Bye Bye Blackpool for a couple of weeks !!Hello LAS VEGAS!! ah Hu
We are busy packing for an overnight stay in London (1st class on Virgin,very cheap via t,internet) Then 10 hours flight to Las Vegas where we are booked into a Hotel dead centre of the Las Vegas Strip ahhhh all those bright lights ! I will be off line on my Blog for a couple of days SO here a few more Blackpool pics taken mostly from the North area of Rossall beach BE aware that this site will no doubt be positively packed with pictures once I start clicking away in the heart of Vegas ! As the immortal Elvis said ” Ahh Hu ”
Walkabout & catching up with family n Friends
Had a day on the Booze from 1pm on Such a long time since I’ve done this BUT it was Great !! met up with some old Pals & in particular Roy (white haired lad) He was a great looking lad during school years & the girls used to flock round him ! he was also a great pal. Bloke sat at the bar is Councillor Steve Houghton & he is a family friend Getting to Blackpool Tower and note the blokes working at the top.. Moral is to always carry a camera around ! Other picture is my eldest & his 2 boys Good lookin bunch eh?
Sad Day today 13 January 2011 the burial of Jackie Luxton
Today was the funeral of my first wife Jackie, we were together since I was 11 and married in my early teens & having a son.Shortly after his birth we separated and went our own ways (still remaining friends until her sad demise Xmas 2010 I have lots of treasured memories from those early days hence my tribute to her today Her partner of almost 36 yrs
Sam is still my friend ( I often refer to him as my husband in law !!) So today, Jackies was a great send off with white horse drawn carriage & the releasing of a white dove Gone but certainly not forgotten
St Annes (nr Blackpool)
St Annes is approx 5 miles south of Blackpool & was a Victorian get away haven for upper class citizens & considered to be a ;posh; suburb of Blackpool.Sadly those halcyon days are gone & although St Annes has rebuilt much of its promenade it is still a lovely haven for senior citizens ( I am now a qualified Senior !!) The tide goes out for around 3 miles the beaches are still golden sand (also very flat) and conditions are fabulous for wind sand yachting (very popular sport here) The pier entrance has the date of completion in the late 1800,s and a must to visit if in this area.
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- Once connected to the main Pier..The Jetty
Trip into Fleetwood (next door to Blackpool)
Today we took atrip on a Blackpool bus & travelled the 8 miles to an old fishing town Fleetwood. It was once the trawler town on the North West & in days gone by my younger brother Brian & me used to catch a train (steam/coal) every Sunday for 6pence return !! Sadly the railway has long gone & the old station demolished ! The ferry across the River Wyre is due to be discontinued (to Knott End) In Knott End we used to collect Perriwinkles of the rocks once the tide had gone out & our mother would duly boil & eat them !! Fleetwood now is a tired old place and on the verge of being abandoned it is also the home of the Fishermans Friend who no doubt a few off you out there have sucked on !!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
GONE !!!!
2010 ended on a high with a huge NYE party at our niece s house Great food,drink & party pieces made for a wonderful year ending.The crowd bayed for me to get my hair cut !! After long negotiations with my family & friends I finally agreed IF the mob contributed to Maureens (a friend) charity MS I would sit in the middle of the room and allow it !! Maureen eventually collected £150 towards her charity.Thanks Zoe for the wonderful haircut,every one else who contributed or donated
GOING
2010 a review of the Year gone by
Beginning of the year saw me and Annie still at work. We had decided to quit work & travel .Firstly I applied for an British Pension having worked in the UK for almost 20 yrs.This posed NO problem & payments commenced on my 65 th birthday. Next we spent a lot of time looking around motor home sales yard and eventually selected one from Jayco.Annie also put her Post Office on the market which should have been a straight forward transaction but the potential buyer is what can only be described as a Pratt !! dragged the sale on for months after the due date. I retired eventually in April & after letting our house thru an agency (not recommended !!!) we began our Australian tour in July.Apart from the crash (Thank you Insurance firm) we have had the best time ever,meeting some fabulous grey nomads on the way round. Currently we are holidaying in England and have met up with family n friends Special thanks to Annies brother Mark who has done so much for us while the bus is being repaired in Adelaide.To my brother Brian ,Treesha,Jenine,Michael, Annies other brother Paul,Sally a HUGE thanks to you all Happy New Year to you all and those I haven’t mentioned HAPPY NEW YEAR & stay tuned for more 2011 adventures
Merry Xmas to you all where ever you may be
After a very stressful trip from London to Blackpool !! we travelled a day earlier due to heavy snow storms across the country Driving back via Bus was eventful to say the least !! it took 12 hrs and the trip was always in danger of being cancelled any time any place ! Fortunately the drivers were courageous enough to get to our destination London was exciting & vibrant ! Not enough time to explore BUT for any one going to London ? buy an OYSTER card for the easiest & best travel free hassles in the world The famous London TUBE !! Now we are safely housed at my Brothers house I say ROLL on Xmas and the parties !! MERRY XMAS TO ALL ……
THIS BLOG will RETURN AFTER THE FESTIVITIES
London the last days before we return to Blackpool
today we visited Ripleys believe it or not. Very strange oddities abound ie 2 headed sheep,people pulling tractors with eyelids,that sort of stuff !!!! I was particularly interested in grave yard oddities When i was a wrought iron welder a lot of years ago I made railings to go around the tombstones in the Blackpool showing of Ripleys.The evening ended by a visit to the Billy Elliot show.it was brilliant!! the kids were marvellous.scenery terrific & the music ( written by (Elton) was just perfect !! another brill day with just 1 more to go before we return to Blackpool for the festive season thats IF the snow lets up and we dont get snowbound !!!
More London Fun
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 