Category: Travel

The Battle of Poltava

Yesterday evening about twenty of us took a train to Poltava. Not a place I’d heard of which exposes my ignorance. I hadn’t heard of Tchaikovsky’s opera Mazeppa either; there is a connection.

Floating Voters

Countries in the Former Soviet Union have a broader franchise than many western countries, including the UK.

Groundhog Day

After such a lovely French sojourn it was brutal catching the 05.28 Piccadilly Line train from Hammersmith to LHR T5 yesterday morning.

Published
Categorised as Travel

Taxidermy

You don’t see a stuffed animal for ages and then three come along, This beaver was an unusual centre-piece at a lunch party in London last week.

Published
Categorised as Travel

Walkies

Yesterday’s treat was a morning walk terminating on a sunny terrace for a delicious lunch washed down with gallons of jammy rosé. There are sixteen of us and, remarkably, still a few spare bedrooms but only nine chose to walk. The others had tennis boot camp with Robert. 

Published
Categorised as Travel

With the Gersois

Flew to Toulouse yesterday; the thirteenth ‘plane I’ve been on so far this year. The trip is a belated birthday weekend staying with friends in the Gers.

Published
Categorised as Local, Travel

Viking Sky

I was in a City wine bar drinking a glass of the house white with a friend who started telling me about her holiday last month.

Published
Categorised as Travel

International Driving Permit

I have happy memories of skiing holidays in the 1970s. The pattern was to load up a VW Golf and leave London after work on Friday evening to catch a channel ferry.

Published
Categorised as Travel

Conversations

On an Election Observation Mission there are opportunities to chat, not always about election methodology. A UK observer told me that he had been Master and huntsman of the Pimpernel beagles and jolly smart he must have looked in his uniform: green coat, old gold collar, green stockings and black cap.

Observations

There was a distinct end of term feeling yesterday morning as we loaded our trunks on the coach taking us to the airport. I was looking forward to getting home but I will be back soon for Round Two of the Presidential Election.

Published
Categorised as Travel