Category: Uncategorized

June 14, 2016: Well this is a new one — not sure a paid holiday — but the Hendrick’s Gin folks have managed to take on US responsibilities to promote National Cucumber Day today — 44 days of events leading up the grand finale Cucumber Outdoor Festival and Party in New York. For more information — and some fun — call 844-Q-Cumber and visit: CUCUMBERDAY.COM. By the way, before you ask, the Cucumber is considered a fruit and not a vegetable like mom always said. Balderdash as the Scott’s would say.

June 13, 2016: Talk about creative use of limited space, check out these houses — yes, actually extended inside a carved out solid rock wall — does take affordable housing to a new level?

June 12, 2016: Exploring small towns and villages in the British countryside is fun — and full of surprises. “Greater Knaresborough,” just a few kilometers east of Harrogate, offers a variety of old country settings. From the stone railroad bridge on the river (with a selection of Pubs and parks along the sides) to a castle on the hillside overlooking and protecting the town in ancient times — it’s all very British and charming!

June 11, 2016: Good fun when one travels walking around small towns, observing shops and signs. FAT FACE, a shop in downtown Harrogate, Britain, features fairly “reveling” and trendy women’s clothing — I think?

June 10, 2016: Hard-to-find York farm settings offer surprises worth finding. Like this late 1920s restored Rolls Royce — similar to  those featured in Downton Abby. The York area, and towns surrounding Ripon, is the setting described in Abby, with the main mansion and filming at a location in the south of Britain — which is just fine with folks in York! Carry on.

June 8, 2016: The Brit’s are so very proper — even in drinking. Note the Harrogate Pub menu here that not only offers and describes a variety of “house” gins but also includes a “rather proper” section of tonics to accompany one’s gin of choice. The TC’s now experienced recommendation: British Bulldog Gin with a dash (of course) of Fever Tree Tonic. Seems the British prefer not to ruin their “taste” with overly sugared mixes, and remain al naturale. So very British you know!

June 6, 2016: No doubt about it — Finland is the sauna capitol of the world — mostly indoors (the TC, through some clever maneuvering, was able to enjoy a full sauna in his Radisson Blu hotel room), with some outdoor sauna’s as part of wilderness lodges. Now, something sauna new in Helsinki — the country’s first public outdoor sauna — in a marina with stairs into the nearby ocean to cool off.  Avid sauna users in Finland believe the sauna “is an essential place for cleansing and purifying minds and bodies.”  And to help with the “cleansing process,” no cell phones allowed.  Now that’s pure happiness!

June 5, 2016: Exposed large brick-like cobblestone rock makes up most streets and walkways around the older city parts of Helsinki. After about 20 minutes of walking, your toes, feet, legs, calves and thigh’s feel it — and after a full day of visiting sights and shops you’ve accomplished the ultimate in painful deep massage. The Finns seem used to it — not sure how the women in those spiked heel laced shoes feel about it?