Category Archives: journal

Not the Island of Madeira

Posted on by

Alvor in The Algarve on mainland Portugal was our main holiday destination this year. A quaint fishing village with lots of places to eat and extensive boardwalks through a nature reserve right on the coastline.

The sun shone. Temperatures rose. We lazed or walked away the ten days we were there, plus a nostalgic trip by speedboat to Lagos where we spent a family holiday sometime in the 1990’s.

It was a good holiday. Late April/early May is a good time to visit the Algarve but a little too early in year for it to be our main holiday. Note to selves – book two holidays in the year – one early and the other late in future.

Our hotel in Alvor

Alvor, Portugal

Claremont News 2016

Posted on by

St Michael le Belfrey during Illuminating York

Welcome to our Christmas family news blog. Please feel free to browse the stories that made up our year. Much more has happened of course but space and time constrain our storytelling. Enjoy.

Sapphire Year 
Bleak Walk
One Year On
Chase The Sun
Weekends Together 
Still Crazy
A Pilot 
Not Madeira
Enjoying Ourselves

Claremont News 2015

Posted on by
Christmas Card 2015

St Williams College, York

Welcome to our news from York.  Join us as we look back, through these stories and pictures, at the year just coming to an end. It’s been a time of knowing the love and support of our families, friends and neighbours. If you count yourself among them, thank you.

At Peace
Days Off and On
Matthew and Laura’s House
Families Get Together
A Tale of Two Street Parties
That Island Again
Jubilee Year
Politics on the Left
Picture Gallery

Trusting you have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year
Love from
Barrie and Joan

 

 

Claremont News 2014

Posted on by
Barrie and Joan setting off on their cycle ride

Three Days On Two Wheels

Years like this one test our faith and challenge our resilience. The hope and joy of Christmas reminds us not to trust in our own strength but in the strength of the God who came to the manger as Jesus Christ and endured the humility of the cross. So we pray for the very best for you as we celebrate and look ahead to a new year.

Round and Round

Posted on by
Tinsel decorating a Yellow Bicycle

The Tour de France meets Christmas

In July the Grand Depart came to Yorkshire as the county hosted the start of the Tour de France. We decorated our street with yellow bunting and yellow bikes as the whole region rose to the occasion and celebrated the world’s greatest cycling event.

The Claremont Terrace street party was just one of the many parties and events staged in York. Cycling mania gripped the region. Hundreds of new bikes were sold and thousands dusted off their wheels and pedalled off into the sunset.

Barrie and Joan at the end/start of the Hadrian's Wall Cycleway

Joan and I loaded our cycles onto the train and set out for Cumbria, and the the start of the Hadrian’s Wall Cycleway. Crossing the Pennines we headed for Tynemouth following the northern limits of the ancient Roman Empire. A challenging but enjoyable three day ride to raise funds for Restore.