"Abandoned for fifty years, with the house and garden overgrown and crumbling, the restoration of Aberglasney is one of the country’s most remarkable garden projects. " (Extract from Aberglasney Gardens’ promotional leaflet) Aberglasney? You’ve never heard of it? Well, yes, I guess it must be one of the best-kept secrets in Wales. Some may have heard of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, found somewhere in England’s West Country. Aberglasney is the Welsh equivalent - a garden lost in time. It’s located in the Tywi valley, just off the A40 at Llangathen in Carmarthenshire, between Carmarthen and Llandeilo, in South Wales. It’s a little gem. Like most people, I never win competitions - but, in June 2006, I won a week’s rental of a five-star holiday cottage in an on-line competition on ntlworld (now Virgin Media) offered ... read more

Goa is an ideal place to just chill out. Once you've seen Old Goa with its reminders of past Portugese rule, there's really only the beach - at least that's the case here at Bambolim. At some of the bigger and more touristy resorts there are discotheques and shops close by, but here there's only the hotel and a couple of beach bars. The day after we arrived - Tuesday 10 January I think - we went on the hotel's bus with other guests for a long afternoon and evening excursion. We stopped briefly at a Hindu temple, then continued to Old Goa. There, the clean wide streets, lawns and buildings had a distinctly European feel - not much of a surprise really as this was a Portugese colony until as recently as 1961. I believe ... read more

I’d hoped to update my blog this morning but, just as we arrived at the cybercafé, it was this district’s turn for its daily two-hour power cut. We could have gone in search of another café in a neighbouring district which might have had power but thought better of it and went to find somewhere to change some travellers’ cheques instead. The observant among you will note that my earlier blogs have since been updated with photos (on my return home!). We said our thanks and goodbyes to Jai Singh when he dropped us off at the railway station in good time for our train to Mumbai (Bombay), leaving just after 14.00. He had proved to be a good and reliable driver - I can certainly recommend him to anyone planning to hire a car in ... read more

10 January 2006 We had a problem with the internet connection last night, so here's the rest of what I had intended to send. We're happily installed in Goa now and a further missive will follow a.s.a.p. Create your own travel map Tuesday 3 January Today was another day of discovery. First, our driver took us to the block of apartments where Lajpal shares a room with cousin Ravindra. Small but comfortable, ideal for both of them to spend their time studying (which they both seem to do most of the time). My first discovery was that the young man I knew as Lajpal or Goldy was actually known by everyone else as ... read more

I'm all prepared - itinerary, air tickets, rail tickets, car rental, hotel reservations, visa, jabs, money... All that's left is to recharge the camcorder batteries, pack, and get to Heathrow in time for check-in on New Year's Day. Pat will drop me off en route to her own holiday with her parents in South Wales. Let's hope it doesn't snow! Meanwhile, Christmas is almost upon us and I'm still in sunless Hertfordshire. Our son Richard, daughter-in-law Gina and beautiful grandaughter Teagan have already arrived from mid-Wales, and daughter Karen arrives tomorrow from Essex. The fridges are crammed with enough food for several armies. The tree is surrounded by presents. And we'll soon be surrounded by our family, as it should be at this festive time. I'm pleased to be spending Christmas at home, unlike many of ... read more