Month: June 2016

Un Déjeuner Sérieux

This week I’m a guest in an old farmhouse rented by friends. It’s in the Dordogne, favoured destination for the English since the 14th century when for a time it was under English rule. My first visit to this part of France. The country is more heavily wooded than the Gers and the contours much… Continue reading Un Déjeuner Sérieux

Train Trip

The summer solstice is a day early this Leap Year. In London today (that’s today Me Time, yesterday You Time) dawn broke with leaden skies dumping loads of rain on the city.

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Categorised as Travel

All the Fun of the Fair

We’re not off to sunny Spain this morning, we are going to County Cork, specifically Crosshaven, home of The Merries, otherwise known as Piper’s Funfair and Amusements.

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Categorised as History

Viva España

In this seemingly endless EU referendum debate there is one thing that has not, I think, been mentioned and it is crucial.

A Walk in the Park

The Yellow Earl’s London house was in Carlton House Terrace. It was in fact two houses knocked into one. Here is an extract from The Yellow Earl, Douglas Sutherland’s excellent biography of the 5th Earl of Lonsdale.

In the Soup

The family snap I posted a few days ago brought back some memories of growing up in the 1950s and 60s in rural Ireland that might, perhaps, amuse you.

News for Lycra Lovers

If you have not visited London for a while you will notice at least one change next time you come. Dedicated cycle lanes are being constructed to encourage people to cycle and to make them safer. They are painted blue. I wonder why, and if they may be re-painted in red by the new Mayor… Continue reading News for Lycra Lovers

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Categorised as Travel

Are you in the Picture?

Here is a family snap I took at Barmeath in 1963. It says a great deal about my skill as a group portrait photographer. I must have been incredibly slow and fiddled with the camera a lot to have elicited such expressions of fierce concentration.

Anyone for Tennis?

  Once a year in June Barons Court is the focus of attention for tennis fans. The Aegon Championships at The Queen’s Club is a week-long tournament – a warm-up on grass courts for Wimbledon, so long as you are male – ladies play next week at Eastbourne.

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Categorised as Sport

An AGM

AGMs, at their best, are a bit like Opening Meets. People who haven’t seen each other since last season reconvene over a sandwich and a glass (or two) of wine. You don’t need to be mounted for either.