Oliver Phillips blog from Watford Observer
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Oliver Phillips »
Where on earth has this carping voice of self-doubt come from?
Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 14th July 2011
I HAVE been very fortunate. I have already referred to the 70th birthday party we had in France. That had snowballed into a far bigger production than originally schemed but it proved very enjoyable and memorable nevertheless.
Oliver Phillips »
San Sebastian - a city worth visiting a second time
Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 7th July 2011
SAN SEBASTIAN (Irun in Basque) is quite a stunning city. I had been told it was special and it was that special I was not disappointed. It is said the city boasts the finest city beaches in Europe and while we have not traversed all the coastlines of the continent, I can imagine it is likely to be so.
Oliver Phillips »
Three days in La Rioja was like a visit to fantasy-land for me
Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 30th June 2011
AMONG the outstanding presents I received on reaching my 70th birthday was a treat from our youngest, Spanish-based daughter. She paid for three nights in a fine hotel in La Rioja, Spain.
Oliver Phillips »
Recession? Some retailers do not appear to realise they need to compete for the pound in your pocket
Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 23rd June 2011
WHILE back in England, I decided to implement the results of some detailed research and pop into one of the multiples in Watford. I accepted the visit would cost me around £1,000 but the particular store was full of offers and deals, so I felt confident I would obtain value for money.
Oliver Phillips »
Motorway caution is not encouraged by slap-dash signage
Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 16th June 2011
IT had been a long drive up through France in our motor-home and we had been buffeted by strong winds as we reached the Pas de Calais. Those winds had also disrupted the ferry services and so our 5.20 sailing did not leave until almost eight that evening.
Oliver Phillips »
Hard to spot similarities with Watford in US twin town
Posted on 11:09am Tuesday 7th June 2011
THERE are times, such as when driving over the expansive bridge and taking in the sweep of Mainz, when you wonder quite how people came up with the concept of twinning certain towns with each other.
Oliver Phillips »
There's nothing wrong in being 70 unless you are a piece of cheese
Posted on 6:43am Thursday 26th May 2011
I HAVE had to try and come to terms with the fact I have just turned 70. In addition to that, I realised I wanted to celebrate the occasion with family and friends but with some friends in France and some in England, as well as the family spread from Dubai to Spain to England, it was not feasible.
Oliver Phillips »
Would we find it we wondered, but then we saw the bottles on the grave
Posted on 6:51am Thursday 19th May 2011
I SUSPECTED it would be a large cemetery because Google provided a different address for the cemetery from the Catholic Church of St Mary’s in Rockville. I feared it would be one of those vast affairs with thousands of graves, having to recruit Ellie to help me in my search.
Oliver Phillips »
The day 'Frank' was literally rubbished
Posted on 7:44am Thursday 12th May 2011
I KNOW someone who is well-intended but accident prone and tends to be a real-life parody of Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do Have ‘em.
Oliver Phillips »
Deaspite the flaws it took me back to that grey day in 1958
Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 5th May 2011
I CANNOT understand why film-makers distort facts or embellish them when dealing with historical situations. We have all witnessed this so many times but recently the BBC got into the act with their “carefully and scrupulously-researched” drama-documentary “United” – the story of the Munich disaster.
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