https://youtu.be/uXu_Jki7qwE Barcelona has to be one of my most favourite European cities to visit on a weekend. The journey is short and it can be made on a cheap airline to save on costs. I have visited Barcelona a few years ago and I knew from my previous trip that we should stay as close to La Rambla as we can in order to enjoy people watching whilst having a lovely meal on the avenue. La Rambla has numerous little restaurants serving fantastic Spanish tapas. There is also an ...
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Never too old to take up a new sport
My thoughts often turn to my late parents when I return to South East Asia, especially when I visit the sea. So here I am at Patong Beach in Phuket, having just arrived the previous night. An early morning venture out to the beach before the crowds arrive. My father loved the sea and was interested in all manner of water sports in his younger days. He swam, snorkelled and dived in the sea. He also loved deep sea fishing, going out with friends in a boat for hours. There were many black & ...
Little old ladies leading the way
I am on the road again - not 120 miles but 3,400 miles this time. New York again for work. As usual I travel on a Saturday in order to get the discounted airfare. Breakfast is being served at the British Airways Galleries Club Lounge. I am trying to be healthy and hence went for grapefruits and tomato juice. However, I spotted a couple of little old ladies ahead who have had no hesitation starting on the champagne at 10.30am! When I get to that age, please let me be like them! I got ...
Eating out whilst travelling alone
I have driven to Bristol for a property training course over the weekend. This is my first trip into Bristol and I am staying in an area called Clifton. It is a gorgeous part of Bristol with beautiful buildings with lovely architecture. I am staying at the Rodney Hotel which is a small old fashioned little independent hotel. Typically of hotels in Britain, my single room is very, very small indeed. "There is no room to swing a cat" is the expression that came to mind when I first arrived ...
Kindness of strangers at the Soup Kitchen
I volunteer to cook at a local soup kitchen for the homeless once a while. The last time I cooked for them I cried copiously. No, it was not that I hated the task. On the contrary, I do enjoy it and put in a lot of love in the food preparation. It was the onions - peeling and chopping 2kg of onions. The fumes emanating from them will inevitably get to me and I start to cry. A good friend of mine, having seen me cry so much, bought me a pair of Onion Goggles for my birthday earlier this year. ...
A surprise school award for David
My mobile phone rang yesterday and I see the school's name on the phone screen. My first thought was, "Oh no .... what has David done now???" "Don't worry, there is nothing wrong," the school obviously know of David and me. "It is the end of the year award ceremony tomorrow and David is going receive an award. Please come join us at the school and don't tell David as it will be a surprise for him." You could have knocked me over with a feather then - I was gob-smacked! I had no idea ...
A contrast of two very different meals
On Thursday last week I was in Canary Wharf on the 30th floor of a prestigious bank enjoying the absolutely amazing view. The rain had just stopped and I could see the skyline miles ahead and the gentle flow of the River Thames. After our meeting, we headed off to a smart dinner at a riverside restaurant nearby. We were served by attentive and immaculately dressed waiting staff. Our meal was cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. It was a reunion of old colleagues and friends and all ...
