Gullible's Travels

Wine Tasting - Albea 2026

2026-06-03T18:00:00.000+01:00

Alberobello, Puglia, Italy. Wednesday 03-June-2026.

We first went to Albea for a tasting back in September 2022. This return visit was prompted by having some friends to stay who wanted to do wine tastings. Our previous visit focused more on the mechanics: sourcing of the grapes and the production of the wine. This time, with a different host, we learnt much more about the history of the company.

A quick visit to the barrel room where our host, Nico, explained a bit about the history and current ethos of the company.

Some long while ago we were told that the French used to import large quantities of southern Italian wine to boost their own production. We had thought it was to make their poor quality wines fruitier, higher in alcohol and more saleable. As a result of this tasting we learnt a more nuanced story. It actually goes back to the late 1800s when phylloxera ravaged the French vineyards but hadn’t made it down south. With ravaged vines in France, the vignerons looked to southern Italy to augment their production.

Albea was founded in 1905 and was deliberately positioned next to the railway line for ease of logistics, shipping tankers full of wine up north to France. Apparently, other Puglia wineries did the same. As French vineyards gradually recovered by replanting vines on American root stock the demand for their wines dropped but a new market opened up in northern Italy for making vermouth.

In the 80s that market started to get a little more challenging so they decided to switch away from bulk wine to bottles. At the same time they started on a program of working with twelve selected farmers to improve the quality of the grapes. Previously Farmers were paid by sugar content or redness of the grapes - a payment mechanism that encouraged high yield probably at the expense of quality.

We had also been previously told that a number of other producers such as Leone di Castris also decided to go down the quality route at that time. If I were cynical, I could posit that it was as much driven by changing the market forces as it was a desire to improve quality as there was a market for well produced wines.

That was followed by a quick trip through the museum (it was hot!) and we ended up in a large function / tasting room.

1. Odegitria White Metodo Classica Pas Dosé 12.5%.

sparkling.

2. Il Selva DOC Locorotondo Superiore.

The Locorotondo DOC is an appellation created in the 1980s based upon the mix of grapes grown in the area, predominantly Verdeca. Aged in barrique following fermentation for eight months then in bottle for another six. Some of the wine was matured in clay pots and blended to get the best wine they could.

3. Petrarosa Primitivo Rosato IGP 12.5%.

I don’t know whether it is my imagination, but I think I see a shift in the great varieties used for Rose. When Susumaniello started appearing in its red form that was swiftly followed by the rosé version. We are now seeing rosé made from the more intense red varieties such as Primitivo and Negroamaro.

4. Lei Bianco D'Italia 13.5%.

They produce two ranges of wine. We were tasting the top tier wines. Their second range is called Due Trulli at a more affordable price point. What one winemaker in Australia euphemistically described as “lifestyle wine”.

5. Susumaniello Puglia IGP 13.5%.

The current raising star grape variety.

6. Petranera Primitivo IGP 14.5%.

My favourite Puglian great variety coming in at a hefty 14.5%.

7. Sol Primitivo IGP 15%.

An interesting compare-and-contrast with the previous Primitivo. If I recall correctly, we preferred the Petranera.

6. Lui Nero Di Troia IGP 14%.

Another single variety wine. They don’t seem to be going in for blends apart from the Locorotondo DOC. We all liked this wine and tought it a much more complex and interesting than the other reds.

Line up at the end (minus the sparkling).

A very interesting and enjoyable tasting. It just goes to show that doing a repeat is worthwhile.

Wine Tasting - Weno

2026-05-29T17:45:00.000+01:00

Locorotondo, Puglia, Italy. Friday 29-May-2026.

Another wine tasting organised while our friends were visiting. This time a niche producer, Weno, who only produce sparkling wine and only by the traditional champagne method. We first encountered their wines in Vineria Del Borgo last year as recommended by an excellent and very knowledgeable waiter. We subsequently went to Weno's cantina to buy some of their wine. This year we thought it would be a great place to revisit for a full tasting.

We got much more than just the wine tasting that we were expecting. The owners popped us into their people mover and drove us out to a couple of their vineyards to see their work-in-progress. Previous vintages have been made using a mix of their own grapes plus some bought from local farmers but now they are planting their own vineyards to be as self sufficient as possible.

The first vineyard we visited was only planted last year and consists of Susumaniello grapes. Even this year you could see tiny grapes but it will be two or three years before the first harvest is possible.

These vines are being trained by the Guyot method - developed by Jules Guyot in 1860s and now found all over the world, especially Burgundy.

Next stop was a vineyard they planted with Susumaniello two years ago. It was previously a barren field which they converted into a viable field using heavy machinery, including one we nicknamed the rock muncher when they did the same to a field next to us some years ago [Rock Muncher].

Our hosts Mino Zanzariello and wife Alma giving us the background to this field and their plans.

The first year vines having reached the first wire were then bent through 90° to run along to the adjacent vine and trimmed off there. The effect is a linear grapevine running the entire length of the row at about 80 cm off the ground. The shoots from that horizontal line will be trained upwards to the second row of wires from which the grapes will hang and be harvested. This creates a canopy of foliage to protect the grapes from the sun.

They explained that they had several small plots around the area including an established one at their trulli. This will be where they will be holding their tastings in future but as they are currently renovating it, including turning a large cisterna into a tasting room, we were were not able to visit that property.

They do not have a winery as their friends press the grapes, do the first fermentation and bottling for them.

Back at the cantina these are stacks of the wine quietly undergoing the second fermentation which generates the bubbles.

There were rows and rows of bottles standing on their heads in special racks called pupitres exactly as we had seen in Champagne. These are wines that are rotated regularly and tilted each time so that the yeast gradually works its way down into the neck of the bottle. A process known as riddling (remuage in French).

The bottoms of the bottles have a chalk mark so that when doing the rotations it is possible to tell which ones have been processed and how far. Although their production is relatively small (50k bottles per annum) they told us that the place was too small and they are looking for new premises.

Mavù Verdeca Vino Spumante Pas Dosé Valle d'itria IGP. 12%.

Finally back into the tasting room for the first of the three styles they produce: zero dosage (no added sugar) and 100% Verdeca.

Mavù Susamenello Rosato Vino Spumante Pas Dosé Valle d'itria IGP. 12%.

Next step their rosé, 100% Susamenello.

There was a selection of nibbles to go with the tasting.

Mavù Maresco Bianco Vino Spumante Pas Dosé Valle d'itria IGP. 12%.

Third in the tasting, 100% Maresco. It is an ancient, rare white grape native to the Puglia region of southern Italy, specifically the Itria Valley near Locorotondo. For decades, Maresco was an "unofficial" variety. Because it was so rare and only found in small quantities in old, mixed vineyards, it was not initially included in the Italian National Registry of Vine Varieties.

Fascinating to taste three different grapes vinified the same way. We liked all three so had to buy two of each.

Wine Tasting - Montemarcuccio

2026-05-28T18:30:00.000+01:00

Cisternino, Puglia, Italy. Thursday 28-May-2026.

We first tasted Montemarcuccio‘s Prima Filari in Osteria Bell’Italia. It was so tasty we went hunting for it in the local supermarkets but were unable to find any. We then learnt that, at the time, they only supplied to the trade. However, our friend Chris was able to make direct contact and persuade them to sell her a case to split with us. Then we learnt that the mother of the family ran a dress shop in nearby Casalini and that if we went to the shop we could buy their wine there.

Fast forward a couple of years and Montemarcuccio built a tasting room a couple of kilometres out of town. We used the occasion of friends visiting to book a tasting. The tasting was lead by Antonio, the son of the family.

Served with salami, cheese and taralli.

1. Fós Bianco Frizzante Valle D'Itria IGP 11%.

Made from a blend of Verdeca, Bianco d'Alessano and Minutolo. Very refreshing.

2. Fós Rosato Frizzante Valle D'Itria IGP 11%.

No varietals specified.

3. Fós Primi Filari Verdeca Valle D'Itria IGP 12.5%.

Unsurprisingly we very much enjoyed this wine. We have been drinking a lot more Verdeca recently, this is a great example and one we regularly have at home.

4. Miranto Rosato Ottavianello Valle D'Itria IGP 12.5%.

The Ottavianello is an alias for the Cinsaut grape, a heat tolerant variety which makes it suitable for this area. The wine is named after the children of the family - Miranda and Antonio (who lead this tasting)

5. Elphis Red Ottavianello Valle d'Itria IGP 12.5%.

The same grape but in the full red version. Soft and fruity, we did not like this as much as the others.

Itrio Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

To quote their website, "The name Itrio recalls our land, the Itria Valley , but also celebrates the harmony of the trio of varieties that make up the blend: Ogliarola, with its delicate and soft taste, Toscanina, which gives elegance and intensity and Cellina di Nardò, which gives depth and character." We tasted this oil on bread and it was lovely.

Their full range displayed.

Of course we could not leave empty handed and came away with a couple of bottles.

City Break - Lecce

2026-05-24T23:31:00.000+01:00

Lecce, Puglia, Italy. Friday/Sunday 22/24-May-2026.

We wanted to be in Lecce on the Sunday for Cortili Aperti (Open Courtyard). Rather than drive down to Lecce and back for parkrun on Saturday and then do it all again on Sunday we decided to treat ourselves to a little mini break and halve the drive time. We booked ourselves an economically priced room 15 minutes walk from the old town rather than pay top dollar to be in the centre.

Friday 22-May-2026.

Checked into the apartment then went out for a walk round town, a aperitive on the main street for people watching and a supper at Restaurant Pezzetto.

Saturday 23-May 2026.

Salento 23/05/26 29:26 [12/28]

On Saturday morning we enjoyed an extra hour in bed and a 20 minute drive instead of our usual hour and ten minutes.

One of the visitors was an Australian who was staying in Lecce and had got up horribly early to get a bus to somewhere near parkrun. So we offered him a lift back into town where he could get some much-needed sleep having been out drinking late the night before.

The afternoon was spent wondering about the town including the fascinating Faggiano Museum. A fascinating home-turned-museum, where sewerage excavations led to the chance discovery of previous occupations all the way back to the Messapian culture of the 5th century BC, Roman crypts, medieval walls, Jewish insigna and Knights Templar symbols in the rooftop tower. The house itself dates to the 12th century and was used for a period as a convent.

Mary spotted boards in the Roman amphitheatre indicating that it was either now open to the public or would be soon. Previously it could only be viewed by looking down into it from street level but we saw this too late to investigate but resolved to check it out later.

Then we had an interesting wine and food tasting at La Strada Del Vini. As the nibbles were not too large we were able to squeeze in a light supper later that evening at Tranquillo.

Sunday 24 May 2026.

Sunday was Cortili Aperti in Lecce. A bit like Open House in the UK but in Lecce's case it is their fabulous courtyards that are opened to the public. Hidden behind the huge wooden doors of many of their palazzi (grand houses) are lush gardens, ornamental architecture and evidence of previous epochs, even going back to Messapian times (7th to 3rd centuries BC).

We last visited Cortili Aperti in 2011 and it was a delight to return. We planned a morning timetable taking in some of the most interesting buildings combined with dance, music and theatre performances.

First stop Marcelline Institute of Culture and Languages promising "Scenes from a 19th-century ball, featuring dances and costumes typical of the Romantic bourgeois period." There was a real Jane Austin vibe about the whole event.

Unfortunately our planned itinerary all went awry when the performance in our first stop started more than 30 minutes later than timetabled. But it was worth the wait, especially as, unexpectedly, a friend from parkrun was performing.

Onwards to continue our itinerary. Several of the houses had live music.

Castello Carlo V, one of the most important monuments in Lecce, constructed in the Norman era (10-12 AC) and actively used since, transformed into a barracks late 19th century and now a museum. Suitably imposing fortress with square towers and sharp angles - about as unwelcoming as they could be.

Between 10am and 1pm we saw around a dozen buildings or courtyards, walked about 6km and then we were done.

As there was a break in the programme between 1pm and 4pm, it was time for a lovely lunch and a rest in the Giardini Publici before heading back to the car and Cisternino.

Back home we went for a sundowner at Quirico and were treated to a religious parade for Maria Ausiliatrice (Mary the Helper) down the street. A procession of the devout.

Followed by the Madonna on an electric float then a brass band. Apparently to be followed by a solemn mass.

Finally supper at home. A cracking weekend.

Lecce Wine and Food Tasting

2026-05-23T19:00:00.000+01:00

Lecce, Puglia, Italy. Saturday 23-May-2026.

After parkrun we did a little wandering around Lecce centre and a deliberately light lunch because we had booked a wine and food tasting at La Strada del Vino. Obviously, we are well acquainted with the main grape varieties of Puglia, but it is always nice to find new producers. Our host gave us a bit of background on each wine including where the grapes are grown but unfortunately we did not take any notes.

The food tasting was a platter of antipasti, each one chosen to go with a different wine.

1. Flaminio Verdeca Bianco IGP Salento from Vallone.

Verdeca is currently our preferred white wine so it’s nice to try yet another. This was paired with three different cheeses. More info on the wine...

2. Flaminio Rosé Wine Negroamaro D.O.P. Brindisi 2025 from Vallone.

This is made from the Negroamaro grape which makes a classic Puglian red. The rosato is made by allowing the juice to remain in contact with the skins for only a couple of hours before vinification to extract a modest amount of colour. Apparently the grapes for this are grown near the sea and hence, according to our host, it has a slightly salty taste. We could definitely detect a pleasant minerality. More info on the wine...

This was paired with a very tasty bruschetta with olives, tomato and capers. Mary is always a fan of anything with capers!

3. Versante Rosso Negroamaro IGP Salento 2025 from Vallone.

Same grape, same producer, same vintage but this time a longer skin contact gives us the full red version. This was paired with a spicy salami. This red really brought out the spiciness in the food. More info on the wine...

4. Neprica Primitivo 2024 from Tomaresca.

I was pleased to see this Primitivo in the tasting as it is I my preferred grape variety; often high in alcohol and sugar. Puglia is a big producer of almonds so they decided to pair it with almond biscuits. Not hard crunchy ones like cantucci but something a little softer. More info on the wine...

We also learned that Marchesi Antinori (a company and a dynasty), better known for their Super Tuscans, acquired the Tormaresca winery in 1998 which says something of the high esteem in which they hold this winery and area.

We had a very pleasant chat with Grace and Jill on the next table who were on their first visit to Puglia and seemed to be suitably impressed. We came away having had a pleasant time with a couple of producers to look out for and more background on the Puglian wine industry.

City Break - Palermo

2026-05-10T19:56:00.000+01:00

Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Thursday/Sunday 07/11-May-2026.

Of course it was parkrun that triggered this trip. We had heard that Uditore parkrun was at risk of closure. So we decided we would pop over for the weekend to visit Palermo for the first time and to tick this parkrun off the list.

Thursday 07-May-2026.

A mid afternoon flight so a mid morning start - very civilised times for a Ryanair flight. A drive to the long-stay car park and we had a late lunch airside before our 15:00 flight. The flight is only one hour long so it was over almost before it began.

Our apartment was lovely but a bit inconvenient for travel into town so for our first night we decided to stay local. We found a nearby highly rated fish Ristorante Pescheria CB Sea Food but we made mistakes in the ordering. They offered a €40 four course deal. First mistake was choosing a primo that had many of the same ingredients as the secondi.

The second problem was their quantities were very generous and we were so stuffed we had to forgo half the main course and the dolce.

The first couple of starters were delicious.

Sadly the other two starters were disappointing - the limpets were chewy like rubber and gritty - not a pleasant experience. The seafood paella was ok but a little stodgy.

The primi was seafood risotto which was tasty. The secondi course was mixed fried seafood with all the same components as the paella and the risotto but deep fried so not enough contrast in terms of taste and texture. Sadly I would not go back there again.

On the other hand the white wine was delicious. Grillo is a local grape variety and we were impressed by the exotic, floral notes.

Friday 08-May-2026.

A full day of doing the tourist stuff. One of the interesting things about Palermo (and Sicily in general) is the mix of architectural styles: Roman, Norman, Arabic, Byzantine, etc. reflecting the different invasions over the centuries.

Our first stop was the tourist information office where the very helpful chap gave us a map of the city and sketched out some of the key places to visit. He highlighted the sights for us to visit and gave us a brief description of why they were important.

First stop: Quattro Canti (Four Songs), the main crossroads that marks the centre of the old town.

From there we walked up to the main cathedral. We bought a ticket that gave us entry to the main building, the crypt where a number of Roman sarcophagi had been repurposed for mediaeval bishops, the treasury where religious gold and silver artifacts were on display, and the rooftop.

The viewer from the roof was spectacular but a little scary. I’m not a huge fan of heights, but the railings were sturdy and I kept to the centre of the walkway where possible.

We then continued west to the Royal Palace and explored the area around there, passing the Porta Nuova.

We had a wander around the church of San Giovanni degli Eremitio which had been the mosque at one point. A fascinating mix of Islamic domes, Romanesque cloister ruins and tranquil gardens.

Next, as advised by the man at tourist information, we went down to Ballarò market area and found ourselves a lunch spot at Greta’s where Mary had a delicious Caponata (a traditional Sicilian dish) with added swordfish. We have made it at home twice since we got back and it will be entering our standard repertoire.

After lunch, we’re headed north for a tour of the Teatro Massimo. We took a bilingual, guided tour of this fascinating concert venue, built around the same time as the Royal Albert Hall but more ornate.

Like the Royal Albert Hall, it has seating in a horse shoe shaped auditorium and tiers of boxes plus a Royal Box which we got to see.

In the grounds of the theatre was this entertaining art installation of garden gnomes crossed with the Terracotta Army, a temporary art exhibition by Italian artist Max Papeschi titled Extinction: The Twilight of the Gnomes. The installation, described as a "dystopian" army, serves as a critique of modern society, aiming to highlight hypocrisy regarding peace, war, and environmental destruction.

For supper we decided to head down to Notarbartolo which seems to be the Clapham Junction of Palermo where there were plenty of well rated restaurants. Being a tourist is thirsty work so we went for a cocktail before dining. Mary had this very tasty melon version of an aperol spritz while I, of course, had to try a local Palermo gin and tonic.

While there we were stunned to spot a K6 Telephone box across the road! The shop behind was called Cabine Inglese.

We had a very nice meal at a restaurant coincidentally called Terracotta.

Saturday 09-May-2026.

Uditore 09/05/26 29:35 [13/39].

Uditore parkrun in Palermo today on a lovely day, albeit a bit hotter than we are currently used to. The oldest parkrun in Italy, two weeks away from their 11th birthday and at risk of closure! According to the petition for the park supporters, which stands at over 25,000 signatures:

"Uditore Park represents one of the few green spaces within the urban context of Palermo, providing a vital space for relaxation, sports, and community gatherings. Unfortunately, by 2026, the existence of this urban and social asset could be at risk due to a lack of funding from the Sicilian Region. This situation is unacceptable, both for environmental conservation and for the well-being of the local community.".

The latest success is that the water meter has been replaced thanks to generous donations from supporters. The ball is now in the court of the authorities..

Today, as well as the park runners and walkers, it was well used by all sorts of people: people walking and running the paths, families with children in the play parks, older kids chattering on the grass, dogs being walked and playing in the large dog parks and a bunch of martial artists practising with real, very scary looking swords!

In an area full of high-rise flats, this would be a significant loss to the community as well as the parkrun family.

Lovely to meet up with the five fellow tourists from the UK.

Back to the apartment for the obligatory (and necessary) shower and straight back into town. First stop a delicious, light, salad lunch at Bar Al Capriccio.

We went down to the old harbour which was lovely and went in to the nearby Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria della Pietà.

Porta Felice down by the harbour.

We then had an hour to spare before a booked wine tasting so we popped into the botanical gardens which were excellent. We spent a very pleasant time wandering around.

What I liked was that the informative plaques not only told you what they were and where they were from but also included a small item of trivia for every single one.

The wine tasting was at at Bottega Monteleone. The selection of wines was interesting, representing some of the range produced locally (one each of sparkling, white, rose, red and sweet) and we liked them all. The food pairings worked well and they were very good at adapting to cater for Mary’s lactose intolerance. Full write up at Sicilian Wine Tasting With Snacks.

After the gastronomic indulgences of the first couple of nights we decided to go for a simple pizza at the highly rated Alex Bar - Pizzeria near our apartment.

Sunday 10-May-2026.

Because of the timings we did not have any opportunity for doing tourist stuff on Sunday. We packed up, cleared out of the apartment and sat in the garden enjoying the sunshine for an hour. Then headed off to the airport which took two hours by public transport, got ourselves our airside and had a snack lunch.

The flight landed 10 minutes ahead of schedule and with no formalities to go through we were off and away back to Cisternino in record time for an aperitivo at Oltramura and a meal at Chirico.

Sicilian wine tasting with snacks

2026-05-09T19:30:00.021+01:00

Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Saturday, 10 May 2026.

We booked this excellent food and wine pairing at Bottega Monteleone through Get My Guide. I can do no better than quote Mary’s review:

"We booked for their wine tasting with food and loved it, would definitely recommend to others. A great opportunity to try some unfamiliar wines and local food.

We could not have asked for better - our waiter was friendly and very knowledgeable, telling us all about each wine and the food before we tasted them and in perfect English.

The selection of wines was interesting, representing some of the range produced locally (one each of sparkling, white, rose, red and sweet) and we liked them all. The food pairings worked well and they were very good at adapting to cater for my lactose intolerance.

As other people have noted, wine portions were generous, allowing to taste the wine without and with the food and still have plenty to savour. The five food tastings were equivalent to a light meal.

We were sat a table with a lovely couple and were not rushed in any way making for a very enjoyable evening. A place to go back to - so many more wines to try!"

1. Sparkling: Coppola - Spumante Extra Brut Grillo "71". 12%.

The Grillo grape is typically Sicilian. According to Wikipedia: "Grillo, also known as Riddu and Rossese bianco, is a white Italian wine grape variety that withstands high temperatures and is widely used in Sicilian winemaking and, in particular, for making Marsala. Its origins are uncertain, but it may have been introduced into the island of Sicily from Apulia".

We had a Grillo as a still wine on our first evening in Palermo and were impressed by the exotic, floral notes so much so that we had the same the following evening with our meal. I was pleased to see it here again in the sparkling version, delicious and not too dry.

Matched with a pasta salad: fusilli with a tomato sauce.

2. White: Cantina Patria - Etna Bianco DOC Sensi. 13%

The Etna Bianco is, obviously, grown on Etna’s volcanic slopes at 750 meters above sea level. 80% Carricante and 20% Catarratto. Light and refreshing, we got the expected spiel about minerality!

Matched with crostini: one with tapenade, the other with a soft ricotta topped with an anchovy fillet and lemon zest - the latter really lifting the flavours.

3. Rosé: Terre di Gratia - Dama Rosa. 12%

The rosato grape variety: 100% Perricone (also known as Pignatello).

Paired with pecorino cheese (sorry, forgot to photo) of three different agings: a soft pecorino, one with a few months aging and the third a tangy version aged for 12 months. Fascinating to taste the evolution.

4. Red: Quattrocieli - Jocu Nero d’Avola. 12.5%.

Another Sicilian varietal, Nero D'Avola is named after the town of Avola in the south-east of the island. Delicious, not too heavy and with scarcely a trace of tannins.

Paired with assorted salumeria: a parma style ham, a soft salami and a mortadella.

5. Sweet: Tenuta delle Palme - Zibibbo Terre Siciliana. 16%

This vino liquoroso was delicious - I do like Italian desert wines. The Zibibbo grape, also known as Muscat of Alexandria, is an ancient grape variety. They believe that this grape it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence. The grape originated in North Africa, and the name is probably derived from its association with Ancient Egyptians who used the grape for wine making.

It is used in one of my favourite dessert wines, Pantelleria from the island of the same name just off the coast of Sicily.

The biscuits look a bit like cantucci but are softer and are apparently made using stale bread so nothing goes to waste!

It was an excellent introduction to Sicilian varietals.

Looking at their blackboard menu, as Mary said, so many more to try.

Palazzo Lagravinese, Cisternino

2026-05-02T17:58:00.000+01:00

Via La Fiera, Cisternino, Puglia.

We live next door to the Palazzo Gravinese: "A private noble residence from the late 18th century, recognised as being of historical and artistic interest, it was purchased by the Municipality of Cisternino in 2011 and restored to become a museum".

Over the years the plaque to the right of the entrance telling the story of the Lagrvinese family had become weathered and faded. Last year (May 2025) from our terrace we saw woman there for the better part of a week painstakingly cleaning and repainting the engraving.

"Conservative and aesthetic restoration of the writings on the plaque placed on the facade of the Palazzo Lagravinese in Via La Fiera" according to the notice on the scaffolding.

Work complete.

The restored plaque.

In this ancient palace the siblings of the esteemed Lagravinese family opened themselves to the light and noble ideals of life:

Nicola (1883 - 1971)
Head surgeon of international fame he always worked with a spirit of christian charity in the service of man and in defence of life;

Pasquale (1884 - 1963）
Lawyer, speaker and writer, eloquent
Refined and witty known for his honesty and wise humanity;

Giovanni (1895 - 1927)
Passionate culturalist of socio-economic studies of Puglia
A generous heart that illuminated with goodness the skies of his youth;

The Misses Maria and Rita
Delicate and sensitive souls lived in the cult of beauty art and poetry

The people of Cisternino
In memory
Placed
August 1985.

We regularly see educational tour groups, both school children and adults, gathered round the plaque having the history and significance explained to them.

International Jazz Week 2026

2026-05-01T20:00:00.003+01:00

Ciseternino, Puglia, Italy. Friday 01-May-2026.

We only learnt about International Jazz Week last year. In 2011 UNESCO declared 30th April to be International Jazz Day to "celebrate the power of jazz as a force for peace, dialogue and mutual understanding". In our area they celebrate with a month or more of jazz concerts confusingly called International Jazz Week.

This year we nearly missed it but spotted a poster in time to catch the Cisternino gig on May Day featuring the Itria Jazz Ensemble, courtesy of Jazz Friends Associazione Culturale.

Handily it was literally in our street. Over an hour of excellent jazz with not too much speechifying from the maestro.

As you can see by the coats and scarves it was a cool evening. It was early evening so we were treated to the "golden hour" lighting up on our local church of San Cataldo.

As we were stranding next to the local wine bar, Vineria del Borgo, we thought it would churlish not to support them.

After the main concert the youth band had a turn.

Having stood outside for long enough, we retreated home for a pasta supper and some warmth.

Must make a note in the diary for next year!

Everyday Differences in Puglia: the Ape

2026-04-30T16:44:00.006+01:00

Puglia Differences: an occasional series on things that strike this Brit as so very Italian.

The Ape (pronounced ah-pay) is the go-to vehicle of choice for the small scale farmer or tradesman. The most common ones are made by Piaggio, the company that brought you the Vespa scooter. Fun fact: they are named Ape, the Italian word for bee, we presume because of the buzzing noise they make and Vespa is named after the Italian for wasp for the same reason.

And that basically is what this vehicle is, a Vespa: they added a third wheel, a cabin and a flatbed but, underneath it all, it’s still a scooter. It has handlebars instead of a steering wheel and a 50 cc motor.

Woe betide you if you get stuck behind one up hill as they are not speedy!

They re-engineered a scooter to add a rear axle for the third wheel.

The steering device:

Some have a basic flatbed, some have side rails.

In the old town we get daily rubbish and recycling collections and, because the alleyways are too narrow for a conventional dust cart, they use an Ape instead.

At olive harvest time the local frantolio (oil mill) will have a queue of them lining up to deliver their crop for pressing.

Likewise at grape harvest time you’ll see them arriving at the local wine co-op with their grapes.

I'm not sure if this a special edition or somebody is try to emulate "Pimp My Ride"!

In Locorotondo there is even one all decked in white with ribbons for wedding hire. I’m not sure of the purpose of this mini van version.

Update from our visit to Palermo. An Ape Taxi...

... and a mobile Aperol Spritz vendor!

A versatile vehicle indeed!

Pasqua in Puglia 2026

2026-04-06T22:00:00.003+01:00

Cisternino, Puglia, Italy. 03/06-April-2026.

Friday 03-April-2026.

Surprisingly for a Catholic country, Good Friday is not a public holiday, it is business as usual. My Easter usually starts with a chocolate Easter egg from Mary. One thing I like about this small town is that I even know the chocolatier personally. Antonietta from Chocolab customised this egg for me. This year she is experimenting with a fruity, dark chocolate, flavoured with red fruits. Crunchy and delicious!

Friday evening was a Processione dei Misteri (Parade of the Mysteries). It consists of several floats decorated with wooden, canvas, and glue sculptures representing the passion and death of Jesus. These are paraded around the town on the shoulders of the faithful.

Normally I observe the parade from our top terrace. This year I decided to go down and stand in our doorway for a ringside seat.

Another statue.

Heading for the crucifixion.

I’m guessing this is Christ risen.

And this Christ demonstrating the stigmata.

Saturday 04-April-2026.

Salento 04/06/26 29:47 [10/20].

Saturday in Italy means an early alarm for the hour and 10 minutes drive down to our nearest parkrun. We had to be especially early this week as we were picking up a couple of tourists from Lecce, holidaying there without a car.

Mary striding in at the finish.

As always, it’s a picnic in the park at the end of parkrun, today featuring a Colomba Pasquale a traditional Easter cake vaguely in the shape of a dove. It tastes very like the panettone that you get at Christmas. There was also a "Ramo di Primavera" - the Spring Branch - another typical Easter cake.

I get a volunteer credit for post event clear up: I drive round the course picking up the signs. I was pleased to see a hoopoe strutting along the track giving me this photo opportunity.

Sunday 05-April-2026.

A quiet day. We tried the special Easter menu at our local nearest restaurant Osteria Lagravinese. A ridiculous number of dishes and all excellent. We were completely stuffed by the end and had to go for a lie down.

Menu di Pasqua

Antipasti

Carpaccio de pesce spada su julienne de finocchio
Gambero mazzancolle con ananas e melone
Riso Venere al pesto con pomodorini e sfilaco di cacioricotta
Sformatino de patate e mousse ai porcini
Cozza nero ripiena con pomodorini
Mazzancolle con coda croccante alla speck
Misto fritto del osteria (polpetta de patate con salmone, verdure miste pastellate)

Primi Piatti

Tagliolini al nera de seppia, gamberetto dell'Adriatico, pomodorini e pesto al pistacchio
Pacchero, carciafo croccante e pancetta

Secondo Piatto

Agnello cotto a bassa temperatura con contorno de patate
Frittura mista dell'Adriatico

Dolce della Tradizione

Bevande e digestivi.

Monday 06-April-2026.

After the horrible wet weather of the last couple of weeks, it really brightened up over the weekend. We decided to do one of our favourite walks that we call the Hidden Valley as it is a bit of a unspoiled gem. A big loop of just over 8km through some quiet countryside with lovely spring flowers starting to emerge.

Flowers plus a common brimstone butterfly (on the yellow daisy).

Easter Monday is the big religious day here in Cisternino celebrating of Madonna d'Ibernia with various religious events during the day and a parade round the town which we missed.

Concluding with a huge firework display visible from our terrace.

As always photos do not do them justice.

That's Easter for another year.

Terrace Storage Box

2026-04-03T10:17:00.004+01:00

Cisternino, Puglia, Italy. June-2025/March-2026.

Part 1: Construction.

We got bored of dismantling the terrace furniture every autumn and carting it all down the stairs into the living room then reversing the process in the spring.

Since the furniture included a couple of daybeds, there were no storage boxes large enough to accommodate two bed bases and all the other stuff. We got creative and found a bicycle store which was just large enough to take the bases and everything else.

Duly purchased from Leroy Merlin (Italy’s equivalent of the British home improvement store B&Q) we took delivery of the flat pack. I thought assembling IKEA furniture was tough but this took the biscuit.

Stage one was assemble the base and install the uprights. The illustrations were unclear so, having slotted in all the side panels I discovered they were upside down, had to undo it all, turn them over and reassemble.

Once completed, it was, indeed, capacious enough for everything on the terrace: two daybeds, two tables, six chairs, two sun loungers and a barbecue.

Part 2: Destruction.

In February, Cisternino had gusts of wind up to 100kph (62 mph). Despite us having fitted additional padlocks and clips, the winds ripped the lid off the storage box and deposited it down in the street. We were alerted by the very nice Gaetano who runs the linen shop and apartments along the street. Luckily no-one seems to have been around when it happened. It is only light plastic however it still could have injured someone or, at the very least, given them a nasty shock if they had been in that part of the street at that time.

Our friend Pietro went round later that day to check it out and secure the contents.

Whilst he was there he spotted that the chimney cowl belonging to the restaurant on the ground floor was looking a bit precarious.

Pietro alerted the fire brigade who came and made it safe. Being metal and heavy if that had fallen and hit anyone or anything it would have been disastrous!

The cowl has since been chopped down and reinstated with copious numbers of rivets to hold it in place.

Part 3: Re-construction.

That left us with the problem of how to replace the lid of the box to keep the contents dry. Eventually the answer was a return trip to Leroy Merlin where we found a sturdy sheet of plastic roofing that was just the right size.

The first step was to move the box across the terrace to over the gully that separates us from our neighbours where it is sheltered by the roof stairs next door and further from the edge of the terrace.

We installed the new cover with a nut and bolt at each corner, extra bungees along the long edge and a long bungee around the whole thing.

We are more confident with this arrangement: the box is in a more sheltered position; the cover and bungees are flexible so hopefully will flex in the wind rather than break; and if anything snaps off it should fall onto the terrace or into the gulley rather than fall to the street.

This last week has seen torrential rain most days and it seems to be doing a good job of keeping the contents dry. The real test is the next time we have hurricane force winds!

Elles Bailey at Islington Assembly Rooms

2026-03-19T22:00:00.010+00:00

London, England. Thursday 19-March-2026.

This is the eighth or ninth time we have seen Elles and obviously we keep coming back for more. This concert was the start of a tour to promote her latest album “Can’t Take My Story Away”.

As always Elles is very supportive of other artists and used this tour as an opportunity to promote a band we’ve never heard of Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast a band from South Carolina. Normally they play with a full line-up but just the two of them flew over for this tour. They will be returning in the autumn with the full band. They played a half hour set and got an enthusiastic reception

After a short break Elles came on with her band now augmented by trumpet and sax. The latter definitely added a richer sound to the band and it was all sounding like they were ready for the big time. The venue was packed - it definitely looked like a sell out. Surely they are ready for stadium size venues.

The set list was evenly split between songs from the latest album and a selection of tracks from her back catalogue.

Elles looking the part in her trademark sparkles, rocking the rhinestone cowboy, Americana look. I once went to a gig where the band all wore grey suits, looking like a bunch of accountants. I like a bit of visual pizzazz from my entertainers. It’s not just about the music. It’s also about the entertainment, the show they put on.

As with many of Elle’s gigs, the lovely and talented Demi Mariner was on stage to provide additional vocals and play a range of percussion in addition to guitar.

At the end they got a well deserved standing ovation.

City Break - Belfast

2026-03-09T11:30:00.098+00:00

Belfast, Northern Ireland. Friday/Monday 06/09-March-2026.

Our first ever trip to Northern Ireland. Oh, look there is a Queen’s parkrun which gives us a “Q” for our second alphabet!

Friday 06-March-2026.

Another first: flying out of Newcastle Airport. A modest sized, regional airport slightly larger than Southampton and on a much more human scale than the London behemoths of Gatwick and Heathrow.

Our accommodation was in the Queen’s University area which, like many cities that expanded in the Victorian era, was a mixture of typical bow-fronted terraces with a mixture of Georgian until you got closer to the centre when shiny office blocks took over.

Supper at the local Holohan’s Pantry including the not-often-seen Guinness West Indies Porter.

Saturday 07-March-2026.

One of the high points of the weekend is that #parkrun/parkwalk in Northern Ireland, like the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, does not start till 9:30 so we get an extra half hour in bed.

Queen's Belfast 06/03/26 31:21 [126/183]

Fabulous event with sun and blue skies. A lovely, slightly convoluted course composed of an out and back with a loop round twice at the far end with its own out and back. Mostly on tarmac paths, around sports pitches and parklands with mostly gentle ups and downs.

Great crowd of marshals so no chance of getting lost, thanks to all of them. Lots of tourists, some like us, there for the "Q". Cafe at the sports ground for parkfaff afterwards..

Afternoon was sightseeing. Here are just a few of the fabulous buildings in and around the centre. Clockwise from top: Queens University, view along May Street and the back of the City Hall, the bustling St. George's Market and a splendid looking former Methodist Church sadly now boarded up.

We booked a two-day open top bus ticket and spent some of the afternoon being driven round the city. Then got off and had a nose round the foyer of the city hall with some impressive stained glass windows.

Appropriately these included the Belfast Women's Window, as it was the eve of International Women's Day. The window was unveiled in the week of International Women’s Day 2016 by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Arder Carson on Thursday 3 March 2016 and was designed, manufactured and installed by Alpha Stained Glass.

Celtic Myths & Legends Window

"This window was commissioned to contribute to our shared history and to demonstrate that this is a City Hall for all. The central story is from the Cattle Raid of Cooley in the Ulster Cycle of myths. Queen Medbh of Connacht and her warriors attempted to steal the great bull, Donn Cuailnge, owned by the men of Ulster. Medbh wanted the bull to match the white bull of Connacht, Finnbennach, owned by her husband. The central figure is Cuchulain shown at the 'Gap of the North, protecting the borders of Ulster against the onslaught by Medbh's armies. The Connacht warriors were no match for Cuchulain, who was said to become divine when engaged in battle. The Irish text on the window roughly translates as a blessing be upon all such as faithfully keep the Tain in memory as it stands here and shall not add any other form to it and was taken from the 12th Century Book of Leinster."

That evening we had an excellent seafood supper at Mourne Seafood Bar followed by a stoll round to soak up the atmosphere.

We ended up in Lavery's for a night cap with excellent live music from Donal Scullion and the House Band.

Sunday 08-March-2026.

After breakfast we took the bus into town for a meander round the river and visit the Salmon of Knowledge.

We then took the open top bus tour (day 2) and completed the rest of the route we didn't cover on the Saturday. We were booked in for the Titanic Exhibition which, as it turned out, was not just about the liner but also featured extensive information about the growth of Belfast through its massive expansion in the Victorian era thanks to the linen and shipbuilding industries.

Included in the ticket was a tour of SS Nomadic which acted as tender to ferry passengers to the Titanic at the start of that fateful voyage. The SS Nomadic toilets feature Thomas Crapper’s Valveless Waste Preventer.

That evening, we dined in The Crown Liquor Saloon. We ate upstairs in the less fancy dining room and then went down to find ourselves a snug in which to have one last drink and admire the fabulous Victorian décor:

Our snug!

George and the girls drank Guinness but many of the pubs serve an Irish red ale which for me is a very acceptable alternative to Best Bitter.

Back to the apartment tired after a full day.

Monday 09-March-2026.

Up bright and early for a flight at 10:30. At Newcastle we were parked in the short stay 2 carpark in the corner nearest to the terminal and carrying hand luggage only which meant a fast getaway and home in time for lunch.

Wine Tasting – Same Wine, Different Vintages

2026-03-05T10:30:00.200+00:00

Bassenthwaite Lake Station, Cumbria. Thursday 05-March-2026.

Our last visit to Bassenthwaite Lake Station (BLS) for their monthly wine tasting before we head back to Italy for the summer. As usual we went for the winter break deal (dinner, bed and breakfast) at The Pheasant as we were not going to be driving home afterwards, that’s for sure!

The theme was to take two different vintages of the same wine and do a compare and contrast. Sometimes literally the same wine, different vintage, sometimes different styles that required different periods of maturation. An interesting test of taste.

Wine, ABV Supplier Price

BLS Tasting Notes
Mary's Notes. ✱ Rating out of Three

1 Taste the Difference Cotes Du Rhone Viognier/Grenache Blanc 2024, 12.5% Sainsbury, £9.75

An interesting comparison to start us off - two 'identical' Cotes du Rhone wines form the Sainsbury Taste the Difference range, one is 2024 and one is 2023, both priced the same and with identical descriptions (apart from the grapes varieties) and food pairing suggestions
Nothing outstanding, ✱

2 Taste the Difference Cotes Du Rhone Viognier/Grenache Blanc 2023, 13% Sainsbury, £9.75

BUT The 2023 wine is higher in alcohol and has named grapes of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne and Bourboulenc whereas the 2024 is showing just Viognier and Grenache Blanc. Both are described as complex & elegant and pair well with grilled fish and roast chicken
Much more complex, fuller body. ✱✱✱

It was interesting (and heartening) to see the difference between the vintages. This means the winemaker makes the best they can with each year rather than blend to a consistent style.

3 The Ned Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2025, 12.5%, New Zealand Majestic, £12

Majestic's best selling white wine, this delicious Marlborough Sauv Blanc is refreshing and packed full of gooseberry and grapefruit flavours and is seriously aromatic. It would pair really well with Thai flavours.
Typical SB, a bit over the top. ✱½

4 The Ned 'Skyscraper' Sauvignon Blanc 2024, 13%, New Zealand Majestic, £15

A great balance of zingy grapefruit, apple and stone fruits and a balancing minerality and acidity on the palate with a long finish.
More complex and balanced. ✱✱½

Surprisingly, I preferred the younger, tarter SB, contrary to my usual preference, whereas Mary preferred the 2024.

5 Bread and Butter Chardonnay, 2023, 13.5%, California Majestic, £16

A lush Chardonnay with flavours of bread and butter! Full and fresh, this blend from two distinctly different regions produces understated flavours and silky-smooth citrus and vanilla notes. Great with creamy dishes and soft cheeses.
Overpowering vanilla. Nul point

6 Bread and Butter, Reserve Chardonnay, 2022, 14.5%, California Majestic, £29

Classically balanced and concentrated wine with aromas of melon and grapefruit, flavours of tropical fruit and toasty brown sugar from oak ageing, this bold and complex wine will pair brilliantly with grilled fish, rich creamy dishes and soft cheeses.
Still oaked but not as much, more harmonious and balanced. ✱✱½

Mary is not a fan of oaked Chardonnay so had no liking for number five, whereas I was quite happy to drink it.

7 Matsu El Picaro, 2024,13.5%, Toro, Spain Majestic, £12

Tempranillo is King in Toro and much better value than in Rioja (its more famous neighbour The fiercely hot climate produces complex and intensely-flavoured wine. This younger wine is vibrant and fresh with notes of blackberry, spice and liquorice shining through. Great with roast beef. The label features the son of the family.
A good example of a fresh young style. ✱✱

8 Matsu El Recio, 2023, 14.5%, Toro, Spain Majestic, £16.50

The middle wine of this series of three, El Recio tempranillo produces full-bodied, heady, intense wines with chocolate and vanilla notes that would pair really well with roast lamb or flavoursome griddled vegetables. The label features the father of the family.
✱½

9 Matsu El Viejo, 2022, 15%, Toro, Spain Majestic, £31

Our 'wobbliest' wine of the evening, the extra ageing and mature vines produce intensely complex and elegant wines. Look for jammy black fruits, smoky spices and great structure. This is the Matsu flagship wine and is remarkable in its depth of flavour. The label features the grandfather of the family.
Age and selection show through - more complex, balanced and flavoursome. ✱✱✱

A three-way comparison. Most of the crowd preferred either seven or nine. I was in a minority preferring the middle number eight.

10 Vinalba Reserva Malbec 2023, 14%, Mendoza, Argentina Majestic, £12.50

Malbec flourishes in Argentina and the complex style of this Reserva enhances the excellent Mendoza reputation. Look for rich, chocolatey black fruit flavours. Grilled steak is Malbec's best friend and a Malbec with steak is one of life's delicious pleasures!
✱✱½

11 Vinalba Gran Reservado Malbec 2022, Mendoza, Argentina Majestic, £19.50

This is Vinalba's flagship wine. It has rich, stewed summer-fruit flavours and soft vanilla notes. It is intense and smooth with soft tannins pand a long finish. A great match for a meaty steak pie. Advisable to decant!
✱✱½

The house style was evident but there were distinct differences between the wines. Both were good tasty wines but lacked a bit of typical Malbec character. Number 11 may have been their flagship Wine but I preferred the cheaper 2023 vintage.

At the end of the tasting there was the usual decorous stampede to finish off what was left in the bottles.

After that Diane produced a bonus bottle. A bottle of their house Malbec.

12 Hornhead Malbec 2024, 13.5%, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Gold medal winner in the best value category of the Anivan de France Wine Awards, this is a delicious, mouthfilling, juicy French Malbec. A little softer and yet more approachable Malbec from this hidden corner of France
A bit soft for Mary. ✱✱

Poppy, their black lab, came to join us. I think she was hoping for some of the nibbles to fall off our table. She was disappointed!

A last nightcap back at the Pheasant Inn before bed.

Milkfest 2026

2026-03-02T19:47:00.018+00:00

Halifax / London. Friday / Monday 27-January / 02-March-2026.

A two part weekend. We bought tickets for Milkfest some while back and were thinking of a weekend in London, but then comparing diaries to arrange a visit to our parkrun friends Tim and Sue in Halifax we hit upon the triangular trip solution.

Friday 27-January-2026.

Train down to Halifax followed by a meal with live music from the Landlubbers singing sea shanties. The pub was rammed so we only got a distant view of the band.

Saturday 28-February-2026.

As always Saturday is #parkrunday. Halifax parkrun was always the plan.

Halifax 28/02/2026. 32:07 [104/187]

We got there early as Tim was doing the first timers’ briefing.

“Halifax is Hilly” said the sign and it was not wrong. Definitely not a PB course. But then these days for me that is true of all parkruns.

The crocuses are out and looking lovely.

Then we went into Halifax to see the town’s number one attraction: the Piece Hall, a Grade I listed building built as a cloth hall for handloom weavers to sell the woollen cloth "pieces" they had produced.

Evening was a delicious supper at Tim and Sue‘s.

Sunday 01-February-2026.

After a great cooked breakfast at Tim and Sue’s we caught the train down to London, straight to the hotel to dump our bags and then on to the Indigo at the O2 for the festival.

We laughed this at this Traffic Light Tree on the route from the tube to the hotel. Mary had booked a Radisson Blu hotel believing it to be close and convenient for the O2. It was close as the crow flies but not convenient on account of the fact that the Thames was between them!

The entire event is organised by The Milk Men as a charity event, this year in aid of Dementia UK. There were Dementia T-shirts and a raffle for a guitar signed by all the band members performing that evening. They modestly put themselves as the opening act rather than the headliners at the end of the evening.

2pm - THE MILK MEN.

We missed The Milk Men, but were in time for the start of Mississippi McDonald…

3pm - MISSISSIPPI MACDONALD

Having recently had the pleasure of seeing Mississippi MacDonald at Blackpool performing two sets, acoustic and electric, we were pleased to be able to arrive in time to catch the whole of his set. In a different venue and all seated, it felt very different to Blackpool but still hugely enjoyable.

4pm - ERROL LINTON

We first saw Errol 10 years ago at the Green Note Café and enjoyed his set then, a blend of blues and reggae, the latter a nod to his Jamaican heritage - his parents were part of the Windrush generation. Today he brought the same up-tempo energy to the stage. Very enjoyable.

5pm - ROBBIE & STEVE

Another blast from the past. We saw Robbie McIntosh a decade ago at the Half Moon in Putney and enjoyed his blues driven set. He played with The Pretenders for a number of years and as a session musician for a roll call of famous names This time his planned oppo Hamish Stuart was indisposed and his place taken by Steve who did not pass my “fast fingers on the fret board” test. He mainly strummed chords to accompany Robbie.

6pm - ALICE ARMSTRONG

We just caught a snippet of Alice at the UK Blues Festival 2025 and were impressed. This time getting to hear a full set from her she rose significantly in our estimation. We appreciated her song writing skills and she belts out the songs with great joy and enthusiasm. Reminding me a little of Janis Joplin but not so raspy. Partway through her set, as an extra treat, she was joined by one of our favourites, Elles Bailey, for several numbers.

Elles then graciously stepped back to become a backing singer for the last couple of songs allowing Alice to showcase her talents.

Will definitely be looking out for her in the future.

7pm - BRAVE RIVAL

Another favourite band who we saw in Blackpool in February. More rock than blues but hugely enjoyable. The bass player has a serious case of hipster beard!

8pm - CLIMAX BLUES BAND

We enjoyed the Climax Blues Band on the previous occasions we’ve seen them but we did need to fit in supper at some point so choose this set as band to skip and go for a curry. We did get back in time to catch the last couple of numbers. The lead singer is starting to grow on us the more we get used to the fact that the lineup has changed - not better or worse, just different.

9pm - CHRIS DIFFORD

I would not have recognised the name of the headliner but Chris Difford was guitarist and composer with Squeeze responsible for such classics as “Up the Junction”, “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)” and my favourite “Cool for Cats”. His set was entirely composed of the Squeeze back catalogue which, truth to tell, is what the audience want to hear and he delivered along with a modicum of banter.

Then it was back to the hotel for a nightcap. We couldn’t be bothered to summon an Uber and wait for it to arrive so treated ourselves to a black cab from the rank. It may have cost a little more but we were tired enough to decide we were worth it.

The only slight disappointment of the event was that each band had a strict 45 minute slot so there was little time for the banter that we usually enjoy. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and evening.

Roll on Milkfest 2027!

Dinner Party Recipes

2026-02-14T15:42:00.001+00:00

London, England. Early 1980s.

Back in the early 1980s dinner parties were a thing. I moved to London from Oxford in 1979 and fell in with a sociable, fun-loving crowd. As well as going out eating and drinking, theatre and cinema, we also did a lot of dinner parties, taking it in turns to host on a regular basis.

I had a very specific regimen when it was my turn to host. I would leave the flat at 12 noon and walk down to Safeway in Wimbledon High Street, opposite the station, to buy all the ingredients. I would then return to do all the prep, as far as humanly possible, including chopping and slicing the vegetables and putting them in little plastic food bags in the fridge.

By 5:30 I would be all done and could sit down with a gin and tonic to watch The A Team which was broadcast at that time. That meant by the time my guests arrived I was calm, relaxed and ready to host with minimal panic required in the kitchen and could enjoy more time chatting with my friends.

There was, of course, lots of “You must give me the recipe!” My inbound recipes were recorded on the flyleaf of a cookbook long since gone but I recently discovered in the attic a photocopy of that ancient, bygone flyleaf.

I originally thought of doing a separate post for each recipe with an introduction including a thumbnail biography of the recipe provider but then decided that, given the number of ex-girlfriends on this sheet, it would be ungallant of me. Instead I provide them here unannotated!

John's cheesecake

Base:

digestives
muesli
1 oz butter
brown sugar

Filling:

1 carton hazel yoghurt
Lg carton double cream
Lg carton cream cheese
2 oz icing sugar

Method:

whip cream
mix the rest
add to cream

Top:

hazelnut
crushed flake

Jeffa's lemon pudding

2 oz butter
2 eggs
4 oz castor sugar.
2 large lemons
2 oz self-raising flour
½ pint milk

Pre-heat oven mark 4 / 350°F / 180°C.

Beat sugar, butter & lemon
add egg yolk & beat in
fold in flour milk & lemon juice alternating until all gone
beat egg white to soft peaks then fold in mixture

Cook 40-45 minutes in centre of oven

Sheri's bread

1 pint warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
6 teaspoon dried yeast mix

Leave until frothy

1½ kilo wholewheat flour
4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon oil
5 oz bran

Mix, add yeast, add 1¼ pint warm water
Knead, leave to double in size
Knock back, leave to rise in tins
Pre-heat oven to 450°C
Cook for approx 40 mins plus 5 mins with bums in the air.

Eve's rum butter

½ lb soft brown sugar
½ teaspoon nutmeg/cinnamon
Small glass rum

Mix

4oz butter

Melt (allow to get cooler)
Beat well with sugar & rum
Chill

Andrea's honey curry chicken

3 oz butter
6 oz clear honey.
12 teaspoon mild curry powder
6 tablespoon german mustard
Salt & pepper
8 chicken tits (Andrea says 4 is enough)

Melt everything (except chicken) together until well blended
Put chicken in roasting tin, cover with sauce.
Cook for 1 hour at 375°f turning once.

Ms London's chocolate roulade

5 eggs
6 oz caster sugar
6 oz dark chocolate
Shot of brandy/rum/grand mariner
½ pt double cream
Icing sugar

Beat yolks and sugar
Add melted chocolate
Fold into whipped whites
Put in lined greased swiss roll tin
Bake 25 mins at Mark 5/375°F/190°C
Pour liqueur on cool sponge
Spread whipped cream & roll

Stuart’s honey cake

7oz self raising flour
5 oz butter
4 oz soft brown sugar
6 oz honey
1 tbs H₂O
2 eggs

Melt butter, sugar, honey, H₂O
Cool & beat in eggs
Stir in flour
Bake 45 mins at mark 4

Naomi's gougère

½ pt H₂O
4 oz butter
6 oz flour
4 eggs
2 oz gruyere

Melt butter in H₂O
Stir in flour
Cool & add eggs
Fold in cheese
Bake 40 mins

Recipes very much of their time although I might be tempted to give one or two of them a try.

Wine Tasting - Quiz Night

2026-02-05T23:00:00.111+00:00

Bassenthwaite Lake Station, Cumbria. Thursday 05-February-2026.

Another visit to Bassenthwaite Lake Station (BLS) for their monthly wine tasting. As usual we went for the winter break deal (dinner, bed and breakfast) at The Pheasant as we were not going to be driving home afterwards, that’s for sure!

This time, rather than have a theme, it was a quiz night with most of the wines presented blind.

We started with a glass of sparkling but could we identify what it was? Prosecco, Cava, Champagne, English sparkling or Cremant? As it turned out, it was a Cremant though, judging by the show of hands, people’s guesses were pretty random.

Next it was a wine blind tasting of four wines where we had to guess the hemisphere, continent, country, main group and price within 50p. Mary and I generally worked on guessing the main grape and working backwards from that.

The second round was a number of general wine questions which we did alright on.

The third round was our suggestion. At a previous tasting we had suggested a Call My Bluff round. A white wine was presented and three people were volunteered to read out a description of the wine. The crowd then had to guess which of the three descriptions was the correct one. Then the same again for a red wine.

Next a round of general wine questions followed by a number of literary and film quotes relating to wine. With no clues or hints it was a complete stab in the dark and I think hardly anyone guessed correctly

The final round was three glasses of the same wine, a Rioja, but three different qualities (and vintages): a Crianza 2021, a Reserva 2020 and a Gran riserva 2018. We had to guess the price and points were awarded for how close we were.

No tasting notes as we didn’t know what we were drinking (apart from the last three). Fortunately BLS provided us with tasting notes at the end:

Wine Name and Details Supplier and Price

Tasting Notes

1. Bouvet Ladubay Saumur Cremant Brut, % Majestic £14.50

A Loire Valley sparkling wine (primarily Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay) known for being a crisp, refreshing, and affordable alternative to Champagne. It features fine, persistent bubbles with tasting notes of green apple, citrus, white peach, honeydew melon, and distinct toasted brioche.

2. The Ned Pinot Grigio, % Majestic, £11.50

A distinct, aromatic, and textured wine from Marlborough, New Zealand, recognized by its pale salmon-pink hue derivedfrom skin contact. It features ripe orchard fruit, white peach, nectarine, and floral notes with a creamy, rich palate. This dry, "lush" style is often described as having a crisp, refreshing finish with hints of spice.

3. Le Pierrier Sancerre 2024, 13.5% Lakeland Vintners, £27

A crisp, aromatic, and mineral-driven 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. It features high-toned aromas of gooseberry, citrus, andwhite flowers, with a palate of green apple, grapefruit, and limestone minerality. This biodynamically produced, unoaked wine has a bright, textured and long finish.

4. Dancing Flame Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2023, 14% Lakeland Vintners, £15

An elegant, Chilean red from the Leyda Valley, offering intense aromas of blackberries, fresh raspberries, and cherries. Aged in French oak,it features a smooth, medium-bodied palate with soft tannins, earthy nuances, and a persistent, fruity finish, often described as a vibrant and well-balanced option.

5. Chateau Corbin St Emilion 2021, 14% Lakeland Vintners, £20

Château Corbin 2021 is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé (Bordeaux) featuring a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Known forits elegant, fresh style, this vintage displays red fruit, violet, and peppery notes with a fine, airy palate. It is highly regarded for its value and refinement.

6. Daniel Dampt Chablis 2023, 12.5% Lakeland Vintners £20

A beautiful, floral white flowerbouquet, the palate is quite opulent, pure and clean with notes of green apple and a tangycitrus acidity

7. Two Hands Tenacity Shiraz, Australia Majestic £16.50

A full-bodied, rich, and velvety Australian red, showcasing intense dark fruit flavours like plum, blackberry, and dark cherry. Sourcedfrom old vines in McLaren Vale and Barossa, it offers notes of chocolate, spice, and pepper with soft, fine-grained tannins and a long finish.

8. Cune Rioja Crianza 2021 Majestic £12

A bright, ruby-red colour and a fragrant, fruit-forward nose of red berries, vanilla, and spice,balanced palate with smooth tannins, moderate acidity, and a lasting finish featuring cherries and liquorice.

9. Cune Rioja Reserva 2020 Majestic £15

An intense, deep ruby red wine offering a complex, traditional Rioja profile. It features rich aromas of bramble and autumn fruit, complemented by vanilla and warm spice from oak aging. The palate is smooth and balanced with notes of cherry, plum, and tobacco, finishing with soft, structured tannins

10. Cune Rioja Gran Reserva 2018 Majestic £20

A classic, elegant Rioja blend (primarily Tempranillo) showing intense dark cherry colour, complex aromas of black fruits, vanilla, and spice,with a full-bodied, smooth palate featuring fine, polished tannins. It is aged for 2+ years in oak and 3+ years in bottle, often showing notes of leather and tobacco.

The scoring was done on an honour system, you marked your own sheet not like in a pub quiz where you swap with the table next to you. We did OK, we came second. We did well on the tastings and questions but were let down by our lack of knowledge of current prices!

UK Blues Festival 2026

2026-02-02T09:37:00.004+00:00

Winter Gardens, Blackpool. Friday/Monday 30-January/01-February-2026.

Part three of a January road trip. A couple of days in Essex, six days in Italy and a return to the UK to pick up our car from Stansted mid stay and drive straight to Blackpool.

This was our third visit to Blackpool for this festival. We booked shortly after it finished last year to take advantage of the early bird ticket deal. We were so quick off the mark that we got tickets numbers 3 and 4. When I pointed that out to Steven, the organiser, he joked that we should be book earlier next time.

Our accommodation was a real find, high quality beautiful place within 5 minutes walking distance of the venue and with off-street parking

Friday 30-January-2026.

Friday Timetable.

Friday Main Stage.

Mississippi MacDonald ✱ ✱ ✱. We missed the first band on the main stage but arrived just in time to hear an act we discovered two years ago and he gets better each time we hear him. Great voice, great playing and great band. Memphis and Delta Blues.

Deborah Bonham Band. ✱ 1/2 Sister of John Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame. Unfortunately no surprise appearance Robert Plant like two years ago. Accomplished musicians but not our favourite style of music.

After a day of travelling we needed an early night so left before the end.

Saturday 31-January-2026

Lytham Hall 31/01/2026 30:38 [159 / 308].

Saturday morning was, of course #parkrunday. Having done the two nearest parkruns in previous years we had to go slightly further afield to Lytham-St Annes for a parkrun run at the majestic Lytham Hall.

After a return to the apartment and a shower, it was off to the Winter Gardens for more music.

Saturday Timetable.

Saturday Acoustic stage.

In previous years we have enjoyed the acoustic sets played in a lovely room that looks like an old pub.

Mississippi MacDonald. ✱ ✱ ✱ Old school blues this time the acoustic version.

Steve Pablo Jones standing in for Demi Marriner ✱ ✱. Next up was supposed to be Demi but she was suffering with some kind of lurgy so withdrew in order to save her voice for the evening set. Not sure about him at first but he grew on me.

Saturday main stage.

Mick McConnell and Blue Thunder. ✱ 1/2 - rockers, accomplished but nothing to distinguish from others.

Demi Marriner. ✱ ✱ ✱ We had seen Demi perform before but only as part of Elles Bailey’s band so it was a delight to see her with her own band. Even under the weather, absolutely magic. Fantastic personality, amazing voice, great songwriting, great band.

Climax Blues Band. ✱ ✱ Great tight band, enjoyable but can't stop comparing them to the line-up we first saw at Skegness in 2020 with a different lead singer with a distinctive voice, especially as we listen to the CDs from that era.

Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. ✱ 1/2 Competent and versatile musicians, the three siblings rotated between lead, bass and drums which was impressive but risked them being jack-of-all-trades but master of none (especially on the drums). Their music style had shades of Madness but not for us.

Sunday 01-February-2026.

Sunday Timetable.

Sunday Introducing stage.

McHale's Permanent Brew. ✱ ✱ ✱ Rock band with a difference. Great musicianship and songwriting, tight band and, like last time at Liverpool, great banter. They come across as fun, caring people.

Sunday Acoustic stage.

Brave Rival. ✱ ✱ ✱ Great set, fabulous comedic banter.

Lindsey Bonnick and guitarist Ed "the Shred" Clarke traded insults in the best possible way.

Adam Sweet. ✱ ✱ Accomplished singer-songwriter. Enjoyable to listen too but not memorable enough to buy a CD.

Sunday Main stage.

James Oliver Band. ✱ ✱ Amazing guitarist but banter, music and band set up so does not work for me.

Mary left me guarding our seats while she went off to catch some of the other acts:

The Outlaw Orchestra - Introducing ✱ 1/2 Trio - 2 guitars & drums. Not sure about the drummer, guitarists good but not remarkable.
Sean Taylor - Acoustic ✱ ✱ 1/2 Guitar & bass. Only heard 2 songs but liked them and audience obviously loved him. Proper acoustic, old style blues then folk / rock (Freedom ex Richie Havens), good banter
The Living Cup - Introducing ✱ 1/2 Five piece, four guitars and drums. Good musically but not great, not sure about lead singer's voice.

Sunday Main Stage.

Will Wilde ✱ ✱ 1/2 Great band and vocals / harp playing. Five piece: Will on vocals/harp, two guitarists, keyboards and Animal on drums (aka Kev Hickman).

Brave Rival. ✱ ✱ ✱ Lovely to hear them for the second time in a day and compare the "acoustic" and full force versions.

Andy Fairweather-Low and The Low Riders. ✱ ✱ ✱ A musical history lesson & masterclass from the 77 year old Andy and his band of cronies.

Andy on vocals and the only guitar with two brass, a bass and drums. His voice may be going but guitar skills are still amazing as was his array of seven guitars!

Fantastic weekend in Blackpool, massive thanks to Solid Entertainments and their Blues, Rhythm &Rock Festivals UK.

Tally this time:

1 x luxurious and comfortable apartment
1 x parkrun
1 x fabulous festival in a great venue
18 x music sets (16 different bands)
3 x opportunities to wear my festival hat
7 x CD's
1 x t-shirt

Mary’s very stylish Vera Black hat.

That's a wrap. Bye bye Blackpool, see you next year!

Next morning pack up, clean and tidy the apartment and a short drive home.

Road Trip - January 2026

2026-02-01T20:28:00.015+00:00

Witham, Cisternino, Blackpool. Thursday 24-January/Friday 01-February-2026.

A three part road trip:

2 nights in Witham, Essex with our friend Andrea
6 nights in Cisternino, Italy checking up on the apartment
3 nights in Blackpool for the Blues, Rhythm and Rock festival.

This came about due to a combination of factors.

Mary likes to celebrate her birthday in Cisternino and use it as an opportunity to check up on the how the apartment has survived over the winter.
We had tickets to go to Blackpool for the Blues, Rhythm and Rock festival the weekend following Mary’s birthday

The only flights available at this time of year are from Stansted courtesy of Ryanair. Since our friend Andrea lives not far from Stanstead we decided to go down a couple of days early, spend some time with her, fit in a parkrun, and take the Saturday afternoon flight out to Italy.

Thursday, 23-January-2026.

The long drive down from Penrith to Essex and supper in with Andrea.

Friday 24-January-2026.

Chilling out with Andrea, another delicious supper of slow-cooked lamb shank cooked by Andrea.

Saturday 25-January-2026.

Malden Prom 29/01/26 30:56 [270 / 473]

Saturday is of course #parkunday so we went to our NENDY (Nearest Event Not Done Yet) from Andrea‘s place which was Malden Prom and we were rewarded with a lovely sunny day.

Two and a half loops on a varied course, mostly tarmac with some grass and trail. Big crowd and lots of encouraging marshalls.

Mary left her phone behind so had no music or prompts to push her on, so she was expecting a slow time.

After a shower back at Andrea’s, we headed off to dump the car at Stansted Mid Stay car park and fly off to Italy.

Following an uneventful flight we picked up a hire car at Brindisi as it was cheaper than a taxi at either end of our trip and using our own car once we got there. We ate on the plane and arrived in time to park up and wander around the town and have a beer in Umberto’s.

Our newly installed Internet enabled controller for the boiler appeared not to be working. Although Mary thought she had switched on the heating remotely a few days we arrived to a freezing cold apartment. We slept under multiple blankets that night.

Sunday 25-January/2026.

After checking out the boiler and the electricals and restarting the boiler, we finally cracked it by unplugging the boiler, leaving it for 10 minutes and then plugging it back in again. Upon rebooting it burst back into life and started working. So we had heating but the entire apartment worked like a reverse night storage radiator soaking up all the heat we could pour into it and it took several days for the apartment to get back up to normal temperature.

That night we met up with friends Patsy and Les and ate in Da Tonia.

Monday 26-January-2026.

Mary‘s birthday! We were travelling very light courtesy of the minimalistic, tiny cabin bag, but I did manage to smuggle in a birthday card and a small present so that Mary had something on the day.

I am still dealing with the fallout from my wallet being lost / stolen when we were in Bologna in October. The bank card was replaced a couple of days later, the carta d’identita turned up a couple of weeks later, but no sign of the replacement driving license after a couple of months. So Pietro and I went down to the police station to put in a repeat application. The very helpful policeman examined all my documentation, issued me with a temporary permit to drive and put in a formal request for a replacement. He said it would take about 20 days which turned out to be the case.

That night we dined at Piatti Chiari, one of the better restaurants in town, that was open on a quiet Monday.

Tuesday 27-January-2026.

In the morning we went for a walk along the escarpment behind Hotel Lo Smeraldo then drove down to Savelletri for lunch. We drove via the monumental olive trees at Masseria Pettolecchia and whilst there were treated to an impressive murmuration.

Wednesday 28-January-2026.

We picked up 10 litres (two times 5 litre tins) of new season olive oil from Gaetano who runs the linen shop and a holiday apartment both in our street.

Supper was in the unpretentious, family run Restaurant 21 on Via Roma. It has an Italian-German theme to the menu because the husband lived in Germany for many years.

Thursday 29-January-2026.

We took Pietro, who has helped us with our properties for over 30 years, and his wife Nunzia for a “thank you” meal at Il Cucco. We were joined by Carole and Mino who able to join us. We hadn’t seen for ages so it was great to catch up with them!

Friday 30-January-2026.

Drove to Brindisi airport to drop off the hire car. The flight back to Stansted was uneventful and on time. We jumped in the car and drove straight to Blackpool in time to see Mississippi MacDonald He was followed by the Deborah Bonham Band of which we saw half their set but were so knackered from travelling we bailed early and went for an early night.

Saturday/Sunday 31-January/01-February-2026.

Two days of music (plus Lytham Hall parkrun) which had its own blog post: UK Blues Festival 2026.

Monday 02-February-2026.

Drive home.

Victorian Hexagonal Pillar Boxes

2026-01-28T18:47:00.009+00:00

I have always had a fondness for the Victorian hexagonal pillar box ever since I saw my first one in Wimbledon Common outside King’s College School back around 1980.

Woodhayes Road, Wimbledon, London. circa 1980.

Google tells me “The hexagonal pillar box, commonly known as the Penfold postbox, is an iconic Victorian-era mailbox designed by architect John Wornham Penfold in 1866. Produced between 1866 and 1879, these cast-iron, hexagonal, red boxes feature decorative acanthus leaves, a ball-topped dome, and a VR royal cipher, often appearing in historic locations across Britain.”

The following half dozen photos are mine from our travels. I am always excited to come across another example. The rest I snagged from elsewhere.

Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh. 24-April 2022. We were in Scotland for an Elles Bailey concert and went for a walk up to Arthur’s seat passing this specimen.

Mill Lane, Hartington 23-April-2023. Encountered on a walking holiday in Bakewell.

Emerson Street, Napier, New Zealand. 25-February-2025. We were amazed to discover this design had made it down under as part of our grand tour down under in the fascinating Art Deco city of Napier.

Fisher Street, Carlisle. 06-December-2025. We were manning a charity stall at Carlisle Farmers market a stumbled across this example during a break for lunch.

New Halls Road, South Queensferry. 20-December-2025. Collecting a friend from Edinburgh airport we decided to go up the night before and stay in South Queensferry where this model was sited on the banks of the River Forth.

Following are not my photos but snagged from a FaceBook post. Credit / apologies to the original posters.

King’s Parade, Cambridge.

North Oxford.

Rochester, Kent.

Bath.

Palace Green, Durham Cathedral.

Fort Kochi, Kerela, India.

This is said to be one of the oldest post boxes still in everyday use; it dates from 1873.

There are reports of others in:

Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells
A second one in Oxford
Folkestone
A cluster of them in Cheltenham

Unsurprisingly, there is an FaceBook group dedicated to Old Post boxes uk.

And of course Wikipedia has a full list of photos at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Penfold_pillar_boxes_in_England so I think I’ll stop there.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue

2026-01-01T04:00:00.046+00:00

All over the place. January to December 2025 - Epilogue.

So in summary: this year we managed 53 (Mark, A3228002) / 52 (Mary, A4975813) parkruns in 32 locations of which 27 were new to us, plus 5 countries of which 3 were new to us. That means over 50% touristing!

So much tourism this year I have broken this summary into chapters.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, January to March. New Year's Day to our New Zealand trip
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, March to July. Up to my 100th venue
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, August to December. Up to the end of the year including Mary's 100 / 250
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue. And in conclusion

Although we missed two weeks due to events with Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths we still managed 53/52 parkruns thanks to the special days: New Years Day (Penrith), Ascension Day (Copenhagen) and German Unity Day (Munich).

Highlights of the year:

Mark: Cowell Club (100 locations)
Mary: 250th parkrun
Mary: Cowell Club (100 locations)
Both: completing all parkruns in Cumbria
Mary: Namely (GALASHAN)
Both: Old MacDonald (E-I-E-I-O)
Both: Snakes (10 "S")
Both: Special Events (Munich and Copenhagen): the special event trips were great fun; exploring cities we had not visited before, and meeting lots of fellow mad tourists.
Parkrun in a prison was unique and a great experience
Three more countries (Australia, New Zealand, Denmark)

Full list of all touristing in 2025:

January to March Tourism:

Faskally Forest (Scotland)
Greenock (Scotland)
Hackney Marshes
Barrow
Fleetwood Promenade
North Sydney (Australia)
Hagley (New Zealand)
Greytown Woodside Trail (New Zealand)
Ōrākei Bay (New Zealand)

March to July Tourism:

Muncaster Castle
Crosby
Black Combe (HMP Haverigg)
Leazes
Milano Nord (Italy), not new
Fælledparken (Denmark)
Amager Strandpark (Denmark)
Southampton

August to December Tourism:

Skipton
Riemer (Germany)
Westpark (Germany)
Whinlatter Forest
Victoria (Scotland)
Rising Sun
Ingrebourne Hill
Levengrove (Scotland)
Edinburgh (Scotland)
Strathclyde (Scotland)

I have posted the following before but smugness demands I repeat here:

Mark's performance by year.

Someone in the parkrun discussion group on FaceBook asked, “What have older people's thoughts been about seeing their performance drop off? How do you feel when you look at your times from a few years ago and notice a decline?”

Of course I had to do an analysis of my average time and age percentage by calendar year.

I looked back and my average time is the same in 2025 (age 73) as it was in 2017 (age 65) and the age grading has correspondingly increased. Feeling Smug!

The improvements in 2018 and 2019 are attributable to training for the London marathons. The improvement in 2021 was thanks to twice weekly runs with Nigel around Penrith during lockdown when you were allowed to exercise with one other. Looking at the two parkruns bracketing the lockdowns I improved by two whole minutes, from 29:07 to 27:07.

Mary's performance by year.

The same analysis for Mary would show slowing down with age and injury but would not really be worthwhile as she occasionally volunteers as tailwalker or parkwalker which would skew her results.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, August to December

2026-01-01T03:00:00.063+00:00

All over the place. August to December 2025.

This year we managed 53 (Mark, A3228002) / 52 (Mary, A4975813) parkruns in 32 locations of which 27 were new to us, plus 5 countries of which 3 were new to us. That means over 50% touristing!

So much tourism this year I have broken this summary into chapters.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, January to March. New Year's Day to our New Zealand trip
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, March to July. Up to my 100th venue
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, August to December. Up to the end of the year including Mary's 100 / 250
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue. And in conclusion

August to December Tourism:

Skipton
Riemer
Westpark
Whinlatter Forest
Victoria
Rising Sun
Ingrebourne Hill
Levengrove
Edinburgh
Strathclyde

Skipton 30/08/2025 32:04 [162 / 325].

We were invited to Skipton for a wedding celebration for friends Tuks and Paul. They have an apartment in Cisternino and we met as a result of helping some friends of theirs just outside Cisternino who were in need of directions. Earlier this year Tuks and Paul "eloped" to Gretna Green for a very quiet wedding but not want wanting to miss out on a party they planned a celebration later. We were touched to be invited as we have only known them a relatively short time. So it was a Weekend "city" break in Skipton and, of course a new parkrun.

We introduced Tuks and Paul to parkrun and they are now regulars at Skipton and Salento.

The course is four and a bit laps, undulating, on tarmac around a lovely park and the rain held off for a lovely parkrun. Mary was still slow at the time due to injury so volunteered as Tailwalker.

Reimer 03/10/2025 29:32 [87 / 151].

Part 1 of a German Unity Day double. This year it was the turn of Munich which happily coincided with Oktoberfest. The cost of flights from Puglia to Munich were extortionate so we went for Plan B - a four-day interrail pass and made a train trip of it, stopping off overnight at Bologna in both directions.

Friday it was a bit cool, there was still frost on the grass. The Run Director was English and was astonished at the size of the turnout. Unsurprisingly the vast majority were tourists, mostly from England. They had a record attendance of 151 of whom three-quarters (112, 74%) were first time visitors.

The locals, and a friend from Bratislava, even wore dirndls and lederhosen at parkrun!

Westpark 04/10/2025 30:00 [106 / 175].

The second half of the German Unity Day double. Two laps of a beautiful park with a lake, only a couple of gentle slopes and a cafe for parkfaff afterwards. We caught up with a number of people we had seen the day before as well talking to other tourists.

Another beautiful setting for a parkrun which attracted this heron.

The rest of the weekend was spent doing the tourist thing: eating, drinking, a concert and a palace. Read more at City Break - Munich.

Whinlatter Forest 30/10/2025 37:08 [69 / 86].

This parkrun had been a year in the planning to make Mary's 250th parkwalk coincide with her 100th different venue (known as a "Cowell"). This had originally been planned for German Unity day but injury scuppered that plan. A re-plan included a change of location and Mary volunteering for one week to keep the milestone in sync. The upshot was not only a double achievement but also completing all parkruns in Cumbria - three achievements for the price of one!

Lots of our friends turned out in support: Sandra, Tuks, Paul, Sarah, Siobhan, Nigel, John and Dixie. A challenging but beautiful course. Now definitely "over the hill"!.

Sandra baked some lovely surprise muffins.

The t-shirt was printed by Shadow of a Saint.

It's official and every single one a parkwalk.

The cow ears were supplied by our friends Marcus and Manuela (gifted to Mary at Esslingen in 2023 for her half Cowell).

Victoria 01/11/2025 29:11 [272 / 430].

Victoria Park, Glasgow for our second "V".

Three and a bit laps round a gorgeous park and amazingly no rain during the event. Great crowd with many in fancy dress for Halloween (no pictures, sorry).

Sister-in-law Sandra powering along.

Mary striding out in the Scottish sunshine.

There were a large number of marshals to keep us on the right path, courtesy of a volunteer takeover by the Vegan Runners. Also taking part were their nemesis, The Bacon Butty Brigade!.

Rising Sun 15/11/2025 30:43 [148 / 275].

We were in Newcastle for Dom Martin and Blue Nation at The Clooney on Saturday night and generally exploring the area. So of course we went across the day before to fit another parkrun and stayed at a home exchange apartment. Friday night we went out for a truly fantastic vegan Mexican Cantina literally just round the corner from the apartment followed by a luscious Pisco Sour in a bar called the Mortal Wombat two doors away.

Rising Sun parkrun was a change of venue (the original plan for Town Moor was again thwarted this time by another event in the park).

A single lap consisting of an out with a couple of turns, a loop then back on the same path. Like a tennis racquet with a broken handle! Good paths all the way however a bit muddy and wet at the time so trail shoes were ideal. It was a scenic course even on a grey day with lovely autumn colours and a lake, must be beautiful when the flowers are out.

Lots of marshals - very useful on a twisty course like this giving you positive reassurance that you are going the right way.

My job is paparazzo for Mary as she approaches the finish line. I was deep in conversation when Mary appeared and I missed her approach. This is her saying, "You had one job!". To be fair that is only the second time in 252 parkruns.

Ingrebourne Hill 29/11/2025 30:33 [148 / 275].

A hectic weekend in London see [City Break - London, November 2025]. We needed an "I" for our second alphabet so Thursday night we travelled to Romford, staying at Spark by Hilton right next to Romford Station.

Saturday was #parkrunday, of course, at Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham and the reason we had based ourselves in Romford. Tourists from all over with different reasons for being there. Some were there for an "I" like us. Another couple had set themselves the challenge of completing all parkruns on Forestry England land in the autumn to catch the best colours.

The advertised hill was not as bad as advertised, apart from the headwind which hit you at the top of the slope and was brutal.

Levengrove 13/12/2025 30:50 [85 / 140].

Quick trip up to Mary's sister for a Christmas present exchange and a chance to tick off another Scottish parkrun. Mary had been there before but only as a marshal at junior parkrun so it was a new event for both of us.

Three laps of the lovely Levengrove park with some undulations, lots of water (sandwiched between the Clyde and Leven rivers) and loads of dogs to make it interesting.

It was a bit blowy but at least no rain. With thanks to all the marshals and especially the ones who got the short straws and the more exposed posts.

Edinburgh 20/12/2025 29:22 [369 / 548].

We were picking up a friend from Edinburgh Airport on the Saturday, so it was an opportunity to tick off another Scottish parkrun. Edinburgh parkrun, outside Edinburgh and close to the airport, was the obvious choice and a very good decision. We booked ourselves an overnight stay in South Queensferry so we could do the parkrun, shower and change, then collect our friend and head home.

On arrival the first marshal we spoke to, Graham, recognised us from Salento where we met in September. It's a small parkrun world!

The first timers briefer explained that this was the first parkrun in Edinburgh and hence got the name, despite other later parkruns being much more central.

Out and back along the promenade with lovely views of the Forth bridges. A glorious day with no wind or rain and the sun even came out!

This is the Cramond Causway over to Cramond Island as seen from the picnic bench where we stopped for our post-parkrun coffees.

Strathclyde 27/12/2025 29:34 [369 / 548].

Dropping our friend back off at Edinburgh airport on Friday we went for another overnight stay this time with Mary's sister and another Scottish parkrun. Mary's sister Sandra had suggested Strathclyde as she knew from the 5K app that we needed one more "S" for our Snakes Challenge (complete 10 parkruns starting with "S").

A good flat course, a scenic out and back round a lake with swans and canoes. Great weather (no rain and only a little wind at the end).

Sandra power walks; this is her striding in at 41:26.

Mary coming in at a very respectable 46:57. The wind had picked up for her last km thence the hairstyle!

That's it 2025. Next: Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, March to July

2026-01-01T02:00:00.053+00:00

All over the place. March to July 2025.

This year we managed 53 (Mark, A3228002) / 52 (Mary, A4975813) parkruns in 32 locations of which 27 were new to us, plus 5 countries of which 3 were new to us. That means over 50% touristing!

So much tourism this year I have broken this summary into chapters.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, January to March. New Year's Day to our New Zealand trip
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, March to July. Up to my 100th venue
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, August to December. Up to the end of the year including Mary's 100 / 250
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue. And in conclusion

March to July Tourism:

Muncaster Castle
Crosby
Black Combe
Leazes
Milano Nord
Fælledparken
Amager Strandpark
Southampton

Muncaster Castle 08/03/2025 28:35 [26 / 79].

We may still have been jet-lagged from our Australia / New Zealand trip but Saturday is #parkrunday so it was off to the gorgeous Muncaster Castle parkrun for an overnight stay and another one ticked off the Cumbria list.

Mary chatted to a number of fellow tourists including Tammy who was celebrating her 100th location (aka Cowell) with her partner Lee.

An undulating three lap course on a beautiful day with a castle and stunning views.

Crosby 15/03/2025 30:17 [182 / 320].

In Liverpool for the Liverpool Blues Festival 2025. On #parkrunday rather than do the nearest one we took the Metro out to Crosby to do a unique one.

Firstly, it is one of a few on a beach and secondly it features Another Place by Anthony Gormley, a series of iron men embedded in the sand or looking out to sea.

The first part of the course is out and back along the beach they use one of the iron men as a turnaround point. They have given him a high viz jacket a helmet and christened him Bing (Bing Crosby, *groan*).

Afterwards we did the tourist thing, see: City Break - Liverpool 2025.

Black Combe 22/03/2025 30:00 [24 / 29].

Parkrun with a difference: in a prison - at HMP Haverigg! You can't just turn up. You have to apply in advance and provide your details for checking. All tech has to be checked at the gatehouse. No phone, no smart watch, no GPS devices. It feels weird with nothing but a paper barcode. A perfect sunny day for a parkrun.

Five times round on tarmac, great crowd, very welcoming and lots of jollity. It is now an open prison people taking part were both prisoners and guards with nothing to tell them apart. They were friendly and we got the impression they were simply pleased to see fresh faces.

Weather also was kind to us, cool and sunny and the forecasted rain stayed away. You can see Black Combe Fell in the distance which gives the parkrun its name.

We were with group of fellow Eden Runners plus Sandra, Mary's sister who came down from Scotland to join us.

A great experience and happy to say they let us out again!

Leazes 29/03/2025 29:26 [183 / 281].

We enjoyed Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells so much that when it went on tour we booked to see it again in Newcastle. When in Newcastle, obviously we do a parkrun! Following a recommendation from Tammy who we met at Muncaster Castle we decided to do Leazes parkrun as Town Moor was off due to the football celebrations.

St James' Park stadium (home of Newcastle United) as the backdrop.

Lovely park, three laps of a course described as undulating. Another one designed by Escher but in a good way this time as there seemed to be more down than up! Easy going on tarmac paths. Bigger crowd than normal - probably due to the football celebrations and Town Moor being off. They generally have around 150, this week nearly 300!

Mary volunteered as parkwalker. Her outfit was chosen to match the hi-viz but of course she should have been wearing her black and white set to blend in with the locals.

Milano Nord 05/04/2025 28:53 [133 / 233].

We were in Milan for my participation in the Milan Marathon 2025 on the Sunday so had to do Milano Nord parkrun on the Saturday, a beautiful sunny day. Not a new event for us - we first visited about 2.5 years ago and nothing much has changed.

Lots of Brits were in town for the marathon on the Sunday including a huge group of runners and supporters from Sittingbourne Striders. Also a couple from Poland who recognised us from Salento, congratulations to Maciej who did his 400th parkrun that day.

We had a celebrity with us: Richard Whitehead (Paralympian) in Milan to do his 6th marathon out of 20 this year. He seemed like a lovely person - taking his time for a young boy who wanted to talk to him.

Mary volunteered as parkwalker and had a nice chat with Lisa from Australia who was there on holiday. .

Fælledparken 29/05/2025 28:42 [252 / 307].

Off to Denmark for a City Break - Copenhagen. Every parkrun country has two special days when they can put on extra parkruns not on a Saturday. For all countries one is January 1st and the other is specific to the country. In the Nordic countries their special day is Ascension Day which is a Thursday in May. Our first Danish parkrun so a new flag for the t-shirt.

Three laps of the lovely, flat Fælledparken in Copenhagen. Unsurprisingly a huge crowd of tourists from all over, the RD thought they might have achieved record numbers today. Fantastic atmosphere, recognising some faces and meeting lots of new people.

The small world that is parkrun tourism struck again. We met one couple, Collette and Nick, who recognised Mary's Salento t-shirt and told us they would be there in July. Heading off for our second breakfast we met a lad who did his first ever parkrun, after only about 3 hours sleep (suspect beer might have been involved), and was now hooked - kudos to him!

Amager Strandpark 31/05/2025 29:04 [187 / 379].

The second Copenhagen parkrun was Amager Strandpark. We had always planned to go to this parkrun on Saturday as it was just a 15 minute walk from to our Home Exchange apartment. Just like Thursday, there were so many tourists that we had to queue to have our picture taken with the flag.

Lovely course, around a lake with views of the Øresund strait and the bridge over to Sweden in the distance.

Large friendly crowd with many big groups who had travelled over for the special weekend. Lovely to recognise and greet new friends: Sue who we first met in Vienna plus Collette and Nick who we met two days before.

With the parkrun starting with "A", Mary finally got her Namely, i.e attending a parkrun starting with every letter of your name.

Southampton 14/06/2025 29:03 [614 / 1126].

Back to the UK for a flying visit driven by seeing Elles Bailey supporting Rag'N'Bone Man in Southampton, see UK Road Trip, June 2025. The gig was on the Friday so parkrun the next morning.

It was my hundredth tourist location - a serious milestone in the parkrun tourism world known as a Cowell. I emailed the Run Director a couple of days prior and got a shout out and a round of applause.

It was the largest parkrun I have attended with 1,126 finishers, even bigger than Bushy. The multiple queues after the finish line to collect your finish token were so well organised that the results were within seconds of my Garmin watch time.

After that it was time to complete our road trip around the south coast then back to Italy for the next set of parkruns: Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, August to December.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, January to March

2026-01-01T01:00:00.050+00:00

All over the place. January to March 2025.

This year we managed 53 (Mark, A3228002) / 52 (Mary, A4975813) parkruns in 32 locations of which 27 were new to us, plus 5 countries of which 3 were new to us. That means over 50% touristing!

So much tourism this year I have broken this summary into chapters.

Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, January to March. New Year's Day to our New Zealand trip
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, March to July. Up to my 100th venue
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, August to December. Up to the end of the year including Mary's 100 / 250
Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue. And in conclusion

January to March Tourism:

Faskally Forest
Greenock
Hackney Marshes
Barrow
Fleetwood Promenade
North Sydney (Australia)
Hagley (New Zealand)
Greytown Woodside Trail (New Zealand)
Ōrākei Bay (New Zealand)

Faskally Forest 01/01/2025 33:17 [58 / 91].

Part of our Pitlochry New Year 2024 away break with the in-laws Sandra and George to celebrate the sister's big birthdays. Every parkrun country had the option of an event on New Year’s Day at the discretion of the local volunteer team. Fortunately Faskally Forest just 2.5 km outside of Pitlochry was planned and not cancelled by weather unlike many others around.

A lovely trail through the forest, some horrible hills, a small, tranquil loch and a great bunch of volunteers. George (BIL) reported that breakfast at the hotel was finishing at 10:45 and not midday as per the break itinerary. Luckily we were able to cadge a lift back into town with a couple of volunteers and get our essential post-parkrun bacon butties.

Greenock 04/01/2025 28:12 [85 / 146].

The original plan was to pack up and head straight home from Pitlochry to recover, big birthdays having been duly celebrated, possible fitting in an overnight stay en route for a new parkrun on the Saturday. In the end we decided to go and spend the night with Sandra and George in Erskine and do a local Glasgow parkrun. As it turned out that was a very wise choice. Many possible parkruns were cancelled including Sandra's and our planned locations. We spent the Friday evening watching the cancellations roll in.

In the end Greenock was almost last man standing and only half an hour's drive away so off we went. Still some treacherous black ice on the non-gritted roads so we were very grateful for the 4-wheel option on our Kia Sportage.

A bit blustery, double out-and-back along the River Clyde.

We were amused by this crocheted pillar box topper of "Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the wee donkey"[Line of Duty (YouTube)].

Then it was back to Sandra's for a quick coffee and finally go home to Penrith to recover!.

Hackney Marshes 11/01/2025 30:12 [322 / 419].

We were in London to see Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake at Sadler’s Wells. Of course we fitted in a parkrun at Hackney Marshes.

It was a short walk from our accommodation and the marshes looked very atmospheric in the frosty morning light.

The course runs, in part, along the side of the Lea River Navigation Wikipedia.

Mary got another volunteer credit as parkwalker in her fetching blue tabard with matching (of course) leggings!

Barrow 18/01/2025 29:32 [64 / 143].

Ticking off the Cumbrian parkruns, today it was the turn of Barrow. We are not so keen that we get up at sparrow's fart but prefer to travel the night before and stay in a budget hotel, in this case a Travellodge.

Lovely park, friendly crowd and fortunately no rain, ice or snow. Two and a half laps in a park that must have been designed by Escher, it felt like it was 2/3 uphill! .

Fleetwood Promenade 01/02/2025 29:32 [92 / 186].

We were in Blackpool for UK Blues Festival 2025 so of course Saturday is #parkrunday. We did Blackpool parkrun last year so the next closest was Fleetwood Promenade.

A single out and back on the promenade on a beautiful February day. Chilly but there was virtually no wind, unlike most of the other promenade parkruns we have done.

North Sydney 08/02/2025 29:30 [222 / 460].

Rather than celebrate a big birthday Mary wanted to run away to New Zealand to pretend it was not happening. British Airways do not fly to New Zealand, but we had enough BA miles to get us one business class ticket to Sydney and, with an Amex two-for-one voucher, get us two business class flights to Sydney. We then paid for the short haul flights across to New Zealand. The itinerary was planned using a map of the NZ wine regions and the parkrun map. Full details of that trip at Down Under 2025.

Our Australian parkrun choice was actually North Sydney not the closest to our apartment but chosen in order to give us an "N" for our second alphabet. A three-lapper round the perimeter of St Leonard's park, the course descriptions led us to expect hills but thankfully only gentle slopes.

Big friendly crowd of 460 runners and walkers, almost everyone we spoke to were tourists or expats.

Mary enjoyed a lovely iced coffee in a local cafe afterwards and reflected on how different from Penrith.

Hagley 15/02/2025 27:25 [327 / 930].

Over the "ditch" to NewZealand to continue the trip. After some touristing and wine tasting we were in Christchurch for a couple of days so we did Hagley parkrun.

"It's just a walk in a park".

Perfect weather, lovely park, huge crowd (over 900).

Typically the first couple we spoke to were Brits! Lots and lots of slightly mad and very friendly volunteers - their cheering was loud!

Greytown Woodside Trail 22/02/2025 28:02 [30 / 78].

Staying in the Martinborough wine region for a few days our choice of parkrun was Greytown Woodside Trail. On the drive to the parkrun we had to stop for this fabulous misty morning view.

It is a custom, if Saturday falls on the 22nd of the month, to celebrate Tutu (two-two) day. Mary had packed her tartan tutu but I had decided not to pack mine in the interests of space in the case. Unfortunately for me they had a bag full of spare tutus so I ended up with a fetching green number!

A lovely out and back along an old branch rail line, very scenic.

Ōrākei Bay 01/03/2025 28:52 [113 / 249].

In Auckland for our last Saturday down under and the turn of Ōrākei Bay parkrun, our third and final parkrun in NZ.

There were a number of tourists, many from the UK but also Australia and other parts of New Zealand.

It is an out and back along a boardwalk which we foolishly thought would be flat but it went up and down over a railway line!.

They had a madly enthusiastic marshal with cute dog at the turnaround point.

There are many parkruns that could do with a sign like this!

Then it was back to the UK to continue our tourism: Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, March to July.