Category Archives: Health and humour

At last !!

Posted on August 29, 2021 by BarryH

After three failed attempts to return to Symi this year, I have finally made it. A cancelled flight in May because of the pandemic was followed by another at the beginning and then another at the end of June.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Health and humour, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Photography, Weather | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Year of the Parsnip

Posted on April 25, 2021 by BarryH

This is the Year of the Ox, to be precise, the Year of the Metal Ox.  It began on 12 February and replaced the Year of the Rat.  At least for the Chinese.  For me, 1 March marked the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Grey Britain, Health and humour, Nature, Photography, Reflections, Spring, Wales, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rising above the grey

Posted on December 5, 2020 by BarryH

Rather than ushering in the Mediterranean to the UK, climate change is bringing increasing greyness interspersed with ‘extreme weather events’.  Gradual descent into winter in November used to be marked by a week of hard frosts, sometimes with temperatures lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Grey Britain, Health and humour, Hiking, Landscape, Monmouthshire, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales, Weather, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Virtual Symi: Summer solstice and Covid optimism

Posted on June 22, 2020 by BarryH

Summer solstice, 21 June, and for the last 10 years I have been in Greece to celebrate it.  With the sun at its highest, at the zenith (13.00 with adjustment for summer time) I’ve made a point of taking a … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grey Britain, Health and humour, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Under the Covid Cosh: musings

Posted on April 29, 2020 by BarryH

Five weeks in, under the cosh since 23 March, and the major change is in the weather. For all that time it has been warm and sunny, the sunniest April on record in the UK.  A single overnight shower two … Continue reading →

Posted in Grey Britain, Health and humour, Hiking, History, Mountains, Spring, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Life under the Covid cosh.  And a new book

Posted on April 4, 2020 by BarryH

I’m trying not to be bored. New words and phrases have entered the language, old words and phrases have taken on new meaning, usually imprecise meanings that convey different things to everyone.  We are all now living in ways we … Continue reading →

Posted in extreme gardening, Greece, Grey Britain, Health and humour, Mountains, Reflections | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Happy New Year

Posted on December 31, 2019 by BarryH

New Years Day 3 years ago and this was my room on the top floor of the hotel we were staying in in Canadian Banff, sky visible through what had been the ceiling and the roof.  Evacuated at 02.30 into … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Health and humour, History, Mountains, Photography, Reflections, Winter | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

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 →

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Greece unpackaged: Travels in a foreign language

Posted on March 23, 2018 by BarryH

My plans for the next post on Barry’s Ramblings have been postponed yet again. The reason?  I’ve finally got around to sorting out the technology and published my book in Amazon’s Kindle Store.  ‘Greece unpackaged: Travels in a foreign language’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Health and humour, Reflections | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments