Spring in Kyoto

For centuries cherry blossom time has been celebrated in Japan, so it was with excitement that I found myself bound for Kyoto, cultural centre of Japan. It is great gardens for which Kyoto is famous and the first anyone wants to see the Zen dry garden Ryoan-ji.

In the footsteps of Jean Cocteau

One of the appeals of Menton on the French Riviera is the largest museum dedicated to the works of Jean Cocteau (1889-1963), a famous French artist who died fifty years ago. Frederic exolores the museum and the three towns forever linked with his work

Identity and Passport Service

From the website:

“The Identity and Passport Service is responsible for issuing UK passports and identity cards and for the registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales. It is an executive agency of the Home Office.”

Going to Orlando? See a Different Side

If one word sums up Orlando to visitors from the UK or Ireland it would probably be Disneyworld. It is also the 4th largest shopping area in the US after New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The next word might be Universal. espcially sine the Harry Potter area opens next month. But would you think of Winter Park? Similarly if you asked people about shopping in New York, they might say Park Avenue. But have you heard of Park Avenue, Winter Park?
I would be prepared to make a small wager that most of the visitors from our countries never visit Winter Park or even know that it is there. It is about 20 miles away from Orlando and is an upmarket area, a bit like a large village with one main street, Park Avenue, Off this street radiate a few shops, the Morse Museum of Modern Art and, slightly further away, the Polasek Museum and Sculpture Garden. Park avenue is full of boutique shops for clothing, some souvenirs and restaurants galore. hardly a chain store there.

Captivating Castle prepares to open

Arundel Castle to reopen on Friday 29 March

Of airports and trains, politicians and brains…

This morning the Transport Secretary, Justine Greening has gathered media coverage by the shedload. Firstly she suggested that the appointment of First Group to run the west coast rail line would go ahead and secondly that there would be no u-turn on a third runway at Heathrow.

Thai Time

This year, Thai New Year – Songkran – falls between April 13 and 15. Water is at the heart of this three day festival: it symbolises starting the New Year with a clean slate as well as helping Thai people to beat the stifling April heat.
Can’t afford to take a trip to Thailand for a water dousing? Why not celebrate the Thai New Year with a culinary feast of flavoursome Thai dishes courtesy of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Over the next three days we’ll be running a few of Gordon’s favourite Thai recipes: prepare to treat your taste buds!