Pubs

The English pub is even more alive and well, in parts, than I had thought. On Friday I was at the Stag in Balls Cross, Sussex, and felt myself gently drawn into the embrace of a fine old tradition: welcoming landlord, good ale and open fire of Olympian proportions. Then on Saturday I was at the Welldiggers, close by on the edge of Petworth, and ate the sort of pub meal that I thought was almost extinct. Not 'gastro' - just delicious, honest and generous. Long may those landlords reign! They are local heroes.

Embercombe

Sometimes the gods smile upon the good. A very nice man called Mac was running a garden to which visitors came in droves. One day one of them, impressed by the impact Mac had had upon him, offered to buy him a small estate/farm/valley in which he could pursue his dream of self-sufficiency and support for those seeking deep personal fulfilment. Embercombe is the result, a stunning valley in Devon. Mac has been there for 8 years and has erected a dozen yurts and converted a great metal barn into a beautiful space with wood-burners and meeting rooms. There is a splendid kitchen garden too. I went to see it in a rain-storm, was soaked and blown about - and loved every minute of it. It was wonderful to be among people with warmth and passion, doing their thing with mad enterprise.

More anon. We may go there as a company on our annual outing.

luxury vs budget

I was delighted to read an article about Budget Travel from Kate Quill of the Times on Dec 1st. "The best travel", she wrote," is not about blowing the cash on rooms with gold taps; it’s about adventure, discovery and serendipity: that magic find, chance meeting or thrilling ride. Often, it’s the budget experience that offers these things in bucket-loads, while the luxury version, in its drive to make everything comfortable and hassle-free, has had all the fun, vigour and danger drained out of it – rather like the modern office, in fact."

Kate puts it well. We are all in danger of falling into the luxury trap and forgetting that the things which really make us tick are nothing to do with luxury at all. Fun, vigour, danger - to which I might add: the unexpected, spontaneity, conviviality, a warm smile, an unexpected kindness, a sight that beggars belief. If you have been, say, to India you will remember that first drive into town from the airport: almost everything you see is brand new and almost impossible to imagine. Once you arrive at your luxury hotel the fascination is over, however great the temporary relief.