lunch for a prawn roll – back to where I came in on Monday and just as good!
Time for a last look at the sea at Walton-on-the-Naze. It looked a tad past its sell by date and very tired, but just so good to once more see the beach huts put to good family use and being so enjoyed.
The wildlife abounded and we are still discussing whether these cute little birds with the longish very pointed beaks are sandpipers; they certainly blended in with the pebbles. So just maybe the accurately named turnstone; thanks to our neighbour Colin! Which is of the sandpiper family. The one on the green post is a cormorant.
So, we prepare for our last dinner as the rain gently drizzles down. We could be in for a soggy journey home – time will tell.
Let me leave you until tomorrow with some of the ghastly puns some folk had named their huts with!
You have to laugh! It was good to see the sea, as always. And another pretty plant just outside the hotel upon our return, just as the drizzle started – timing! Happy days. We have had a great week.
Last night we both had the chicken for dinner plus a very acceptable bottle of Chardonnay, for less than the cost of those two glasses of rosé, the night before. Lesson learned, methinks!
Come the dawn, the sun shone brightly in through the duck proof patio window. So away to breakfast and not so many guests were dining in dressing gowns this morning, and we guessed that a few people were ready to go home. After finding out that poached eggs were not available – odd I felt for an establishment that was geared to well being and fitness? – we headed for Clacton-On-Sea, just to see what it looked like really and for no other reason.
The sand looked perfect and the sun sparkled on the water in between the wind farms, of which there were many. The actual centre, of kiss me quick hats and fun stalls and rides, was much smaller than I had anticipated but it was was buzzing with holiday makers and there were quite a few children in the water, playing happily.
We immediately sent word of Swiss Bay, to our Romont based grandchildren and Zach replied that Roger Federer should live in one of those houses. Beach huts abounded as they had in Frinton and it’s good to see that at least one dear old English tradition, is still alive and well.
Moving on to Kirkby-le-Soken and a hunt for Hamford Water National Nature Reserve, which Mary had stumbled upon and sounded really inviting. As we turned off the B1034, just before Walton-on-the-Naze, I suddenly felt like I was on a Greek road because not long along Island Lane, the tarmac stopped and the road ceased to exist. We bravely (foolishly?) slowly proceeded, with the sat nav, assuring us we were absolutely on course. We arrived at indeed a beautiful stretch of water, but not the grand car park and informative centre we had dreamt up in our minds but a widish bit of gravel next to an old World War Two pillbox, still steadfastly standing to repel any nasty left over Germans. One car unbelievably followed us and what must have been two locals emerged with their dog and headed for a picnic on the small jetty.
We were opposite Felixstowe and Mary wandered off a short way and after some research when we got back to the hotel we discovered she managed to unwittingly snap the Ever Given in dock. The Ever Given, if you remember was the container ship that managed to block the Suez Canal for sometime, a while back, part of the Evergreen line.
Lunch back at the hotel and I’m afraid Malcolm succumbed to a snooze (it is a holiday!) and Mary had a further wander round the extensive grounds before her massage in the health spa.
I’m sure I will see the swimming 🏊♂️ 🏊♂️ pool eventually but meanwhile thank you from both of us for reading. The rain did arrive this afternoon and who can tell what tomorrow may hold – don’t tell me more sunshine and showers! Mary arrived back in the room and once more was very relaxed but that’s why we are here isn’t it? Dinner beckons, so we must away.
Dinner last night was really good, but I might only have had one glass of rosé, had I realised they were charging £18 a glass!!!! It was very nice but……..The restaurant was pretty full, which took us by surprise but of course it was a bank holiday.
Anyway for Rob and Sue, pictures at last; I had the cod and Mary had the pea and mint Tortellini – both were delicious. The grounds are very splendid and there are ducks, rabbits and squirrels a plenty.
And the note on the patio door to the garden was certainly a first! This morning, breakfast was the usual fare (I must ask if poached eggs are available) and then away to see the sea at Frinton on Sea, the clue is in the title.
The sun did break through but then as lunchtime approached it clouded over once more.
Never mind, a Greek salad lured me into thinking I was sat in the noon day sun, with the sound of the Aegean Sea in the distance! And had we studied the card in the cutlery holder yesterday, we would have realised delicious it might be, but how expensive that humble rosé bloody well was!
Mary went off for a head and shoulder massage and came back looking very relaxed. I’m sure we will get to sample the swimming pool eventually but for the moment we are just happy to sit, read and nibble (cough, cough!) and hope the weather does improve. It has got slightly more windy, which is a bit of a worry. Never mind, if we spend the day by the indoor pool tomorrow, it can do what it likes.
All downhill again towards dinner tonight. We have two courses included in our deal, for every evening. Before we ordered, I had to ask last night to see the dessert 🍨 menu, so I could decide whether to have starter and main or main and dessert. I did have the main as above and sorbet for dessert. I always think sorbet is more Slimming World friendly; you see it is embedded in my DNA now! But I know what you are thinking, no reason we can’t pay for the other course – indeed if we change the wine, we could easily afford it!
Thanks for reading and we hope your last week in August is being kind. Some chums got hit by that IT traffic control glitch yesterday, trying to fly away and failing miserably; so their plans are being very unkind to them. That could have so been us trying to escape to Greece, in fact the way the Treen luck usually goes, we can’t believe it wasn’t! M & M 🍨🏊♂️🍽️ 🍷 Comments always welcome.
Well, we made it in roughly three hours. The M25 was the usual M25 and a lot of stop and starting but on the whole we kept moving; and it is a bank holiday. But boy there are a lot of muppets out there on the roads.
The room has a beautiful garden view and we are just by the lake. The Prosecco is soon to be opened and notice next to the bottle the air-con, is exactly the same as home!
We arrived in time for a late lunch and we both had prawn rolls. Sorry no pictures Rob & Sue, we ate them before I remembered!
Anyway, no rain is forecast and the staff all seem very friendly. So, a much fuller info piece tomorrow. Dinner is booked for 7-45pm, for all four nights.
It has been an odd year. Waiting for a knee operation for Mary, having all sorts of alarms raised by blood test issues for Malcolm, so we have decided to escape for a week. We were far too late to book to go to Greece, expensive flights and no decent accommodation not already booked up. So, away to Essex and the Lifehouse Spa & Hotel, Thorpe-le-Soken, next week. Just for four nights. It’s near Frinton on Sea. An area we do not know at all. So an adventure waits. Malcolm can now reveal he is actually an Essex boy! Born in Rochford General Hospital many years ago, now sadly closed. His family relocated, before he was even one year old, to Salford, so, he has always considered himself a northerner. But the truth will out!
We had a wonderful lunch, yesterday at Janet & Tony’s house in deepest West Sussex. They have remained chums since we met in the village of Lindos on Rhodes in 1976! 🇬🇷
Stayed tuned round about Tuesday and see what next week brings forth.
So after the trip on the river, which was utterly beautiful, we headed to the airport by train and Laura went back into Geneva to explore a little more.
We, then having arrived at the airport, shuffled off to the taxi station – what an honest and really nice guy. “There is a shuttle to that hotel,” he said when we answered his, “Where to?” Our reply was, “Actually, we are beyond shuttle! But thank you!” The drive was swift and efficient and the cost was in Swiss Francs 20-02. I gave him a 20chf note and a 10chf, and he gave me back the 10 note and said “that’s fine,” what a true gent?
All very quiet in the hotel dining room, that night. We kept in touch with Laura, and eventually she did get off but SO late. And finally arrived home well after midnight. A comfortable night, the room was very passable and on check in, we found EasyJet had already paid but not for breakfast – can’t win ‘em all, eh? The only big problem with the room was that there was no milk to go with the tea! But reception sorted that out, we’ll sort of see the picture below!
Ah! The milk, of course!
Yes we got given the milk in a teapot! So downstairs for breakfast and the staff were very friendly as they had been on Monday night, when by the time we got there after our exciting day in Geneva we were pretty done in!
The bacon was that really annoying sort that by the time you cut the fat off, as recommended by Slimming World, there isn’t actually any bacon left! After relaxing in the room until around midday, onto the shuttle bus that the taxi driver had talked about. He took a roundabout route to drop two pilots off on the far side of the runway, where the private planes fly from. A private tour, the driver called it and we did wonder whether to ask the two as they got off, if Blackbushe Airport was out of the question! Passenger assist at Geneva were fab, we checked in there after the huge lunch you see above of a baguette and fizzy water! I always find it much easier to follow Mary being pushed in the wheelchair, if the operative doing the pushing is an attractive young lady. Is this an age thing, do you think? Anyway, at the appointed time onto the ‘caravan on speed’ gizmo and onto the plane.
Where we sat for some time but not a problem as the very attractive stewardess (it is an age thing, isn’t it?) pointed out – because the air conditioning was on, so better to be sat on the plane than in the lift gizmo because a window was being fixed. We could, I guess, have been stuck in the departure lounge gate area? Eventually take off came and at least, unlike those pictures on board BA I have posted in the past, the flight was enhanced by more than a bag of crisps and some water!
Blackbushe, please!Oh look is that us on Lake Geneva!Cheers!
A very jolly french speaking Gatwick assist chap, said those wonderful words, “I ‘ave the buggy upstairs,” as we left the plane. I remember coming back from Switzerland last time with Mary’s foot encased in plaster, there was just her, the man and the wheelchair and Malcolm was hard pushed to keep up with them both. He drove the wheelchair at such a pace. So, onto the buggy and I have never seen passport control SO quiet in my life. We got the bags, made our way to the south terminal to catch a train to Blackwater. Laura had Mary’s car, if you remember the story so far! We had just missed the 5-20pm so 6-20pm it was. This got to Blackwater at 7-38, which was really bum timing for Hannah to come and get us; so the lovely lady booked us a pre paid taxi, which we climbed thankfully into.
As we hit the first pothole and the vehicle bounced Mary and I looked at one another and simultaneously said, “We’re home!
Thanks for reading. Stay safe and healthy! M & M 🇨🇭✈️👊🇬🇧🥂
So we say farewell to Switzerland and a few after thoughts. Zach was so good at his party he went round unprompted, I do believe, and gave everyone a big hug and cuddle and ‘thank you’ for my birthday present. Such a well mannered young man and realised the day after actually how jolly well he had done present wise.
The hotel boasted room service on their web site – there was no information in the room on anything at all and looking round the room, quite how that service was to be achieved escapes me! And the only sign in the bathroom, where these days it often talks about not washing towels unless really necessary – save the planet and all that – was the one below.
There was a phone socket but no phone. Pretty self explanatory !
However, if you did follow the advice above and sat yourself down, the toilet was one of those really low down ones, you do occasionally get. And if, like me, your lower body strength ain’t quite what it once was, there were no grip handles to help haul yourself back up. The only thing to hang onto was a rather flimsy toilet roll holder, that is now amazingly loose! 🫢
We were woken fairly early by the sound of a hot air balloon burning it’s heaters to fill the balloon with hot air, it’s a deep rasping noise that we last heard a few years back in Lectour, so we knew what it was even before we drew back the curtain to make eye contact!
Driving around, as we did with Laura, can I just say how wonderfully smooth Swiss roads are. Given the extremes of temperature from very warm in the summer, to lashings of snow in the winter compared to the UK – which on the whole to be fair is pretty temperate; why aren’t their roads pot hole ridden like ours? Ladies and gentlemen I would recommend to Parliament that they study very carefully the Swiss method, because whatever they are doing is working rather well. And if you want a smooth drive in the near future, if you are fed up with the roads in dear old blighty, pop over to Switzerland and give yourself a highways and byways treat.
We were just driving smoothly to the railway station, when it all went tits up. Laura’s phone let out a little tune and she glanced down and said, “the flights cancelled, and I’m not joking.” Being a regular flight commuter she has a Geneva airport app, that gives her updates and this was one we really didn’t want to hear. So, we boarded the train and instead of a relaxed journey, I spent most of the journey talking to EasyJet on the phone – Laura having successfully transferred herself to a much later flight, but on line I couldn’t! Laura must have got the last seat on the 21-15 because for Mary and me, it was fully booked! We finally got booked on the 15-50 tomorrow and into a hotel for tonight. We got off the train at Geneva, no point heading for the airport, booked the luggage into left luggage and went and had a wonderful lunch! Perch fillets and lashing of beer! Then Laura had the bright idea of a trip round the lake, so off we went!
The trip lasted an hour in glorious sunshine and Laura pointed out a huge expensive house she had done some work, a few years back, for a guy obsessed with all things James Bond. That isn’t it in the picture below!
Right folks, we are both knackered, I’ll finish this off tomorrow! I hope. News just in – the later flight Laura is on has been delayed. Just popping to the hotel bar to scream!
Another excellent breakfast – this time Malcolm found the boiled egg machine. A bit different from the famous one in Gruyere.
This device seemed to steam the egg rather than boil it but it worked. Back up the hill to Laura’s, the bells on the church going bonkers for Sunday. And away to the Château, where the car park was pretty full but as it is such an enormous site, once you were inside it didn’t feel at all crowded. Except for the little restaurant which seemed to be suffering from its own success.
Safi once more looked so pretty and even Zach was taking pictures of the flowers, which are truly a sight for sore eyes.
We did head for the restaurant at about half past two but the crowds defeated us and Laura drove to Morges, where the only gaff we could find open was a crêpes establishment, that filled a gap.
A stroll along by the lake and ice creams were bought and I wanted to call it Grebe Harbour, where the boats were moored, it seemed to be full of them.
Laura drove us back to the hotel. She was meeting a chum of hers in our hotel, she introduced us to him and we left them to gossip. The troops weren’t hungry so Mary and I ate in the restaurant where we ate on the first night and Laura’s chum Mathias joined us for the most wonderful chat. This dear reader rounded off a fab three days. Tomorrow back to Geneva and home. It’s been a blast.
Those aren’t the Rockies behind us, it was a metal rhino in the Iris gaff!!! Thanks for reading – take care. M & M 🥂🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭✈️ 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Last night passed peacefully and breakfast was the usual Continental Fayre. The hotel is very quiet in both its location and occupancy of residents. Away then up the smallish hill to Laura’s, and Mary joined her gathering in the food for a bit of a do.
Also the birthday cake was gathered in and the guests began to arrive. Nicco, good chum of Laura’s, then Laurent’s brother Julian and his lovely wife Caro, and then Laurent himself and finally Jean Dennis and Liliane. A mass of presents for the lad to open and the main topic of conversation was, where the hell those 13 years have gone!
Safi looked splendid for the occasion and Zach got lots of superb presents, lots of hard cash, and a great selection of clothes. And then onto the birthday cake!
The wine flowed and the beer and it was kinda like the old days! Not quite, obviously but just so good to see everyone after such a long time.
A great get together and tomorrow off to visit a Château we visited a long time ago, that has some wonderful flowers – standby for some stunning Iris pictures. Well done Laura for some superb catering! Thanks for reading – loving your comments M & M 🎶🎵🎂🎈🎈🎈🥂🥂
We have been searching for a casino in Romont in Switzerland, since we arrived, following a rather successful windfall in Las Vegas by chums Simon and Sandra – sadly this small but beautiful town does not posses such an establishment!
We departed yesterday from Gatwick with Laura aboard EasyJet and as luck would have it not with BA from Heathrow, otherwise knowing the usual Treen fortunes, we certainly would have been embroiled in the IT meltdown that many passengers suffered.
We had treated ourselves to a departure lounge, and realising it was the start of half term, it was also a lounge where children under 12 are not allowed. We are getting rather fussy in our old age but it was a lovely quiet, relaxing experience and worth every penny; until the amazingly loud fire alarm went off, which thankfully was short lived.
After an excellent breakfast, a really nice passenger assist chap arrived with news there was room on the buggy for not just Mary but also for myself and Laura. After all this time – the damage being done at the Romont recycling plant in October 2021 – Mary not only still has trouble with her foot but also now with her knee. Anyway, having booked passenger assist we avoided the huge queue at the EasyJet bag drop and found ourselves transported along to a gate that the man described as one of the furthest away, so a wise move indeed with hindsight. He made sure we were first on the plane but then came the delay, to the already delayed flight and we took off an hour late. However, better than not taking off at all!
The Geneva airport, transfer in that lifting coach like contraption that I have described before, also went very well and I pushed Mary through a speedy customs and passport control – again with no queuing, which is just bliss and avoids all that standing for ages.
Away to the train, at a very quiet airport, and then such a stunning trip along Lake Geneva before heading north to Romont.
Laura legged it up the hill to get her car, while we waited down below at the station. We checked into our hotel the Lion d’Or Romont and then met Laura, Zach and Safi in L’Escale, a restaurant we have frequently visited and Laura, of course, is almost family!
A wonderful meal, a great catch up and Zach a bit tired after a Friday afternoon of Maths, German and Latin – who wouldn’t be?
A last look at the beautiful view from the hotel and a deep nights sleep! Today (Saturday) a small party for the birthday boy (which was actually last week!) surrounded by this stunning scenery and wonderful weather! Thanks for reading more later or tomorrow. M & M 🎈🎈🎈🎂🥂
A final round up. Last night at dinner, Mary ordered Apple & Rhubarb crumble for dessert, after her very palatable chicken dish. It came with ice cream and Mary asked if she could substitute the ice cream for cream please and to our astonishment the waitress announced they had no cream. No cream? We are back to a pub without beer here, surely? Well the chap had said peaks and troughs. “All the chefs are foreign, I’m afraid, “They don’t understand crumble and cream. Always would be my choice.” You couldn’t write it, could you? But give her, her due, she did say as we arrived with a smile, “It’s Malcolm, isn’t it?” Good PR.
Having said that the meal passed without incident, except for one couple away in the distance, well you saw the photograph yesterday, of the deserted premises and she just never stopped talking. Her partner very early on just glazed over, obviously having endured this before.
After a pleasant hot shower this morning, and wandering off for breakfast, imagine our exchange of looks, when of all the empty seats in the whole of the restaurant, exactly a repeat of last night, they chose to sit right next to us. Why do people do this? It’s the same in car parks, isn’t it? You park well away from everyone, especially when I have tried hard not to get the Lexus scratched, when you come out you find yourself surrounded. Some sort of sheep mentality? Don’t ask.
Mary had a continental breakfast of fruit and then croissants and I had some beautifully poached eggs. They were the same yesterday morning, done to perfection. Can you compliment a chef for his poached eggs?
Anyway that was that was that folks. Delightful lady a check out, who said, “Oh, yes! Primula is a lovely room, isn’t it?” If we do return, there will be no room number for us, having sampled that gaff. And by the way the restaurant we’re expecting eighty people in there tonight! Oh! And the columned room wasn’t decorated with flowers – duff gen. Peaks and troughs!
Hope all goes well for Charles tomorrow, I feel I have grown up with him and in a way I have, born just one year before me in 1948. Kinda different life styles, for sure. But we have both watched technology, the planet and people go through mind blowing changes but we are both still here. And both started our early years in short trousers. Trust me – we did!
The mysteries of how unfamiliar showers work in hotels, has always been a challenge in our traveling history. Which knob to turn to get hot water, which to turn to get more power – often a morning struggle you can live without. But once the secret is cracked, the triumph is akin to solving the most difficult crossword of the week. This morning dawned with both of us struggling to get hot water to flow and failing miserably; Mary phoned reception and discovered the boiler was broken and hopefully all would be restored within the hour. We cut our losses, neither of us wishing to embrace a stimulating cold shower, and we headed towards breakfast.
I can now report the tree in the restaurant is half fake and half real. The trunk is real but the branches containing the olives are not what they seem. Breakfast was very good but unfortunately not for the man at a table near by. “How is everything?” the unsuspecting waiter asked. “This is raw,” came the reply, “if I ate that I would be ill.” He then went on to complain about yesterday’s breakfast being dreadful and added, “It just seems to be peaks and troughs here,” I mused how he had reacted to the lack of hot water this morning and whatever it was that was raw can hardly have improved his day.
Away to Dorking, an unscheduled visit, brought about by Malcolm needing some Savlon to put on and ease the soreness of a boil that had suddenly for no apparent reason developed overnight. Always something to keep you on your toes isn’t there?
Dorking was decked with flags and bookshops were selling as much Charles information as could they could pack in the windows; but it also gave us an opportunity to admire some of the hotels exterior treats. Quickly back to tranquility we sat, once again, outside in the sunshine and watched the world go by; well, pheasants, rooks, distant rabbits and the occasional person walking a dog.
The interior of the hotel is quite stunning and after lunch on the way to the interior swimming pool, there was much to admire.
The pool was deserted! How wonderful! Probably not like that often but hey – lucky or what.
The restaurant tonight was almost deserted, not quite but close. Food was excellent and the service really good – well it would be wouldn’t it?
So that about wraps it up, folks. Home tomorrow and jazz for Malcolm tomorrow night! Might take a peak at the long columned room above tomorrow a.m. as it is to be decorated with flowers for a wedding.
Stay safe everyone and hope you enjoyed the read! From M & M cheerio till next time. Comments as I said, always welcome 🖌️🖌️🖌️🖌️
The finest words you can ever hear, Mary thought, when you check in to an hotel are, “We have upgraded you to a suite.” Famous author and glamorous wife were always bound to hear that remark upon arrival; we tried very hard to look casual and hide our child like excitement! The bed was certainly one of the biggest we have ever seen and as you know, we have seen a few!
The bathroom was big enough for a sizable gathering with a few friends. Yes we are going to enjoy this and relax. Away to the bar for our free glass of Prosecco upon arrival and ponder the menu for a light lunch – dinner was booked for seven o’clock.
Just so quiet and very few folk about. “Room number?” asked the lady having taken our order, “Primula,” I replied. “Oh! Primula,” she acknowledged with a certain amount of deference. Mary went for a post lunch walk and I started work on the blog.
Upon Mary’s return we both sat back out side and soaked up the sunshine. The whole place does look glorious in the sun and it was only by four thirty that it eventually turned a tad chilly.
Rabbits played far to well in the distance for my humble Sony camera to capture but the silence, apart from the odd plane I assume departing from Gatwick, is truly deafening.
So to dinner; I had an excellent steak and Mary a slightly disappointing (size wise) piece of salmon with noodles, which was more like noodles with salmon. Anyway, a very PR savvy head waiter, gave Mary a free cheesecake dessert. The interior reminded us of a restaurant in Athens – Gerofinkas – that we visited many years ago, which also had a tree in the middle of it.
However, we think the tree in Athens was real – we haven’t touched it yet but we think the one tonight is actually a very good fake. As we are dining here tomorrow night, we shall let you know!
Thanks for reading M & M 🥂🍽️ 🥂 Comments as always most welcome. 🖌️ 📝
Off to Paris to see my dear chum Matthieu from our LWT filming days of Wish me Luck in France in 1988/89/90! We have been friends ever since.
We flew off on Thursday – eventually after a delay! I know it’s becoming a habit these flight delays. The plane was very late boarding due to the plane already on the stand not pushing back, I believe the technical term for it is. Why it hadn’t pushed back nobody seemed to know and certainly the crew that arrived to man our flight looked as confused and in the dark as the rest of us.
Above they can be seen in one of those group huddles and “What do we do next?” moments. Eventually our plane arrived, was cleaned and we boarded, but wait – a fault with the toilets, so a man and repair team had to be sent for. Finally fixed and up and away for a fantastic lunch (see above!) at 30,000 feet, some one hour at least later.
Into Charles de Gaulle and a bare knuckle taxi ride in horrendous traffic to the 20th Arrondissement area of Paris; it would certainly have cost a fortune at Thorpe Park!
Matthieu lives in the nineteenth Arrondissement, so can always be with us within half an hour. We rendezvoused in Les Foudres, a restaurant just round the corner from our hotel, and it was just so good to see him, and I have always loved the fact that I have had a chum in Paris over so many years. We hadn’t seen him since just before my operation in March 2020; on the 11th of February in fact and as I had my diagnosis on the 14th I couldn’t tell him anything anyway at the time, so I never mentioned it, not wanting to spoil the party. It was only on Valentines Day that I discovered I had cancer in two places and the rest as they say is history. Last time we met it rained but this time it was like summer in October; the weather was sublime.
Last time!
Above is a picture from 2020 and next to it the wonderful air conditioning in our room for this year! We agreed to meet the following day, after Matthieu had spent the morning trying to find petrol! There has been a strike for three weeks of petrol operatives in France; Total – the petrol company had made huge in fact obscene profits (sound familiar?) and the workers decided they would like a little bit sent their way; it ended some ten days ago with the unions not quite getting what they wanted but heading back to work. However, Matthieu who wanted to return to his family home in Le Lot, before his next filming contract in Senegal, was bereft of fuel and couldn’t find any. Anyway, we met for an early lunch and then headed off on the Metro to see an exhibition by Monet that Mary has SO wanted to see at the Musée de l’Orangerie and by golly it didn’t disappoint.
A taxi back to Matthieu’s flat and a relaxing drink before a fantastic dinner at his local restaurant and the end to a perfect day and still so warm, I really wished I hadn’t brought my heavy winter jacket with me; my light sleeveless number would have done.
The following day, and once more Matthieu failed to find petrol. We had gone for a wander round Père Lachaise where so many famous French folk are buried and it has the most beautiful ambiance. Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Michel Legrand, Marcel Marceau and many others. He joined us for another early lunch in the warm sunshine and another wander round PèreLachaise, which I sat out but Mary and Matthieu did it justice.
And that was about that. Matthieu paid for far too much for my liking but he wouldn’t have it any other way. It was a delight to see him. Another white knuckle ride back to the airport (why do they drive like that?) and then some superb passenger assist from BA, in France and here in Blighty.
Of course we will be back. And happy to report Matthieu finally got petrol this morning (30/10/2022) so can now leave for Le Lot tomorrow!
Thanks for reading folks! Be good – stay safe. Mary & Malcolm 👻🎃🗼
So, we said farewell on Monday afternoon to Ag.Nik and headed for Kalamata or Calameter as our sat nav had pronounced it, if you remember! That journey never ceases to bring gasps at the beautiful and spectacular sea vistas.
The hotel was amazingly busy compared to the last time we arrived, which took us a bit by surprise but the environs were still crying out for us to spend more time there.
A chap was playing the grand piano in the reception area, and Mary said, “Golly that needs tuning,” and the receptionist was very impressed, “Indeed it does,” she said, “You have a good ear,” Mary then explained her various choir involvements.
An amazingly quick unpack of various items and a pre dinner drinks overlooking the sea.
Back to the room for more funeral updates; I know I have already said this, but it was the oddest of feelings being abroad at such a time.
And so to our last Greek dinner – Mary having a summer salad and prawns and me beef burger, which again came ‘not as we know it Jim.”
The joy of eating out and overlooking the sea, can still be slightly spoilt by happy smokers puffing merrily away between courses. They still do very much enjoy a snout round these parts – you have been warned! And so after a fab nights sleep we wandered down to a breakfast comprising of a huge array of dishes various and a mind blowing shelf full of more cakes and biscuits than you could ever possibly desire.
Sorry Slimming World! Eggs fried, scrambled and all the usual suspects.
To the airport in good time and the hire car was returned in good order and efficiently dealt with. Assisted passage once more got us through customs and security without standing in a queue and so pleased to see the flight billed as non stop! The airport is very small, and the flights are sensibly spaced well apart.
And there we have it. A fantastic break in a fantastic environment, which was thoroughly enjoyed. Flight was on time, the easy jet chief steward was hysterical, good patter Neil! He will make Britains got talent one day.
And at last coming back over the UK it looked once more green!
When we left, the UK had looked parched and Greece had looked the greenest that we could remember seeing it, flying in! Strange times! A buggy ride at Gatwick and luggage rescued and the Lexus waiting to be driven home.
Hope you enjoyed travelling with us. Nothing booked in the future – yet! Take care and don’t forget if you do want to receive a monthly report on the events at Treen Towers just let me know. Stay safe Mary & Malcolm ✈️🥂❤️❤️
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎶🎶🎵 TOO LATE! Last night our last dinner at our favourite restaurant.
We both had chicken The obligatory chum
Please note NO chips! And joined as always by a chum. Quite windy but it did calm down eventually.
Our hotel from the restaurant – yes we are that close!
This morning was our last breakfast in Ag Nik. and we settled the bill. We popped into the supermarket next door but one – boy have they come on in leaps and bounds as well, over the years. Clock that cheese counter! Almost as good as our local farm shop back in the UK.
Mary had the wonderful Avocado and eggs and I had those famous scrumbled eggs. And away to the rocks for one last dip for Mary and for me to start the blog.
We came past a group outside a Taverna watching the funeral on a big TV, and the music which echoed from many sources across the village, gave it a very emotional if not surreal feel on such a sunlit day.
Lunch at our favourite taverna and some taramasalata and stuffed tomatoes. Bliss.
Off to Kalamata and the big hotel we stayed in for one night when we arrived. I will write one more tomorrow about tonight and the journey back. Mind blowing pictures on our TV in the hotel – we are with you guys in the UK in spirit.
Thanks for reading – last one tomorrow. Mary & Malcolm 🥂🍤 Comments welcome – how was your day?
Dinner last night started so well and so healthily and then took a terrible turn for the worse. We both ordered rice and prawns and were immediately joined by a hungry chum.
A very rude couple next to us after prevaricating about the wine, discussing a million food options – after not eating that much, she suddenly had a ruck with the manager, leaving the table and wandering inside to have a good go at him. They then took their unfinished bottle of wine and left in a huff. Mary consoled our young waitress, who looked quite upset. But those guys were trouble from the outset and quite what had got to her to get her in such a state, we shall never know. Anyway, we then ordered what we thought would be smallish desserts. Wrong.
Mine.Mary’s.
And because we had been so nice and stumbled along with our best Greek, she brought us two creme brûlées on the house! A couple of dessert wines would have been better – not wishing to seem ungrateful, we both duly ate everything and almost exploded!
Gaviscon is a marvellous invention. This morning a wonderful avocado concoction taken inside the cute little cafe, downstairs. Not very Slimming World friendly but what has been?
And away to a village we always referred to as Bethlehem, when we came here back in the day with the girls. It was and still is, way up on the hillside and was beautifully lit up at night, under the stars – hence its Treen monica.
We paused, at probably the oldest Taverna in the world, for a soft drink and the interior was like stepping back in time; a lot of stuff, doesn’t cover it. And two sprites cost €4.
The view to down below, is stunning and the top umbrellas in the shot of Agios Nikolaos is where we ended up for lunch.
At the top, the blue covering.
Before then though Mary went for the obligatory dip. I sat on the rocks and started the blog.
At least we pitched lunch just right, this time, at last! We had their summer salad, orange pieces and raisins and we shared a cooked feta dish and OK, the obligatory chips and two beers.
And a stark and emotional reminder of tomorrow was pinned up on the board, as we left. The other picture is a derelict house we contemplated buying and ‘doing up’ all those years ago. The story was, it was such a complicated inheritance issue; various relatives all over the place – some even in the States – that to sort it out would take some time. I’m glad we didn’t wait because obviously it still has not been resolved and certainly has taken some time. Such a shame because it would make a beautiful residence, in a beautiful position.
There we are folks. Chums Simon and Sandra report that they have dropped off my Treen Towers News distribution list. Technology 🤬. This will be corrected and anyone of you reading this who wish to be added to my monthly ramble, what I write (Ernie Wise!) about life in Globe Farm Lane, please do drop me a line.
Away to dinner now and we shall settle our bill in the morning and make our way to Kalamata at some point late tomorrow afternoon. Our thoughts will be with you all tomorrow on such a truly historical and I am sure emotional and moving day. Thank you for reading Mary & Malcolm 🥪🍽🌊🍺🍺
So much easier to get into the water here with the steps except they are round!!!!
Anyway, last night our dinner was for me a beautiful piece of swordfish, for Mary moussaka, a Greek salad, half a bottle of wine, water, bread, Metaxa for Mary to finish and me an ouzo.
THE BILL!
I did, I have discovered, take some pictures of the Souvlaki feast from the night before but I won’t bother showing them. The sea was slightly choppy today but I managed another brief swim (so unfit!) and Mary a brief snorkel.
The little church was open, a lady came to light the candles and went for a swim, leaving the door open.
The inside was as cute as it looked through the window yesterday. Some young lads appeared and did what we have seen young lads do here countless times before – they jumped from the rocks while we held our breath!
Mary fell into conversation with a Russian lady from Wolverhampton (!) who said she couldn’t believe what Putin has turned into and she had such hopes for him when he first started out. I can’t believe we only have three more sleeps before Kalamata airport is calling. And once more lunch called us away!
Once more we tried a restaurant we haven’t been to and thought we would have a light lunch! (Ha!Ha!) So Mary ordered a tuna crepe, thinking small and I ordered a ham club sandwich, we all know what a club sandwich looks like, don’t we? Turns out we were gob smacked, when the food appeared.
Couldn’t see the sandwich for the chips!
There were four triple deckers under my very Croatian like chips, and Mary got a comfort blanket! We slowly tucked in and the setting was just perfect.
We both just want this to go on and on.
Laura is safely back in Switzerland and Hannah is doing a 5K walk for charity tonight and we wish her well. We watched a fisherman set out to sea and when we got back to the hotel, the cat with no tail, that wanders the village, had taken residence in the outdoor breakfast area for the second day running. A very comfortable place for a siesta.
And so another day in paradise slowly draws to a close. Thank you so much for reading, and we both hope you are enjoying the pictures and our little journey. Mary & Malcolm 🥂🍽🌮🥪
(Really day 6 – but I lost count yesterday – which was Day 5, not Day 4 as I wrote! – holiday brain at last kicking in, hurrah!)
Let’s talk toilets for a moment, shall we? Greek loo’s were never up there with the most glamorous of places, back in the day; in fact I can remember deciding not to return to certain tavernas because of the rather, for the sake of a better word shall we say the dismal facilities contained within. But they have come on in leaps and bounds, certainly judging by the ones we have visited this week. Some have had machines with censors you wave your hand in front of, for the paper towel to appear. Many have had lights that turn on as you enter – no switch clicking involvement – and one even had foot controlled taps, no chance of an idiot member of the public leaving the tap running in this gaff. So I ask you how many pubs do you know, that have motion sensor devices (no pun intended) to turn the lights on? Indeed the worse ones so far were at the airport, where Mary reported, “Typical, no loo seat on the loo!” But since then our expectancy bar, I am pleased to report has been raised considerably.
Having said all that, you still can’t put the toilet paper down the toilet, not even in the big hotel in Kalamata. Time to change the name to ‘bathroom paper’ perhaps? In Croatia you could, so how come they have updated their plumbing system but the Greeks never have? Answers on a postcard please.
Last nights meal at a taverna we had not tried before was a tad disappointing. I blame Mary for having uttered the immortal words at lunchtime yesterday, as we tucked into some beautiful fresh fish, “We haven’t had one duff meal, have we?” It was billed as a Souvlaki restaurant and perhaps we have been spoiled so far? Sure it was edible but just a bit underwhelming. A cloak of invisibility shrouded us after we had finished eating because it took one hour from then on, to get a cup of tea and the bill. So unimpressed, I didn’t take any pictures! They will not see us again.
This morning we headed for some rocks we often swam from, way back when. And it looked exactly the same. Two ladies came and tended the little church/chapel and lit candles – it looked fascinating but then they departed and left it locked! We met some folk who have bought a plot of land – £70,000 and are having a house built – swimming pool but only two bedrooms for £600,000. Ouch.
Mary takes the plunge again.
And all I could get was a shot in through the window.
A tantalising glimpse into the interior.
Lunch time arrived and we headed back to where we had lunch on our first day and that wonderful salad. We were once more not disappointed.
A superb Greek salad.Fish cakes.
And once more for all the above, plus two beers, a bottle of water and a slice of orange cake – the bill was a wonderful sight and the food delicious.
And basically that was our Friday so far. Mary has gone off for another swim and I have succumbed to a siesta and then put digit to keyboard. We have a TV in the room and are keeping up with the incredible and very moving emotional scenes from London and Wales today.
Strange times for us all. Thanks for reading Mary and Malcolm 🥂😢🌊
Now 6pm local time and we had a long drive into the Mani – it had to be done. But now a tad knackered to write. So, some pictures of the day and maybe more words tomorrow. We had beautiful fish for lunch from the Black Pirate restaurant, pictures of the big container outside the gaff. Stunning views and Mary explored a fantastic church on the way home, while the wheelman had forty winks.
Sunset last night.
We both slept well and trust us we are having a ball.
One thing I forgot to mention, when we first arrived on Monday and checked in, the lovely Maria said, “Ah, Malcolm & Mary, the grand booking!”
And the car a pretty basic Hyundai, with the coy sat nav, when you pop it into reverse, in dims the music on the radio down! I guess to aid concentration.
That’s all folks, knackered of Kalamata – or “ Calamata,” as the sat nav kept calling it. But we are in Ag Nik, still!
This is going far too quickly for my liking. Dinner last night was once again so cheap and delicious. Breakfast was a leisurely affair and what an outlook!
And then off to the beach. I’m not going to write much after yesterday’s disaster – let me show you some pictures, many of which are Mary’s from yesterday. But first a lovely typo on the menu!
I had these scrumbled eggs yesterday and they were splendid. Now those pictures.
Today we sat on the beach, had lunch where many years ago there was no place to have lunch. We had a Greek salad and the best whitebait we have ever tasted. And yes there are cats of course.
We have been keeping an emotional eye on developments in London via the TV in our room and it still does feel a bit odd not to be in the UK. However, as Mary said we couldn’t have influenced events and I am currently looking at Paul Boateng who I went to school with at Apsley Grammar, in Hemel Hempstead; we were in the same class!
Our room is those top three windows.
The beach was fantastic and I actually went for a swim! This was one huge step for me on my recovery road, as many of you will realise.
Malcolm enters the water. The view from one of our room windows.
More tomorrow, weather just a bit cloudy but off to dinner now. Many thanks for reading Mary & Malcolm 🥂🌊
I guess my blog wasn’t auto saving? 🤬So here are some pictures you didn’t see from yesterday and today. Forget the rabbit, it’s the sort of thing doesn’t work the second time round.
This was Trachila! Pretty place that hasn’t changed at all. Back for a superb lunch. Only €51 for complete blow out. Plus free soup to start and free ice cream and Metaxa to finish. Obligatory siesta and then Mary went for a swim.
Water report was warm but a tad choppy. We have decided to stay back at the Kalamata hotel on Monday evening – plan b – we liked it so much and close to the airport, so why get up early in Ag Nik. No breakfast and hour and a half drive to be at the airport by 10-00am. No brainier really any way all that is a long way off.
Keep in coach coming through.
Thanks for reading – comments welcome. Mary & Malcolm 🥂
Just so good to be here. It really hasn’t changed a lot. Great lunch yesterday and even better dinner and look at the price in Euros but that was for chicken and chips, taramasalata, fried aubergines, half a bottle of wine (!), water, bread, and separate plate of unnecessary chips! And free little dessert perched on top of the bill.
We both slept well but got rained on at breakfast! Outrageous! But this place does not disappoint. So a little drive after breakfast which was just downstairs and will be added to our check out tab. We headed for Trachila just down the coast, which again had hardly changed at all!
Not too shoddy a view! Puddles in Ag. Nik!
It is a very photogenic little village BUT what do the people do there?
Mary had booked passenger assistance for our flight yesterday. So, yesterday we played Departure Gate 35 tango. We arrived at Gatwick, had breakfast in Lounge 1 and then a very nice and chatty lady gave us a buggy ride “This is the furthest gate,” all the way to check in at gate 35 and then into the ‘ambulance’ to place us on the plane.
So near yet so far. The fog descended and we got back off the ambulance, having seen the side of the plane and back to the assistance waiting area. Here we were given a small device that eventually pinged when someone again took us on the long journey and this time I got in the queue to the check in at, you guessed it – gate 35, while Mary went in a minibus to the plane and still had to climb the steps. Why we never just remained at Gate 35 will forever be a mystery.
Anyway, terribly excited to at last be on board we found each other and that is where the excitement began to drain and the boredom set in. We were supposed to have departed at 06-50 and by now it was 08-42 and as short delay of twenty minutes was announced. Not to be believed because we finally took off at 11-17! I messaged our girls that I had never spent a holiday on a plane before and had now been up so long (our alarm went off at 02-30) that I needed another shave. Still the delay meant I could pay my £5 drop off fee. I had accidentally missed the turn off to the park and driven through the drop off area to come back round again but it clocked me – entry time 04-32/exit time 04-33 and that will be £5 please. At that speed I could only have thrown someone out of the window but no I had to cough up and a very nice email back for my contribution, “Best regards – Gatwick Airport.”
High above the wonderful cloud structures our flying time was four hours. We were whisked through passport control, a very nice lady from Vancouver letting us queue jump and so safely to the Avis car hire desk. The hotel in Kalamata was about a twenty minute drive with the politest most coy sat nav we have ever had. Twice it stopped and she started again by saying, “Sorry, I’ll start again,” and she had us both on the floor in hysterics this morning when I tried to enter our hotel destination in Agios Nikolaos she calmly announced, “Sorry, I can’t show you the result in the car.” What were we supposed to do get out and peak back in through the window? We couldn’t drive off for about five minutes we were just so helpless with laughter.
An excellent meal last night and a beautiful sunset. Today we got to our hotel for the next week and it is just wonderful. A sea view out of all four windows in the room.
More tomorrow about today! Thank you for reading Mary & Malcolm.
It did feel odd leaving the country at such an emotional time for the nation yesterday. But life must go on and in the end it felt even odder spending most of the first day of your holiday on a plane instead of main land Greece.
We finally got to our hotel in Kalamata by late afternoon. So, more details later today when we get to Agios Nikolaos folks.
As predicted dinner on Sunday night was in the old town but not before Mary had gone down to sit in the shade at the hotel, while I wrote the blog in our room. She managed to sit exactly where a glass had been broken yesterday and a tiny piece stuck in her heel and I received this text “So free glass of wine! I’m sat where the glass went over yesterday and a small splinter got my foot. As it happened, a GM was around, so I summoned him over and explained. Asked for a plaster – it’s tiny puncture wound. Said it shouldn’t have occurred. So now, one glass of wine and where I am is being swept!”
The one thing we never saw for the whole holiday was the moon! This has happened to us only once before, and in Greece and then just as now, we spent many nights saying, “Who stole the moon?”
Mary started with figs, walnut, feta and a glass of Prosecco, which was included! And had stuffed obergines for her main course and I had chicken. A lovely little restaurant recommended by two chums from the ship, who had eaten there the night before. A superb way to finish our holiday on our last night. This time the taxi was 55 Kuna going and 50 Kuna coming back!
Oh yes , and I had a cheeky Lime Cake to finish; pretty or what?! We sat in the seating area outside, in the hotel and had a coffee, jolly busy as you can see!
So, breakfast and that wonderful choice of mind boggling stuff to eat. (Should have taken a picture.) The car to the airport was early ! Well done Kuoni, who obviously didn’t want to make a second cock up.
Aerial view of the hotel.
Away to the airport, Mary had booked travel assist again, thank goodness not too bad at the Split end (no pun intended ladies!) but so good when we got to Gatwick. The airport was fantastic and only opened in 2019.
We were eventually transported into a a vehicle just like the one at Geneva, many months ago. And you get raised up on a tail gate and exit the thing straight into the aircraft – and we were first on board.
We landed at Gatwick and just a wheelchair for Mary and no buggy! So Malcolm had to keep up with the young man pushing Mary. A bonus ‘walking holiday’ of Gatwick North I called it afterwards! Our car was at the South Terminal, so off to the shuttle and the very kind man stayed with us. Report to level two on arrival, my ticket said, “Sorry,” said the man, “Your car is on level one,” Mary was calm in the wheelchair, I was panting and the passenger assist chap was not amused! Anyway we made it, thanked the chap with a nice tip and drove home. And that was that.
It has been superb and thank you for following us, we hope you enjoyed it too.
Take care M & M aka Mary and Malcolm 👍✈️ 👏💐50 years – here’s to the next 50! 🍷🍷🥂🥂
Climbing to 88 degrees in old money today – Sunday. Last night we ate in the hotel; both of us having the fish which was delicious. And the waiter put our wine in a bucket in holder of amazingly impressive proportions and construction.
Opposite on a table with two others, a lady jumped about and did a small dance every time any sort of flying creature approached her; how she didn’t suffer from chronic indigestion, we shall never know. Mary worked out how to open the window and the view from it to the sea was glorious this morning. The choice for breakfast was mind blowing, compared to the MS Splendid, with almost every combination of fruit, yoghurt, pastries and cooked choices you could ever imagine. And then a taxi ride to the old town, which took all of six minutes and cost about a fiver.
It was already crowded with guided tours and swarms of people; again Game of Thrones has a lot to answer for! And there was one particular place that seemed to me to be a ’Covid hot spot’ including Roman soldiers, but perhaps I am just overly pessimistic! And if you thought the MS Splendid balls were big, you should have clapped eyes in the market at the size of a local dudes water melons!
Mary stalked the jewellery shops and at last found a pair if earrings for herself, as a little present. A very nice lady served us with two cokes despite the fact she wasn’t actually open! I must have looked very old, hot and bothered! Taxi back to the hotel for twice the price – how does that work? Mary once more into the swimming pool (she had one yesterday!) and again a light lunch.
And what a selection of those intriguing little tubes in the bathroom. So, that’s it for now, lunch in the old town tonight I expect and a ten forty pick up tomorrow morning and away to the airport. its going to be touching 90 tomorrow, so wish us luck. I think we both look well rested! Thanks so much for being with us – take care. M & M 👍⛴👏
Just a couple of shots from the end of yesterdays river trip.
Another shot of that bridge build and Mary went to dip her feet in the sea while I sat in the shade outside a bar, for a good ten minutes. Obviously wearing my cloak of invisibility, as no one came near me!
Split came as a real culture shock. Hot, heaving with with people and noisy. We both thought it would have been better to start here and get quieter, than coming from tranquility into this throbbing metropolis. Dinner was a pleasant enough place by the harbour but we hadn’t quite taken in the constant pounding music until we were seated and started to order! A learning curve.
Nice palms with dinner.
Back on board for our last nights sleep afloat, if not moving. We just got our heads down when the lights went out and the air con packed in. Luckily it came back on after about half an hour. Phew.
Morning and a fond farewell to the MS Splendid class of 2022 and a fine display of ‘Splendid’ balls to admire.
A taxi was waiting please note ‘promptly’ to take us to the hotel – and at 09-15 in the morning, words that bring joy to your heart, “Your room is ready,” I very nearly kissed him.
And there we are. A stroll round, a light lunch and a blog written. Later – who knows? Watch this space.
Last night a really cheap meal – chicken and chips x 2, one salad, one bottle of water, a litre of wine (!), and two scoops of ice cream for £33-84. What’s not to like?
A pretty little church in Pucisca. And some splendid Lions.
Another early ish start and on a small boat at 08-30, to Omis and transfer to another small boat to cruise up Cetina river.
Fifty shades of green and a lovely cool breeze. And thats a shot of a bridge they are building. Mary spotted a shop that sold sandals and not before time M replaced his old ones; a very helpful man kept saying , “No problem.” as he fitted me perfectly, like an old fashioned shoe salesman. Back to the boat and our last lunch on board. Tonight dinner is in Split and ready to leave the ship tomorrow am.
There you go! Oh yes! We had the biggest bar bill on the boat, to settle! Be fair 50 years doesn’t come round that often! M & M 🥂🎉🎊50🎈🎈🎈
Last night was dinner on board and then a stroll round the town.
I personally didn’t get to sleep till around midnight – the live group which sounded like they were on the boat moored next door kept me very entertained until then. 😩
We sailed at 7am and arrived in Bol in time to catch a train (not one as we know it Jim!) to a beautiful long beach.
Mary went for a swim; I still haven’t quite got the confidence, with my dear friend my colostomy bag but one day I will conquer this phobia I know. I have the proper swimming trunks, I just have to be in the right environment.
Back on the ‘train’ and to the ice cream we got very close to having yesterday but failed!
Back on board and the captain was having trouble with his balls. These prevent one boat bashing into and damaging another. But we were so tightly wedged between two other boats, he couldn’t pull his balls on board to free us from our entrapment.
The Carry On, double entendre is alive and well in Treen’s blog. Finally the outside boat moved and we set sail for Pucisca.
Lunch is soon to be served but one last observation the air con in the cabin is better and less noisy than the amazing contraption almost permanently/temporarily installed in the hotel in Dubrovnik.
More time on my hands than I thought. So, early start to the Blue cave – and a short queue of thirty minutes. Our lovely on board rep Gordana tried to make sure we didn’t wait long but was thwarted by a rule allowing folk staying on the island to queue jump.
She looks bit ratty!
The boat trip was very quick but inside the cave was stunning. And boy was the blue but blue. Highlight of the interior, and this must be a pretty rare occurrence, but a loud splash and one of the other boatmen – there were two or three boats in the cave – fell in!
I guess its a hazard that goes with the job but by no means a regular event! The boatman took us back to our ship and we clambered on board and headed for Hvar.
A wonderful lunch ashore – the cathedral was closed – and now back on board for dinner.
There we go and more tomorrow.
Stay safe – be lucky – M & M ⚓️🏊♀️🤣 Thanks for reading.
The tour of Vis was worth it. We climbed aboard a small mini bus and first of all took in a fort, built by the English; and that’s about all I took in because it was 82 degrees! But before all that Mary took a dip in the water off the back of the boat/ship.
The fort had some spectacular views, as most forts do! Built after the battle of Vis, won by the Royal Navy in 1811 by the British its called Fort George. We were heading for Komiza on the west of the island of Vis. And when we got there everyone fell madly in love with it – Mary even googling accommodation!
We moved on to a spot where everyone got out to look at an old air strip from WWll, but I’m afraid I stayed on the bus.
And we then had roughly a couple of hours to decide we really did like Komiza and so did a lot of our little group.
We had arrived just after a water and soft drink deliverer had dropped a huge number of bottles off the back of his lorry; we was busy re-cling filming them as we passed by. We sat and had a beer and as he passed by with them all now on a wheel able pallet trolley – they all fell off again! The streets are very narrow but somehow they get their deliveries.
Mary captured the moment. And we wandered and looked and we decided the cats here looked a lot healthier than many Greek islands.
Dinner last night was eaten in a restaurant right by the boat. I ordered scampi but there is obviously a slight language difference; as 12 of the biggest prawns I have ever seen arrived! Mary sensibly had pasta and we both drank very palatable local wine.
This morning an early rise to head off to the Blue cave. But as we approach Hvar our next stop, lets leave it there till tomorrow. Its turned into a two Ronnies blog – blogging about the day before!
So, half way through this spiffing break. Last night a splendid drop of fish at a restaurant Adio Mare, in the town centre, with a sizeable choir rehearsing in a church right next door which was joyous – keep your canned music!
Another town of superb backstreets and alleyways. And a fascinating ancient chemist shop that should be a tourist attraction.
So, away to bed and ready for sailing to Vis tomorrow and just three ships to climb over last night to get back to the MS Splendid.
Mind the gap!Mind the step!Just MIND!
We are on a little tour of Vis later today, after lunch – until then we keep sailing. So, I will bring the tale of all that tomorrow.
Malcolm and Mary's ongoing blog 