Sunny Days
The Chelsea Flower Show The Chelsea Flower Show is a weeklong event every May that was traditionally part of the hopefully now defunct annual London “Social Season” (Buckingham Palace garden parties, the Epsom Derby & Royal Ascot (horse racing), Henley Royal Regatta (rowing on the Thames) and deduta...
Back In The Day
Could any of us claim that the past 50 years have been unsuccessful, uneventful or dull? And it’s 50 years since we walked out of St Mary’s Hospital Medical School and down London, W2’s Praed Street as newly qualified doctors. But 50 years on and we’re back together again…..or some of us at least. A...
Boozy Day
From remotest Donegal, we drive back east across Ireland (mostly avoiding Ulster this time) to Dublin where we’re staying for the weekend with Bob & Anne. Bob, a mostly Irish (and a bit of Italian!) American has been a full time or part time Dublin resident for more than a decade and he and Anne now...
Green Day
We land at Dublin airport on the next leg of this very varied journey. The car rental desks are crowded with mostly elderly American tourists who it seems need to be repeatedly reminded to “drive on the left” and are even given brightly coloured (left) wrist bands to wear in case they forget! But re...
Bloomin’ Day
The middle of May is the very end of the bulb season, but not to be deterred, we drive the “North Holland tulip route” north of Alkmaar, through Limmen, home to Hortus Bulborum, a treasure trove of historic tulips. And towns with quaint-sounding names: Callantsoog, Julianadorp, Anna Paulowna and Sch...
Coronation Day
The long awaited (at least by King Charles) and much anticipated Coronation Day is here. And of course it’s raining! (Or should that be reigning….😂). We’re staying close to the action in Central London, but we choose to stay dry (and away from the crowds) and watch the Coronation on television. Alt...
May Grey
We move on from Oslo to Helsinki, where we’re greeted by grey skies and alternating rain, snow and it has to be admitted…..some sunshine. Finland is a remarkable country as the photo below highlights (proudly shown to us during our visit to the Finnish Confederation of Industry) whose current outloo...
May Day
In Northern Europe you always know when it’s a “bank holiday” (= a public holiday) because it invariably rains. And this one is no exception! It’s the first of May….May Day, Labour Day, Early May bank holiday…..depending on which Northern European country you’re in. Makes little difference - it’s ra...
Mayday
“Dr Lee, I’m really sorry to wake you…..” I open my eyes wondering again where I am to see a very anxious flight attendant looking at me, “…..but can you come a take a look at a passenger who we think has had a bit of a turn”. It’s about seven hours since we took off from San Diego and we’re around...