Author Archives: BarryH

Confessions of an inadequate skier

Posted on January 18, 2013 by BarryH

And so to the skiing.  Up at the Crack of Doom on Monday morning (05.30) in order to make an 06.30 start for the 2 hour journey from Calgary on the Trans Canada Highway westward past Banff and then to … Continue reading →

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Calgary: from the Eddie the Eagle to the Stampede via Downtown by Barry Skywalker

Posted on January 16, 2013 by BarryH

On Sunday my hosts, proud Calgarians, took me on a tour of the city.  As I have said before, although brought up in a city I’m not a city person.  But I was very impressed with Calgary. Until now the … Continue reading →

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Following the sun: from the M25 to the Trans Canada Highway

Posted on January 13, 2013 by BarryH

Quick shower at 05.00.  Good strong cup of coffee.  Last things stowed for travelling and just after 05.30 we were heading north up the A21 to join the M25 heading west in light rain and heavy road-spray, Gatwick-bound.  Thanks to … Continue reading →

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Go west young man, and do it without a list

Posted on January 9, 2013 by BarryH

I don’t make lists.  To do so would be, from my warped perspective, to admit that my mind is failing.  When I went to Greece for a long summer for the first time in 2010 I was urged to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Greece, Grey Britain, Mountains, Pontypool, Wales, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A New Year, portents, traditions and looking forward

Posted on January 5, 2013 by BarryH

I’ve never been impressed by the hype of the ‘New Year’, never regarded it as a portent or a time to make ephemeral resolutions to change bad habits, never felt the urge to stand around with arms crossed, holding hands … Continue reading →

Posted in Grumpy Old Men, Monmouthshire, Mountains, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rambling through 2012, a year in pictures: Part 2, Greece

Posted on December 31, 2012 by BarryH

The task of selecting a bakers’ dozen of images from the hundreds I took in Greece this summer was more daunting than choosing those for Wales.  This is partly because many of the places I went were new to me … Continue reading →

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Rambling through 2012, a year in pictures: Part 1, Wales

Posted on December 30, 2012 by BarryH

At the end of a busy year it seems appropriate to look back and remember the places I went and the things I did during 2012.  Far too much to cram into a blogable number of words so I decided … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Grey Britain, Monmouthshire, Mountains, Pontypool, Wales, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Windows of opportunity and a mountain playground on the doorstep

Posted on December 27, 2012 by BarryH

We moved to our present house from Cardiff in 1975 in order to be closer to my work, thereby significantly reducing the daily each-way commute from 20 miles to 4, 45 minutes to 8.  The reasoning was that out of … Continue reading →

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Solstices: looking back and looking forward.

Posted on December 23, 2012 by BarryH

The Winter Solstice this year began gloriously but soon went downhill weather-wise.   Still, as it recedes into the background and the days begin to get longer again it’s maybe time to remind ourselves of what the annual phenomenon is all … Continue reading →

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Bah Humbug!: debasing the language … and then a Christmas greeting

Posted on December 20, 2012 by BarryH

I regret that I’m going to do my Bah Humbug Pre-Christmas moan today.  I hadn’t intended to be negative even though this is not my favourite time of year.  But a flyer which came in a package of stuff I … Continue reading →

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