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The Cotswolds

15/2/2015

The Cotswolds region is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) within the UK, as well it might be with such gorgeous countryside featuring gentle hillsides, river valleys, water meadows and beech woods, with market towns and villages, buildings and field dividing walls built from beautiful honey-coloured limestone.

There is plenty of it too; nearly 800 sq. miles (that’s over 2,000 sq. km) which makes it ideal for recreation: touring, walking, cycling, fishing, riding, and camping. There are gardens and castles to visit, Roman sites & museums, a Palace, and even an ancient stone circle.

A Driver Guided Tour of the Cotswolds, which can be combined with visits to other places such as Oxford or Stratford-Upon-Avon, also takes in some of those places with mysterious sounding names: Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, The Slaughters, Chipping Norton, Shipton-under-Wychwood, etc.

Each of these places has a story to tell ranging across the Roman occupation, the English Civil War, The Lord of the Rings, and even (would you believe) an iconic pop record from the 70s!

You can discover more online here: The Cotswolds - or come with me and experience the real thing - Contact

Windsor & Waterloo

14/2/2015

Throughout 2015 there will be many events to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo 200 years ago – 18th June 1815.

At Windsor Castle, for example, they have put together a display of prints, drawings, etc. that explores the battle and its aftermath, and combined this with a themed trail through the State Apartments (always worth a visit anyway!). The trail highlights various objects associated with Waterloo, some taken from the battlefield itself; and you can even see Napoleon’s red cloak seized from his fleeing train.

More info here: Windsor Castle

The display and trail will be in place throughout 2015 so plenty of time to arrange a visit to one of Her Majesty The Queen’s official residences and the oldest inhabited castle in the world.

You can even combine a visit to Windsor Castle with Hampton Court Palace, plus a nice lunch in a typical English village pub or nearby restaurant. Hampton Court has its own reason for celebration this year – it’s 500 years Henry VIII’s chief minister, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, began building the Tudor Palace, scene of so many pivotal events in our history. (See earlier Blog).

Find out more here: Hampton Court

Borough Market

13/2/2015

Now fully re-opened following refurbishment of the Three Crown Square area, Borough Market is one of the oldest fruit and vegetable markets in London. The original market joined the end of London Bridge, but caused such traffic chaos that it was moved further down the High Street.

The City of London received a Royal Charter from King Edward VI in 1550 to control all markets in Southwark. The charter was confirmed by King Charles II in 1671.

However, the market caused such traffic congestion that in 1754 it was abolished by Act of Parliament.
The same Act gave the parishioners of St Saviour's Church permission to set up a new market on a new site and the market began again in Rochester Yard in 1756.

During the 19th century it became one of London's most important food markets due to its strategic position near the riverside wharves of the Pool of London.

The present buildings were designed in 1851, with additions in the 1860s, and an entrance designed in the art deco style added on Southwark Street in 1932.

The recent revival of the South Bank and the arrival of several high-profile restaurants has had a dramatic effect on Borough Market. What was once a raucous marketplace for the trading of cattle, fish and grain has become one of London's most exotic and sophisticated food markets.

Notable films with scenes filmed in the streets around the market include: Bridget Jones's Diary, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

special party invitation

12/2/2015

2015 marks 500 years of history at HAMPTON COURT PALACE and to celebrate they are throwing a PARTY!

Each evening of the Easter Weekend (April 3rd, 4th & 5th) from 6:30pm to 9pm there will be live period music, food (including meat roasted on the fire in the Tudor Kitchen), a champagne bar in the Cartoon Gallery, as well as various pop-up food & drink bars.

The climax of the evening will be a Son et lumière show with projections on the Palace walls and fireworks.

Ticket prices are: Adult £22; Concession / Member £20; Child £10 (under 5s free); Family ticket £50.

For further details and buying tickets follow the link below:

The Party: 500 years of Hampton Court Palace

England Hosts the 2015 rugby world cup

11/2/2015

key dates:

Opening Ceremony & Match at Twickenham Stadium (shown above) is on Friday September 18.
Pool or Group Matches (40 of them!) played over 3 weeks ending on Sunday October 11.
Quarter Finals take place over the weekend October 17 & 18.
Semi Finals the following weekend October 24 & 25.
The match for 3rd Place is Friday October 30.
The FINAL - at Twickenham - Saturday October 31

tickets

Incredibly tickets for some matches are still available from the Rugby World Cup website.
If you want to purchase tickets here is the link:
Rugby World Cup Tickets
You will need to create an account with Login ID and Password - it's very easy BUT ACT FAST - DO IT NOW!

can't get tickets?

You can try other websites many of which still have tickets available - just type Rugby World Cup Tickets in your Search box to find them.

And if that fails - don't worry - I'm sure there will be plenty of Big Screen venues all around the Country where you can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the games.

Harry, England & st. George!

10/2/2015

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced their new season (Sept 2015 - Jan 2016) for Stratford-upon-Avon.

In the Royal Shakespeare Theatre:

Henry V
Wendy & Peter Pan

In the Swan Theatre

Hecuba
Love for Love
Queen Anne

A Painting Mystery

9/2/2015

The Four Ages of Man - Valentin de Boulogne - about 1629
National Gallery, London.

Four figures sit around a small table – each supposedly represents a stage in life – Infancy, Youth, Manhood & Old Age.
Infancy (centre foreground) holds an empty bird trap, perhaps symbolising hope.; but he doesn't look hopeful - not to me anyway.
Youth (left) is playing a lute, which might represent amorous desires - but is there anything else?
Manhood (right), in armour, is wearing a victor’s laurel wreath and holding a plan of a fortification; but why is he shown sleeping? Safe & Content? Battle weary? What do you think?
Old Age (centre background) - tends to be associated with wisdom, but he is holding a flask and a glass (alcohol?), and has pile of coins, symbol of avarice, before him. But he doesn't look greedy - or drunk. Some say that the glass is symbolic of the fragility of life.
I have my own ideas but I'd be interested in yours - write and let me know what you think.

St Paul's Cathedral

15/1/2014

St Paul’s Cathedral, the oldest Christian site in London and the first Protestant Cathedral. There has been a place of worship here at the top of Ludgate Hill since 604 AD; and this is the 5th church on this site.

The style of architecture is English Baroque and St Paul’s is considered to be the masterpiece of one of England’s best known architects, Sir Christopher Wren. It was constructed between 1675 & 1711 and is unusual in that it was completed in the lifetime of its architect.

King Richard ii

7/11/2013

King Richard II
Father: Edward, the Black Prince (d. 1376)
Mother: Joan, Fair Maid of Kent
Born: 6th January, 1367 - Bordeaux, France
Acceded to the throne: 1377 (aged 10)
Crowned at Westminster Abbey
Married: Anne of Bohemia (d. 1394)
Married: Isabella of France - aged 9 years
Abdicated: 1399 in favour of Henry IV
Died: 14th February, 1400 at Pontefract Castle (starved to death), aged 33 years
Buried: Langley - reinterred Westminster Abbey in 1413

"This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England,"
(The Tragedy of King Richard II - Wm. Shakespeare
Act II, Scene 1)

Works of Art

2/3/2013

In view of the news that buildings around the UK are to have art projected upon them later to celebrate the completion of a website showing the national collection of oil paintings I thought I'd share one of my particular favourites.

Shown is The Arnolfini Portrait - oil on oak. Incredibly it was painted in 1434 by Jan Van Eyck, an artist working in Bruges. He has signed and dated the painting with a flourish on the back wall of the room.

The painting hangs in The National Gallery, London. If you'd like to see and hear
more about this work of art, along with many other Western Europeam masterpieces, why not join me on your own private guided tour of the Gallery?

Complete the contact form and leave the rest to me.