Weekend Meanderings

Gloucester docks seemed busier then usual with tall and small ships being repaired at the dry docks:

















Then it was off to Marnhull which lies in the Blackmore Vale of North Dorset. Saxon charters show that Marnhull existed as a village in the 10th century, although the village's site has seen human occupation as early as the Iron Age,and a Roman settlement was established at Ashley Wood in the east of the parish. The village presents a mix of architectural styles, with post-war developments existing alongside properties dating back to Tudor times and earlier. It also lies close to East Stour, one of Marilyns ancestral homes, and her relatives now live in Marnhull. We stayed at the wonderfully atmospheric 16th century Crown Inn, complete with massive open fire, priest hole and converted stables.

Journeying on to old friends Bet n Jim in Shaftsbury, home of Hovis's Gold Hill -

by the side of which is a memorable little museum with free entry - a regular little time capsule -  

But returned to some sad news. Uncle Alf, the last of my parents generation of immediate family, had passed away. Alf's passion was driving, in the early 60's he was a driver and driving force behind the successful Team Treadfast that took the team prize in the Scottish RAC rally - he was driving a Saab. Alf was also a prolific model maker and accomplished yachtsman.

CheltLitFest 2014 Part II

Just the Two of Us

Stole the sub-title from the first of a two volume autub from Sheila Hancock - yes I even remember the early b&w 'Rag Trade' days. She really is a most engaging, humorous and modest person - a Quaker and a pacifist. After being pursued by a number of publishers, in particular Penguin, to try for a novel, seven years in the making, Miss Carters War has appeared. She paid great tribute to the many emerging writers, as capable if not more so than herself, who struggle to get a publishers attention. A thoroughly absorbing session.

On to another thought-provoking session with Alan Johnson, John Cambell, Michael Cockerell and Becky Milligan discussing 'Who was the greatest Prime Minister Britain Never Had?'. It covered the centuries and many famous names. An interesting agreement was to split the time line between pre and post TV media, between the great public speech makers and the sound biters. Those proposed ranged from Fox, Castle, Bevan, Bevin, Hessaltine, Whitelaw, Jenkins, Williams, Healey, Portillo - so many deemed to either be in the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the wrong time.

After a short break it was the turn of the Summerfield event and Shami Chakrabarti and her new tome 'On Liberty'. Brilliant presentation, great raconteur and handled the questions effortlessly. She really is one amazing person and, as a nation, we are so lucky to have someone of her talents, insight and campaigning zeal at the forefront of protecting our civil liberties. A succinct point made, that the European Convention on Human Rights that the current Cameron administration is so bent on destroying was originally developed by Churchill and the post war Tories to protect all European citizens, in law, against the onslaught of oppressive dictatorships in the future. Of her new book her 12 yo son was moved to comment "Mummy, this is a very short book with a very big font" - out of the mouths of babes :)

Rounded off with 'Present Tense: Pakistan' was to be with Sunday Times Foreign Correspondent Christina Lamb but she understandably was diverted to the lauriet celebrations for Malala Yousafzai (Christina helped with the book 'I Am Malala'). Her place was ably taken by Prof Ian Talbot of Southampton Uni and a renowned writer on Pakistan.

Congratulations Malala and Kallash

CheltLitFest 2014 Part I

The Loughboro' Experience.

Friends Jean, Sue n Mo were down for the weekend and to experience the start of this years Lit Fest.

It began with The Great Outdoors 

What really goes on in the long grass? What lies beneath the mystery of the moor? Which butterflies can tell you how far it is to the pub? Writers Will Atkins (The Moor) and John Lewis-Stempel (Meadowland) and natural navigator Tristan Gooley (The Walker’s Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs) discuss the great outdoors and our relationship with it.

  Followed by Are We Too Tolerant Of Intolerance?

Should we tolerate beliefs and behaviour that we consider repressive? Journalist Abdul-Rehman Malik explores this conflict in today’s multicultural Britain with The Times journalist David Aaronovitch, Claire Fox, Director of the Institute of Ideas, Matthew Goodwin (Revolt on the Right) and award-winning comedian Shazia Mirza. This really set the debate going amongst Fest goers and raised some really tricky dilemmas! 

Onto the amazing new book from Ian McEwan - The Children Act

Ably assisted by Sir Alan Ward, the former Court of Appeal judge, who had inspired the novel.

An unexpected interruption occurred by McEwans estranged ex-wife as he promoted his controversial new book, it has been claimed.

McEwan was on stage discussing his novel when a woman stood up to shout about an injunction. The author was heard to mutter "it's my ex-wife" after the interruption. The couple went through a difficult divorce and custody battle in the 1990s, when an injunction was placed forbidding his ex-wife Penny Allen from speaking about the case.

Rounding the evening off with the ever dry, amusing Will Self promoting his new tome - Shark

The Fest was interspersed with trips out round n about including - 

Tewkesbury

The weather was unbelievably good to us. Walked through the town, down the canal tow path to the gardens

Tea at an amazing little tea shop packed to the gunwales with memorabilia

then onto the abbey and the search for the incredible Green (gold) Man

Highnam Court

Has to be one of the most interesting and well kept gardens in Gloucester, mentioned before in this blog.  Built in 1658 after the original house was seriously damaged in the Civil War. It is one of the few houses built during the Commonwealth period. The design of the houses is linked to Ernest Carter who was a pupil of Inigo Jones.

The Highnam Estate was bought in 1838 by Thomas Gambier Parry, who was an accomplished artist, musician and art collector. He is also responsible for the frescoes in Highnam Church. He started to layout his garden in 1840, and by 1874 it rivalled any in the UK. Unfortunately since the turn of the last century almost nothing had been done in the gardens. Consequently when the process of restoration started in 1994 the gardens were totally overgrown.

During the last 13 years, since Roger Head has been the owner, the gardens have been totally and lovingly restored to their former glory, with many new additions being made to compliment and enhance the original design.

The grounds contain Lakes, an Orangery and a collection of wood carvings that must be seen.

and again this year the autumn colours are amazing!

Floral Triptyche

Brockhampton Cottage

Created in 1999 by the owners and Tom Stuart-Smith, this scenic hilltop garden looks over miles of unspoilt countryside. On one side is a woodland garden and wild flower meadow, on the other a pear orchard and in valley below a lake, stream and arboretum containing a number of very active bee hives:

Grendon Court

Another contemporary garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith containing a collection of mass-planted perennials and grasses of different heights, textures and colour give all year round interest. The upper walled garden with a sea of flowering grasses makes a highlight. There is also a pond and valley walk - concluding with a wonderful afternoon tea in the converted Tithe barn:

Brockworth Court

An informal tapestry style garden complementing the period Manor House which it surrounds. Organic, with distinct cottage-style planting areas, natural pond, which is home to moorhens, with a Monet bridge leading to small island with thatched Fiji house. Short paths lead to a country church, kitchen garden once cultivated by the monks and a historic tithe barn where, again, afternoon teas were served. There are views to Crickly and Coopers Hill - of cheese rolling fame. Within the garden are a number of artefacts including a repro warhorse.

Overall seems a pity that so much of the fruit, and an amount of the vegetables, grown in the area were rotting both on the ground and on the vine - I'm sure many a food bank would be grateful for the produce.

Signs of the onset of autumn were all around:

In the Steps of Lewis

Had an absorbing day in Oxford. Having previously done the dreaming spires this time we semi circumnavigated the river route. It was the day before Universities Open Day so loadsa potential students from all corners of the world meandering n lingering the open spaces. The more adventurous attempting punting the river with varying degrees of success :)

Exited through the botanical gardens, with the backdrop of Magdalene Collage Tower:

The gardens have an exceptional medicinal area, you realise how reliant we are on the extracts of these amazing, and often delicate, plants - and the price we might pay if the ecology suffered a major imbalance!

Ending with a pint of Fullers Pride and ambient jazz at Head of the River riverside pub used by Lewis and Hathaway to relax after a hard days policing - it is just round the corner from Thames Valley Police Station :)