Christmas Message 2025
Linnegan Clan

Well… 2025 has been no different than usual
totally hectic!

So, to avoid giving you all a migraine, I’ve broken this year’s activities into bite-sized chunks:

🌊 January — Tall Ships and a true Island Hopping adventure 

I headed off late January to warmer climates together with my sailing buddy Pete Yates – sailing together since 1976 – uni days. The boat is called Morgenster

It was built in 1919 as traditional Tall Ship clipper. Today it is exploring the Cape Verde islands – just off the west coast of Africa. Ten different and beautiful volcanic mini paradises!

Just imagine stunning mountains, volcanoes, stormy seas and some very strong ocean breezes… and trying not to fall overboard! A dream come true – for some!

The Cape Verde Islands was a crucial stopping point for trade to Africa and the Far East. A significantly important sailing route long before the Suez Canal and engines were invented.

This route facilitated the Slave trade and initially the only then known sea ink to India and China and the Americas (N&S).

 

 

 

IAN climbing Morgenster mast – Solo

✨ February 2025 — The ‘Up North’ Northumberland Trip

Will and Amy took off to Northumberland for a ½ week break, exploring Berwick-upon-Tweed, Holy Island plus Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh Castle.

We then shamelessly copied their itinerary for the other half!
The weather was uncharacteristically kind this year.

They discovered an amazing location close to Newcastle – we followed. It was formally owned by the Armstrong family,  they created Hawker Siddeley jet engines.The property is called Cragside. It’s a NT property now, leave plenty of time to explore and recover from shock! (Google it)

🌸 May 2025 – Japan at Last!

Pete and Sarah finally ‘cashed in’ their pre-COVID dream  as they set off for a dream holiday in Japan.

Three weeks of temples, sushi, neon lights, left them wondering why our British public transport can’t deliver a similar type of experience.

 

 

 

🎉 July 2025 –  Pat Retires (It’s Official This Time!)

 

Pat decided to retire in June/July and persuaded the Business Owner (Andrew) to do the same. Well, he was semi-retired, living in North Wales, and in his 80^th year. Now very happily being totally retired and spending all his money!

Pat now has more time with her friends, walking the Dales, visiting our Flat in Wales (trying to sail Ragdoll) and keeping herself very busy with Holly House Airbnb.

Retirement does not mean relaxing any time soon  … not in her books anyway!

 

🌺 August 2025 – Madeira replacing the Monroe’s

Due adverse weather conditions predicted in Scotland, Amy and Will swapped their planned assault to bag a few more of the 282 Munroe peaks. Instead, they made a last minute dash to Madeira and a very different batch of mountain challenges!

BTW – each Monroe peak in Scotland is at least 3,000 feet above sea level. In 2019 all 6 of us climbed Ben Nevis (4413 feet) – the highest Monroe of all – stimulating their goal to climb them all!

They stayed at our HPB time share property in Madeira. This itinerary was completely different to our original trip – no copycatting this time – with potentially a few less blisters!!

 

🍕 October 2025 –  Naples Takeover by the Linnegan’s 

To celebrate Pat’s 70th birthday and her retirement, the Linnegan Clan (6) descended on Naples to explore this amazing region.
It did not disappoint.

Our hectic schedule included a scheduled tour to Pompeii and climbing Vesuvius the same day! Next day we took the Fastcat ferry over to the island of Capri. On our last day, we did a DIY trip (tube, train, foot) and explored the amazing treasures of Herculaneum – hidden completely until the 1990s.
We stayed at a gorgeous apartment right on the ocean front. My personal highlight was securing a private boat tour (for just the 6 of us) to explore stunning properties ‘perched’ around the stunning headlands.

Better still, I got the chance to helm the launch – real celebrity status, minus the paparazzi and drama but still able to keep ‘ship shape’ even after drinking Dark and Stormy cocktails. Back in the 1960’s, Capri was the top US Hollywood star’s favourite Italian resort …. an expensive day perhaps? Just don’t ask about prices!

 

   

 

⚓Other Adventures – Focused Mild Panic – sometimes!

Ian with his 3 best sailing mates just before their annual sail to the Isle of Man for the its annual TT races.

Bikes roaring, crazy speeds, winds howling – manic!
I disappeared for my usual solitary walks pretending I was in the IOM experiencing more of a BBC nature documentary. The right image shows the traditional harbour of Ramsey which remaines unchanged and unspoilt.

And yes… the running-aground incident near Puffin Island Anglesey.

Holyhead Coastguard had already been notified before I finally contacted them on ship radio. There was No Real Danger (….. eventually), just a lot of egg left somewhere!

Amy was spotted sprinting across the sands in gay abandon while Jasper chased his ball, blissfully unaware of a potential maritime meltdown. Pat tried to stay calm. I eventually decided to retire for a 2 hour sleep, waiting for the tide to come in and re float Ragdoll.

All entirely my fault. “Just another day in paradise” As they say!

Amy also secured the top spot at Skipton Women’s Rugby club …. Captain, she just loves being the boss.

🕯️ November — A Tough Month

Sadly, I attended three funerals this month – all cancer-related – all close and very precious friends to me.
They were John Hopkins, Anita Burrows and Ian Blain. Ian was Best Man at our 1980 wedding and my lifelong debating partner – also six months my junior. A sharp reminder of how fragile and precious life really is. Ian is pictured on the second right in a red coat.

It has been 12 years since my own cancer diagnosis and radiotherapy.

I’m still  here, still  kicking, still  following the “Lucky Linney” ethos, but working ever harder just to try and stay afloat at 74! (mmm!)

Ian Blain loved classic sports cars, as I did, after dumping my Lambretta scooter fascination. His 2 favourites cars were Austin Healey Frogeye Sprites and MGA’s. My favourite sports car (before boats of course!) was a 1957  Austin Healey 3000 (the two tone car below). Curiously Will, my son-in-law’s passion is also old stuff – Landrover Defenders for him) – and always willing to help me ‘float the boat’!!

BTW the black MG car above is our new classic car, it’s an EV with range of 200 miles with almost ‘no range’ anxiety – even more shocks, I know!

📸 And Finally…

I’m now ‘geared up’ for 2026, hopefully another step closer to mastering: AI, Blogs and ChatGPT!
Watch out world …. the Sleigh was my first Xmas effort and my second intervention could be a Planet Saver Smartphone – who knows!!

Check out another work in progress activities: John Lennon https://soloist.ai/johnlennon

Wishing you a warm, wonderful Christmas and a 2026 year packed with joy, mischief, laughter, and maybe chancing your luck to include a few “incidents” just like some of ours!

As ever, the New Year’s Resolutions should be: Carpe Diem.  Cram it full. Make it count!

That’s it for now.                         Goodbye – Merry Christmas!
from all the Linnegan Clan