New Self-Checkout

New Self-checkout counters have been installed in the local shop.  It took me a minute to realise how there was nobody at the cashier, and I proceeded to the self-service checkout.  Then a man still didn't realise it was self-checkout thought I jumped the queue. 

When the cashier came back to remove the tag from another customer, he explained that these are new, and he later apologised.

GLME Arrochar 2026 - Day 4

The departing day of the camp.  I got up to have some breakfast, final packing and left.  Some of them are staying on for the NC 500.

My first stop was Lock Lomond Shores, they just introduced parking charges, there does not appear to have motorcycle exemption.  It doesn't appear to have blue badge exemption either!  

I took the opportunity to visit the Sea Life Centre.  It was quite small.  Coincidently, they also have a market on, I bought some Lorne sausages.  I packed away my rain jacket, what a mistake.

By then my tank is blanking empty, as planned, I went to the Sainsbury's I stopped on the way up. In the short 10 miles, I was soaked.

I made a stop at Cairn Lodge again, I saw a couple familiar bike, when I popped in, I saw them and said hi.  After my sausage roll again, I got back to the bike, another familiar looking bike, but I couldn't spot the owner this time.

I stopped at the ASDA in Carlisle, the same one on the way up, then it was straight home.  The weather was looking good, but I didn't want to tempt faith again, so I had the water proof on all the way.

GLME Arrochar 2026 - Day 3

I was told the trip I signed up was the same one from the day before, besides it is in the other direction.  So I signed onto another trip instead.  But that ride leader had a tyre problem so we were not sure if the tour would go on.  

He borrowed a bike, although it doesn't suit him, but it works.  We stopped at Kilchurn Castle, then had coffee at Oban.

I checked out the seafood hut in the train station, which is less impressive than the one at the ferry terminal.  I did not buy anything form them.

Then we got to Duntrune Castle and Gardens.  The owner was not that impressed with all these uninvited guests, he thought he would get me to pass the message, which I did.

We stopped at Lochgilphead for lunch, the group ended up in two different cafe.  We went to one with real home made food.  I had the cullen skink, it was quite small and creamy, much unlike the ones I make.

It rained a little, we got home a little late.  I took the opportunity to have a bath before dinner.  After the dinner we have a handover party, followed by Eurovision party.  I stayed for the handover party and went to pack.

GLME Arrochar 2026 - Day 2

After chatting with others over dinner, I thought I had better idea of my run.  The run was pretty good, the set off was a bit messy.  

When we stopped at Falls of Dochart, which I have been in 2021.  Then stopped at Crieff for lunch and came back via Duke's pass again.

After dinner, there was a drag show, I stopped for a bit and went to bed.

GLME Arrochar 2026 - Day 1

When I sign up on the rides, I didn't really read in details.  So when I got to the little steam boat excursion, it was a surprise for me.

Loch Katrine was quite nice, the ride was pretty good and the weather held up.

After dinner, there was ceilidh.  I just watched for a bit and went to bed.

GLME Arrochar 2026 - Day 0

I signed up to Arrochar only two weeks ago.  In order to save my annual leave, I worked in the morning and only set off in the afternoon.

On my way to Arrochar, I stopped at a service station/farm shop.  When I parked up, I thought it looked familiar.  Because Cairn Lodge is part of the Westmorland family.  I had a coffee and a sausage roll again. 

It was cold and wet.  My new waterproof was quite useless.  I got there, showered and had dinner.  We cranked up the heating to try our gear.

Paper Dosa

I tried a paper dosa from Herb.  It was massive.  It was evil, full of ghee.  It is like ghee fries lentil and rice crisps with spicy potato on the side. 

Gloucester Services

I finally had the opportunity to check out Gloucester Services.  It is special because they are run by the same team as Tebay Services.  

Their sausage rolls were really good, the take away pie were very underwhelming.

Gas BBQ

We were playing the a gas BBQ.  I have used them a many times.  We did short ribs, Barnsley chop, rainbow trout, pork chops.  Short ribs do need a lot of precooking, a whole 90 minutes in the BBQ was still not enough.  The indulgence of cooking on gas...

Derbyshire Food & Drink Fair

As it turns out, we haven't been to a Derbyshire Food Festival since 2014.

We brought out little National Trust chairs with us, we walked around, had some lunch.  I tried some loaded fries, I had low expectation, and they still manage meet the low expectation.  They were absolute waste of calories, never again.

Then we walked around Elvaston Castle before going back to the fairground for some Bluebells icecream.

It was not a good value of money, but I am happy we supported some local businesses.

Alton Towers - Day 2

We went really early to make sure we don't get stuck behind the big queue.  We got in plenty early, and we went straight to Bluey queue. 

We got on all the rides that we want to go.  We want to see the pagoda cum water fountain, weird.  Then we went back to the car for another quick coffee. 

When we came back, we were the only person on the mono rail.  It was so much quieted than Polling day. 

We were hoping the Congo Rapids would be open, as we can see it was having test run, but it was still shut.

We went back for two final Galactica runs and went home.

My top three: The Smiler, Nemesis Reborn, Rita.

Alton Towers - Day 1

We arrived at the Alton Towers resort at 10am, we had a quick coffee then joined the monorail queue...

We had no idea why it was so busy, as it turns out, some primary schools are being use as polling stations, the students get a day off, so they all came...

We packed our own lunches, and I put them all on my jacket to safe a bag search.  I regretted that decision, my sandwich was quite squashed...

We did manage to get on most of the rides.  Single rider queue was a godsend for most of these rides!

We left after our last ride of the Octonauts and left with the mass exodus.  We decided not to take the Monorail, we walked a whole mile back to the car.  By the end of the day, we did 18,000 steps, quite a workout.

Twycross Zoo Babies

Last time we went to Twycross Zoo, they just welcome a bonobo baby, and it was not yet on show.  This time, we caught a glimpse of it.

We also saw a gibbon baby, the second snow leopard and a few other babies.  It was a nice day out.

Scone-wiches

After our special event, we want to Abbey Tearoom for their "famous" Scone-wich.  I was not convinced that a scone can be made into a "sandwich".  And its not a sandwich if you cannot pick it up.  Considering scone are usually crumbly.

Apparently, they have since changed their scone-wich, possibly as part of their re-branding and re-structuring.  They are very rich, and in the latest format, it can be physically picked up.

I will stick with my plain scone or cheese scone next time.

Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre

We went to Mountsorrel and Rothley Community Heritage Centre for the first time.  It was a nice little place at a bargain price of £2.5.  The garden was nice and it was very educational. 

Great Central Railway Quorn

We went to Quron to watch the steam train to go past.  It has been 10 years since I was last there.  That would mean last time I was there, Tom was only 1.

We did not go on an event day, we did not pay to go on the platform, we did not go on the train.  I managed a good timing to watch them going past, had a cup of tea, then watch them again.  It was a nice day out.

Pumpkin Microgreen II

As it turns out, pumpkin microgreen, is very much an acquired taste, even if they are very young, much more palatable when wilted...

Automated Jibberish Responses

An internet card comes with an AI function.  I prefer my message to be short, sweet, to the point.  We clicked on the AI button to see what the LLM would spit out.  Absolute garbage, sick making garbage.

Lidl Springrolls

I was hoping to get a mixed "oriental" starters, but they ran out.  So I found some spring rolls from the freezer.  The normal size one is the same price as the minis, but I think the normal size is more suitable. They turned out pretty good, so I bought them.  It was well received.