Hello, and welcome to our world of discovery!

Right. Where to start? 

We’re James and Patricia. Retired teachers. Still hopelessly obsessed with history, geography, art, and basically anything that tells a good story. And since we finally have the time to explore at our own pace, that’s exactly what we’re doing—one castle ruin, one old church, one windswept moor at a time. 

Oh, and there’s Bertie. Jack Russell. Absolute menace. Likes to pretend he’s in charge, when really, he’s just along for the snacks. 

How We Got Here 

We met in London ages ago—back when chalkboards were still a thing and teaching was (supposedly) a respectable profession. I taught geography, always looking at maps and wondering what was out there. Patricia? History, with an unfulfilled dream of becoming an art teacher (which, trust me, she still brings up regularly). We spent weekends dragging each other to castles, cathedrals, hiking trails—whatever caught our interest. 

Then retirement rolled around, and suddenly, we had this massive question: Where do we actually want to be? 

The answer was easy. Yorkshire. 

Pickering, to be specific—a market town right on the edge of the North York Moors. My hometown, actually. Felt like coming full circle. Rolling hills, abbeys in various states of disrepair, cozy pubs, proper tea rooms. Everything we love, basically. 

That said… Yorkshire winters? Brutal. 

So, we may have made a tiny decision to buy a little escape in northern Spain—near Santiago de Compostela. You know, somewhere we could pretend we were still rugged outdoorsy types but without the constant threat of sideways rain. 

Why This Blog? 

At first, this was just a way to document where we’ve been—what we learned, what Patricia sketched, what Bertie attempted to destroy. But the more we traveled, the more we realized these places have stories that deserve to be shared. 

And look, we’re not travel influencers. We’re not here to tell you where to stay or give you a list of “Top 10 Hidden Gems.” We just love history, landscapes, and the weird little details that bring a place to life. And if telling these stories sparks some curiosity—or makes you want to go out and explore a bit more yourself—then that’s even better. 

What You’ll Find Here 

No strict categories, no over-planned content. Just a mix of history, personal experiences, and whatever weird rabbit hole James has gone down this week. 

• James digs into the past—the old maps, the forgotten battles, the “why is this even here?” kind of questions. 

• Patricia captures the present—sketches, reflections, noticing details that most people walk right past. 

• Bertie? He mostly runs off and causes mild chaos. 

One week, we’ll be talking about Whitby Abbey and its Dracula connections, the next, we might be rambling about a Spanish monastery hidden in the hills. No plan. Just places, stories, and whatever happens along the way. 

Beyond Yorkshire 

While Yorkshire has our hearts, our Spanish retreat is a different kind of magic. Think ancient villages, vineyards, slow afternoons with good wine. A place where history feels different—where things aren’t crumbling ruins yet, but still soaked in time. 

Same curiosity, just… with more sunshine.