Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Have you ever wondered where the story and the song of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came from? Well, if so, read on to find out. I remember hearing the song when I was a small child and my dad singing it to me. I loved it and soon...
The History of the Fair Barnstaple Fair is one of the oldest in the country and is believed to date back as far as 930 (at least according to the board displayed at the fair - see below). Originally, the fair was held for trading purposes and, in the eighteenth...
Lundy Island is an isolated granite outcrop of rock that lies some twelve miles or so off the North Devon coast, with nothing between it and America. The island is three miles long and just over half a mile wide, and it welcomes over 20,000 tourists each year who sail...
We didn’t have many trips out when I was a child, as my dad was a farmer, and he had little time off. However, I particularly remember him taking me and my mum to Clovelly on my thirteenth birthday, and I immediately fell in love with this picturesque little village,...
In 2023, I was lucky enough to go on a trip to New York to celebrate a significant birthday. I was accompanied by my husband, Bryan, my eldest son, Stuart, and his wife, Laura, and my youngest son, David, and his wife, Jenny. We went for six days, and quite apart from...
A while ago, my husband, Bryan, and I took a holiday in Italy, and I thought I'd share some of the highlights with you. We flew to Naples, an extremely busy city, and then stayed in Sorrento, a pleasant town reached by only one road which meanders through several long...
I always enjoy a visit to the ancient town of Tavistock, which is situated on the River Tavy in West Devon. It can trace its history back to at least 961 when Tavistock Abbey was founded, and whose ruins can still be seen in the centre of the town. Tavistock lies...
As a child, I remember my mother using the phrase only for high days and holidays, and I understood the meaning but never stopped to think about where the saying came from. For example, as a farmer’s daughter, we lived mostly in the living room and kitchen, and the...
The Jurassic Coast stretches for some 95 miles from Studland Bay in Dorset to Exmouth in East Devon and is said to reveal 185 million years of the Earth’s history. It was awarded UNESCO status in 2001 and is well known as a site rich in prehistoric remains. Many...
I recently paid a visit to Great Torrington, a small market town in the north of Devon. The town is sited on an ancient settlement on high ground with a steep drop to the River Torridge below. The Castle remains are surrounded by spectacular views of unspoilt green...
Found on the northern edge of Exmoor, two of my favourite places to visit locally are the picturesque twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. As the name suggests, Lynmouth lies at sea level at the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge some 700 feet...
I met a friend for a coffee recently and we were talking about how our lives have changed over the last couple of years. Looking back, I don’t think there can be anyone that the pandemic has not affected in some way or another. It has been a time of great sadness for...