The Spärrows, Manchester – Food and Atmosphere – a well-kept secret
I’ve lived and worked in Manchester all my life. There are those places in any city that you just don’t generally walk about in. They are shady, undesirable and some downright unsafe. And then there are those places that used to be like that, they gradually attract investment, talent and change for the better. In…
The UK General Election 2024 – we’re about to have change!
I’ll remember 2024 with despair! In all my years, I have never been undecided about where I will cast my vote.…
Da Zio Gianni, Celino San Marco – I was not expecting such a great Italian Pizzeria
Celino San Marco is home to the famous DuePalme winery. I don’t know for sure but I would not be surprised…
Villa Neviera, Celino San Marco, Puglia, Italy – A room fit for a King
Lecce could be described as the capital of Puglia in Italy, located in the country’s heel. It’s a busy city with…
Lecce, Puglia, Italy – Baroque architecture, Olive Oil, Wine and Ceramics
Right in the centre, towards the bottom of Italy’s heel, is an area of Puglia rich in vineyards, olive groves, ceramics,…
Le Malve Cave Retreat, Matera, Italy – Luxury and indulgent hotel room in a cave!
Our recent trip to Italy was at the same time that the 2024 G7 summit took place in Borgo Egnazia (Fasano)…
Matera, Italy – An incredibly Sassi city where life has continued since the stone age
Our trip to the heel of Italy took us to the region of Puglia. It’s the area in the heel that…
EcoVia, part of AutoVia, Italian car hire – I was not expecting a car like this
We had booked a break in Puglia, Italy and arranged our car hire via Booking.com The price of the car we…
Things I know to be true – Whitefield Garrick – Sensational performance and script
Tonight’s performance by the cast of the Whitefield Garrick was probably one of the finest theatrical productions I have ever seen.…
Solar Skirt by Titan – Those damn pigeons were driving me crazy
We had solar panels fitted in 2012. Our neighbour, who was two doors away, also had them fitted. Move on to…
A Pebble for Remembrance – An excellent read by former colleague and friend
When I first married over 40 years ago, I made many new friends. We would get together as newlyweds regularly as…
One Two Dive, Adeje, Tenerife – a refreshing dive with a marine biologist
In 2002, I had a dive accident off the coast of Spain. I had a textbook panic attack, something I attribute…
Lisbon, Portugal – A vibrant cultural city of architecture and graffiti
Getting to Manchester Airport for our Ryanair flight to Lisbon required a very early start. I had booked (I thought) a…
The Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield – Down into the pits with a real miner
Its 40 years ago, in 1984 that the Miners Strike took place. Today the Coal Mining Museum exists to keep the…
Hiroshima, Japan – Sobering and thought-provoking
The journey from Kyoto was a trip along the southwest coast by bullet train at an incredible 200mph. Following the map,…
