Shoreham 2007
Shoreham Airshow 2007
Me looking brave before taking to the air (and the wing) of the plane. Wow, it was cold !! But the whole experience was totally exhilarating.
Archives:
2021 - July (2)
2021 - May (6)
2021 - April (4)
2021 - March (5)
2021 - February (4)
2021 - January (3)
2020 - October (1)
2020 - September (4)
2020 - August (5)
2020 - July (2)
2020 - June (1)
2020 - May (2)
All - 2021 (24)
All - 2020 (17)
All - 2019 (7)
All - 2018 (17)
All - 2017 (65)
All - 2016 (107)
All - 2015 (52)
All - 2014 (112)
All - 2013 (143)
All - 2012 (109)
All - 2011 (119)
All - 2010 (85)
All - 2009 (85)
All - 2008 (49)
All - 2007 (2)
All - 2006 (3)
Jan's Blog
Computers and the internet are amazing things. One of my concerns with putting together this site was that it could remain current, yet with all my travelling I've often much to say, but little time to say it. Years ago when reading the news it would take me days on end to reply to the kind letters people sent. Now, with the magic of the modern age, I can keep you up to date with what I'm doing and other events in my life.
NEW YEAR SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Date: 28th December 2009
NEW YEAR SURPRISE Can't give you precise details but I am doing a photoshoot for the Daily Mail which should go out on either 1st or 8th January. I hope it is going to be a lot of fun and I'm giving the fee to the 'Orchid' Charity - which funds research into awareness and cure for three male cancers -... Read more...
RENE MOUCHOTTE
Date: 27th December 2009
RENE MOUCHOTTE Months ago, I wrote to the French Air Attache in London asking for help with my research into the French Pilot and War Hero - Rene Mouchotte. (I understood that Col. Jean-Claude Piccirillo spoke excellent English and wrote to him explaining what I wanted and telling him that my French was... Read more...
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Date: 27th December 2009
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT And I don't mean alcohol. One couldn't help but be infected by the Christmas feeling - one benefit of being in a snowy, icy, London in the run up to the Great Day. Everywhere you looked there were twinkling lights, Christmas Trees, Carol singing, and a general feeling of Goodwill... Read more...
WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS CAROLS
Date: 21st December 2009
WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS CAROLS Struggling to work on Friday - along with countless thousands - and alighting at Charing Cross, I was assailed by the most heavenly sound - a smallish group of Carol Singers. I've no idea for whom they were collecting, just put my money in the bucket. There were about 15... Read more...
RENE MOUCHOTTE
Date: 15th December 2009
For those of you who may read my Blog regularly, you will know of my interest in the French World War 2 pilot - Rene Mouchotte. I would dearly love to get a documentary made about his life. Not only do we know so much about him because of his diaries but I think a vast number of people have no idea of the... Read more...
CELEBRITY EGGHEADS
Date: 15th December 2009
Just a little reminder that Celebrity Eggheads goes out on the 16th December at 6.00 pm on BBC 2. It was an experience though I was feeling absolutely lousy - having only just come out of hospital after a small operation - so if I'm looking and sounding below par, you'll know why. Members of the team were... Read more...
GRUBBY LONDON
Date: 14th December 2009
GRUBBY LONDON Heaven alone knows what visitors - particularly those from Scandinavian countries - must think of our Grubby Capital City. On my recent Baltic Cruise (working) my son and I visited most of the Scandinavian Capitals and were so impressed with the cleanliness of their cities. On my short walk... Read more...
VANDALISM AND PARKING IN CANTERBURY
Date: 14th December 2009
If you have to park in Canterbury I'd strongly advise you to park in the Castle Street Car Park. It's a bit of a walk from the Centre but not that much. Why do I suggest this? The parking spaces are very generous - the venue is very well lit - the price is half that of the Multi Storey - and in all... Read more...
The 'F' Word
Date: 14th December 2009
THE 'F' WORD I had a very interesting experience on the train the other night. I only had to go one station from Charing X to Waterloo East so was standing. A relatively well dressed young man - who I think had had a few too many beveridges - was hurrying people up and in to the train and... Read more...
APOLOGIES
Date: 8th December 2009
I apologize for short-changing you with the Blog this week. The travelling is really wearing me out and trying to catch up with chores and correspondence is a losing battle. I was only told at the last minute about the Retrospectives on 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' - the programmes are transmitted over... Read more...
CALENDAR GIRLS - AMERICA
Date: 1st December 2009
CALENDAR GIRLS in AMERICA Julie Goodyear has finally pulled out of the show on the grounds of ill health. She performed in the first week and has been absent for the following two. Such a shame as she was very good in the part of Cora. However we now have the lovely Hannah Waterman in the... Read more...
VANDALISM AGAIN
Date: 24th November 2009
VANDALISM AGAIN In the words of Victor Meldrew 'I don't believe it'. After my experience at Dover Priory a mere ten days ago when a mindless vandal smashed my passenger window, I parked my car in the Multi-Storey Car Park in Canterbury yesterday from 2.00 - 5.30. And when I returned to it all Four... Read more...
THE REAL CALENDAR GIRLS and Kelly Brooks
Date: 15th November 2009
THE REAL CALENDAR GIRLS We are now into our second week and we are playing to packed houses. It's absolutely lovely to be part of such a successful show - even though in a small part. This week we've been visited by the 'Real' Calendar Girls - Tricia (Chris) and Angela (Annie). They've been to the... Read more...
DOVER PRIORY and VANDALISM
Date: 14th November 2009
VANDALISM again. I've not been looking forward to all the Train travel especially as the curtain comes down too late for me to catch the ridiculously early last train to Walmer - 10.00 pm. It wouldn't be so bad if there were a connection from Dover Priory or Canterbury West where one could link to Walmer - but... Read more...
CALENDAR GIRLS - AUSTRALIA AND CAPE TOWN
Date: 11th November 2009
I understand that Calendar Girls is going to be staged in both Australia and Cape Town. In Cape Town the show will be produced at the Theatre on the Bay at Camps Bay. I would imagine that CG will start off in Sydney, Australia. I would be thrilled to bits if I could play a part in either place.... Read more...
CALENDAR GIRLS
Date: 10th November 2009
We opened on Tuesday, 3rd November to a very receptive audience. We have a very strong and united cast showing a wealth of talent. The play is so well written that every actor has a cameo within their role whether that is large or small. Tim Firth is, in my opinion, a brilliant writer with a great... Read more...
COMMUTING WITH SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST TRAINS
Date: 9th November 2009
Nearly went mad trying to decide how best I could sort out the regular commute to London. I haven't had to commute since I was in my late teens and working as a Secretary at BBC Broadcasting House in London. And then in the 80's I gave up using trains and tubes because of 'recognition' - I enjoy talking to... Read more...
CATCH UP
Date: 8th November 2009
CATCH UP Hi folks, I've been in London all this week with the opening of Calendar Girls and, consequently been away from my Computer and the Internet. Loads to tell you but have got to get down to the Washing, ironing, emails and general chores, so please allow me a day's grace and I'll get back to... Read more...
CALENDAR GIRLS REHEARSALS
Date: 1st November 2009
CALENDAR GIRLS Joined the cast for rehearsals on Monday. They are a delightful crowd and made me feel very welcome. We have the most divine Director - Hamish McColl. He is an actor, as well as a writer and director and his approach is one of building you up and getting the best out of you - as... Read more...
DEADLY WHEELIES
Date: 1st November 2009
DEADLY WHEELIES The other evening - I was going to a Battle of Britian Memorial Fund Function at the RAF Club. Of course I'd left my Poppy at home and thought I couldn't possibly go to the Club 'Poppyless'. So on Green Park station I purchased another - stepped back and fell backwards over a Wheelie Case... Read more...
SWINGTIME - Baxter Theatre - Capetown
Date: 17th October 2009
Even though this particular visit to Capetown is a very short one, my friend and I wanted a night out at the Theatre - and we could hardly have chosen better. I've always loved the song 'Mr Bojangles' and it was really that number which prompted me to book for Sean Bovim's 'Swingtime' at the Baxter... Read more...
CALENDAR GIRLS
Date: 6th October 2009
I don't know whether I'm on my head or my heels. There I was looking forward to visiting my beloved Capetown when Wham, Bam, Alacazam - I was offered Fairy Godmother in Pantomime at Cambridge and concurrently a small part in the West End Production of Calendar Girls. It was a hard choice to make but, in... Read more...
A SPECIAL DINNER
Date: 1st October 2009
DINNER AT QUEEN'S GAP I was very honoured to be invited to a Black Tie Dinner at High Wycombe. So much has sprung from my attending the Battle of Britain Lunch at Capel-le-Ferne in 2007. Out of that came my wingwalking for the RAF Benevolent Fund. I'm always delighted to do anything to help this superb... Read more...
PRISCILLA - QUEEN OF THE DESERT
Date: 30th September 2009
PRISCILLA - Queen of the Desert I had to go to London for a meeting on Wednesday 30th September and thought it would be a good idea to see a show. Both Jonathan and I wanted to see Priscilla - Queen of the Desert - so he raced around and managed to get a couple of not bad seats in the Upper Circle. I... Read more...
ST. DUNSTAN'S - Wonderful Organisation
Date: 28th September 2009
ST. DUNSTAN'S - Wonderful Organisation In 2002, I helped out at the Albert Hall with the Remembrance Day Service. In the Green Room, I was delighted to meet the actor Richard Todd (who my father resembled when young) and with him was an official of St. Dunstan's - the Charity which helps blind and partially... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA - OVERVIEW
Date: 27th September 2009
BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA - OVERVIEW I don't quite know where to begin. The Cruise was absolutely superb - every single facet of it. I accepted the contract because I thought the Baltic trip was a cruise that offered so much in the way of culture and new experiences. And my son and I weren't... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - KRISTIANSAND
Date: 18th September 2009
KRISTIANSAND - NORWAY I have always been interested in Fossils and Minerals and basic Geology and Jonathan inherited this trait from me. I can remember him spending two months pocket money- £8 - on an Ammonite Fossil which he bought at the Natural History Museum. With this in mind... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - OSLO
Date: 17th September 2009
OSLO - NORWAY Jonathan's Grandmother is Norwegian and J has been to Oslo several times - the first time as a baby just after I'd presented the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest. We were staying on a tiny island where one of Veslemoy's relations owned a house - and even on the island we were bedevilled by Norwegian... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - TALLINN
Date: 14th September 2009
TALLINN - ESTONIA Our next port of call was Tallinn in Estonia. We decided not to go on any of the tours but just to have a leisurely walk around the old town instead. I find that there's only so much I can absorb and enjoy and too many museums, art galleries and cathedrals simply merge into... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - ST. PETERSBURG - The Catherine Palace
Date: 13th September 2009
The Catherine Palace in the village of Pushkin was actually completed by Catherine's daughter Elisabeth. It is smaller than the Hermitage but is crammed with valuable artefacts. The one room I wanted to see above all others was the Amber Room. The whole Catherine Palace was reduced to a shell in... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - ST. PETERSBURG - The Hermitage
Date: 12th September 2009
ST PETERSBURG The Jewel in the Baltic Crown. This was, for me, the highlight of the cruise and I was not to be disappointed. St. Petersburg, the Hermitage, Catherine the Great's Palace and the Amber Room, surpassed expectation. I purposely left my Credit Card on the Arcadia when we went on our... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - HELSINKI
Date: 11th September 2009
HELSINKI Not knowing anything at all about Finland we decided to take a walking tour of Helsinki. We were lucky to score a very good guide. (Guides do differ enormously and they can make or break one's enjoyment of a tour. Although they all speak English, it is often so heavily accented and spoken... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - STOCKHOLM
Date: 10th September 2009
STOCKHOLM What a lovely city this is - quite stunning and very clean. I was meeting up with a friend for lunch - we'd not met for nearly 20 years - so I gave the sightseeing a miss. Jonathan lunched with us and then went off to view some of the sights. He did manage to go to the Museum housing the Vasa -... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - COPENHAGEN
Date: 8th September 2009
COPENHAGEN We decided not to go on any of the organised tours - which perhaps was a mistake. Instead we took the Shuttle bus in to the Centre of Town. I wanted to see the Tivoli Gardens expecting them to be beautiful gardens with a few amusements. In fact the reverse is the case - there are some... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA
Date: 6th September 2009
BALTIC CRUISE ON THE ARCADIA. The cruise got off to a great start from the moment we boarded and heard that our Cruise Director was Sally Sagoe - she was the CD on my first cruise with P & O last year on the last leg of a world cruise from Capetown to Southampton. She's a hard act to beat not only... Read more...
THE BLADES
Date: 5th September 2009
I know I've been promising the clips from my Blades flight but each time I transferred them to disc, there was a problem. I've finally bought a programme which I hope has transferred the material into the correct format to be entered onto my Website. The whole flight lasted nearly half an hour so I had... Read more...
BALTIC CRUISE - ARCADIA
Date: 5th September 2009
BALTIC CRUISE with P & O - Arcadia. This will be my fifth cruise in 18 months - so I'm flattered that they keep asking me back to give talks. We will be visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, Oslo and Kristiansand. Both Jonathan and I are very much looking forward to St.... Read more...
APPLE MAC COMPUTER PROBLEM
Date: 30th August 2009
APPLE COMPUTER GLITCHES It's just like making an appointment to see the Doctor and by the time you get there, all the symptoms have disappeared. The Fans on my Computer are still heating up like mad. So again I booked in to the Apple Store Genius Bar at Bluewater Shopping Mall. Yes, you've... Read more...
APPLE MAC COMPUTER PROBLEM
Date: 28th August 2009
I shouldn't complain as, in 25 years of using Apple Mac Computers, I've hardly had a problem but I've got one now. Apologies for not writing anything in the Blog. Got a problem with my computer - fans over-heating like mad. I took it up to the Apple Store in Bluewater last Sunday but it was declared fit and... Read more...
ANTIGUAN INTERLUDE
Date: 9th August 2009
ANTIGUA I have a cousin who works in the Airline Industry. He recently phoned me and asked if I wanted a quick and inexpensive five-day trip to Antigua. Having practically grown webbed feet in what passes for the English Summer, the thought of a few days of Liquid Gold, even despite the flight time... Read more...
WIMEREUX
Date: 30th July 2009
A few times a year some friends and I take the EuroTunnel over to Calais. We usually treat ourselves to a good lunch or dinner with what we save on buying wine, cheese and other goodies. I thought we belonged to a European Union and yet a mere few miles across the Channel, we are able to purchase the... Read more...
THE AMBER ROOM - P & O BALTIC CRUISE
Date: 29th July 2009
Those of you who read my Blog regularly will know that I've taken several P & O Cruises in a working capacity - giving talks. They offered me a choice recently and I opted for the cruise up the Baltic especially as the Ship will be stopping at St. Petersburg for 2 days. I don't know yet what tours... Read more...
CANCER AND EXERCISE
Date: 28th July 2009
CANCER & EXERCISE. Having been mildly incapacitated because of a minor operation, I haven't been doing my usual walks on the beach. On the news this morning it was announced that those who took exercise might be at less risk of Cancer - so I got my trainers, Ipod and set off. It is amazing... Read more...
SPITFIRE FLIGHT
Date: 28th July 2009
SPITFIRE FLIGHT I might just be getting my long awaited Spitfire Flight if all the details can be sewn up. Hopefully I'll be flying with John Romain on 14th August - Please God don't let it... Read more...
CORNWALL BLIND ASSOCIATION - GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME
Date: 18th July 2009
CORNWALL BLIND ASSOCIATION - GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME I think it all went very well. Small turnout but they got very good coverage on the BBC Spotlight News Programme. The Gardening Team were all live wires and good fun to work with - we had some interesting questions and good answers and some fun along the... Read more...
VANDALISM
Date: 18th July 2009
VANDALISM I'm now going to get on my high horse. I am appalled at the mindless vandalism which is constantly being carried out in this country. I've had various cars vandalised many times over the years and it's just happened again in the tiny, sleepy village of Kingsand/Cawsand in Devon. Having... Read more...
BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL DAY - RENE MOUCHOTTE
Date: 12th July 2009
It is the third year that I've attended this function held at Capel le Ferne near Dover where there is a superb Monument of a Pilot sitting in the middle of a huge stone propeller and gazing out across the sea to France. It's a very imposing edifice and I would love to gaze down on it from a small plane where I... Read more...
CORNWALL BLIND ASSOCIATION - GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME
Date: 10th July 2009
CORNWALL BLIND ASSOCIATION - GARDENERS' QUESTION TIME Months ago I was asked if I would chair a Gardeners' Question time for the Cornwall Blind Association on Wednesday 15th July. The event takes place at the Lecture Theatre at Duchy College, Rosewarne, Camborne starting at 10am. This is the first time that such an... Read more...
MEMORIES
Date: 10th July 2009
Last year I purchased a machine which will transfer my old Video Tapes onto DVD - and I've only just plucked up the courage to use it. What Memories there are - so much I'd forgotten, so many lovely people (many sadly now dead) Some of the Videotapes were recordings made at home and are of poor quality but... Read more...
FIGHT FOR SIGHT - RECEPTION
Date: 8th July 2009
FIGHT FOR SIGHT RECEPTION Having recently had a minor operation, I was not allowed to drive for a fortnight which meant that I had to go up to London by train. I don't mind catching the train for a day meeting but I'm rather nervous about being on a train, unaccompanied, late at night. If I have to be in... Read more...
FIGHT FOR SIGHT
Date: 1st July 2009
FIGHT FOR SIGHT I've been a Patron of Fight for Sight for a couple of decades. Whilst I was still a BBC Newsreader I was asked to take part in a couple of Radio Appeals for the Charity. Both of them raised over £40.000 each - unusually large sums to be generated by Radio Appeals. And I still... Read more...
CHEETAHS AT SANBONA GAME RESERVE
Date: 30th June 2009
Last year my son and I had a short sojourn at Sanbona Game Reserve - roughly three hours traveling East of Capetown. It comes under the same ownership as Shamwari - where I took part in the BBC 2 Series 'Safari School' (training to be a Game Ranger). Shamwari is North of Port Elizabeth - either a very long... Read more...
LALINDE - Aquitaine Region of France
Date: 27th June 2009
A couple of weeks ago I had a short break staying with friends at Lalinde near Bergerac in the Aquitaine region of France. Being of Huguenot extraction and revering Eleanor of Aquitaine, I was very excited when a family member - who'd been tracing the family history for 20 years (before the advent of the Internet) -... Read more...
CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF
Date: 12th June 2009
CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF The current series began transmission on 10th June and my 'episode' was shown on the first programme. We recorded last December so in many ways the programme was a distant memory. I'm glad I took part - it was an interesting challenge though there was no way on earth I stood a chance of... Read more...
WALKING WITH MY IPOD
Date: 7th June 2009
Undertaking my constitutional has become much more enjoyable now that I've discovered my Ipod. I used to think it would be stupid a woman of my age walking along with two little things in my ears. However, I really don't care what I look like, my walks now are so much more enjoyable. BUT - the... Read more...
BOMBER COMMAND MEMORIAL FUND BANQUET
Date: 7th June 2009
John and Amanda Romain (Aircraft Restoration Company - of which John is the MD and Chief Pilot) have invited my son and me to a Banquet at the Royal Air Force Museum, London, in aid of the Bomber Command Memorial Fund. John invited me to this function a couple of years ago and very enjoyable it is too - not only... Read more...
CELEBRITY MASTERCHEF
Date: 31st May 2009
Late last year, I was delighted to be invited to take part in Celebrity Masterchef and it's been difficult keeping it a secret. Anyway the series has now been placed and starts transmission on June 10th on BBC 1 at 8.00 pm. You can see me in the first programme next Wednesday. It was a nervewracking... Read more...
POLISH BLUE
Date: 31st May 2009
I've never been too interested in Birds and certainly not chickens and Cockerels - well I've had to change my opinion. My friends Ann and Henryk adopted a little Polish Blue last year (well Henryk is Polish) and initially thought it was a 'she'. I saw 'IT' as a tiny bird when it had just started to try... Read more...
WESTCOUNTRY DELIGHTS
Date: 24th May 2009
Last week I set off on a trip to visit several of my friends in the Westcountry. Spring is a magical time to be in the English Countryside - the greens are so fresh and the wildflowers in the hedgerows are a riot of rainbow colours. I was also blessed with ten days of near perfect weather. I stayed with... Read more...
MT. EDGECUMBE GARDENS
Date: 23rd May 2009
Then I moved on down to friends in Devon who live in the quaint and lovely village of Kingsand almost merging with Cawsand and bordering a small and picturesque cove dotted with yachts. We took the dogs for another long walk in the Mt. Edgecumbe Estate. Parking at the top end we made our way down through... Read more...
AS TIME GOES BY
Date: 16th May 2009
AS TIME GOES BY I've just spent the last three evenings having the most enjoyable time watching 13 episodes (two series) of 'As Time Goes By' starring Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. Just looked it up on the Internet and see that there were 9 series running from 1992 - 2005 - Gosh, I'm... Read more...
THE GURKHAS
Date: 10th May 2009
Thank God for people like the lovely Joanna Lumley - and this is where 'celebrity' does have it's uses. It is absolutely scandalous that people like the... Read more...
GOLIATH - beached at Walmer, Kent
Date: 9th May 2009
I went out yesterday for my (these days) routine walk and had hardly left the flat than I could see something very large and orange peeking over the pebbles of the Walmer Beach. Something rather large had gone aground almost opposite Walmer Castle. I took many pictures and could read the name Van... Read more...
INTERNET DATING
Date: 8th May 2009
INTERNET DATING I read recently that in the USA one in eight marriages has come about through the Internet. And why not - it is the modern way of meeting people and carrying far less risk than being picked up at a party or in a bar. (Let me hastily add here that the very last thing I want is another... Read more...
SWINE FLU
Date: 5th May 2009
SWINE FLU Are the lunatics running the Asylum? I don't know how many millions it has cost to push a pamphlet through the door of every householder alerting them to the dangers of Swine Flu and how to take steps to minimise contagion. Most of what is in the pamphlet is pure common sense and, in any... Read more...
MR. BROWN AND THE GOVERNMENT
Date: 4th May 2009
There have been some superbly funny pieces on the Internet about our Government and it's leader. I can't put them all on but thought this one of the best. 23rd Psalm (amended!) GORDON BROWN IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WORK. HE LEADETH ME BESIDE THE STILL FACTORIES. HE RESTORETH MY FAITH IN THE... Read more...
LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR MARTIN GARROD
Date: 2nd May 2009
Lieutenant General Sir Martin Garrod - Thanksgiving Service Martin and Jill Garrod have been friends for almost the whole time I've lived down here in East Kent. It was a privilege to know them and on my return to the UK I was met with the sad news that Martin died on 17th April. Martin was one of a... Read more...
SPRING IN ENGLAND
Date: 29th April 2009
SPRING IN ENGLAND I will not, and absolutely refuse to, call it the United Kingdom because it isn't any more. Everybody wants to devolute and, anyway, I'm English not British and we are such a mish-mash of races and are no longer allowed to celebrate our Nationhood. Why can the French be so... Read more...
PIETER-DIRK UYS - SKY DIVING AT ATLANTIS
Date: 11th April 2009
PIETER-DIRK UYS Took the boys to see Uys's show at the Baxter. Elections and Erections is a very irreverent look at SA politics and politicians with a visit from Tante Evita. How he gets away with his satire, heaven alone knows but he is incredibly talented and very very funny. Much of the show... Read more...
HELEN ZILLE and Kelvin Lunch
Date: 5th April 2009
Kelvin Club organizes regular lunches with very interesting speakers. Attended one last month at which the Leader of Cope should have addressed us but sent his 2nd Deputy President instead. She'd only been in politics five minutes and gave quite a good speech but was totally floored by the Q & A at the end... Read more...
OSTRICH PALACE - OUDTSHOORN - WILDERNESS - DE HOOP
Date: 2nd April 2009
Sorry not to have written for a fortnight but I've been away and also rushed off my feet. My son and two friends arrived in Capetown on March 21st and it's been all stations go ever since. I'd planned a short trip to give them a taste of the Western Cape and we packed a week's trip into four days. My... Read more...
KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD
Date: 2nd April 2009
For some reason which I cannot fathom this little bit of Information has come up out of order. This should be read after the tour to Oudtshoorn. We decided to go into the De Hoop Reserve and were subjected to yet more dirt roads but we did see Zebra, Bontebok and I think Eland - they were so far away... Read more...
SKY DIVING AT ATLANTIS
Date: 2nd April 2009
SKY DIVING The main purpose of Jonathan and Seth's visit was to do a Sky Diving course at Atlantis just up the West Coast. To save them money I chauffered them on Saturday and Sunday (Mum's School run all over again!). On Saturday they had tuition from a real character called Murdoch. If half the... Read more...
HEAVENLY WEDDING IN THE CLOUDS
Date: 14th March 2009
HEAVENLY WEDDING This week I was a guest at the most beautiful wedding set amidst the most stunning scenery. I can't think of a more romantic setting than Clouds Wine Estate overlooking the beautiful Banhoek Valley and surrounded by the majestic Simonsberg and Drakenstein Mountain ranges. It was a very... Read more...
A NIGHT WITH DAME EDNA!!
Date: 11th March 2009
A NIGHT WITH DAME EDNA!! My friend Doreen organized the booking of tickets for many shows before I got back here and I readily agreed to seeing Dame Edna - haven't seen Barry Humphries' Show for a couple of decades and remembered how much I'd enjoyed him in the past. Then we discovered that it wasn't... Read more...
WONDERFUL CAPE TOWN
Date: 10th March 2009
WONDERFUL CAPETOWN If only they could sort out the politics, poverty, crime and give jobs to all, Capetown would be a veritable Paradise. Today a friend took me on a train from Kennilworth to Muizenberg - didn't ever think I'd travel on public transport here - their trains are on a par with our older... Read more...
LUNCH WITH A TORTOISE
Date: 1st March 2009
LUNCH WITH A TORTOISE You've heard of Tea with Mussolini, well the other day I had lunch with a Tortoise! Friends from the UK collected me to go for lunch with their friends at Camps Bay. There in the garden was a Leopard Tortoise, about the same size as the small one at The Vineyard Hotel. If you've... Read more...
FLORENTINES and WILD
Date: 18th February 2009
FLORENTINES and WILD A stone's throw from where I stay there is an absolutely divine Coffee Shop. It was started up almost three years ago by three lovely ladies who are all partners and one is the Chef. Good combination as no-one is going to poach the Chef when she's a partner in the... Read more...
ALEX HENSHAW - MEMORIAL BANQUET
Date: 17th February 2009
ALEX HENSHAW - MEMORIAL BANQUET Some friends, John Romain and his wife, came over on Thursday to attend a Memorial Banquet in honour of the late Alex Henshaw. It took place at Ysterplatz - the Airforce base here in Capetown.** They are only on a whistle-stop tour so I'm taking them out... Read more...
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - CAPETOWN
Date: 17th February 2009
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Oh, the joys of going to the theatre in Capetown, particularly at Artscape. You park in the garage underneath the Theatre Complex and walk up to the auditoria - arriving looking good untouched by the elements. I didn't really know what to expect, not having... Read more...
TANGO NIGHTS & LA SYLPHIDE
Date: 14th February 2009
TANGO NIGHTS & LA SYLPHIDE One of the many aspects of life in Capetown which I love is the access to a large range of entertainment at very affordable prices. Last week we went to see 'Tango Nights' - a most enjoyable evening with fantastic Tango music. However, we were disappointed... Read more...
CAPETOWN
Date: 3rd February 2009
CAPETOWN Hi folks. Sorry I didn't write last week but I've had endless troubles with the Internet. Came back to stunningly beautiful Capetown and found that virtually all my methods of communication were up the spout. Anyway, I hope it's all sorted now. Yserfontein - Friends took me to lunch at... Read more...
CARMINA BURANA
Date: 24th January 2009
CARMINA BURANA Ooops! Very nearly missed the performance at the O2. Stupidly I hadn't looked at the tickets for the performance time assuming that it would be around 7.00. Then when I reached my son's flat at 3.00 pm, we looked at the tickets and to our horror saw that the performance commenced... Read more...
CAPRICORNIAN BIRTHDAY
Date: 13th January 2009
CAPRICORNIAN BIRTHDAY I apologize for daring to share with you my Birthday Celebration but, bless you, many of you appear to tune in every week and there's not a lot about which to tell you at the moment. The skies are grey, the economy has had it, and there's very little about which to be cheerful so I hope... Read more...
CALYPSO CHRISTMAS
Date: 4th January 2009
Calypso Christmas HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL Just returned from the Calypso Christmas Trip on board the Aurora. We were fortunate that the Bay of Biscay crossing was relatively calm but we encountered a storm on Christmas Eve and that was distinctly unpleasant. As my son Jonathan couldn't take two weeks... Read more...