Day trip to the Ardennes

Last Sunday I went on a trip with Higgins (from the BMPH3) on a trip to explore the Ardennes.
I've never been there before and I was really impressed. The river La Samois wriggles through the rolling hills creating some amazing meanders. On top of that there were some pretty little towns like Bouillon which as an excellent castle. The castle was the birthpace and ancestral home of Godfrey of Bouillon (possibly the first famous Belgian ever) who lead the first Crusade (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godfrey_of_Bouillon).

The Ardennes is a wonderful place I will definitely go back for another look.

On the way back we stopped off at the "Beer Bottle Museum" just outside Namur (in the town of Jambes, close to another town called Dave!). It was very very odd; I had been told that it would be a good location for a horror movie and sure enough it was rather creepy. Apart from the fact that all the bottles are empty and were behind yards and yards of plexiglass there were dark passages, and odd people who seemed to live there standing alone in darkened rooms muttering to themselves. When I found a chainsaw in one of the rooms I got very worried. Strange place - not sure I would like to go there alone!

Once again the photos are on Fotki - http://public.fotki.com/SpottedDick/the_ardennes/

The BBC's 60th Birthday

It was Barry BC's 60th birthday just after we got back from holiday in Italy. We went to Barry's house in "Brasingsteak" and met up with Chris and Mandy who we hadn't seen for ages (about 17 years) as well as Andy, Rena and their son Victor. The Chris and Mandy, Barry, Andy and Rena, Janet and I were all together in Oman. Lesley was also there; she was in Oman too but after we left. We were all shocked to find how long had passed since we left Oman and how little, apart from a few extra pounds grey hair and wrinkles, we had all changed.

It must have been baffling for the other guests and for Bethany (Chris and Mandy’s daughter) and Victor to listen to us reminisce. I took along a carrier bag full of photos from Oman and they invoked many good memories. I must get around to scanning them in to my computer and putting them on the internet too.

Have a squint at the photos of the occasion at http://public.fotki.com/spottedDick/barrys60th/

Holiday in Bardolino 2006

I'm experimenting with using a different photo server, and have just loaded the pictures.

Have a look at http://public.fotki.com/SpottedDick/bardolino_2006/

More details of the holiday to follow soon...