I guess I could be described as an English Language geek (‘bore’ even) when it comes to the use of superlative descriptions. The kids (40/50 year olds that is) talk about ‘awesome’ this and ‘fabulous’ that in virtually every sentence. ‘We’ve just been out for ‘fish and chips’ we say. ‘AWESOME!’ they reply. This generation…

We’re driving down Interstate 55 from Memphis, on our way to Natchez. We’ve skipped breakfast at the hotel in favour of the homestyle food at ‘Cracker Barrel’, the Old Country Store on route that we can rely on for a hearty breakfast. Crispy bacon, eggs sunny side up, forget the grits, and we’re fully charged…

New Year. We’ve had more than our share of New Year rip-offs in the past so this time we are going to the Isle of Wight. There’s something innocently comforting about the Isle of Wight – we know all will be well at New Year there, so that’s where we are heading. We are also…

What an unexpected delight to be invited on someone else’s honeymoon at our age! Amanda and Terry, fresh from their Eastbourne nuptials and family partying, and now here with us and the rest of the Anzere gang at the swish Suffolk resort of Corton (on-sea). But I’m jumping ahead. Arriving by train at Lowestoft, the…

The lovely Nagi (Nikki to her Western friends) greets us on arrival at the ryokan – the traditional Japanese inn – in Kiso Fukoshima. Nagi takes us straight out again on a tour of the village. Up to the old Samurai checkpoint where travellers were searched for weapons (you couldn’t be too careful who you…

From our room on the 32nd floor of the Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo we can make out mount Fuji in the distance – 124km away. The zoom photo doesn’t do justice to this sacred and iconic mountain, but our hopes of a more impressive shot from the bullet train a few days later – this…

I have discovered the secret of life – or at least a long and happy one. It’s in a country where you are surrounded by cheerful smiling people, where music is played everywhere you go, where the equivalent of ‘national service’ is to spend time as a Buddhist monk, and where the king plays jazz…

I am starting to panic. It’s late Sunday evening and tomorrow I have to give a presentation about our Recipe system in French, and I’ve lost my crib sheets. It’s well over a year since I last presented in French. The French side of my brain is now completely blank. I can’t even remember the…

I’m worried about my health. I think I am suffering from Business Class Syndrome. Physically I’m fine. It doesn’t attack you in the legs like the economy one. It gets you psychologically. I am travelling to Johannesburg in the new style British Airways 747 upper deck, fitted with the science seats that at the press…