Old Biddy on a Bike

  • Home
  • Old Biddy on a Bike

Old Biddy on a Bike No more waiting place. Taking time to cycle, walk and travel the world slowly. Like or Follow for up

Day 2 London to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.Long version.Some of you will be old enough to remember Val Doonican s...
17/01/2025

Day 2 London to Singapore with Singapore Airlines.
Long version.
Some of you will be old enough to remember Val Doonican singing Delaney’s Donkey (Temporarily lazy and permanently tired?). The chorus line is “And there was Riley pushin' it, shovin' it, shushin' it”. Well, I felt a bit like that getting my case to check in but all good and knowing all food and drinks (including champagne and cocktails!) are included for the next 12hours does help. I did ask about an upgrade but nothing free available and an extra £1500 is slightly out of my budget so I won’t be going upstairs. Flight socks on and see you on the other side!

Day 1 New Zealand TripShort version. The big plan is to get to New Zealand and have a week with my son then head off to ...
16/01/2025

Day 1 New Zealand Trip
Short version. The big plan is to get to New Zealand and have a week with my son then head off to lead a walking tour of both islands. Today was to be a relaxing easy hop to Heathrow.

Longer version. Today was really just for housekeeping and repositioning. We have been working on and off for about 3 months now pulling together all the knowledge we need to lead the tour along with local specialists and really getting to know the places we will visit. Nothing worse than hearing afterwards that we shouldn’t have missed this or that but there is a phenomenal amount of weird and wonderful sights to fit in. The weather has been so unpredictable in Ireland with fog, storms and snow that many flights from Belfast have been delayed or cancelled so it wasn’t worth the risk of missing the long haul flight (you know who are who recently did this!!) so they covered an extra night at Heathrow. The house sitter has the keys (it’s tidier than it ever is when I live there) so a quick flight in a lovely new quite empty British Airways plane and a relaxing night was planned before the first big flight tomorrow - a horrifying 12h 50m to Singapore. Got to be done.

New Zealand could offer us freezing hail, rain and snow or temperatures up to 35°, lakes to swim in, mountains to climb, a few wine tastings and lots (and lots) of nice meals out. So I’m not travelling as light as usual.

Unfortunately when I collected my big case in the Heathrow baggage area the wheels hadn’t had a good trip. I could shove it and just about drag it but it really wasn’t right and took a lot of effort. I reported it - he offered the form when he saw me struggling towards the desk with it. No idea how they will help but dragging this thing half way round the world isn’t going to be fun. Then the Hoppa Bus to the Premier Inn at Heathrow took longer than the flight from Belfast did! And this was the easy day. So glad I’m not heading on tonight.

A glorious start to the day. Well, start to reading my book in bed for an hour anyway.
10/01/2025

A glorious start to the day. Well, start to reading my book in bed for an hour anyway.

The snow finally arrived but left again very quickly! Stunningly beautiful crisp day now at Mount Steward.
07/01/2025

The snow finally arrived but left again very quickly! Stunningly beautiful crisp day now at Mount Steward.

This used to be a beautiful view of the stunning Titanic Building (just barely peeping out now) and the iconic Belfast c...
03/01/2025

This used to be a beautiful view of the stunning Titanic Building (just barely peeping out now) and the iconic Belfast cranes. His did this monstrosity ever get planning permission? Sad to lose sight of something so beautiful.

No luck last night seeing the Aurora with all the clouds around but there is something eerily striking about this photo.
02/01/2025

No luck last night seeing the Aurora with all the clouds around but there is something eerily striking about this photo.

After the heavy cloud and horrendous wind in the Mournes for New Years Day sunrise it looks perfect up there this mornin...
02/01/2025

After the heavy cloud and horrendous wind in the Mournes for New Years Day sunrise it looks perfect up there this morning, at least on Donard. Taken from the comfort of my bed, a much better option than hauling myself up there.

Considering all the dire weather warnings it was a beautiful morning up at Scrabo today. The first sunset of 2025 had to...
01/01/2025

Considering all the dire weather warnings it was a beautiful morning up at Scrabo today. The first sunset of 2025 had to wait a while until it climbed over a huge bank of clouds but my wee seat was comfortable and I was wrapped up like a fish supper.

May you all have a peaceful and fulfilling new year. As Jaguar cars said - To live is to evolve. And no, I didn’t get on...
31/12/2024

May you all have a peaceful and fulfilling new year. As Jaguar cars said - To live is to evolve. And no, I didn’t get one for Christmas either.

A very special hike today as we gathered in memory of our NI Walking Photography Group Leader David Doyle. People came f...
29/12/2024

A very special hike today as we gathered in memory of our NI Walking Photography Group Leader David Doyle. People came from all over to share time, sweets and stories of mad walks in snow, wind and rain, adventures in tents and on trips and the plethora of gadgets he loved to make outdoor life more fun. Almost 80 of us hiked 10 miles round Tollymore and he was thought of on every step and will be missed as he made a real difference to so many people.

With monies already collected and with Gift Aid his friends and work have now raised £7500 which will go a long way to helping the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.
Mourne Mountain Rescue Team

Merry Christmas. Never too late to start a new tradition so I’m introducing the Christmas Eve 99! I wouldn’t swap it wit...
24/12/2024

Merry Christmas. Never too late to start a new tradition so I’m introducing the Christmas Eve 99! I wouldn’t swap it with Paddington for his crusty sandwich. Enjoy the break whichever way suits your mood, your energy levels, your budget and your foibles.

I thought today would be one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas so, as I’m at an age when nostalgia is kickin...
22/12/2024

I thought today would be one of the busiest shopping days before Christmas so, as I’m at an age when nostalgia is kicking in, I took a run out to the peace and tranquility of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum Christmas event. Lots of great memories of my first house in Belfast with its tiny kitchen and outside toilet in the backyard, the Belfast sink and the big cast iron bath with feet that wouldn’t look out of place here. Also seeing these tiny two up, two down houses made my tiny house feel huge when I got home! Suited me much better than a day in a Shopping Centre and it had everything from pigs in muck, mulled wine, Jesus, Mary and Joseph and even the two wee donkeys.

Ulster Folk Museum, Cultra

Peaceful Winter Soltice. The light is coming back! There was a time when I would’ve been wanting to be up a mountain or ...
22/12/2024

Peaceful Winter Soltice. The light is coming back! There was a time when I would’ve been wanting to be up a mountain or out in a forest to celebrate winter solstice but this year I’m quite happy to sit by the twinkly lights, Rudolph and the fire with a big bowl of winter stew. It’s the thought that counts!

Alone doesn’t equal lonely. Just change it to flying solo and it sounds so much more adventurous. Going solo to the pict...
16/12/2024

Alone doesn’t equal lonely. Just change it to flying solo and it sounds so much more adventurous. Going solo to the pictures is still a tough one for some people but it’s bliss. You can go exactly when you feel like it, don’t have to negotiate about which row or seat to sit in, stuff your face if you want to and cry big snottery tears without any embarrassment. Wicked was fabulous! A wee cocktail in the handbag helps too… sticking to the green theme.

A day out in Newcastle for an unusual photoshoot! Cryptic clue: All was revealed but will not be revealed yet…Afterwards...
14/12/2024

A day out in Newcastle for an unusual photoshoot! Cryptic clue: All was revealed but will not be revealed yet…
Afterwards I spotted a quick window of blue sky for a walk up along the Glen River but I only got a bit further than last time as the wind got fierce but every little counts.

Quiet time now between trips so just walking, catching up with friends and dreaming of the next adventure. Enjoying watc...
11/12/2024

Quiet time now between trips so just walking, catching up with friends and dreaming of the next adventure. Enjoying watching Christmas preparations but trying to avoid the mad spending rush that is going on. Best present is still your time.

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Old Biddy on a Bike posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Today of all days involved a long drive to Cookstown. The poor countryside is saturated and after quaking going up a kilometre long drive with huge creaking trees we were huddling in a freezing but fabulous huge country house. We even discovered it was warmer to stand outside than inside in the chill. But home safe and planning to hibernate tomorrow. #stormbert #bbcweatherwatchers

Rock Choir Belfast 9 Nov 2024
Rock Choir Belfast 9 Nov 2024

Early for Christmas but we may just go with the flow. A great day out in Belfast with the Rock Choir NI for the Christmas lights switch on at Victoria Square #victoriasquare #rockchoirni #VSQBelfast #VSQChristmas

Red Arrows over the Tour de France final Nice
Red Arrows over the Tour de France final Nice

Red Arrows over the Tour de France final Nice #Nice2024 #tourdefrance2024

Nice Stage 20 Tour de France. A long video (2m 35s) but I love this slow motion shot of the Peloton sailing past. By pure luck I was walking through Nice and saw this crowd at the end of the street and I had completely missed that they were coming that way! They were slowed down anyway for a sharp turn but the IPhone 12 was amazing. So close I was worried about touching them accidentally. The sound - an eerie slow hand clap. #nicefrenchriviera #tourdefrance2024 #nicetourisme #grandearriveenice

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Travel Agency?

Share