The Jersey War Tunnels were built by slave labour during the German occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second World War. Originally built as fortifications for Hitler's plan to turn the Islands into an 'impregnable fortress', orders came in 1943 to turn the tunnels into an underground hospital (at this point in the war, … Continue reading Jersey | The Jersey War Tunnels
Jersey's capital of St. Helier is a short bus ride from St. Brelade's Bay. We visited on a Sunday and were both astonished and delighted to find that most shops, cafés and restaurants were closed. We were able to explore at our own pace and drift along side streets and hidden alleyways without fighting hordes of … Continue reading Jersey | St. Helier
During the recent half-term, we nipped on a plane and flew for a mere 35 minutes to the beautiful island of Jersey.Far enough away to feel like 'abroad' and familiar enough to feel British. We stayed in the gorgeous St. Brelade's Bay and our hotel over looked the beach. The beach is apparently in the … Continue reading Jersey | St Brelade’s Bay
I was invited recently to the London Concours at the Honourable Artillery Company in the City of London. Having never been to the HAC before, I jumped at the chance … even though the main attractions were 80 cars. Never let it be said that I'm adverse to wearing a dress and drinking Champagne mid-morning.I still … Continue reading The London Concours at the HAC
I do like a wedding! And Saturday's wedding, a small affair you may have heard mentioned here and there, was the perfect excuse to dust off the family heirloom, break open the bubbles before lunchtime and eat cake. I have my own story of meeting Prince Harry. Not long after I'd left the RAF, I … Continue reading Royal Wedding Brunch
I'd pre-booked a tour of the US Capitol Building a few weeks before we travelled to Washington, DC. It's one of those buildings that's instantly recognisable, probably because of its similarity to the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral ... and seven series of West Wing.The tours are free and last around an hour, maybe a little … Continue reading Washington, DC | The Capitol Building
Washington, DC is awash with world-class museums and the majority of them are free to enter. The Smithsonian runs a large proportion of them and their buildings occupy large blocks on either side of the National Mall, so they are easy to find. Air and Space Museum: This Museum is part of the Smithsonian setup … Continue reading Washington, DC | Museums
I've always thought that Lord Trenchard had a warped sense of humour when he founded the Royal Air Force on 1st April, 1918. The centenary has been on my radar for a while, obviously, and throughout March I attempted to gather up any photos of me in my uniform. Of course, because I served in … Continue reading The RAF at 100
Sadly, the UK has just one national chain of bookshops left. Thankfully, there are numerous independent bookshops around the country that are managing to hang on and keep their doors open; London has some real gems. Here are three of my favourite: John Sandoe Books can be found just off the King's Road in Chelsea (nearest Tube: … Continue reading London’s Independent Bookshops
St James's is bounded to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James's Park and to the east by Haymarket. Post Second World War, the area became predominantly commercial but, as is happening in large swathes of Central London, it's slowly becoming a home for the very wealthy, with … Continue reading Weekday Walks | St. James’s
