EXPLORING MY ADOPTED CITY AND BEYOND
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
“Ah, dear Brighton—piers, queers and racketeers!” NOEL COWARD 1899-1973 – English playwright, actor, songwriter There is one invariable seaside town that sits persistently at the top of every tourists Must Visit list. A mere hour’s train journey from central London, Brighton lies perched along the southern stretch of East Sussex, and due to the construction… Continue reading
Although named after Philip Ibbetson Fenton, a Yorkshireman who made his fortune as a Riga merchant exporting Russian produce to London in the 18th century, Fenton House, in London’s affluent Hampstead, has been shaped by a rich and varied succession of owners and inhabitants since its original inception in 1696. Constructed by master bricklayer William… Continue reading
“Beauty is not an extra. It’s an affirmation that there’s more to life than existence and consumption and utility.” – Tim Smit – Co-founder of the Eden Project Sometimes you visit a place so special, so utterly ambitious, that you wonder how it ever came to fruition in the first place. An aspiring idea is,… Continue reading
I remember as a child I used to wait with desperate anticipation outside the local bakery after school, in hope that today was the day the bakers chose to make their delicious apricot pies. I was hooked. That sweet buttery pastry with its tangy sticky filling was pure delight, and what seemed an eternity to… Continue reading