An amazing friend at SGS (Matt) suggested I get on the Virgin train mailing list. I initially resisted thinking I’d get all sorts of rubbish in my in-box.

Although that’s partially true, he pointed out that each year when they have a “sale” I’d get to know about it first.

London is an expensive city to visit, but with a 2.15 hour journey from Chester, you can travel direct at 7:15am, come home at 18:15pm and have an amazing day, with the transport only costing £11 each way.

Best of all, if you organise yourself over multiple one day “hits” you can save the cost of accommodation and evening meal (the latter can be substituted for a nice sandwich and a bottle of wine on the way home).

Above, some flags on Regent Street.

Greenwhich (pronounced Greenwhich) was a place I’d heard great things about.

One of the best things to see there, was the famous Cutty Sark.

In it’s day, one of the fastest trading ships in the world. With a minimal crew, it could transport Tea and other delicacies (we now take for granted) from one side of the world to the other.

Bellow decks, we watched this video about the ship in its heyday.

The man in this yellow coat, kept getting in the way of my pictures.

Here he is again.

Looking down the ship, from the high place at the back (which I’m sure has a Nautical name, that I don’t know).

Anyway, this is what the captain would have seen looking forward from the ship as it was sailing.

The ships name, carved in original oak.

The ship itself is mounted on struts, and they have a nice cafe there where we have coffee and cake (It’s London, so costs a fortune).

From here, we head up the hill to Grenwhich observatory.

From there we can see this amazing view of London and the Millennium Dome (now called the 02 arena).

Outside the Royal Observatory.

At one time, people would travel from all over London to set their clocks by the one in the picture.

The site was chosen by Christopher Wren, and King Charles II created the position of Astronomer Royal.

There is also a very visible “time ball” that can be seen from a distance by Mariners. At 1pm each day, it dropped, and they could set their clocks from this.

The prime meridian, longitude 0′.

Every place on earth was measured east or west of this line, and this is where Greenwhich Meantime takes its name.

The building itself is called Flamesteed house, after its first occupant.

On of the telescopes used at the observatory. Very difficult to photograph.

4 of John Harrison’s Sea watches, H1 to H4.

A joiner by trade, he designed a clock that could keep its time one a moving ship (something that even Sir Isaac Newton said was impossible).

Once out of sight of the shore, a clock was essential to work out the exact location of a ship and at a time of growing international trade, it saved many lives due to the avoidance of shipwrecks.

Each ship had a special clock, normally stowed bellow decks. officers and men on the ship would set their own clocks and watches from it for practical purposes.

As technology progressed, the ships clock was no longer needed and in this room they had hundreds of the returned clocks.

A selection in the museum about the 4 people who voice the speaking clock.

You could hear each voice by picking up the phone and they selected relevant handsets from the time period of the speaker.

Hewlett Packard is a name familiar to anyone who who works in Information Technology (I have a HP Elitebook on my desk at work).

Here, a nuclear clock, actually made by HP.

In another part of the museum, were shown “the oldest thing you’ll ever touch”.

A 4.5 billion year old meteorite. Formed at the same time as the Sun and the Earth.

Lots of cool AV stuff, including this simulation for planning to put a satellite into space.

You get to make various decisions and video’s of people in your team, brief you on various things.

At the end, a BBC news thing tells you if your mission was successful.

In a small garden outside, we end our trip with some coffee next to this statue of Uri Gagarin.

Another museum, called the Queens house (picture taken in the great hall).

Basically, a very nice old building where there are loads of interesting old paintings (it took me 2 hrs to get Nikki out of here !).

The one I was interested in.

The Armada portrait of Queen Elisabeth I, which her hand on a globe, and ships visible out of the window.

But it’s a day out after all, and we have a few drinks in the Iconic Gipsy Moth where I learned a few more words of cockney.

We head to the “Battle Cruiser” for some “Britney Spears” – to the “Boozer” for some “Beers”.

We look across the Thames, and I can see Canary wharf (the outside of the building was used in one of my favourite Dr Who episodes).

In the background, you can see the entrance to the Greenwich foot tunnel.

Inside the tunnel.

It was originally built to get workmen from one side of the Thames to the other, so they could start work.

And with that, my tour of Greenwich is over.

Train advise wasn’t the only thing  got while working at SGS.

A fab woman called Catherine (who ran the legal department) told me about a TV series called W1A.

It’s basically a fly on the wall documentary about the BBC. Some of the parodies are so extreme, that I wonder how senior management allowed them to make the series.

Anyway, each episode begins with the “head of values” arriving on his folding bicycle outside New Broadcasting House, W1A (where the series takes its name).

I really wanted to see it first hand (and standing there, it’s a spectacular building).

I’ve spoken before about the British museum, how much I like it, and how on every trip to London, I make a point of popping in, even if only for 10 minutes.

This time, there was a tie-in, to some of the trips I’ve got planned.

In March next year, I’m going on a cruise to Antarctica. We’ll take in various places, but 2 of the highlights for me, and places I NEVER thought I’d get to see are the Falklands and Easter Island.

Interesting then, only about 2 of the Easter Island “heads” have ever left the Island. This one is in the British Museum.

Later this year, were going on a sort of back packing, Greek Island tour and spending some time in Athens.

I’ve been previously, but I’m looking forward to seeing the Acropolis museum now it’s finished and half of the Parthenon sculptures that will be on display there.

The other half of the sculptures (sometimes called the Elgin Marbles) are on display in the British museum and in the picture above, you can see them laid out on display.

The Assyrian Lion hunt.

In Assyria, Lion hunting was considered the sport of Kings.

Shooting down these beautiful animals with arrows from a moving chariot isn’t my idea of sport. Artistically however, they tell the story really well and capture the tension of the event.

A sort of 645 BC face-book post if you will.

The BT Tower.

Until 1980, the tallest building in London and the UK.

I always remember it from the Goodie’s, when a sort of kitten climbed up it.

At one time, it had a rotating restaurant there, and I’d always wanted to go. I didn’t and now its closed for good, the message is clear…

Grab adventure when its present. You don’t know how long it will be around.

Tower Bridge, which many tourists confuse with London Bridge.

On a previous trip, I found out, you can go inside on a tour.

Walking along, inside the main crossbeam.

The view from the crossbeam, showing the Thame’s, the Walkie Talkie and HMS Belfast.

As you walk back across the other crossbeam, it has a glass floor, which can withstand the weight of an elephant.

The view was incredible, but I wasn’t going to walk across it.

Walking down the staircase, its really Victorian looking.

I was amazed to learn that up until 1974 the bridges operation was powered by steam (this is one of the massive steam engine’s, and just goes to show that the Victorian’s could build almost anything and make it work).

Today it’s powered by electro hydraulics.

The bank of the river Thames.

Many of the crime drama’s I watch on tv, begin with a body being found somewhere like this.

On the crime theme, New Scotland Yard, know and respected internationally for its outstanding detection and police work.

I always celebrate remembrance Sunday, even when I’m away from home.

My freedom to travel and seek adventure was bought with the lives of people who fought for freedom and I’m constantly grateful for that.

In much the same way, the relative safety and security I enjoy at home is down to the police force here in the UK. That has a price sometimes too, and here, the eternal flame at NSY, dedicated to officers who have lost their lives in the pursuit of their duties.

There are some things in London, I really like.

Here for example, a guy has laid out a selection of pots and pans and plays them like a drumkit for the entertainment of passers buy (and they in turn, but a few coins in his hat).

And there are others that I don’t like.

Outside the house of commons, people protesting (for those reading this in other countries, freedom of speech and the right to peacefull protest are enshrined in law and sit at the very centre of everything that makes us British).

On this occasion, some native Burmese people highlighting the leader of Burma, San Suu Kyi, and the persecution of the Rohingya people.

No, they aren’t actually complaining about the persecution, they arguing for it to continue.

I remember reading once that freedom of speech, means in practical terms sitting politely while someone else says things that make your blood boil.

That’s what happened to me. Using our freedom of speech to safely campaign for the persecution of others is an outrage, I had to bare in silence.

And to finish, we did an amazing tour of the house of commons.

It was easily one of the most interesting tours I’ve ever done, and incredible to stand in the chamber where Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill have stood and changed the fate of the nation.

Unfortunately, for security reasons, I wan’t allowed to take any pictures. Very disappointing.

So, if you haven’t been to London recently, why not give it a go (its only £22 return after all 🙂

Apologies for not updating the site recently.

Its been a busy few months. Mainly because I started a new job in January, which is fab, but very demanding on my time.

I’ve decided, in this blog entry, to say a bit about my new job and some of the exciting things I’ve done in Liverpool.

My adventure season normally starts at the beginning of March, I’ve been on 2 walking weekends already this year, and I’m off to Iceland this afternoon.

So, on the 2nd of January, I return from India (and the end of my sabbatical, which included Andalusia and Namibia).

With one day to prepare, unpack my stuff and get ready, I start my new job on the 3rd of January.

And what a job.

I’d be working with state of the art technology in a new data centre (I know there’s more money in development, but the truth is, I love computer infrastructures).

Best of all, I’ll be working on the 9th floor of the Liver building right on the waterfront in Liverpool.

I had a legal meeting in Liverpool about 3 years ago, when I was working for a company in Warrington. Afterwards, I had a couple of drinks in the city and remember thinking how much fun it would be to work here. Now I do.

Best of all, I get to work with an old friend, Mike Delafield. We’ve done loads of cool projects and learned loads of clever technical things (which obviously I can’t discuss the details of).

We sometimes go to a pub called Ma Boyles after work.

In a previous job, I used to get 2 trains to travel from Chester to Ellesmere port. Main problem was I couldn’t read, as I’d get distracted and end up missing my stop.

Now, I get one train from Chester and it gets to Liverpool in 40 mins. I’m also able to start at 8am, which means I can get home in the evening at 5:45 which presents loads of opportunities in the summer evenings.

From James street station, I walk along this amazing underground tunnel to get to work.

Las Vegas?  Dubai?  that’s nothing, I’ve travelled with my company to the Isle of Man !.

I still help out in support sometimes.

All the people in the office are really friendly and after I helped someone, I was delighted to receive this “thank you” Orange.

Sportpesa are the shirt sponsor for Everton.

There are lots of charity initiatives, and the other Friday we could pay £1 and wear a football shirt of our choice.

I was going to buy a Manchester City shirt in support of my brother and Frank, but at £70, too much to be worn once.

Instead I wore the Australian rugby shirt I bought in Cairns.

The view out of our window showing the Port of Liverpool Building and the Mersey.

While I’ve been working in Liverpool I’ve made the most of the opportunity.

Right near my office, is the Albert Dock, where 30 years previously my life would change forever.

I literaly sailed from this exact spot when I did a month long adventure trip with Fairbridge Drake.

The Terracotta warriors are on display in Liverpool so one lunchtime I went over to see them.

In a building nearby, they have the longest Lego bridge in the world.

After work, we went to the Royal Court to watch Council Depot Blues.

Hilarious, and the music was really good.

A local dish I’d heard a lot about.

I decided to visit Philpotts for lunch and try some “Scouse”.

It was actualy really nice.

This picture is a bit rubbish, but its just before the start of The Black Panther (cinemas can get a bit upset when you start pointing camera phone’s at the screen during a performance).

At the cinema in Liverpool 1, I got my first experience of an IMAX screen. Expensive, but completely imersive (so just as well, the film was really good).

Finally, a trip to the Liverpool Philharmonic to see Bill Bailey.

One of the most innovative comedian’s I’ve ever seen, I howled laughing when he pointed out that a bird called a “lune” had featured heavily in the Manchester music seen (seriously, it was true and I couldn’t believe it).

As I said earlier, I’m off to Iceland in about 3 hours, so thanks once again for reading, and:

Near and far, the search for adventure continues.

Late last year, I had 2 months off to work on my house/repair bikes/maintain Nikki’s car/work with Nikki’s dad on the garden and Travel (I was lucky enough to do numerous trips in the UK and visit Andalucia, Namibia and India).

I spent Christmas day in a jeep looking for tigers in India and actually flew home on New Years eve. Once home, I had 1 day to get organised, then started my new job.

My new job involves me working for a software company in Liverpools famous Liverbuilding. Superb, as 3 years ago, I sat in All Bar one, with Steve from Phonak and I remember thinking how much I’d love to work in Liverpool.

The rewards as you can imagine are significant, but people dont give those away for nothing.

Loads of exciting new things to learn, but no free early mornings or lunch houres and when I’m home, I’m desperately trying to set up my old routine and get my house in order/meet up with friends and stuff like that.

I’ve turned the corner, but I just wanted to take a moment and thank the readers of this website.

Each year, I try and make it better then the one before. Last year I succeeded, I must have done at least 1000 exciting things, but the irony is, while your doing those things, you don’t have time to write about them.

For the first time in it’s 17 year history, johnsunter.com hasn’t been updated in a whole 2 months. I’m working to fix that and updating pages on Namibia and other adventures as we speak, but in the meantime thanks for your patience.

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…

Loads of cool and interesting things have happened over the last month.

Among, them an amazing achievement I set my sights on in my 20’s. It’s had extra focus over the last 2 years and with the assistance of a real friend I was able to complete it (more about that later).

I’ve also met up with an old friend from Fairbridge Drake and anther from IBM.

I’ve mentioned before the advantage of being on the virgin train mailing list and why everyone should be on it, so I was delighted once again to get a return journey to London for £22.

I always try to have a theme to my adventure projects and a simple list of objectives to add focus.

The theme for the early part of the day was a tv program (which has now finished) called Ripper Street.

Featuring 3 amazing characters and the work of “H” division, it was set around the streets of “Whitechapel” at a time after Jack the Ripper.

It dealt with many relevant topics of the era and showed the harsh grim reality of life in that place and time.

The main plot “meet up” area’s were Leman Street station house (the old name for police station) and the local public house, The Brown Bear.

But of course that part of London no longer looks that way and instead the whole thing was filmed in Ireland (the pub above is just the frontage of the Brown Bear, its only about 5 feet deep).

But the actual historical places still exist in London. I enjoy walking anyway, so worked out a 2 hour route that would allow me to soak up the atmosphere of London on the way.

After a wander along the Thames I arrived at Leman Street Police station.

It seems to be closed down now, and at the entrance, it says “If you need a police officer call -xxx”.

More disturbing the nearby pub.

I had set my heart on posting a picture of me drinking a pint in the Brown Bear.

It appeared to have closed down, although a first floor window was open so someone obviously lives there.

Disappointed, but loads of other stuff to do, so I’m off on my way.

To cheer myself up, I head for the south bank and have a pint at the Anchor.

This pub has special significance as it’s featured in the original Mission Impossible film (at the end where Ethan and Luther have a pint by the Thames and Luther tries to talk Ethan into staying in the IMF).

I head back to St Pancras station to meet up with my friend Nadiah. I’m quite excited, as although we communicate regularly, we haven’t met face to face for some time.

We originally met on the Fairbridge Drake Hambros Cruise (FD had 12 centres across the UK and each centre got to pick 2 trainee adventurers to take part in a month long trip that involved sailing, mountaineering and canoeing across France and Spain).

The world felt so small and limited to me when I was 20. Nadiah was an incredible woman who never seemed fazed by anything and capable of doing whatever she put her mind too.

Someone who showed me what the world could be and quite simply, I dont think I would have achieved half the things I have without meeting her.

After some quick refreshments at the station, we wander to the British Museum and see the Elgin Marbles and the Rosseta stone (I consider it a privilege to be able to see these things and its great to be able to share those experiences).

But there’s so much to talk about and the time flies. Before I realise it, I’m quite hungry.

We wander down to the bank of the Thames where we find a quiet spot and have a picnic.

OK, this is johnsunter.com and we always tell the truth here. It wasn’t actually a picnic, I bought some sandwiches and stuff from Phillpots.

We find an atmospheric London pub called the George. A chance to escape the hustle and bustle of London and relax.

It was great chatting to a someone who new me such a long time ago and surprising how little we’ve changed.

Reflecting on life in my 20’s and comparing all the things I said I’d do to how my life actually is :).

Nadiah heads home and I wander back to Euston, get a bottle of red wine for the journey and with a sense of nostalgia, listen to 80’s music all the way back to Chester.

Although obviously proud of Chester’s new Storyhouse theatre, Nikki and I still love to go out for the evening to Liverpool (if you can just block the train home out of your mind).

The Royal court theatre is somewhere we visit a lot and this time. They were showing a production called the Royal, about Liverpool Royal hospital, which is being closed down and moving to a new more modern hospital.

The play is very topical, as the real Royal hospital is closing down at the time of the production.

A crass comedy, but really connected emotionally with the audience and and incredible scene with a wrecking ball.

A few evenings later, and I’m back in Liverpool again.

I meet up with my old friend Oliver (who I worked with at IBM), his lovely wife Jess and his brother Dale.

Their wedding in Las Vegas some years ago was my first trip outside Europe. They now live in Chicago, so I try to catch up with them whenever they’re in the UK.

Instead of our usual meet up destination in Manchester, we decide on something different and I suggest Liverpool. He’s due to arrive before me, so I recommended a visit to Liverpool museum.

I could use lines and lines of text describing the museum, what’s in it and how superb it is. Instead I’ll simply say this: As a Mancunian, I’m embarrassed we dont have a museum as good as that. Go and see it if you get the chance.

After a few drinks in All Bar One, we went for a curry. I’ve always enjoyed modern fusion food, but Mogli was on another planet altogether, with small dishes served in a Tapas style and names like “Gunpowder” Chicken.

Work the next day, wished them a safe journey home and I promise I’ll get to Chicago at some point even if its only to taste authentic Pizza and have a go on your boat.

Years ago another girl I met through Fairbridge Drake (Jane Smith) gave me a picture of a place called Crib Goch in Snowdonia.

My mum took a liking to it, and had it framed where it hung in the living room for over a decade. When I got my first and subsiquent houses it came with me and hung in a place where I’d see it every day.

Crib Goch is one of the most challenging walk/scramble routes in Europe. A knife edge ridge, that rises 700m in the first mile. An iconic challenge for any young adventurer.

Problem is, I’m not so young any more. As Jon Lennon wrote, life is what happens while your busy making other plans. The picture stayed on the wall and CG drifted down the to do list.

Well, I was still mad keen to do it, I just needed near perfect weather and someone daft enough to come with me.

Enter “millennial” Matt from work. It would be his 3rd Crib Goch ascent this year alone !.

We set off and in no time at all, were really up high with some of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen in Snowdonia.

A very “seat of the pants” project, so in all the excitement forgot to take a packed lunch.

I did however have my emergency sausage roll. I offered half of it to Matt. He declined.

Open and craggy.

Overtaken by the moment, at one point I’m climbing 20 feet up a rock face un-roped.

From the H&S courses I’ve taken recently, I realise I’m taking an unnecessary risk.

I resolve to take it easy, most accidents on this mountain occur either due to ice or people climbing “steps”, becoming complacent and then getting injured.

And up across the tops. What an incredible experience.

Lots of people on the top. A queue was forming. I was surprised to find that many people were much  slower than me.

We head back, and the anticlimax is walking back, down the Llanberis path (perhaps the dullest mountain trek in Europe).

Connecting with my inner “yoof” I took Matt and I for a slap up, all you can eat Macdonalds.

A few random things now.

You can see I bought this really cool rug to park my bike on.

It even has a bicycle logo at the bottom in case you didn’t know what it was for.

My friend Monika on the left.

A fab girl from the Czech republic who spent time in the UK looking after Children and learning English.

We met through the Chester and District walking group and are still in touch on Facebook.

She won a prize in some sort of competition (probably running or cycling, I dont know which as it wasn’t in English, but congratulations anyway Monika 🙂

A weekend later and were back in Snowdonia.

It amazes me that you can get a private twin room, in a perfect spot In Llanberis for only £32. We had booked 2 nights and dinner reservations at the Peak restaurant.

The picture above is what it should have looked like on Saturday and Sunday when we went out walking.

Unfortunately, it didn’t look like that at all. It was the worse weather I’ve ever seen in that part of Wales.

So bad in fact, that we had to do the tourist thing and head for Caernarfon castle.

As castles go, its one of my favourites.

And from a higher vantage point looking the other way.

After wandering around for an hour or 2, we visited the Welsh Fusiliers museum contained in the castle.

I couldn’t believe how many theatres of war the regiment had fought in – everywhere from Burma and Bosnia.

Speaking of military things and history.

I was sat at my desk at home the other evening, planning some things to do (with obviously a glass of wine in attendance).

I glanced at the daily Telegraph website and read this article about Monty’s plan for D Day, which was written on one page of A4.

I’m not pretentious enough to compare them, but I was struck by the co-incidence.

Nikki and I were at Chester Globetrotters again on the 16th of October.

This time, instead of compering, we gave a talk about our trip to Burma.

The Grosvenor museum lecture theatre had over 60 people there and our talk ended to rapturous applause.

I still haven’t completed the Burma pages for johnsunter.com, I hope to have it done in the next week if you interested in the content of the talk.

Afterwards we went for lunch to a place I haven’t been in years.

If you’ve never visited the Albion pub in Chester, your in for a treat.

It is literally a snapshot of how a pub would have looked during the 2nd world war.

Speaking of eating and drinking, I’ve started going to a pub nearby called the Cornerhouse.

The picture above is my 2 friends Dave and Pam, after they’d been to see the film: A man called Ove.

I’ve always said, my 2 favourite films of all time are Gattaca and The Counterfeiters. I’ve now added A man called Ove to that list and the Chester film society are showing it on April 10th next year.

The Cornerhouse did a wine tasting the other evening and Nikki and I attended. The wine was nice but they did an amazing platter with different kinds of cheese and meat which was even better.

Overall, a smart new venue and like the films, Cornerhouse has been added to Brewhouse and The Coach house as my 3 favourite pubs in the city (and they all contain the word house in them 🙂

If you’ve met me in the last 10 years on any kind of adventure, I’ll probably have been wearing a pair of Merrell cross trainers.

For hills, there’s no substitute for proper walking boots (I prefer Saloman Quest 4D).

For every other environment Merrell Moab Ventilator, are in my opinion the best outdoor footwear you can get, from pub to canal towpath to forest and desert.

Recently, Merrell have launched Moab 2. The jury is still out on the new addition, but the brilliant news is that the “normal” ones have fallen in price.

I had 2 pairs delivered from Amazon for £100 (almost half price).

If your on the lookout for cross trainers, now is the time to buy.

Just for nostalgia, I recently bought a Fray Bentos pie.

For lazy cooking, they can’t be beaten.

Wandering around Chester recently, I visited the Pop art exhibition in the old library.

If you haven’t been I highly recommend it.

In advance of my trip to Namibia, I’m reading The burning shore by Wilbur Smith.

A book I originally read almost 30 years ago and I imagined myself in the Kalahari desert.

But then I realised at the time that it was somewhere I would never see – well I’ll be standing there in 3 weeks time, so the lesson is never give up on your dreams.

The book begins on the Western front during the first world war.

I recently went to visit Cheshire military museum. They have all sorts of interesting things there, but this recreation of the trenches, brought some of the scenes I’d read about in the book to life.

Another interesting thing was some propaganda pictures they had on display.

I should mention that I wanted to remain in the European Union and I’m proud to say I voted to to stay (In the words of Mal Reynolds from Firefly: I may have been on the losing side, but I’m still not convinced it was the wrong side).

Anyway, on the subject of our European neighbours, I saw this critique of Britain from 1914 !.

Finally, I thought I’d finish with something a bit funny.

I had a book a few years ago, that showed how to draw animals (and which after a dozen attempts proved to me, that I’d never be any good at drawing).

My friend Andrew Ganley (a psychologist I met while working at Prestwich hospital and who I’ve always called “Ganders”) posted this on facebook.

Thanks once again for taking the time to read this. Near and far, the search for adventure continues…

 

I’d wanted to visit Portsmouth Historic dockyard and see many of the museums and ships there.

The Isle of Wight lies just across the water from Portsmouth and has Europe’s only regularly running Hovercraft service (and I’d never been on a Hovercraft).

Finally, HMS Elizabeth had docked in Portsmouth and there was a chance to see it up close.

Well, one of those would be enough reason to go, but with all that going on, I arranged a 4 day trip and off we went.

While visiting that part of the world, it seemed crazy not to do some walking in the South Downs (a National Park I’d not visited before).

We stayed at a nice pub called The Roebuck in a place called Droxford. We arrived in the evening, had a nice pie and mash and a few drinks before retiring to bed.

In the morning, we set of on an 8 mile circular walk, beginning at the church above, where a wedding was taking place.

The route we chose was from walking world, a website I can’t recommend more highly.

With their route’s, most of the works is done for you, with a simple map and a series of pictures and descriptions showing the route in an ABC format. All we had to do was walk.

If we were looking for high mountains, we’d be unlucky, but the endless rolling fields were spectacular.

We’d found England’s green and pleasant land.

At one point we join a section of the South Downs way.

And follow a long windy road back into town.

The walking world notes had mentioned a really nice pub that had recently opened and on such a beautiful day it seemed daft not to visit.

When we got there unfortunately, it had closed down.

What we did find, was the original train station, which is now a private residence.

It has significance from the first world war as Churchill and many of Britain’s allies, met here in secret to plan D Day.

Back at the car, the wedding had just finished and we cheered the happy couple on their new life together.

Driving to Portsmouth, our home for the next 3 nights, we walk along the water front and I’m amazed to find there’s a sort of seaside thing going on with bumper cars and slot machines.

Further along is the old port, where we can look out to sea. The Royal Navy is based here, and throughout its history ships have sailed from here on various missions.

Portsmouth has a historic dockyard, a modern military port and a thriving commercial port, so there’s plenty going on.

After a bit more exploring we head to our planned dinner destination.

The Abarbistro restaurant was superb.

It also incorporated a wine merchant so we had a wide selection to go with our meal.

In the morning, were up bright and early and head to the Hovercraft Port (its £22 per person for a return journey).

You select the specific time you want to go, but if you want to go or come back at an alternative time and there’s space available then they will let you switch.

Having never been on a Hovercraft before, I really enjoyed it (and the people around me seemed to as well).

As it was early in the day, the Sea had receded quite far and the Hovercraft glided from the ocean to the sand and cruised up to the hoverport in Ryde.

We had a day in the Isle of Wight and exploring by bicycle seemed like the thing to do.

We rented 2 bikes from Tackt Isle adventures (who were extremely professional and very friendly) based 6 miles from Ryde, in a lovely spot called the Duver.

They also taught sailing, rented out sea canoes and offered all sorts of other adventure importunities.

I was a bit disappointed as on this occasion we only had time to do mountain biking, but I’ll go back for a week next time 🙂

Setting off, we stop for some coffee near the beach, spread out our map and choose our cycle route.

We cycle around the coast for most of the day, occasionally heading inland and seeing various sights along the way.

As we’d chosen mountain bikes, we were  able to do an occasional beach ride which was really exciting.

Late in the day, with our cycling complete we head back to Ryde.

Since its such nice weather we’ll walk back.

We occasionally leave the coast and head inland following trails through forests like this one.

And obviously having an occasional rest on the beach to relax.

Back in Ryde we have a dinner reservation at Olivo. Its then I realise how far up the hill it is.

Olivo was a superb restaurant, and just like everything else I saw in the Isle of Wight, I’ll be going back to visit it again.

We get the 10pm Hovercraft home. This time the sea is right up to the harbour and the hovercraft glides straight onto it.

Our 3rd day, and this time were visiting the Historic dockyard to see some of the museums and ships on display.

This ship, HMS Warrior was the most advanced warship of her kind when she was built in Victorian times, complete with an Iron clad hull and a a steam engine to compliment her sails.

Inside the gun deck, 18 men to a gun which would fire a cannonball weighing 5 stone.

They also slept and ate here in teams, but during combat could fire one cannonball every 55 seconds, 3 times faster than the French or the Dutch.

Our guide was a friendly type and even asked if there were any French or Dutch people there so he could “ribg” them !.

Interestingly, its guns were never fired in anger.

In contrast to smaller ships like HMS Victory which I’d see later, this thing was opulent.

This is the captains cabin, which has a desk, dining table and sleeping quarters.

The gun crew slept in hammocks above their guns.

We visited a warehouse where young people are taught how to make boats in the traditional style from wood.

While there, we had some excellent coffee in a place called the Midships Cookhouse.

As I left I saw these military canoes typical of the kind used in Cockleshell heroes.

The M33 was used in the first world war and an example of “modern” ships made of steal.

She had a galley, where bacon and things like that were cooked.

She was called the “lucky ship” and we found out why.

Inside was a video about the ill feted Gallipoli campaign.

The M33 was constructed in 7 weeks with a thin bow, so it could sail in close and bombard the coast.

During the whole time, the ship didn’t sustain a single hit (not even a bullet).

Amazing when you think that the Turkish army who were “dug in” (by military standards, the safe bet in an exchange like this) lost 83,000 men. A tragedy which I hope will never be repeated.

Inside the Royal Navy museum, there was far too many interesting things to write about here.

Instead I’ve just picked one section, which talked about the Falklands conflict (I remember being 13 and watching updates on it each evening when I got home from school. I’ll be going there on a cruise next year).

HMS Victory, probably the most famous ship in the historic dockyard.

If your expecting it to be painted gold or yellow, they’ve actually re-painted it in the colours that Admiral Nelson would recognise.

There’s an entire museum about Admiral Nelson and his life.

Suffice to say, when he sailed the fleet to Trafalgar, Britain’s national heritage was at stake.

When the flag message “England expects…” was sent out, he knew if he failed to beat the combined French and Spanish Navies, Britain would become a French colony.

He was shot by a French sniper and taken bellow decks. As he lay dying he was told that the battle was over and Britain had been victorious. This is the spot where he died..

It’s interesting to think how the quality of British food might have improved if he’d failed. I guess we’ll never know.

The Mary Rose museum is quite new and from the outside has the sort of UFO appearance.

Henry the 8th founded the Royal Navy. He watched the Mary Rose capsize and sink in Portsmouth harbour.

Many will remember (and there’s a video of it, for those that don’t) when it was re-floated floated in 1982. While watching it on tv, I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting a “proper” boat and it was just a pile of old wood.

What looked at the time to be the flat bottom of the deck, was actually 1 side of the boat. The other side had rotted away.

For years the museum was just some old wood with water being pored over it constantly.

The new one, has the remaining side mounted upright on one side and various artefacts from the boat mounted on the other.

In this way its possible to walk through the middle on 3 different levels and imagine what it would have been like to stand inside the belly of this ship.

Various research had been done of the years and they had even re-constructed the brick oven that would have fed all of those onboard the ship.

Inside the main room at ground level.

It really is a spectacular exhibit and if you’ve seen it before in its previous form (as Nikki had) I’d urge you to go back, its well worth it.

We wander back to the harbour for dinner (its a fab atmosphere there with lots of nice bars and restaurants).

As we head back to our hotel, I get a look at the Spinnaker, where were booked to visit the next day at 9:30am.

And from the top of the Spinnaker, an amazing view of HMS Elizabeth, Britain’s newest aircraft carrier.

Looking out across the Solent, a final picture to remember Portsmouth.

An incredible trip – like Arnold Schwarzenegger famously said “I’ll be back”.

For a while I’d wanted to visit Cardiff and especially visit the Dr Who experience.

I got an email 6 weeks ago explaining the Dr Who experience was closing for good.

With that piece of information, I got organised and booked my tickets.

After a 3 and a half hour train journey, I arrived in Cardiff. I hadn’t realised, that Cardiff Bay is actually about 30 minutes walk from the centre of Cardiff.

In no time at all, I was standing in front of the iconic Cardiff Bay heritage centre. I’d see more of it later.

As I wandered towards “The Experience”, I passed this expanse of water.

In the background is BBC Roath Lock, where Dr Who is made. Half of the building you can see is taken up by the “new” Tardis interior.

As I arrive, I’m surprised at just how big this place is.

Its the size of several large warehouses.

The Experience is split into 2 parts. An interactive session and then a museum of artefacts from the series.

We were asked not to take pictures of the interactive part, so that new people could enjoy it.

What I can say, is that it ended in the entrance to the museum, with a re-creation of scrapyard at 76 Totters lane where the very first episode “an unearthly child” started in 1963.

And inside the museum.

This was incredible. I’d expected to see a lot of things considering the time and energy put into it, but this was much more than that, it must have taken years of planning to put all of this together.

It featured 4 different Tardis interiors including a massive re-creation of 9th Dr’s Tardis which was destroyed at the end of his tenure.

It was put back together by the museum. Interestingly, in a later series when they wanted to bring back David Tenant and his Tardis, they had to film at the Dr Who experience with the re-created one.

The Dr Who theme is considered by many to be the first piece of electronic music.

They had all the original instruments from the sound department where it was created by Ron Grainer. They also had some of the tools used to create noises like the Tardis.

A green screen arrangement allowed people to be photographed with Daleks and stuff like that.

It looked like fun, but there was a large queue and I was keen to get on.

And there was so much to see.

The costumes of the Paternoster gang.

The Dr’s outfits.

I couldn’t photograph everything, so I got this shot of Christopher Ecllestons leather jacket and jumper (the first Mancunian Dr, a matter of personal pride).

And old favourites, like 3 generations of Daleks.

The information next to each artefact was really good as it could be read by laymen who knew nothing of the series, whilst having interesting insights for people who know the series well.

And a 4th generation of Daleks in nice colours.

A picture of the Brigadier from UNIT.

Some of monsters costumes from the original series.

The Ice warrior’s, The Sontaran’s, K1 robot and the Zygon’s.

And some more contemporary monsters and a better manufactured Zygon suit.

On the left, the gown of the Gallifrayan time-lords (who I’ve always found quite dull if I’m honest)

Next to it a picture of Clara Oswald, the Dr’s previous assistant and above the Raven that’s significant in her story line.

Although everyone raves about the Daleks, the Cybermen are my favourite’s.

On the left, the “newly designed” ones that remained the same for the 80’s.

In the middle, Cybershades made from stray dogs and cats and on the right, Human 2.0 from the new series.

Even newer developments, on the left the latest modern version, and on the right one made of wood.

In season 10 of Dr Who, the Dr is stationed at a University to act as a lecturer.

While there he meets his new assistant, Bill Potts (her costume is on the left of the picture).

In the background is a re-creation of the Dr’s study.

And the latest version of the Cybermen, is actually the original.

The Mondasian Cybermen were made with bits of tin and latex rubber, but they were really scary.

In the final episodes of season 10 they are brought back to life, in a heartbreaking finale.

With my visit to the museum over, I had 40 minutes before the filming locations walking tour started, so I went to get a drink at this nice pub.

I’d find out later that like just about everything in the local area, it had been used as a filming location.

The tour begins.

At the back of the museum, we see this view across Cardiff Bay.

Our guide explained that much of the work in Dr Who, is done post production.

In the first episode of season 10 – Pilot, the Dr takes Bill to Sydney harbour.

They were actually standing here, and the background altered to make Cardiff Bay look like Sydney harbour.

There were 20 of us on the tour of all ages.

The girl on the left had a t shirt with the names of all the people who’d  played the Dr.

In the background is the staircase from runaway bride.

There were about 60 locations we saw in total, I’ve just put up photo’s from the ones I thought were interesting.

The Welsh Assembly building has been used multiple times.

Our guide explained that Cardiff council were always incredibly helpful and supportive with filming of the show.

He said it was a shame the same couldn’t be said of the Welsh weather 🙂

Back inside the heritage centre, these wooden balcony’s look familiar.

Turns out this was the hospital used in the episode New Earth.

Our guide Connor was very friendly and well informed (which was significant considering the 20 people on the tour were borderline fanatics themselves).

One minor disappointment was the talk was normally given in pairs. He would speak, and his assistant would show a section of film from Dr Who or Torchwood to compliment the place we were seeing.

As the attraction is closing in 3 weeks, they are so short of staff that they are no longer able to do it.

These stairs were where the Master (played by John Simm) been elected as Prime Minister with his famous line “What this country needs is a Dr”.

Outside, the Torchwood Hub had a sort of seaside event going on.

But you could still see the water tower, which local estate agents call the Torchwood tower.

There were a few “wow” moments on the tour.

We were taken to a hotel called the Coal exchange.

Inside the guide asked if anyone recognised it. We didn’t…

Turns out, this is the vault where Missy is locked up in the early parts of season 10.

Once we’d been told that we instantly recognised it.

And best of all, the American Diner.

With post production help, its the place where the Dr says goodbye to Clara in the finale of season 9.

It was incredible to think that this could be re-rendered to look like its in the Utah desert, but that’s exactly what had happened.

Upstairs, the fine restaurant where Blon Slitheen asks the Dr not to report her and spare her life.

Realising that she has killed someone and taken their body. He replies “your begging for your life through a dead woman’s lips”.

In Torchwood season 3, a key character called Ianto dies.

This area is where (in the series) Ianto opened the door when pizza’s were delivered.

After his “death”, fans put up messages and pictures and setup Ianto’s memorial.

The council took it down, the fans put it back up, rinse and repeat.

In the end, the council gave up, but insisted a sign be put up to explain that Ianto isn’t actually a real person and the actor who plays him is alive and well.

The tour ended here. It felt quite sad, as the Dr Who experience would end 3 weeks later. I say my farewells to Connor and the other Dr Who fans.

But, it’s a beautiful day and I’m in Cardiff bay.

I wander around, get a few drinks and a bite to eat and celebrate.

Frank and Na come to visit me in Chester

After last months meet up with Julie and Nick in Manchester, my oldest friend Frank and his lovely wife Na came to visit me in Chester.

I took them to the remembrance garden. It features a flower display which renders as the medal of the Cheshire regiment.  Every time Frank’s been before it was winter and there was nothing to see. On this day, all the flowers were out and he finally got to see it.

Speaking of things to see, I’d worked out an interesting itinerary of things to do including the newly re-opened castle, Chester’s amazing Storyhouse theatre/library/cinema and a visit to the official Liverpool football club merchandise shop, as Na had a number of requests from friends back in Thailand.

The main event, was the Ark exhibition in Chester Cathedral. As you can see above, the Cathedral is spectacular in its own right, but with the addition of some spectacular exhibits, it came to life.

Featuring 90 works of art, by 50 world renowned sculptures, the exhibition is free (although obviously, we bought the optional map and made a donation).

Most interesting to me was “False Gods” by Damien Hurst.

Frank had always wanted to see this and was quite delighted (I remember commenting, that I never thought I’d get to see it, but definitely not in Chester Cathedral !).

Frank and Na are back home safe in Thailand now, and I look forward to catching up with them the next time one of us is in the others country.

Peak district walking: Bleaklow

The following day, we head off to the Peak District, to go hill walking with the Chester and District Walking Group.

Bleaklow is an iconic hill in the peaks. I was looking forward to returning as the last time we were here, the weather was appalling.

An early start, we drove there with a full car of keen participants and parked at the Mill (which once made textiles and is now filled with web developers).

Some of the path was muddy, but there were clear trails throughout the day.

After a morning of trekking and friendly conversation we stop on the hill side for lunch.

One of our group, Brian is an excellent navigator.

He had worked out where an American plane had crashed nearby and he had worked out a route to the site.

Amazingly, after all these years, some wreckage still remained.

A plaque to the crew of the Superfortress, nicknamed Overexposed.

Some of the larger engine parts from the plane.

We wander back down the hill, have a pint in the Bulls Head, Glossop. We like to contribute to the local economy (and we like pints as well).

Another fab day out with the walking group then its the usual routine, drive home, bath and dinner at Artichoke.

New First aid and safety equipment

I’ve been upgrading some of my equipment recently (you may remember a new hard torch and duffel bag).

I’ve actually bought a new first aid kit by Ortlieb. When I say first aid kit, its actually just a bag, as I’m going to fill it with my standard travel first aid kit supplies anyway,

The Ortlieb bag is a lot more hard wearing than the Life venture one I have at the moment and is fully waterproof.

While researching first aid kits I was delighted to discover the Nokia 3310 has been relaunched.

Time was, when you saw a police officer or a fireman, they always had a Nokia.

With a weeks worth of charge available and amazing signal strength, this is the ideal emergency phone.

A new experience at Urbano 32.

Urbano 32 in Chester is somewhere I go frequently, and I’m a regular attendee of their wine testing hosted by their supplier Rodney Densem wines.

It normally involves 5 wines and 4 food courses (food and wine are matched to make for an amazing experience).

One this occasion, they had the same format, but decided to opt for a Gin tasting evening.

I like to try different things.

I enjoyed myself, but the joys of Gin are lost on me, as it felt like eating a 4 course meal, with lemonade in between every course 🙂

Crib Goch – a date with destiny.

Crib Goch near Snowdon, is one of the most spectacular ridge walks in Europe.

A girl called Jane Smith gave me a framed picture of it 30 years ago, it’s hung on my wall ever since and for reasons I can’t explain, I’ve never gotten around to doing it.

Probably because, this isn’t easy, requires perfect weather and planning (and a suspension of a persons fear of heights!).

I’ve been talking to a few friends at work and we’ve got a date set to go and do it.

A mixture of health trepidation and immense enthusiasm. I’ll post updates when its completed.

The other side of my day at work.

I was asked the other day what I do at work, when I’m not working. So, for no particular reason, I thought I’d write a bit about it.

Amazingly, it takes 2 trains to travel the 7 miles from Chester to Ellesmere Port where I work.

Instead, I get on this train with my bike, get off 9 minutes later at Capenhurst then ride for 20 minutes to my office at EP.

I usually do the same in reverse on the way home, but if the weather is nice, I join the canal and peddle the 10 miles along the towpath, where I get to see fishermen, people walking dogs and other people smoking Marijuana.

At lunchtime, if its raining, I find a quiet corner in the warehouse and read.

If not, I go out for a walk.

A circuit I do, takes me through some quiet industrial places, some forested areas and on the way back, I get to sit on this bench in the graveyard where I usually eat my lunch and drink mineral water.

As I’m walking, I usually listen to the Smiths or the Happy Mondays.

Occasionally, I don’t cycle to work and just do the 2 train combination.

Because of the way the train times fall, I usually have 28 minutes to wait, so I pop to a pub across the road.

It’s full of balloons (the human kind) but I find a quiet corner and relax with my tablet or notebook before getting the train.

Sometimes, I treat myself to dinner in the pub and the tasty Fish and chips above cost only £3.99

One of the most advanced laboratories in the country help me out with a personal problem.

Speaking of work, some of my friends in the lab have been helping me with a conundrum.

How do I know, how much is left in the gas canister for my camping stove ?

The answer, weigh a full one and then weigh the one you’ve been using.

Obviously for the full scientific solution we’ll need an empty one as well.

For the time being its a great little solution, so thanks for that Alison.

The Beggars Opera and humble pie on the menu.

I’ve been to Chester Storyhouse several times to watch films, get coffee and study in the library.

I recently got my first chance to watch something in the theatre.

A reworking of the Beggars opera with the musicians on the stage joining in, some incredible vocal work by the actors and instead of the tragic ending, the audience are invited to choose an ending just like Wayne’s World.

Great day out in the Ogwen Valley.

Following day, were back in the Ogwen valley, Snowdonia, in further pursuit of the Welsh 3000’s.

One of my favourite people: Tracy, who seems like a typical mum with grown up daughters who likes to bake cakes.

Which gives little clue to the amazing adventure life she’s lived.  She was stationed all over the world with the British army and spent 2 years in northern Ireland.

These are the kind of people you meet when you go hill walking 🙂

We got coffee before setting off, but when we got back, the kiosk was closed so we missed out on the sausage rolls I’d been dreaming about all day.

The mountains and lakes around here are stunning to look at.

We stop for a breather.

Dave E in the front of the picture and Andy in the back.

The woman in blue standing up, is a Russian lawyer who lives in London. She’d travelled up for the weekend but got lost.

We invited her to join us and we spent the day on the hill together (she had come on the trip straight from work, so was carrying her work laptop and other unnecessary stuff for the whole day).

Our goal’s for the day Foel Grach and Foel-fras (2 more Welsh 3000’s to tick off the list). Our task finished and a day of interesting conversation complete, we head for home.

Disappointing start to my sailing career.

But not everything goes to plan.

For ages, I’ve wanted to have a go at sailing. I’ve been on bigger boats in the past, but the idea of having a relaxing afternoon sailing up and down in your own little boat seems pretty attractive to me.

A training centre that was highly recommended was the Wirral Sailing Centre at West Kirby, where they have a large marine lake.

I’d signed up and had been looking forward to it for weeks (they only run 4 courses a year).

I was so enthusiastic that Nikki’s sister Lyn got me a book and DVD from the Royal Yachting association and I’d been learning theory and practising knots for weeks before.

An then, the night before I wake up and start being sick (I’m still unsure why) and with that, my sailing hopes for this year are dashed (the next and only other course this year is on the same day that Nikki and I are due to give a talk at the Chester Globetrotters).

After calling the centre and telling them I couldn’t attend I was overtaken by despondency. Why do I set my sights high. It only means when something goes wrong, I’m miserable.

Why don’t I do what many of the masses do, watch x factor, tidy the garage , sit in the garden and just goe through the motions of life. I doubt they feel much dissatisfaction.

But then it hits me, I couldn’t live that way, even if I wanted to. I’ve booked to do it next year and I should have a tidy compliment of sailing attire to wear when I do it.

Enemy’s become friends

For a long time, Pigeons caused me all kinds of problems in my garden (back yard).

They had a nest on my Sky dish and since its a 3 story house, I couldn’t move them and they would poo in the garden which required frequently cleaning up.

Over time, the dish was removed and the problem went away.

The other day, I noticed that the pigeons had built a nest on the ground, next to my storage cupboard (oh the cliche of motivational speaking) and were using my garden chair as a sort of porch.

Having read up on it, I know that both parents will take turns to incubate their 2 eggs. It will take 17 days and then another 30 for the young chicks to learn to fly, find food and annoy me.

In the meantime, since I was responsible for them being homeless, I’ve let them stay and I put a little bowl of water and some bread out for them each night.

But once the chicks are grown, as Americans say, “your outta here!”.

Counting down the days to the Dr Who experience in Cardiff.

Well, one more weekend at home, and then I’m off to Cardiff to see the Dr Who experience.

I’ve even signed up for the walking tour. I’m only sorry there isnt more time, as I’ve found out there are other Dr Who filming locations that are a bus ride away and I won’t have enough time.

I’m sure I’ll go back, Cardiff looks like a fab place. I’ve even found a nice bar featured in Torchwood where I can get a drink before I head for home.

Don’t forget that Nikki and I are giving a talk on Burma on Saturday the 16th of of September at Chester Museum.

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…