Long Time, No Blog… But I’ve Been to Maastricht!
Life Got in the Way (Again)
Well hello, you lovely lot. Yes, yes, I know—it’s been a bit of a blog blackout, hasn’t it? Life in the Cleary household has been a whirlwind of busy days, family antics, and a little bit of globetrotting thrown in for good measure. But now that the dust has settled and I’ve regained use of my fingers (and brain), I’m back to regale you with tales from the recent past. Trust me, it’s been a cracking few weeks.
Easter Antics in Altrincham
Let’s start with the Easter break, which was a proper little palate-cleanser after the drudgery of winter. First up—a pub crawl! Just the lads: Dad, my brother, and me. A trio of thirsty blokes let loose in our old stomping ground, Altrincham.
Pub Stop One – The Old Market Tavern
First up, The Old Market Tavern. A trusty classic. It wasn’t exactly heaving, but it had just enough punters to give the place a buzz. We tucked into a couple of cheeky pints and let the nostalgia do its thing.
Pub Stop Two – The Orange Tree
Next, we popped into The Orange Tree, which appeared to have undergone one heck of a makeover. Credit where it’s due—it looked cracking. Sadly, the clientele was nowhere to be seen. Apart from the landlady (who I think was starting to think we were lost), it was just us and our drinks. Dad sensibly opted for a coffee, while my brother and I soldiered on with the beer.
Pub Stop Three – The Malt Shovels
Our final pit stop was The Malt Shovels, which hadn’t changed one iota since the last time I stepped foot in there… probably when Tony Blair was still relevant. It was the busiest of the three, but alas, the beer didn’t quite hit the spot. One pint got unceremoniously returned; the other we grimaced our way through. A quick whisky chaser helped soften the blow. Then it was home for Mum’s top-tier home cooking, which salvaged the day entirely.
Easter Weekend Shenanigans
Saturday – The Calm Before the Roast
Easter Saturday was, thankfully, a quieter affair. A bit of telly, a lot of loafing, and mentally preparing for the carnivorous joy that was to come.
Sunday – The Great Lamb Feast
Easter Sunday meant the in-laws were round. Michele knocked up a delicious leg of lamb (cue many “mint sauce or no mint sauce?” debates), and we all tucked in. Lewis, the elusive one, was absent due to work duties. Shame, as the lamb was chef’s kiss.
Monday – Sunshine, Weeding and Toy Patrol
Easter Monday brought a bit of sunshine and a visit from Sam, Matt, and little Harry. The plan? Relax in the garden. The reality? Matt went full Alan Titchmarsh on the back garden, shaming me into joining him in a half-hearted weeding session. That didn’t last long—Harry’s toys proved far more entertaining. Priorities, people.
Later that day we planned a jaunt to Southport for Tuesday. Cue excitement.
A Day Trip to Southport
Parking Woes and Sea Fret Surprises
Southport greeted us with that classic British coastal charm: chilly sea fret and nowhere to park on the beach. Luckily, we found a cheaper car park across the road. Small mercies.
Lunch Robbery and Seaside Fun
Lunchtime brought fish and chips… and daylight robbery. Nearly £30 for five meals and a couple of tiny hands stealing chips off our plates! But at least it fuelled us for a wander down the high street.
Afterwards, we headed to the beach for some shell-hunting with Harry, who was on a mission. And what a haul we got—sea snail shells galore. Harry took them home, already planning their fate in a bucket of soapy water. Pure joy.
Braces, Blockbusters, and Lake District Escapes
Wednesday – Braces and the Fast & the Furious
Wednesday saw Josh getting his new brace fitted (poor lad), while Michele and I escaped to the cinema to watch Fast and Furious 7. Josh gave it a miss, having already seen it. He went off to cause teenage mayhem with his mates instead.
Thursday – Canoes and Sunset Sighs
We were invited to Warren and Dawn’s caravan in Flookburgh (South Lakes), and the weather was glorious. Canoe time at Fell Foot on Lake Windermere! Everyone climbed in except Michele, who wisely chose dry land.
After paddling about like overgrown ducklings, we treated ourselves to a pint at The Swan Hotel and Spa. Chinese takeaway in hand, we headed back to the caravan and had a kick-about with the boys. The football was interrupted by one of the most stunning sunsets I’ve ever seen. A fiery orange ball sinking into the horizon… and no camera. Typical.
Then the lights went out. Literally. Full caravan park power cut. Still, a couple of beers in the dark isn’t the worst way to end a day.
Friday – BBQ Bacon and Coniston Calm
With the power still out Friday morning, it was BBQ bacon butties all round for brekkie. The kids (Adam and Josh) stayed behind in the hope the power would return so they could jump on the Xbox.
Meanwhile, the adults headed deeper into the Lakes. We wandered around Coniston village, grabbed a coffee, and then moved on to Chapel Stile for a smashing lunch at Wainwrights Inn. The beer was spot on, and the food didn’t disappoint either.
A gentle walk along the River Brathay helped walk off lunch, with clear views of Lang Howe and Silver Howe glistening in the sunshine. On the way back we crossed Lake Windermere via the Far Sawrey car ferry. Then it was back to the caravan to pack up and head home. Glorious stuff.
Off to Maastricht!
After a lazy weekend (I deserved it), I packed my bags for a work trip to Maastricht. What should’ve been a smooth ride turned into a 12-hour door-to-door trek across the continent. Highlight? Closing a sliding car door on a Belgian motorway at 70km/h. Not recommended.
Divine Digs and Dutch Delights
Our hotel, the Kruisheren Hotel, was a showstopper—a converted church, tastefully done with just the right level of drama. We arrived to find our Dutch colleagues already propping up the bar. No time to unpack—straight in for local beer (Sjores, if you’re asking) and “bitterballen” (basically fried joy).
We followed this with a ludicrously good meal at Le Bon Vivant. Truffle mousse, lobster bisque, steak, and a cheese board that would make a Frenchman weep. Washed down with red wine, vintage port and a Scotch. We then staggered to a local bar and stayed until 2am like proper grown-ups.
Meetings and Modern Marvels
Next morning I was first down for breakfast (because I’m keen like that). We held meetings at the Maastricht office, including a trip to Sabic’s European HQ. The building? A modern marvel—think glassy atriums and architectural wizardry.
I also had a longer-than-expected natter with the CAD team. Worth every minute though.
Then it was the journey home: train from Maastricht, across northern Europe, then onto the Eurostar at Ebbsfleet. Of course, I missed the last train home and ended up crashing at the Thistle Hotel in Euston. Bless the receptionist—she upgraded me. Must’ve looked utterly shattered.
The train from Euston the next morning? Delayed, naturally. Changed trains, lost 30 minutes. Could’ve been worse, to be fair.
Back Home and Back to Normal
Fight Night Madness
Back home, things were relatively uneventful… aside from a little punch-up on TV. No, not EastEnders—Mayweather vs Pacquiao. I paid the £19.95 Sky ransom, and the house filled with teen testosterone: seven 19-year-olds and three 15-year-olds all watching the fight with me.
Michele managed to sleep through the noise, bless her, while the boys grilled BBQ sausages by the chimenea. Fight kicked off around 4:30am and, as expected, Mayweather danced his way to a points win. Classic.
Politics and Patchy Facial Hair
We also had that little thing called a general election. It took forever, but eventually the Tories clinched a majority and Cameron got another go at Number 10. Suits me fine—though not everyone was thrilled, obviously.
Oh, and I grew a beard. A full-on, proper beard. It lasted 30 days before public opinion (mainly Michele’s) forced its swift demise. Apparently, it aged me a decade. Charming.
Until Next Time…
Well, if you made it this far, congratulations! You’ve survived my mega ramble. Hopefully you weren’t too bored stiff by the domestic details, pub pints, and Belgian motorways. I promise not to leave it so long before the next one.
