Category Archives: England

Contemplating Island Life

Posted on April 17, 2019 by

“Nights and days came and passed, and summer and winter and the rain. And it was good to be a little Island. A part of the world, and a world of its own, all surrounded by the bright blue sea.” ~ Margaret Wise Brown, The Little … Continue reading →

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A Mermaid, a Chambermaid and a Princess

Posted on February 23, 2019 by

St Helen’s is an attractive English village that boasts rich tales of royalty and smugglers. It is centred on a long, broad green that sits high above St Helen’s Duver, on the eastern end of the Isle of Wight. A … Continue reading →

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On the Duver

Posted on January 28, 2019 by

The invisible, invincible, bullying wind tears round the masts of pint-sized sailing boats and whistles through the wires. It buffets the screeching seagulls, tossing them through the sky like drunken dodgem cars. Moorhens bob between the boats, paddling with grim … Continue reading →

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“‘Tis the Season to be Jolly”

Posted on December 13, 2018 by

Trelissick House is a three-hundred acre country estate just outside Truro in Cornwall. Built in the 18th century by the Lawrance family, has had a chequered history, having been bought and sold several times over the intervening centuries.  Today it … Continue reading →

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A Blustery Day

Posted on December 5, 2018 by

‘I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen’ ~ A.A. Milne  Woken by the foghorns on Falmouth Harbour early this morning, we faced a grey and gloomy day, warm for November, but with mizzling skies. The … Continue reading →

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Remembering the Armistice

Posted on November 29, 2018 by

“They do not know that in this shadowed place It is your light they see upon my face” ~ Mary Borden There was no forward planning whatsoever, but by pure fluke we ended up in the UK for the centenary … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare in the Rain

Posted on September 12, 2018 by

An English castle. A late summer evening. A production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A handful of talented actors. An outdoor stage. A picnic tea. An eager audience. A night to remember. Illyria is a group of touring players, … Continue reading →

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Don’t Count Your Chickens or Cooking Your Chook

Posted on August 29, 2018 by

The first time I watched a hen’s demise for culinary purposes was in Nepal. We were staying in a remote rural village, being treated like royalty, when our hosts offered us chicken for dinner. At the time, we didn’t recognize … Continue reading →

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Summer Days in Shoreham

Posted on August 14, 2018 by

There is a rather pretty little path between the villages of Otford and Shoreham in north-west Kent that cuts across the golf course and is largely shaded by overhanging trees. On a 30-degree day in August, this is a blessing, … Continue reading →

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Eating Peaches

Posted on June 4, 2018 by

I grow old … I grow old … I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the … Continue reading →

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