Highnam Court

This is an amazing 35 acre Victorian landscaped gardens laid out by Thomas Gambier-Parry. There are water gardens with pools, lake, grottoes clad in Pulhamite, terrace, urns & steps. Yew avenue, mature trees, formal bedding & gravel walks. The walks are beautifully laid out n cream teas in the Orangery :-p


http://www.royalforestofdean.info/gardens/gardens-to-see.shtml#highnam_court



There are some amazing chain-saw sculptures of natural wildlife from the trees that were damaged in the gales. I remember these creatures from my kayaking days - v dangerous when riled!

More pics @ http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc96/elantra7/HIghnam/

Farewell Marj

Marilyn's Mam died peacefully in her sleep at home where she wished to be. One of life's lovely people she loved life n loved people.

Were both orphan's now :'(

Sis @ 60

Celebrated in style. If you have to turn 60 then Cyprus is the place to do it. Sun, sea n ratsina!






Stayed at the Dianna Gardens appartments in pafos - http://www.cyprusholidayrentals.net/diana_gardens_apartment_1288.htm - yes the pool is that blue, lots of little extra's, well recommended. Slight walk outa town but no probs if you hire a car or taxis are regular, reliable with fixed reasonable charges - even to the airport.

One trip that was both interesting and a little disapointing at the same time was Nicosia - the divided city. When Marilyn and I were there some years ago you walked up the bustling greek streets to a breeze block wall overlooking the UN buffer zone to a part of the city that had stood still since the Turkish invasion of '74 - an amazing site as those who have been will know. Now it is being rehabilitated. They have made an industry out of crossing a road, through the greek customs then the Turkish customs, need a special day visa, just to cross the road. It is right that this part of the city is being used again, even if just for tourism, it was a waste. Bet those giant new minorettes right on the border annoy the orthadox n secularists alike when they call to prayer.


Pafos harbour is a wonderful place for strolling n people watching. It is also a cruising strip for those with vehicles to match their egos (and the young with drilled out silencers to make them sound like super sports cars :) Can recommend 'Tea for Two' as a great place to relax, take a drink of wine n watch the world go by.




Our car was a Mitsi Lancer. Heard they had a good reputation. Certainly comfortable but the car did seem a bit too heavy for the engine although it was a 1.8. Still the speed limits on the Island are understandably restrictive so no great prob.

When going up Troodos can recommend the 'Waterfall Cafe', they have made the most out of v little and was an interesting diversion.


So all in all a great break. Back to overcast skies, recession and swine flu :-/ Still those amazing escapologists, better known as Carlisle United beat the drop again by one point in the last game of the season with an unexpected win over Milwall (sorry to all Cobblers supporters).

If you want to see more pics/vidz of the trip tune into -http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc96/elantra7/Cyprus/

Easter Bunny Time

A lovely relaxing weekend Easter break spent in the Rascal on a park twix Chipping Sodbury and Yate – near to Old Sodbury which is, perhaps, more appropriate. Should you come across Yate my advice is to keep moving :)











Spent Saturday wandering around Dyrham. Beautiful sunny day. The tourists were out as were the deer. Sunday spent visiting gardens in the ‘yellow book’ n doin our bit for MacMillan Nurses.

Lodsa deer raomin free - do hope they don't end up as venison burger :-/

Back home to another summers day and finish preparing the garden for what could be an amazing summer fingers crossed. Hows these for daffs n they smell as good as they look!

The Golden Triangle

The Daffodil Way is an eight-mile walk covered in wild daffodils which grow in a small area of north Gloucestershire and south Herefordshire. At one time they used to carpet the fields, but modern farming methods have decimated them over the last 50 years.
It's hard to imagine that in the 1930s special excursion trains brought thousands of Londoners to admire them each year. Sadly, the railway which brought the day trippers is long gone, but the daffodils remain, though in nothing like the same profusion.
Also en route is St Mary's churchyard at Dymock. As well as great tea n cakes there is an interesting display about the Dymock poets. St Mary's is part Saxon masonry, laid in a herringbone pattern, but dates mostly from the 14th Century. Dymock stands on the site of a Roman township and a lime avenue in the churchyard marks the line of a Roman road.



The daffodiles are starting to bloom now but are best viewed mid to late March. A different village hosts each weekend providing cream teas and hospitality.

Valentine Break

Another Valentines spent at our favourite haunt but unusually covered in snow. Just got in before it started laying.

The courtyard is bounded by six converted farm buildings with original features but luxury trimmings. This was the latest conversion, the Forge. We have now frequented all six.

Only one thing to do then - into the hot tub with the duck :)

The walks were so picturesque, yet the snowdrops were out in abundance.



If you placed a hay waine in the middle of the pond then, like us, you would have been in Constable country.

Robin Hoods Hut

T'was in the village of Goathurst on the edge of the Quantock hills on the anniversary of my 58th birthday ...






This is why it was quite difficult explaining the building. You entered via the back door. It appeared a reasonably furnished though dour hermitage, thus designed do that when you opened the front door the contrast was breathtaking. You stood on a 12'sq diameter paved patio under an 18' high umbrello and looked out on a panorama that stretched from the Cheddar Mendips, past Weston, over the Severn estuary and past Minehead.







Our neighbours had a fine house too :)









Robin Hoods Hut looking back up the hill from the village.

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/news/robinhoods.htm









50yds from the bedroom door, along the yellow brick road, a wooden hut fashioned after a druids temple, housed a wonderful bathroom suite with lashings of hot water. Quite unique.



If you fancy the Landmark Trust and like this one you'll love Whiteford Chapel -http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/featured/whiteford_temple.htm