Category Archives: Winter

New Year: sales, contrasts and looking ahead.

Posted on January 2, 2012 by BarryH

Christmas with the family and New Year with friends were good and Father Christmas brought me everything that I wanted.  But now it’s past: left-over food eaten; wrapping paper in the bin; house tidied up; shops returning to normal before they put Easter on … Continue reading →

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The lead up to Christmas: stresses, strains and challenge

Posted on December 19, 2011 by BarryH

That Christmas is widely regarded by most people as a time of stress is by now a matter of cliché, as seen by cynics like me at least.  Mental stress from rushing around trying to cram in shopping for presents … Continue reading →

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A bad time of year: dogged by failure

Posted on December 12, 2011 by BarryH

It has been suggested that in the last blog-post I misinterpreted the instruction on the trains completely.  Instead of requiring customers to place litter in the bins they are instead required to dispose of the litter which is already in … Continue reading →

Posted in Grumpy Old Men, Reflections, Winter | Leave a comment

Looking beyond Christmas: dealing with boredom

Posted on December 5, 2011 by BarryH

It’s generally a pretty drab time of year.  Autumn has given way to Winter.  Grey skies.  Short days and long evenings.  Cold and damp.  Difficult to get on the soil to do much in the garden.  Mountains often lost in … Continue reading →

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Rocky Mountain winter trails

Posted on January 15, 2011 by BarryH

Tuesday and my last full day in the Rockies.  Once again it was cloudless blue sky and very cold.  My knee was playing up after the Hoodoos Trail yesterday but I couldn’t just poodle around town.  I had to do … Continue reading →

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Banff and the Bow Valley: Wildlife on the doorstep, walking on the wild side ….. and getting it wrong!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by BarryH

I’m back home now (Thursday evening) but I’ll update the blog with the Canada trip.  The blog below failed to upload in Calgary airport where the WiFi connection cut me off. First of all, apologies in advance if this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Reflections, Uncategorized, Winter | 1 Comment

Banff: Wildlife on the doorstep

Posted on January 11, 2011 by BarryH

Sunday was a day-off skiing for Ruth and Tim, and for me too for that matter.  That means a day for chores including a visit to the launderette with big bags of laundry.  On the way back we heard a … Continue reading →

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Art, nature, pushing the limits, and knowing when to stop

Posted on January 10, 2011 by BarryH

Saturday didn’t begin well.  I had a appointment with the physio at 08.00, the only slot available.  The insurance company were still ‘reviewing’ my case (translation: still trying to find a way of wriggling out of paying for my treatment) so … Continue reading →

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White-out, Wipe-out, Black Monday

Posted on January 6, 2011 by BarryH

It often irritates me when people talk about a ‘white-out’ whenever it snows. It’s part of the unfortunately growing habit of exaggerating everything for effect.  Some people never have a headache, only a migraine.  If you’ve had migraine you know … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grumpy Old Men, Winter | 3 Comments

Rocky Mountain Sunshine

Posted on January 5, 2011 by BarryH

We got back from the guided walk in Grotto Canyon about 12.30.  It was still clear blue sky and bright sunshine and so, having had something to eat I decided to go back up Tunnel Mountain.  The views had been … Continue reading →

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