I have always loved kites – seeing their colourful shapes, soaring around the air, dancing in the wind, is a happy reminder of childhood (even if in most cases, our kites seemed to dive-bomb the ground!). So it was with great anticipation that I visited my second Portsmouth International Kite Festival at Southsea Common. There were…
Tag: UK
Pawprint Series: A splendid beach in West Sussex
I know I have written about it before but I am penning this as a devoted dog owner. It being, of course, the West Wittering Estate in West Sussex and if you love a pristine, white sandy beach, then this is the place to be. Dog owners, like me, use the far end of the beach, past…
Country Pub Series: Horse & Jockey
When I take a few days holiday, there is nothing nicer than visiting a local pub for lunch which has been recommended by a friend. This is how we came, one sunny day, to visit the Horse & Jockey in Hipley, Hambledon, Hampshire, sitting in their flower-laden beer garden. Even better, it has a story to…
The Ragged School
My accountant, Chris Stolborg, told me about John Pounds and said his story was inspirational. So, one fine day, I ventured out to the High Street in Old Portsmouth to the Unitarian Chapel named in his honour to find out more. Walking down the side of the church, I caught sight of a memorial to John Pounds…
The last days of Nelson …
As a proud Portsmuthian, you can’t live in this naval city without knowing a little bit about Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson – it would be unthinkable. We have his flagship HMS Victory at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, his memorial atop Portsdown Hill and even Fort Nelson, one of Palmeston’s Follies – a brilliant museum to visit….
All aboard The Watercress Line
As soon as I heard about The Watercress Line, Hampshire’s Heritage Steam Railway, I knew a train trip would be imminent. And so it came to pass, this last weekend, that The Hound and I arrived at Alresford Station to travel to Alton in style … even better, The Hound travelled free! It’s nick-named The…
The Victorian Bathing Machine
Being interested in all thing seaside, I have long wanted to see an actual Victorian Bathing Machine in person. So it was with great anticipation that I saw the most exclusive bathing machine of them all this past week – Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s own bathing machine on her very own private beach at the…
A ticket to Ryde
I first heard about the Grade II listed Ryde Pier when I listened to the well known Beatles song of a similar name if not spelling. Apparently John Lennon and Paul McCartney visited the island in the ’60’s to visit Paul’s cousin and inspired this well known ditty. It wasn’t until recently however – and funnily enough,…
I took a flight to the Isle of Wight – a Hovercraft!
I admit to being fascinated by hovercraft but I have left it until now to hop onto one to travel the short ten minute journey via HoverTravel from Portsmouth over to the Isle of Wight for a day trip. And I am so glad I did – I’ll be using it again soon no doubt! If like…
On the trail of John Keats
Has this ever happened to you? Sometimes when you work on a new project, a name pops up again and again and you start seeing references to it everywhere you go. What do they call it – Six degrees of separation? So it was for me with the poet John Keats who is thought to…
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