Updated 8th of May.

Fantastic night at Upstairs at the Grill (Porterhouse steak), then met up with a few IVC friend & Glenn (photos from China were superb).

Best foot forward for Saturday…

Updated 7th of May.

Its my actual birthday today.

I normally have the day off, but this year I’ve used quite a lot of holidays going to Cuba so I’m in the office.

I’ve got a packed day, then a superb evening planned with Steak and Red Wine.

In the meantime, I just wanted to say thanks to all of you who’ve sent me emails, texts and ecards, and a special mention to Danny Quinn, who’s sent me a really good meme, featured bellow 🙂

Hope you can all join me on Saturday (see bellow).

*—

Well, that time of year is coming up again.

Its my birthday on the 10th of May this year.

Loads of people from all over the UK as usual, and a few good friends from work, walking group, globetrotters, Newton Heath etc.

No complicated plans this year, well meet at the Mill hotel from 12 lunchtime, then see where we go from there.

The excitement is probably too much for some of you to contain, so in the interim, I’ve posted this superb song from MC Tune which you can listen too.

 

I’ve always wanted to own my own dinner jacket.

Before now, I’ve always had to rent them, and at £40 a go, for the 4 times I’ve needed one, I could have bought one outright.

So this year after re-reading Debrets guide to the modern gentleman, I decided to buy one. And, amazingly a brand new looking M&S dinner jacket is mine on ebay for only £10 plus £3 postage.

A nice dress shirt to go with it, wasn’t so cheap, but I already had a bow tie (a gift from Jason Mayer).

Once the ensemble was complete, it was just a matter of taking it for a test drive.

But where ?

Need a multi function printer ?.

Enter Vaughn Rawson, a guy I’ve done business with for years, who was hosting a summer ball, and invited Nikki and I to attend.

Held at Chester Racecourse the AT spring ball is now an annual event.

The event raises money for the very worthy causes of AT & Sparks (last year raising £23,000 from this event alone).

I had a fantastic time, and its hard to capture it all in writing, but I’ll have a go.

Delicious food, a superb rendition by the Wrexham community choir, a Take That tribute band and a stand up comedian. In between, excellent company from some great people on our table and some folk I met at the bar.

We even won something in the raffle and later Nikki got me up dancing (bystanders said she looked like she was dancing with a chair).

I’d like to thank Vaughn and his wife Jo for inviting us and organising the evening which was superb in every way possible.

A few weeks earlier, Nikki had decided to go Skiing (some people are into that stuff) and rather inconveniently took 2 of my favourite friends with her.

At a lose end, I’d been invited to a farewell weekend for a walking friend, Cheryl. It was in Ironbridge, and as I’d seen the sign above several times on the railway platform in Warrington, I decided to get on board (the adventure, not the train).

For some years I’d wanted to visit Ironbridge.

At first, it sounds a bit daft. I mean the first place in the world that had an Ironbridge, builds an entire town and industry on people coming to see it.

But that’s exactly what it does !.

I left half day, and travel;ed down with Brian. For all the tourism and promotion, on first sight, I still thought it was a superb bridge.

The reason for the event, was Cheryl was leaving.

Well actually, its not as simple as that.

Cheryl, was a cool friend, and co member of the Chester and District Walking Group.

She previously worked in theatre (the ones with scalpels, not Noel Coward or any of that stuff) at Chester hospital.

Leaving Chester to do a course in Birmingham, it was her intention to finish the course in 2 years and return to Chester with things back to normal.

As John Lennon put it well “Life is what happens while your making other plans”. Cheryl settled there, got a good job, made some friends and met someone so she’d decided to stay.

So, the farce, was that this was a leaving do, but the main person (Cheryl) wasn’t actually leaving, so calling it a staying do would have been more appropriate 🙂

Everyone else was due to arrive in the evening, so Brian and I wandered around the coffee houses and pubs and even visited the tourist information, where we resisted the urge to buy tat.

We finally make our way to the youth hostel at Coalport.

Another superb example of the YHA’s modernisation. Plenty of room, bright and spotlessly clean, for reasonable money.

We check in, and wait for Dave E.

Turns out, everyone else is arriving in the morning, so its just the 3 of us. We have fish and chips in the hostel and then head out to try out some of the pubs.

The first 1 we come too, is flooded, so nothing doing there. We head to The Black Swan. Pretty good pub, where we see out the evening.

In the morning everyone arrives and we get ready to go off walking.

Recent construction has “blocked in” this section of the canal. As it can no longer flow, it turns green.

The buildings around are all from the turning point of the industrial age.

Everyone arrives and without further ado, we set off walking.

First place we come to, is the pub we visited the previous night which had been flooded.

They were still clearing up, but let us in to look around.

The Boat Inn has been flooded a dozens of times, and the hight of the flooding is marked on the front door.

The earliest recording was 1934, and the highest one, is in the year 2000.

We continue walking, and its good to catch up with everyone.

Cheryl is an environmentalist and explains that one of her friends calls this area the womb of industrialism.

Heady stuff.

Next to the Green wood centre is Cherry’s cafe (Brian and I had recce’d it the day before and it was superb).

After some messing about with tables so we could all sit together we got a drink and some nice food.

In the background, there is a piece of wood on the fridge, “signed” by Ben Fogle.

In the foreground is Cheryl in a reflective mood with daffodils.

Wander around the Green wood centre (if you google it be careful not to get the old peoples home).

Various stuff for making things from Green wood, similar to the stuff I’ve seen and used at Woodsmoke.

Really interesting, was the accommodation.

They had these sort of wooden tents, off the ground, made for 1 – 2 people.

We continue wandering, and for some reason take in various inner city areas. Good news is, we finally find a cash machine.

We continue walking, reaching this high place with a view across the town.

Dave is briefly engaged by some JW’s but escapes unharmed.

Couple of drinks in the Golden Balls (fantastic name, and pretty good pub) and then we had home to get cleaned up and ready for the evening.

I move out of the dorm, and into a twin room, which is a bit more comfortable.

We try a nearby pub which ridiculously, is open, but has its front door locked.

After 10 minutes of trying to get them to open the door we gave up the ghost and headed elsewhere.

The Old Robin Hood Inn had a sort of Bunker room. Burger and Chips for £5.50.

The hostel had coped well, despite being packed.

Many of the guests were at a company conference (and yet were staying at a Youth Hostel ? Sounded like pyramid selling to me 🙂

In the morning, I got to see how the other half lived. About 25 of our fellow guests, were from a walking group in the North East.

They were picked up in a coach no less !.

Once everyone’s up, were off out on another walk.

This time, were in my favourite environment, forests.

Its a bitter sweet moment. I’m enjoying myself, but I know my friend Cheryl is settling in Birmingham, and I wont see as much of her.

I give her a leaving gift to seal the moment (I was going to give her a signed photograph of myself, but instead decided on a bivvi bag).

We stop in the trail for lunch.

A while later we head back into town, have some Italian coffee and bid our friends farewell, before heading home.

Not much happens in the following week, but I see this picture of Glenn’s son Jack in the paper.

Pretty impressive stuff.

A week later, and some of the same faces and I are heading out the the YHA affiliates meeting.

I take the whole Friday off, to make the most of the time.

We stop off at a book shop called Brierlow Bar. They have a full box set of the Wainwright’s for £50. Instead I’m sensible and buy a book about the Monsal Trail, then and now (a walk I’ll be leading in a few weeks).

After this, we stop for lunch at the Cat and Fiddle. My 2nd visit, I absolutely love that place (chilli and rice).

 We arrive at YHA Ilam hall.

Its an absolutely beautiful building.

I sometimes hear people asking why you’d stay at a youth hostel as “similar prices” are available at travel inn or travel lodge.

I usually answer in 3 parts:

1. Youth hostels aren’t like they used to be. You don’t do chores, the dorms usualy have 4-6 beds, the place is spotless its a vibrant relaxing environment

2. The focus of a Youth Hostel is the outdoors. If you ask ANY member of staff if they know of a good walk to do, or if there’s a lake where its possible to go canoeing, they’ll know the answer.

3. The main one for me is the location. This is a Gothic stately home, and I’ll be sleeping here for £15 per night. How many people can say that.

We arrive in the evening, get set up in our rooms, then get some dinner and a bottle of wine and find somewhere to relax.

The event we’re attending is the following day.

Its a day long meeting for walking/cycling/outdoor groups who are affiliated with the YHA.

Last year I’d attended and found it really interesting.

Towards the end, there’d been a discussion about social media and search engine optimisation. Brian had jumped up and pointed at me, and told everyone I’d know the answer.

I was flattered and with a whole room full of people staring at me, quite terrified.

This year, I offered to give a talk on those subjects and they willingly agreed.

 The conference begins with welcomes and introductions, then straight onto a talk about volunteering.

But unfortunately, the volunteering specialist is away so it turns into a talk on fund raising and the option of leaving money in your will to the YHA.

Then its a break for coffee.

I know my subject well (and had help from Jo in marketing and Dan & Andy from Latitude), but that doesn’t stop me from being slightly nervous.

I go outside for a walk and wander around this church, which is in the grounds of Ilam hall.

Just a little further away, is the Italian garden.

Inspired by the surroundings, I head back into the room and give my talk.

It seems to go down really well, and I get asked lots of questions while being ably supported by the 3 members of our group (including Brian, who caused this in the first place 🙂

After this, one of the trustees gives a talk on his groups new website (using embedded wordpress like johnsunter.com that your reading now)

From here, its decided to break, get something to eat and then go for a walk. I get some delicious lunch, which is complimentary and head straight out.

Its a beautiful day.

So beautiful in fact, that when the walk ends an hour later, Graham and I decide to stay out and do the walk around Dovedale, leaving Jo and Brian to attend the afternoon session of the meeting.

A bit naughty of us, and the organisers aren’t happy. But its the UK, weather like this doesn’t happen every day.

We headed for Dovedale ravine, which is quite famous in the area.

This is one of the famous Dove holes.

At one point, we stop for a brief rest. I realise a couple of hundred metres later, that I’ve lost my wallet.

I run back and some children have found it and when I arrive, come straight over and ask if I’ve lost a wallet.

I open the wallet and give them some money for sweets (or in these modern times, fruit 🙂

Stretched for time, Graham consults the map, next to Ilam Rock.

With the walk almost completed, we arrive back at the famous stepping stones.

As we get back to Ilam hall, we can see it in the sunlight.

Car is already loaded, so we jump in, and head for home.

But the adventure isnt over.

On the way back, we stop off at this authentic bikers pub that Brian used to frequent called the Yew Tree.

A quick pint, then off home.

The following day its Sunday and  I’m inside another amazing building.

I’m working all day on an infrastructure project !.

 

Goodbye to my Kenwood

When I was 24 (and that’s a little while ago now 🙂 I decided to buy a really nice hi fi.

I knew the following year I was going to buy a house, and money wouldn’t be so readily available. I decided I’d make a big splash.

At the time, the Kenwood UD90 cost £900 (I paid it in 10 installments). I absolutely loved that thing, and in good times and bad, I sat and listened to an array of different cd’s (it had a dizzying array of features, but I hardly used any of them).

Today, most musical needs can be provided with a mobile phone and most pc’s and tv’s have comparable sound quality (and also neighbors seem to have a lot less patience for borderline “loud” music).

So, I’ve decided to give it to charity. But for 2 weeks, I’m keeping it set up, and as you can see from this picture, I’ve got all my Smith’s cd’s to listen to.

Off on a walking weekend on the 2st of March, and another the weekend after (when I’ll be giving a talk on Social Media to the YHA association). I’ve also paid the final balance on my Cuba trip in May.

Other weekend, went out walking with the CDWG. One of the best day walks I’ve ever done with the walking group, it started off with a trip to Aber falls.

As we wandered up the hill, it really took it out of me.

Walking across uneven ground, when there’s no path is far more tiring than the alternative.

Once your above the fern line, you have snow to deal with which makes it even more exhausting.

A sit down, sandwiches and coffee from my flask.

And then it happens. I decide to wander back down the valley on my own. I walk carefully, as I’m wandering across snow drifts and ice.

I had to be careful (some people think you can only move on ground like this with crampons and ice axes, but if you’ve had training and your careful, its fine.

Down at the car park, there’s a pub nearby. I find that I’m locked out of the car, and my money is in the glove compartment. Its an hour before anyone arrives !.

For the first time in ages, we go into the pub for an after work drink, and I choose coffee rather than lager !.

Spent some time in our Cambridge office recently

It really is a nice place there, and although I’m busy in the daytime, its very relaxing during the evening.

 

One of my favourite things there, is the Scott Antarctica museum.

Just like how whenever I’m in London, I always pass and visit the British musuem, whenever I’m in Cambridge, I do the same.

At home I still enjoy the picture I bought from there, Grotto in a Berg.

On the subject of things at home.

Just thought I’d put up this picture of my fish, as they haven’t been featured on johnsunter.com in a while, but still provide me with constant inspiration.

Otherwise, I’ve been doing loads of stuff in the house, in readiness for summer. I’ve also taken care of the pigeons in the back garden (I’ve used some pigeon spikes on the top of my drain pipe. I had to fight the urge to just shoot them with an air rifle !).

Visited another office a few days ago.

It involved a brilliant trip to Llandudno.

I always love the train to Llandudno, as it travels right down the coast and the views are superb.

I also saw loads of caravans, which reminded me of family holidays in my youth.

On a different travel subject, I was delighted to read this article about Interailing.

Although summer hasn’t fully arrived yet, it was a nice day last Sunday, so we headed to Ness Botanical Gardens on the Wirral (still unsure about putting “the” in front of Wirral, but old habits…).

Had some nice lunch, and then spent 3 hours just wandering around ponds, tree’s and plants.

A little expensive I thought at £6.50 but compared to the price of say the cinema, quite competitive. You could also bring you’r own picnic, if you don’t want a sit down dinner, and the good news, you can stay there all day.

Well, the 5th series of Jonathan Creek (one of my all time favourite tv series) is over.

I have to say I felt a bit underwhelmed. The actual crimes and mysteries were a bit too off the wall this time. I liked the dynamic with his wife, but considering it was full of “in” jokes, I’ve watched every episode and been a fan for years, but I couldn’t get a lot of them.

Glad it was back, but hope they do it better next time (and should really bring the duffel coat back 🙂

Saw this superb bar at Antique Pine Imports, run by my friend Glenn.

I love it, and think its fantastic. Key challenges are:

1. I don’t know where it would fit in the house.

2. Beautiful stuff like this isn’t cheap. It costs about £5000

For the 2nd one, Ill try this.

Well, today marks the last week for Dan here at Phonak.

Dan has assisted me ably for the last 3 years. I’ll be sorry to see him go, but optimistic about his plans for the future (and look forward to seeing the new van he’s been promised).

In the picture above, Dan and I were traveling down to London, and there was a problem with our Sharepoint server.

We connected the laptop, to the trains wifi and remoted back into the office to fix it (one of the cool tricks you can do with computers and the reason I love this industry so much).

I’ve been a team leader for over 20 years.

Before that, I always said I would treat my team fairly, have a rota for tea making and such like.

Dan has, on occasion forced me to question that, with his near constant back chat.

It is, and has always been motivated to deliver the best possible outcome and not (as I occasionally think) to get on my nerves 🙂

In the photo above, Dan had just installed a pc, and, not realising he was being watched, has put the rubbish into the skip without being asked or reminded.

Over and above our work in Warrington, and the construction of our new building, this photo (for me) captures our finest hour.

We were asked to assist one of our customers with a sensitive technical problem, which affected small children (but manifested itself in a complex pc problem).

Visiting London for the day, we were honored to visit one of the best hospitals in the world and resolve the problem to greatfull thanks from the staff.

On the way home, we had some burgers and pints, and stopped by the Thames for this shot.

Plans are afoot for his leaving do on Friday so get in touch if you want to come along.

The next week will be bitter sweet for me. Best wishes for the future Dan, you’ll be missed by everyone at Sonova and johnsunter.com

I was at a friends house a little while ago.

Their daughter Amy was watching a film called Despicable me, featuring a character called Gru.

Setting up some dashboard monitors the other day Craig walked into the shot.

I hadn’t met him before, but he instantly reminded me of Gru.

Glenn and I were out on Wednesday Chester IVC to catch up with our friend Andy, who we met there.

After all the sensible pubs had shut, we went to the Town house, a favorite venue, we visited on Glenn’s birthday.

Here Glenn is photographed with some hot babes who we met on the evening.

Last Saturday, we were out to see a band.

We decided to go over earlier, and see a bit of the town. Of special interest was the Museum of Liverpool.

I’ve seen it a few times, and always wondered why it was designed that shape. Once inside, the answer is obvious.

As well as a museum, its a sort of viewing area for the 3 famous Liverpool landmarks, The Liver building, the Qunard building and the Port of Liverpool building.

There were just too many interesting things in the museum to list here, but take my word, you could easily spend a day in there.

One thing that did jump out of all the excellent exhibits, was this kettle.

Most of us can remember when the post office ran telephony before BT, and that we used to rent the telephone.

Did you know, that during the 50’s and 60’s, some people were so poor, that they actually rented kettles and other appliances from the council.

A bit more of a wander around, and a visit to Bridewells for a drink (its a converted prison, and the old “cell’s” have ingeniously become booths for watching sport and suchlike).

Although its been around for a while, the 1 center, is still quite new to me, so I love wandering around there.

We went for dinner at Browns. I had pie, and I loved the way there burned a capital B into the crust of the pie (unfortunately, my phone was dead and I haven’t been able to find a picture anywhere on the internet.

We finish our dinner, and head to the unlikely named “Erics”.

Its a music venue on the internationally famous Mathews Street.

I hadn’t realised, but Big Country were in their heyday, nearly 30 years ago. I always remember them from the soundtrack to Restless Natives and trekking across the Alps for 20 miles with a heavy rucksack, with their greatest hits playing on a cassette Walkman.

Again, sadly, with a phone dead, I couldn’t take any photos, so I got this one off the internet.

A can of Carling listening to Big Country on stage was pretty superb. Thanks to Nikki for organizing it.

For no particular reason, I was on the train home the other evening and remembered the Woodsmoke Abo course I did almost ten years ago.

Still one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, it involved living as a 3rd century UK aborigine for 3 days in the woods with minimal equipment (and I mean MINIMAL !).

Well, I recently updated both pages, you can view them here and here.

Sat in the Mill hotel the other evening, having a pint and reading a travel guide about Cuba.

I look up and see an advert for Landrover, which features loads of different locations in the UK and really bad weather.

Something seems familiar about the advert, which takes place on the coast, in Scotland and various far away places. When its on the tv again an hour later, I realise what it is.

55 seconds into the advert, it shows a Canal scene, and a Victorian water tower.

Its actually on the Shropshire union Canal in Chester.

I know where it is, as I’m sat in the Mill hotel, which is next to the Canal, and the advert I’m watching is showing a place that’s 300m from where I’m sitting !.

johnsunter.com goes into space.

I received an unusual gift the other day, from Glenn.

Once the Bennu has completed its mission, the chip will remain in orbit. It will mention www.johnsunter.com if, at some point in the future Aliens have found it, and your reading this now.

Welcome to johnsunter.com 🙂

Out wine tasting the other evening. Had a really nice time. As I’ve said before, its not really my calling, but Nikki enjoys it (and is pretty good at it to) and I like to tag along.

This time, the event was in the form of a blind tasting competition. I did every 2nd wine, and was delighted that I had diagnosed the taste of each wine exactly right.

Got me thinking. This is supposed to be the adventures of an ordinary person, so how about a man-in-the-street guide to wine tasting ?.

So here goes:

Arrive at the venue early wearing a blue shirt (fashioned for someone a generation younger than you) and some sort of tweed jacket with elbow patches. Women should wear bright flowery dresses, even in winter. They don’t look ridiculous at all.

There will be some social banter. If your a female under 30 and work in a low level job in marketing this is the moment to let everyone in the room know about it.

Some people will arrive late, trying to create the illusion of importance (they won’t, they will just irritate the organiser and spend the next 2hrs standing up as they find all the chairs have gone).

Ok, grab a glass and lets get started on the actual tasting process.

1. Oxygenate. Swill the wine around (try not to spill on clothes) examine the texture and legs (whatever).

2. Bouquet. In truth, it just smells like wine to me, but its easy to remember the pronunciation, as its the same one for flowers. Using words like lots of body, or plenty of nose will help you appear knowledgeable.

3. Taste the wine, and then look into space as though thinking about the first person you kissed (in fact, why not actually do that, it makes no difference).

At this point, its fashionable to use a spittoon, so you don’t absorb too much of the alcohol and can continue enjoying the sensual maelstrom that is wine tasting.

However, if your tasting 5 wines, and you’ve paid £15 to attend this gig, you just put 3 pound coins down a grid. Your goal should be to leave as inebriated as possible, for a fixed cost.

4. Discuss. Wine guide will say things like, butter on toast, cigar box, overripe banana’s or something like that. Interestingly, you will sometimes get the connection. If not just furrow your eyes and nod enthusiastically.

5. Document. Jot some notes down on the tasting sheet (You could probably write a shopping list, a reminder to get some shoes repaired or a spare key made. Nobody will notice).

6. Exit. Repeat the above process, for each of the wines. Once its over, make sure nobody is looking, then finish off any left over drinks, thank the organiser with a smile and leave.

In any event, why attempt to become an expert at wine when there are helpful expert professionals out there, who would be delighted to help.

Just go to Corks Out in Chester and ask for Tom. Explain for example:

“I had some problems with the revenue and tax evasion. I want to buy some wine for the solicitor who hoodwinked the beak and got me off. He prefers Italian plonk and normally drinks it with fish”

All joking aside, Tom is a wine genius and consummate professional. I would be frankly shocked if the wine he recommended wasn’t exactly what you needed.

And, with the time saved, you could nip off for a quick pint 🙂

Was reading about Amanda Knox and all that circus.

Apparently, the ex boyfriend was found near the Austrian border. He said he was just visiting his girlfriend, the police cautioned him and suspected he was going to flee the country.

On this matter, I can offer a piece of advice. Go and buy some walking boots, join the Tour De Mont Blanc path, and cross into Switzerland.

I can tell you that the only customs/immigration at the mountain pass is a sign that says Switzerland this way !.

A place we’ve been before.

I read this article on the internet about a failed 100m project by the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26016820

I know a lot of people will be shocked and amazed at my defence of the BBC on this, but I’ve worked in IT for 20 years, and its a place I’ve been many times.

Its called the Bleeding edge. Its when you have an idea and you forge forward with it. A lot of the time that idea goes wrong, you suffer financially, but by then the technology is proven and a whole raft of people who invested nothing, jump in and it becomes mainstream.

Don’t believe me ?

Well, take the humble spell checker.

Hard to believe now, but 25 years ago, the concept of a real-time database on a pc that could run through a document you just typed, compare each word to ones in a list and flag up ones it didn’t recognise (theoretically, miss spelled) was a dream.

Several engineering teams worked on the first spell checker. When one of them succeeded, several company’s had working spell checkers, within a matter of months. Industrial espionage ?. Not the considered opinion.

Truth is, all the other teams (once the first team had succeeded) realised it was actually possible. Up to that point it was a theoretical “could we” prospect and delivered their own working versions in a matter of months.

If everyone “played safe” and (at risk of offending friends and someone I’m close too) thought like an accountant, the technology industry would be a totaly different picture.

No smartphones, no tablets, internet used by academic and military organisations only…

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…

John

Ok, first of all, apologies. As many people have pointed out, johnsunter.com hasn’t been updated in 20 days.

I’ve been really busy helping to organise Davos in my role as director of the Sunter foundation for pub tolerance.

But seriously, year started at breakneck speed when I got back from Cyprus.

Challenges at work, combined with S.A.D., which I’ve always suffered have occupied me.

I just haven’t been able to get moving and do the things that need doing (I haven’t even mopped my bathroom !).

Well, back on the horse now, with the help of my S.A.D. light.

One theme I decided on this year, was to catch up with friends.

Its easy to lose touch, but once done, its almost impossible to pick things up.

Just like frozen pipes, prevention is better than a cure.

New Year was barely behind me, when I got to meet up with my old friend Oliver who I worked with at IBM.

They live in Chicago now. My first trip beyond Europe was to Las Vegas to celebrate Oliver’s marriage to his then fiancé Jessica.

Meeting up with them in the UK was ace, but I had such a good time, that I never had a moment to take any photos. The photo above, is Jessica with their son Hugo at School.

They seem to be quite a forward thinking school from what Oliver was telling me. Each week, the children stand up in front of the whole class and announce any news that they have.

During family week (pictured above) parents are invited into school, to read stories to the other children, assisted by their own offspring.

Back to their UK visit (in the picture above, there’s a shrub growing in the garden beyond the fence. I’m not actually holding a bunch of flowers !).

I was delighted to find that Oliver, Jess and Hugo would be joined by Olivers mum, dad and brother Dale.

The latter 3 became firm friends during the Las Vegas trip, and it was a genuine pleasure to catch up with them again.

It had been decide that we would all spend the afternoon in Chester. Sadly, the British weather wasn’t as I would have liked, considering I only see them about once every 2 years.

As it was, we had a good time and even had dinner at Duttons, and a few drinks later at the Brewery tap.

The picture above, is me, Hugo and Olivers’s Dad, next to the Garden of remembrance, one of my favourite places in Chester.

By the time they went home, I’d had a brill time (and 6 pints). I hope they come back 🙂

From an adventure point of view, some people say they don’t get enough holidays from work. I maintain its what you do with them that counts (its part of my 141 philosophy).

In this case, I get 24 days holiday a year. I was able to enjoy this immensely fun afternoon, for an investment of 1 Friday afternoon. So that’s 1/48th of my years entitlement.

If you look back ao the blog a few years ago, you’ll see a girl who I worked with called Lyndsay, who I later met  up with walking the Gritstone trail (Tony and I are planning the Pendle way this year in a similar fashion, so if you fancy joining us, stay tuned).

Great news for her (and sad for me) when Lyndsay got a promotion to our head office in Steafa Switzerland. Like Oliver, she decided to come home for Chistmas and New Year, so I headed for Macclesfield to meet her.

Macclesfield is a funny sort of place. Although its only 40 miles from Chester, it involved 3 trains to get there. But which trains ?

Gemma at work (blond, owns a blue car, NHS trained audiologist) taught me a pretty cool trick a year or 2 ago. I’ve always considered Virgin trains superb, but used them mainly for longer distance like London.

As Gemma demonstrated, you can use Virgin trains for local journeys, and for this purpose, they’re the rolling stock equivalent of faster than light travel !.

I arrive in Macclesfield.

I’m sat behind 2 young lads who are talking about how its going to “go off” (slang for a fight going to start).

Why do I not even need to ask them which sport their talking about. They aren’t wearing any scarves or t shirts, but I instinctively know they aren’t rugby/darts/<insert any other sport than football> – fans.

Anyway, back to the story and I meet up with Lyndsay.

Its fab to see her, a person so full of life and someone who’s company I’ve always been comfortable in.

With no further ceremony, we head into the town. We find a pub called The treacle tap and have a couple of drinks.

Lynday has cherry beer (quite expensive she explains, but worth every penny). I do my usual trick of asking the real ale expert, what’s the closest thing they have to lager.

Instead of the usual shock and ridicule, they are actually quite nice.

So much to talk about. You can email someone every week for ages, but when you meet face to face the conversation flows organically and is much more rewarding.

I get all the details on Bern, Switzerland, a place I’m really keen to visit. She’s flying back to Switzerland the next day, and before I know it, 5 hours have passed, and its time to head for home.

She walks me back to the station (she is being picked up by generic mum),  gives me a hug, and I’m off home.

Well actually I’m not.

The train has been cancelled and I stand on a freezing platform for an hour (I stand smugly next to shivering people with skin the colour of porridge in my mountain equipment down jacket).

On Sunday.

It’s year end (which will mean something to you, if you understand the nether world of accountancy) and Nikki is working multiple weekends.

I decide that I’ll travel to Liverpool to meet her after work to make the most of the weekend.

I have loads of friends who live in Liverpool. I keep promising to nip over and see them, but never seem to get around to it. I arrange to meet up with Mike Delafield at 2pm for a catch up.

Arrive at the station and wander into a pub called the Liverpool.

I’m instantly at home. The barmaid is polite but distant. I recognise this as the armadillo stance.

She’s used to nuisances and trouble. No problem, its just like the pubs back home in Newton Heath.

I order my pint politely and say thank you without fuss. I retire to a table in the corner, check my phone for messages and then start reading my book.

A weirdo on the table next to me, is singing along to the jukebox. I ignore him.

Someone comes into the bar and I look up. The weirdo tries to make eye contact. I hold his gaze and frown at him. He gets the message, stops singing and that’s the end of it.

It may seem unkind and harsh, but it’s the right thing to do for both of us.

I’m not a care worker and I’m trying to recharge my batteries before another stressful week at work.

If I do the altruistic thing, engage him in conversation and indulge his nonsense, I’ll be stuck listening to rubbish for several hours.

Worse, the event will come to a head, when I go to leave, and the weirdo wants to come with me.

At that point, I’d be forced to tell him to f**k off.

I know all of this from prior experience. Its kinder this way.

I get a text from Mike. He’ll meet me, but wont be be drinking in the Liverpool, as he doesn’t like it.

I explain I’ve neutralised the immediate problem. To no avail. We leave, and head for the slaughterhouse.

I really like this pub and just like the afternoon with Oliver and Lyndsay, hours feel like minutes, as we talk about old times and catch up on what’s been happening.

Nikki has finished work, and she joins us. Nikki and Mike seem to get on quite well, and the pleasant flow of the afternoon continues into the evening.

Only problem, is its quite draughty and cold, when people come in the bar, and leave without shutting the door properly.

Basic pub etiquette. I wonder sometimes if pubs should have a hand book, like the “manual” you find in your hotel room, with the time of breakfast, room service menu and the phone number of a local Dr.

I explain to Mike that Nikki has recommended eating at a converted Halifax bank called “Food & Drink”. He asks if I actually mean “Bar & Grill”. I got the word association, even if I couldn’t remember the name of the place 🙂

Fantastic food and wine round off the evening and we get the train back to Chester.

Someone sent me this picture on Facebook.

I find closely examining the pattern on carpets more interesting than football, but I was impressed at the creativity of this insult.

A modern day tragedy.

A pub near my house called the Railway (which, it has to be said, was a bit crap at times) has closed down.

It has now re-opened as a funeral parlour. If I pass away, I’d like my body to be “sorted out” here, as its quite fitting.

I’m writing up my Christmas trip to Cyprus imminently, but in the meantime, thought I’d put up some fun stuff.

While there, I was so relaxed, that I was in tune, with the world of art.

On Aphrodite’s rock I saw these flip flops that had washed up on the shore. Someone had laid them out like some sort of modern art.

I was inspired and took a photo.

It didn’t end there. A few days later, while walking in the Troodos mountain’s, snow covered forest on Christmas day, I was overtaken by the moment.

Answering a call of nature, I decided to do some improvised artwork, which I later titled “The Goose”.

I was so pleased with myself that I ran over to Nikki so we might share the special moment together.

I told her I’d seen something interesting in the forest and she walked over with me.

Proudly displaying my masterpiece, I receive a mixed response, containing phrase’s like “that’s disgusting” and “your such a child at times”.

Disappointed by this setback, I realised the world isn’t yet ready for a visionary like myself and I decide to  retire from the art-world permanently.

My friend Monika, recently escaped from a challenging domestic situation.

Can’t go into details, but I’ve been in similar circumstances myself and it was awful. Domesticity, is a bit like camping. You go out walking all day in the rain, and afterwards you have somewhere dry to sleep and somewhere to dry your clothes. The next day you go out walking in the rain, re-energised and refreshed.

I can put up with life’s problems like bins not being taken away/an unreasonable customer at work/the price of my train fair going up, as long as when I go home I have privacy and my own space.  Without this, it would be like extending the camping metaphor, to walking in the rain, 24hrs a day (and you wouldn’t be able to do that for long !).

Good news, is that she’s now settled.

As I’ve so often found in my life, its in times of trouble you know who you can depend on.

Glenn was visiting the Czech republic (where Monika’s originally from) looking for furniture. Whilst there, he kindly bought her some cakes.

Cakes, when she’s just had to leave her home you might say !.

Well, that’s the essence of Glenn. He knows Monika is settled and OK and she doesn’t need any drama.

So, just like he’s done so many times before (in my case when my mum died, when I was unemployed, to name just 2) he see’s where he can help, and with minimum of fuss, does something really nice without taking any credit.

The ultimate irony. A guy who loves attention, but when he genuinely deserves it, shy’s away from the limelight.

In salutation of Monika’s inner strength, I’ve linked to a song from my youth on youtube, entitled “runaway”.

Most of this post has been about my friends (plus a funeral home, and some piss art). Thanks for reading johnsunter.com and as I’ve said many times, I’d be nothing without my friends.

For anyone interested in internet dating, saw this brilliant article on bbc news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25636342

More articles to follow, sorry for keeping you all waiting, near and far, and search for adventure continues…

On way back from Cyprus (been here for 10 days over Christmas touring the whole country, which is fantastic).

On my way home now, Happy New Year and see you all when I get back.

The search for adventure will continue throughout 2014…

John

Hi everyone, I hope this post finds you full of festive cheer.

This will be the last post before Christmas, as I’ll be away for most of Christmas visiting Cyprus (more about that later, but some Newton Heath friends are staying at my house while I’m away, so anyone thinking of robbing me will be in for a surprise 🙂

My fascination with the first ascent of the Ogre in Pakistan, is quite well known and running into Chris Bonington on Skidaw was one of the proudest moments of my life.

The Rohan magazine landed on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, and it mentioned that Doug Scott was giving a talk in Wrexham.

I’ve seen Doug before, but it was a massive event and you couldn’t really ask questions or anything. This was a lot less formal event run by the North East Wales mountaineering club at the University campus.

The first part, was a fascinating walk through of all his major climbing projects. This guy has done practically everything. I’ve read about the Ogre extensively, but hearing it described by 1 of the 2 men who was there was something quite different.

He even had photos of the first rock he’d climbed near school and an x-ray of his broken leg (he sustained 2 during the descent).

Literally made of iron, his British eccentricity was proven when his IPhone rang in the middle of the talk (he doesn’t get phone protocol at events 🙂

During the break, we had some drinks and N bought me a copy of Himalayan Mountaineer (along with “I chose to climb”, the 2 mountaineering books I’ve always wanted to own).

Doug’s work with Comunity action Nepal, and setting up schools and medical centres in the high mountains is well known.

He said that he would be auctioning framed photo’s and made no apology, as for £15,000 he could build a medical centre in a village.

When I saw the photo of the tent in Hispar pass, signed by Scott and Bonington, there really wasn’t any question what was going to happen next.

The talk continued, and Doug talked about what motivated people to climb saying while Mallory’s well known quote (because its there) is true, its the tip of the iceberg in terms of wider motivations.

It was quite sad when he went through a list of his mountaineering friends, and how they’d died in the mountains search of adventure.

Collecting my framed photo, I asked if it would be cheesy and sycophantic to be photographed with him. He replied simply “yes it would, but I don’t mind”.

I don’t know if he was joking or not, and I don’t care. It was an honour and a privilege to have met him.

Thanks to N (who everybody now knows is Nikki) for organising it.

Been hearing a lot lately about the economy turning around, house prices going up etc.

I saw this video recently, and it reminded me that we mustn’t fall into the trap of making the mistakes that got us into the recession in the first place.

Its a really good video, very honest, but shot in the classic financial product/my life is perfect model. Only lasts a few seconds, well worth watching.

A few people know this, but my favourite Sci Fi character is Elim Garak from Deep space 9.

A simple tailor who’s also an expert in computing, espionage and military strategy !.

Anyway, he was doing a book signing at an event in Manchester some years ago, and I bought a ticket.

And at the last minute decided not to go. Why ?. Well, in my mind Elim Garak lives on Deep space 9 and goes to Quarks bar each evening.

If I see him out of character and I meet Andrew Robinson, will he ever be real to me again ?. I didn’t think so, so I went to the White Lion for a pint instead.

So, it was with great trepidation, that I went to see Alan Davies doing his stand up set.

Alan Davies has always been Jonathan Creek to me (one of my favourite shows of all time).

What happened ?. He was absolutely hilarious. For 2 hours, I laughed until my stomach ached.

When I went home, I put on a dvd of JC just to test a theory. Amazingly, I still see him as Jonathan Creek as well, so a double result.

Highly recommended.

Another evening out, this time to see Fascinating Aida.

There a sort of cabaret act, described as somewhere between Noel Coward and Ab Fab.

Wouldn’t normally be my first choice of entertainment, but it was funny and very topical (although I disagree with their views on Ofsted).

They sung a few “serious” songs which I enjoyed the most and really connected with.

One surprise was a song one of them sang about growing up. Then I realised. She was a post op transsexual, and had been born a man. A really moving story.

Especially nice, was to visit the Liverpool Philharmonic venue, which I’ve never been too before.

John’s giveaway.

I’ve been sorting through the house recently, tidying up (months spent on the office move, then weeks spent catching up with friend and adventure, have left my house, the poor relative).

I’ve found a couple of things I no longer need.

As its Christmas, I’ve decided that I’m going to give them away to friends. If you see anything you like, just drop me a line.

From left to right:

20 litre daysack, os map of Snowdon with a map case, 8 old episodes of Viz, North Face tent Mules (around size 12), Kenwood food processor, 4 gig usb key, pc headphones and mic for skype and an old (but just about working) sat nav.

On the media front, I’m presently reading the new Wilbur Smith novel Vicious circle.

Considering he’s my favourite author, its absolutely awful. You can find out why here.

My favourite characters in Boardwalk empire and Family guy have both been killed off !.

Blacklist (originally recommender by Glenn) gets better and better.

On the gaming front, Call of duty Ghosts is now in my possession. Nikki isn’t really into that stuff, but me and the fish are really looking forward to it.

I’m especially looking forward to the Christmas edition of Dr Who and Sherlock.

On the subject of Christmas, I’ve had such a great year, that I’ve decided to put up a tree.

I’ll be away most of Christmas, so I’ve sort of brought Christmas forward in my house, and will be celebrating Christmas eve on the 15th.

As you can see, the tree is set up with baubles and lights. The white thing its on, is supposed to be simulated bed of snow.

I got some boxes from work, and packaged them up so they look like presents.

As usual for Christmas, I’ve got my train set out. Different this year, is I’ve now got the Hornby 125 Intercity trains. Nearly 40 years old, its the train set my Dad always wanted me to have.

Some sausage rolls and bottle of Jack Daniels should complete the look.

Well, this weekend I’m off to the lakes for the CDWG Christmas walking weekend.

Most of my friends, know that I use mind maps and spreadsheets to organise my life and adventures, but unless you’ve been to my house, you won’t know about the Whiteboard.

The whiteboard is mounted on the wall, outside my bathroom. I normally jot down ideas, but I also list the trips I’m going on. Its a handy tool, as I will pass by here at least 3 times a day.

There are about 20 trips on the list for this year, with the walking group weekend and Cyprus being the only 2 remaining.

Considering the number of weekends this year I’ve spent at work (at least 20) I’m quite pleased with my efforts.

Featured friend of the week: Monika

I know Monika through the walking group and the Chester Globetrotters.

I’d heard stories of someone who went walking until 3am, then slept for 3 hours leaning on a tree, then continued walking.

Suffice to say, on our first meeting, I gave her an orange bivvi bag as a gift.

Originally from the Czech Republic, Monika works long hours here in the UK as an Au pair.

When she isn’t working, she never rests and is constantly out adventuring.

I help where I can lending her equipment and on occasion my mountain bike.

Other famous thing about Monika. She likes to take photographs, and her “selfie” shots, like the one above are legendary.

 

Well, for the first time in my life, I’m going to be away from the UK during Christmas.

I fly out to Cyprus on the 21st and don’t return until the 31st.

Were touring the island this time and doing 2 and 3 night stop overs throughout.

I really wanted to get a Landrover, but instead were getting a Micra, or something like that.

Ether way, it will be superb to wandering around the countryside in sunshine in late December.

Near and far, have a great Christmas, and amazing New Year and never stop searching for adventure…

 

Well, just some random things before get into the blog post

I’ve been enjoying catching up on TV recently. One show I really like, is Sleepy Hollow (set in the present day, it features a tough female police officer and a latter day English gentleman, Ichabod Crain.

I wonder sometimes, if there’s a balance, in the universe. Is there a correlation of how an excellent series like Black List improves, and the otherwise classic series homeland is deteriorating ?.

Walking group weekend away in 10 days. Really looking forward to it. Full breakfasts in the morning, hillsides in the daytime, bath then dinner and pints with friends in the evening.

As I’ve always said. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I really cant tell you what I’d do, but I know that the day afterwards, whatever the circumstances, I’d be out hill walking 🙂

A return to former glory.

In 2009, 20010 and 2011 I only did 1 overseas trip a year, and they were both 3 day European city visits.

In 2012 I visited 4 countries and up to this point, I have visited 7 countries in 2013.

Next year, I’m booked on a 15 day trip to Cuba. Its a return to the big trip, other-side of the world type adventuring that I used to do frequently.

I’m also off to Cyprus for 10 days on the 21st of December. We’ve rented a car and are staying at various places on the Island for 2 and 3 night stays. I really wanted to rent a Landrover, but I’ve been outvoted, and I believe were now getting a Micra. No matter, whatever gets us around.

Had a meeting with Henry (the amazing guy who’s responsible for all the tech stuff on this website). We’ve finally got a blueprint for johnsunter.com ver 3.0. The main goals of the new site are:

• Simplify site. Improve ease of navigation.
• Easily viewable on all types of media and browser (especially tablets and phones).
• Return of embedded twitter for real-time blogging.
• Update content in many of the older pages, quotes and stuff like that.

Might not sound like much, but there’s a massive amount work involved and were both working frantically to get it ready.

Oh, for those that have noticed, sorry there’s been no update about Dubrovnik yet. I just haven’t had a minute lately, but it will be complete in the next 10 days.

Well, loads of things have happened/are happening, that convince me life is returning to normal.

Last Saturday, I attended a meeting of the Chester Globetrotters.

2 superb talks, one about an overland trip across Mongolia, and another about budget travel in Tokyo.

Both fascinating talks. The 2nd one was interesting to me, as having visited Tokyo, I was convinced budget travel there was practically impossible.

Yet no. Hotel accommodation for 2 people at £34 per night was common and using a 7 day bullet train ticket, travel across the whole country could be achieved (in significant comfort) for a reasonable amount.

It was also nice to catch up with Hanna and Kevin and all the other organisers of the group, who I haven’t seen for months due to work commitments.

Later in the pub chatting about travel, it was enlightening to talk to Kevin, as I had just recently completed reading his book Inshalla, Odssey to the middle east.

The CDWG (which I heard about through the Globetrotters) are also having an AGM on the 21st, so should be a chance to catch up with old friends there as well.

Last Wednesday, I went out to an IVC club night (haven’t seen as much of Glenn as I’d have liked recently, so it was a double celebration).

We had a couple of drinks in a pub called Artichoke.

A few friends (Alex, Giles and Andy) are all growing moustaches for Movember.

I don’t like moustaches, so I’m not taking part myself, but I’m contributing to the charity.

Next Tuesday, I’m going to see Alan Davies at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham.

He’ll be doing stand up comedy, which I’ve not seen before.

It will be interesting, as to me, he’s always been Jonathan Creek, a series I think is absolutely fantastic.

Following Monday, I’m going to a talk by Doug Scott at the Catrin Finch Centre.

Scott and Bonnington’s mountaineering feats are legend, but I’ve always been fascinated by their first ascent of the Ogre (a fascination that’s spanned 25 years).

I’ve met Chris Bonnington on Skiddaw.

He’ll be talking about his life in mountaineering. I’ll write more about once I’ve been.

I’ve always been lucky with my suppliers (that’s if you completely remove BT from this conversation 🙂

The other evening Vaughn, an ace provider of printers and MFD’s invited us out on a social event.

Vaughn, has never let us down, supplies top notch equipment, keeps it working, keeps a constant source of consumables and is very flexible in the delivery of the printing service.

N and I went along to the wine tasting at the Ramada in Wrexham, where we met some of his other customers and his lovely wife.

Afterwards, we jumped in a minibus and headed to Barton Rouge in Chester. One of the city’s best Indian restaurants.

We finished of with a few pints in Harkers arms next door.

We had a lovely evening, so a quick thanks to Vaughn and everyone else who attended.

I’ve lately been accused of prevarication (PREVARICATION !. me ???).

As Picard once said. Belief systems are based on experiences. A disciplined mind is never afraid to re-examine and re-evaluate the conclusion’s reached.

What that’s got to do with the price of fish, is it was N’s birthday and it was time to get back out adventuring.

A weekend in Keswick in the lake district beckoned.

We arrive at our B&B in Keswick.

Very comfortable, spotlessly clean place that will be our home for the next 2 nights.

We headed out for the evening, and had a couple of drinks in town (also visiting the Inn at Keswick, previously the Keswick lodge. A shadow of its former self now, but a place I’ve had many good times).

In the morning, we have very civilised breakfast, organised with a questionnaire from the night before (fab idea in my opinion. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been served breakfast, knowing that fried eggs and tomatoes are just not going to be touched).

Our host offers advise on the days walking (that’s the reason were here).

Were both keen to do Helvellyn and Haystacks. Its pointed out, that frost is at 700m and Helvellyn is well above that. Also, the weather that day isn’t good, but on Sunday it will improve.

He recommends a walk, which is a circuit of Derwent water lake, but takes in Walla Crags.

Reminded me of Rick Waller.

We set off.

It was raining as we left, but just as our B&b householder had said, the walk began literally outside the front door.

We followed the path up to the crags. From the top, there were spectacular views (despite the weather) of Derwent water.

As we look across, we could see the mountains with snow on them. It re-affirms the decision, not to do Helvellyn that day.

We drop down to the path around the like.

Its easy, but one of my favourite walks of all time.

Although I’ve done the walk dozens of times and have even stayed at the Lodor falls hotel, for the first time, I actually visit the Lodor waterfall, photographed above.

Nearby, we stopped for lunch at the Mary Mount. They did really nice sandwiches there, and the extra chips we ordered weren’t even necessary.

One surprise we got when we arrived was what to do about our walking boots. They had really nice carpet inside. Seemed only natural, to take off our boots at the door and wander around in our socks. But what would the staff think ?

As it was, they seemed fine. Loads of other walkers appeared, and as we left, dozens of pairs of boots were laid next to ours at the door.

On our 2nd evening, we had dinner in town. It was a sort of fusion restaurant, so I had Broccoli and Stilton soup to start, and Madras curry and naan bread as a main. Not every restaurant is so flexible.

Above, I’ve included a photo of the famous “Gigantic pie” which they server in the George hotel. Really popular, it was standing room only at the bar, and the restaurant were taking bookings, several days in advance !.

Tragically, the famous curry house in Keswick has now closed down and is looking for a new owner. I real shame I thought.

Next morning, up bright and early, eat breakfast and pack up the car.

This time we’ve decided to do Haystacks. It has significance to anyone who’s a fan of Alfred Wainwright, as his ashes are scattered over Innominate tarn there.

Its in a place called Buttermere, and initially, we had problems with the Sat nav. In the end it took us there the shortest way, missing out the best of the views. That’s technology for you.

Buttermere really is a beautiful spot. I’m going to come here again (Black Sail youth hostel is near here, similar to Skiddaw house where I’ve stayed previously.

We decide to make the trip a bit more exciting, and wander up Red Pike, rather than taking the easier route (which later, would have consequences).

Exhausting work, but the view back to Buttermere was the best one of the weekend.

We continued along the tops towards Haystacks, bagging 3 fells along the way.

As we reach the foot of Haystacks, its pointed out to me that we’ve spent so much time on the tops that its now 3:25pm. It will be dark in less than an hour.

Unfortunately, well have to had home.

No matter, Buttermere is a truly beautiful place, and I’ve just been handed an excuse to come back here !.

Sunday dinner on the way home, and another weekend over.

Near and far, the search for adventure continues…