The main races – of which there were 6 – started shortly after. I enjoyed watching the horses in the paddock where I could pick which horse I would back. Not being an expert in racing, I chose a horse based on which one I liked the look of, or which name appealed to me. Continue reading
The audience were clearly full of Yes, Minister fans – lots of knowing laughs throughout, especially at the classic Sir Humphrey-style exchanges. Plenty of people the same side of 40 years of age as I am – it wasn’t all people old enough to have watched the originals on TV! Continue reading
I drove up to Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property near Droitwich in Worcestershire. The house is a real country retreat, offering a glimpse of life in rural Worcestershire in the 18th century. As always, I loved seeing all the different rooms, choosing which rooms were my favourite – which ones I’d use for radio, living room, and my bedroom, if I were to live in such a big house! Continue reading
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
Jรคger came into my life at a time when I was already learning a great deal about myself through Equine Assisted Therapy – about presence, boundaries, trust… how animals respond to energy and emotion is a big part of that. Without consciously trying to, I found myself applying so much of what I was learning there to Jรคger. I paid close attention to how he reacted to me, what made him feel calm, and how he communicated his needs. 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