In 1925 Leeds Castle went on the auction block to pay death duties.  The “six spacious entertaining rooms, twenty principal bedrooms and plenty of room for servants” was acquired by the then Mrs. Wilson-Filmer who was looking for a country retreat.  Mrs. Wilmer’s name changed to Lady Baillie when she married for the third time and things got really glamorous. Continue reading Gatsby was a Woman! →

Today we become a modern day pilgrim as we travel to Canterbury to experience the history and photograph the architecture.    As I walk the streets, I see fellow travelers as diverse as Chaucer wrote about in his great “Tales”.   People from all walks of life and from all nations are drawn to Canterbury. Continue reading Canterbury Tales →

We have seen a proper English Storm.

We arrived late in the afternoon to our Ferring Marine ocean view flat located in Worthing, West Sussex.  The flat has been newly remodeled with a big south facing bay window looking over a sea foam green ocean.   Terry tells me the color is from the shallow nature of the shoreline which causes the waves to stirs the sand below. Continue reading Ferring Noreaster Surprise →

Today is important for two reasons.  It’s my wedding anniversary and Terry is driving me to Stonehenge. Continue reading Some Girls Get Diamonds…. Terry got me some Big Rocks! →

Yup, that is how this area is described on the map.  And, you know what?  They are exactly right.  Rolling hills covered in rich velvet of greens and yellows, stands of  trees in varying shades of green march up and over the horizon line.  The flocks of sheep munch away under a vast blue, blue sky broken with white clouds the size of ocean liners steaming in a straight line to a far away port. Continue reading The Hills of Outstanding Beauty →

Ever been on restriction as a kid?  Sometimes I get put on movie restriction after we see a movie of my choice that stinks.   It takes a long time to get Terry back into the theatre.  I tell you this as background for putting myself on restriction.  I think I’m a bit daft.  I’ve picked places where I know there are going to be crowds, but I just didn’t believe they were going to be BEIJING SIZE CROWDS.   Continue reading I’ve Put Myself on Restriction →

We won’t be going to Chruchill’s birthplace since “CountryLife” took over the palace.  Personally I think Terry was feeling quite gleeful about the whole thing.   I detected a smirk on his face as he got the news.  Can’t say I blame him.  I think he would rather read under the trees.  I got to looking at what to do while in the Cotswolds and found two villages nearby. Continue reading The Tale of Two Cities in Black & White →

This is a university town on steroids.  The University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th century records, making it Britain’s oldest place of formal education.  At present there are about 38 universities. Continue reading Cap and Gown Please! →

I’m sorry to admit I don’t get Shakespeare. I had to read his works in high school and college.  I liked the movie adaptations better. His written word is hard for me to understand. Perhaps I just wasn’t interested in spending the time to understand. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to visit Stratford upon Avon in the hopes of being there would get me in the groove.  So I planned an overnight in the village of his birth.  Continue reading Art Thou in the Cotswolds? →

Ever seen a boat graveyard?  In the research I had done for the trip, I found that this portion of Heswall on the River Dee was highly praised by other photographers.  When I told Terry I wanted to go and photograph boats that were beached on grass and mud flats he just looked at me. Continue reading After the Graveyard, We Added Wales! →