After three years of writing my blog, I have decided to close it for the time being. I hope you will all continue to gain much pleasure from reading and will… Read More »

‘You must be up early to see the arrival,’ a friend advised. So I was. In the rays of dawn we glided along the glassy water of the fjord-like entry to the small Read More »

Mount Vesuvius came into view as we passed greenhouses and plots of vegetable growing in the rich volcanic soil. In the warm manner of Italians our guide referred to us as ‘Family’ whenever she wanted our attention. But as is the way of families, Read More »

On a rocky hill above the Austrian mediaeval town of Dürnstein on the River Danube is the crumbling ruin of a castle. A castle where pages of history and a romantic legend are entwined. The castle where Read More »

It’s one of those quirky things: when you visit a place where the sun apparently shines 300 days a year, it rains the few hours you’re there. Despite it being summer, we joined Read More »

In Cornwall almost thirty years ago, beneath some 80 hectares (200 acres) of tangled bramble thickets, a garden was discovered. Read More »

‘No closer,’said the Aboriginal guide, not taking his eyes off it as it watched us menacingly Read More »

It was only when I looked down I saw the difference.  Read More »

The fair has been held annually for some 700 years and by chance we arrived in Salzburg when celebrations for St Rupert’s Day were in full swing. Read More »

Britain was aflutter with flags celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday, but at Bletchley Park a few miles north of London, only a single one flew high on a pole.

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