A Year Travelling the UK Coastline - Week 6 - Essex - Kelvedon - Tiptree Jam - Braintree - Southend On Sea - Mersea Island

 WEDNESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2014 Week 6 - Different Strokes

This week, we have mainly been in Essex, which has meant sorting out little jobs, like getting the back of the van sorted with my book stickers and promotional material for when we go to book signings and, fantasy conventions, etc. (picture).

We’ve stayed in Kelvedon Hatch, near the 'secret' war bunker, which's not so secret anymore and Steeple Bay Holiday Park near Maldon. Ever stayed in a small caravan park at the end of the season? It’s odd, a bit of a caravan ghost town, and the clubhouse at night is like going to a village of die-hard bingo-crazed people who all know one another (caravan owners’ exclusive club). 

Having said that, there are some lovely places to visit around here: Castle Hedingham. We went here on a medieval day, with knights fighting and jousting and fair maidens showing the tourists around! I love anything like that.

If you have a sweet tooth, there's Tiptree, where the world-famous Tiptree jam is made. They offer a tour of the game and chocolate-producing areas, which offers lots of opportunities to taste yummy products.

I particularly love Mersea Island. You can access via a bridge which floods twice a day as the tide comes in, so you do need to check the tidal times so you don't get cut off if you are staying on the island or you get stuck on the island if you are just visiting. This island is famous for growing oysters, so there are some great seafood shacks along the beachfront. I recommend The Shed. It's simply presented with just crusty French sticks and salads, but it's absolutely delicious, and you cannot get seafood or oysters any fresher than here. There beach area has cute coloured Beach huts and there is a great camp site right of the beach. Thoroughly recommend Mersea. 

Southend On Sea may not be for everyone, but I love it. It's Essex's Blackpool, but smaller. It's got everything you need for a traditional British Seaside holiday town, with a fun fair and a train that takes trips out to the longest pier in the UK. I first discovered the cockney classic, Pie and Mash with Liquor and jellied eels! (I didn't try the eels, though!). And Jaime Oliver even has a temporary restaurant on the pier where he films his seasonal cookery programme.

I can only have a blog about travelling through Essex if I mention Braintree and Halstead. I love this little market town, but I may be biased as I lived in Braintree for a year. Halstead has the most amazing antique warehouse, which was featured in the fabulous 90s TV series Lovejoy. And I have to say that this area of Essex is where Lovejoy was regularly filmed, so if I ever feel I need Braintree or Essex, I watch a little of Ian McShane!

Del and I took a little detour back to London for a night this week ten years ago to attend the Different Strokes Annual Convention. Since Derek suffered his stroke twelve years ago, he has raised funds for this noble charity, which helps with knowledge, rehabilitation, and support for young stroke sufferers, their families, friends, and carers. I can honestly say it was a moving and humbling experience for both of us.

Derek had already raised money for them in the past by doing a 101-mile walk (when doctors told him he would never walk again and then said he would only ever walk with a stick!). He proved the doctors wrong and then went on to do a 101-mile swim a few years later. Different Strokes have given him and continue to provide help and support. We believe more awareness about stroke needs to be raised, like knowing what signs to look out for in recognising a stroke and acting fast when it happens to get the necessary clot-busting drugs to that person as quickly as possible.

For me, the best parts of the day were the uplifting and heart-warming stories that stroke survivors shared of how they coped with their new lives after stroke and how they have found the positive from something that has left some of them with challenging disabilities. An inspirational and humorous speaker was Megan Giglia, who had a stroke at just 27 years old, an active, healthy young woman who was a sports coach and carer. Two years later, Megan 2 (as she calls herself) has found love with “One who loves her for who she is” and is now representing Team GB in the Rio 2016 Para-cycling team. She said, “The way I look at it, Megan 1 had no chance of competing in the Olympics, but Megan 2 has every chance.”. Since meeting Megan, she went on to win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic games and was awarded an MBE at the 2017 New Year's Honours list. Amazing!

We heard an acceptance speech from the husband of the recently deceased Mal, who won the Volunteer of the Year Award. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Despite her own illness and disabilities from her own stroke, she worked tirelessly campaigning for stroke survivors and fundraising for Different Strokes.

Then there was the learning aspect for me; despite being married to a stroke survivor, there were a lot of things I didn’t kno
w myself about the condition or that the level of treatment and care differs greatly depending on which part of the country you live in, which was shocking. (More facts and figures will be provided in the next blog post.)

I particularly enjoyed the presentation by Clinical Neuropsychologist Jo Johnson, who has written and published a book – Shrinking The Smirch; by using a metaphorical creature to explain some of the problems stroke survivors suffer, especially self-esteem and self-doubt, she demonstrates how those harmful little monsters (Our Smirch) constantly nagging away at us in our heads and how it can be shrunk or changed to something positive, (I noticed quite a few NLP techniques in there) and as Jo delivered her speech it was quite obvious to me that anyone and everyone could read this book and recognise themselves in there.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Motorhome Life - Week 5 - 30 September - Isle of Sheppey - Maidstone - Ramsgate - Margate

 Disclaimer: 10 years ago this week I posted below, I'm sure Isle of Sheppey is now lovely!

Isle of Sheppey, hmm, what can I say that's nice... Hmmm, well there were a lot of retro caravans on the site, which I love, so walking around the campsite was nice... Umm. That's about it really, Sheerness, the main town, and a dowdy old town it was with a sea wall you can walk along. Oh, and we discovered why Peter Andres goes to Iceland! This place needs some serious injection of cash into it. 

Honestly it could be made into a lovely little seaside town, unless of course we turned left when we should have turned right! Leysdown on the other side of the Island was more touristy, with lots of camp sites, but had one street down to the seafront, which was basically Amusements Arcades and Cafe's.

So onto Maidstone... We stayed at Bearsted Park, lovely place couldn't fault it, but not much else is going on here. We went into Maidstone and wondered around the shopping centre, then found something amazing! A restaurant called The Buddha Belly. All you can eat, Chinese, Indian, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean buffet restaurant for just £8 a sitting. So for lunch I had Thai to start, Indian for mains, then finished off with pizza and garlic bread for desert. Totally amazing! Needless to say, we didn't eat for the rest of the day.

Kent is meant to be the 'Garden of England', and I'm not sure we saw it's true potential. I loved Canterbury, but I think I'd like to go back again and have another look around. We did only pass through Margate and Ramsgate, so maybe in a few years we return to see if there has been any changes.
We spent the weekend in ‘T'Big Smook’, in that there London town. And what a joyous weekend it was. Abbey Wood Caravan Park is a woodland oasis in the middle of a built up area of the inner city. Granted we were locked in at night with a twelve foot high electric fencing and camera's everywhere, but we did feel very safe! Public transport was frequent and easy to negotiate and we did a river cruise on the Thames and saw a lot of the major sights.

We also went to an olde worlde London style pub, which I love, because it just feels all lovely and cosy, like a real pub should look like. We then watched Lucy at the Empire Cinema at Leicester Square, which was a cracking film and I may blog about in my book and arts blog The Beyond However, I will say it was very thought provoking film, if not a little scary. Del seemed to think so! 

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Travelling the Coastline of UK - Week 4 - 23 September - Deal, Sandwich, Canterbury and Whitstable

TUESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2014 Week 4

I need to remember where we've been, as I'm already forgetting, which is why I'm so glad I began this blog to document this momentous Year-long adventure! My sense of time or days of the week has virtually disappeared, too, but I will soldier on.

Deal- A lovely little seaside town, wandered around, but the end of the summer season means that it's getting quiet now. It is a former fishing, mining and garrison town whose history is closely linked to the anchorage in the Downs. As you can see, there is a fort, which we took a look around. I always find forts quite creepy, but there is a lot of maritime history here. We also had a walk around a really quaint little village close by called Sandwich, just because it was called Sandwich! I do recommend a visit, as it is quintessentially English and as we were in the County known as 'The English Garden' this village is a lovely example of why Kent has been lovingly been awarded this name.

Somewhere I have always wanted to visit is Canterbury, so we decided to spend three days in Canterbury, taking the scenic route along the Kent coastal road through Margate (yes, it's still in need of some rejuvenation.) Herne Bay then took the detour to Canterbury, which was an amazing historical city for which I had big hopes, and it didn't disappoint me.
First, we visited the Cathedral and learnt about Thomas Beckett's murder, his Martyrdom, and the reason so many pilgrims headed to Canterbury in Medieval times. Although I studied History at school, this was something we never covered. 

I heard of Thomas Beckett, Chaucer, and The Canterbury Tales, but I didn't know the details. Now I do. Parts of the Cathedral were like Hogwarts in Harry Potter, so I got all excited. We went for a punt along the river while being told stories of Canterbury's history, which was very pleasant. Despite it being late September, when we're meant to be in Autumn, the weather has been extremely kind so far.

We then went to an interactive museum called The Canterbury Tales and learned why Geoffrey Chaucer was making a pilgrimage to Canterbury from London, why there were many other pilgrims on the expedition with him, and why they all decided to tell stories in the first place. 

I found this fascinating part of our Great British history. I was so impressed that I bought my very own copy of The Canterbury Tales, and I'm currently reading it.

We eventually moved on to Whitstable; as I was all touristic out from Canterbury, we went for lovely walks along the coast. We looked around the quaint little fishing town and had a nosy at the properly working harbour, taking in a very smelly fish market! I mainly stayed around the campsite, but I'm a tired bunny. On to Isle of Sheppey xx

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

A Year in a Motorhome - South East Coast - Week 3 - 16 September - Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings

 Brighton - We began the tour of Brighton down the main seafront promenade and came across a food and drink fair, so we bought lots of yummy goodies. The Lanes are the old world of independent shops, all tightly packed together to give a quaint and relaxed shopping experience. My only gripe is that there were far too many jewellery shops and not enough cutesy nic-nac gift shops. But we did come across this little gem. The Choccy Woccy Doo Dah cake shop from the TV series. It is amazing! They make creations, and they have a 'cake garden' and a witches' kitchen. Everything in it is made of cake, and as I love all things spooky, it was just divine!

We watched a steel band; listening to live music in the open air always makes me happy. We finished off by experiencing the pier at night, and I felt like a kid again back in Blackpool during the illuminations! It was great, and Del won me a Monster Inc. teddy. Oh, I almost forgot: We watched a TV crew film, the Foxy Bingo Advertisement on the Piers Ghost Train ride. It looked all exciting, but the extras were all sitting around,
looking very bored! We also took a look around an ex-royal residence, The Pavilion.

Eastbourne - 

It was pretty dull, and not much on the promenade either, just hotels and B&Bs; I wasn't impressed in the slightest, so unfortunately, I have no photos and not much to say about the place. We stayed at Pevensey Bay and walked from the burnt-down pier in Eastbourne to the Sovereign Harbour, which was one of these recently built, trendy homes and bars around a mariner of boats. It was lovely, but our feet ached so much that we went to watch Guardians of The Galaxy, a hilarious movie (if you like the Marvel franchise). It was lovely, but our feet ached so much that. 

Hastings- Wow, wow, wow. Totally different reaction than the 'mergh' when I saw Eastbourne. Hastings is lovely and everything I love about a town. The Old Town has cute little winding streets, almost impossible for cars to get up, and lots of old shops and cottages to explore. Even the shopping experience is unique, with only small independent traders allowed to open shops here, which is shopping heaven for me. Little nic nac shops and olde worlde sweet shops, there's even a restored museum kitchen-ware shop, which you can look around, even the living quarters had been restored back to the turn of the twentieth century. Lovely.

We had a fantastic meal in a seafood restaurant looking out over the harbour area, where all the unique fishermen's tall black wooden 'net shops' still stand. We went up the cliffside cable car lift and looked out at the fantastic views. Even the campsite we stayed at 'Shearbarn Holiday Park' was beautiful in every aspect. It was high up on the cliff top overlooking the bay, with a small pool and leisure facilities, so it was not too busy.

Hythe - Hythe is a market town and civil parish on the edge of Romney Marsh, in the district of Folkestone and Hythe in Kent, England. The word Hythe or Hithe is an Old English word meaning haven or landing place and is known as The 'Jewel of the South East'; hmm, I guess I'm now comparing everywhere to Hastings; I don't think so. It's quaint and quiet with a miniature railway, but far too many tea rooms!

See you next week on our little adventure!

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Penney's on Tour - Week 2 - 9 September - Portsmouth, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and South Downs

 TUESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2014 Week 2

We had to make a quick pit stop in Newark to get a few things fixed on Amethyst. We arrived at Portsmouth at twenty-five, but we have photos to prove our start point on the 1st of September and, of course, the all-important start mileage clock. For any of you who have bought tickets to guess the mileage we travel or who are planning to buy, then this is VERY important.

We then travelled pretty close to Bognor Regis for two nights, where we walked along the shingle beachfront and then sat on the beach eating fish and chips, with not an amusement arcade in sight. Bognor is a lovely small seaside town (smaller than Skeggy) and it was such a beautiful day and not very busy due to it being the first day back at school. Yay!

We moved on to Littlehampton, which was very picturesque. The weather was still glorious, so a mooch along the promenade was called for. We found the longest bench made from what looked like an old toy railway track (apparently, this is the highlight of Littlehampton), two large rusting anchors, and a lovely little marina area that they called the Riviera. It would have been even lovelier if there had been just a couple more trendy shops and bars to sit out at and watch the world go by.

We then moved on to Washington as we couldn't get into a campsite in Worthing. I'm not sure why, as school had started again, but we managed to get the last pitch. We stopped off at Arundel Castle. Wow! This place was amazing. As I do have a bee in my bonnet about castles and stately homes, then I've been to a few in my time, and this has to be the best. It's a working castle, i.e. the Duke of Norfolk still resides there, and it was seriously imposing and impressive, walking up the hill to the place, the gardens and the house inside, especially the Library and the chapel. Oh my, if I lived in a house like that, I would be a permanent fixture in the library, which is very Gothic, atmospheric, and haunted. Excellent, everything I could need to write a book about!

We also walked along the South Downs and up to Canterbury Ring, a wooden circle of trees that have been linked to UFO kidnapping, devil worship, and pentagrams found made of flint! It's a circle of trees on a hill! Even though I'm not that gullible, people like to think in the fantastical and mystical; someone even reported people levitating there. Hey ho. But the scenery and views when we reached the top were breath-taking, and it's moments like this that I love doing the UK tour. The walk uphill was a killer. A friend of mine used to call me a Mountain Goat when I was younger because whenever we were walking, especially when walking in the Lake District, I could climb anywhere unfazed, with no aches or pains to speak of. Well, this spritely young goat feels like Old Billy Goat Gruff these days. Crikey! Ache! Phew, it was hard work but worth it.

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

#travelblogger #coastlineofBritain #travellingmotorhome 

A Year in a Motorhome - Week 1 - 01 September - Chatsworth House, Warwick, and Skegness

 TUESDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER 2014 Week 1

We had a week to kill before making our way to Portsmouth, the starting point of our yearlong travelling adventure. So we went to see Chatsworth House, as I haven't been there since I was a child. I still remember the big entrance hall, and it would be nice to see some sights inland, as the majority of the travelling this year will be around the coastline.

The weather could have been kinder, but overall, it was a lovely day. The house was amazing, and I love stately homes that are generous with the number of rooms you can walk around and nosey at. Considering the Duke of Devonshire and his family actually live there, I was very impressed. I know I wouldn't like people nosing around my house!

We went onto Warwick and parked the motorhome in the middle of the racecourse. Yes, there is a caravan park in the middle of the racecourse! This would have been even more amazing had there been a meet at the time we stayed. 

Instead, we decided to overdose on history and go to Warwick Castle, too. Now granted, it is supposed to be the best castle to look around in the country (apparently); however, I have seen better, but I like them crumbling and falling apart, where you can imagine them brimming with everyday life in medieval times, which is where I came up with the idea in Didikai Witch,  that the coven of witches hid away in four castles around the country. A secret, romantic world, I guess. 

Anyway, back to Warwick Castle. The royal rooms you can look around are impressive, and the history is interesting. As you move through the rooms, you are also transported through different moments in the castle's history, from medieval banquet halls to Tudor and Stuart times to the turn of the twentieth century, when Queen Victoria's eldest son used to stay with Earl Warwick a lot. It was his haven from the royal court.

The castle was bought by Tussauds, so there were lots of waxwork models depicting how the residents dressed and lived when it was still a working castle. We watched Knights sword fighting, a falconry display and even saw a condor. We watched an accurate jousting match, and you could have a go at archery if you so wished. It was a great day out, especially for children and families out just days. But I really don't think it was worth charging £24 entrance fee. And that was 10 years ago! Especially if you are a family where other tours around the castle and attractions such as the archery cost extra! it could turn into a costly day out.

At the end of our fill-in week, we spent three days in Skegness. It was nice as far as British seaside towns go. A big fun fair and Butlins holiday camp meant one end of Skeggy was very busy indeed, so we walked the other way to the town itself. It was a small seaside town, and we quickly walked around in half a day, but it was pleasant enough and a nice break before we started the real challenge of our year-long coastline tour!

Don't forget to go to my YouTube Channel for more Travel VLOGS 

And my book Links here for The Beyond Series of Epic Urban Fantasy 

or, if you prefer crime and suspense, why not try The Mancunian Tales

Celebrate Book Lovers Day: Discovering the Health Benefits of Reading

 

Every year on 09 August, bookworms around the world unite to celebrate their love for literature on Book Lovers Day. Whether you're immersed in the pages of a gripping novel, exploring a factual tome, or escaping into the realms of fantasy, reading offers more than just entertainment—it also contributes significantly to your overall health and wellbeing.

The Mental Gymnastics of Reading

Reading is often likened to a workout for the brain. When you engage with a book, you're not just passively absorbing information; you're actively processing, analysing, and interpreting text. This mental exercise strengthens neural pathways, improving cognitive function and potentially staving off cognitive decline as you age.

Stress Reduction and Relaxation

In our fast-paced world, finding moments of peace and relaxation is crucial for mental health. Reading has been shown to lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress, by transporting readers into different worlds and allowing them to temporarily escape from everyday worries. The immersive nature of reading can induce a state of relaxation similar to meditation, making it an excellent bedtime ritual for better sleep.

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Fiction, in particular, allows readers to step into the shoes of characters from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This journey fosters empathy and emotional intelligence, helping readers understand and relate to others in their real lives. By encountering different perspectives, readers can broaden their worldview and become more open-minded individuals.

Expanding Knowledge and Vocabulary

Whether you're delving into non-fiction or absorbing the rich language of literature, reading expands your knowledge base and enhances your vocabulary. The more you read, the more words and ideas you're exposed to, which can improve communication skills and even boost confidence in social settings.

Building a Reading Habit

To reap the full benefits of reading, consider incorporating it into your daily routine. Set aside dedicated time each day—whether it's during your morning commute, lunch break, or before bed—to indulge in a good book. Joining a book club or discussing books with friends can also enrich the experience by providing new insights and recommendations.

 

The Mancunian Tales

 In the United Kingdom, Book Lovers Day is observed in various ways. People share book recommendations with friends and family, indulge in reading their favourite books or discover new genres, and attend literary events or visit local bookstores and libraries. It presents an opportunity for individuals to appreciate the written word and engage in discussions about the importance of books in society. Book Lovers Day is observed annually on August 9th, bringing book fanatics together in a mutual celebration of literature.

The Beyond Series

Fun things to do in the UK for Book Lovers Day

Visit your local bookstore and find a book series that interests you. The store may be offering a special deal to celebrate the day.

Get a library card! Visit your local library and sign up for one. You'll be able to browse the library's collection and even check out new books. Visit the Rylands Library in Manchester, it's incredible, like Hogwarts with tonnes of books!

Check out the Bodleian Libraries. These historic libraries are part of the University of Oxford and are some of the oldest in Europe. You can take a guided tour to celebrate the day.

Visit The Charles Dickens Museum in London. You can explore the author's former home, see the first editions and manuscripts of his novels, and learn about his life.

This year, I plan to visit Stratford Upon Avon to visit Shakespeare's Museum and Anne Hathaway's Cottage. What will you be doing to celebrate Book Lovers Day?

Conclusion

As we celebrate Book Lovers Day, let's not only cherish the stories that transport us but also recognise the profound impact reading has on our health and wellbeing. Whether you're seeking relaxation, mental stimulation, or personal growth, books offer a gateway to a world of possibilities. So, pick up a book, immerse yourself in its pages, and let the benefits of reading enhance your life.

Happy Book Lovers Day to all the avid readers and book enthusiasts out there!