The whole of this coast is one continuous beach, up to the Scottish border. Although there are a lot of people around, there is so much space that it is not crowded. The children have gone back to school which helps. Nice to have holidays in September for a change! The dog (my friend’s), is desperate to get in the sea and starts whining every … Continue reading At the Northumberland coast – continued.

After many hours of driving – many lorries, caravans and motor homes- not to mention torrential rain – I am in a cottage in Seahouses, Northumberland. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing and the tourists are neither in the Algarve nor on cruises so the place is very busy. This the cottage we are staying in. This is a traditional style for the … Continue reading At the Northumberland coast.

Interestingly, this is the first time I have been here since March, despite it being our nearest big town. The natural springs in Bath, already known for their curative properties, were developed as a spa by the Romans and continually used in one form or another ever since. In the eighteenth century, it became fashionable to ‘take the waters’ in various places and Bath, under … Continue reading Bath

This cathedral has been well known and loved since it was built in the 13C. It was painted by Constable, amongst others, and from certain directions looks just as it has always done. Unfortunately, it has recently been associated in the news with the Russian security services efforts to poison a defector, killing one other person and putting three more in hospital. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Sergei_and_Yulia_Skripal). The cathedral … Continue reading Salisbury Cathedral

Today to the National Trust house built by the Hoare banking family in the 18C. Although, because of the virus, the house is not open, the glorious garden is. One way traffic and social distancing. It was very busy and a lot of people who would normally be in the south of France are having to entertain themselves in the UK. Interesting. Continue reading Stourhead

Longleat is a splendid 16C house in Wiltshire, very near to where I am currently living. In 1966, the then Marquess of Bath, whose family has owned the house since it was built, decided to raise some much needed money by opening a safari park – the first one in Britain. The safari park is still very successful and has just reopened after the virus. … Continue reading Longleat

This is the three resorts of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, which surround a sheltered bay on the south coast of Devon. They were popular tourist resorts in the 19thC but are, like a lot of places, less popular now. The ‘English Riviera’ tag was an early marketing gimmick, comparing it to the French one. We drive to Paignton and then walked round the bay to … Continue reading The English Riviera

Although it is a bit windy and wet for July (this is the UK, what do you expect?), we have had a good visit to Plymouth harbour. This has been exciting for several reasons. Firstly, I am staying with friends. Staying in their as-yet-unbooked holiday cottage, but over the lane from their house. Secondly, we have met some other friends in Plymouth and done some … Continue reading Plymouth

Yesterday was ‘Super Saturday’ when the pubs reopened. Today the papers are full of pictures of people crowding around in the road in Soho, of people queuing outside a pub at 7.45 am (photographed by an NHS doctor on his way to treat people one by one in isolation) and Nigel Farage breaking quarantine to be the first person with a pint. I have been … Continue reading Lockdown is over. Maybe.

Following my return from Laos in January 2020, I started to rent a cottage in Wiltshire from some friends of mine as my flat was empty and I was anticipating its sale. Owing to dilatory legal matters, it only went on sale 4 weeks ago. Lockdown for the COVID-19 Coronavirus started in the UK in late March. This was at least a week and, more … Continue reading Journal of the Plague Year