Cordoba in the main, visited for a couple of days when staying with the Ackroyds.

A tour and a tasting courtesy of Gill, who got us vouchers for the trip as a pressie.

Lots of culture as well with two National Trust calls, Hanbury Hall and Moseley Old Hall.

A lovely weekend.

Flotilla holiday with the Harris's and Ackroyds. From Gouvia Marina, Corfu, over to the mainland, then to Paxos - the mainland and back to Corfu. Also with the Haworths, John the cousin and the Richards in another 40 footer.

Couple of days in Corfu Old Town at the end of the hol.

The route (click for each day's track):

Sun am - Sun pm - Mon - Tues - Weds - Thurs - Fri

Team CHAU Bella take off from Battersea Park with 45 other balloons to fly over London and beyond...

A look around Whitchurch, a flight on Saturday evening over the 'secret' bunker (the cattle joined us later from a hidden valley) and the very picturesque Cholmondeley (pronounced 'Chumley') Castle Gardens.

The Ackroyds invite us again for a few days in Mijas, for some warmer weather than at home.

And it happened to be the weekend of the Mijas Festival - very colourful.

Weekend with Sam and Benny a 12 mile walk on Friday, Brighton on Saturday and a much more leisurely walk on Sunday before braving the M25.

Flotilla with the usual culprits around the islands of Solta, Vis and Hvar

The Sagrantino Cup balloon meet. Only managed one week of the two but flew 5 times and had a really good holiday, in spite of the long drive there - and back.

With Jannice, Gill & Bob but poor old Louise and Wendy missed out due to illness.

A couple of photos from Nichola too, thank you!

The Ackroyds invite us for a few days in Mijas, for some warmer weather than at home.

Walking in the Lakes . Weekend away with the usual crew. Two walks - to Far Sawrey and back via the tarns and Latterbarrow ridge - and around Elterwater.

A weekend at Gavin's with the Atkinsons. A trip to Liverpool and several old pubs on Saturday. Walking to Hilbre Island before a mega roast lunch cooked by Gav and back home on Sunday.

Flotilla holiday again with the usual crew. Starting in Athens and visiting Poros, Ermioni, Spetses, Hydra and Methana, before returning for the last day in Athens.

Not much ballooning this year but we went on a few tourist trips - including Nancy, Hattonchatel, Lelievre's shop (of course) and Metz.

With Gill and Bob from Switzerland as well as Jannice and Dave. Haworths for the first half and at least one flight with us before departing for the Solent. Photos of that and the record-breaking line of 456 balloons from Jannice.

Gathering of the clan for Grandama's 90th, Gills 60th and Claire's 30th. And a visit to Hazel in Morecambe before gathering again at Kirkby Lonsdale.

Liam joined in and climbed to the top of Pendle Hill with Claire, Clémont, Sam and Marie-France, as well as Mum and Dad.

No ballooning at the PRBA Henge Hoppers meet this year at Camp Hill, but a good weekend in any case. Wind and rain on Saturday but dry tents to put away on Sunday.

Walk from West Tanfield to North Stainley and back, including the Marmion Tower, poppy fields, lunch at the Staveley Arms, dinner at the Black Sheep Brewery Bistro and adventure playground fun for Louise and Wendy.

Gill Ackroyd celebrates the big one with a month in Spain to enjoy the lovely weather, theoretically.

She is joined by all and sundry, ie Richards, Haworths, Hartleys and Harris's who take it in shifts to spoil help her enjoy the party.

Family Christmas again at Gill's chalet in Saviese and with Sam and Bennny too this year.

Baby Liam makes his first appearance.

A weekend away again in Hawkshead village.

A couple of short walks on the level for Nigel and to the pub for Haworth. Red Lion - Queens Head - The Sun and Ackroyd managed to fit in the King's Arms too.

Walk Saturday:- Tilberthwaite - Stang End - Oxen Fell - Hodge Close - Tilberthwaite

Walk Sunday:- Outgate - Wray Castle - High Wray - Latterbarrow - Hawkshead

Sailing around the Dubrovnik area, with the usual crew.

Then a day walking around the old walled city.

Well, Eastbourne really. So many people, all there to watch the airshow. And one final photo with Josephine, a sister of Benny's, back at TWells

A jolly good week on the water in a pop-pop with lots of fenders.

With the Bakers and Gill and Bob from Switzerland.

Anne's birthday week at the Old Dairy, on the Pant Gwyn caravan site where the Ackroyds and Richards have their caravans.

Joined by Hazel, Sam & Benny with the Harris's as well.

Not forgetting Helen's birthday on the Monday as well.

Popped over to see Gavin on the weekend of the Wilson Trophy. It's changed but there again it's been a while since we sailed in it.

Wilson Winners 1970 - Burwain S C
Plate 1982 - Burwain S C

Weekend in a cottage in Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, with the Bakers.

Family Christmas in Savièse once more.

No snow this year so no skiing at all - just lots of walking and imbibing. So warm that we had a barbecue lunch outside at the chalet.

Cheese fondue for 17 peeps at Bob's in Ollon must be a record - beer fondue; goats cheese fondue - as well as the standard recipe.

Culture provided by a tour of the Abbey at St. Maurice.

Clare and Clémont busy getting the new theatre ready for the first production.

An extremely wet weekend but a couple of walks and lots of bonhomie.

Ackroyds; Harris's; Haworths; Richards - Uncle Tom Cobbley and....

"...Chesnuts roasting on an open fire...."

A weekend at the new home of Benny and Sam. Popped into Fuggles (of course) and the Giggling Squid. Trips to Rye and Rye Harbour (spot the seal), Camper Sands and Lamberhurst Vinyard - unfortunately it was shut so pas de degustations.

Estepona - Ronda - Puerto Banus - Marbella

With H's and A's - A week away as a break but I thought Spain was supposed to have nice weather.

Sailing with the Harris's and Ackroyds in a 40 footer.

From Zaton, near Sibenik, and around several islands. From Tribunj, downwind to Murter sailing in winds of up to 30 knots and travelling at 9 knots under genoa alone. Storm-bound in Murter for an extra day.

Off to Ireland with Hazel to do some jobs at Freewater. Joined by Sam and Benny who fly out (jetsetters!) for the weekend.

Memorial service for Susan Friedlander at Beaulieu Abbey Parish Church.

Family Christmas in Saviese again but not much skiing.

Still - with the new Swiss rules of safety, we were OK in everything we did.

Not as much flying this year but a good weeks holiday anyway. With Mitch & Kerry.

More photos of the ballooning here.

Over to France for a week to see Sam.

Mixed weather - good to start with, then wind, and finally snow and rain at low levels, followed by a heavy lunch.

Christmas at the Chalet, Saviese, stopping with Auntie Gill. Bakers and Hartley's go skiing at Nax, have a stroll around Mont d'Or again and nearly get up to the Castle in Sion - well it was closed for winter.

Visits from Claire and Janick but poor Christina had to work - who'd be a doctor!

81st Birthday Party - as a joint 21st for Sam and 60th for Dad.

Family and friends from all over get together for a Sixties night.

Ian is 60 again - and we enjoyed Whitby so much last year that we did it again.

Harrises, Ackroyds and Hartleys take in Scarborough, Robin Hoods Bay as well as Whitby itself.

The family get-together again at Gill's chalet near Sion in Switzerland. Bakers; Wengers & Hartleys. Skiing at Nax across the valley.

And boy, did it snow!

Photo's of this year's Mondial Air Ballons, Chambley Airbase, Lorraine from sisters Gill and Jannice.

Only there for a week this time but still managed 6 flights and broke that world record again.

Four days of getting up at 5.00am and three flights - four farmers and one PUT.

Thanks to Jannice for these photos.

Smith family week in Grange doing all sorts of things for Marcus' 40th birthday.

Great house and we didn't move the furniture.

A long weekend at the last minute which should have been with the Ackroyds but wasn't to be.

Long walks from Craster to Duntanburgh Castle; to Beadnell and back; arund Alnwick Castle.

Following the success at Cowes Week, 2008 in the Sunfast fleet, the Fort Vale team prize of a free Sunsail Club holiday in Greece goes down great guns with everyone!

Photos from Sam, Sam again, John H and sailing action shots from local resort photographer Carlo Romero

The marriage of James Harris and Ainsley (Chadders) Chadwick.

Just a few shots of some of the guests.

The usual trip to Metz for a week's chill with the Smiths and then a hectic week of flying - 7 flights in 7 days - a total of 7 hours 20 mins airborne. And Sam starts hands-on training - yes, she's now officially a PUT!

Joined by Claire and Jean-George, Marcus, Suzanne, Dominic & Molly; Jannice, Dave & Stephen ("don't I look cool...") Baker.

Balloon photos here, holidaymaking here.

And...
Dom's photos; Suzie's photos; Jannice's photos.

And.... there are more in Sam's area.

Family Christmas at Gill's chalet. Lots of snow for skiing at Naz and Veysonnaz.

Plus - a walk round the vineyards on an '..insignificant hillock..' Mont d'Or - as well as general carryings-on at the chalet.

Four days in France for the wedding of Liz and Alex.

Brief visits to Carcassonne, Milau and the viaduct and the village of Conques before the wedding in a small village, Salles la Source

One slot only on the Saturday morning - a 2 hour flight from Torver to Staveley.

Then one of Graham's 'strolls' to the lake and back.

Reds' Family Day - too windy to tether the balloon but a great day close up and personal with the Hawks.

(More on Sam's)

Two days sailing for Sam and Dad on the Fort Vale Sunsail 37 (Anne declined!) - and the two worst results of the week! Still, didn't stop Ted winning the week overall.

And some time at Fiddlers with a visit to the Beulieu Motor Museum.

(Lots more photos in Sam's section)

Burwain go ballooning. With the Harris's, Ackroyds, Haworths, Richards, and Cannons. And Pete-Pete's 21 again.

Flight to Lightwater Valley and day trip to Masham.

More photos from Sam here.

Switzerland to stay at Gill's chalet. Photos of the vinyards around Sion and cable car ride/stroll to view the Aletsch Glacier.

Jannice's photos of the winetasting in Sion, Gill's party and walking.

Then on to Metz for a week's ballooning. Fort Vale team including Roger and Rita from o'ert 'ill - together with team Snowman. Sam got carried away with my camera. Jannice's photos.

Down for a few days to celebrate Hellen's 50th with a dinner and party at Robin's cottage.

Loads more photos in Sam's section

A few shots including some from Graham and Trevor Read.
2 slots - Sat morning and evening when Nick Ackers and the boys enjoyed a 13 knot, 60 yard drag landing.

Photos include Snowman's adventure in the woods.

More photos in Sam's section.

Gill's 50th weekend - and Fifties bash. Crazy.

And Molly pinched the camera and took these.

And we found some older shots of Gill, too, just for good measure!

Thomas and Lucy finally make it official after a nine year courtship - is this a record?!!

Married in the village of Cople, just outside Bedford. A large contingient of Burwain sailors in attendance.

The day was enjoyed by all - - it couldn't have gone any better - just not quite so long!

RAF Scampton family day. Very hot and thermic - 26°C - so only managed a tether - and that was gusty! Great to get close up - yes, they did taxi past that close to us!

Letter from Red One.

The wedding of Annabella and James. A very happy and successful day.

Later on in the day, it got a little blurred - but those Hats!!

Ballooning with the Cannons and dogs. Based at the village of Torver behind the pub!

Including:– one of Graham's "strolls"; socialising at the sailing club; flying with Rob and daughter Jennifer (11) - with views of the peaks peeping through the tops of the clouds at 3,500'

Too much snow, if anything. A week's skiing by radar with only one day's decent viz.

Everyone had fun, though - with the Richards and Helen's sister Anne's family.

<<<< Movie test. Click the green button.

Chinatown, Manchester, that is. The Wheel, then Hardrock and an excellent meal at Pearl City.

The number 41 bus is a much improved service these days - I think it was the 41 - things were getting a little blurred.

With the Ackroyds; Richards; Harrises; Ravens - nice to see Roger and Irene again - sorry about the dirty old man pestering you Irene!; Haworths

Family Christmas again in the same apartment in Les Diablerets. Temperatures down to -19C and snow stayed on the trees all week.
Superb snow conditions - less so levels of fitness!

Much socialising in the apartment and, again, chez Raymond & Gill overlooking the chateau in Aigle.

A superb weekend enjoyed by all. Even though we didn't manage to fly. Many thanks to the balloon pilots and crews who helped make it possible - Dave Court, Colin Wolstenholme, Julia Bailey, Mike Ball - Emma on standby and all the Smiths, Cannons, Balls & Ackroyds.

And to the Reds, of course, held in awe by all the kids - Alex was over the moon meeting his Superheros - and what a birthday treat for Sam.

Here's to the next one!! (when we've all recovered)

Barlick & Earby Times article

Nice letter from Dicky Pat

29 years and still just as barmy! Hats off to you ladies - you haven't changed a bit (end of crawl). Can I come to the next one?

And when we'd sobered up the next day - a walk to clear the cobwebs and back to Gavin and Janes for lunch and a mega fruit pie. Must admit, I may have nodded off for a moment or two afterwards.

What a crowd - Smiths x 5; Cannons; Hartleys x 3 plus Janick and Christina - and Snowman and crew - Balls and Haworths

Ballooning shots
Holiday-making

One of those ballooning weekends where we didn't. Again. Typical Lake District weather - everything from sunshine to thunderstorms.
Camping with Smiths (x 2 families) and Haworths.

Based at Coniston S.C., some of the ballooning boys went yachting.

A wet and windy Oughterard. Brad flew out and Hazel had her 60th and went to the Spa at the Delphi Hotel for some pampering with Anne. Trips to Spiddal, 'Our Beach' near Killary Harbour, the waterfall in Oughterard and we only managed to catch 3 small Perch on only one trip on the lake.

Holidaymaking
Snapshots around Freewater
Food at Freewater

Manchester International Airport. We wanted to take off from here as well but they wouldn't let us! I wonder why?

Some photos from Kathryn and Mike Ball as well as ours - sorry about the camera shake later in the day - must have been something I ate!!

Where?? It's near Nantwich in Cheshire - called in on the way back from a week in Abersoch (see Sam's photos).

Joined by Charlie Greybrook and Lindsay on the Saturday evening and spot the Splash and Dash at Nantwich Sailing Club. Photos...

Skiing with the Ackroyds, Richards, Haworths and Whitehawks. Kids take to snowboards to look cool - and get to a good standard where they can turn and stop. Weather mixed - snow excellent.

Skiing

Family gathering at Gill's. Poor old Raymond had to put up with the Great British Invasion and coped with great Swiss tolerance and diplomacy.
Skiing in several different resorts - 5 out of the 6 days we were there.

Montreux - Christmas Market on Christmas Eve
Skiing - all over the place
Family celebrations - up the hill at Raymonds, AKA 'No. 11' and at Combasses 6 - for the last time.

Balloons over Barlick - flights Friday evening and Sunday morning but not on the big day of the do, unfortunately.
Still, tethered in difficult conditions and did a night glow. Tethering and Sunday morning's misty flight here.

Happy holidaying with Smiths and Haworths - a visit from sister Gill - and plenty of ballooning.

Happy snaps here.
Ballooning here.- with Team Torex and DST

"Come and help celebrate Phil's 40th - oh, and by the way, we're getting married"
Baby Harry Proctor stands no nonsense and insists they get hitched.

A weekend of R&R. Baby Harry Proctor brought by Mum and Dad Proctor and Gill Ackroyd organised a great converted barn for us all to stay in. Freak weather meant sun all weekend.

Woodview - the barn - and the rocket launch.
A gentle stroll through Grizedale Forest with the wood sculptures.
The epic walk from Woodview at Crosslands, over High Dam to Finsthwaite. Complete with Harry in his off-roader.

Reciprocation of Phil Bastow's visit - a long weekend in London. And did we cram the sites.

When Phil Bastow popped in to see us. A walk through the muddy fields, Wycoller Hall ruins, afternoon tea and back via early doors at the local hostelry.

And later on for curry at the Ackroyds - with young Harry Proctor and a rather tired old Bastow.

21st - 28th December. With the Haworths for a few days and the Ackroyds, Harris's (Nigel, Sally, Thomas on skis and James on a board) and the Richards.
Nigel was doing well before he tweaked a knee. Gill banged an elbow which gave great pain but she battled on. Sally loved the skiing and even went out on her own to get some extra runs in.
Thomas and James were just mad and were lucky not to take each other out. These fit young lads skied in all conditions right up to the time the bus arrived to get us to the airport. They also led us astray in the bar once Haworth had left.
All the kids made great advances and it won't be long before they leave us oldies behind. Bumps as popluar as ever.
Sam's Photos - on her new digital camera.
John's Photos - not just as good.

Burnside burns!!

Competition time - see if you can identify who's who.

Life at the Flophouse

Walk round Aigle