Literature
A Letter From India
After qualifying, I’d worked in Basildon for four years before deciding that there was more to life than staring into people’s mouths. I’d met a girl and we decided that we would give up our [more…]
Travelogue
20th Century
European Journey 1953, Part Seven – Trogen
The village lies in a sheltered fold of the mountains, 3,000 feet above sea level. On a fine day you can see clear across to Lake Constance, a bit of burnished silver under the strong [more…]
Hobbies
The Wolds, Part One
It takes a week to cycle from Penzance to Berwick. It took me 40 years. Because on the way, I wanted to include every town in England, in what amounted to some two years of [more…]
20th Century
A Distant Monument to Unrequited Love
If breaking a journey between Nairobi and Kampala, gentlemen and lady travellers might like to give the city of Nakuru a chance. If it becomes tiresome you can always take a tuk-tuk for a day [more…]
Culture
A View From The Greenhouse, Edizione Apulia; Seconda Parte (All In It Together)
The hotel outside Matera is new and consequently very modern, the food in the restaurant was pretty good, but the waiting staff knew we were a tour party and treated us accordingly. Not rude, as [more…]
20th Century
European Journey 1953, Part Six – Naples
Like many another Mediterranean city Naples looks better seen from a distance. Approached from the sea, preferably at first light, its beauty takes your breath away. Close up too much of it is an offence [more…]
20th Century
European Journey 1953, Part Five – Vienna
Where a smile masks a city’s sorrow This a Tale from the Vienna Woods. A Tale told on a spring morning when, from the white cafe tables perched high on the Kahlenberg, the Danube really [more…]
Hobbies
In the Fens
It takes a week to cycle from Penzance to Berwick. It took me 40 years. Because on the way, I wanted to include every town in England, in what amounted to some two years of [more…]
Culture
A View From The Greenhouse; Edizeone Apulia (Prima Parte)
And so to Italy, but not before making sure the Buildings and Maintenance team had been fully drilled in the routines required to ensure I didn’t return to any kind of disaster. I needn’t have [more…]