Tuesday, May 20, 2025

GameStop in Sorrento, Italy

A look at a GameStop store in Sorrento, Italy.


Emily swung by this GameStop store while in Sorrento, Italy recently.

GameStop store in Sorrento, Italy - 15th May 2025

GameStop is the largest video game retailer in the world - however, it's never had much of a footprint in the UK, with the last of the few stores here closing back in 2012.

In Italy there are only a few GameStop branded stores remaining following the sale of the brand in 2024. The new owners, Cidiverte, are in the process of rebranding the GameStop stores to Gamelife stores. With the last signs of the GameStop brand disappearing this summer.

According to Wikipedia there are currently 3,203 stores around the world, with 2,325 in the USA.

Minigolf Pyramids - Landmark Golf at Wolsingham Sports Hall in County Durham (2019)

Playing the Landmark Golf course at Wolsingham Sports Hall in County Durham.


Landmark Golf at Wolsingham Sports Hall in County Durham

We swung by Wolsingham Sports Hall in County Durham back in 2019 for a game on the Landmark Golf course set-up there for the week.

Landmark Golf at Wolsingham Sports Hall in County Durham


Landmark Golf at Wolsingham Sports Hall in County Durham

The Landmark Golf course was the 919th visited and 525th played on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.


Check out the Landmark Golf website for more information.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Mulligans Crazy Golf opening soon in Guildford - first look at the new venue and exclusive discounts for the first players

Mulligans Guildford is opening this summer.


Mulligans Guildford - Photo by Mulligans, 2025

Many thanks to the team at Mulligans for sending over the following information and photos giving a first look at the new crazy golf venue in Guildford, Surrey.

We've been to several Mulligans courses on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour and look forward to checking out the two courses at the Mulligans Guildford venue in the future.

Adventure Leisure, the group responsible for Mulligans, BUNKERS, Total Ninja and Ninja Warrior UK, is set to open its 14th Mulligans venue, in Guildford, Surrey in time for the summer holidays.

Mulligans Guildford will install golf technology which will track each shot, across 18 exciting, themed holes. The market-leading tech will eliminate the need for score cards and generate chances for players to win a supershot points booster by trying their luck at trick shots.

The two 9-hole courses will be based on Night Life and Street Life, with themes including disco. Complete with glitter balls and a disco wall for photo opportunities, the holes will be a nod to Guildford’s iconic party past including the famous Cinderella’s nightclub, which formerly occupied the site. Other holes include casino, featuring a working roulette wheel, plus holes based on global destinations such as surfers paradise, inspired by TV’s Bondi Beach, and a mini version of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Mulligans Guildford - Photo by Mulligans, 2025

Ahead of opening the doors, Mulligans Guildford are offering 50% off all bookings made before Monday 21st July, when you sign up to the mailing list. All guests that make a pre-booking will also be entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 Mulligans M.I.P (Mulligans Important Person) cards, entitling them to unlimited gaming for an entire year.

The two-floor venue will also feature high-tech activities including electro-darts and electro-shuffleboard, as well as American pool tables and classic arcade games including air hockey, curved air hockey, skeeball and basketball.

Mulligans Guildford - Photo by Mulligans, 2025

Mulligans Guildford will also be introducing a brand-new food and drink menu featuring burgers, small plates, sharing dishes and a new cocktails list.

Mulligans Guildford is taking over the former sites of TGI Friday’s, Slice and the iconic Cinderella’s Nightclub and is being brought to life by internationally renowned designer Zachary Pulman, who also designed venues for global brands Swingers and Top Golf.

Adventure Leisure’s Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Brown, said, "We’re working extremely hard behind the scenes to bring Mulligans Guildford to life and we’re so excited to be able to share a first look at the venue. We wanted to do something extra special for the people of Guildford and so we’re delighted to be bringing some brand new, smart golf technology into our experience for the very first time."

"Mulligans Guildford is shaping up to be our best venue yet and so we’ve introduced our opening offer to give as many people as possible the opportunity to visit and have some fun with us this summer. We’re looking forward to meeting the people of Guildford and beyond in just a couple of short months!"

The Adventure Leisure group currently has 13 Mulligans sites across the UK which include venues in Basildon, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Norwich, Sidcup, Stevenage, Tonbridge, and Worcester, with the most recent venue opening in Hemel Hempstead in 2024.

Adventure Leisure Limited is a subsidiary of Burhill Group Limited (BGL), which also operates 10 golf clubs and the BUNKERS! and Ninja Warrior UK brands.

Check out the Mulligans Guildford website for more information on the venue and to sign up to the newsletter.

24 hour vending in Sorrento

A look at 24 Hour Coffee, Food, ATM, and Laundry Service Vending Unit in Sorrento, Italy.


24 hour vending in Sorrento

Emily spotted this unique looking vending unit on her recent trip to Sorrento. What an interesting mix of products and services.

24 hour vending in Sorrento

24 hour vending in Sorrento

A Weetabix Gang Crazy Mini Golf Weeta-Card postcard from 1983

A look at a Weetabix Crazy Golf postcard from my collection of minigolf postcards.

This advertising postcard from 1983 shows the Weetabix Gang playing a game of Crazy Golf and is one of a set. Other activities the gang get up to include playing cricket on the beach, building a sandcastle, playing a test-of-strength machine and fishing on a pier.

A Weetabix Gang Crazy Mini Golf Weeta-Card postcard from 1983
A Weetabix Gang Crazy Mini Golf Weeta-Card postcard from 1983

This particular 'Weeta-Card' was used to enter a Golf Video Giveaway and posted from Reading, Berkshire to Leatherhead, Surrey. Unfortunately the postmark cancellation is too feint to make out the date of posting.

The Weetabix Gang consisted of Brian, Bixie, Brains, Crunch and Dunc. The Crazy Golf Weeta-Card shows Bixie playing the minigolf hole, Brian as her opponent, with Dunc and Crunch looking on. I don't know what Brains was up to as he's nowhere to be seen.

Mini Golf at Hylands Golf Complex in Ingatestone, Essex

There's a newly refurbished mini golf course at Hylands Golf Complex in Ingatestone, Essex.


There's a newly refurbished mini golf course at Hylands Golf Complex in Ingatestone, Essex

Hylands Golf Complex in Ingatestone, Essex has recently reopened its 18-hole outdoor mini golf course following a refurbishment.

Check out the Hylands Golf Complex website for more information.


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

A train in Pompeii, Italy

An FE220 train on the Circumvesuviana railway network in Italy.


This is a train arriving at Pompeii railway station heading to Sorrento on the 13th May 2025.


Check out my Trains Playlist on YouTube for more.

A minigolf postcard from Golf Miniature Cabourg in France

A look at an old minigolf postcard from Golf Miniature Cabourg in France.

The postcard was sent, however the postmark and date are unclear.

CABOURG (Calvados). Le Golf Miniature. ARTAUD Père et Fils. Editions GABY. Posted. Date unknown
CABOURG (Calvados). Le Golf Miniature. ARTAUD Père et Fils. Editions GABY. Posted. Date unknown

Looking online Golf Miniature Cabourg is still open - and still recognisable today. Amazing to see the past and the present of a course.

Visit the Golf Miniature Cabourg Facebook Page for more information.


Cabourg is a seaside resort on the coast of the English Channel. It's in the Calvados region of Normandy.

Gluten free food from Italy

I've got lots of gluten free goodies from Italy thanks to Emily!


Gluten free (senza glutine) food from Italy
Gluten free (senza glutine) food from Italy

It's always nice to try different things and see what's available for Coeliacs in other countries.

It's a superb haul of senza glutine food to scoff during Coeliac UK Awareness Month.

A Crazy Golf postcard from Skegness in 1946

A look at an old Crazy Golf postcard from Skegness, Lincolnshire.


One of the old postcards in my collection of minigolf cards is this nice one showing the waterways and pier in Skegness. Also clearly in view is a Crazy Golf course!

The Waterways and Pier, Skegness. The Graphic Series postcard. Postally used on 14th August 1946
The Waterways and Pier, Skegness. The Graphic Series postcard. Postally used on 14th August 1946

The course in the card was on North Parade.

It looks like it had some fun and interesting obstacles on it.

On our last visit to Skegness in 2015 we found an abandoned Indoor Jungle 3D Mini Golf course at the Lost World Adventure Park. A world away from the Crazy Golf course in the postcard that was on more or less the same spot 70 years before!

England's first Crazy Golf course was in Skegness
There are still several miniature golf courses in Skegness - we need to revisit as a few of them opened since we were last there

The first Crazy Golf course in England opened on South Parade in Skegness in 1926.

A look at some gluten free (senza glutine) food in Italy

Here's a look at some gluten free (senza glutine) food in a supermarket in Italy.


Emily recently returned from a holiday in Sorrento, Italy and while there had a look round the shops for gluten free (senza glutine) food.

It's always interesting to see the different products available and variety on offer in other countries, as the strict 100% gluten free diet people with Coeliac Disease must follow can get tiresome!

Here's what Emily spotted at the Dodecà supermarket in Sorrento. What items would you be putting in your basket?

Gluten free (senza glutine) food at the Dodecà supermarket in Sorrento, Italy (May 2025)

Gluten free (senza glutine) food at the Dodecà supermarket in Sorrento, Italy (May 2025)

Gluten free (senza glutine) food at the Dodecà supermarket in Sorrento, Italy (May 2025)

Gluten free (senza glutine) food at the Dodecà supermarket in Sorrento, Italy (May 2025)

Take a look at this blog post with a snap of the goodies she was able to carry back in her luggage for me!

A train at Sant'Agnello railway station in Italy

An FE220 train on the Circumvesuviana railway network in Italy.


This is a train arriving at Sant'Agnello railway station heading to Sorrento on the 13th May 2025.


Check out my Trains Playlist on YouTube for more.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Blockbuster Entertainment postcards

A look at some old Blockbuster Video promo postcards.


Blockbuster Entertainment postcard by Boomerang

I managed to find these nice Blockbuster Entertainment postcards by Boomerang back in 2020

Blockbuster Entertainment postcard by Boomerang

Blockbuster Entertainment postcard by Boomerang

I've enjoyed researching the lost brand and seeking out remnants of old Blockbuster stores over the last few years.

Blockbuster Entertainment postcard by Boomerang

Check out my guest post about Blockbuster Video on the Picture Postcard Magic blog from Reflections of a Bygone Age back in 2020.


Picture Postcard Magic 31st October 2020 with Richard Gottfried What have you been watching during lockdown? With 2020...

Posted by Reflections of a Bygone Age on Saturday, 31 October 2020

Today is International Museum Day

Happy International Museum Day.


International Museum Day is organised by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and has been held each year since 1977.

The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness about the fact that “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”

The Crazy Golf Museum


The Crazy Golf Museum is celebrating it's 15th year in 2025. The worldwide archive of miniature golf memories, histories and ephemera opened it's online doors to the world on the 15th July 2010.

The Crazy Golf Museum

Find out more about the Crazy Golf Museum via these links.

A minigolf postcard from La Baule-Escoublac in France

A look at an old minigolf postcard from Mini-Golf La Baule.


45 - LA BAULE (Loire-Inf.). Le Golf Miniature. ARTAUD Père et Fils. Editions GABY. PHOTO VÉRITABLE. Unposted. Undated
45 - LA BAULE (Loire-Inf.). Le Golf Miniature. ARTAUD Père et Fils. Editions GABY. PHOTO VÉRITABLE. Unposted. Undated

Mini-Golf La Baule opened in 1953 and the course is still going strong today.

Check out the Mini-Golf La Baule website for more information, including a photo gallery and history of the venue.


La Baule-Escoublac, commonly known as La Baule, is a seaside resort in Western France.

National Postcard Week 2025

This week is National Postcard Week 2025.


A Typical Butlin Monorail. Postcard S25. Skegness 1971

National Postcard Week 2025 runs from Sunday 18th to Saturday 24th May.

Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated
Putting Green, Denton Gardens, Worthing. Photogravure by S. & E. Ltd., Hastings. Postally unused. Undated

We're massive fans of postcards (sending, receiving and collecting) and have a BIG collection of minigolf postcards from the UK and around the world.

Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 29 August 1927. Publisher unknown
Miniature Golf Links, Brighton. Postally used 29 August 1927. Publisher unknown

Westende Bains, Belgium - Le Tom Thumb Golf - Date Unknown
Westende Bains, Belgium - Le Tom Thumb Golf - Date Unknown

Crazy Golf, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. A Valentine's "Silveresque" 3059V Style Postcard, published by Valentine & Sons Ltd. Dundee and London. Postally used at 4.15pm on the 4th June 1964 and mailed from Millport itself
Crazy Golf, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. A Valentine's "Silveresque" 3059V Style Postcard, published by Valentine & Sons Ltd. Dundee and London. Postally used at 4.15pm on the 4th June 1964 and mailed from Millport itself

The Railway Convalescent Home. Herne Bay. Rear View Showing the Putting Green. B1732. Photochrom Co. Ltd.
The Railway Convalescent Home. Herne Bay. Rear View Showing the Putting Green. B1732. Photochrom Co. Ltd.

Butlinland Skegness – Putting Green and Monorail by John Hinde Studios. Sent on 4 Aug 1980
Butlinland Skegness – Putting Green and Monorail by John Hinde Studios. Sent on 4 Aug 1980

BURGH HALL COUNTRY CLUB postcard. Posted 24 May 1977. The card was posted to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne from Lowestoft, Suffolk
BURGH HALL COUNTRY CLUB postcard. Posted 24 May 1977. The card was posted to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne from Lowestoft, Suffolk

PONTIN'S HOLIDAY VILLAGE, HEMSBY, NORFOLK R5713 by Photo Precision Limited, St Ives. Unposted
PONTIN'S HOLIDAY VILLAGE, HEMSBY, NORFOLK R5713 by Photo Precision Limited, St Ives. Unposted

South Shore and Promenade, Blackpool. PT18828. Unposted
South Shore and Promenade, Blackpool. PT18828. Unposted

Post Card. Grand Haven State Park, Grand Haven, Michigan. Water Wonderland Card Company. Postally unused, undated
Post Card. Grand Haven State Park, Grand Haven, Michigan. Water Wonderland Card Company. Postally unused, undated

Bridlington Princes Parade. The Spa Boating Lake. Photochrom Co. Ltd.
Bridlington Princes Parade. The Spa Boating Lake. Photochrom Co. Ltd.

Putting Green, Butlin's Luxury Holiday Camp, Pwllheli. Published by Butlin's Photographic Services Ltd. Postally used on 4th June 1951
Putting Green, Butlin's Luxury Holiday Camp, Pwllheli. Published by Butlin's Photographic Services Ltd. Postally used on 4th June 1951

Alum Chine, Bournemouth. Printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth
Alum Chine, Bournemouth. Printed by Deardon & Wade Bournemouth

Pontin's Prestatyn Holiday Village. Photo Precision Limited R5605. Postally used 8 July 1977
Pontin's Prestatyn Holiday Village. Photo Precision Limited R5605. Postally used 8 July 1977

When did you last send or receive a postcard?


Related blog posts:

Friday, May 16, 2025

Mini-Golf at Kaboodle in Derry, Northern Ireland

A mini-golf course will be one of the activities at a new entertainment centre opening in Derry, Northern Ireland.


A mini-golf course will be one of the activities at a new entertainment opening in Derry, Northern Ireland

A new entertainment venue called Kaboodle is opening in Derry this year. Among the activities on offer will be indoor mini-golf.

Kaboodle will be located next to the Holiday Inn Express on Strand Road in the city.

The new venue is planned to open on Wednesday 21st May.

Check out the Kaboodle Instagram page for more information.


It'll be a new venue for us to check out on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour on a return to Northern Ireland in the future.

Have you seen Final Destination: Bloodlines yet?

We were lucky enough to see a special double-bill screening alongside the original Final Destination from the year 2000 last week.


It was superb to see both films, and the new one lived up to my expectations - and more!

Final Destination Bloodlines poster at The Light cinema in Stockport

While we haven't had anywhere near as much outdoor or experiential advertising or marketing for the film here in the UK as there has been in the USA - there's been a real-life logging truck rolling along the roads over there with promos for the movie for example! - I've seen a lot of buzz for the film online and on social media.

Final Destination Bloodlines advertising at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

We've spotted two pieces of outdoor advertising for Final Destination: Bloodlines at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, and there was one poster at The Light cinema where we saw the film.

Final Destination Bloodlines advertising at the Trafford Centre in Manchester

Is there any other advertising for the film I've missed?

A funny sign at a shop in Canterbury

Where should I go then?


Please do not remain outside once your purchase is complete. Thank you
Please do not remain outside once your purchase is complete. Thank you

Crazy Golf at South Cliff Holiday Park in Bridlington

There's a new Crazy Golf course at South Cliff Holiday Park in Bridlington, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.


There's a new Crazy Golf course at South Cliff Holiday Park in Bridlington

The Crazy Golf course at South Cliff Holiday Park in Bridlington is a new feature for 2025.

It looks like a fun and unique layout.


Check out the South Cliff Holiday Park website for more information.