Well, there’s nothing like Lyme Regis on a stormy day in what should be late spring/early summer. I like Lyme Regis. It’s my first port of call if I decide to go fossil hunting and I’ll look for fossils even if I only went there for the fun of it. The two go together like … More Lyme Regis on a stormy day
My experience is that most people do a “life update!” as an explanation for a long absence but I haven’t been anywhere. I’m not going anywhere either. But things are changing behind the scenes and I thought I’d do a post about them. So, you may have noticed we’ve been living through a plague. I … More A life and blog update
It’s been years since I’ve been to Monkey World and so naturally, the moment it closed down for the plague was the moment I really wanted to go again and at last I have. First things first. Yes, Monkey World is a tourist attraction. No, it’s not a zoo. It’s not a safari park, a … More Dorset Staycation: Monkey World
I’ve covered everything I know about tents and now it’s time to think about what you’re going to eat. Welcome to Camp Cooking for Beginners! What should I cook on? You’re spoiled for choice on that these days. Let me give you a rundown of your main options. Others exist but these four are the … More Camping for Beginners: Camp cooking
Unless the pandemic takes another horrible turn, today should be the day when self-contained accommodation reopens and that means today might not be a terrible day to give you some ideas for a 1 week Dorset staycation itinerary. (Let me just point out that I know there are two uses of the word “staycation” and the … More Dorset staycation itinerary (Poole & Purbeck edition)
Today is the one year anniversary of the first day I didn’t get up and go to the office and so it seems fitting to write a blog about one year of working from home. Ok, technically today is not the first anniversary of my first day working from home. I was supposed to go … More One year of working from home
Every year since 2014, my friend Tom and I have gone for “an adventure” between Christmas and New Year. Usually that involves me picking Tom up from his parents’ house, driving off to some bit of coast and having some wine (well, Tom has the wine. I don’t like it and also I’m driving). We … More A COVID-free Christmas Adventure at Studland
Today’s post was supposed to be my plans for 2021 but I can sum that up in one line: I don’t have any plans. So instead, I’m going to treat you to more Christmas lights and more Dorset content: Ignite at Kingston Lacy. Back in the summer or autumn, I went to Corfe Castle. Kingston … More More Christmas lights: Ignite at Kingston Lacy
I’ve been meaning to do this post for years. Over time, I’ve picked up bits and pieces while travelling and some of them come out only at Christmas. I don’t collect Christmas decorations. I know there are people who bring back a fridge magnet or a beer mat from every place they go to. I’m not … More Christmas decorations from my travels
Santa Specials – Father Christmas and mince pies on steam trains – have been a staple of the season at least since I was a child, and for decades before that, probably. But that’s not really feasible in 2020 and so the heritage steam railways of the country have had to come up with some … More Steam Illuminations on the Watercress Line
I Am A Polar Bear 