The Mason Richards Football Team become international with a tour of Northern France and happen across Charleville-Mézières, a Wonderful town in the Ardennes. The Place Ducale is a spectacular centre and fine example of 17th-century classical French architecture.

I no longer join my parents on family holidays as it's much more fun to go on holiday with friends. At this time my parents start going on exotic holidays abroad. !

Shaftsbury
Famous hill where a young boy flew down the hill on a bicycle in an 'Hovis' advert.

Ian, still young at this point, manages an amazing feat of strength at Corfe Castle.

With Ian, I execute my first Parachute Jump at Montford Bridge, a small airfield near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Later in the year we spend a week on the South Coast camping and visiting Cranbourne and Bridport youth hostels. Unfortunately 'Beer' hostel is closed for the night ! In April we try Chepstow hostel and join the Youth Hostel Association (YHA).

Being a member of the Queen fan club,I manage to get hold of four tickets to see them at Wembley only to find that these 'gold dust' tickets are for the Friday night and I only return from a week away in Torquay on Saturday morning. Luckily I easily sell these and head off instead to the Palais de Omnisport in Paris with Ian and two other friends to see the Works tour.

Freddie in Paris

Brian in Paris

Wendy in Blackpool

1985

I have my first experience of real sailing aboard my Uncle's yacht. That's not the Horizon, it's a forty foot wave in the Atlantic !

'The Wharf Shed'
An old canal wharf building in matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Used for Rotaract weekends away on many occasions.

Simon at Banbury

Staithes in North Yorkshire, where Captain Cook was born.

1986

St. Govan's Chapel on the Pembrokshire Coastal Path near Tenby in South Wales

1986

I travel with my Brother Chris to Cologne (Koln) football stadium, Germany to see a concert line up of Krafft, Level 42, Gary Moore, Marillion and finally Queen. Freddie was again Brilliant.

Freddie in Koln

Brian in Koln

Fish in Koln

A trip with my German Penfriend Dietmar to South Wales and we try Broad Haven youth hostel. The now annual Youth Hostel trip with Ian and Andy visits Beverley and Whitby in Yorkshire and Ian and I also visit Saffron Walden and Hunstanton Youth Hostels.

Rotaract organise a trip to Ostende for a beer festival in which Bruce tries to drink more than anyone else. Rotaract forms the worlds longest human Caterpillar at the National Garden Festival Site in Stoke on Trent.1986 proved to be a very busy year. In February I joined Anne-Marie, Trevor & Simon on a Beaujolais run to Macon in France. The Beaujolais is released at 12:00 midnight and the aim is to be the first back to Britain.

Bingo in Cornwall !

1987

In June I become the President of Wolverhampton Rotaract and also in June attend the International Rotaract Conference 'Interota' where I make many friends from around the World and some very good ones from New Zealand. I attend an 'Interota' reunion in Kirkcaldy, Scotland where I tragically miss a putt on the eighteenth green at St. Andrew's, the home of Golf.

Minehead, Lynton & Lynmouth and Ilfracombe in North Devon is the destination for the first three night YHA weekend and Rotaract spends an eventful time in Cornwall where Bruce tries to vault a garden gate and doesn't.

'Lindisfarne Castle'
Built in 1550 and owned by the National Trust. It is located on Holy Island in Northumberland and is cut off from the Mainland at high tide.

'place du Tertre'
Where artists gather
In the shadow of the impressive Sacre Coeur in Paris

Romeo & Juliet
1988
'The Balcony'
Verona, Italy

A famous door, but can you get this close to it ?

Banbury '88

I attend the National Rotaract Multi District Conference (MDC) in Glasgow and decide that due to the fact I spend three days without any sleep whatsoever this event deserves to be attended every year. I then spend the rest of the week (after a very long night's sleep) touring Scotland with Tim from Tipton Rotaract.

The Trossachs Hotel, Loch Achray. Simply Stunning.

Wolverhampton Rotaract visit Paris and I organise a trip to visit the 'Rovers Return' pub for a drink. The 'Rovers' is well known to anyone who has watched Coronation Street.

District 1210 and Wolverhampton Rotaract takes Banbury Camping rally by storm, Winning the 5-a-side football, Vollyball, Male and Female Welly Wanging and Drinking competitions ! Skiing takes place with Club Travel to Folgarida in Italy. Youth Hostelling tries Castle Hedingham, Colchester and Blaxhall

Flatford Mill

The smallest Pub in Britain

Coastguard at Aldburgh, Suffolk

The Great Franz Klammer shows that he understands English humour and even buys me a beer too !

Teazer perform in Bloxwich with a guest appearance from Kathy, A kiwi I met at Interota '87

'Tan Hill Inn'
Great Britain's Highest Pub, located on the Pennine Way North of Hawes in North Yorkshire

I visit Anglesey and stop off for a look at the World's longest place name.
I decide to organise my own skiing trip and take 44 people to Les Crosets in Switzerland and Rotaski is formed. In the same year I meet the greatest Skier of all time - Franz Klammer. Members of Rotaract District 1210 form a rock band named Teazer.

1989 Ironbridge to Bridgnorth Raft Race organised by Bilston Rotaract

Entering Jackfield Rapids

Thomas the Tank Engine

Timer shots become a popular pastime of a few Rotaractors.

When somebody puts their camera on the floor, sets the timer and shouts 'TIMER' you race from wherever you are in the room to have your photograph taken !

1990

I buy my first house and get views of five hills.
The Welsh Mountains, The Wrekin - a former Volcano, The Clee Hills, The Cleeve hills and The Malverns.

The Helmets are promoted to division 1 and win the league and cup competition. Skiing visits Serre Chevalier in France where I have a go at snowboarding but decide to stick with the skiing and I go to Livingo in Italy with Andy and Kevin. I join A.D.A.S. in the Architectural section as a farm buildings advisor !

Boarding in Serre Chevalier

Unicycling in Jury's Hotel, Dublin

MDC is in Dublin where one of the speakers is Simon Weston, the Welsh Guard injured in the Falkland War. Annual youth hostel trip visits Tintagel, Boscastle and Hartland in Cornwall.

My Pets !

Timer shots are particularly good when your waitress gets involved !

'The Fleece'
A medieval pub at Bretforton near Evesham actually owned by the National Trust.

'Interspray' setting off round the World.

6:00 amOcean Village Southampton

Owner of the 'Ropple' David Baird-Murray and Manager Dennis Gardener

Scotland '93

'Sam' my parents Golden Retreiver. Nothing but the best Scottish Smoked Salmon

Sam feeling the chill at the Harbourside

Sam - a little Otter !

Rotaski travels to Crest Voland in France and the YHA trip visits Arnside, Ennerdale and Wastwater where Colin joins us, in the Lake District.

A number of District 1210's Rotaractors who are nearing Rotaract retirement age form 'The Jaffa Club' after a bar-be-que at Andy's house and vow to have the same sort of fun and entertainment that they've had in Rotaract but without holding any meetings !!

Formation of the Jaffa Club

Older but still playing timer ! (Oldtimers ?)

I attend the World Bog snorkeling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales and with Steve 'interview' the Ladies World Champion, a swimsuit clad Australian. Steve, Rotaract District 1210 Chairman then organises a Bath Race at Trentham Gardens in Stoke on Trent where a Rotarian is seen to have a blow up doll water skiing behind his bath !

Bill, a Director at Work who has unfeasibly long legs !

During a 'Jaffa' weekend at the 'Ropple' - Andy beats Steve at the 'Slap the card onto your forehead' game.

York, Lockton and Boggle Hole are the YHA destinations. We visit Castle howard and Ian gets held to ransome.

Ian at Gunpoint

The YHA

'Wembley'

The twin towers of Englands National Football Stadium

Martin's interpretation of how to ski moguls - Legs together Ski's apart.

Martin see's how the professionals always show the bottom of their ski's to the camera. But he's being doing it for years.

North V. South
The Rotaski Boys from County Durham take on the Southerers at Broomball in Folgarida, Italy. A game played in ordinary shoes with ice hockey sticks and a ball. Most of the playing time is spent on one's arse !

The YHA lads are accommodated in their second Castle at Pendennis and also stop at Exeter and Coverack, but this time spending the weekend travelling by Mountain bike rather than walking.

November, and all the hard work pays off when Rotaract visit the R.N.L.I. headquaters in Poole and I say;

"I name this lifeboat 'Rotaract I', may God bless her and all who sail in her"

Sam takes a look at the wildlife in my back garden

My pet Kingfisher !

My pet Squirrel !

The Darlo boys with Ian and I in a bar on the slopes at Bardonecchia, Italy.

The YHA trip again cycles, but to Solva Creek, Trevine and Pwll Deri in Wales. I manage to get three ski trips in again with a recce trip to Flaine in France with Ian where we meet Andy & Sarah from Bradford.

Stokies here, Stokies there
Time to fly the flag in Flaine

I attend the England V. Scotland game in Euro 96 at Wembley when Gazza scores 'THAT' goal. When you've got Martin- the Scotsman sitting next to you - life doesn't get very much better !

A trip to my Chairman's apartment in Val D 'Isere in France shows me how well the Boss can ski and the Rotaski group goes to Bardonecchia in Italy. 'Mango V' visits Barmouth in Wales and I have my first go at clay pigeon shooting and quad biking.

Stoke City's new stadium under construction

Halfpenny Green

Vineyard in South Staffordshire who make a very good English wine. Along with work colleagues, I am challenged by our Solicitors at Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting, Hovercrafting, Karting and  'Duck' dog trials !

On 4th May, after 119 years of football at the Victoria Ground, Stoke City play their last league game against the team they first met in the league, West Bromwich Albion. As per usual against the Baggies, Stoke win to send a capacity crowd home very happy.

A pic of the Boothen End, where I normally stand but can't get a ticket for the last match.

Stoke City banner passes across the Boothen End.

The team say goodbye.

A new season and a brand new stadium.

Two shots of the North Stand and One of the McEwans stand on August 27th against Rochdale - the first game at the Britannia Stadium.

I then join a new group of friends 'The Corks' later in the year again in Salcombe for their annual weekend away.

'Mango V' go away to 'The Ropple' again and take mountain bikes. But find a very slippy Welsh mountain to try and get up.

Most of the family manage to make it through a Chinese Christmas Day for a more traditional gathering on Boxing Day.

The magnificent Eilean Donan Castle at Loch Duich.

Dunnottar Castle, South of Stonehaven stands in a spectacular location and dates from the 5th Century

Kilo, Buttle, Jo, Brad, DJ, Caroline & Ange during a walk on Aberdeen sea front on a windy afternoon. Later to become an extremely wet afternoon after being caught in a torrential rainstorm.

The YHA weekend is in Keswick, Longthwaite and Buttermere in the Lake District. I develop a web site for work and decide that Rotaski should have a presence on the web.

After becoming good friends with Andy & Sarah, met on a ski trip in 1996, I officially become a 'regular' supporter of the Bradford Bulls rugby league team which Andy follows avidly. 

I am invited to join Kingsley Homes Ltd for their annual staff golfing weekend. This is held in Edinburgh, Scotland where I manage to play the first nine holes of the 'Braids 2' course without losing a ball despite the course being ninety five per cent heather with the rest being made up of greens & tees !

I enjoy my first visit aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia

Andy, Sarah & Sam enjoying a drink in the Bar

Ian learning to lean well forward in Soft Powder !

I spend an excellent few days touring Scotland as part of 'Highlander II' a convoy of 20 MGF's

I join Kingsley Homes for their golf weekend again held in Edinburgh and play the best golf I've ever played in glorious sunny Scottish weather.

Continuing support of the Bradford Bulls gives me my first visit to Old Trafford. After the Bulls win the super league, they then take on St Helens in the play off final but unfortunately go down 8-6

I start my own business developing Websites.

The annual YHA weekend visits Epping Forest, Chatham and Canterbury in Kent and is not impressed ! Apart from finding a couple of great pubs we found the North end of Kent to be full of scrap yards and second hand car dealers.

After missing a year I rejoin 'The Corks' at Salcombe for 'Salcombe 6'. I design T shirts for the weekend which seem to get noticed when eleven are paraded around the village and when we again take over the beach for the annual cricket match.

The eleventh skiing trip is held in Pra Loup in France where Roy provides the weeks entertainment with a spectacular crash caught on video.

After being unable to attend the two visits which my beloved Stoke City make to Wembley during my lifetime, it becomes third time lucky when stoke reach the Auto Windsrcreens Trophy final and retain their 100% record of wins at the national stadium with a 2-1 win over Bristol City. I spend a few days in London getting thoroughly drunk...

After watching Bradford Bulls beat Warrington in the semi final of the Silk Cup held at Headingley in Leeds, I am unable to get a ticket for the final which takes place in Edinburgh on a bank Holiday weekend. The Bulls run out winners against arch rivals Leeds Rhinos 24-18

The annual Salcombe weekend is booked in for the last weekend in July with everybody following Steve's trend of 1999 by taking false teeth.

The annual YHA trip heads for Golant, Penzance & Land's End in Cornwall and I get an extra visit in to Beer Hostel in Dorset the day before heading down for the annual Salcombe weekend.

I join the modern world and purchase my first digital camera enabling me to put my photos online.

Bewdley Flood, Worcestershire

Salcombe, Devon

Llangollen, Wales

The twelfth skiing trip heads off to Austria and during a recent visit to a fancy dress hire shop, I purchase 5 Rod Stewart style wigs and produce them at the airport thinking we could wear them out on slopes one day. They turn out to be such a popular purchase that they are worn all week both on and off the slopes and we become minor celebrities in the Outback bar in Leogang. We are inundated with offers from people wanting to buy them off us, we are asked on stage with the band, have the band wearing them during their performance whereupon they ask us to come back the following week as it's "The best gig they've ever had". We also get all the locals and skiers of many other nationalities to join in with a Austrian single 'Hey Baby' by DJ Otzi which ends up with almost everybody in a bar in Geneva airport joining in. The song then later becomes a No. 1 hit in the UK.

After a fifteen year gap since , I'm invited by Ade to join him on a sailing weekend in the Solent with friends. Richard skippers the boat we're on with Keith skippering a second yacht.

The Annual Salcombe trip is blessed with scoring sunny conditions.

The YHA weekend is attended just by two of us and we head off to Bangor in North Wales. Ian's brother Andy can't make it and is disappointed to find out that we share the Youth hostel with two coach loads of female Basketball players !

I pay another of many visits to Old Trafford to watch the Bradford Bulls take on Wigan in the final of the Super League playoffs. After a disappointing game against St. Helens in '99 The Bulls demolish the Warriers and I feel a need to take a photo of the scoreboard at half time as Bradford are already 26-0 up !

After Two years of building websites, I create the website for an Oak Frame Building manufacturer Prime Oak Buildings and then remain with them designing buildings.

With Stoke City's 100% winning record at Wembley, I visit the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch them play Brentford in the Second division play off final due to Wembley being closed for refurbishment ! However Stoke become the first team to break the South dressing room jinx by winning the game, probably becoming the only team to have 100% winning records at both Wembley and The Millennium.

I join Keith and Ade on a further trip sailing in the Solent and we get much better weather than the previous year.

Following the success of the 'Rodettes' skiing in 2001 and a comment of "How on earth are we going to beat that holiday" we purchase four Gorilla suits for a trip in january to Tignes in France. This proves to be a skiing highlight as we once again become minor celebrities around the resort. A second 'reccy' ski trip to Les Deux Alpes with Ian in March requires the suit to be used again which gets me lots of hugs & kisses from some very nice Dutch women !

In Salcombe we take a trip aboard the old Salcombe Lifeboat which is run a a pleasure craft by the former Cox who also featured in a TV documentary on Salcombe lifeboatmen and the 'Salcombe Fringe' takes place at Baggeridge.

The Gorilla suits make further appearances at both Valley parade in Bradford (temporary home of the Bradford Bulls whilst the new stand is built at Odsal), where we are invited onto the pitch and introduced to the crowd and also again at Old Trafford in the Play Off Final although some Manchester bouncers won't let us into the pubs wearing football ?? shirts (or Gorilla heads). They also appear on a night out in York where we are allowed into pubs

The Rotaski skiing trip is to La Plagne, France in March, the Gorilla's appear out on the slopes again as they do in a January trip to Chamonix, France where three Andy's take four kids away to experience some of the best off piste conditions you could ever wish for.

Having bought myself an MGF Trophy for Christmas in December 2002, I join in with a few MGF days out including the fantastic Scottish Highlander trips organised by the Central Scotland MGF group.

Mango V Football Club decide to venture into Europe 20 years after the previous adventure in the Ardennes. This time we choose Pisa in Italy but don't ascend the leaning tower as there is a four hour queue - we choose to go to a bar instead. 

The Gorillas put in another appearance, this time at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch the Bradford Bulls beat Leeds Rhinos in the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.

We introduce Roy (A member of Rotaski Elite) to sailing with a weekend sailing from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Kirkudbright in Scotland but after a night on the ale, cooking a full English whilst bobbing about in a lively Kirkudbright estuary or the bouncing back in a force 7 Near Gale, Roy spends 9 hours being ill over the back of the boat.

I join 'The Corks' on their weeks holiday aboard a Canal Boat along the Stratford Canal and am pleasantly surprised that it's not boring travelling at around four miles an hour - it's a really relaxing way to spend a week.

The YHA trip breaks from tradition and stays in the same hostel for more than one night - but only because there are not many hostels open as it's still only March. Andy loses it on Branscome Beach when I do a 'Neil Kinnock' and fall over whilst trying to get back from a wave - the photo I was taking came out alright though !

Following the success of the Mango V trip to Pisa & Florence, we chose to try Bordeaux in France and find that it is a lovely town. We have a trip on the train to nearby Arcachon, the oldest resort on the Côte d'Argent where we hire bikes & cycle to the Dune du Pyla - Europe's highest sand dune, a spectacular expanse of sand which is well worth a visit.

I again travel up to Scotland to take part in the Highlander VI run which takes place around my favourite part of Scotland - the West Coast. Andy Bates and I choose to divert from the route all the other MG's take (via Eileen Donan castle) as we've done that before and take the ferry over to Skye. After taking a superb lunch of Cullen Skink we head back towards our hotel at Kyle of Lochalsh and witness some spectacular cloud action over the Cullen Hills.

I also join in with a well established MG run from Llandudno where we get special permission to park on the prom where all the tourists wander past admiring the cars.

Other MG events include a weekend at Silverstone which includes MG racing, a run around Shropshire taking lunch in the excellent Inn at Grinshill and a weekend driving around the Welsh hills taking in lots of dams and an excellent military road over he top of the moors. 

The annual Salcombe weekend enjoys superb weather and I enjoy meandering my way back along the coast using the ferry at Dartmouth with a quick pub stop in Teignmouth.

I manage to fit in thee Skiing trips in 2004. Rotaski Elite head off to Courchevel in France with the Gorillas appearing on some of the days. I spend a long weekend in Zell am See in Austria, meeting up with the Darlo lads, a group from Darlington who used to ski with Rotaski fifteen years ago but who now organise their own skiing holidays. The three Andy's also head out to Kitzbühel in Austria to ski the Hahnenkamm, part of which, the Streif is regarded as the most demanding racing slope in the Alpine Skiing World Cup. We also find probably our favourite alpine Bar, a converted toilet in the middle of town and Andy learns how to fly an helicopter !

There's also plenty of sailing trips in 2004 - Long weekend's in the Solent including being overtaken by The Waverley, the last sea going paddle steamer in the World and a week long trip to the Channel Islands which turned out to be a race to Cherbourg and back as there was a massive gale heading up from the South which would have stopped us from getting back to Blighty in time. We were then overtaken by H.M.S. Gloucester as we got back into Gosport.

I spend a weekend with 'The Corks' on their Canal boat on the Thames, exploring the river from Eynsham to Abingdon & back and also spend a weekend in Weymouth, Dorset.

The Annual YHA trip doesn't happen in 2005 but Ian does join us on one of the years sailing trips. We get superb weather in April & Ian burns his bald bonce. In June, Paul from Mango V joins us for the first time and is immediately hooked as he was when I introduced him to Skiing.
Apart from three weekends in the the Solent we successfully manage to complete a trip to Jersey & Guernsey with two fantastic overnight sails across the Channel. We also spot a magnificent Ocean Sunfish between St. Peterport & St. Helier.

The Rotaski trip heads for Mayrhofen, Austria in January but is plagued with queues as it turns out there are two Austrian Bank Holiday's during the week.A number of new people are introduced to the Sport of Pegging and lots of fun is had in Mayrhofen bars.
Stakesy, Roy, Ade & I also head off to Vebier in Switzerland to experience some of the best skiing that can be found in the Alps. We book everything independently as we're fed up of Ski Tour operators forcing us to endure a really crap cafe just outside Alberville, which turns out to be quite handy as Roy & Ade have to travel back to Geneva to pick up a new passport for Ade as he lost his hand luggage in the airport. They drop Stakesy & I off at the Portes du Soleil so we can have a day skiing with the Darlo lads, returning via the 'White Wall of Death' at Les Crosets. Because our flights are a day early, we spend a night in Montreux Youth Hostel and pay a visit to the Freddie Mercury statue where I force the other three to endure the cold whilst I take a photo to reproduce the Queen album 'made in Heaven'.

During the Salcombe weekend where we once again get great weather, we hold a golf tournament at Thurlstone where I win despite me wearing sandals and the others wearing golf shoes !

I join the MGF register event at Avebury & Stonehenge where Andy Bates & I disappear to a much better lunch pub than the one chosen where the Nutty Landlord announces everybody who walks in through the front door as as 'Lord & Lady....'.  

Just one Ski trip in 2006 as business at Prime Oak is manic. Rotaski head off to Le Corbier in France. Not the best resort in the World as it's very quite at night. We tried to see a local band but left before we'd even got a drink as they were absolute pants - It can't be particularly nice for a band when they start their first track and the audience burst out laughing and leave - But then the French have never been too good at music have they ?

The Cosford air show is again held in June and my sister & Brother in Law host their annual BBQ as they live at the end of the runway and this year I'm not sailing - Great weather and a great show with Spitfires, the Eurofighter and the Red Arrows.

In July I head off to France again with my old Boss, Pete Barby and other current & former Mango V players, to Le Mans Classic. The usual 24 hour racing you get at Le Mans but with classic cars, we travel from Shropshire with An Alvis, an Aston Martin, Porsche, Austin Healy, E-type Jag, MGB, Jaguar XK150, Cobra and a VW Scirocco which two of the young lads bought for the trip, drove to Le Mans & back and then sold for more than they bought it for !

The YHA trip reverts back to using a Youth Hostel again when we get flights to Jersey for £12. As there's only one hostel on Jersey, we use that for the long weekend little knowing of the morbid history that the former Children's Home has. We experience fantastic weather and hire bikes for the weekend. A trip to Gerald Durrell's superb Zoo, somewhere I've wanted to visit since childhood is as good as I ever expected, better in fact.

I only manage one sailing trip in 2006 which clashes with the annual Salcombe weekend so I miss that for only the second time. Sailing is to the Bay of Biscay in France. We fly out to La Rochelle, a place well worth a visit and flights can be found to what is a tiny airport, quite cheaply. We don't get much wind but have a great trip anyway.

In April 2007 I sail for the first time with Cath, someone whose been on many a Rotaski trip. We sail with a friend of hers, David as his wife doesn't like to even though he owns a quarter of a boat. I really enjoyed this visit to the Solent - not only for the great views of the Needles at six o'clock in the morning but also for the Dolphin that followed us from the Needles for around half an hour.

In May, I take my Coastal Skipper exam and despite not doing the Day Skipper course or any of the other seven theory courses that are required for this level of Sailing - I pass ! The exam lasts from eight o'clock in the morning until three a.m. the following day. Ade also qualifies as Coastal Skipper and Stakesy as Yachtmaster. The end of the week sees a load of other friends arrive in Gosport & we take two boats out for the weekend - I have a boat full of women but thankfully the sea breezes drown out most of their chatter !
During the week, I get to visit the RNLI maintenance works at East Cowes, twelve years after naming the Rotatract lifeboat only to find that the boat has actually arrived there from Scotland that morning for its annual service.

Later in the year I get my Short Range Radio Operators license which is required for Coastal Skippers.

I head down to Kent for a weekend for Nigel's birthday and we spend the Day at Buckmore Park, an excellent Go Kart track that many Formula 1 Drivers have used over the years. Along with Chalky from Prime Oak & his mate, we finish fourth out of around twenty teams - only being beaten by the teams that are at Buckmore at least once a week.

My first visit to Poland is to join Martin for his stag night/weekend in Krakow - a lovely place. I also spend a weekend in the Cotswold's with Welsh Paul testing pubs for Fat Badgers after going to a Martyn Joseph concert in Stroud.

La Clusaz in France is the destination for the Rotaski trip and experiences no snow one day and too much the following day, whilst Stakesy & I also get a very early ski weekend in December arranged in St. Moritz in Switzerland after deciding we were bored three days earlier. I lose my mobile phone in St. Moritz but luckily it is found by a French woman from Monaco, unluckily she doesn't bother to send it to me even though she promised she would.

The YHA trip was back to just Ian & I and not hosteling. Flights were dirt cheap to Londonderry in Ireland and the hostels don't look very impressive in that neck of the woods so we stopped in hotels instead. A visit to the Giants Causeway which was a little over commercialised for my liking was bettered by a walk over the Carrick a Rede rope bridge - fantastic. We also visited Bloody Foreland, a name I'd sniggered at on a map when I was seven and have wanted to visit ever since. It is almost as impressive as the West Coast of Scotland.

I again win the golf tournament in Salcombe and this year decide to spend the whole week down there so book an hotel for the start of the week - luckily the hotel has available rooms for the weekend where I chose to stay put as it rains on the campers all weekend - I on the other had have sunshine all week before everone else arrives and spend a delightful day out in Polperro, Cornwall.

I join the Darlo lads Skiing again in Zell am See and ski in probably the darkest conditions ever as Welsh Paul joins us and loses his skis at the top of the mountain.
Stakesy & I then have another week in the Three Valleys in France have have the worst service ever from Crystal - A company we will never use again as not only was the brochure highly inaccurate but they also charged us twice for the lift pass at £170 and won't return calls or answer emails.