Remembering Slovenia

This past week or so I've been working on some articles about Slovenia, one of my favourite European countries. I first visited it on a day trip from Italy when it was still a part of Yugoslavia. On that trip we went to Lipica and the caves at Postojna before being driven to the coast to take the ferry back to Italy.

My next visit was two weeks at Kranska Gora, a ski resort - except that I was there in the summer. Unless you are into walking and climbing, not a lot to do but, as a writer, I was able to keep myself occupied in this beautiful village. Since then my trips have been press ones and I've now covered almost the whole of the country from Maribor in the east to the Adriatic Coast and, of course, Lake Bled in the north.

If you want to read about some of these places then I suggest you go to my page on www.thetravelwriter.com. The three articles which I put on this past week have proved to be very popular - the number of people reading them even surprised me! One article is about Maribor and Ptuj, another about Lake Bled, Lipica (lovely picture of a Lipizzana) and the caves at Postojna and the third article about the capital, Ljubljana which has a wonderful mix of architecture and loads to do both during the day and in the evenings.

An update on Homicide in Hampshire - still selling well. Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy. This is available in all formats including downloading onto the computer (using Adobe Digital). Also thank you to everyone who has contacted me with their lovely comments. I'm so glad you like the flamboyant Cleo.

Now it is time to get on with writing another book.


              Lake Bled and the Julian Mountains

Links:  www.thetraveleditor.com/authors/6261/Barbara_Bothwell/
           www.smashwords.com/profile/view/barbarabothwell

Homicide in Hampshire

Pleased to report that people are buying this e-published book……

"Late one evening Cleo Mainwaring comes home from London to find that her housekeeper has apparently drowned in the swimming pool. The housekeeper's husband and Cleo's Volvo are both missing.

"They are both found - the husband dead, and the Volvo in the Forest.

"Later in the book the village gossip is found dead in Cleo's garden. She had been strangled with one of Cleo's scarves in an attempt to frame her. That failed as Cleo was known to have been in London that day.

"Towards the end of the book there is a very strange car chase - keeping to speed limits and obeying traffic lights…..

"The DCI in charge of the case is 'Steaming' Kettle - a one time neighbour and schoolfriend of Cleo's. Yes, they do get it together."

The advantage of having published it through Smashwords is that it is available for all e-readers. And that includes Kindle!

As well as that it is gradually appearing on various e-book sites such as Apple, Diesel e-books and several others. It will also shortly be on Amazon and Sony.

The price is only $1.99(99p.) so it won't break the bank.

Later in the year I am planning on e-publishing another crime novel so, as they say, watch this space.



Swan-upping on the River Thames

The Queen's Swan-uppers with David Barber,
The Queen's Swan Marker

My day on the press boat was great fun, sometimes we'd be following, sometimes ahead and sometimes alongside the skiffs carrying the swan-uppers. Needless to say I managed to get some terrific shots on my camera.

It was fascinating watching the six skiffs manoeuvre around a family of swans to either lift them into the boats or lay them on the river bank. There would be much squeaking from the cygnets and anxiety from the parents but swan-uppers are experts in calming them down so you feel the swans realise that it is for their own good - health checks, weighing and ringing the cygnets.

A couple of times David Barber, the Queen's Swan Marker, came on board the press boat for interviews. As a large part of his job is conservation and education, it was fascinating talking to him.

I asked how he got his job. "When the previous Swan Marker retired, twenty-two of us applied and were interviewed at Buckingham Palace. I got the job."

A part of that interview dealt with the future and as David is avid about the River and the swans, his aim is education, particularly with schoolchildren. He often goes to schools to give talks. The major problems for water fowl, especially swans, are swallowing fishing hooks, getting entangled in discarded fishing lines, people throwing stones and kids with air rifles. Not an easy life being a swan.

When we had embarked at Eton Bridge I noticed a huge flock of swans and asked David about it. "That's the singles club. Shortly they'll pair up and move along the river to claim their territory."

Swan-upping takes place in July. For details of observations points log on to www.royalswan.co.uk/

Fabulous Exhibitions at Buckingham Palace

Oh wow! Both of this year's exhibitions are breathtaking. The first one is a selection of Faberge items that the Royal Family have been collecting since Queen Victoria. It has to be one of the largest collections in the world. Everything from the Mosaic Easter Egg to art deco cigarette cases and small carved animals. Then there are delicate flowers, a tiny miniature tea set, desk seals and even a clockwork elephant.

The other exhibit is Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress. As HM The Queen said to the Duchess of Cambridge when she inspected the exhibit - it looks like a ghost!

It is on a stand in the centre of the Ballroom with the veil and diamond Cartier 'Halo' tiara suspended above it. There is a video about the making of the dress, behind glass a panel of the lace to be examined and a chance to walk around the stand to get a good look at the dress.

http://www.thetraveleditor.com/article/7817/Feature_Article_Leisure_A_Ghostly_Wedding_Dress.html

(Copyright the Royal collection)                                      

Buckingham Palace is open to the public until 3rd October and tickets really are a 'hot ticket' item this year so it is advisable to book early.



A Busy Week Ahead

Yes, very busy. On Tuesday I will be counting swans; Wednesday visiting a castle; Thursday evening attending a beach party in London and on Friday strolling through some fabulous rooms.

As you can imagine, I am hoping for good weather on Tuesday when I embark from Eton Bridge to sail up the River Thames to Cookham watching the Swan-uppers. This is an annual event led by the Queen's Swan Master to count the Mute Swan population, ring the cygnets and, most importantly, check the health of these beautiful birds.

I will be staying in Windsor so that on Wednesday I can make my umpteenth visit to the Castle, the oldest still inhabited castle in the world. (You can read about some of it on my TravelEditor page).

The beach party is a bit of an exaggeration. I've been invited to what I assume is a sales junket for the City of Sarasota on Florida's west coast. I used to live in the adjoining city, know Sarasota very well and, of course, know some of their tourism people. And, naturally, they want more press coverage! (Again, check out my TravelEditor page - so far there are three Sarasota based articles).

The fabulous rooms are those of Buckingham Palace which opens to the public on 23rd July. For sheer exuberance the décor of the State Rooms takes some beating. What a good job there is a 'pause' where you can relax among some of the most famous paintings in the world - in the Picture Gallery. (Guess what? There are two Buckingham Palace articles on TravelEditor!).

This year's special exhibition is of some of the Faberge items owned by the Royal Family. But probably the most popular exhibit will be a very special Wedding Dress. Yes, that worn by Kate Middleton when she married Prince William earlier this year. (No prizes - go to TravelEditor).

Back to the Swan-upping. If any of you are in the vicinity on Tuesday, do give me a wave on the Press Boat! That's the one with the cameras - natch. For details of viewing points go to the Royal Family web site. (www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2011/SwanUpping).

My link to TravelEditor: www.thetraveleditor.com/authors/6261/Barbara_Bothwell/

People leaving Buckingham Palace from the Bow Room - into the back garden.



Homicide in Hampshire

I'm so excited.  My first crime novel has been published.  Admittedly its an e-book but after years of trying to get my books into print.....  Which doesn't mean that it isn't any good, just that publishers weren't interested.

I have several more books that I will, in time, e-publish but in the meantime, if you have an e-reader, you can buy this one.  Priced very low at $1.99.

To find out more go to:  www.smashwords.com/profile/view/barbarabothwell

Enjoy!

Tiffany in Florida

The first thing most people think when hearing the name Tiffany is "Breakfast at Tiffany's", that wonderful film starring Audrey Hepburn. But that is the Tiffany jewellery shop in New York.

Then come stained glass windows, lampshades and vases.

The Morse Museum in Winter Haven (not far from Orlando) has one of the largest collections Tiffany-ware. The full title of the museum is actually the Charles Mosmer Morse Museum of American Art. In 1942 Hugh and Jeannette McKean opened the museum and added to it for the next 50 years, including the acquisition of a number of Tiffany items.

In 1957 Laurelton Hall on Long Island was destroyed by fire. Laurelton had been the home of Louis Comfort Tiffany and, of course, had a lot of windows and other items created by Tiffany. Or, to be exact, created at the Tiffany works.

After the fire one of his daughters contacted the McKeans to see if they were interested in buying a window, or part thereof. They bought a lot more.

Over the years they and the museum collected more items and some years ago opened the restored Chapel (a work of art in mosaic) at the Museum. In February this year the Laurelton Hall Galleries opened with the restored Daffodil Terrace, windows, parts of windows, vases and many other artefacts on display.

When visiting the Orlando area do go to the Museum, it is wonderful.

If visiting St. Augustine on Florida's north-east coast you can still see Tiffany-ware - at the Flagler College and in the Lightner Museum.

You can read about both the Tiffany Chapel and the Laurelton Hall Galleries on my page of The Travel Editor:  www.thetraveleditor.com/authors/6261/Barbara_Bothwel/

The Fabulous Tiffany Chapel.  Copyright the Morse Museum.