As a vervent follower of the Cambridge and Oxford University Boat Race each year (am an Oxford fan), I was intrigued to see on the map of Kensington Gardens a reference to a statue of Isis. Of course I had to see what it was all about and I found it adjacent to the Diana Memorial Fountain, overlooking the lake in…
Category: UK
KP is Kensington Gardens most precious gem
KP or Kensington Palace, situated within Kensington Gardens, is one of its most precious gems. It is restrained yet exuberant and well worth visiting if you are addicted, like I am, to Lucy Worsley’s BBC4 series on The First Georgians – all geared to celebrate 300 years since the Hanoverians were invited to take over…
Singular statues: Flying into Neverland with Peter Pan
My photo-walk around Kensington Gardens led me to a statue I had wanted to see since childhood – Peter Pan. It was commissioned by the author Sir James Barrie from artist Gerge Frampton RA so surely, this depiction must be an accurate representation of Peter himself. Part of me still believes in Peter Pan, he…
Amazing Grace: Henry Moore’s Arch, Kensington Gardens
During a photo walk of Kensington Gardens, London, I chanced upon a stunningly positioned sculpture by Henry Moore hewn from Roman Travertine Marble. It is located at the end of one of the longest uninterrupted avenue vistas in London. The Arch was inspired by life – in this instance, a fragment of bone – and…
The beauty of architecture: The Grange at Northington
There is something very appealing about a partially derelict building – and something very sad about its abandonment too. My visit to The Grange at Northington evoked both of these emotions but principally, the great pity of an unloved but beautiful house. The track leading up to the mansion is basic, to say the least, but…
Pawprint series: Hatchlands Park Bluebell Walk
There is nothing so quintessentially English as a Bluebell Wood so it was with great anticipation that I visited the Surrey Hills and Hatchlands Park to view their Bluebell Walk accompanied by The Hound. A carpet of intense blue velvet met the eye, a blanket coverage of blues of every hue greeted us for this 20…
The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower is one of the city’s most noticeable landmarks. A Millennium project which finally opened in October 2005, The Spinnaker Tower has since attracted over two million visitors. With views stretching over 23 miles, there are three viewing decks – the first at altitude 100m (328 feet), the second at altitude 105m (344 feet)…
Singular Statues: #12 – The Pioneer Statue
The Pioneer Statue is located on Broad Street, Old Portsmouth close on the water side to one of the old Sally Ports. It was presented to the City of Portsmouth by The Pioneer Heritage Foundation on 27th August 2001 to act as a “permanent legacy to the commitment of the Europeans who courageously left their…
The first sign of Spring: Hampshire’s golden fields
For me, the ripening fields of bright yellow rapeseed signal the first sign of spring. This year, they seem to have appeared a little earlier than usual along Lovedean and Chalton Lanes near Clanfield, Hampshire. I wonder where the next crops will – well – crop up – as normally, I would expect to be…
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…
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