Category Archives: Photos

The Orchids at Kew Gardens

Posted on February 8, 2023 by John S

Kath and I went to Kew Gardens today to see the Orchids exhibition in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. It opened on 4 February and runs until 5 March. It’s an annual show, but it was the first time we’ve … Continue reading →

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Walking the Wandle

Posted on February 13, 2022 by John S

The River Wandle is one of those well-kept London secrets – unless, of course, you happen to live close by. For me, until recently, it was simply a river that flowed into the Thames in Wandsworth, in south-west London. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Canal and River life, London, Photos | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Canal and River life: (1) Reflections of…

Posted on July 28, 2020 by John S

For the last couple of months I’ve spent a lot of time walking along the nearby Grand Union Canal and from time to time along the River Thames too. I’ve been absorbing the beauty of the natural world – the … Continue reading →

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Graceland – the Book and the Place

Posted on April 28, 2020 by John S

This is a blog I’ve been meaning to write since last year. One of the many pleasures of the End of the Road festival are the interviews that take place in the mornings and early afternoon in the literary tent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema, Music - concerts, lists, reflections, Photos | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dorset coastal skies

Posted on January 6, 2020 by John S

The sea, fresh air, bracing winds and big skies. These are some of the joys of escaping from London – much as we love it – and walking along the coasts of Britain. It works wherever you are – it … Continue reading →

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The rain forest of Lyme Regis

Posted on January 5, 2020 by John S

Between 29 December and 3 January my wife Kath, friends Jon and Maggie and I stayed in Lyme Regis, on the Dorset coast – almost but not quite Devon. Lyme itself is a lovely town and there are some great … Continue reading →

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Suffolk walks – photos from late December

Posted on January 13, 2019 by John S

My wife Kath and I spent a few days, up to and including the New Year, with our friends Jon and Maggie in Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. It’s not the best known part of England – East Anglia generally … Continue reading →

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Beauty in small things

Posted on January 4, 2019 by John S

Back in the early 2000s, when I’d recently become a senior civil servant, I went on a two week leadership course. It was brilliant, and one of the highlights was a day on creativity (yes, in the civil service!) where … Continue reading →

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Belfast Part Three: To the Coast

Posted on April 22, 2018 by John S

In this third part of my Belfast blog, I’d like to share some of the photos I took on the stunning North East coast, Co Antrim. The location for many a “Games of Thrones” scene and (a bit further west … Continue reading →

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Belfast Part Two: The City in Pictures

Posted on April 16, 2018 by John S

Part two of my Belfast trilogy. Mainly photos, but putting them together reminded me how much I loved this city. Even though I’d never looked properly around it before, I felt it was part of me. My second city – … Continue reading →

Posted in Photos, Random stuff | Tagged | 8 Comments