Just a few pictures and memories of times spent on holidays and trips. There are a few so I thought I would start with the latest and work back.
Lake Garda 2019
Mid to late September we stayed on one of the popular holiday sites on the south end of the lake at a place called Pescheria Del Garda. Its nearing the end of the season so the crowds have thinned, the accommodation price is extremely inexpensive yet the weather is probably at its best, around the mid 20’s. Can’t say more than it is regarded (surely) as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Bergamo, Verona, the gardens at Sigurda, cycling to Bordelino, lazing round the pool. Next year it could well be a return, then an extension to somewhere else, Southern Italy perhaps.
Majorca 2019
Mid march and late deal break, still very cold but managed to get a few nice walks in and a bit of casual cycling in the mix. Very pleasant day out in Palma too, nice place.
Madrid and Toledo 2019
It’s mid January and very cold. I had to buy a pair of gloves and a scarf from a street vendor for 11 euros. Spent a full day in the Prado looking at works by Goya. Titian, Caravaggio, Tiepolo, Raphael, Tintoretto and many others. The previous day was spent considering why abstract artists like Picasso have got such an elevated reputation. Churros in the place that started serving them gave another sense of history. Bustling place Madrid.
Toledo was interesting. Coming together of different cultures and religions with the main selling point being marzipan and swords. The old city where we stayed was seeped in history and delightful to be in.
Alcala de Henares September 2018
Took Adam off to University for his study year, September 2017. It was a bit unsettling as he was apprehensive about going. We went, as instructed, a week before the University opened properly and, although Alcalla was bustling the campus he was staying on was a bit deserted. We had a good time though, some nice meals out. It was very hot compared to when we returned in January.
Beziers : South of France September 2018
Didn’t even know it existed, which shows my level of ignorance regarding places which are relatively close by. What a lovely city, if I knew what a typical place in the South of France was then I would say this was it. Did a good bit of walking around and an odd bus further afield, yes I would go back and have another look around, there is a lot more to see around these parts. The main page picture is the old city.
Skiing
Probably the biggest waste of money and time of my life. I’ve been many times each one a combination of external pressure and Sunday supplement enticement. Yes the scenery is sometimes dramatically beautiful but it is a dangerous, snobbish pastime, requiring an endurance unrewarded by nothing other than relief when it is over.
Rome 2005
Just around the time I cut back on the hiking in England. This was a three day sightseeing trip and, well, there were a lot of sights to see. Of course it is an amazing city, and I got ripped off by a Roman taxi driver, I got so angry I over-paid the rip off charge, he thought I was taking the piss.
Finland 1989
Best man at Steven and Syrpa’s wedding. We got on okay I think Steven and me, better than Phillip and me (the other brother-in-law) although we got on fine as well. Why he chose me as best man is difficult to say, we were not what you might call best pals, he was just out of the army and living in Helsinki so he must have had a few mates in the forces that he knew. Maybe we were better friends than I remember. What I can recall was that Phillip didn’t go to the wedding, he was obviously first choice but made some excuse that ruled him out. It didn’t go down too well if I recall. We had a week there and a good holiday as well. The stag day was great, swimming in the Black Sea, it was warm weather.
Holland 2007/8/9
Camping holidays with and without the kids. Did the usual stuff, sight seeing, cycling, Amsterdam, tulip gardens in spring. The campsite we stayed on was adjacent to a funfair so they enjoyed that. The ferry over was a bit of a long haul, good though, and we stopped off at Cambridge on the way to the port, had a look around.
Cyprus 1997
It was a bizarre period. We were visiting Philip in Episckopi, which was (maybe still is) an army base on the island. I remember well that his wife was pregnant with their second child as was the sister of the family – Susan – and, while we were there Steven, in Finland, phoned to inform us that his wife – Syrpa – was also pregnant with their first or second child (can’t remember the order) Not being able to be left out of that one I found out when we got back that she was pregnant with the boys. Bit of a surprise that.
Ireland 1999
Divorced for about a year, living in a mobile home in Freckleton, dead end low paid job, but with a good bunch of friends who, up until writing this, I have never fully appreciated. Don’t see anything of them now and that has been my decision. Everyone is a different person at different times or in different situations and I couldn’t be the person I was in that cohort, it wasn’t who I am, too much of a put on. We did some stuff though. This was a four or five day trip to Ireland fishing. No real sleep on the ferry over, long drive to the village, and arrived in the pub at about 8 o’clock in the morning. Four pints of Guinness for breakfast and off fishing. Plenty more breakfasts in the evenings too!
America 2001
Been to the USA twice. The photos below are from an organised trip along the west coast starting in San Francisco and ending in LA. Great experience and I would like to go back to visit some other places in that amazing country.
Turkey : 2003
Back at the bed shop and earning some money. which was, given the state of affairs I was in prior to the returning, a welcome reprieve. Money is important in this life, especially if aspirations are frustrated as they were with me, at the time. I had the space and the freedom but nothing to grease the slope, simple things, like taking the kids out for the day or buying them some essentials they may need, or allowing them to see aspirations as an alternative to the grind, all important.
I got the holiday idea from the window cleaner at Bensons, he had been to this place in Turkey a few times and he said it was okay so I emailed the owner and he gave me some details, prices etc (this must have been the first stages of the internet). We went for a week and had a great time, yes it was stressful for me, how could it not be with three kids? but it was good. Katie made some friends and went out with them a few times, I think she was about 13 at the time so I was nervous about this but it turned out fine, thing usually do.
Majorca : 1985
My first proper holiday abroad, first time flying too, god it was great! The lasting memories are, of course, the weather, I had never known anything like it, hot every day, no need for any other clothes but t-shirts and shorts…even in the mornings. The nightlife, wow, Preston lad what does he do in his home town, get pissed on Bodds and try to cop off in Squires before walking home in the pissing rain…here you start late and just go on, people dressed nice, tanned, still get pissed though. I remember my first taste of proper ice-cold strong lager, good, very good. Went with the first wife.
Isle of Man: 1976
This was my first time away from England on holiday, well the first one that I can remember. I stayed in Port St Mary and fished for pollack, coalfish, wrasse and conger eels off the breakwater. I went back 26 years later to walk the coastline of the island, memories.
Barcelona
There are countless places, of course, that I haven’t been to, a few lifetimes of adventure and still a few remaining. And I’m only talking about what there is nearby, anywhere nearby, so why then do we all jet off here and there? It’s a good question and one that I beginning to act on. But we do go to faraway places and, for George Orwell or the many who read his Homage to Catalonia, Spain was a faraway place. Not anymore of course and Barcelona was, probably still is, one of those places that people talk about. Millions have seen it and taken the snaps. It is a made-up city, riding the crest of the Olympics it hosted decades ago. Not that it is a bad place to visit, or disappointing, I have been a few times, it’s fun and its warm and it has Gaudi. Soul? historical essence? decent fridge magnets? not really, and as for Gaudi’s gaudytecture I genuinely regard the mill buildings along the Leeds Liverpool canal as having greater aesthetic and cultural worth.
But Adam and Daniel would not have been bribed into becoming top of their school year in Spanish with a trip in a barge along a canal. They were, however, promised a three-dayer in Barcelona if they could achieve the aforementioned, and they did it, and we had a great time.
Michael Leo Parker 