Following the Notre Dame fire, my trip to Winchester and to the Sistine Chapel, the next stop on my “before it burns down” tour was Salisbury Cathedral. I mean, if it’s worth coming all the way from Moscow to see, it’s worth coming from Wessex to see. Easily done because my car spent eight hours … More Before It Burns Down: Visiting Salisbury Cathedral
You may already know that when I was a student, I was a very keen caver. That all ended twelve years ago with graduation and I’ve been back twice since then, the last time being four and a half years ago. I just don’t get to go anymore because you need someone to go with … More Cavers do it in rubber socks: a half day in Goatchurch
Last Monday, a lot of big old heavy solid permanent monuments very suddenly became a lot less permanent. My reaction to the Notre Dame fire, once it had been established that most of the building had miraculously survived, was to book flights to Rome next month, primarily to see the Sistine Chapel. I also went … More A day at Winchester Cathedral
On Friday I went off to Norden at some ungodly hour in the morning to grab a parking space before it filled up with rail enthusiasts. Where’s Norden? It’s the park and ride at the northern terminus of the Swanage Railway. The Swanage line was closed due to cuts in 1972 and by 1979 had … More A day out on the most famous steam train in the world
All Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have five homes around the world, the World Centres. We have one of them right here in London, Pax Lodge, and I spent the Thinking Day weekend there. Thinking Day is the most important day in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS)’s calendar – it’s … More Turn Back Time: A Pax Lodge Challenge Around London
Is this a post about my weekend in Glasgow in July or is it a post about traveller’s guilt? I don’t know. I went to Glasgow in July and although I did do some things, mostly I sat in my lovely flat, reading books and eating toast and lying in the bath. I don’t feel … More Me-time in Glasgow
Welcome to 2019 and welcome to the latest edition of my annual Two Bears Adventure series. This is Tom (also known as Tom Bear and, well, I am a polar bear, hence two bears). You may remember him from Two Bears in Swanage, Two Bears in Charmouth or Two Bears in Edinburgh. This year we … More A day at Lyme Regis: Tom & Julie’s Annual Adventure
Last month I went to my first ever Longleat exclusive passholders’ event – the Sky Safari launch. I’ve been a passholder for nearly two years and I do like to go to the Halloween fireworks and/or the New Year ones, go to the Festival of Light and go and see it all in summer. But … More A cavalcade of balloons at the Sky Safari
I know, I only did “My apartment in Glasgow!” the other day and now I’m already showing you around my room in Edinburgh. For the last three visits, I’ve stayed in Euro Hostels. It’s based in Kincaid’s Court, which is a student block just off Cowgate. Last summer it was having work done and the … More My room in Edinburgh
As you’ll know if you read What I saw at EdFringe 2018, I went to Edinburgh last weekend. I saw thirteen shows in three days, which is probably more than I saw in six days last year, and this is the post about the weekend in general. I flew up on the 8.35am flight from … More A weekend in Edinburgh
I Am A Polar Bear 