Glad to Have the Problem (I guess)

I've been wanting to write more on this blog about actual travelling - yes, that experience where you get your suitcases, set off into the sunrise, etc.

But in fact lately most of what I have had to report seems to be me refusing press trips BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE TIME. As for longer trips, it's easier because they can be planned much further in advance, but then they have to be pretty simple otherwise they start costing lots of money - the freebies one gets are rarely available for more than a day or two at a time.

In the last few weeks I have said no to short trips to discover rum in the Caribbean, coffee in Seattle, American spas, a farm in Tuscany and medieval architecture in the Netherlands. I even have an outlet for these stories, though the money I would make is not worth going on the trips for. But they would be so interesting.

Now been offered one I would really love; it includes the stained glass
in Chartres, which I've long wanted to see. But it departs very soon.

AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE THE TIME.

I am considering going anyway. Is it worth feeling totally stressed, headachey, worried, and downright ill trying to get everything else done beforehand? Press trips are not like a holiday at all and they usually keep you busy, so I can't say I will relax on the trip.

This still sounds like the sort of problem I ought to be glad to have. And that is true. I am glad to have it, even though it is frustrating, and even though I fear I won't go to Chartres either.

Arthur the Cat

Those Judge's Lodgings in Presteigne (mentioned in the review of Little Quebb, below) have been adopted as home by a large fat white cat called Arthur. Here's a picture of Arthur, and we thought he looked just a trifle strange. Not only because he is sitting in the dock, but because he has no ears. Or at least, none to speak of.

It turns out that being pure white, his skin is over sensitive to sun. But being a cat, he likes very warm places. His fondness for sunbathing gave him skin cancer, hence he lost his ears, which were not very well covered in fur. The vet says he'll be okay for the rest of his life now he's had them off.

Poor Arthur! But he is a pampered pet, really. The people who run the museum have a donations box specially for him, to ensure he gets the delicacies and care that he seems to feel is his due.

"My Favorite Place on Earth"

I'm told things are difficult in the travel writing biz in the USA - just like they are here. (I don't want to be discouraging to would-be travel writers, but even the pros are finding it hard to make much money at present).

So I was glad to see that an American travel writer friend, Jerry Camarillo Dunn, (I worked with him on ISLANDS magazine) has published a book MY FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH in which he asks well known people about the place they like best in the world.

He's done interesting interviews (in other words not just pics and a couple of lines of captions) yet because of the celeb factor the book has been featured in People Weekly and Entertainment Weekly.

In these hard times there HAVE be some more good ideas like this around. It comes down to the old thing of finding an angle.

A Review of Little Quebb Self Catering Cottages. Herefordshire.

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Well, I had a couple of days away - hurrah! I'll write a review in case you want to go to Herefordshire. After all, the Hay on Wye Festival is coming up very soon. Mind you, I've never been. A year or two ago they had Ken Dodd who gave a sell-out performance - make of that what you will...



THE GRANARY COTTAGE AT LITTLE QUEBB

The place is called Little Quebb Farm, and we had a weekend in one of the holiday cottages called The Granary. We were impressed. The farmhouse is built in black and white style (which is the way they do it in Herefordshire) and the oldest bit dates from the 14th century. The outhouses and barns - what are now the cottages - are mostly wood and brick and are spread around what used to be the farmyard but is now a nice garden with seats and flowers. There's also a bigger and more flowery garden to the back, also with seats and tables.


The owners, John and Alison O'Grady, moved from Winchester in order to raise some very happy pigs and hens, and seem to have been making a very thorough job of everything they do.

RATHER POSH

The cottages are like something out of "Country Living Magazine" with comfortable beds, good looking kitchens with good appliances (weirdly short of a few vital things, though, like a chopping board or salt cellar). When I asked for items they didn't have, Alison instantly provided it, so no doubt she will soon remember to check the salt cellars.


Our living room had two big sofas and windows facing East and West, so we got sunshine morning and evening - when there was any. We hit about the worst weather this year, but there were some fitful beams and I took the chance of grabbing some pics of the wisteria growing all over the door & shedding its blossoms over the inside of the cottage too.



FREE THIS THAT & THE OTHER

There was a woodburning stove, with free logs, and good central heating too. There was a welcome gift of some of their own bacon and eggs, plus local milk, butter, bread and various other bits and pieces.


PROBLEMS?

We didn't find many. The sound insulation between the cottages wasn't the best, but I did have to rather scratch my head to remember that. It wasn't that bad anyway.

THE JUDGE'S LODGINGS IN PRESTEIGNE

The area, between Kington and Eardisley, is good for walking, and there are some interesting things locally, apart from Hay on Wye. We liked the Judge's Lodgings in nearby Presteigne. As Alison said, this courtroom and Victorian lodging looks a bit boring from the outside but everyone loves it when they actually try it. Exactly so, in our case, despite my initial scepticism.

LITTLE PIGGIES
Back at Little Quebb, we made a point of visiting the piggies before we went home. They are the most friendly and appealing animals, albeit muddy - they are kept well away from the house. To my surprise, they didn't smell.

CONCLUSION

So I'd have no hesitation in returning to Little Quebb, preferably when the weather is good. In fact, definitely when the weather is good.

Chicken Soup

I'd been thinking of putting this blog on hold for a while, because I'm so busy with other things and I just haven't been doing any travel writing! OK - I know I'm part time - but...!

But then a piece I'd written for the British Guild of Travel Writers got put onto the front page of their site. So hope you'll go and read it... and I've decided to find the time to continue with the blog.

After all it has hardly got going yet. And maybe later I'll have the time to give it the time it deserves. Build it up a bit, as my granny used to say as she bustled round with her chicken soup.

Helping Wildlife with the Whitley Awards

The Whitley Awards for nature conservation have been running for a while.
I approve of it because many of their awards go to people in third world countries who are working hard to conserve wildlife and local communities even though their countries are so poor. (Yeah, makes you think twice about buying Tesco cheapies rather than paying a few pennies more for conservation-friendly produce..... )

MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

One of the shortlisted candidates is Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, who is into mountain gorillas. She became a wildlife advocate as a teenager in Kampala and started a wildlife club at her school. At 25 she became Uganda's first wildlife veterinary officer.

She discovered that the gorillas could cross-infect people and her group began working with local communities to galvanise them to adopt better health and hygiene, and roping them in to help with surveys and monitoring.

SURVIVAL OF THE PLANET

The survival of our planet depends on people like this, working away in their various corners of the globe.

Anyway check out the Whitley Fund for Nature website http://www.whitleyaward.org/ and see more for yourself.

More and More Press Trips

It's the season for press trips. I've today been offered two more today - both of them to the US. In order to accept them you need something called an I-Visa - or you do, if you're British. This I am told involves queueing all morning in the US embassy, providing special sized photographs and paying $130.

I'm very busy (mostly with other sorts of writing, not travel) so the idea of standing around all morning sounds quite attractive. May even be worth $130

How NOT to Write A Query Letter

Been amusing myself reading my agent's observations on how NOT to write a query letter.