Camping, on Brownsea Island Enid Blyton"s Famous Five Setting, Amid Wildlife - Recalling Squirrels, Snakes & Dragons

 I visited Brownsea Island with the tourist board to see the red squirrels from a hide. Just a side trip from Poole harbour, where we had previously visited Poole Pottery. 

No camping necessary. But, apparently, some people like the idea of camping overnight, not to save money, but because it evokes memories of Enid Blyton's books about the Famous Five.

The Joys Of Camping

I tried camping once as a teenager. It is one step worse than hiking. I discovered to my horros, that instead of the mere inconvenience of walking carrying your water, looking for a bush to go to the toilet, when camping overnight, you have to trek in the dark, stumbling over the tree roots, which might make you wet yourself with shock, to a smelly communal toilet. 

Modern camp sites with spaces for caravans, and swimming pools and toilet blocks are another matter. I have enjoyed those. For no more than one night for the novelty. I am not typical, even within my own family.

My husband is enthusiastically off camping. Putting up his own tent in the garden for practice. He stays three nights in splendour, then goes camping. Whilst I am jealous of the three nights in splendour, I think I'll be grateful to stay home. Reading about him and others. 

Enid Blyton & Brownsea Island

Here's today's good read, which I enjoyed, about the island immortalised by Enid Blyton in her books about the Famous Five. It's Brownsea Island in Poole, Dorset. It has red squirrels. 

Okay.  I'll watch a video of red squirrels. I have foxes and grey squirrels in London. 

Singapore Wildlife - Starting With Snakes

In Singapore, after seeing the snakes in the first six months, for the next thirty years I was cautious and never saw a snake. I lived in a high rise. 

My husband went running in the jungle..He saw snakes regularly. He entusiastically approached them with his camera. 

Whilst his retreating companion shouted to him, "Back off!" 

Larger than snakes are the crocodiles in the sea. And the komodo dragons on land.  

He also had a video of a hissing, long tongued, dragon, like a crocodile. Not a komodo dragon, from Indonesia, but the common or garden kind you get in Singapore in the Botanical Gardens - roaming freely. 

It was behind a chain link fence, the height of a tennis court, outside the Ministry of Defence buildings, inside their grounds, behind a chain link fence. I don't think the monster was an official part of the defence. They had signs warning about soldiers with machines guns, but no warning signs saying, beware of the dragon.   

At home, we were protected by a team of gardeners and security personnel who walked or cycled about.

American Wildlife\

I saw snakes in America. On trails through national parks. Forget that idea that snakes scuttle away. These were laying across the paths. warning signs were every few yards.

London Wildlife

I already have more wildlife in my life than I need. I had a nasty insect bite. I slept in pyjamas in summer heat for a fortnight. (For the enlightenment of any Chinese readers who don't knw the word Fortnight, it's short for fourteen nights, and days. It means two weeks It's a British everyday expression.)

Other Blyton Locations

You can see a plaque to Enid Blyton in south London. 

A model of a house connected to her is in Beaconsfield Model Village in Buckingham shire, a short trip from London. 

Should you be in Singapore and want to see a Komodo dragon at a safe distance, investigate what can be seen at the zoo. More are in zoos around the world, in the UK and USA at the Bronx zoo, the Smithsonian in DC and several more places.

Useful Websites

 Recapturing the joys and sorrows of camping, famous five style.

Video of Brownsea Island

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enid_Blyton

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Enid_Blyton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon

https://www.slow-travel.uk/post/historic-writers-houses-you-can-visit-in-england

w.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/dorset/brownsea-dorset-famous-five-blyton-wv7wccfwh

Please share links to your favourite posts. My books are on Amazon.com and Lulu.com 

Little Places to see: tiny houses, tiny churches and chapels, a tiny shop, UK and USA

Small and Narrow House Worldwide

UK

Narrow House in London, England

Thin House

5 Thurloe Square, London, England, United Kingdom.

Frankly, the terraced houses in Watford are some of the smallest houses I have seen. What used to be called, two up, two down. Search for two bedroom, and you will see houses for sale, terraced houses, downstairs the narrow front door, small bay window, upstairs one window. Just drive into Watford and follow the one way system towards the hospital.

For example, Hagden Lane.

USA

Replica of Thoreau's Cabin near Walden Pond, Concord, Massachusetts, and his statue, USA. Writer Thoreau lived here.

Religious Buildings

 Wales

Smallest church, St David's, Wales

UK

Smallest chapel, Guernsey, Channel Islands

Narrow Shops

Shop in Dorchester, Dorset, UK (On April 2022 occupied by flooring company).

On High East street, near the Dinosaur museum. From the small to the large.

You could also build your own tiny house, a tree house, or a 'Wendy house'.

Useful Websites

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/products/attractions

dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-9749035/Pictured-tiny-chapel-Channel-Islands-measures-just-16ft-9ft.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10708517/Is-narrowest-shop-UK.html?

http://www.home-designing.com/narrow-lot-skinny-house-exterior-facade-inspiration-and-photos

ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny-house_movement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walden_Pond

Dorset ballad: the Cerne Abbas giant, the wedding wish granted, and ghosts!

Short story writer Della Galton asked for a Dorset song for her book. She meant us to look for one. Instead, I wrote one. First I checked out the local landmarks, which I found on the county website. Where is Dorset? On England's south-west coast.

Dorset with a coast in Southern England, UK

Cerne Abbas Giant, Dorset, England.

The Cerne Abbas giant, a figure cut into the chalk through the grass. This well-known local landmark was one of the items I sought to see last time I drove through Dorset on my way to the coves of Cornwall.

St Catherine's Chapel on the hilltop, from afar. 

On my first to Dorset I did not know about the legend. On my last visit to Dorset, I was with my husband, who was not keen on the idea of St Catherine helping you find a husband. 

If I had known, I would have gone there. Huff, puff uphill for the view - and St Catherine's Chapel outside from the hilltop

Finally, a haunted house. Athelhampton.


Athelhampton Hall House in Dorset, England, UK

I was ready to write a ballad.

I wrote:
Here you are. I checked local landmarks and legends online. Here's an ancient Dorset song, from 8.50 April 21st 2020, by Angela Lansbury. It starts


:I went to St Catherine's Chapel,
For it's said she will answer your prayer,
'Please send me a husband, who's wealthy'
But only two poor men were there.

One of them said to me, 'Darling,
Why don't we go for a walk?
I'll take you to see the great giant -
Whose ample physique is carved in the chalk!'

I said, 'Sorry, dear, you're not for me
For you're poor as a little church mouse.'
To scare him away, I ended the day
At haunted Athel-hampton House!

Mother said, 'Our sensible God only helps
A person with skills who will help himself.
You can add up a bill and read lots of books
What else does a man need to share health and wealth?

'You're young and pretty but age fades your looks
What's missing, that's lasting? You must learn to cook!'
So off I went, to take cooking lessons
Guess who I married? I married the cook!

We went to the chapel to marry
'Cos Saint Catherine had answered my prayers
What's more she provided as witness
Those two ragged beggars, still hoping there.

Weddings also take place in the big haunted house
Guest often hear 'ghosts'. I guess that's a mouse!
Guests, sleepless as mice, claim, 'A ghost moved my bedding!'
'Who's the bride in your garden?' 'Ma'am, we've no wedding!'

-ends-


Useful and Entertaining Websites For the armchair traveller
https://www.hauntedrooms.co.uk/haunted-places/england
https://www.athelhampton.com/copy-of-history

Author, Author! About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. (Not related to the actress.) See books and profiles on Lulu.com and Amazon, such as Wedding Speeches & Toasts, Quick Quotations, Who Said What When. Also watch videos on YouTube.
See other posts on singers and statues and languages and destinations.

Please share links to your favourite posts.
If you want to learn to speak the Queen's English, or Received Pronunciation. join me at my online toastmasters club, Braddell Heights Advanced. Wednesdays, 7-9 Singapore time which is seven hours ahead of London, England. I am also a member of Singapore Online.

Cow Vodka From An English Farm With Cheddar Cheese

WHERE WAS IT?

Cow vodka from an English farm? Here's the display window in Nicholas wine shop in Great Portland Street near Great Portland Street station. Where's that? On the Metropolitan line, only one stop from Baker Street Station by Regent's Park, near enough to walk to Baker Street or Oxford Circus in London.

WHAT IS IT?

Inside the shop was a tasting of cow vodka, or milk vodka, made from milk, cow's milk. That's unusual. I've heard of Polish vodka from potato. Mostly, usually, vodka is made from grains such as barley and wheat or oats, or maize, i.e. corn. You can make vodka from anything you like. It is 96% alcohol before it's diluted, so most of the primary flavours get left behind. 

If it can be made from anything, can you make it at home? Er - no! It's illegal. Why? Not only because it is extraordinarily potent but more important during the making off the top comes ethanol which is poisonous and can make you go blind and kill you - which is why every now and then you read about individuals or whole groups of people being poisoned at places like India at a wedding where somebody has bought or brought illegal alcohol.

I started drinking vodka years ago when I heard a radio advertisement saying that it had no flavour, so it did not give you alcohol breath. But nowadays the fashion is to add flavours to vodka.

Milk alcohol? I had to try it.

HOW DO YOU FIND THESE THINGS?

I always sign up for newsletters about wines and foods and shops and tourist attractions. I am inundated. But occasionally you get a gem of news like this. Maybe I was emailed by Nicholas, or saw it in a newsletter. The Nicholas tasting event organisers usually don't give you much notice. When a note goes in my diary I should note the emailer to check. 

WHAT'S THE TASTE AND TEXTURE?

The flavouring is very subtle. But it's the opposite of whisky which hits you and cuts your throat and make you cough. Much gentler. Very slightly creamy.

Apparently it's a very pleasant and gentle addition to a cocktail. If you live or work in central London and want to splash the cash you can buy Cow Vodka from a wine shop in a central or upmarket area, or the big stores, especially those specialising in food and drink such as Fortnum and Mason.

Frankly, my first thought was, that's a lot of money for a mixer. Why so much? The box is not durable but looks disposable. They've deliberately gone for the natural, rural look.

CHEDDAR CHEESE

But there's more to buy and taste from the same people. Cheese from the same farm to go with the vodka, a cheddar cheese, but one you probably haven't tried before, and nor have most of your guests if you are having a big party. (It won't go far in a crowd;,you have to cut it up into tiny pieces.) But the round block is the same size as the other cheeses for a small dinner party or wine and cheese party or wine tasting dinner ending with cheese.

COW

Does the cheese come from the same kind of cow? Which kind of cow? Actually (I try to avoid using the over-used word actually, but here it actually fits), yes, the farm actually has three kinds of cows.  The milk used for the cheese is a blend.

Why bother with three kinds of cow? What's the difference? One cow give you a high yield. More milk for the money you spent buying the cow, more to sell. Perfect for volumes of skimmed milk. Why go for anything else? Another kind of cow gives fattier, creamier milk. Ah. Another is a very strong, sturdy, healthy cow. (I think, but don't say, a kind of insurance?)

What did they do before? They used be a dairy farm. But now their premium products are their cheese and milk or cow vodka. 

SEEING MILKING & VISITING THE FARM

The cows are milked twice a day, at 6.30 am, too early for most people to ever see, but also again at 2 pm. By August this year, 2016, if their plans are fulfilled to time, in time for the summer holiday season, the building work on their proposed Visitor Centre will be finished. Then you will be able to go there see a film, learn about the process, presumably buy milk vodka and cheese.  I'm not sure if they will sell you a pint of milk but they are planning to serve tea and coffee so there must be some fresh milk to try. 

WHERE?

You are likely to be able to find the Cow Vodka at wine and  spirits and food shows in the UK throughout the year.

This weekend, Saturday May 14, Londoners and tourists can attend the Spirited Wine Spring Fair, entry charge £15. Later in the year there's a trade only show, Imbibe.

Where is the farm? Near Axminster and Yeovil. Not in the prime summer holiday areas of Cornwall and Devon, known for Devonshire cream teas of scones and clotted cream, but, on the other hand, a handy stop on the way, and nearer to London. 

WHEN?

Only three months from now, you might be able to see the farm and watch the milking. Will you be able to milk a cow? I'm not sure about that. I'm not sure I'd want to. I imagine if you get it wrong an annoyed cow has a nasty kick. The thought of it would be me off my tea, and even turn me to drink - how about a taste of that cow vodka.

You can try vodka cocktails at Mark Hix restaurants, said Kathryn, the Black Cow ambassador. (What's an ambassador? I think it's the wine trade's fancy name for PR, marketing and general enthusiasm and information along with a bit of customer service.)

You don't have to visit London to buy the Black Cow vodka. It has just been launched in the USA, in 2016, and you can buy it on line. 

It's especially popular for Christmas, not just for serving at a party, but mainly as a gift. For somebody who has everything. Or even your own wish list.

PRICE

How much? 70 cl vodka £37.50

200 g cheese £7.95

If you have cash to splash, the vodka or both vodka and cheese make a nice gift. If you are looking for something more modestly priced, the cheese would be a great gift. I liked it. 

What did I like? The cheese has the occasional crunchy grain of salt which is what I most like about French Comte cheese from La Fromagerie (near Baker Street station and a short walk from the Nicolas wine shop - now I have found that grain of salt in cheddar cheese.

MORE INFO ON VODKA

More details about the cow vodka and cheddar cheese and forthcoming visitor centre from 

blackcow.co.uk

MORE INFO ON AUTHOR ANGELA LANSBURY

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, researcher, author, speaker. In addition to travelling and trying out new foods and drinks, I can give talks to business, universities and colleges and schools, and teach English to adults in workshops. See more about Angela Lansbury the author on Facebook, LinkedIn, and a Youtube video on restaurant etiquette.Read excerpts from my books and buy them on Lulu.com