Friday, June 03, 2022

Abingdon Bun Throwing - Sunday 5th June 2022

The next Bun Throwing event will be held in Abingdon to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on Sunday 5th June 2022.


The first bun is due to be thrown from the top of the old county hall at 5pm.

There will be entertainment from a band and the town's Morris Dancers from 4pm.

The last bun throwing held in the town to date was in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761.


Currant buns from the Bun Throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion
Currant buns from the bun throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion 

This will be the 16th Bun Throwing event in my lifetime. I've been to them all so far.


Visit the Abingdon Town Council website for more information on the jubilee events.

Sunday, May 29, 2022

Adventure Golf at Fishers Farm Park in Sussex

A look at the Forgotten Farm Adventure Golf course at Fishers Farm Park in Sussex.


Forgotten Farm Adventure Golf course at Fishers Farm Park in Sussex. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022

My brother and his family recently visited Fishers Farm Park in Sussex and saw the Forgotten Farm Adventure Golf course there.

Forgotten Farm Adventure Golf course at Fishers Farm Park in Sussex. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022

Visit the Fishers Farm Park website for more information.


Forgotten Farm Adventure Golf course at Fishers Farm Park in Sussex. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022

The combined total of the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour is now at 1,032 courses visited since September 2006.

Porthmadog Crazy Golf

A look at the Porthmadog Crazy Golf course.


Many thanks to our friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge for sending over this snap of the Crazy Golf courses in Porthmadog in Wales. What a sad sight.

Porthmadog Crazy Golf. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022

We visited the courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2009. At that time there was this Swedish Felt course, the fibreglass course in the background and a grass Putting course to the right.

Dino Encounters Crazy Golf in Great Wakering, Essex

A new Crazy Golf course has opened at Cupids Country Club in Great Wakering, Essex.


A new Crazy Golf course has opened at Cupids Country Club in Great Wakering, Essex

Many thanks to my cousin Jayne for letting me know about a new minigolf course that has opened near her.

Dino Encounters Crazy Golf is now open at Cupids Country Club in Great Wakering, Essex.

Check out the Dino Encounters Crazy Golf Facebook Page for more information.


It's another new place for us to play the game on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Aztec Adventure Golf at Dobbies Garden Centre in Huntingdon

A new Aztec Adventure Golf course is opening at Dobbies Garden Centre in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire this summer.


A new Aztec Adventure Golf course is opening at Dobbies Garden Centre in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire this summer

The new course is set to open in July 2022.

Visit the Aztec Adventure Golf website for more information.


The layout is another new one for us to swing by on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Plonk Golf on Hoxton Street in Shoreditch

Plonk Golf is re-opening on Hoxton Street, Shoreditch.

Plonk Golf crazy golf course in London

Plonk Golf are re-opening their venue on Hoxton Street in Shoreditch, London.

You can find Plonk Golf courses at Borough Market, Camden Market and Hackney.

Visit the Plonk Golf website for more information.


It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Wild Blades Axe Throwing & Adventure Golf in Haverhill, Suffolk

There's a new Adventure Golf course at Wild Blades in Haverhill, Suffolk.


There's a new Adventure Golf course at Wild Blades in Haverhill, Suffolk

Visit the Wild Blades Axe Throwing & Adventure Golf website for more information.


It's another new venue for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Mini Golf at Beamish Museum

A new mini golf course is part of a 1950's area created at the Beamish Museum for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.


A new mini golf course is part of a 1950's area created at the Beamish Museum for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

Visit the Beamish Museum website for more information.


The mini golf course is another new one for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Crazy Golf on Southend Pier

There's a new Crazy Golf course on Southend Pier in Essex.


There's a new Crazy Golf course on Southend Pier in Essex

A new 18-hole Crazy Golf course has opened on Southend Pier in Southend-on-Sea, Essex.


Visit the Southend Pier website for more information.


The new Southend Pier Crazy Golf course is a new one for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Abingdon Bun Throwing 2022

There is just one week to go until the Bun Throwing to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.


The next Bun Throwing event will be held in Abingdon to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee on Sunday 5th June 2022.


Currant buns from the Bun Throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion
Currant buns from the bun throwing that celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012. A total of 6,000 buns were thrown on that occasion 

The last bun throwing held in the town to date was in 2018 to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. That bun throwing was the 35th event since 1761.

The tradition sees the mayor and other dignitaries climb to the top of the old County Hall to throw hundreds or thousands of currant buns down to the townsfolk gathered in the market place below.

This will be the 16th Bun Throwing event in my lifetime. I've been to them all so far.


Visit the Abingdon Town Council website for more information on the jubilee events.

Princess Parade Crazy Golf in Blackpool

The Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool has now been open again for a year and a day.


Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
Princess Parade Crazy Golf is on the North Shore in Blackpool

The Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool was re-opened on the 28th May 2021.

Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
A view of the 18th hole


Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
Holes 1-9

Princess Parade Crazy Golf course in Blackpool
Holes 10-18

Check out the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course Facebook Group for more information.


Reopening the abandoned North Shore course

Blackpool and the Fylde Street Angels and Blackpool Fulfilling Lives joined forces to refresh and reopen the Princess Parade Crazy Golf course on Blackpool's North Shore in 2019 and a number of other people and groups have been a part of the project. Including me.

The base of the course itself has changed very little since it was first created in the late 1950's and it's wonderful that the area is easily recognisable from old postcards from the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

There have still been some very noticeable improvements to the course and the whole area it sits in. Most notable are the repairs to the obstacles as well as the addition of professional putting carpet to the holes. It makes the course very nice to play.

More information can be found in my blog post from the launch event in May 2021, in one of my previous posts charting the progress on the refurbishment and this blog post from September 2020.

Gloryholes Crazy Golf in Nottingham

A look at the Gloryholes Adult Crazy Golf course in Nottingham.


Gloryholes Crazy Golf in Nottingham

Emily recently swung by the new Gloryholes Adult Crazy Golf course while on a trip to Nottingham.

Gloryholes Crazy Golf in Nottingham

The course was the 993rd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Check out the Gloryholes Crazy Golf website for more information on the courses in Nottingham and Sheffield.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Mini Golf at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece

A look at the Mini Golf course at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece.


Mini Golf at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022


My brother and his family recently spotted the Mini Golf course at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece.

Mini Golf at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022

The layout became the 1,031st visited on our overall Crazy World of Minigolf Tour!
 
Mini Golf at the Farm House Pub in Ixia, Rhodes, Greece. Photo by Christopher Gottfried, May 2022

New Adventure Golf course in Harrow

Work is underway on the new Adventure Golf course at Bannister Sports Centre in Harrow, London.


Work is underway on the new Adventure Golf course at Bannisters Sports Centre in Harrow, London

The outdoor adventure golf course at the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre will have a dinosaur theme.

Check out the Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre website for more information.


It'll be another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Birdies Adventure Golf in Folkestone

A new Adventure Golf course is opening at Folkestone's Harbour Arm in Kent.


A new Adventure Golf course is opening at Folkestone's Harbour Arm in Kent


It's another new course for us to visit on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Mini-Golf at Clippesby Hall in Great Yarmouth

A look at the Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.


Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

I played a round on the 18-hole Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk earlier this month. And what a pleasure it was.

Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

The course has been at Clippesby Hall for a number of years and we did swing by it on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour back in 2011 when we were a bit too late for a game.

Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

It was worth waiting all this time for a play of it though.

Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

It's a brilliant 18-hole layout and a great test of putting skill. There are a few good rebound opportunities too.

Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

A very nice setting for a game.

Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Check out the Clippesby Hall website for more information.


Mini-Golf course at Clippesby Hall in Clippesby, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Volcano Falls Adventure Golf in Milton Keynes

A new Volcano Falls Adventure Golf centre is opening in Milton Keynes.


Volcano Falls Adventure Golf

Volcano Falls Adventure Golf is opening at Xscape in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

The venue will be home to three indoor courses and a total of 36-holes.

Volcano Falls Adventure Golf have venues in Castleford and Edinburgh.

We've played the Castleford Volcano Falls Adventure Golf centre on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

Visit the Volcano Falls Adventure Golf website for further information.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Totally Stockport Comic Con

80s TV, film and pop culture heaven!


Gremlins at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
Gremlins causing a scene

We had a marvellous morning at the Totally Stockport FREE Comic Con. What a brilliant event. So much to see and do.

The Totally Stockport Comic Con

The event was organised by Totally Stockport.

There have been some superb events here in Stockport. The last Comic Con was excellent too. The event was set to become an annual attraction, but the coronavirus put paid to the follow-up event in May 2020.

K.I.T.T. at theTotally Stockport Comic Con
I've wanted to see K.I.T.T. in real life since I was a little kid. This was amazing!

We're so glad the event went ahead and are looking forward to the next Stockport Comic Con already!

Ecto-1 at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
Ecto-1

A tauntaun at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
Urgh, this tauntaun smelled bad on the outside

Chewbacca at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
Me and Chewbacca

R2-D2 at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
R2-D2

Johnny 5 from Short Circuit at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
Johnny 5

The A-Team van at the Totally Stockport Comic Con
The A-Team van

Mini Golf course at Laser Quest Derby

A look at the indoor Mini Golf course at Laser Quest Derby.


Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022
Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022

Many thanks again go to our friend and minigolf rival Jam Trubridge for sending over these photos of the indoor Mini Golf course at Laser Quest in Derby.

Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022
Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022

Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022
Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022

Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022
Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022

Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022
Mini Golf at Laser Quest Derby. Photo by James Trubridge, May 2022

It'll be ace to play it on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour in the future. We love playing both minigolf and laser tag so the 9-hole course is in the right location!

The Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby is no more

The former Toys R Us store at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby is now a completely lost shop.


Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby. November 2020
Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby. November 2020

The unit is now home to a Go Outdoors.

It's good that the site is being used again, but kind of sad to see the relic from the past slip away.

Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby. November 2020
Toys R Us at the Wyvern Retail Park in Derby. November 2020






Former Toys R Us locations we've visited on our travels: