I didn't really know what to expect from the town of Deal. It is located on the east coast of Kent – very convenient if you are taking the Eurotunnel (or a ferry) over to France.
We stayed on a peaceful street lined with beautifully restored houses, and within just five minutes, we were down on the high street. Every day we went for a walk – down to the church, where dog owners walked their dogs on the lawn behind it; down small streets we didn't know yet, but grew to know and – of course – down to the seafront, where you could walk for miles in both directions.
The supermarkets were also close by, and as always, my lovely husband came home with shopping bags and the remark, "Why don't we live HERE?". He has said that in so many places by now, but then again, there ARE so many wonderful places where you could easily settle down.
So I completely understand him, and I find myself asking the exact same question when I talk to people in the streets and shops – and feel like I belong.
You can get a really good impression of the town by watching my video below:
Everybody loves a good murder or two – and this is one of the reasons for the success of the Midsomer Murders series. Other reasons are the typical English villages and the cosy houses that we are introduced to.
Most locations can be found in Buckinghamshire, but not everything has been filmed in a single village. Let's take a look at a few of them:
Long Crendon has been used several times because its High Street is utterly charming. The village’s history stretches far back, which is beautifully reflected in its well-preserved houses and ancient church.
The courthouse beside the church dates back to 1485. At one time, it housed the village poor on the ground floor, while the upper floor was used as a courtroom.
Marlow is idyllically situated on the Thames, surrounded by beautiful countryside, and many of its elegant houses date from the 18th century.
Close to Marlow is Little Marlow, where – quite appropriately – the master of crime novels, Edgar Wallace, is buried in the nearby churchyard. The village church has often featured in other well-known series like Lewis, Miss Marple, and Poirot.
Hambleden is a frequently visited village – not only by tourists, but also by film crews, as so many English movies and series have been filmed here. The village is known for its flint cottages and idyllic surroundings, and close by you can see the historic watermill.
I recently stayed in a holiday cottage in Hambleden for a week. If you would like to see my YouTube video of this beautiful place, you can find the link below.
If you remember the atmosphere from
childhood train journeys, you would love the old steam trains still running in
Great Britain. Many follow some very scenic routes through areas that you may
not have readily access to otherwise, and you can relish the sight in a relaxed
and comfortable manor. And at the same time enjoy the trip with one of these
wonderful trains that are so lovingly cared for.
Severn Valley Railway is one of the
railways that still run regularly between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and
Bridgnorth in Shropshire, a distance of 16 miles. The route follows closely the
meandering course of the River Severn, and the surrounding area is unspoiled
and beautiful. At some point the train crosses the River Severn by means of the
Victoria Bridge from 1861- a good example of the craftsmanship of that time.
The historic trains run most of the year
and from time to time special events are on the programme. Maybe a certain
period of time is reconstructed and the participants dress in costumes of the
period, or maybe a “Steam Gala” is being held with a great collection of steam
locomotives, a very frequent service of trains and all-night operation. This
must be something for all
railwayenthusiasts.
At such a day we went to Arley station; one
of the stops on the route. Arley began as a tiny station in 1862, and although
the station grew in time, the main passengers were the anglers who came to
spend the day fishing in the river. Wagons with coal frequently drove through the
station with cargo from the mines, but in the mid-1960s the golden times of the
railway were over - the passengers preferred the car, and many rural stations
were closed. Arley station was one of them, and soon it became overgrown with
bushes and trees.
In 1974 Severn Valley Railway bought the line,
and the station was restored and reopened with great festivities. Since then
volunteers have looked after the station and kept the buildings, the platforms
and the small gardens.
The autumn Steam Gala event saw trains from
near and far. Some came all the way from Devon and Sussex, while others had taken
the weekend off from the museums, where they normally belonged. One of the
guests were the famous City of Truro; the first European steam locomotive to
travel in excess of 150 km/h, and another celebrity was the locomotive 6024 King
Edward I.
The arrangement lasted for three days, and
during that time no less than 350 locomotives were on tracks. Beautiful trains
with fine names such as 7802 Bradley Manor and 9017 Earl of Berkeley came
puffing into the station for full steam. It was a splendid sight, and the
amateur photographers flocked to get the best pictures of their favourite
train.
You probably have to be an enthusiast to
tell the difference between the trains, because there are so many different
kinds. Until 1948 there were four great railway companies in England
constructing lines and producing trains, and those four were later nationalised
to form British Railways. The locomotives from these four companies each has
their own characteristics, and personally I prefer the dark green from Great
Western Railway with all the fine details of brass and copper.
Also the carriages for the passengers are
different. Outside they can be wooden or painted in chocolate brown and cream
colours; inside they can be extremely elegant. Many of the carriages have teak
wood interiors, and there is very comfortable seating for the first-class
passengers. Some carriages may even have a bar, where you can enjoy refreshments
during the ride, and the dining car has cloth covered tables dressed with fine
china.
Severn Valley Railway still serves dinner
on board the old trains, so you can eat in style while driving through the
English landscape. If you want more than just dinner, you could risk it and
take part in a murder mystery. Titles like “Murder at the Station” and “Death
for Dinner” might indicate what to expect, and the fellow travellers on these
trips may not all be trustworthy...
In Yorkshire we
once stayed far out on the moors in an ancient house. There was absolutely no
one and nothing nearby. The house was surrounded by vast moorland, and in the
distance you could see the Cumbrian Mountains. It was pretty tough out there,
and there was snow, even though it was in May. In the evening we sat at the
dining table with an open window to hear the bird’s evensong, but otherwise
there was absolutely silent.
One day after dinner I went for a walk on the moors. The dusk was falling, and
the area was covered in a very evocative, light gray tint. I knew that I should
stick to the narrow, unpaved roads, partly because I wasn’t familiar with the
area, and partly because there were many abandoned and more or less collapsed
mine shafts, I could fall into. So the evening stroll consisted of a long walk out
and an equally long walk back.
I had occasionally seen horses out there. Beautiful black horses with long
flowing manes, and they moved so gracefully, almost floating, that they were a
pleasure to watch. The horses were not fenced and could move around as they
wanted, but they were very cautious and stayed at a safe distance.
At one point I stood and enjoyed the sight of the sun going down behind the
mountains. It was, as usual, completely quiet, but suddenly I heard a faint
snort right behind me. My heart skipped a beat or two, and very, very slowly I
turned around. I hadn’t even heard that a herd of horses had showed up. There
were 5-6 adult horses, and with the herd were a few foals.
We stood for a long time and just looked at each other. Then one foal slowly
approached me and came so close, that it could sniff my neck with his velvet
muzzle. Meanwhile I stood completely motionless, hoping inwardly that the
adults were not troubled.
When the curious foal
had finished his investigation and found that I was probably not a horse, but
on the other hand nothing dangerous, it went back to the herd. And the horses just
vanished as silently as they had appeared...
In the
autumn months everything blooms in shades of purple in Picton Garden near Great
Malven, where the Picton family has grown asters since 1906. Today, the site
forms The National Collection of autumn-flowering asters, and it has gradually
become quite an extensive collection.
From August
to mid-October, you can see over four hundred different asters growing among
other late perennials, grasses and shrubs. It is a fantastic sight, as asters
come in a range of colours from white and pale pink through light purple to
very dark purple.
The autumn
flowering asters can be from just 10 cm in height to almost 200 cm. There are
great variations, and it depends - among other things - on the soil they grow
in. If the soil is well-drained and sandy, they will not grow that tall, while
in nutrient-rich soil they can grow above average height.
Asters are
wonderful plants to have in the garden because they are hardy and bloom so
willingly. Fortunately, more people are realizing that asters are not just
beautiful to look at; they are also extremely good to plant for the sake of wildlife.
Asters
attract butterflies and bees in large numbers, and they are a fine source of
food for the insects at a time when there is not much else in the garden. When
the plants later go to seed, the birds come to eat the seeds, so asters will
bring life to the garden in a lot of different ways.
In the beginning of the 90's I wrote three books – one about Dolls Houses; one about other kinds of miniature projects and one about stencilling – but for a long period of my life, I did anything but write. I worked as a secretary, a clerk, a copywriter and a translator – just to mention a few of the many jobs I have had.
Writing is my passion though, and from 2008, I wrote and published magazines about Great Britain – which was another passion of mine. In all 32 magazines with articles of historic houses, history, gardens, animals and all things nice and British…
Lately I have come full circle. I stopped writing magazines and resumed writing books – and I feel like I have come home. I have so many projects; so many things I wish to write about. I have written a book about the beautiful things in life, one about the English Christmas and one about London. All in Danish...
I have also written a book about Scotland. I have visited Scotland many times, and for two months I drove from East to West and all the way round in a motorhome. I miss those days and would love to go back… but for now, I must make do with my Scottish pictures.
