Luggage, Harley’s, Churches and Hot Tootsies

Posted on by January 4, 2025

Yey they are finally back, re-united with our cases 24 hours later.

At one point our two cases were in separate couriers going in opposite directions (the red circle and the yellow triangle). We track our cases with AirTags now after the appalling mess-up by Emirates last year. At least BA returned our cases over 4 weeks quicker than Emirates.

I have explained to our cases that we won’t be taking them on any more holidays due to them going missing and now it looks like we’re having to deal with emotional baggage!

The rest of the day saw us head out to Harley Davidson Barcelona, two miles away on foot only to find it had shutdown some years ago!, so what we gonna do, yup eat and drink in a little bar with the meatiest oysters ever, even Mrs Fogg enjoyed them, I wanted to be shellfish and have them all to myself, but clammed up when she asked if she could have some, aww shucks I’m so generous.

After food we had pre-booked tickets for the Sagrada Familia, which is a big church that looks like it has been under renovation for a few decades

It costs a bloody princely sum to go in and look around for a total of about 20 minutes (£40 each)

After a full day of being made to walk all over Barcelona (8 miles), I knackered.

And tonight we are off to Caelis restaurant which is a Michelin Star restaurant in the Boutique hotel we are staying at (Hotel Ohla). We are stopping HERE

Oh No, Not Again

Posted on by January 3, 2025

Dear Mummy and Daddy, the nice man at Terminal 5 said you had already left for Barcelona without me or my brother, did we do something wrong again?

Apparently we are catching a plane with lots of other abandoned cases, but we don’t know where to, any idea?

Thanks to British Airways this poor little traveller will be spending a cold time on his own, still he has lots of warm clothes inside him and spare underwear. Shame we don’t!

British Airways

Posted on by January 3, 2025

The worlds slowest airline

Duly up at 03.30 and at the airport for 03.50 ready for the baggage check in to open at 04.00, or 04.10, no scrub that they actually didn’t bother opening until 04.20. Love the sign that states check in opens 2 hours before our flight at 06.00

On then to queue for 40 minutes with one check in desk open to drop your bags, but 3 customer service team members reminding you that you need to check in urgently!!!

And yes you then stand waiting for people with over weight bags, unpacking at the check in desk, so eventually we got to check in 10 minutes before boarding commences.

On then to fast pass “snail security” where some diligent plonker wanted to query why the fast pass had yesterdays date, in the end we had to say either let us through or don’t.

And queueing in a corridor for the plane, which if it takes off on time will be a bloody miracle!

Next stop Heathrow for a connecting flight in 60 minutes, yeh right!

And yes the plane took off 48 minutes late seeing us landing at 0735 instead of 0635. A dash across T5 to only just make the gate before it closed at 0750.

The luggage, well who knows but it looks like they are off on their own little holiday without us again, bugger.

You’re Never On Your Owna

Posted on by January 2, 2025

When you is in Barcelona.

Here we are at Manchester Airport ready for an E A R L Y rise to fly to that there nodnoL and then onto Barcelona for a few days.

As can be seen Mrs Fogg has found somewhere to hide before our early evening meal where she sat explaining something I stopped listening to.

And as we sat eating, we did get to enjoy listening to one of our colonial cousins putting the world to rights with his poor oppressed partner just nodding and agreeing (“if your mother wants to see me she can get in a car, train or plane to come to me!”, “I don’t care about that man, the only time I wa t to hear about him is that he has died”)

Back to Praha

Posted on by December 7, 2024

20 years of marriage, holy cr*p!!!!

So back to Prague and one of the first cities we visited together almost 25 years ago.

It’s raining, it’s cold, but they got Christmas markets and we got each other (well for now anyway).

Avin lunch Here

Leaving Iceland

Posted on by October 23, 2024

Time to return after meeting the local wildlife

It’s been a fun few days of rain and cold. Interesting place to visit, done it now and no need to return.

And now a 90 minute delay in Reykjavik airport while we wait for a plane to arrive. Mrs Fogg as usual with a head in a book.

Last night we went to the lovely Matarkjallarinn Food Cellar which does an awesome 6 course tasting menu with accompanying wines (https://matarkjallarinn.is)

And yes that is a picture of the last supper, while we ate our last supper. The irony was not lost on us

Iceland Day 2

Posted on by October 22, 2024

We were here

Yesterday tipped it down all day so why not drive for an hour to sit in hot springs

What next then, well Mrs Fogg managed to find a museum dedicated to “tackle” (and not the fishing variety either).

And yes you just gotta have Tackle Waffles

And today is a gentle stroll in minus 2 sunshine

Gardener anyone?

Posted on by June 23, 2024

It’s June and it seems that for half this year it’s either been raining or I’ve been poorly with colds or flu. No surprise then that our super large garden has gone a bit rogue with giant nettles and endless weeds invading the borders.

The worst borders are near the house on the dreaded slope. No problem says I, I’ll sort a gardener to come do a full clear out and to strim the bank. Great idea…..

I’ve called 5 local gardeners who advertise their services. No response. I’ve called a further 3 – oh you are 10 miles away, that’s too far for me, sorry nope. I’ve actually had a gardener come round who even lives in the same village. Got a quote, agreed to proceed and then……silence. I’ve tried a further 4 leaving messages and sending texts and still no replies.

So, it’s a do it ourselves job then. On the warmest day of the year so far I donned long sleeved stuff, long trousers and gloves and set to work fighting 6 foot nettles and thistles. I’ve stretched and stings everywhere but after about 3 hours I can see progress.

The border is not yet finished and the worst bit is yet to come. Where the spring ends up is an utter quagmire. I stuck the garden fork in to dig out a persistent sucker of a weed and it almost sucked the fork in with it.

Wellies required then. I’ll have a go another day. But, progress is progress. Who needs a gardener eh??

Before and after rescuing the willow tree
Bottom is after fighting the nettles – can see soil again