20250901 – Monday
Well Saturday we had the Swiss Days Parade and today it’s the Miners Day Parade – known as Labour Day in the rest of the Country, but because of it’s mining heritage it Miners Day here. At least they have parades over here, unlike in the UK where they MIGHT OFFEND SOMEONE. Parade was ok; junk food was great, managed to get another of those awesome deep fried Oreos; watched one of the drillers in the drilling competition – Wendy wanted to leave, it’s too hot. Mike stays for dinner.
I love America:
The term “Arla and farting cows” refers to a recent controversy surrounding Arla Foods, a dairy company, and its pilot program to use a feed additive called Bovaer to reduce methane emissions from its dairy cows. While methane emissions are indeed a significant greenhouse gas and cows are a major source of it, the additive is not meant to stop “farting” but to suppress the enzyme in the cow’s digestive system responsible for methane production. Critics of the program have raised concerns about “adulterating” food products, despite the additive being scientifically proven safe and not remaining in milk or meat products.
Arla is trialing its Bovaer-fed milk with Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi, so you may find Arla products containing the additive at these UK supermarkets.
20250905 – Friday
Start the day with a cool ride down to the coffee shop – weather is very Autumnal. Then Wendy, Mike and I set off down to Salt Lake to go to the Greek Festival. Food was pretty good but no entertainment on. Best of all it was free entry for geriatrics. Wow a benefit to being old. Remind me never to have lunch again. It took all my effort to stay awake in the afternoon. Ended up going for a walk with Wendy to try and wake me sen up. A full lunch is just not worth it. We pass on TGIF and just have a quiet night in.
20250906 – Saturday
Start the day with a 4+ mile hike with Mark and Joe. It’s fairly cool and overcast, so great hiking weather. Today it’s Hike For Hunger up at the Olympic park. We have a VIP invite from Jamie, so we abandon our volunteer role and just enjoy the event. Free tee shirts, food and drinks (including alcohol – until the red wine runs out). We pass on most of the free rides and just take a chairlift ride to the top and back. Would have loved to done tubing down the ski jump but it was just too far to walk.
20250907 – Sunday
Played pickle ball in the afternoon. Wow, only 5 of us. In the evening B&M come round for dinner.
20250908 – Monday
Lead an easy hike around one of my favourites – The Road to WOS. In the afternoon Mike and I go for a short bike ride.
20250909 – Tuesday
Mike and I do a bike ride. Then I watch the Apple announcements. Yet again more trivial announcements. Instead of new emojis and liquid glass trivia why don’t they fix the plethora of bugs in their software; develop some common standards rather than huge differences between iphone, ipad and MacBook, sick of the difference; standardize the way cut, copy and paste works along with file save and save as. They’re getting nearly as bad as the Evil Empire (Microsoft). Why is everything to do with software and the web just a crock of shit. Nothing works properly. Interfaces are clueless and a complete lack of common sense. What can you expect from 10 year olds who can’t even tie their own shoe laces. Does nobody bother to test software anymore. It’s time more brown envelopes were handed out to these morons. As the battery in my current 4 year old watch is knackered I order the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Don’t think I’ll bother with the new iPhone. Wendy passes on a new watch.
20250910 – Wednesday
Lead an easy bike ride in the morning. As no one turns up Mike and I make it a ride down to the coffee shop. Temperature great 70’ish and sunny, but the wind back uphill is a killer. Wendy’s volunteering.
Then we set off down to the Utah State Fair. Wow, one thing that leaps out at you in Salt Lake is how the body shape changes. Must be nearly 60% grossly obese. Great place to motivate me on my diet with all these blobbies shuffling around and quite a few in wheelchairs. Such a stark contrast to the healthy looking fitness freaks of PC.
Fair was interesting. Mainly junk food stalls. With all those Blobies to remind me I managed to resist, even the deep fried Oreos. A lot of exhibition halls with art and prize winners in.
20250915 Monday
As usual I lead an Easy Hike up Dubois trail. Good turnout of 10 but they’re all women. A noisy hike.
Mike and I do a short easy bike ride in the afternoon.
20250919 Friday
Start the day with 2 hours of pickleball at crack of sparrows fart 0830. Then Mike and I go down to Salt lake to pick up my Ultra 3 Apple Watch. Can’t believe the queue to just get in the store and then a queue to actually pick up the watch. If they keep this shoddy customer service up I’ll be going over to the Dark Side with Android.
Then after car cleaning, petrol we’re off to play Ten Pin Bowling.
It’s a quiet evening in for Wendy and I.
250920 – Saturday
Start the day with a hike up to Blood Lake. The Autumn colors are awesome, so much so I’m changing my Monday Easy Hike to the Bonanza Loop Trail to take advantage of those magnificent colours. Lazy afternoon and then in the evening we go with B&M for dinner at the Blue Boar Inn, has to be my favourite place.
200923 Tuesday
After experiencing the awesome autumnal colours around Blood lake I lead a club hike around the Bonanza Loop trail, it’s even more awesome. 13 of us, but what a hike it was. First as always some women turns up late; then she doesn’t know her car registration number; she disappears and brings her registration document, no use; then she searches her mobile for a picture; finally gets it. What a pity we hadn’t already set off. You always get one and I try my best for an on time departure, especially when the parking meter clock is running. If your late, tough shit, why should everyone who has taken the trouble to be on time be held up. We’re a mile into the hike and we encounter 3 Moose chomping away on the trail and they’ve no intention of giving up the breakfast. So we backtrack and go round anti-clockwise. Then one of the women falls and hits her head on a rock, fortunately no blood just a bump. I’m always bemoaning the fact that if you entertain Americans then be sure to have plenty of ice and Tomato ketchup. Well for the first time ever on one of my hikes I hear a request for ice! But it was an awesome hike spoilt only by having a raving democrat and libtard on the hike who last year expressed his total hatred for a human being who happened to be a Republican. He also had a hissy fit because the Republican was wearing a MAGA hat. How can anyone hate for such a trivial reason. Such an awful human being if he turns up again I’ll be donning Mikes MAGA hat to piss him off and be asking him not to come on any of my future events. Sadly the picture do not do it justice. In the afternoon Wendy and I go over to Mikes to do the hike behind his house. Last year the colours were awesome, sadly not so this year. Never mind we have a drink with Mike. In the evening BM come round for dinner. Of course there’s wine along with plenty of ice and tomato ketchup.
200925 Thursday
Wow, what an awesome sunny day. Starts with 2 hours Pickleball; 2 hour hike with Wendy up on the Bonanza Loop Trail, the colours are stupendous, words and photos just cannot describe the trees; picnic just absorbing the splendour of the trees; to top the day off we go to TGIF, on a Thursday, good company, great food and of course there’s wine. How lucky can we be, sure shitin in the tall cotton. Paradise.
Bonanza Flats is home to the Flammulated Owl.
The flammulated owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) is a small migratory North American owl in the family Strigidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Psiloscops.
Description
The flammulated owl is a small, nocturnal owl approximately 15 cm (6 in) long with a 36 cm (14 in) wingspan. With such large wings for a small body, they can fly rapidly from tree to tree. Males and females can be distinguished by their weight. Females are larger, ranging from 62–65 g (2.2–2.3 oz) and males are smaller ranging from 50–52 g (1.8–1.8 oz). The owl gets the name flammulated from the flame-like markings on its face.[9]
The flammulated owl is similar in appearance to the western screech owl, but is only about one-quarter the mass, lacks large ear tufts (but has small ear tufts that are barely visible), and has dark eyes and a different voice. The elf owl is smaller and the mountain pygmy owl is about the same size. The call is a series of relatively deep, single or double hoots.
The flammulated owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) is a small migratory North American owl in the family Strigidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Psiloscops.
Description
The flammulated owl is a small, nocturnal owl approximately 15 cm (6 in) long with a 36 cm (14 in) wingspan. With such large wings for a small body, they can fly rapidly from tree to tree. Males and females can be distinguished by their weight. Females are larger, ranging from 62–65 g (2.2–2.3 oz) and males are smaller ranging from 50–52 g (1.8–1.8 oz). The owl gets the name flammulated from the flame-like markings on its face.[9]
The flammulated owl is similar in appearance to the western screech owl, but is only about one-quarter the mass, lacks large ear tufts (but has small ear tufts that are barely visible), and has dark eyes and a different voice. The elf owl is smaller and the mountain pygmy owl is about the same size. The call is a series of relatively deep, single or double hoots.
200926 Friday
Ordered the new iPad Air because my keyboard is playing up and my iPad Pro is nearly 4 years old. Fully depreciated. The new Air is reckoned to be plenty powerful enough for my usage and the iPad Pro would have been an expensive overkill, it’s only plus point being facial recognition as opposed to fingerprint. As we couldn’t guarantee delivery window we drove down to SLC to pick it up. Of course there was a queue. Had a stroll around Fashion Place Mall – god only knows why. Then it’s a trip to Smiths for the weekly shop, all this excitement in one day. Keep calm.
20250927 Saturday
Another awesome hike with Wendy and the Autumn colours. We do the bottom half of Snowtop, out and back, just 2 miles. The colours tad muted as we were not in the mountains, but still worth it. In the afternoon Mark and I go to visit Joe. I get a training session on the finer points of American Football. It’s not quite as haphazard and simple as it looks. Another quiet evening in with a beer and finish off my first bottle of Prisoners Share. Finally come to the conclusion it better with ice. Fear not there’s another full bottle awaiting – probably take it home – and I’ve a nearly full bottle of Cask Strength on the go.
200928 Sundaay
A cool cloudy day. Lazy morning in, it’s so relaxing not having to get up at the crack of Sparrows Fart. In the afternoon it’s Pickleball, but after an hour rain stops play.
Monday, 29th September 2025 Supposedly I was leading an hike around Bonanza Loop Trail, same as last week, just too good to miss. No one turned up, so obviously no one agreed with my views on the awesome colours. Went up later in the day but the BLT car park was full so went to explore my new hike around Wasatch State Park. Yet another awesome Autumnal colour day. A tad cloudy and cooler but worth it to enjoy all hose Orange colours now bursting out. I just love those awesomely simple fences.
Tuesday, 30 September 2025 Last chance to hike Bonanza Loop trail before they close it to allow the animals chance to get their leg over.
This just about sums up the difference between the shit we have to put up with everyday in Britain versus life here in Park City – Paradise.
Independence Day, so as usual we go over to the Oakley Parade, Mike and M&L join us. It’s an awesome small town parade. Epitomises all that’s great about America. How anyone can fail to be proud of America just amazes me. Flags everywhere and even 50 flags along the road in Oakley. So much better than PC parade as they throw out candy, we’ve a big bag full ready for when the kids come over.
Such a pity we don’t have parades anymore. Heaven forbid we should offend anyone.
In the afternoon we have a barbecue with friends.
Then it’s a quiet evening in once everyone has gone. Marianne invited us to the Glenwild Fireworks, always a great display, but it was at 2200 and there was a lot of heavy rain marauding around so we gave it a miss this year.
Bike ride. Airport run to take Carol and Angela to airport. Coffee shop and Costco whilst we’re down there.
Then in the evening Marianne throws a birthday party for Mike’s 83rd birthday. Great evening awesome food, wine and company.
Early morning hike with Mark and Joe up Charlies 9K. It’s an easy out and back with great views.
How does a community of 436 souls – vast majority Mormon – afford such a free extravaganza. Events have been going on all day to celebrate Pioneer day.
Charleston is a town in Wasatch County, Utah, United States. The population was 436 at the 2020 census.
The community was named after Charles Shelton, a first settler.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), of which 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) is land, and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), or 10.16%, is water.
In 1858, trapper Aaron Daniels moved to a place on the Provo River just north of where Charleston is today.
The first farmers put in crops at Charleston in 1859, and the first houses were built by George Noakes and William Manning late that year near Noakes springs. Manning and George Noakes were the only residents until 1863 when a few others moved in. In 1866, there were about a dozen families, and after that, the population began to grow even faster.
Bike ride with Mike down to Kimble junction. Then ten pin bowling in the afternoon. In the evening we drive down to the airport pick the kids up. They’re all shattered.
Grandkids are up at the crack of sparrows fart (0500). Plenty of noise and they’re hyper, but really great to have them. Jasper wants to go a bike ride at 0600.
After breakfast we let them have all the toys, mainly dolls and girly things, Wendy has bought for them from the Christian Centre. Awesome, a bedroom full. They’re so excited.
Sort out their bikes and then they’re all terrorizing the neighbourhood.
After lunch they all swan off down to walmart. I give it a miss.
Then in the afternoon Mike comes round for dinner with more candy for the kids.
In the morning lead a hike with Jasper and Kurt around Snowtop.
Whilst in the evening Mike comes round to babysit the kids whilst Wendy and I take Kurt and Fiona to the Blue Boar Inn for dinner. Awesome food and Swiss hunting lodge ambiance.
In the morning I lead an easy bike ride.
In the evening Wendy and I go to the Oakley diner with M&L. As awesome as ever.
Another glorious sunny day.
Then it’s time to go and persecute some Clay Pigeon, not that they have anything to fear from me this year.
Robert Jenrick MP
Then we’re left with a quiet evening in sipping Bourbon and watching Game Of Thrones. Our TV’s interrupted with the sighting of the first Moose across the road. We abandon TV and sit on the deck watching the Moose and sipping Bourbon – now if that ain’t shittin in the tall Cotten, I don’t know what is, awesome. Pictures tell the story better.
Another sunny day. Lead a hike in the morning with a short bike ride in the afternoon. Quiet night in for a change.
Yet another sunny bike ride down to the coffee shop.
Hell of a busy day here in Paradise. Wendy’s volunteering at the Pantry. Meanwhile I’m off on one of Bubs hikes up to the top of Sky Ridge Peak, 4.8 mile and 915 feet elevation gain. 
Then we’re back to Mikes for Dinner with MariAnne, Joe and Dan. A nice bit of Omaha steak, some great food followed by a few large XO brandies – helps me sleep. There’s Artichokes for dinner so we get instructed on how to eat them and how to cut out the Heart. They’re ok but it is a lot of messing.
Start the day with a fluffy buttermilk pancake smoothered in Maple syrup and fruit.
Amazing.
Lead an Easy Hike around my favourite Road to WOS hike. Fortunately all the snows gone and the views are awesome.
Okonomiyaki, Tilapia and Mahi mahi, also known as dolphinfish or dorado, is a popular, lean, white fish with a mild, sweet flavour.
Up at the crack of Sparrows Fart for a 09:30 hike with Bub, out and back along the Moose Hollow Trail up to the top of Parleys Summit to see the telephone masts. It’s 4.5 mile and 1001 feet of elevation gain. Awesome views from the top.
Short walk in the morning; bowling in the afternoon; TGIF in the evening.
Early morning death march led by Mike up East Canyon – Big Mountain trails. Awesome flowers and views. 
In the evening I lead a group of us try axe throwing. Great fun. Then Alberto’s takeaway at ours for Mike and family. Lovely fun evening.
Scientists have found that penguin guano releases high levels of ammonia into the atmosphere. When this ammonia mixes with sulfur compounds from ocean phytoplankton, it triggers the rapid formation of aerosol particles. These particles grow into clouds, which may have a cooling effect on the Earth’s surface.
The researchers say that even after the penguins leave, the leftover guano continues to release noticeable amounts of ammonia for days. What’s more interesting is that researchers noticed that cloud formation closely followed these ammonia surges. In one case, fog appeared just a few hours after the chemical levels spiked. 
Early start again, crack of Sparrows fart, 06:00. The flight to Las Vegas was awesome. Security was a breeze and the flight was comfortable with plenty of free booze, food, movies and time for the odd snooze. Brings back the joy of flying, could almost do this again just for the fun of it.
Mike’s there to greet us in his mega truck and we spend the night at Mikes, rather than messing around getting into our condo so late at night.
Start the day with a 2 hour 40 minute call to EE trying to get my mobile working. Tech support guy was not the brightest knife in the box. He had trouble explaining why they were charging me £36 for call when I have free roaming and a £20 spend cap; why they charged me for 0330 calls when my contract stalls ALL calls beginning with 03 are free. Ended up suggesting a new eSIM.
Arrive at Manchester airport early but as usual with anything to do with airports we can’t check in early. Screw the customer and let’s create a queue.
Typical of the EU we spend 50 minutes getting through immigration. You have to ask yourself do they really want visitors?
Breakfast is awesome, just about everything you can imagine apart from Vodka and Champagne.
Then it’s the rest of the bus tour, followed by a pleasant stroll through the old town, it’s lovely. Stop for lunch and a beer in the Old Town square, it’s just buzzing. How come these places all have a “famous bridge” the Charles Bridge this time. 
Find a decent restaurant and of course they serve beer.
Day 2 in Prague starts with an awesome breakfast accompanied by live piano music. Then it’s the Old Town bus tour. Stroll across the famous Charles Bridge and settle on another beer. In the PM we stroll around old town in the warm sunshine. 
For evening entertainment we go to a medieval banquet, complete with not so exotic dancers; acrobats; more dancers; whirling flame dancers and swallowers. The dancers are a tad better than Hooters.
Another musical, awesome breakfast. Checkout, and then have a stroll around the Old Town in the sunshine. Try some of the Local street food in the market square. Then it’s another beer.
Stroll back to hotel to pick up the suitcase, stopping for a wine on the way.
With hindsight I think two full days would have been enough. Our last day was just lounging around.
Settle in for the obligatory afternoon cup of tea – yes, even in 3rd World EU countries we still have standards.
Despite the forecast of rain all day the weather turns out mainly dry with scattered sunny outbursts. After the journey from hell we decide to have a lazy day and just do the major shop for essentials for the next week.
Never mind Wendy settles down to watch “Greys Anatomy”, it’s not yet 1700 so thankfully I get to pass on it.
A gorgeous sunny day and it’s even warm, not quite shorts weather but cargo pants weather. Up and Uber into Split Old Town to catch a guided walking tour. One of Guru walks guided tours. They’re free you just tip for what you think it’s worth – and yes I do tip them.
A pretty good tour around the Diocletians Palace (apparently some ancient geezers Roman palace built in 305) Split in the gorgeous sunshine. The palace is really a walled town. Not quite as impressive as Dubrovnik.
Another sunny stroll around Split Old Town.
Then at dinner they tell me it’s not available. Totally pissed off. Food is great, but service is very slow and they screw up Wendy’s cocktail. Considering there’s only us in the restaurant, god help them if they ever get busy. Finally get to try some Dingac wine, wow it’s very good, fruity, smooth and expensive.
Lazy start to a great breakfast, despite only a handful of guests in the hotel. We’ve been told we can have a late checkout – 1800, how’s that for late. The manager comes to see us over breakfast to apologise for the slow service last night. Lunch today is on the house as an apology. I relate the Brodet saga and he goes away to the kitchen, comes back and apologizes and tells me that there will be Brodet for my lunch. Very professional.
Got up a tad late, 0920 a new laziness record. 
A nice lazy start to the day, rain is forecast. By 1130 the rain has stopped so we Uber down to the Pile Gate. 
I go to the Ethonological Museum (Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. It explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study). Wendy takes one look at the steps, yes there’s 80+ of them, so she goes for a coffee. Unfortunately I’m stupid enough to go for it, as it’s free on our 1 day pass. What a waste of time, fortunately no money. I wouldn’t bother going up one step to see this.
Plastic bottles have retainers (or tethered caps) on their tops to reduce litter and improve recycling. These retainers ensure that the cap stays attached to the bottle even after it is opened, preventing the cap from being discarded separately, which often leads to environmental pollution.
Get to Budapest for 1300 so a sunny afternoon in Budapest. Hotels great, Crowne Plaza, and thanks to Ross Platinum status we’ve been upgraded to a suite.
Catch the red bus for a tour around Budapest. Great way to see the city. Get off for a boat tour down the Danube, with great views of the Parliament building. Then it’s a beer lunch by the Danube, followed by a vernacular ride up to the Art Museum, Ross is most keen to visit. As a complete Philistine not really my cup of tea, but actually enjoyed it.
Too many beer stops, before 1700, so I’ve sinned yet again. Weather is fantastic.
Dinner carefully planned for the evening, after yesterdays screw up. Choose Mazel Tov, with a name like that it has to be Jewish, a great Pastrami on Rye and fantastic friendly service including free Palinkas – equivalent of Slivovitz (plum Brandy) or even Schnapps, mainly brewed over farm kitchen tables.
Another awesome breakfast. Try a Vodka and Orange – “when in Rome”.
Catch the Red bus for a guided walking tour down to the Parliament building. Some interesting and bizarre facts. 
Stop at Shoes on the Danube. The shoes are rusted, made of iron and set into the concrete of the embankment – need to be to stop Croats stealing them. They are a memorial and monument to the Hungarian Jews who, in the winter of 1944-1945, were shot on the banks of the freezing Danube River by the members of the Arrow Cross Party, some were just pushed in the freeze to death, couples were tied together and one of them shot and both pushed into freezing Danube. Mans inhumanity to man never ceases to amaze.
Never realised that Hungary sided with the Nazis. Probably explains why, like America , they now side with Russia.
After yet another liquid lunch we walk up to the Széchenyi Bath, the largest thermal spring bath complex in Budapest and throughout Europe, is the height of European elegance. Missed out on the beer spa which you have to book in advance. Another one of Ross ideas, again not something I would have done but quite enjoyed it, of course there was beer – more sins.
Catch an Uber back into town to the Sima Liba restaurant. Almost put off as there’s hardly anyone in. Glad we didn’t as it has to be one of the best meals ever. Even had 3 courses. All very romantic with strolling violinist and weird piano – we must have looked like a couple of gays. Actually violinist got on my tits as he kept playing in my face with a 5,000 Forint note on the side of his violin.
Decide to go a stroll around Margit Island and a walk up to the Japanese garden. Surprised it was free, but given the state of it not that surprising.