Davos

There is so much about Davos in the news in January,as the World Economnic Forum takes place there but January ends, crowds disappear and I can hardly stop myself from booking skiing holiday there! Davos and nearby much quieter Klosters are such lovely places. One is spoiled for choice there - you can be as active as you want, or you can arrange your holiday to be very relaxing and enjoy peace and tranquillity. One place in Davos takes a very special place in my heart, the Schatzalp on 1880 m above sea level. It was the location of the famous book "Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann and you can walk now on the Thomas Mann path from the Waldhotel Davos to the Schatzalp. Along the long road, there are notice boards with references to the work of Thomas Mann. Walking is fun, but there is no greater fun than tobogganing down the Schatzalp! The run starts 300 metres above Davos and finishes at Davos Platz. Even better, do it at night, but headlight or torch is recommended.

St. John the Baptist

At long last my book about St. John the Baptist church in Old Malden is finished! The village Malden situated on the hill was inhabited since the early Iron Age. The church is of Saxon origin and it was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was originally owned by the Augustinians of Merton Priory. A typical Saxon door-head still exists in the south wall of the Lady Chapel. Major rebuild of the church started in 1609. The nave and tower of the church were rebuilt entirely in red brick, while older parts of the building containing Saxon workmanship were retained. Further renovation took place during Queen Victoria’s reign: the south porch was demolished and a new entrance was established through the tower.By 1866 however, the Jacobean church was too small for the village and the north wall was pulled down and replaced by the arcade. The north aisle was added, although it was demolished to make room for the present nave and chancel. The book can be ordered using this link: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2967981

Creative pains

I find especially trying (but exciting at the same time) working on the cover of the book. The best example is my latest project, about St. John the Baptist Church in Old Malden. This charming old church is a Jacobean church built on Saxon ruins, with some additional Victorian extensions. It is tucked away in a conservation area with ancient fields and the Hogsmill River nearby. It is truly tucked away and it's incredibly difficult to take a shot that would be fit for the cover, hence my pain! One thousand hours later, I have eventually decided on one (guess which one). Time for thinking about font - not as simple as you might think! Should I go for the old gothic one to underline the old history of the place or should I choose a slick modern one to connect past with present? Thick or thin, big or small, elegant or fanciful? Believing that less is more, I made up my mind. The creative pains are over. Are they? No, I want to start again, to redo the book, to redo the cover....never ending story!

Nonsuch Park

Busy, busy, busy - that's the only excuse I have for not publishing anything for such a long time. Working like crazy on my brand new website, I almost forgot that there was a wonderful world outside, now even more wonderful because it's covered in a white fluffy snow! Beautiful Nonsuch Park is not so famous now, but during Henry VIII, it was "The" place to be! It was built after the birth of his son, Edward VI. The name "Nonsuch" was chosen, as it was claimed there was no such palace elsewhere equal to its magnificence (the cost in today's money was some 104 million pounds, so it must have been quite spectacular). Shame that later on, Charles II gave the palace to his mistress, Barbara, Countess of Castlemaine, who decided that the best way to pay her gambling debts was to pull it down in 1682 and sell off the building materials!

Positive thinking

Champagne still buzzing in my head, house is still full of Christmas decorations but new year, 2012 is here! I take from the old year good memories and hope for the best in the months ahead. I stay positive, despite the economic downturn and gloomy projections. My brand new electronic picture frame projects the images from my favourite places and a prominent place take Channel Islands.So with the happy memories and plenty of hopes of what lies ahead, to the New Year!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everybody!Geseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwe jaar, Zorionak eta urte berri on, ᖱᒣᖳᒐᒉᑊᖿᒪᔪᖱᖽᐧᒡᒧᐧᖾᒍ, 聖誕節快樂 , Nadelik Lowen ha Blydhen Nowydh Da, Frohe Weihnachten, Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo, Wesołych świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku, Veselé vánoce a šťastný nový rok, أجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديد

The gates

In the past, London was protected from enemies by defensive walls and gates. Five of the main entrances through the wall into the City were built by the Romans. The gates or City Gates as they were known, weren't gates as we might imagine them; they were more like a multi level buildings with decorative archways through the middle. One of the largest gates was in Fleet Street; it separated the City of London from the City of Westminster. It was called Temple Bar and now, fully restored, is in Paternoster Square. It is shown on my first picture. The second picture however, is not of a city gate but the gate to the Leadenhall Market in the City. Both taken in the evening, they look strikingly beautiful.