Author Archives: heathgrip

The first time Marie and I went to Philly together, in 2015, Elton John’s ‘Philadelphia Freedom’ started playing on the car radio as we were passing over the bridge leaving home! How freakish is that? And how much of a good omen!  We’ve also been on short holidays/vacations there in 2017 and 2019 and loveContinue reading “Philadelphia”

Best pubs and bars I might be a little biased, but there is nothing anywhere quite like a British pub. It’s part of a community, a way of life and a haven to relax for as long as you like.  In the summer, as an English friend put it, you’ll likely be at an outdoorContinue reading “Quest for the best: pubs and bars”

(a few years ago; any eateries or bars mentioned are still open!) all photos taken by myself Day 1 (Feb 14) A very easy and civilised journey to get there – a 2 hour flight on a miniature plane from nearby La Guardia Airport (everyone here loves to pronounce La Guardia with a heavy QueensContinue reading “Charleston (SC)”

This is more of a ‘watch this space’, evolving article than a fixed one and we’ll add/change it as we go along! Readers might like to make their own recommendations to us on any genre of eatery or bar/pub, which would be very welcome! Bear in mind that our sphere of travel in the nextContinue reading “Quest for the best: Diners & ‘Greasy Spoon’ cafes…”

part 3 of our Birmingham-Spain-London trip Hampstead – Westminster Abbey – Dean Street Townhouse for afternoon tea – Covent Garden – London Museum – Camden Town We’d been looking forward to stopping in one of the four rooms above the King William pub in Hampstead High Street for some while. Hampstead is well-to-do, graceful, aContinue reading “London”

part 2 of our Birmingham (UK)-Spain-London trip: Day 5 – That slightly surreal feeling then as we waited in the lobby of the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham, England, at 3.30 in the morning after ordering a minicab. A young Irish woman chatted to us as she polished the tables in the lobby lounge. She saidContinue reading “Spain (Costa Blanca)”

[the first leg of our holiday to Birmingham-Spain-London] For those interested enough to read about Birmingham, UK – the land of Peaky Blinders, curry and Ozzy Osbourne (and where I lived for 24 years of my life)  – here is part 1 of this journal! By the way, this is from a few years ago,Continue reading “Birmingham and Stamford, England”

Saturday, November 23rd 2019 – Today, after our brunch at our friends café, Bagel Time, Marie drove us to Park Slope, Brooklyn, so we could drop off my painting for a Small Works exhibition at the 440 Gallery.  It was exciting to be part of a Brooklyn exhibition soon, and Brooklyn and Manhattan can potentiallyContinue reading “Park Slope, Brooklyn & Korzo bar-restaurant”

I’m going to sound like I’m almost advertising the restaurant here, but I promise no one paid me anything!! We just love our traditional festive visit to Keens (though we’re more than happy to go twice next year, as we plan to possibly go with family & friends from Europe in Spring 2021, covid permitting).Continue reading “Keens Steakhouse NYC (and Fountain Pen Hospital)”

March 2019. (This was an excursion from Yorkshire, where Marie was working in Leeds for a couple of weeks) And to the big Match Day; our football/soccer team, Newcastle United, were playing Everton today! We took a 9am something morning train, passing many a scenic, sheep filled (rainy) landscape and arrived at Newcastle Station, whichContinue reading “A day to remember in Newcastle (UK)”