A website just because we can, mainly for our own fun and to provide our family and friends with a glimpse of what we are doing but we hope it provides something of interest to others - the descendants of those who have previously lived in our very old house, those connected with our family tree or anyone planning a visit to the little part of the world in North Staffordshire.
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The Sticks
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Latest
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The no-dig border: what happened next?
- Information
- 18 July 2023 Ornamental garden
Satisfied with my trial no-dig border I decided to extend it and aim for year round colour. -
Equador - Galapagos
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- 12 June 2023 Equador
After one night in Quito we transferred to the airport for our flight to the Galapgos Islands. We had to leave most of our luggage behind at the hotel in... -
Equador - Quito
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- 12 June 2023 Equador
We arrived in Quito as the locals were celebrating the decision to build a new airport. Having just arrived and seen how close to many homes the old airport... -
Peru - Machu Pichu
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- 12 June 2023 Peru
We travelled by train from Cuzco down to Agua Callientes and then completed our journey to Machu Pichu by bus, up the winding track. When the train left Cuzco... -
Peru - Sacred Valley
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- 12 June 2023 Peru
Our guide was very keen for us to see the Sacred Valley and the Inca sites. We saw and learned a lot on our whole day tour, but in the meantime here are some... -
A musical evening in Aleppo
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- 14 April 2023 Syria and Jordan
After a long tiring day we arrive in Aleppo and enjoy an evening of food and music and look forward to a lie in tomorrow.
Featured - Locality
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Tongue Lane, St. Anne's and Broad Lane
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- 28 December 2019 Walks
An extension and variation of the Tongue Lane and St. Anne's route this route takes in Fiddlers Bank and across the fields to Broad Lane.
Featured - Genealogy
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The Mysterious Colonel Hallows
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- 26 May 2014 Family stories
In fact it turned out that there was no mysterious Colonel Hallows. The family story, which claimed Hallows was a Colonel in India, and left his wife and...
Featured - History
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Previous Occupants
- Information
- 22 December 2014 Previous Occupants
Our immediate predecessors at Ladymoor Gate Farm lived here only for a short time. Their hobby was rennovating old houses and then selling them on. We know...
Featured - Travel
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A day in old Pompeii with a bored teenage daughter
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- 29 November 2018 Naples
Friday 31st August 2012 - Pompeii "No there won't be any shops," I say, exasperated, "but you're coming anyway. I didn't pay for you to come to Naples just to...

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