Paul McCartney's house

The National Trust minibus picks us up from Mendips to take us into Allerton and 20 Forthlin Road, which is about a mile away from John's house. The McCartneys moved to Forthlin Road from Speke and Paul has said that it was a pleasure to live in. Again, no photogrphy is allowed inside the house but the walls are adorned with high quality photographs taken by Paul's brother Mike. for example, you will see John washing up, John, Paul and George standing outside the back door and John and Paul composing in the front room. As with 'Mendips', 20 Forthlin Road has been restored to its 1950s appearance - slightly disconcerting for a 1950s time machine to be nestling in amongst some with upvc windows, modern cars outside and satellite dishes on their walls. The guide is fun and somehow he has evolved to look like Paul. see below!

Both guides live in their respective Beatle houses but you won't be able to go in unless you book via the National Trust. Even Bob Dylan had to do that, and if it's good enough for him it's good enough for the rest of you!

John Lennon's house - Mendips

Saturday morning, Grand National Day in Liverpool. The National Trust minibus picks us up at the Albert Dock for a 20 minute drive into the suburb of Woolton. Past Penny Lane, and there truly is a blue suburban sky this morning, down Menlove Avenue, past the Strawberry Fields children's home, past the spot where Julia was knocked down and killed by a motorist, to arrive at 251, 'Mendips', a beautifully preserved house restored to how it might have looked in 1957 when, at the age of 17, John and Paul met for the first time. Yoko purchased the house and gave it to the National Trust. The 1993 semi detached house is beautifully preserved and for anyone, like me, who grew up in the 1950s, it is spine tingling to see household objects, products and furnishings similar to many of those I grew up with. Smells often evoke memories and this house even smells like one of my childhood homes. The guide is very informative, the stories about John, Aunt Mimi and Uncle George, the songwriting and the memorabilia are fascinating. If you are a Beatles fan, just being there and breathing it in is enough. You can touch things and wander around the house on your own. No photography is allowed inside the house though.

Scottish Highlands

We drive north from Inverness, across the Black Isle, past the beautiful Victorian buildings of Strathpeffer and stop at the dramatic Rogie Falls in the Torrachilty Forest. There is a car park and a short walk down through pines brings you to a suspension bridge over the Blackwater River. The water is cold and black with peat. From the bridge you get a great view of the river as it powers through the gorge. There is a ladder beside the river for the salmon to by-pass the falls on their way to spawn. some don't use the ladder and do it the hard way. You can take one of a number of trails and walk for as little or as long as you like up-river and through the forest.
We arrive in Ullapool to see a trawler being unloaded. The crew have been out for ten days. There's 20 tons of fish coming ashore, all packed in ice and by hand. We notice that when the supplies go on board for the next trip they include whiskey - for medicinal purposes no doubt. The crates are loaded onto a lorry by forklift. The lorry driver does not know where he will be taking the fish at this stage. The capatain of the trawler is on the telephone negotiating prices with various wholesalers. What a hard live these men lead.

On the east coat, we cross the Dornoch Firth with its basking seals, Loch Fleet through Golspie to the magnificent Dunrobin Castle, the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Highlands, with 189 rooms. You cannot visit all of them but a tour of the 'house' is fascinating. The castle resembles a French chateau, with its towering conical spires, it has been inhabited since the 1300s, and is the nacestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland. From the castle there are panoramic views of the sea. Immediately below are the gardens where we saw one of the best falconry displays ever. The falconer is very knowledgeable, professional and friendly. If you want an eagle owl to sit on your head, it can be arranged!

Near the head of the mysterious Loch Ness above the village of Dores.

Meydan Racecourse

Meydan racecourse. Entrance is free and thousands take advantage of that to enjoy an evening's racing provided by the world's top jockeys. We pay 100 dirhams and for that bargain price gain access to the saddling and unsaddling enclosure, the parade ring, comfortable seats near the finish line - with refreshments brought to you if you wish. You can also step down to the rail for a close up view of the racing. Even a non race-goer like me cannot fail to be impressed, what a place, a great evening of horse racing and people watching!

It is lovely and warm outside in March but if you can't stand the heat go inside! Ladies from different cultures enjoy coffee and chat whilst watching people dressed from head to foot in winter sports clothing skiing behind glass a few metres away in sub zero temperatures. And all this inside a shopping mall. One cannot be anything other than impressed by the contrasts and ambition of the place.

Dubai - the old and the new

One dirham for a ride down and across the Creek on an Abra is great value and a splendid way of seeing the traders busy at work loading anything from lorry tyres the refrigerators onto the dhows.
Fancy a lie down but it is too hot indoors? Then this is the bed for you! Get a close up look at the very interesting dubai Museum, which charts Dubai's history from 3000BC to the present day.

Water pipe in Al Ras, across the Creek from Bur Dubai.

One of the Dubai's many souks. This one is a centre for the garment industry. no cars, but beware men pushing handcarts!

Mesmerising hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.
I cannot decide if the Emirates Towers remind me of the Division Bell or Rene Magritte. They are wonderfully eye catching. The outward facing elevators of the hotel give you fantastic views.

The nearby art galleries host exhibitions of contemporary and 20th Century artists. I decided that the Chagall at $8million was just over my budget.

Bastakiya

Bastakiya, close to the Dubai Museum, is cool in more ways than one. The sand and stone, thick walled buildings of this quarter of old Dubai have been beautifully restored. The narrow alleyways provide shade and tranquility just steps away from the busy streets of Bur Dubai.

The wind towers have four open faces to funnel cool air down into the rooms of each building

The name Bastakiya derives from Bastak, in Iran. Bastakiya was founded by traders from Bastak who settled in Dubai about 100 years ago.

Bastakiya is a great place to spend a tranquil hour or two. some of the buildings have been turned into cafes cum art galleries and one is a small hotel.

Dubai Life

I missed out on the Dubai Marathon because of my kneee operation. That enabled Gebrselassie to win but not in a world record time because he fell asleep in a chair the night before and woke up with a stiff back!

I went for a walk to the beach instead. you can see the magnificant Burj Khalifa from just about anywhere in anmd around Dubai. The air has been very clear this month, with just a couple of windy days when the sand blew in from the desert.

Just behind the glitz of the hotels on Sheikh Zayed Road are the houses where some of the workers live. A few interpid souls ride bicycles, many have cars and all seem to have satellite dishes.