Category Archives: Grumpy Old Men

Locked-down in Wales

Posted on November 4, 2020 by BarryH

Since I arrived home from Greece in early September there have been various shades of lockdown. It would be more pleasant and safer to have stayed on Symi but unfortunately not to be. I would have been tempted to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Grey Britain, Grumpy Old Men, Health and humour, Hiking, Landscape, Monmouthshire, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales, Weather | Tagged acers, autumn, books, Brugmantsia, Covid-19, fruit and veg, gardens, Wales | 3 Comments

Greece

Posted on April 13, 2019 by BarryH

Unfortunately my planned return to Greece has been delayed because of health issues. Not sure yet when I’ll be heading back as I’m resisting the urge to go back and become a health tourist again. The World Health Organisation puts … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grey Britain, Grumpy Old Men, Health and humour | Tagged Greece unpackaged, Greek Health Service, NHS, travels in a foreign language, writing | Leave a comment

I was attacked by an airport: an unexpectedly wild walk

Posted on December 15, 2014 by BarryH

I did nothing to antagonise it. Malevolence on its part is the only explanation. That or ‘smart’ technology out of control. Which is even more frightening. I was on my home from Greece in the latter part of October. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Greece, Grumpy Old Men, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Pontypool, Wales | Tagged Abergavenny, Athens airport, brecon beacons national park, clouds, escalators, injuries, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, Pontypool Park, Shell Grotto, sunset, Wales | 1 Comment

An alternative Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2013 by BarryH

I don’t enjoy Christmas. This year I was looking forward to it less than usual until I decided to do the unthinkable. Spend Christmas Day on my own. It’s a quirk of the human psyche that the things we choose … Continue reading →

Posted in Grumpy Old Men, Health and humour, Hiking, History, Landscape, Mountains, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales, Winter | Tagged alternative Christmas, choice, Christmas, Christmas Dinner, Father Christmas, Garn Wen, History of Christmas, loneliness, Pontypool Folly Tower, Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Saturnalia, solitude, Wales | 1 Comment

Trek tech: technology and mountain walking

Posted on December 18, 2013 by BarryH

I’m no techno-geek but nor am I a Luddite. Decades ago in the office where I worked, I was one of the first to embrace word processing, the first below director level to have a corporate e-mail address and correspond … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grey Britain, Grumpy Old Men, Health and humour, Hiking, Mountains, new technology | Tagged frustration, GPS, Greek Island Walks, hiking, mobile phones, phone numbers, recycling, rock climbing, smart phones, Symi, trekking, walking guides | Leave a comment

Grey Britain, Canada, Greece: a philosophy of travel

Posted on March 4, 2013 by BarryH

It is widely believed that in the UK when the weather is dominated by high pressure the sky is blue and the sun shines, luxuriatingly hot in the summer, icy cold and exhilarating in winter. It can be but is … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Greece, Grey Britain, Grumpy Old Men, Mountains, Pontypool, Wales | Tagged ash tree, banff canada, bus routes, buses, button holes, Canada, grandchildren, Greece, Greek Islands, Mani, south wales coalfield, travel writing | 1 Comment

Survival: skiing, snowboarding and ice hockey

Posted on January 26, 2013 by BarryH

A small part of the church service which I went to in the Banff Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning was to exchange with the person next to or close to you something which you regarded as a blessing during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grumpy Old Men, Mountains, Reflections, Winter | Tagged Alpine Rules, Banff, ice hockey, Lake Louise, Presbyterian Church Banff, skiing, snowboarding, Sunshine Village | Leave a comment

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 auld lang syne, banff canada, brecon beacons national park, brecon canal, Canada, canadian rockies, Goose and Cuckoo, Lady Llanover, New Year, Pontypool, pub lunch, south east wales, unpredictable weather | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Grumpy Old Men | Tagged advertising, Christmas, Christmas Greetings, language, mountaineering, robin, superlatives, woodpecker | Leave a comment

Bah Humbug!: Christmas and beyond

Posted on December 4, 2012 by BarryH

I regret that I don’t and never have, enjoyed Christmas. Required jollity is not my thing. Nor is the hyperventilating commercialisation which tries to drag behind it a vague connexion with the birth of Christ which the church does its … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grumpy Old Men, Winter | Tagged Bah humbug, Banff, banff canada, Bow River, Canada, canadian rockies, Christmas, Grotto Canyon, Lake Louise, sun dog | 3 Comments