Photo Diary 2006

Colin M Diary Page!

2006

February - Ebay! - I should just steer clear I know, but this 1970's dodgem came up & I just couldn't leave it! A city centre flat just isn't big enough for 2 cars in the living room though, so I gave the big one to godsons Jack & Louis. Had fun on dad Gi's birthday in the garden with them & their new ride!

April - Mum & Dad are in Scarborough, so Megan comes to stay, and makes herself comfortable! Mother & I meet up at Flamingoland so I can get some shots of the new Kumali ride. I pass this mobile phone tree on the way & always said I'd get a pic of it next time... As a member of the European Coaster Club, we get the chance to be the 1st to ride the new Speed rollercoaster at Oakwood. Oakwood is a 6 hr drive so I check into a B&B and make an overnighter of it. On the way back I get stuck in traffic next to this cool Herbie replica!

Tony & I pop over to Scarborough to meet mother for fish & chips in a harbour-side cafe, then followed by a nice evening stroll along the promenade...

Get the opportunity to spend a couple of nights in Chichester so decide to grab the chance of getting to Paultons to see yet another interesting new roller coaster, Cobra. Also get to spend time in Southampton, Southsea (riding Skyways, an old coaster I used to go on as a kid!) & Portsmouth taking a ride on the Gosport ferry??!! Pictured here is the Spinnaker tower which has a glass elevator going up the outside of the tower, and HMS Warrior which father & I saw in the mid 80's during its renovation in Hartlepool! Also the Chinese State Circus in Southsea...

From there we went onto Brighton for 1 more night enabling me to do a feature on the new rides at Brighton Pier. I like Brighton, & Tony had never been so we took in the sights of the defunct West Pier, The Laines, Brighton Pavilion, and the seafront promenade. Also had great views from room 403 of the Royal Albion hotel, overlooking the Pier & esplanade...

The day after we returned from Blighty we spent more quality time with Sarah, Gi & godsons Jack & Louis in Rhyl... took in the Sea - Life centre aquarium & arcades! Jack was happy winning a very small fortune on the 2p machines, then irritated the pants off us winning 1 of them bleedin' frogs... before we headed to the beach for a BBQ!

MAY - Tony gets offered a new job so he has to go back to London for a couple of days. I tag along & visit Thorpe Park & Chessington. Then we head to Portsmouth where I make a return visit to Paultons, and onto Hayling Island where we visit Funland. (White peacock at Paultons & Hayling Island where we find a hand-shaped shell & traditional beach huts).

From Hayling we ate at Woody's in Chichester again & stay the night in Hickstead, before moving onto Southend on Sea & Adventure Island. We take the train to the end of the world's longest pleasure pier before strolling back to the park.

From Southend we head to Potters Bar, North London to spend the night with Netty in her fantastic new home! The following day the 3 of us take a ride on the London Eye & a river cruise.

Tony has more travelling to do which means more places for me to tag along to! This time he's working in Haverfordwest, which is conveniently located near Folly Farm & Oakwood. We spend a day at Folly farm before an evening drive along the coast, stopping to eat at the bohemian Druidstone Head. the following day we go to Oakwood before returning home.

Yet more work takes Tony to Mablethorpe. I tag along (again!) and take a stroll around...

JUNE - Nancy, Anna & I visit Heaton Park for a summer fair...

JULY - Tony & I head off to stay at Gretna, visiting Rosslyn Chapel (as featured in the Da Vinci Code), the Falkirk Wheel & Holy Island to tour Lindisfarne Castle. We meet up with Mum & Dad at Lindisfarne before heading back to the caravan, (parked overlooking the harbour in Berwick) for a barbeque.

Rosslyn Chapel has a rich history, since it was founded in 1466. The chapel is immaculately carved & restored throughout. It now has a walkway / canopy over it, enabling visitors close -up views of the gargoyles. Pictured are 'Lucifer' - the fallen angel, represented here tied upside down, the Devil & kneeling couple, The ornate Apprentice Pillar, (the story is that the master mason was so jealous when his apprentice completed a far more ornate pillar than his own, the master killed his apprentice with his mallet), & 'The Green Man...

The Falkirk Wheel is an innovative boat-lift. Up to 4 full-size canal barges are rotated from the upper to lower levels of waterway by a giant 'Ferris wheel for boats'...

Lindisfarne is the name of the village, priory & castle located on Holy Island, just off the coast of North East England. The Priory is highly significant in the history of Anglo - Saxon Christianity. The 1st monastery was founded here by St. Aiden in 635 AD, St. Cuthbert was the monk - bishop from 670 AD. The priory would be closed by order of King Henry VIII in 1537, and was left to fall into ruins. The ruins themselves have been a tourist attraction since the 1700's...

AUGUST -This years summer trip takes us to Cologne & Brussels, & to visit Tony's family in Germany - CLICK HERE FOR SEPARATE PAGE

SEPTEMBER - Pleasureland, Southport announced its closure - I head over there regularly to follow the demolition of the classic rides, pics can be found on the PLEASURELAND page, also take these shots...