please empty your brain below
it's a shame you have only mentioned Hughenden manor en passent. It is one of my favourite NT properties. Best visited in May or June and the church is well worth a visit

peewit | Homepage | 31.12.10 - 7:20 a.m. | #

Thanks for mentioning Hughenden - I'll put it on the list for next year.

Thanks for all the interesting stuff you've written in 2010, DG, and all the best for 2011.

Baldassaro | 31.12.10 - 8:37 a.m. | #

"... because Dartford's that sort of town" what sort of town? One that buys broadsheet newspapers or one where the shops don't bother to stock them? Living here for 30+ years I'd say it is the former. Were you just passing through or had something of Dartford's 1000+years of history brought you a-visiting?

Edward Royston | 31.12.10 - 12:16 p.m. | #

I also went to Edinburgh earlier this year, and went inside the Ocean Terminal, but did not take the Britannia tour.
As shopping malls go the Ocean Terminal is not too bad, there are some nice views from the restaurant areas, but it is very hard to get to see the Britannia ship without paying.
As for Dartford, for me it is a pleasant enough town, and whenever I visit-only a few times per year as I live in West London- I always enjoy walking around the gardens outside the library. The towns theatre looks impressive too.

John | 31.12.10 - 1:59 p.m. | #

Never fear, Dartford will be featuring in my forthcoming series "Towns just outside London that are actually sort of quite interesting", along with Brentwood, Watford, Staines and Epsom. But not yet.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 31.12.10 - 3:09 p.m. | #

Happy New Year, dg!!! Thanks for your blog. I love it.

Doris | 31.12.10 - 4:01 p.m. | #

Thanks for everything, dear DG. Even though I come from the hostile country, not exactly North Korea but still, I can't help myself coming back to your blog each time I'm looking for genuine experience and emotions. BTW it's been 5 years since I spent reading your posts for 60 hours in a row taking short breaks for vivid dreams about East London. Thanks to you, I've seen it with my own eyes and i miss it a lot.
Take care,
Alex

Alex | 31.12.10 - 4:58 p.m. | #

Ooh Staines and Epsom - let me know when, I can come along as your official paparazzi. And kitten finder.

Debster | Homepage | 31.12.10 - 6:29 p.m. | #

Thanks for another wonderful year of blogging DG. You bring so much joy to those of us living abroad and missing London so very very much.
Have a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

CornishCockney | 31.12.10 - 6:38 p.m. | #

I had wondered if you'd ever been to Hughenden Manor.

DG-I hope 2011 is good for you and for the blog.

Amused | 31.12.10 - 7:20 p.m. | #

I look forward to your view of Dartford, the town where I grew up and where my parents lived for over 60 years. There's lots of history in and around the town, but it's changed quite a bit over the last few years. I'm not too sure whether for the better or worse. At least you found a paper, that train journey can be very dull

Christine | 31.12.10 - 7:23 p.m. | #

Dec 29: No longer will you be able to pick up a copy of dg from your local newsagent.
Dec 30: It's surprisingly difficult to buy a broadsheet newspaper in Dartford after 4pm.

What goes around comes around :)

Great Aunt Annie | 31.12.10 - 9:26 p.m. | #

Happy New Year to you and your devoted readers!!

kabinga | 31.12.10 - 11:59 p.m. | #

Happy New Year to you!- and thanks for the blogs.

It's difficult to find a broadsheet Sunday paper after about 12 noon in most provincial towns. Thank God I live in a city! (Oxford).

Vivien | 01.01.11 - 12:35 a.m. | #

Re the prospective visit to towns just outside London. St Albans (St Allbrans)was mentioned, this is a city and not a town! This means that it holds a document confirming its city status from the crown, and is therefore officially a city. Towns are likewise officially created by documentation from the crown. It would be interesting to know which towns which are on London outskirts, are officially towns, which are described as towns but are not (ie no official documentation), and which have pretentions to town status.

Rick Berej | Homepage | 04.01.11 - 8:32 a.m. | #











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