One of the things I really enjoy about C2C is discovering new artists. Katie Rigby and Julia Cole were two that really stood out to me this year. Both are independent artists, without major record label backing, which makes their success even more impressive. To be performing at a major festival like C2C on their own terms is a real achievement. Take notice of them! Continue reading
First impressions? Flat. Remarkably flat. (A notable observation when you live in the Cotswolds). The landscape opens up in a completely different way – vast stretches of arable farmland, long horizons, big skies. In places, the fields arenโt edged with hedgerows at all, but simply separated from the road by a drainage ditch. It almost reminded me of the Gers in southern France ๐ซ๐ท – It has that same agricultural openness and understated rural beauty. Continue reading
I last went to Newark Park in April 2022….This time it was noticeably colder than back then: Proper cold February air! It was still worth the trip. The snowdrops were out lining parts of the grounds. Itโs that in-between time of year: not quite spring, but full of promise. Continue reading
The main attraction here is, of course, the National Motor Museum. Alongside the famous car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, there are also a couple of cars from the Disney film Cars, and a section dedicated to motorbikes. Continue reading
Yesterday, for Dad’s Christmas present, we went to The Farmer’s Dog – the pub opened by Jeremy Clarkson in 2024, and which was the focus of last year’s series of Clarkson’s Farm. Continue reading
Last weekend was the final weekend of this season’s Festival of Light at Longleat. For 2025/6, the theme was British Icons & Landmarks – and also British cartoon characters. Continue reading
For Christmas I was given a book all about the best places to visit around the UK – so for 2026, my project is to get around as many of these as possible. Makes a change to international travel but it is sometimes nice to be a tourist in your own country. Continue reading
My (almost) annual visit to the Christmas show at the Royal Albert Hall took place this week – I went to see Guy Barker’s Big Band in concert on Wednesday, which I really enjoyed. Continue reading
Last week I was lucky enough to be in the studio audience during the live transmission of Channel 4’s ‘The Last Leg’, which is broadcast from Studio TC1 at Television Centre – former headquarters of BBC Television. Continue reading
Tuesday was our last day in Devon and we woke up right in the middle of Storm Bram. This would give us some…..interesting….driving conditions for our journey back home to Cirencester. Continue reading