September 11, 2001 Memorial in Stresa, Italy

On a recent visit to the delightful town of Stresa on the shore of the Lake Maggiore, Italy, I came across this memorial to the people killed in the September 11 2001 tragedy which was erected by the Italian people in memory of those people who lost their lives. I know by my stats that there are a number of American friends who look at it so I hope you find it of interest.

Preston village pump

On my way to the Verulam Cycling Club's annual hill climb, an event which ends the cycle club's racing season, I passed through the village of Preston, where I took a photograph of the village pump, which was used to pump water from underground tanks to used for domestic use. Preston has an interesting history going back hundreds of years. If you are interested in cycling look up http://www.verulamcc.org.uk/ the Cycling Club,of which I have been a member for over 45 years. Hill climbs on cycles are a young man's sport so I timed the riders up the hill which pushing the button on a stop watch is much more conducive for my age which is 82 years.

Wells Fargo in England!

For our American friends I thought I would show you a Wells Fargo coach in the heart of Bedfordshire which was used in a film (not the real thing of course!)

A ride to a Discovery Centre

I recently  visited a Discovery Centre in Stockwood Park, Luton, although I cheated a little because it is in the neighbouring county of Bedfordshire. At the centre is a very interesting collection of horse drawn carriages and old motor cars set in very nice grounds. Among the exhibits is an old horse drawn London omnibus.  Hope you like it.

A visit to a scarecrow festival

A few days ago I visited the village of Flamstead in Hertfordshire where the villagers hold a scarecrow festival. Most of the villagers make a scarecrow and exhibit them in the front of their houses. The event attracts hundreds of people and the proceeds from the various stalls selling cakes, hot dogs, cups of tea, etc go to local charities. Visitors are encouraged to vote for the best scarecrow. The winner this year wasn't exactly a scarecrow but a very interesting layout of a Wild West show with Indians and cowboys. There was an exhibition of water colour paintings on show in the parish church and a concert by the Hemel Hempstead brass band the highlight of which was an invitation by the bandmaster to a very young girl to conduct the band which she did very well and managed to keep the beat right even though she had to have a chair on top of a table to see the band! Hope you like to see a few scarecrows. The man in the floral hat is real and is a Morris dancer, a traditional English dance performed with  much dangling of bells attached to the dancers' legs accompanied by a piano accordion and concertina.

A visit to the city of St Albans

I recently had a visit to the city of St Albans which is only 6 miles from where I live. It has a very impressive cathedral and an ancient Abbey Gateway. If you are ever in the vicinity of St Albans it is worth a tour where you can be guided around the cathedral by an official guide (times 11.30 Monday to Saturday, 14.30 Sunday to Friday, 14.00 Saturday, 13.05 Daily highlights tour). Just down a pathway is the Fighting Cocks public house, reputed to be the oldest licensed premises in England, where you can get a refreshing drink. What more can you ask for!

Engraved seat at Redbournbury Mill

A short cycle ride to Redbournbury Mill, a working mill which grinds corn for the production of bread at its own bakery.  There is adjacent to the mill a water wheel which drives the mechanism for the grinding wheels within the mill.  There are two rivers quite close to one another, the River Red, which passes through the village of Redbourn, and the River Ver, which passes through the city of St Albans, the Roman city of Verulamium. I hope you can enlarge the pictures to see them more clearly.