Wonderful Whistler

Despite hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler hasn’t changed since our last visit. It’s a delightful village, despite being purpose built and although lacking the alpine charm of some European ski resorts, is a wonderful place to ski. 

The courteous hospitality for which it’s also famous was first class with friendly guests and locals alike. There was no jostling at the lifts and the few queues were well mannered.  The ski trails were impeccably maintained and the Peak to Peak Gondola linking the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains was a brilliant addition to the extensive network of resort lifts and runs

It's like riding a bicycle.....

It was reassuring but still something of a surprise that seconds after strapping the planks onto my feet, I’d remembered how to ski.  I suppose it’s like riding a bicycle; you never forget! But, as it’s been five years since we were last on snow, I had some doubts.  I’ll never be an elegant or fast skier like Nerea, as I suspect one should learn as a child, as she did. I may have once blasted down those steep, snowy bowls but now I'm happy to merely watch others.  But, I still enjoy what I do and that’s what matters!

Yet More Simple Pleasures

We’re told “not to sweat the small stuff” and that’s very true, but yet it really is the little things that can make a difference in terms of happiness; a tiny, wild, daffodil shoot peeping through a matted carpet of undergrowth in the wood, a simple kindness in a shop, a crumpet toasted on the log fire on a wintery afternoon, or perhaps an unexpected message from an old friend.  During 2014, I intend to fully appreciate as many small gestures as possible and when I can, make a difference to others with my own small random acts of kindness

Roman remains

Foolish or not, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I went to view the Crosby Garrett Roman Helmet,  currently on loan to Tullie House in Carlisle.  Some of the 15,000 other visitors had spoken of a wealth of reactions: a spiritual connection with the mask, an overwhelming resonance of history, a profound awareness of its beauty. So, you may be surprised to discover that my own reaction was...... absolutely nothing!  .  It was a beautifully crafted piece of armour that had survived millennia in excellent condition but I felt no connection in any way.  Clearly I’m a soulless character

Cockersand Abbey

If wishes were horses, we’d win the lottery and spend  our lives travelling to places that we’ve always dreamt of visiting or returning to those that hold a special place in our hearts.  But even though our chances of winning the lottery are nil, we’ve decided it’s possible to fulfil some of those dreams, especially if places are close to home. So yesterday, returning home from a meeting, I made a second pilgrimage to the historic, Cockersand Abbey. A small, windswept, chapterhouse  on the exposed Lancashire coast near Thurnham, it remains a lasting legacy of the faith of our forebears

Canal side rambles

I'm not a great lover of the Crewe area as it has too many associations with tedious meetings. And it's flat! Which isn't a bad thing in itself, but the area isn't complemented by the big skies so commonly associated with other flatlands such as East Anglia. So it was a very pleasing discovery to find that the Mersey and Trent canal which runs close to the town is actually a delightful oasis of historical, industrial charm. Walking along the towpath, it isn't hard to drift back 100 years and imagine the horse drawn barges transporting their cargoes of coal

Mr Glis, my roadie

I’m always very thankful that Mr Glis keeps my bicycle on the road.  Being a daily cyclist in all weathers, my machine takes a fair bit of wear and tear and things regularly fail or need replacing. Without his good offices, I would be off the road for indefinite periods as apart from  basic maintenance and puncture repair, I really wouldn’t know where to start on the rest.  So with dodgy brakes causing me some concern just before Christmas, I was hugely grateful that the other day he put up the stand and gave me back my stopping power!