Under Cover England

So proud of the amazing #Cowboyband from #hardinsimmonsuniversity in #Abilene #Texas, performing in the #London #NewYearsParade @Lnydp. What great musicians, students, alumni and staff. We had a great time touring #London, including #parliament, #Buckinghampalace, #changingtheguard, #stpaulscathedral, the #RiverThames , the #texasembassy , #Hamptoncourt, #TowerofLondon and #windsorcastle as a #BlueBadgeGuide @britainsbestguides . @hsutx @hsucowboy_country @hardinsimmonsufootball @hsutxcheer

#HappyNewyear to one and all; time to reflect upon a busy and exciting #2024 and look forward to all that #2025 has in store. The #fireworks💥 from the #londoneye🎡 and #riverthames barges lit the nightsky as #Bigben bell inside the #Queenelizabethtower struck midnight to herald the #newyear. @britainsbestguides

Compliments of the season to you and yours from a very #countrychristmas in #Herefordshire, as we celebrate the #crib #nativity service in #Weobley church; complete with #christmasbells, #donkey, #carolsbycandlelight, #carols, #Angels, #shepherds, #wisemen and #christmaslights to discover #therealmeaningofchristmas . @visit_herefordshire @britainsbestguides

What a great #carolathon by @oasiswaterloo for the #waterloo #foodbank @waterloofb held over 12 hours from 7am until 7pm at #Waterloostation ( I only did the last two hours after work); with great voices all around, boosted by the @pinksingers and supported by thousands of #waterloo commuters including the fabulous @sophieellisbextor . #christmas #carols #oholynight🌟 #christmasspirit🎄 @britainsbestguides

You know it’s #Christmastime in the UK when you see your first #pantomime . This cultural institution is hard to explain to visitors from overseas, but involves #nureryrhyme based stories of good overcoming evil, #happyeverafter endings, a #dame, a #hero , a #villain and general chaos in between, involving #audienceparticipation ( #ohnoitdoesnt #ohyesitdoes , #hesbehindyou and much booing). This #panto is #littleredridinghood and the wolf. @britainsbestguides

The amazing #chritsmaights @kewgardens in SW #lLondon looking fantastic and #festive , with imaginative installations throughout the #gardens . #christmasiscoming #sonetlumiere #soundanight #botanicalgardens #gardentours #gardentourguide #christmasdecorations #christmasmagic #toastedmarshmallow #flyingfish #waterfountains @britainsbestguides

Explored the @nationaltrust #Hiddengem that is #lowerbrockhamptonmanorhouse @nt_brockhampton near #Bromyard in #Herefordshire today. A uniquely authentic #medieval #moated C15th #manorhouse (site inhabited from at least the C12th ); with cleverly recreated interiors complimenting the wealth of original features. The ruined #normanchurch and #walks through the #orchards in the estate grounds added to a wonderful visit. @britainsbestguides @visit_herefordshire @visitengland

The evocative seasonal #odetoautumn🍁 by #johnkeats illustrated with pictures from my #guided #bluebadge #walk along the #cotswoldsway this weekend . Music by #English #folkmusic collector #ralphvaughanwilliams. #autumn #fall #seasons #rambling #trekking #longdistancewalk @britainsbestguides @visitgloucestershire @ramblersgb @walksbritain #romanticpoetry #keats #keatspoetry #keatspoems #keatsodes #keatsodetoautumn #bluebadgetouristguide

The moment you discover that you are a direct descendent of King Edward I (21st Great Grandfather) , and thus King Henry III, King John, King Henry II , Empress Matilda, King Henry I and thus King William I, The Conqueror !! Owain Glydndwr married off his children into English border landowner families to bolster his border control - Alys to John Scudamore at Kentchurch Court ( our line) , and another daughter into the Crofts at Croft Castle , whose family tree here ( by National Trust), shows the maternal line via many Eleanors, to Edward I !

Reseeding the perennial ryegrass on Centre Court, with a germination sheet to keep the hungry wild birds off Southwest London at bay.

A glorious Spring sunny day for @wimbledon guided tours completed for Wimbledon museum . The lovely guests were treated to seeing the courts being top-dressed with grass seeds and I was delighted to talk farming about Perennial Ryegrass. Such a great place to work.

Cheesy-capers at Cooper’s Hill in The Cotswolds with the folks today as we do our second leg of The a Cotswolds Way .