My wife persuaded me to make a trip to the UK, mainly to see Richard Ashcroft at an outdoors concert near Reading. My iPhone died the day before we were due to leave, so I wanted to try out my hurriedly acquired new one on this trip. Cell phone cameras have come a long way since my iPhone 7. My IPhone 14Pro Max has three lenses which makes the phone quite interesting to use as a camera. The default JPEG files are quite good compared to my old phone.

We stopped off in Colmar and Folkstone before arriving in Reading.

Colmar

Sandgate Folkstone

Of course it rained all day during the concert, but, having VIP tickets at least meant there was a big tent to sit under, so we did not get too wet. I think I have now persuaded my wife outdoor concerts are best avoided.

This concert experienced confirmed all my prejudices and added some new ones, concerning, these huge events. You go to see a video as the performers are pinpricks on a far away stage. The sound was shit awful. The levels of alcohol consumption were on another planet in the zone we were in, and things got a bit nasty as the concert went along as the "Hooray Henrys" and the "Made in Essex" sets lost control. And of course we got wet.

We stayed a night in Chiswick, London, where I used to live and where I took my first proper photographs back in 1975. Little has changed at Chiswick house and Strand on the Green. We also ventured into London to go to the Tate Britain where my wife gave me her usual guided tour.

Strand on the Green, London

Chiswick House, London

We had time for a quick visit to the Tate Britain, where we mostly looked at the works by Turner. Some of the modern sculpture is quite fun too.

Tate Britain, London

I was less impressed by the horrific steel and glass monstrosities that blight many parts of London now. These were taken in Pimlico.

Pimlico, London

We spent a couple of days in Battle, Sussex, at the wonderful PowderMills hotel which is set in a huge park.

PowderMills, Battle

We wanted to visit the site of the Battle of Hastings, which is actually quite a long way from Hastings. I was a bit peeved that you have to pay to visit the site of the battle, and it is quite expensive considering that you just get to visit some ruins, without much explanation.

Actually from our hotel I followed a footpath, climbed over a couple of gates and made a clandestine visit to the field of battle on the evening of our arrival.

The battle was a very close run thing for the Normans, who had to climb from lower ground. The battle was long and bloody. My wife, who is a linguist, mused that we would not have the English language if the Saxons had won that day.

Battle, Hastings

We had fish for lunch in Hastings, with its peculiar fishermen's huts, before exploring Romney Marsh.

Hastings

Pett Level

St Clements in Old Romney is a curious church with its box pews and an original medieval timber truss roof. The pews were painted pink when the church was used as a film set.

St Clement's Church, Old Romney

Rye is a pretty little town with some lovely old houses lining the cobbled streets.

Rye

We made a couple of stop overs as we made our way down through France. Five hour driving stints in a day made Reims and Aix Les Bains ideal stopping off points. We visited the Gothic Cathedral in Reims last year, so this year we made for the Basilica di Saint-Remi, which is a late Romanesque, early Gothic building that was badly damaged in WW1.