I just had to share with you the amazing pop-up birthday card i received from my lovely Wife Sarah on my birthday in April. How cool is it?? I’ve never had such a cool card like this before so i had to post it on here as a memory for me…And to show you guys too! 😲
I can’t wait until ‘Photo Thursday’ next week!! 😀
This weekend we’re celebrating a brobdingnagian 18 years since the ‘Blind Sightseers’ first met at Sight Village, Birmingham, UK. We’ve been simply stunned how God has joined us together with the incredible love we thought we’d never find, taken us to places we thought we could never go…And He always gives beyond anything we can imagine…And it’s not over yet??!!! 😲 🙏
For this weeks ‘Weekly Photo Challenge‘, i thought i would use my acoustic Ayotte drum kit as my OBJECT & INSPIRATION!
For me, i get so inspired when i can sit among my drums, cymbals and anything else i can clamp nearby, lol… And play them loud! AAWWWW the sound of the ‘PHAT’ 24 inch bass drum is like nothing else i’ve heard, so smooth and boomy it’s like pressing your foot on the pedal of doom!! 🤣
The Ayotte Velvet is made with 8-ply sugar hardened maple shells, and i chose the biggest 24″ bass drum, 18″ & 16″ floor toms with a 13″ rack tom. 💪🏼
it’s such an amazing feeling and i even played (and bought) them on my wedding day!! ❤️
I’ll never get bored of this photo of my lovely wife Sarah relaxing in her fave seat in the world. Sarah sat here every night watching the Bajan sunset during our 2 week long stays at ‘Southern Palms’ in Barbados, and to say that we miss being there is an understatement. ☀️
Bonjour mes amis (Good Morning My Friends)
No way we’re in Corsica! My lovely wife Sarah is going to kill me for ruining this post with another of my digressions…But my fave cars of all time raced here and i can’t contain myself….Yes it’s Group B rally cars!
Awwww i can hear that ferocious engine sound (and the monster dump valve) of one of my favourite cars…The Lancia Delta S4. It had an Abarth-designed supercharged and turbocharged 500bhp 1.8-litre engine, it could hit 60mph in just over two seconds…And this was 1986!
But…After a fatal accident (here in Corsica) Group B rally cars were banned and a FISA investigation later proved that drivers’ reactions were too slow to keep up with Group B cars, and drivers’ eyes could not adjust their focus between the fast corners, which caused tunnel vision. Now that’s fast…And insane!!
They said the cars had so much raw power but with little containment…I have a wife like that, lol! Sorry Sarah! 🤣
View our full day in Corsica
The start line…
I thought the heat was blistering already but it didn’t prepare me for the inferno when we walked underneath the archway and onto the track. 🔥🔥
Sarah said “Steve you’ve got to get a photo of me at the original olympic start line! I’ve only been out of my aircast for a few weeks and it would make a great photo…Zena (Sarah’s friend) will comment straight away and tell me off, lol (she did). 😀
“Here goes” i said “No pressure at all for this shot…It’s only a one off picture” But it worked and Sarah looks fantastic! Sarah had gone for months with an aircast, and now seeing her on the start line looking like a true olympian was another emotional moment for me. She really is my warrior princess wife! ❤️❤️❤️
View our full day in Olympia
I’m not good in the sun but Sarah comes alive in the scorching hot weather. So i sloshed on my sun cream as it was already 36 degrees outside (ouch) I’ve also bought myself a ‘Tactical Sun Hat’ to try and keep myself cooler in the sun and provide a little shade with the wide rim…It worked really well but i was still dripping like a candle in a Salvador Dali painting! 🤣
View our full day in Corinth
We were surrounded by a sea of blue, sky of blue, deck of blue and Sarah’s new “Hokusai” dress …of blue. 😎
⬆ Sarah wearing her new “Hokusai” dress! ⬆
view our full cruise from Croatia
Yay, the plane…
I was excited to be travelling on an airplane again, and was totally surprised i managed to capture a piece of Palma upon take off! 😲
This has to be one of my favorite photos!! I’m glad to see Sarah(The Greatest Warrior” parting some of her knowledge and instruction to an inferior ranked warrior on how to correctly throw a spear! 💪🏼
View our full day in Alicante
My fave place “The Coffee Port” on the Thomson Dream cruise ship (now Marella Dream) for a birthday Cappuccino with a stunning view! 😲
⇧ My fave seat in the Coffee Port ⇧
The 1961 Yellow Unimog…
Awww friends….Let me introduce you to this Yellow, 1961 Unimog…..have you seen the tires, lol! It threw us around like crazy and i still can’t believe that he didn’t slow down for anything. There is no way a vehicle can hit rocks, huge pot holes, climb cracked hills and go around tight bends whilst travelling at break neck speed, it would have destroyed anything else and left them in a pile of spare parts, lol. I’m not sure they issued these with brake pedals! 😎
View our full day (Sarah’s Birthday) at Bonaire
Back at the dock…🛳
After a short boat ride back to the ship, we had enough time to get changed, leave our bags and have a well needed iced-coffee before heading out to explore as much as we can without getting lost before the ship leaves.
We walked up one street and turned right before Sarah stopped and said “Wow, she’s having her photo taken in front of that cool wall art/sign. Quick get one of me” “Ok my lovely, you’re wearing your new yellow Michael Kors t-shirt too, i hope i get everything in”. Sarah had bought this t-shirt for our holidays and couldn’t wait to put on the lovely bright colours and flowers.
This is one of my fave photos as it shows Sarah’s smile is as bright as her t-shirt.
View our full day at Aruba
Speightstown, Barbados…
And speaking of lovely architecture and colonial towns, your first stop is at Speightstown. Here you’ll enjoy seeing historic buildings and beautiful tropical beaches.
The tour guide kept talking about the PRC Bakery at our first stop, and said she was going in to get something for the trip. “OOohhhh maybe we could get a small cake for your birthday” “Yes let’s follow her and see what goodies they have?” As we walked in to the little bakery the guide said “Oh yes a lead pipe” as she picked one up and went to pay for it. “What’s a lead pipe?” i said to the guide “It’s a local cake but it can be used as a weapon too as it’s very heavy”. Sarah then passed me a bag with a cake in and said hold this “Wow this weighs about the same as a 16lb bowling ball” “everything is so heavy in here, nothing has fluffy cream like in England as it would melt instantly, lol”.
Sarah told the baker that we loved coconut and did e have anything with coconut in them? We only got 1 coconut slice as we didn’t know how sweet it was or even if we liked it?! 😋
I never (ever) stop talking about this coconut slice as it’s the nicest cake i’ve ever tasted! The bell on the ‘Blind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboard’ was destroyed as this flew to the top of the cakes list! If i’d have known i would’ve stayed in the bakery and continued to eat every single last one of them! But we only had that one and we’ve never been able to go back since this monumental occasion. Oh yes…This monumental occasion is my lovely wife Sarah’s birthday! 🤣
View our full “Barbados 360 Island Tour“
A beautiful tiger taken from a day trip to Chessington world of adventures.
The cool thing is I had no idea this tiger was looking at me until I got home and zoomed right into the image! 🤣
Camera Used ~ SONY Alpha a100
The smell of the locals cooking on the market was amazing, but Sarah had found a sweet little craft stall. The lady created items from the coral found off the shores St Maarten. “Oooooh, i could have a necklace made from St Maarten”. I knew that to mean “i’m getting one, i just don’t know which one yet?!” 🤣
⇧ Sarah’s St Maartens Coral Necklace ⇧
Sarah really was starting to feel at home here, but we had to get back to the bus! We enjoyed our stop in Marigot, and we said we’d love to spend a week here to investigate more! ☀️ 😀
⇧ Me & Sarah at St Kitts ⇧
From stunning, breathtaking views, horse riding in paradise, dancing with dolphins, River paddle boat trip, various island bus tours, 4×4 volcano ride, cable cars, OH…. and Sarah’s medical emergency in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, it’s been an unbelievable few weeks on our cruise holiday to the Caribbean, Azores & Spain (2015). 😲
Please join us (The Blind Sightseers) on this incredible journey:
⇧ My Father in law Steve playing my 1960 Gibson J45 ⇧
A photo taken from our new years eve (Dec 2011) holiday with friends (Rob, Shelley, Tom, Abbie & Ella) in Ilfracombe, Devon, England, UK. It was very windy and very wet! We had a fantastic time as the holiday home was overlooking this bay so we enjoyed lots of coastal walks and enjoyed local restaurants.
Camera used – iPhone 4s (as it was raining i was too scared to take out my DSLR’s) 😨
While on holiday last year in Hunstanton, Norfolk I kept hearing a fat american V8 driving around the town, and one day it was parked up so I could snap it with my camera! 😲
My friends dad always had american cars and vans and I’ve enjoyed them for most of my life, so I was excited when I could finally put a picture to that beautiful sound. 😀
Camera Used ~ iPhone 4s
Walking into the room was simply breathtaking and we couldn’t believe the view…And even better from the balcony…😲
Wow we have a week of this view, i think i’m going to have a hard time leaving the room, lol! 😀
The twinkling lights on this department store in Florence, Italy were simply amazing to just stand and look at, but it soon became dark and we didn’t want to get lost on our first day! All of the streets were decorated beautifully with illuminated stars, borbals & bells so we quickly headed back to the hotel. What an amazing, exciting and tiring first day. 😀
MmmmmmmmmmSay no more! 😋
This photo of Sarah sat in the window of the Old Hunstanton Lighthouse is a lovely memory for us. We rented the lighthouse for our honeymoon (2007) and then for the next 5 wedding anniversaries, and this is Sarah’s favourite seat! 😀
Sarah works in London where it is very fast paced, crowded, built up and very grey, she always looks forward to escaping the stress and relaxing by the sea. 💪🏼 ❤️
As you may already know from my previous photos of “The Old Lighthouse” this is our favourite place to hire for a holiday in Norfolk. 😀
“The Old Lighthouse is a holiday home with a difference! Built in 1666 on the cliffs of North Beach in Hunstanton, The Old Lighthouse was fully restored and converted to holiday accommodation in 1997.”
Camera used – Samsung WB550
ablenet
Our Mission…
Our mission is quite simple: we want to get more disabled and visually impaired people enjoying new, fun and exhilarating activities. We want to help people with disabilities feel confident that they can enjoy the same activities and life experiences as someone without a disability.
Hi readers!
Just guess how excited i am right now?? 🤣
I have just stumbled onto the ablenet website and found this…?
⇧ All images supplied by the ablenet facebook page ⇧
Are you ready for the drive of your life for an astonishing 6 miles each per Supercar?
If you love supercars and are visually impaired, our ‘3 Supercar Blind Driving Experience Super Thrill’ is an experience you won’t find anywhere else. It is the best way to get to you in your favourite supercars and experience the peed, and thrill, of a high-performance beast.
Yes, it is true. Whatever your level of visual impairment, you can drive a Supercar with Ablenet. All of the cars are automatic and a super skilled instructor will guide you around the track whilst having access to a footbrake should it be necessary.
So, whether it’s a Lamborghini, Ferrari F430 spider, Aston Martin DB9, Audi R8, Nissan GTR or Porsche 911/997, we put you with the largest fleet of cars in the UK for you to choose from. The hardest part is choosing…
The great benefit to driving on a race circuit is feeling the pure power of an awesome car. You will be with a professional instructor who will teach you the art of driving.
The experience also includes a thrilling hot lap ride when the race driver will show you what a performance car can do around the circuit. Typically in a BMW M3 V8 saloon car or Vauxhall VXV8, both with 3 passengers.
This is one of the first photos i’d taken since being registered Blind. I only had a compact camera back then as I didn’t know I would be any good at all at taking pictures, I thought it was a silly idea as it is a sighted person’s thing to do! 🤣
This photo was taken in Brighton, Uk, and is of the carousel horse that is right on the beach front.
Camera used – Fuji F10
This might look like an ordinary Squirrel shot, but i honestly thought i was taking a photo of a Pigeon! lol 🤣
Camera used – SONY Alpha a100
After being back in my home town of Derby this weekend, i didn’t want to leave without having an ‘Elephants Foot’ from Birds. Other bakers around the country do similar styles of cakes, but never taste anything like one of these beauty’s, they simply can’t be beaten! My sister got me a box of 4 to take back home and Sarah & i can’t thank her enough! 😀
If you visit Derby or Derbyshire then i recommend that you try one!
This is one of my favourite photos of my lovely Wife Sarah, and it shows what happens when she smiles! ☀️
When i found this photo which Sarah had taken in the Azores, we both started laughing and thought this was probably the best photo of me ever! 🙂 Don’t ask me what i was up to, i can only imagine that i heard a T-Rex or a volcano erupt!! 😲
Please let me know in the comments below if you have any great captions to add to this photo??!! I look forward to hearing what you come up with! 🤣
During our 5th wedding anniversary at the Lighthouse, Hunstanton, Norfolk. (2012) while walking into Hunstanton along the cliff top we spotted this cross that had been put there by surveyors and as it was only a few hundred yards from the lighthouse we thought we would try and get a nice photo whilst the sun was setting. 🤔
If it wasn’t for digital camera’s it wouldn’t be possible for me to enjoy photography and after about 50 photos later and a wait of a few days until i could get home and download the images onto my computer i was shocked to find this waiting for me. 😲
Camera used – Nikon D2Xs
Sarah & i (whilst on holiday in St. Kitts, Caribbean 2015) kept saying “Wow, this is Amazing! How did we get here, it’s like a dream”. The beautiful hot sun shining down, a lovely cool breeze and those stupendous palm trees! ☀️🌴😀
As we were walking around the gardens of Nonsuch Park (2008) my lovely wife Sarah pointed out a dandelion clock, I quickly drew out my camera and did my best! 😀
Camera used – SONY Alpha a100
As i was walking along the lovely quiet beach in Heacham, Norfolk (2006) with Sarah & Bruce i stopped to take this photo. As i have very little sight i still think this looks like a snake! lol 🤣
Camera used – SONY Alpha a100
A photo of my lovely wife Sarah’s wedding bouquet. ❤️😀
Camera used – Nikon D2Xs
Description
This Sunset was taken from the living room in the Lighthouse we stay in every July to celebrate our wedding anniversary! I had no idea that a bird was in the shot when I took the photo, i only noticed it when i got back from holiday and zoomed in on the image once I viewed it on my Large screen! (a nice gift) 😲
Camera used – Samsung WB550
Hi all, this is the official release for my fundraising towards my brobdingnagian challenge…It’s exactly 7 calendar months until my trail marathon! 💪🏼
‘Steve’s Blindman Trail Marathon’ in memory of my mum Valerie ❤️
I’m planning to step off the sidelines again soon… this time in memory of my wonderful mum, Valerie who died after a 14 yr struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, in the same month that I was registered blind.
I’ve always wanted to do something positive to celebrate her life and as you may know, my lovely wife Sarah has just started work at the MS Society. I can think of no better time or charity to make my fundraising in memory wish come true and I can finally add my mums name to the MS Society fight to stop MS. 💪🏼
I know I’ll be stretching myself past my limits for this challenge and so your encouragement and support would really help me to keep my training on track. Any donation you can spare would build my morale and endurance so I can smash this and reach my £1,000 goal to make my mum proud.
Together we can be a force for change and BEAT MS
Steve’s Blindman Trail Marathon
Fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis SocietyIn Memory of my mum Valerie
Story…
Hi, I’ve chosen to raise funds for MS Society and I’d love everyone who kindly decides to support me and this amazing charity, to take a moment to remember my lovely Mum Valerie!
She spent so much of her too short life giving to me and my siblings before MS took her independence and eventually her life. This is why I’ve decided to give something positive back. I want her name and face to join the fight so that she can live on through the tireless work the MS Society is doing to find treatments that will stop MS for good. 💪🏼
My beautiful mum passed away from progressive MS, after a courageous and tiring 14 year battle, in July 2000.
As you may know I’ve been registered blind since I was 25. My sight loss happened in the same month my mum finally lost her life and missing her added misery to my own struggle to come to terms with the isolation and insecurities of managing my new life as a blind man.
And so…….
My Challenge…Sunday 24th April 2022
I originally planned to take part in an MS officially organised event but quickly realised that with my sight loss walking an unknown route amongst so many people would create too much external stimuli on my senses and be too confusing for me to manage without serious injury.
I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do the challenge at all but I’ve finally found a safe(ish) trail about 2.5 miles long, in the woods and past a lake near my home. I am hoping this will work well as my walking route, (I’ve now learned it enough to be able to follow it without guided help). I think this trail will work really well for me to do my trail marathon challenge … if I can manage to make my way safely around this uneven, hilly, rough terrain about 11 times! 😰
I’ve begun to realise, as I write about this challenge during the start of my training, that I’ve only managed 2 laps each time so far, after which I collapse, needing water and food, lol! I have no idea how I’m going to continue for 11 laps non-stop but I’ve got seven more months to build up my strength and endurance… I hope. 🙏
It’s slowly dawning on me that this challenge is going to include around 8 hours non-stop blind walking… Ouch that’s going to hurt and take a lot of concentration, mental effort, strength, energy and discipline. And so before I get time to change my mind, I’ve decided to create a JustGiving fundraising page and I’ve notified the MS Society…so no backing out now 🤣.
Please help me complete what feels like an impossible challenge in memory of my wonderful mum… because Together we are strong enough to beat MS. 💪🏼
You can follow my training over the next 7 months on my Fitblitz blog and I will use my apple watch to count the steps, miles and elevation etc of the challenge, uploading the screenshots to let you know of my adventures and celebrate with me if I finish, lol! 🙌
About Multiple Sclerosis Society
Over 130,000 of us in the UK have MS. It’s unpredictable and different for everyone. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We’re the MS Society. We understand what life’s like with MS. We’re here for you through the highs, lows and everything in between. Together, we are strong enough to stop MS.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Click HERE for my JustGiving page.
QR Code for my JustGiving page:
Hi all, here is a photo of my (late) beautiful Boxer dog “Bruce”. If you have read my testimony then this name might already be familiar to you! 😀
Camera used – SONY Alpha a100
Photo taken on holiday in Hunstanton, Norfolk (2012).
Hi all! Today’s post is a little different, as i rarely get the opportunity to experience a proper car…Never mind get to talk all about the engine, tyres etc with another proper petrolhead! 💪🏼 🤣 Well it all started at the end of Eileen’s funeral last week when we needed a lift to the train station to head back home. Ben (ex brother in law and friend) said he’d give us a lift and disappeared to go and get his car?!
What is that visceral rumble outside?? 🤔
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
Please meet the RS4…😲
Ben: “Firstly, the RS4 was hand built by quattro gmbh (Audi’s in-house performance arm). The B7 RS4 is powered by a direct fuel injected (FSi) 4.2litre V8, producing 420bhp and revving to over 8,000rpm.
Mine is around 450bhp and revs to 8,500rpm due to some minor modifications. It has the quattro all wheel drive system with a 60:40 power split with a rear bias to aid handing. Front brake are floating discs with 8 piston callipers (also used on the Lamborghini Gallardo). As with all B7 RS4s, it’s a 6 speed manual (has to be manual).”
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
As Sarah was getting into the back seat she said “You’ve got to be in the front for this one” i said “Fantastic” as Ben kindly guided me around and opened the door as i got in. I said “Awww these Recaro bucket seats are amazing, and i can fit in them properly now i’ve lost 5 stone, lol!” 🤣
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
Sadly the train station was only about 10 minutes away, but when we reached the duel carriageway…Ben wound the windows down and floored it!! 😲
I’m not sure if it was the instant force of being blasted back into the seat, or the symphony of the 450 angry beasts filling my ears that gave me that feeling like nothing else…I simply couldn’t stop the huge grin from leaving my face! 😀
“Wow that was immense” i said whilst pealing my head off the rear window, lol. “That was only 6500rpm as we keep running out of road, we have 2000rpm left” Ben said as he gifted me with another blip of the throttle to evoke the awesome symphony!
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
When…🤔
Ben walked me around the rear of the car on the nearside about level with the tyre. He then placed Sarah in a similar position on the offside, “Stay there a minute and listen to this!?!”
It all happened at the same time…My ears were blessed and blasted with the massive sound of the V8 from the rear, then my lower half of my trousers blew backwards from the wind (tornado) blitzing me from the tailpipes…And as the revs lowered we could hear the huge pops, bangs and explosions coming from the exhaust! Wow what a finish, and now we understand what you were up to, lol! 🤣
I can’t thank Ben enough for giving me and Sarah this amazing experience, and Sarah was happy that i got to talk all about cars without boring her to death, lol!
Oh just one more thing…This monster has 275mm tires and 20 inch rims! 💪🏼
The Audi 4.2 V8…
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
⇧ Photo supplied by Ben – ©Performance Prestige ⇧
As you may know my last car before i went blind…Was my custom 1991 Vauxhall Nova 1.4SR resprayed in dark pearlescent purple (bottom half) and white for the top half after i’d fitted a full Zender body kit. . As i worked as a panel beater in a bodyshop, my fave part was hammering out the rear wheel arches, filling them for a slightly wider arch…So i could squeeze in the 205mm tyres on the 17 inch rims. I’d only ever seen 16 inch rims on a Nova in Derbyshire before, so i had to see if i could fit the 17’s…That’s why i called it the “Novadose”. 🤣
I’ve always been interested in cars as most of my family are/were mechanics…I think that’s why i get so excited whenever i have a car experience like the one above…And why i’ll always share it with you guys! 😀
Do you have any car experience stories to share? 🤔
Today i’m celebrating a brobdingnagian 17 years since i met my lovely wife Sarah at “Sight Village, Birmingham, UK” 🙌
This is a major Sight Village show in Birmingham which is held in July each year. Exhibitors throughout the world take part and welcome many thousands of visitors, including people who are blind or partially sighted, professionals, business people and family members.
I was there (from Derby) working for a charity called LOOK and Sarah was there (from Surrey) working for RNIB. She came to my table as she had a magazine which she had just published an article about LOOK and wanted to show me. Sarah opened the magazine and said here are the pictures and the article, i said “Wow, Mmmm, Awww and fantastic…It all looks great” which made Sarah quite proud of her work. I then said while laughing “you know i didn’t see any of what you’ve just shown me, as i’m blind!”. Then as always, a brief pause as Sarah tries to check out my eyes to see if i’m joking, then Sarah laughed and said “No way, me too!”. We both approach blindness in a similar way and love blossomed from that point. ❤️💪🏼 😀
Our Photos Throughout The Years….
⇧ 2005 ⇧
⇧ 2006 ⇧
⇧ 2007 ⇧
⇧ 2008 ⇧
⇧ 2009 ⇧
⇧ 2010 ⇧
⇧ 2011 ⇧
⇧ 2012 ⇧
⇧ 2013 ⇧
⇧ 2014 ⇧
⇧ 2015 ⇧
⇧ 2016 ⇧
⇧ 2017 ⇧
⇧ 2018 ⇧
⇧ 2019 ⇧
2020 ⇧
21 ⇧
📖 Bible Verse
Ephesians 5:25 Easy-to-Read Version
Husbands, love your wives the same as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it.
🤔 My Thoughts…
This is one of my favourite Bible verses that i try desperately each day to live up to. As soon as i first read this verse it convicted me straight away and i knew i wanted to be a husband like that!
🙏 Prayer
Holy Spirit, thanks for being a constant guiding presence in my life. Give me the faith to take practical and radical action to keep in step with You, so that You can love my spouse through me in a way that will sustain a fun, loving & trusting relationship. Amen.
Hi friends and welcome to Day 66 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
My ‘Blind Sightseers’ shirt collection…🤣
I wanted to take a photo of all of my shirts that i’d collected whilst on my travels, to show everyone (especially Sarah’s dad) that i don’t only wear black, lol! 🤣
The Gap…
We had a final walk along the gap to say a sad farewell…When Sarah found another way for us to cool down, lol! 🤣
My birthday Bajan towel…🇧🇧
On my birthday, Sarah also bought me this great colourful towel from the gift shop…I wouldn’t stop talking about it! I said “Hey Sarah can you take a photo of me on the beach holding my towel in the wind? I can hold it out like a flag”. I was failing miserably to hold it against the wind…But just as i was about to give up, George and Cynthia walked past and asked if we’d like them to take some photos?! 💪🏼 😀
Then as we were finishing…A kind person asked if we’d like a photo all together? Wow another photo we’ll cherish. 😀
We’d had an amazing time here in our fave place on earth…But it was time for a few more farewell photos before we head back home.
The final sunset…
Just as we were watching the sun fall away for the last time here in paradise…A kind lady asked if we’d like a photo together? Awww what a lovely surprise on our final evening, more precious memories.😀
⬅ Previous Day 🌴 Next Day ➡
🏝 Join us:
Hi friends and welcome to Day 65 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
NOPE..I just can’t get bored of the view…Ever! 😀
Breakfast and bathing…💪🏼
NOPE…I can’t get bored of this breakfast either, lol! 🤣
Then it’s time for Sarah to have a swim in the pool whilst i try and not get fried. ☀️
Sarah showed me where to get the lovely ice cold water (with cucumber or lemon) so i could refill while she was in the pool. Once i’ve been shown i’m pretty good at remembering where to go and what to do. The water was on a table underneath a tent like thing…And i could just make out a shape of a palm tree above it but i didn’t know it was glowing! ☀️ 🌴
The beach and Bajan blast…🌊
Wow…I don’t think we’ve ever been anywhere that is so accessible for us. It’s so much easier for us to be independent and do everything that we want to without too much hassle or struggle…And everything is so near by and we find it hard to even leave Southern Palms.
Speaking of which…”Steve let’s go on the beach” Sarah said as she blew pas me! I love this time of day and i’ll never get bored of seeing Sarah run, splash and play on this empty Caribbean beach. My only struggle is trying to point the camera towards the happy sounds! 🤣
After another fantastic time on the beach, it’s time to dry off and cool off…And what better way to cool off than a iced coffee at Sharkey’s! 😀
Sharkey’s Tropical Cafe…
Surf and turf…🍔
And guess what?? It’s time for the ‘Southern Burger’ and the ‘Shrimp Cocktail’ again, Sarah says the shrimp are as big as your face and she’s never seen anything like it before! 🤣
Sarah’s beautiful new green dress…
Sarah was excited to wear her beautiful new green dress, and as our room was right on the front facing the beach i said i’ll stay on the balcony and get some photos…No pressure, lol! 🤣 I didn’t have my ‘Big Burtha’ (Nikkor 80-400mm lens) or any of my DSLR’s but i did have my iPhone and tested the digital pinch zoom range! 😀
Hey look who’s back…? 😲
Just as Sarah was walking back from the beach we heard “Sarah…Hello we’re back” it was George and Cynthia! They’d had a lovely time visiting family in Saint Vincent and you’ll never guess…?
If you remember when we stayed here last year and i had ‘The Coconut Slice’ in Speightstown on Sarah’s birthday island tour…Well obviously i was telling George about it and he said “We have a local one like that can Saint Vincent called ‘Red Belly’ and it sounds the same”.
Then…🤔
George said “Put out your hand” and continued to place a ‘Red Belly’ coconut slice into my hand! I couldn’t believe it…His kindness was ineffable. He continued I went to the bakery on the island and they only had 2 left and were not making any more, i got one for you and one for me”. 😀 I don’t have the hyperbole to describe the coconut slice, and sorry i don’t have a photo as it disappeared so quickly…Not sure where it went, lol! 😋 🤣
The Bajan sunset…
Wow what a relaxing day on this incredible holiday. Thankfully we have 1 more full day at this beautifully colourful place before we head back to Gatwick and the cold, wet and grey London hue!
We’ll meet tomorrow…Same time…Same place for another adventure! 😀
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Hi friends and welcome to Day 64 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Breakfast and braides…🥓🍌🍉🍍🍊
After the consistently delicious, fresh and tasty breakfast we headed off to the salon. It was the same lady from last year, so she knew exactly how we liked our hair and we had a good catch up too! 😀
Our new friends George and Cynthia…
If you remember the 1st day of our cruise in Aruba, we met George and Cynthia at the evening meal when we’d shared a table. We had no idea that they were also staying at Southern Palms for a week too. They had stay here 20 years ago and wondered if it had changed and to get a photo at the same spot they’d had a photo back then. George and Cynthia were going to Saint Vincent to visit family for a few days and we’d meet back up with them for the last couple of days.
But before they left (as they are so loving and kind)for Saint Vincent they knew it was our birthdays and as a complete surprise present they bought us a top each with Barbados written on them. Yes mine is the stupendous blue Carribbean shirt i’m wearing! 😀
Right now we don’t have to fight against the wind all holiday…Let’s see what we’ll be doing on this cool excursion.
Harrison’s Cave…
Go deeper underground with a visit to Harrison’s Cave. All limestone stalactites, caverns and grottoes, it’s like taking a trip to the moon. Add rock pools, streams and some red and orange mood-lighting, and it takes on a volcano-like edge. It’s easy to see why the locals call it one of the seven wonders of the island. Boarding a little electric tram, you’ll take a mile-long tour through the chambers, passing pillars formed by stalagmites and stalactites that have met in the middle. At the bottom, you’ll see the star of the show – a mighty waterfall below the ground.
The hard hat…
First off, take a comedy picture once you’ve put on your hard hat…Check! 🤣
We’d just listened to about 15 minutes of history inside a mini cinema type place before boarding this cool little tram, then it was into the darkness to find some light. 😀
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tEmSnb3H9k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jbqR1XN0lg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Is_dUBJCYk
Wow what a ride! We had a fantastic trip and were very thankful that we’d not had to walk as it would’ve been impossible. But sitting back and relaxing in the tram was fantastic and the guide was knowledgable and we learned lots! 😀
Bac at room 112…
Wow i could stay here for the next 40 years, lol! 🤣
The sea and the sunset…
“Quick Steve there’s still time to play in the sea before the evening meal and sunset” Sarah said as she blasted past me and ran for the sea, lol! 🤣 ☀️
Wow what a sunset on another blessed day! Thanks so much for taking the Barbados underground with us on this monumental adventure. 😀
We’ll meet tomorrow…Same time…Same place for another adventure! 😀
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Hi friends and welcome to Day 63 of this monumental, inconceivable and definly memorable blind sightseers tour….!
Welcome to 🌴 Southern Palms 🌴…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms6f0NgnzMI
Yay, it’s also my birthday today! We’d managed to book this cruise and stay which covered both of our birthdays, and after Sarah’s ‘Unimog Birthday Blitz” i knew this would be a little more relaxed! After our amazing time here last year…We’d said if ever we had the chance to come back here we’d try and book room 112. Last year we had a side room which had no window at all but 112 faced directly south and looked out over the stupendous beach, palm trees and sea. I’d messaged Southern Palms to ask if they could hold the room for us…And they did! 😀 ☀️ 🌴
Walking into the room was simply breathtaking and we couldn’t believe the view from our room…And also from our balcony…😲
Wow we have a week of this view, i think i’m going to have a hard time leaving the room, lol! 😀
It didn’t take long for us to unpack and make this our new home, then we quickly walked up to the reception to see if we could book ourselves to get birthday braides. The staff were incredibly friendly and knew we’d be back! The on site salon didn’t open until the next day so we didn’t have long to cope with fluffy hair, lol. As we are the ‘Blind Sightseers’ we also booked an excursion to ‘Harrison’s Cave’ tomorrow as we missed doing it last year. 😀
Before we had a walk along the gap to see if our favourite cafe was still there, it was time tfor Sarah to put her feet on the sand and have a paddle in the sea. As you could tell from the photos of our room (above) it wouldn’t take long! 🤣
Sarah and the Bajan blast…🌊
My birthday treat…❤️
I know it looks like Sarah is having all of the fun, but for me to watch (well listen) to Sarah laughing, playing and totally enjoying herself without having her insulin pump attached is one of my best feelings, and it’s certainly a birthday treat for me…Well one of them as i’m hoping they still do the ‘Southern Burger’ tonight. 😀
The Gap…
Right…All of that standing still and taking photos of my lovely wife Sarah whilst being burnt to a crisp is really thirsty work, so let’s go and see if the ‘Sharkey’s Tropical Cafe’ is still there.
Southern Palms…
After a couple of hours on the gap it wasn’t long before the sunset would be blessing us with it’s slow descent, then it’d be time for the evening meal until we could sit on our balcony to watch the sun completely disappear! We did this every night and it was stunning every time! 😀
Evening meal…
DING…DING…DING…BOOM…💥
Although it was my birthday Sarah’s ‘Blind Sightseers Gastronomic Leaderboard’ bell exploded…It was for the best ‘Shrimp Cocktail’ she’d ever tasted, anywhere! 😀
And guess what?? They still did the ‘Southern Burger’ and it was consistently stupendous for the whole week. As you know this burger hit the top of my leaderboard last year so no bell this year for me…Just the amazing taste! 🍔 😀 Oh and it’s my birthday too…What a time to have the ‘Magnum Opus’ of the southern palms.! 😀
Sunset and the rocks…
Now it was time for us to walk off some of that delicious food, and take a lovely slow walk along the Barbados beach until we reach the rocks for the sunset. We needed to get back to our room before the sun set totally as it would be too dark and our eyes really don’t work in the dark! We had just enough time for Sarah to say hello to you guys!
The balcony of 112…
☢️ HEALTH WARNING…😲
I asked Sarah if she could take a monumental birthday panorama for me from the balcony…
After i thanked her and we were sitting down enjoying the sunset, saying hello to the other guests as they walked by Sarah said “Wait a minute…I’ve never seen that before?!” She stood up looking to the right and then to the left. “Steve, the moon is shining over there on the left, and the sun is shining over there on the right, let me try and get them both in a panorama”.
Wow…I have never seen anything like this before! Have you? 🤔
Thanks for joining us today, and What a way to end my birthday and begin our Bajan blessing.
We’ll meet tomorrow…Same time…Same place for another adventure! 😀
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