Enjoy a Glorious Springtime in the Garden with the NGS
Photos courtesy of the National Garden Scheme. Forget your troubles and enjoy Spring now that it’s here. Ann Evans has news of the NGS Open Gardens Spring has...
Rachel’s Wanderings in Spain Small Critters, Big Problems
It’s animal life again that rules my life, not because the fibre cables have been chewed through, see Ups and Downs (and Ins and Outs) of (Animal) Life...
The “Invalides”, a witness of French history since 1670 – Meanderings through France n° 211
ByAnnick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny We all know the “Invalides” museum for being the place where Napoléon’s tomb is, but this huge place has much more to...
A city-break in Paris side by side with Napoleon
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny When Napoleon took power as France First Consul in 1799 he already knew that he wanted Paris to become the most beautiful...
Steve’s Sojourn’s : Allier France
Cradle of the Bourbon dynasty the department of Allier, in the Massif Central in the most northerly part of the Auvergne, is famous for its landscapes. Its also has...
Nimes boasts its Roman heritage – Meanderings through France n° 207
By Frédéric de Poligny & Annick Dournes Nimes is a French southern town created in ancient times by the Roman invaders. At only a few miles away from...
Snowdrop time!
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Ann Evans is eagerly awaiting the first signs of spring when those snowdrops start peeking through. We know spring is on the...
Rachel’s Wanderings in Spain What a Busy Year Since My Introduction in April – Me and ‘my’ bit of Spain
I’m very happy to be joining this eclectic group of rambling writers from all around the world. I’m in Spain, but let me start at the beginning and introduce...
Taxi Noir: Boris Johnson’s Channel Bridge
So, Boris Johnson has been mandated to govern the UK for another four years. I shan’t be drawn into making value statements on the outcome of the recent General...
Bedgebury Christmas Trail
Bedgebury Pinetum is in Kent, just over the Sussex border. The arboretum is an award-winning site with lots to do for everyone, from walking to cycling, or a visit...
Malta Diary Mary, Mary, quite contrary – how do Maltese gardens grow?
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Coming from a family of brothers that includes one of Malta’s most-loved, prominent and highly-famed stage and television comedians...
A Place to Stay; Sally Port Cottage, Cornwall, & Winchcombe Lodge, Cotswolds
Sally Port Cottage, Cornwall Sally Port Cottage at St Anthony’s Lighthouse is situated at the furthest point of the beautiful Roseland Peninsula. A perfect romantic retreat, Sally Port Cottage...
Malta Diary Princess Elizabeth’s former villa residence to become national museum to reflect 150 years of Anglo-Maltese relations and connections to the British Royal Family
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: After many years of procrastination in which nothing was done, the current Government announced...
Amboise, Royal city and Leonardo da Vinci’s last home – Meanderings through France n° 202
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny French king François I undoubtedly is the symbol of French Renaissance and during his reign he built and transformed...
Malta Diary A statutory wedding vow in days of yore by the groom to his bride – “I solemnly promise to take you to the Mnarja Festival every year”
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Over the centuries the Maltese developed the knack of corrupting foreign place names in the...
A festive “grape harvest day” in Cheverny – Meanderings through France n° 197
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny For the ninth consecutive year winegrowers and winemakers of the Cheverny DOC organize a wine festival on Saturday 7...
Harry’s Ramblings Eastbourne Seafront
This is an hour long stroll along Eastbourne’s seafront from the pier to the bottom of Beachy Head, called Holywell. It is all on the flat, is about 4...
A Place to Stay. Hotel Bon Sol & Spa, Majorca
I spent two nights at the Hotel Bon Sol Resort and Spa, five miles from Palma, Majorca. Mallorca (or Majorca – both spellings are acceptable) is still a virtually unspoilt...
A Place to Stay. The Bonham, Edinburgh
If you’re looking for a hotel in Edinburgh do have a look at The Bonham in Drumsheugh Gardens. Lying in the City’s vibrant west end it has been recently...
Rachel’s Wanderings in Spain – 7 – Summer Nights, Capers and Caperberries
So August is here. The earth is hard baked and any ground foliage golden brown but there is one wild plant that is resplendant at the moment and...
A Place to Stay. Hadlow Tower, a Wonderful Place for a Weekend!
Hadlow Tower, in Hadlow village, near Tonbridge in Kent, known as May’s Folly, is a Grade 1 listed building and it is up for sale for £2 million, you...
Exploring the National Herb Centre
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Ann Evans explores the delightful National Herb Centre in Oxfordshire The culinary and medicinal use of herbs...
Blois, much better than a history book for a glimpse of French Royals’ life – Meanderings through France n° 193
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Blois is only a two-hour drive from Paris and an ideal starting point to explore the Loire Valley and...
How about taking part in the day-to-day life of Alsatian winemakers? – Meanderings through Francece n° 191
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny All summer and autumn long Alsatian winemakers organize an amazing great number of events during which tourists are invited...
Holland Park’s Safestay Hostel. Is it London’s Cheapest Place to Stay?
I was surprised to find a hostel right in the middle of Holland Park. It seemed to have been dropped there one dark night. It just didn’t belong there....
Harry’s Ramblings. Idyllic Madeira holiday
Madeira is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, about a thousand miles off the northern coast of Africa. Don’t ask me to be specific, it’s not particularly relevant. Many...
Holland Park, Leisure & Pleasure hidden in the Heart of London.
London must be one of the greenest cities in the world. There are parks and gardens everywhere, if you know where to look! Sometimes you get a nice surprise...
FOOD, DRINK AND GARDENING!
Photos courtesy of Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography and BBC Gardeners World Live. Ann Evans highlights some products and people that caught her eye at the BBC’s Good Food...
500 years ago, Chateau de Chambord’s birth, Leonardo’s death – Meanderings through France n° 190
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny If leaving today no doubt that François 1er would have made tabloids headlines very often. In 1519 the 25...
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
Photos courtesy of BBC Gardeners World and Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography. Ann Evans is all set for the BBC Gardeners World Live and the BBC Good Food...
Midlands Air Festival
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography. The Midlands Air Festival returned to Arbury Hall and Ann Evans went along to enjoy the action. Crowds descended...
HALF TERM HOLIDAY FUN
It’s half term week and Ann Evans has a few suggestions of how to keep the family happy. Pirate Adventures at Hatton If...
Medieval Michelham Priory
I recently visited Michelham Priory, near Eastbourne, East Sussex. I discovered it many years ago on a school trip, and I fell in love with it as I was...
INSPIRATION AT RHS MALVERN SPRING SHOW
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Ann Evans visited the RHS Malvern Spring Show, and found a world of inspiration Never mind the weather, gardeners from all...
Malta Diary Malta always on the go – an island that never sleeps?
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: We as inhabitants are fully used to it. Should anybody plan to visit Malta...
RHS MALVERN SPRING FESTIVAL
It will soon be time for the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, Ann Evans gives us a preview If you love gardens and gardening, you won’t want to...
Harry’s Ramblings Eastbourne Carpet Gardens Roman History
There is a public wooden bench close to Eastbourne’s pier. It’s on the end of the Carpet Gardens, you can sit there quite comfortably for hours, breathe in...
Lovely springtime in Chantilly – Meanderings through France n° 182
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Spring is back and it feels good to get out in the countryside and enjoy nature’s rebirth. Being only...
MALTA DIARY: Queen Elizabeth II – a life-long relationship with Malta; former residence to be restored and maybe become a museum
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: When Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was asked last year by a newspaper to name her...
The National Garden Scheme helps even more charities
This is a perfect way of raising money for charity says Ann Evans. The NGS have around 3,500 beautiful private gardens throughout England and...