The Armchair Traveller - 12 of the Best Travel Books

 

It is over nine months now since the arrival of Covid-19 caused disruption to all of our lives. As a keen traveller I had, like many others, planned several trips abroad this last year, only to have my best laid plans thwarted.  

But no matter, with a good deal of time and effort I was largely able to recoup the cost of flights, hotels etc., and being in a ‘vulnerable’ group settled down to a life confined to the four walls of my apartment, a glass of wine, or two, and a pile of books.  

My total literary consumption for the duration now numbers in excess of 130 books.  

I have a number of favourite authors and nowadays I tend to steer clear of what might be termed ‘chic lit’ as I find them generally rather formulaic. High on my list of desirable reads are biographies, as I like to find out what lies behind the public face; what makes people tick. As a rule though, I feel that autobiographies, particularly those written by ‘celebrities’, tend to be rather self-indulgent. 

Quite my favourite literary genres are anything to do with food and wine, and not far behind in the pecking order, travel.  

Largely reduced to ordering books online, I have had to come to terms with the fact that, as my eyesight deteriorates, I am now becoming very conscious of the style and font size. As I mostly read in bed, finding it impossible to drop off without doing so, I also try to avoid weighty tomes, as they are far too heavy to handle comfortably. There are those addicted to Kindles and their ilk but for me there is nothing quite like holding a book in your hand and physically turning the pages. 

During Lockdown I have enjoyed reading the following and, in the absence of actual travel I can thoroughly recommend them for a little adventurous escapism as an armchair traveller. 

Slow Trains to Venice: A 4,000-Mile Adventure Across Europe, Tom Chesshyre 

Described a love letter to Europe, escaping the rat race for a few weeks, Tom indulges in the freedom of the tracks. Travelling from France (rail worker strikes permitting), through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland, he eventually finds himself in Odessa by the Black Sea in Ukraine, returning home via Hungary, the Balkans and Austria.  

Around the World in 80 Trains: A 45,000-Mile Adventure, Monisha Rajesh 

Recommended by the ultimate traveller himself, Michael Palin, Monisha Rajesh gets right to the heart of things. The journey is one of constant mayhem, as she strikes up friendships with fellow travellers. From the dizzy heights of Tibet's Qinghai railway to the luxurious splendour on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, this is a celebration of the glory of train travel and a comical, irreverent, look at the world, taking in some breath-taking views.
The author’s unforgettable adventure takes her from London's St Pancras station to the open plains of Russia and Mongolia, North Korea, Canada, Kazakhstan, and beyond.  

Don’t Go There: From Chernobyl to North Korea—one man’s quest to lose himself and find everyone else in the world’s strangest places, Adam Fletcher 

In this unusual, amusing travel memoir, award-winning travel writer Adam visits some of the strangest travel destinations on earth. He enters a blizzard in China armed with only a pack of biscuits, ponders the destruction in Chernobyl, is chased by Croatian police on his way to Liberland (the world’s newest country) and comes face-to-face with two (dead) dictators in North Korea. Full of interesting characters, and quirky British humour, this is a personal quest to understand the world and himself.  

India(ish), Mark Walters 

The author’s journey begins with an ill-fated attempt to walk across India in flip-flops, and failing. Instead, we are treated to an account of buttock-bruising buses and chock-a-block trains for a farcical journey across the Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu; to super-cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and the sacred spots of Amritsar, Varanasi and Rishikesh. 

Along the way, Mark encounters the horrors and riches of India, a country of extreme contrasts that he struggles to survive. He has to laugh; it was either that or cry. 

He meets randy perverts and mystic madmen and goes insane when he drinks bhang lassi. This is a travel book like no other, about a country like no other. 

I Was a Potato Oligarch: Travels and Travails in the New Russia, John Mole 

This is a hilarious true story of John’s travels and travails in the New Russia. Sometimes sinister, often hilarious, and always entertaining, this is a Russian feast from caviar to samovar. The Soviet Union has disappeared, and oligarchs pillage the nation's wealth. It seems that Russia will either become a liberated democracy or plunge into chaos. With his 15 years in international banking and a few novels under his belt, John finds that he has few useful skills, until inspiration strikes, in the form of British fast food. Nobody is doing jacket baked potatoes! He gets to work with British technical advice and finance, and a partnership with the Russian Farmers' Union. Then, he is summoned to breakfast with the mafia…..  

One More Croissant for the Road, Felicity Cloake 

This book offers my ideal combination, travel, and food. The author takes us on 2,300 km cycling tour across France seeking out the bakeries that appear on every corner in search of the perfect croissant and the definitive versions of classic French dishes, from Tarte Tatin to Cassoulet via Poule au Pot, and Tartiflette,  

She goes from beach to mountain, Atlantic to Mediterranean, in 21 ‘stages’ to put her new-found knowledge to good use in compiling the ultimate recipe for each dish.  

Just Passing Through: A nomadic life afloat in France, Mary-Jane Houlton 

Living the dream, the author and her husband sold their house, bought a boat called Olivia Rose, and set off with their two dogs to travel the length and breadth of France. Along the way they come to terms with what it really means to live life in a confined space with few possessions, always on the move, far from friends and family. 

As they explore the landscape, on this journey through bustling cities and isolated villages, they find that the world looks and feels very different from the water. Anyone who dreams of making a life on a boat, will find that there is also a wealth of information and advice to help you on your way. 

Footloose: Sydney To London Without Flying, Mark Walters 

Mark travels from Sydney to London, across three continents, by bus, train, and boat, passing through more than a dozen countries. 

He catches a cargo ship across the Indian Ocean, faces up to terrorists and Chinese tanks, has beers with a naked ex-Soviet officer in Kazakhstan, breakfasts on hallucinogenic mushrooms in Amsterdam. Wearing flip-flops the whole time, just because he can. He tells it like it is with a typically warped sense of humour; a laugh a minute.  

Tuk-Tuk for Two: Escape to India with two strangers, in the unforgettable race of a lifetime. Adam Fletcher 

Despite his fear of driving, yet unable to resist the offer of racing a tuk-tuk 1000km. through India with a woman he had only just met in a bar in Berlin, Adam decides that immersion therapy is the best solution. In his quest to spend ten days in her company, and complete the five-day race, he takes the reader through all of the trials and tribulations of getting to grips with this primitive three-wheeled mode of transport. 

The Gran Tour: Travels with my Elders, Ben Aitken 

I first heard of this book when the author was interviewed on Radio 4. When Ben Aitken learnt that his gran had enjoyed a four-night holiday including four three-course dinners, four cooked breakfasts, four games of bingo, a pair of excursions, sixteen pints of lager and luxury return coach travel, all for a hundred pounds, he thought, that's the life, and signed himself up. Six times over. 

A Chip Shop in Poznań: My Unlikely Year in Poland, Ben Aitken 

Not many Brits move to Poland to work in a fish and chip shop, and fewer still come back wanting to be a Member of the European Parliament. In 2016 Ben Aitken moved to Poland, while he still could, if only to satisfy his curiosity. He wanted to know what the Poles in the UK had left behind and flew to a place he’d never heard of and then accepted a job in a chip shop on the minimum wage. 

To Oldly Go: Tales of Intrepid Travel by the Over-60s, Hilary Bradt et al. 

In this collection of travel tales from 'Silver Travellers' we read about Dervla Murphy (one of my favourite travel writers) travelling in Cuba at the age of 74 and Matthew Parris swimming the Thames at 60. As this group of intrepid writers recount their adventures, we witness them stepping outside their comfort zone to reinforce their independence, despite their advancing years. Be prepared to be entertained and amused. 

RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS

 

By universal agreement 2020 has been a difficult year. Business and families across the globe have suffered enormously. Not wanting to rub salt in the wounds, I am aware that my personal circumstances have bucked the trend. I have been one of the lucky ones. Apart from two significant events which had a severe impact on my personal comfort, this year has been a pretty good one for me.

I have no family responsibilities, enjoy a roof over my head, just, food to put in my belly, reasonably good health (weight gain caused by over self-indulgence aside) and I have not been subject to abuse. I have little to complain about. 

Whilst Lockdown has caused considerable upset to many, living alone, I am fortunate in that I enjoy my own company, hate exercise and the outdoors, and shun the sun. I have embraced isolation.

Whilst many have been quick to blame the government’s handling of the pandemic, by comparison with the rest of the world we have not fared so badly. On the ‘vulnerable’ list due to long term respiratory problems, I take the view that the only person who can protect me is myself. I have little tolerance for those who flout the rules. If people had only taken note of the guidance in relation to staying safe, we might never have had to suffer Lockdown, the disruption to our lives, and that of the economy. As cries for government handouts are heeded, the bill will have to be paid in the end, and it will be taxpayers footing the bill. 

Last minute changes to permissible plans for the Christmas holidays has caused upset, distress and anger, which is understandable. 

I decided to stay put and celebrate alone; not quite the sacrifice one might think. I do not enjoy cooking roast dinners, and don’t much care for turkey. However, once a year I love cooking a proper Christmas meal. After the big day I relish making turkey soup, turkey and ham pie, turkey fricassée…. completing my turkey indulgence for another year. I was damned if I was going to go without this year so decided to find others who were going to be on their own and deliver ‘meals on wheels’.

It has been one of the best Christmases ever. I indulged myself in cooking up a storm but did not have to tolerate the family tensions that seem to surface, the time taken to lay the table, entertain everyone and, worst of all, tackle mountains of washing up. I prepared the food at my leisure, packed it into containers and dropped it off. Bob’s your uncle. Home by 1pm, in time to down a glass of bubbly and a little light refreshment before putting my feet up for the rest of the day, watching junk TV. The joy of living alone. 

How we choose to deal with the crises that occur in our lives is largely down to attitude. It really is everything.

REACH OUT AND TOUCH - CHARITY DOES NOT JUST BEGIN AT HOME

 

This year has been a tough one, in one way or another, for all of us. Charities have been especially hard hit as many of us will have suffered great financial hardship as a result of the impact of Covid-19. 

Whilst those most affected, in particular the hospitality industry, have been clamouring for government support, we must all be mindful that eventually it is those of us still fortunate to be gainfully employed who will be footing the bill. 

Obliged either to work from home, or shielding due to underlying risk factors, many of us have become insulated from the outside world, with little thought for anything but our own circumstances, which is perfectly understandable. I am one of the lucky ones. I have no close family to worry about, I can just about afford to keep a roof over my head, have enough food for an army and, most importantly, I am not being abused. 

My passions in life, for as long as I can remember, have been food, wine and travel. This has given me the opportunity to look beyond the immediate horizon to consider how I can best use my talents and experience to benefit others. For many years I have been active in a large number of charities, both locally and further afield. 

Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic it is possible for all of us to consider ways in which we might reach out to help others, often in unconventional ways. In my case, I have been able to use my media experience to highlight and promote local businesses.   

Three years ago, through Rotary International, I was able to visit Nyumbani Village in Nairobi, Kenya, and have since helped to support them, even buying a cow so that they could produce their own fresh milk.  

Earlier this month I was delighted to be invited to participate in a ‘virtual wine’ tasting to raise awareness of the charity’s Hotcourses Foundation. My first thoughts were ‘What’s the catch?’. As it turned out there wasn’t one. With sponsorship provided by wine company Private Cellar, participants were provided with three prestigious wines, along with a delightful handmade wine carrier made by the women of Nyumbani Village, all for free. 

What’s not to love?! 

The 45 minute wine tasting was conducted by Master of Wine Amanda Skinner, a Director of Premier Wine, whose knowledge was impressive, and her style informative without being patronising.  

Amanda took us through each of the three wines provide, all French, a red, white, and dessert wine. These all turned out to be high quality wines, and well worth the price, had I indeed been paying for them. I loved them al. Although we did watch a video about the charity, with an appearance by Trustee MP Jeremy Hunt, there was no real attempt to extract money from us. It was this ‘giving’ attitude that will make me increase my future donations. Sometimes, if we can find a way to give a little, we find that what we get back exceeds all of our expectations. So, as the festive season fast approaches, think about ways in which you can give that extra something to make someone’s day. It may just be a smile!  

Nyumbani UK & the Hotcourses Foundation support some of the world’s poorest children. Started 25 years ago as a hospice for children abandoned and dying of AIDS, it now supports over 4,000, including those living in eight slums across Nairobi, addressing issues such as education, homelessness and health care, enabling these children to lead a fulfilling life into adulthood.   

Montagny 1er Cru Les Bassets, Domaine Laurent Cognard, 2017, £13.5%abv., £25.65 

This premier cru vineyard is located in the commune of Buxy, lying to the SW of Chalon-sur-Saône, south of the Côte d’Or. A dry full-bodied Burgundy, made from Chardonnay, of course, it had a combination of richness, smoky citrus notes with plenty of character.  

Château Haut Roc Blanquant, Grand Cru St Emilion, 2014,14%abv., £31.50 

A full-bodied Merlot-dominant, Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this right bank Bordeaux appellation. This was the first release of the new third wine of Belair Monange, the J P Moueix estate that comprises the old Chateau Belair and Chateau Magdelaine, just proving that even ‘third wines’ can be superb.  

Château des Mailles, Sainte Croix du Mont, 2016, 13%abv. £19.60 

Clustered around the Garonne river south of Bordeaux the best-known dessert wine appellations are Sauternes and Barsac. Directly across the river is Sainte Croix du Mont, producing this delicious ripe, plump sweet dessert wine made from a blend of Sauvignon, Semillon and Muscadelle. Lacking the prestige of Sauternes, but very well priced.  

DRINKS TO LIFT CHRISTMAS SPIRITS

 

Article as seen in the Sedgemoor Apple, issue 15, Food & Drink

Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by Covid-19 this year, and despite my innate lack of ability when it comes to crooning, Christmas is my favourite time of year, apart from my birthday of course. This year I turn 66 and will be in receipt of my long-awaited pension; despite lockdown I am determined to have a fabulous time eating and drinking all of my favourite non-pc things. I digress, however. Back to the subject in hand. 

Christmas is usually the time when I get the opportunity to attend numerous carol services, nativity plays and Christmas tree decorating parties. Then I can sing my little heart out, wear a silly Santa hat and not worry whether or not I am entirely in tune. Of course, this year much of the activity will be virtual, with the advantage of being able to mute myself as I sing out of tune. 

The cakes and pudding were made in May, during the first lockdown, and have yet to receive their final dowsing in brandy. I have just finished making the mince pies. (homemade are always best) and I am looking forward to the warmth of a glass, or two, of mulled wine. 

I have always enjoyed the warming combination of alcohol and the heady aroma of cinnamon, cloves and ginger that provides the cosy good-feel factor, heralding a few days watching junk TV and enjoying time for reflection as we head towards the end of another year. Without doubt, the challenges of this past year have had a significant impact on those unable to spend time with family and loved ones. Thank goodness for Zoom.  

Of course, in marketing terms many companies want to take advantage of our feelings of bonhomie. So, when a bottle of sherry labelled ‘The Winter’s Tale’ caught my eye it brought to my mind my favourite Christmas songs and I began to explore other beverages with a similar connection. 

With few exceptions, these are widely available, either online or from the supermarket. In addition to tiding you over the holidays, keeping a bottle or two in the house will ensure that should you be in a position to host visitors, you will have last minute gifts ready to hand, making you the perfect host.    

https://digital.magmanager.co.uk/Preview/Index/2467871#page/12

Phosphates - SSDC Conservative Group Statement

 

SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT CONSERVATIVE GROUP POSITION ON PHOSPHATES 

Given the recent interest in concerns raised over the levels of phosphates in the area, it is alarming to think of the potential impact. 

There appear to be two key problems. Firstly, phosphate presence in the land, which farmers are aware of, and where legislation to reduce levels is in place, and in general is complied with. Agriculture is the biggest cause of phosphate run-off, which poses the question; are we prepared to take agricultural land out of production? A ridiculous notion. 

Secondly, there is the issue of residual phosphate levels in the land which leaches into the rivers. Locally, the problem of raw sewage being deposited in the rivers during storm conditions is well documented. Wessex Water have admitted this is their documentation and it appears that, so far at least, they have failed to have any control over the situation. 

They are legally obliged to maintain our rivers and ensure that they are pollution free, funded by taxpayers to provide this service.   

The notion that a developer could plant trees in another location to mitigate the impact of their developments is without merit, as the residue is already in the soil. Scientific authorities advise that the runoff from a housing estate is significantly higher in pollutants than that from farmland. 

What is troubling is that SSDC claim that they were not aware of these problems until October this year, despite the Natural England letter being issued in August, which raises the question of the level of competence of those responsible. In attempting to get to grips with the issue at this late stage there are those who feel that SSDC appears to be all about process rather planning approval delivery. 

This is clearly an issue between Natural England and Wessex Water, with SSDC and other district council planners interpreting the regulations. When it comes to enforcement, notwithstanding the paucity of resource at SSDC, the Environment Agency appears to be playing a minor role.  

It has been stated that minor householder applications which are not within the catchment area should be processed as normal. However, within SSDC there is a huge backlog of applications not yet determined, but which are well past their determination dates, which preceded the Natural England letter dated 17th August. What will happen to those? 

In many cases the reason for non-determination lies with the lack of resources within SSDC’s planning department to effectively handle the workload within the timescales required.  

In cases where reserved matters and Section 73 agreements have been passed but where the detail is yet to be finalised, will this mean that they will now be put on hold?  

It would appear that it is illegal to not process applications which should have been completed before 11th Nov. 

Unless SSDC and other authorities get their act together, and swiftly, I can foresee a number of expensive lawsuits coming forward.  

Wessex Water state that both the Environment Agency and Natural England have signed off their business plans for 2020 – 2025, where they have until Dec. 2024 to address the issue of phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors. This is patently just not good enough.  

Wessex Water are ultimately responsible for failing to address the problem but so far there appears to be little appetite shown by our local authorities in holding them to account. Likewise, our MPs have been inactive in getting to grips with the issue.  

Wessex Water must be forced to put their house in order and at the very least they should be fined, and/or removed and replaced by another company or government department to clear up the mess. As taxpayers we should also give consideration to withholding that portion of our council tax until such time as the appropriate action is taken. 

Cllr. Linda Vijeh

Conservative Group Leader

South Somerset District Council

@lindavijeh