Good Afternoon,A weekend trans-Pennine trip revealed snow on Cross Fell and the higher Lakeland fells too. I was surprised, though had no good reason to be. On the Cumbrian side of the fells Christmas almost came early for the residents of Penrith, my home town, where the Alba Protein works caught fire for the seventh time in recent memory. Yahoo, finally some revolutionary direct action! To put this event in context, Alba, or as it is still known locally 'Wildriggs' - kind of a Windscale/Sellafield scenario - has afflicted the nostrils of this north lakes town on an industrial scale with the malodorous by-products of its meat rendering activities for over 30 years. The term 'Penrith Pong' has become synonymous with the residents' plight, while planners and town councils and other busy bodies stand by substantially idle and ineffectual. Perhaps the air of local government is not only rarefied but purified...A few years a ago during a previous incident at the plant, town residents barred the way for attending fire appliances and somewhat of a carnival atmosphere prevailed. I'm surprised they haven't renamed the main street in honour of the conflagration - or instigated some other grand and glorious commemorative project. More likely, after the flames of controversy had died down the offenders were quietly prosecuted for causing an obstruction. However, the respite proved short lived and the company's recent attempt to soft soap the townsfolk by greasing palm of the Christmas Lights Fund with a last minute donation has simply thrown fat on the fire. As an ex-patriot Penrithian I'm incredulous that a town billing itself at 'the gateway to the lakes' allows such a stink to endure. If this was France there'd have a been a revolt, the plant would have been demolished... and they'd have built a nuclear power station on the site instead...
See this Cumberland News story...
Anyhow, Happy Christmas too you all from us all.
Best
Nick
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| Bradt Travel Guides 1 |
NEW EDITIONS UPDATE
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ukraine, Tallinn - All Out Now! |
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| Bradt Travel Guides 2 |
Johannesburg - FIRST EDITION
Though never the capital, Johannesburg has always been South Africa’s first city and main gateway for international visitors. Bradt’s First Edition pocket-sized city guide packs enough information for business and holiday travellers alike. |
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| Equine Adventures |
A ROYAL RIDE - JORDAN
Cost £1,495
Join fellow riders on Equine Adventures’ 10-day horseback adventure following part of the ‘Kings Highway’, Jordan’s ancient thoroughfare that winds its way southwards from Amman through the biblical kingdom of the Ammonites, passing the unique rock-hewn Nabataean capital city of Petra and the red-rose canyons of the Wadi Rum, to the Red Sea shores at Aqaba. Tours depart London 30th March, 27th April & 28th September 2007. |
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| Families Worldwide |
FAMILY TRAVEL - PREDICTIONS FOR 2007
Cost £599 adt £529 chd
Discerning parents with young families are shying away from traditional beach holidays and opting instead for more adventurous and enriching choices. Driving a dog-sled in Lapland, learning to create a curry in India, dressing as a Maasai warrior in Tanzania, discovering a lost city in the Andes or admiring mighty snow-capped peaks in the Himalayas, are now all viable family options. |
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| Lakes & Mountains Holidays |
MOTORHOME DISCOUNTS- ON THE ROAD IN CANADA
Cost £885
Lakes & Mountains Holidays offer discounts of up to £150 on 10-day Canadian motorhome holidays, combining flexibility with spectacular scenery on the road from Calgary to Vancouver. Departures from London between 1st June and 11th July 2007. |
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| Let's Trek Australia & NZ |
CITY, BEACH, RAINFOREST, REEF - OZ CAMPING ADVENTURE
Cost £574
Spring into adventure during an 11-day City to the Reef camping adventure with Let’s Trek Australia, exploring Australia’s legendary East Coast beaches and spectacular Great Barrier Reef, from Sydney to Cairns departing Sydney 13th March 2007. |
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| Magic of the Orient |
A NEW YEAR BODY BREAK - MALAYSIA - *FREE DAILY SPA TREATMENTS*
Cost £1,295
When the last mince pie has been consumed, the final crumbs of Christmas cake have bitten the dust and all that’s left in the bumper Quality Street tin are the dreaded coffee ones, you know it’s time to give your body a break! Let Tailor-made Far Eastern specialist, Magic of the Orient put the spring back in your step with their special ‘Steps to Heaven’ 5-night sojourn at the luxury Tanjong Jara Resort on East Coast Malaysia, which includes a gorgeous package of daily spa treatments absolutely free! Midweek Heathrow departures are available from 16th January to 28th March 07. |
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| Naturetrek |
MEXICO’S MONARCHS
Cost £1,895
Prepare to be mesmerised by up to 600 million Monarch butterflies gathering to overwinter in the highlands of central Mexico. Natural history specialists Naturetrek offer a 9-day holiday to coincide with this spectacle, departing 2nd February 2007. |
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| Peregrine Adventures |
ELEPHANTS PACK THEIR TRUNKS - PEREGRINE HELPS SOLVE NEPAL’S PACHYDERM PROBLEM
Cost £815
Rapacious Wild Elephants have been terrorising communities living around the perimeter of Nepal’s Royal Chitwan National Park with their night-time raids in search of food. Plants have been pulverised, mud houses flattened and sadly, lives lost. Always keen to support specific projects around the world, Peregrine Adventures has assisted by donating equipment for a 24 km Elephant fence. The new fence has been a resounding success, apparently completely solving the problem. |
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| Quest Travel |
THE BRITISH ARE COMING… CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ IS BECOMING A REALITY
WEST COAST FLY-DRIVE
Cost £829
‘The long term inertia in the UK Transatlantic market has been overcome by the best Dollar exchange rate for 14 years. The British are definitely coming!’ predicts Tim White, Quest Travel’s Head of Land Product. Quest offer a wide range of tours taking advantage of the two dollar pound including an 11-night self-drive road trip discovering the highlights, wide-spaces, cloudless blue skies and towering Redwoods from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Holidays depart Gatwick and Manchester from 1st January 2007 to 15th March 2007. |
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| TrekAmerica |
CARIBBEAN CRUISIN’ - NEW BUDGET LODGING TOUR
Cost £984
After 35 years of leading adventure camping tours North American specialist TrekAmerica has decided to give non-campers a chance to join in the adventure, with the introduction of an active and adventurous lodging programme. If you thought Caribbean cruising was the domain of sedentary retired couples think again! Explore ancient Mayan civilisations, tropical rain forests and pristine Caribbean beaches in of Mexico, Guatemala & Belize during a 16-day Caribbean Cruisin’ tour departing from Cancun 16th April 2007. |
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| Walks Worldwide |
FOLLOW YOUR NOSE - KERALAN SPICE TRAILS
SAVE £200 p/p ON BROCHURE PRICE!
Cost £1,495
Explore the peaceful trails of India’s Western Ghats where the cool mountain air is heavily spiced with the sweet scent of tea, descend through valleys of cardomom, mango and coffee and cruise along the Keralan waterways, past rice paddies and rubber plantations, watching local fisherman catch supper. Walks Worldwide’s 16-day guided walking tour in Southern India is now offered with a £200 p/p discount off the normal brochure price – departing London 17th February 2007.
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| Wildlife Worldwide |
MEET A MANATEE - MARK CARWARDINE’S OCEAN WANDERERS
EXTRA DAY AND LAST MINUTE DISCOUNT £200 p/p!
Cost £1,495
For those intrigued by the gentle creatures at the heart of many a lonely sea dogs’ mermaid shanty, a 9-day marine adventure to snorkel with Manatees congregating in the warm spring-fed waters of Florida’s Crystal River, designed especially for Wildlife Worldwide’s Ocean Wanderers programme by renowned marine biologist Mark Cawardine, may provide some answers. Wildlife Worldwide is now offering a late discount of £200 p/p plus an extra day FREE! Departing Gatwick 14th January 07. |
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