Category Archives: U.K.

  From Aberdeen, north to Peterhead, then west into the Speyside hills. The main feature of the small town of Fochabers is the Gordon castle and estate. The seat of generations of Dukes of Gordon and Richmond. A long time … Continue reading →

  . About fourteen hundred years ago a hoard of golden treasure was buried in a field in Staffordshire. It is likely to never be known why it was buried in a place remote from any archaeological markers, nor by … Continue reading →

  Think – a week with the extended family in a cottage in the cold, wild, wind swept hills of Snowdonia. The “Boat House” at Tan Y Bwlch in Snowdonia is a something of a Tardis. From the outside appearing to … Continue reading →

The delights of being a grandpa for a week with the family in a house by the coast in Wales. The opportunity to open for a week that compartment of the mind that contains absolutely nothing. Bliss. Bathrooms and comfortable … Continue reading →

Reunited with the grandsons for a few days. They requested assistance with a couple of projects. A computer generated movie and assembling a model sailing boat. Simple enough? The model of the Alexander von Humbolt is level 5 of difficulty … Continue reading →

  At Pitmedden, Aberdeen Shire, there is a vast formal garden which has a history dating back to the 17th century. The remarkable thing about this National Trust property is the day by day relentless attention to detail. The precision … Continue reading →

Patrick the gamekeeper is the most marvellous host, both professionally and privately. On a clear sunny day, having the job of looking after deer and pheasants and helping people to shoot them would seem to be an occupation made in … Continue reading →

Picked up a car at Aberdeen airport and headed west. Following the broad swift flowing river Dee for a while. Past rows of the posh Dee-side manors with their imposing gardens behind high granite walls. Turned north at Ballater to … Continue reading →

In 1858 in the little village of North Wingfield in Derbyshire a coal miner, George Knighton married young Anne Mottershaw, the cordwainer, or shoemaker’s daughter. They moved into the cordwainers cottage with her dad, Richard and her brother Joseph. With … Continue reading →

. A year or so ago Donald Trump, yes, Ivana’s old man, made a bid to cement his Scottish roots by building a golf course. Not just any golf course, you understand, in fact it had to be the best … Continue reading →

Enjoying a week in a cottage in Wales, deep in the mountains of Snowdonia, in the shadow of snow capped Mt. Snowdon itself, surrounded by extended family. Our village is Nantlle, famous for its slate mining. Ambient temp. sometimes verges … Continue reading →

. There are some charming gardens in the Cotswolds. The Highgrove Gardens of Prince Charles, the Whatley Manor gardens and Sudeley Castle gardens vary widely in style and intent. The intent of HRH at Highgrove is environmental sustainability, the style … Continue reading →

Village life is a bit like Midsommer Murders, but without the murders. – As far as we know.  The Prestbury ecclesiastical parish administers the affairs of the churches, the 730 year old St Mary’s and the other one. The members … Continue reading →

We are presently engaged in a fascinating house exchange. Bruce and Maggie are enjoying warm autumnal weather in our home on the edge of the forest in Belgrave Australia, while we enjoy a month in a village near Cheltenham U.K. … Continue reading →

Birmingham 2011 Time travel is still possible in Birmingham. From pre industrial revolution Tolkien’s water wheel flour mill, to a Victorian Sewer Pumping museum, to the National Space Centre an hour away in Leicester. J.R.R, often called the author of the … Continue reading →

Talked about cheap airlines in the Prague blog. Being committed to the idea of a bargain, and determined not to be discouraged, we have continued to get good value from a number of so-called cheap airlines, including the one that … Continue reading →