Staycations
The reintroduction of the quarantine rule for Spain has reinforced that STAYCAYTIONS are the way forward for UK holiday makers for the foreseeable future. Who needs to go abroad when we are blessed to live on such an island so rich in natural beauty? We have so much to discover right here on our doorstep. […]
Sporting Tales and Highland Adventures
Following on from my last personal kinda blog, in early 2014 I went to see Sunderland at Wembley. The 5th time since my first visit for the 1985 Milk Cup Final when I was 11 years old and they broke my heart. This time Man City were the opponents in the league cup final. I got […]
Guess the UK’s top trending place to visit in 2020
Did you know which city was the only place from the UK to be listed Airbnb’s top 20 trending destinations to visit in 2020? ABERDEEN! Of course. The FAMOUS Aberdeen. Now as we all know we didn’t really get much time to start our 2020 travels when the big padlock landed right over all of our […]
A Victorian Townhouse Restoration
In early 2016 I bought a Victorian townhouse maisonette in my old hometown of South Shields. Black front door in a beautiful quiet residential street I landed in South Shields on the 9th February with my furniture and all my belongings from my Aberdeen house (I actually travelled down in the removal van!) and helped […]
Our 3rd (Mid July-ish) Update
I’ve modified this blog post from an update I have started writing for our VIP email subscribers And if you’d like to sign up or share with any friends, family or colleagues click into the above link and enter your name and email! Simple. Anyway! I’m sitting on our decking writing this on my laptop. The sun […]
Joe was a Bricklayer
My Granda’ was called Joe. And Joe was a bricklayer. Joseph Henderson Atkinson was brought up in Tyne Dock, South Shields in North East England. A hard working class area. And he was a hard working man. Loved by all of his family. The rock. In a quiet, unassuming way from my childhood memories. And […]
A Very Different Summer Holiday
So here we are at the end of our summer holiday! The last morning before we drive back up home. Sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time? Well, sitting in on of our self catering South Shields holiday home really writing this blog post! And its been a funny one to say the […]
Thanks to all Key Workers
When lockdown came it felt a bit like when you slipped off the pedals on your BMX as a kid and you landed right on the top bar. REET between your legs. Ouch! A rare event but very painful and there seemed no way to make it feel better. Hotels and bed and breakfasts (places […]
Happy Post Lockdown!
For someone who didn’t really enjoy social media, lately I’ve tried really hard and persevered to let people know about our self catering places and seem to be finally be getting something going and some traction. I have also went a bit ballistic, on our blog. I have always wanted to write a blog. Then I heard […]
A new Project
29.2.2016. My personal life wasn’t exactly idyllic at this point in time. Lets just say I was trying to be the best dad I could be under the circumstances. That was my main aim. But I’d just lost my contract as a design fire and explosion safety engineer with Shell due to the oil and […]
Single Dad Smiling
So moving on from the place we set up last week to manage on behalf of the owner and run as self catering accommodation, we’re now going back to 2013, to just after my 40th (I feel a bit like Marty McFly here!) And to quell some of the concerns I’ve received since that blog, yes, I guess […]
Lockdown Rejuvenation
So it’s Sunday! And tomorrow Sonny, Lola and I travel to the Lake District for a short holiday with my Mam! The first time we’ll have seen her since Christmas. So today was the last day to finish off our latest self catering place in Aberdeen. And we did it! Do you want to hear […]
Post Lockdown Optimism
Sorry I haven’t been as prolific at getting these blogs out in the last week or 2. I’ve been busy. A lady called me 2-3 weeks ago. Someone I had no links to. She was a landlord and lives away from Aberdeen. And she did not think her agent, who was managing her Aberdeen property, […]
Look after your Regulars
Tonight I approved yet another cancellation. It was for guests who were coming for a popular sporting event that is now cancelled due to ‘you know what’. A lovely lady called Angela who runs a B&B in Aberdeen and helped me out when I lived out of the area and came back to spend time […]
A 40th to Remember
The remainder of summer 2013 included a lovely trip back to South Shields and a holiday in Keswick with Sonny, Lola, my mam, her partner, brother and his family. Summer 2013 at our beloved Marsden Beach It was great to get spend some quality time with my kids and family between the day to day […]