Birdworld: where flamingos roam …

I am often reminded by my Godmother (A3Traveller herself) of what I was like as a child – I am sure that I am not the only one who is!  She has two favourite tales to tell.  The first how as a blonde ringlet-ed child, in pink dungarees, I tried to pick up cannon balls…

The best view of The Solent: Portsdown Hill

I would suggest to any Portsmouth visitor that they should first drive up to Portsdown Hill to gain an unbeatable vista over the city and the Solent.  Obviously it’s best when the weather is clement but that view is intriguing for me (and most locals) in any weather system. To orientate you, on the left hand…

Pawprint series: Farlington Marshes

If you have ever wondered what lies between the A3 motorway and the Eastern Road, then wonder no more for this is Farlington Marshes, Managed by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, this is their oldest nature reserve and it stretches from the northern shore of Langstone Harbour between Portsmouth and Havant to the…

Pawprint Series: A pooch’s view of Creech Wood, Denmead

When I first moved back to this part of the world, one of my biggest joys was discovering new woods and forests suitable for walking with The Hound.  One of the first I discovered has now become a perennial favourite – Creech Wood – and “he himself” has nominated it a four paw print walk!…

The Hindhead Tunnel – Genius Engineering

If, like me, you have driven back and forth to London from Portsmouth on the A3 prior to 2011, you will have realised the pure joy of bypassing The Devil’s Punchbowl and the mind-numbing traffic queues at Hindhead crossroads. The 29th July 2011 could not have come quickly enough for me and I even visited…

Pawprint Series: Hindhead Commons, Surrey

It’s a particular pleasure for me to return to Hindhead at least once a season.  For years, I suffered in wearisome traffic jams on the A3 motorway at Hindhead’s crossroads – a notorious traffic congestion spot now thankfully bypassed by the Hindhead Tunnel.  So I love the fact that the region has returned to an…

Flower Power: Everlasting Beauty

As a lover of nature and of art, imagine my fascination with two floral sculptures which I have recently seen on my travels – on two different continents! They share the same artist and sadly, the same overcast weather! The first is located in Rhone-Alpes, seen on a visit to Lyon last year, just off…

Spring is here – the rapeseed fields are in full bloom

Living here in Hampshire, you suddenly become aware that spring has, well, sprung, when you are surrounded by fields of the most vibrant yellow flowers – these of course are the blooms of the rapeseed plant that are farmed for bio-diesel, vegetable oil and animal feed. Rapeseed has been farmed across Europe for centuries however it was…

Photo of the Month: Blossom

I don’t think there is anything on earth I love more than the sight of cherry blossom in the Spring.  I can fully understand how the Japanese venerate these fragile blooms as I feel exactly the same.  They raise your spirits with their beauty whilst reminding you of the fragility of life – here for…