Scarecrows for the Jubilee on Sark
Cycling around the Channel Island of Sark last weekend I spotted a number of Royals dressed up as scarecrows. They were part of the Scarecrow …
Meeting Mona Lisa – Boll-art in Winchester
I was heading for my dinner at The Old Vine in Winchester when I glanced up and saw her standing there. The first time we met …
On the Jane Austen trail – in Chawton and Winchester
If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s novels, many of which have been adapted for TV or film, you’ll be fascinated to discover the connections …
Picosa Ranch – a luxury ranch with a slice of Texas history
Hunting and history may seem unlikely partners, but they go hand in hand at Picosa Ranch in Texas. The ranch is the former family home …
Where a 19 year old can shoot an AK47 for fun – only in Texas!
Now I can’t say that guns are my really my cup of tea – how can anyone love these noisy, dangerous chunks of metal, designed …
Climbing Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill for a panoramic view of Bristol
It was 9.30 as I parked my car on Park Street in Bristol, hoping to do a spot of Saturday morning shopping, until I realised …
A walk in a bluebell wood – Prior’s wood in Bristol
April and May are the Bluebell months in England but the April showers were also plentiful this year. For several weekends I’d been watching the …
Hotel Valencia Riverwalk – boutique hotel in San Antonio, USA
Hotel Valencia rises from the San Antonio Riverwalk with a shades-of-ochre facade that is distinctly Mediterranean rather than North American. This luxury San Antonio hotel …
Our Texas Road trip – tips for Europeans driving in the USA
In Europe you may be used to getting around by bus or train but in Texas the car is king. If you’re planning a family …
Houston we have a problem! – At the Space Center Houston
The year was 1969 as I sat sleepy-eyed on my parents’ bed, watching the flickering black and white TV image of the first man to …
The South Congress Bridge Bats – in Austin, Texas
I can’t help but thinking that there is something incongruous about being in Austin, beside the Colorado river around dusk any spring evening. Just across …