Travel highlights of 2018

Due to unforeseen circumstances we have to abandon our summer holiday plan in Scotland and Wales this year, which we would have spent with friends. However, the warm weather in spring saw us visiting Peterborough’s country park in Ferry Meadows several times. We did manage to squeeze in a day-out in Stonehenge and Windsor Castle in June. On my own, I went to Nottingham also in June and near York in September on work-related travels.

Wollaton Hall in Nottingham

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In mid-June, I joined my work colleagues for our quarterly team-building activity spent in Wollaton Hall in Nottingham. The day before, we held our team meeting in the local office in the city.

Built in 1588, Grade I listed Wollaton Hall nestles in 500 acres of parkland boasting diverse habitats including grassland, wetland and woodland. Herds of red and fallow deer roam free with the lake creating a dramatic contrast to the Hall that overlooks it.

With formal and sensory gardens, historic Camellia House, Doric Temple, ornamental lake and boathouse, avenues of ancient trees and late Georgian lodges, herds of wild deer and 500 acres of parkland, Wollaton Park boasts many unique features. The hall is home to the Nottingham Natural History Museum, restored Tudor kitchens, Admirals Bath, the stunning Prospect Room – located at the top of the building – and Cassandra Room.

Trivia: In 2011, key scenes from the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises were filmed outside Wollaton Hall. The Hall was featured as the latest Wayne Manor. The Hall is five miles north of Gotham, Nottinghamshire, through which Gotham City indirectly got its name. (Wikipedia)

Peterborough: Museum of the Moon

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The Museum of the Moon is a visually stunning touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. It was hosted by Peterborough Cathedral from 5-14 October as part of its 900 years celebration as a cathedral.

The moon, measuring seven metres in diameter and featuring 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface, was suspended in the magnificent space of Peterborough Cathedral.

Peterborough: Treasures - the exhibition

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One Wednesday I went to see Treasures, an exhibition featuring important objects that represent great treasures of Peterborough's past, at the city museum. These items are borrowed from such well-known museums as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum, as well as other significant collections.

These treasures, renowned both nationally and internationally, are on display for the first time ever in Peterborough. First shown last 25 August 2018, the exhibition will be in Peterborough Museum until 6 January 2019. The exhibition was held in one of the rooms to the right at the ground floor of the museum. As I entered, I was greeted by a sign that said taking photographs are not allowed. I was disappointed as I was planning to take some photographs. It's a good thing I got hold of a copy of the exhibition guide so I will use that as my 'photographs' for this blog post.

Travel through time and space in Peterborough

Main | Treasures | Museum of the Moon

What better way to spend a free day in my native Peterborough than to travel through time and space, right? Right?

It's the middle of the week, my wife was at work and the children in school and dreading to do house chores, I decided to go to town. There I saw an exhibition of Peterborough's past featuring important objects in the city museum. Then I walked to the Cathedral to admire the giant artwork, Museum of the Moon before it closed last 14 October, after which it will be on display in Blackpool.

Short day out in Lower Derwent Valley NNR

View from the NNR office

I joined my work colleagues on the last day of our 2-day team meeting held in late September at the NNR's office in Bank Island.

The Lower Derwent Valley NNR comprises a series of flood meadows, pastures, woodlands and waterways supporting a rich diversity of plant species and outstanding populations of breeding and wintering birds. (Source: Natural England leaflet)

Tim Peake's spacecraft landed in Peterborough Cathedral: VR Experience

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Read the story at Tim Peake's spacecraft landed in Peterborough Cathedral.

Check out these 360 photos again at my Kuula page and for VR experience please head over to my VeeR page.

Tim Peake's spacecraft landed in Peterborough Cathedral

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British astronaut Tim Peake's spacecraft landed in Peterborough Cathedral last 11 August and is expected to be there until 5 November 2018!

So, there we were at the city centre one Sunday afternoon having lunch at our favourite chicken restaurant, Nandos, when we saw the crowd gathering near the Peterborough Cathedral. Curious, and stomachs full with our favourite peri-peri chicken and chips, we decided to join the crowd as they went inside the cathedral.

Springfields Festival Gardens

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Resting in the bench

After a tiring day of shopping at Springfields Outlet Shopping & Leisure, mostly of windows, what better way to relax than taking a stroll in the adjacent gardens. In there you will have time to clear your mind and remonstrate ourselves on the scandalous amount of money we have wasted on random things we do not really need but because they are on sale so what the heck!

Springfields Festival Gardens: VR Experience

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