5th November 2019 Return to SA

After a lovely dinner of roast chicken and ribs with Luis, Marta, Edwardo and Sofia at the beautiful house of Marta and Edwardo, we went back, packed ready for the journey this morning, Luis was worried as the airport was in the direction of the Web Summit venue. Traffic was not too bad and after fetching Luzitta that was going with Luis to Algarve, we made our way to the airport. Typing this in Dubai waiting  for my flight to SA. New shops in Dubai airport including a H&M and Hard Rock Cafe.

4th November 2019, Monday MOOC at a coffee shop

Stayed in a coffee shop for the morning doing a MOOC on digital marketing and social media, trying to get ready for the dissertation, there is much more to tracking the google searches for a product versus when people used to purchase from brick and mortar stores. A very tasty goat cheese salad for lunch and then a walk to Rossio, Chiado and the river. I couldn’t have come to Lisbon without going to look up my dads old visiting sites.

3rd November 2019 Sunday Lunch with family

Awesome time with Tia Luisa, Luis, Graca, Jorge, Rosa, Eduardo, Marta and Sofia. So much fun catching up, everyone looks so lovely- beautiful people. The food was arroz de Mariscos, samosas, cheese. Sofia is delightful and we spent the afternoon in the park entertained by watching her play.

3rd November 2019 - staying with Luis, what a lovely area,

Went for a run this morning, could see that it was going to start raining. Cool and early so fresh, clearly one gets very good rain in the area, very green and quite beautiful. A golf estate.

2nd November 2019 Rugby World Cup final

Michelle and Brian kindly collected me from my Airbnb, and we watched the rugby, to see SA beat NZ what a match.

Caught the Ryan air flight to Lisbon where Luis kindly fetched me from the airport. We went for dinner of fantastic crab soup and bacalhou a braz and a pastel de nata - we are staying in his apartment that is three bedrooms in a gorgeous area. The area has just been bought by an American fund that is making big changes to the infrastructure, new roads etc. Luis is looking very well, after a minuscule (knee) op, he has lost eight kilos looking very healthy.

Going for my first run in quite a few days, looking forward to this hopefully won’t get lost.

01 November 2019, Last day at Salford University

As usual the end of the week catches me by surprise, I took a drive on the bus to the terminus as after asking the bus driver where the Media Centre was, he told me I should have been going in the opposite direction. Enjoyed the ride anyway, I assumed I could carry on after I got back to Salford University but by the time I got back it was pitch dark and I was not confident enough to carry on so made may way back to the Airbnb. There are loads of people milling about and you walk a bit farther and there are none. So weird, passes Oxford Street that looked really festive. During the day i discussed my dissertation and narrowed it down to something manageable though completely out of my comfort zone - social media research to determine the requirement for a new mineral water brand in st francis bay. So once again lots of work and focus.

The colour of the leaves and the trees all changing colours is really beautiful - we don’t seem to experience the slow change in SA. With the peach tree on our garden, one day there are leaves and the next they are gone. Also walking in the leaves has a special kind of sound. I took a picture in Peel park of what I think is a rook, they look like really big crows. Last night we had loads of kids knocking on the door trick or treating - all dressed up.

30th October 2019 Wednesday Tour of the campus

Salford University has a quiet room with a long name in which the silence is such you can hear the blood in your veins. It has an energy house that was taken brick by brick and rebuilt in the basement of one of the buildings where new developments in energy technology are tested for load bearing. They put the new Solar panel on the roof and blow gale force rain or snow and sleet at it -  all artificially and computer generated. They have estate of the art laboratories  and class rooms with TVs visible by every student regardless of which corner there are in the room, the cameras and microphones show exactly what the lecturer is doing. Most importantly not only to they have multiple Costa coffee stations but they have a Starbucks. Having said that I haven’t been there yet, it’s been too busy. Yesterday the lectures were exhausting - how to do research - qualitative in the morning and quantitative in the afternoon. The highlight though was after the day was done, we went to the Bloomberg room. Worked with computers that have the software used by the financial traders. Absolutely awesome.

view from my Airbnb 

29th October 2019 Tuesday University of Salford

Having not physically gone to a University this is a treat, the old buildings? Huge parks and grounds with an ultramodern contrast of new. The historical museum and library is seeped in tradition and is just comfortable, easy to sit and read a book. Discovered references to Michaels great grandad a chemist and administrator in the Royal Hospital of Salford.

There is much to learn and much to absorb but plenty of time.

28th October 2019 Monday- 1st Day Of Residency Week

Very well organized, I have a student card and all I printed at home, I received in a bound book. Lectures on Dissertation and lots of conversations with fellow students. Such a good lunch of veg and meat, quality cheeses and cold meats. Very enjoyable. Brisk walk back to the Airbnb -  already dark at 17:30 and even though the sun was out all day, it is really, really cold.

27th October 2019 Sunday - Day before residency starts

Walked to Salford University after Michelle and Brian kindly dropped me off at my lovely Airbnb. About 10 minutes walk then across two canals, Peel Park and exactly what is expected from University Buildings. Imposing red brick with lots of trees, clearly have been around a long time. History seems to flood from its walls.

26 October 2019 Blackpool and the lights.

The lights, atmosphere, fun, lots of people, the cold, the wind and a bit of rain. It was a perfect evening in Blackpool we walked the south peer and got a feel of the atmosphere from the merry-go-round rides to the games, slot machines and family pubs. We had dinner at JD Wetherapoons where I watched Michelle and technology in action - ordering our food via the app while sitting in the restaurant. Five minute later we had our drinks and five minutes after that our appetizing meal in an establishment that was packed - really impressive. Brian, so very patiently drove us through the Main Street to see all of the lights and others darker less known streets to get home . Michelle has been coming to Blackpool with gran and grandad, bringing children and grand children, for forty years and as far as memory serves, has only missed seeing the lights twice in that time. I understand completely as they are entrancing, mesmerizing and awe inspiring - a concept that has become a tradition and has stood the test of time. Some light displays have been there for forty years while others are recent. Sponsored by jewelry stores and hotels, comic characters, stories and TV shows. Recently lights have changed to LED technology. The trams that move people from the North via the central to the South peer and back again, are also lit up as boats and trains. What an adventure. 

25 October 2019 Littleborough, Emma and Jamie’s house

Landed in Manchester and took the train to Manchester station Piccadilly where Brian and Michelle kindly picked me up and drove me to Emma and Jamies house Michelle and Brian were looking after Harry Tom and Honey, the golden lab while Emma and Jamie holidayed in Boston. Gorgeous well behaved boys that made me feel very welcome in their home. Julie took me round the area in her amazing Mercedes convertible, showing me 23 Knowsley Crescent, Michaels old house and taking me on a drive through our family’s historical past while I listened and learned about the area. 

Aunty Kath joined us for a great in quantity and great in flavor lunch in a pub. Was lovely to see her, at 88 she looks amazing. 

 

24th October 2019 PE to Manchester via Dubai

Middle seat on Emirates, not much space but grateful so so grateful to be able to be going to Manchester for my residency week towards the completion of  a Master of science in information systems management. The required subjects are done so the residency week and then the three month dissertation left. Having sold the Computer and Wireless business after 20 years and hankering to start something else, there were no bright innovative ideas - so the next best thing was to go and study,  to up-skill and get some inspiration for a new business. Arrived in Dubai, Costa Coffee and next is the flight to Manchester with a confirmed isle seat and two days with Michelle and Brian with the promise of Blackpool and the Christmas Lights, cannot wait!

22nd September 2019 Stonehenge on the way to Heathrow

Destination Stonehenge. While it is raining constantly we follow the audio recording around the area of the stones. 5000 BC how were these stones, 30 tons of weight each managed to be brought from Wales to his location- nobody knows. Why was it built? Once again people surmise, assume but don’t really know.

22nd September 2019 New Forest National Park

Picturesque area with many trees, mainly English oak and beech trees. A national forest, where donkeys, horses and cattle are free to roam. People get special permission to release these animals into the forest.

21st September 2019 Le Havre, France 🇫🇷

Lovely day in Le Havre, watched the second half of the Springboks versus All Blacks in a cafe, Michael cut his hair and we visited Norte Dame of Le Havre and several other Cathedrals. Walked around for a long while to find the funicular- only to find it closed. Lit two candles in two separate Cathedrals to remember Rita, Vovo, Aunty June, Tia Vitoria and all that have gone before us.

20th September 2019 Sea Day

A well deserved sea day with gym and then Zumba, sad as it’s the last class. I really have to get my act together and start some classes. I have so much fun doing Zumba and it’s clearly beneficial with a 77 year old lady and gentleman behind me also having a really good time and in excellent shape.

Go Zumba! Thanks Mark for all the lessons.

Start of the rugby 🏉 World Cup with Japan 🇯🇵 playing Russia 🇷🇺

18 September 2019 Invergordon for Inverness

We walked into the city of Invergordon and caught a train to Inverness, we walked along the river to Loch Ness, soft rain and beautiful scenery, found the Pringle factory and restaurant and bought unique presents. Caught the train back and then walked along Invergordon, history of the area is all around in the buildings, churches and people in kilts and cultural dress. We got back on the ship and there was a show with a bag piper and Scottish dancers - very enjoyable day.