Backpacking in Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️: Staying at Whitepark Bay Hostel in Ballintoy, North Antrim Coast

Posted on October 16, 2014October 17, 2024 by Jonny Blair

Well, my friends it was an emotional and busy return to my home country of Northern Ireland recently and as well as catching up with friends or family, I found myself doing a bit of work and even some backpacking through my own country! I played the tourist this time and loved it, so there Read more about Backpacking in Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️: Staying at Whitepark Bay Hostel in Ballintoy, North Antrim Coast[…]

Everything You Should Know About The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

Backpacking in Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️, October 2014

Posted on October 13, 2014October 15, 2024 by Jonny Blair

“Someday we’ll return here. When the Belfast Child sings again” – Simple Minds. How can you go backpacking in your home country? Is it even possible? You know the towns, you know the roads, you know the local lingo, you can talk your way out of a political argument. But then…I’ve been away a while. Read more about Backpacking in Northern Ireland🔴✋️☘️, October 2014[…]

Doing the Maradona at the Hand of God end! Mexico City.

Hand of God and Mexico 86 Memories: Visiting Estadio Azteca, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico

Posted on August 5, 2014August 4, 2014 by Jonny Blair

Here goes. This is a big one. A big one for me personally. Every single time I hear the mention of Maradona, Norman Whiteside, Jose Batista, Joel Bats etc. I get inspired. The 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico were my first major childhood memory. Northern Ireland qualified. We punched well above our weight, defying Read more about Hand of God and Mexico 86 Memories: Visiting Estadio Azteca, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico[…]

The Day I…Got Sacked By the Bank For Increasing the Interest Rates

Posted on July 15, 2014August 2, 2014 by Jonny Blair

“No regrets, they don’t work” – Robbie Williams Ok so the story goes, in 2001, I started working for the Halifax, which was then a Building Society and later became a bank as part of the Halifax Bank of Scotland. It’s well known in the UK – the Halifax Bank. If you read a story Read more about The Day I…Got Sacked By the Bank For Increasing the Interest Rates[…]

The Day I…Got 6 A Grades in my GCSEs (and the Aftermath of the Great Exam Heist)

Posted on May 19, 2014May 19, 2014 by Jonny Blair

“There’s a bridge to the other side, don’t take your eyes from the prize.”- Dodgy Get ready for it to pour out of me. It feels like some back tracking is needed to my teens and a follow up to last Friday’s Paddy Campbell story. This won’t fill you with wonder or excitement, but it’s something Read more about The Day I…Got 6 A Grades in my GCSEs (and the Aftermath of the Great Exam Heist)[…]

The Day My Best Mate at School Nicked the Exam Paper (and got expelled)

Posted on May 16, 2014May 16, 2022 by Jonny Blair

“I, I sometimes lose myself in me, I lose track of timeAnd I can’t see the woods for the trees, you set them alight.Burn the bridges as you’ve gone, I’m too weak to fight yaI’ve got my personal hell to deal with” – D:Ream (Londonderry, 1993) Paddy Campbell and I sang along to it instead Read more about The Day My Best Mate at School Nicked the Exam Paper (and got expelled)[…]

Backpacking in Turkey🇹🇷: Watching Northern Ireland Lose 1-0 to Turkey in Adana

Posted on May 12, 2014July 21, 2024 by Jonny Blair

The Background to my adventure backpacking in Turkey to Adana This is probably my first ever backpacking adventure that led me by chance to watching my beloved Northern Ireland football team. It was just amazing. Having made my return to Northern Ireland matches after more than four (count them, four) years at the 2-0 defeat Read more about Backpacking in Turkey🇹🇷: Watching Northern Ireland Lose 1-0 to Turkey in Adana[…]

5 Most Horrific Places To Go Backpacking In

Posted on May 7, 2014August 11, 2022 by Jonny Blair

Don’t paint yourself a picture of travelling as beaches, hot sun and cocktails please. That’s not backpacking, and in all honesty it’s not reflective of travel as a whole and it’s certainly biased. You’re only seeing the good things. Yes we love the good moments, but on my travels I feel the need to explore Read more about 5 Most Horrific Places To Go Backpacking In[…]