They're Getting Steamed Up in North Yorkshire

A quick heads up for you to check your diary for the weekend of 12th, 13th and 14th October when the North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be holding its ever popular Railway in Wartime Festival, offering everyone young and old the chance to relive how times really were in Britain in the Second World War. This year it has expanded into the Pickering Show Ground, providing a Park and Ride system and even more attractions.

This is much more than a celebration aimed at the so called steam train “anoraks”, starting on the Friday when there will be an “evacuation” of local school children, plus the flag raising ceremony on Platform One.

Saturday has a Parade plus an “Air Raid” at Pickering Station, and Sunday includes another air raid, a wreath laying and the flag lowering ceremony.

Events will take place along the line and include a replica Spitfire, fire displays, soup kitchens, dances, a Tiger Moth air display, an Anderson shelter and stalls and parades. Not forgetting that there were two sides to the war, there will be displays of Waffen SS training, plus the “rescue” of a crashed German fighter.

Great entertainment for all the family, which helps to answer the eternal question “What was the War like Grandad?" A handy telephone number is 01751 472508, and the railway can be e-mailed on info@nymr.co.uk.  Best be quick, I understand that the Wartime Dance on the Saturday is already a sell out.

Enjoy An Illuminating Experience At Matlock Bath

Not always noted as being a place to set the blood coursing, Matlock Bath in the Peak District National Park becomes the centre of all things illuminated as we move very gently into Autumn. The Matlock Bath Illuminations run from 1st September to the 27th October, and so are already in full swing.

It takes the form of a wonderful parade of decorated and illuminated boats that pass along the River Derwent every weekend throughout September and October. Every one of the boats takes the form of a decorated model, and as darkness falls, the effect is quite stunning, as the boats themselves seem to disappear, leaving the models apparently gliding along just above the water. It all dates back to 1897 and the celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

On four of the Saturdays (three still to come), there is also a splendid cliff top firework display. Throw in the usual northern Silver Band, and juggling and fire show, and you are guaranteed a great night out, ideal for all members of the family. There are Park and Ride facilities and tickets can also be bought on line.

All in all, an illuminating experience in Matlock Bath.

Secret London? Not So Secret Anymore!

Everyone who is a regular visitor to London likes to think that they have some little part of the great city that is theirs and theirs alone. The chances of that have been greatly reduced by the availability of the first iPhone application from Jonglez publishing called “Secret London, An Unusual Guide”.

It aims to introduce you to places that you had never heard of, as well attractions that you had never considered visiting. I bet you don't know where you can have trapeze lessons in a disused power
station, find the stone that housed Excalibur, the sword forever associated with King Arthur, play bowls on the last bowling green in the City, and find a cow's heart and a cucumber straightener.

Well you can now, and you probably won't be the only one!

Look Out, Downton's Back!

You'd have to be beating up the surface of Mars with the Curiosity Rover not to know what the current big event is. Yes, Downton Abbey is back with us! How time flies in the magical world of Downton, it seems like only two years ago that we were hearing about the sinking of the Titanic, and now here we are, crash, bang, wallop, the new series is starting in the Roaring Twenties. No wonder that the Earl of Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville) has a permanently confused look on his face.

But oh, how we love the the to-ings and fro-ings of upstairs and downstairs life in the mythical world of Downton. Who cares about the minute mistakes that are picked up by so called experts. People wearing white ties who shouldn't be wearing white ties, street signs intruding, songs being played that hadn't even been written. Tish and tosh! The majority of the viewers can't remember the minutiae of the fifties and sixties, leave alone the twenties.

And whose idea was it to cast Shirley Maclaine alongside Dame Maggie Smith! Brilliant. It sums up part of the success of Downton, and that is the strength of the cast, and how beautifully they play off against each other. Does it matter that it becomes more like Dallas every time a new series starts? Not a bit.

For me there are two other unsung stars. Firstly beautiful Highclere Castle in Hampshire stands in as Downton Abbey, supposedly set in Yorkshire – what's a couple of hundred miles between friends. 

Secondly, and this is where I put my girlie hat on, what about those costumes? Nothing Primark or Peacocks about that lot! There have already been displays of these wonderful clothes, and copies of them have appeared in places such as – wait for it – ebay! (Look out, the Earl of Grantham has just had a touch of the vapours).

So sit back, prepare for the ride, Downton is setting sail again, and the chances are that the trip could get a little choppy!

I Enjoyed My Holiday So Much That I Bought The Village

In a phrase reminiscent of the Victor Kiam Remington Shaver adverts of the 1980's (I asked my father! - you ask yours!), here is a chance to buy the village where you may have just had a lovely Cornish holiday.

It has just been announced that the iconic Cornish coastal village of Charlestown, famous for its tall ships and endless appearances as film location sets, has just been placed on the market. It is perhaps a little surprising to find out that in fact the village is privately owned, albeit the public have access by boat or on foot.

The current owner is Robin Davies who at the age of 69, is considering retirement, and has been instrumental in placing the three and half acre site on the open market. What is actually for sale is the roads, water front and car parks, this part being available for offers around £1.5 million. A further £1.4 million will buy the marine training and charter business as well as the two famous tall ships.

If you are still feeling flush, there are two further acres of land available for residential or commercial development, although planning permission has not yet been obtained. This could set you back another £1.5 million.

The current business employs up to eighteen people and the hope is that any prospective purchaser will keep things very much as they are.

Even if you haven't been to Charlestown, you may recognise it from its innumerable film and TV appearances including Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, The Eagle Has Landed, Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers, and more recently the Curse Of The Black Spot with Doctor Who.