Monthly Archives: September 2015

“This timeless, beautiful, barmy (both spellings) town,” Dylan Thomas said, “in this far, forgetful, important place… This unique, this waylaying, old, lost Laugharne, where some people start to retire before they start to work and where longish journeys, of a few hundred yards, are often undertaken only on bicycles…” is the sort of place where peopleContinue reading ““The strangest town in Wales””

We are now in Swansea, home of Wales poet Dylan Thomas. He called this city an “ugly lovely town,” and that was before it suffered a great deal of German bombing during the war. The modern bits speak to a lack of city planning, but some interesting nooks and crannies still remain.

Have we mentioned the Rugby World Cup? Well spirits were definitely high here in Cardiff after Saturday’s upset victory over England, with glorious weather proving that the gods are definitely smiling on Wales this week.

We weren’t here with Jane Austen – just missed her. But we were here once in 70’s (the 1970’s) and found the town to be depressingly neglected, a bit seedy. Flash forward to about ten years ago when we came here at Christmas and found it had been scrubbed up and curated with tourists in mind.Continue reading “Updating our view of Bath”

As Bath is getting just too urban, we took a lovely bus ride today to visit Wells, considered the smallest city in England. Why don’t they simply call it a town, you ask? Ah, well, to be a city you need a cathedral. And to have a cathedral, you must have a bishop. Wells hasContinue reading “A day out in Wells”

Comparisons are supposedly odious, but I personally find them very useful. And while I have determined not to make any distinctions between French and English cuisines – leaving that to so many others – there is one aspect that has not been sufficiently covered.

Yes, this one was easy. Without a doubt, the prize ribbon goes to Chipping Campden for Cotswold charm and scenic beauty.

We had to ask ourselves: Can we take any more English preciousness and charm without going into metaphoric sugar shock?

All credit to Victorian poet Matthew Arnold for his characterization of Oxford, home of the University of Oxford, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. 

It was September 20, 1969, and the Beatles gathered in the Apple offices on Savile Row. The meeting was evidently contentious, resulting in John deciding that he would leave the group. Yes, 46 years ago, the Fab Four realized they had come to a parting of the ways.