General Travel

jeff_blog_text

Home > Travel Blog > General Travel

General Travel

The Gastrognome

My friend Jeremy Ferguson is a food/travel photographer/writer – calls himself a “gastrognome” as he’s not the tallest of guys. He’s recently published a couple of books – stuffed with incredible images that make a traveller’s eyes pop.

I have used decent camera equipment for the last 50 years and yet, if I am honest, the number of memorable pictures I have taken is tiny.

To-day’s question – how come Jeremy has so many memorable pictures…. Is it based on the 1000s of images he’s taken – practice makes perfect? Or is it a different talent – the ability to see the ideal composition and catch the moment, which lesser mortals like me miss completely?

To see what I mean visit http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/3091992

Whatever the reason – thank heavens for Jeremy and his pictures!

Add new comment

Peacocks & Swans

There are few sights more graceful than swans floating about on rivers and lakes. There is the old idea in eakmay 1617colleedssiss 053 the UK that all swans belong to the Queen (dates back to a time when they were popular and expensive eating) – in truth she only owns the wild mute swans found in open water – in which case the Queen’s Swan Upper runs a swan census in the Home Counties.

On the other hand peacocks are privately owned and, while they are great to look at, they have sharp, vicious beaks and have one of the ugliest calls of any bird – a sort of strangles screech, which sets your teeth on edge.

Leeds castle in Kent is almost over run with them – and one of the males, with a fantastic tail, manages to fly – not far and not high – but far enough and high enough to scare the wits out of any unsuspecting visitor who happens to be on their landing approach – I speak from personal experience!

Add new comment

A Barrier on the Thames?

thames barrier jpeg I lived for over 30 years in Toronto and never had an inclination to go up the CN Tower or explore Casa Loma. On the other hand I am a Cockney by birth, born within the sound of London’s Bow Bells so each time I go to the UK I manage a couple of days in London and visit stuff that I’d ignore in TO.

For instance, I am not really interested in Georgian Silver but the Silver Vaults were a real eye opener; I don’t collect antiques but the Bermondsey Market was fascinating.

Last time I was annoyed that the new cable car across the Thames near Greenwich was not open. To get a look at it (and it looks fantastic) I took a boat ride to Greenwich and on to The Thames Barrier.

In my ignorance I had always thought that the Barrier was designed to stop the flooding of London during extra-ordinary high tides. Well yes - but more important it is, it seems, designed to delay the flooding of London long enough for them to close the Underground and get everyone out before the water fills the tunnels.

Who knew? Certainly not me.

Add new comment

More Articles...