EXPLORING MY ADOPTED CITY AND BEYOND
As we drift in and out of sleep, in our little rented apartment four stories above the city of Madrid, the low murmur of merriment rises from the street below, where the throng of festive revelry continues, unabated in its collective ebb and flow. Theirs is a familiar noise that would keep me wide awake… Continue reading
There is something truly wonderous about visiting a place for the very first time; the thrill of discovering new and delightful marvels is what draws us to travel in the first place. Monumental museums, their glass cabinets brimming with curiosities and unfamiliar trinkets from some other, long forgotten time beckon us inside. Inimitable paintings created… Continue reading
There are important key factors which one promptly learns when making London one’s new place of residence. Number 1: The city’s pubs and restaurants book out extremely quickly and reservations in advance are almost always a must if you want to avoid disappointment and be left standing on a cold corner clutching a less than… Continue reading
‘Do come in as often as you like – the place is only alive when used’. – Jim Ede Below the watchful gaze of a tiny stone church, whose tall, pointed steeple far exceeds its miniscule size, rests a cluster of unassuming brick cottages, their humble façades belying the artistic treasures that lay within. Kettle’s… Continue reading
As the winter evenings close in and the temperature plummets to chilly single digits, my thoughts turn from sun-filled garden walks in the scenic grounds of historical manor houses to cosy fireside pub meals in quaint little villages, their alleyways festooned with early Christmas decorations and twinkling festive lights. Swaddled in our finest woollens and… Continue reading
Moving to England during one of the country’s many pandemic lockdowns – number three I believe this particular one was – presented a great deal of frustration and unrest for this wandering soul. One of the most exhilarating aspects of moving to a new city or country is the delightful pleasure of exploration and discovery.… Continue reading
Some treasure hunters, perhaps those blessed with the gift of practicality and heads less inclined to hover upwards amidst the clouds, may visit an antiques market and simply see an opportunity to grab a bargain or possibly to snare themselves a useful chair. Not I. Oh no, I see a chance for reinvention and the… Continue reading
Straddling the river Avon, in the southwest of England, lies a city that is often left unfairly languishing in the shadows of London. Bristol, an almost straight shot towards the west coast from England’s bustling capital, has a richly layered and infamous history that rivals that of any great city. During the reign of ancient… Continue reading
The atmosphere that engulfed Great Britain during the Victorian era was one laden with monumental new discoveries; it was a revolutionary time of new cutting-edge technologies and extensive scientific exploration of the natural world. The British Empire, which during its height in 1922 reigned over more than a quarter of the Earth’s land surface, began… Continue reading
Brighton’s streets are a cornucopia brimming with vibrant buildings, lively street art, and a delightful succession of colourful local characters. Yet there is one place that towers above all else with its utter extravagance and outlandish attitude, and despite its monumental stature and exotic appearance, seems oddly at ease in its humble setting by the… Continue reading