Hollywoodland

No, we’re not going on a Beatles road trip. I’m going to chat about some of the abbeys in the United Kingdom.

• Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131 in Wales. The architecture of the ruins spans 400 years.

• Woburn Abbey is now the country house of the Duke of Bedford and the home of the Woburn Safari Park. The abbey itself was founded in 1145. It became the seat of the Dukes of Bedford in 1547.

• Combermere Abbey is a former monastery in Cheshire, England. No word if the cats in Cheshire actually grin. The abbey was given to Sir George Cotton in 1538. His family retained it until 1919. It is now run as an organic dairy farm.

• Buckland Abbey was founded in 1278. In 1541, Henry VIII sold Buckland to Sir Richard Grenville who, along with his son, converted it into a house. The house is now a museum run by the National Trust.

• Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132. It’s one of the largest monasteries in England. And also one of the best-preserved. Yes, I know it’s in ruins but they’re really spectacular ruins!

Today in history:

• 1881 – In Dodge City, Kansas, Bat Masterson fought his last gun battle. No, he wasn’t killed in it. He didn’t die until 1921.

• 1889 – Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin was born. I don’t think he needs any further introduction. `

• 1907 – Canadian inventor Joseph-Armand Bombadier was born. Why am I including him, you ask? He invented the snowmobile!

• 1908 – Natural Bridges National Monument was established in Utah. We should visit there sometime!

• 1912 – Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly an airplane across the English Channel.

• 1915 – Actress Joan Alexander was born. She’s best remembered as Lois Lane on the radio version of The Adventures of Superman.

• 1817 – Actor Barry Nelson was born. Little known fact to most people, he was the first actor, and only American, to portray James Bond. He played Bond in a 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale.

On TV tonight: the return of Eureka!!!!! (Too bad it’s their final season.) We also have a new episode of Castle.

Reading: Currently re-reading Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers.

We’re off to South Africa to visit their highest mountain range, the Drakensbergs. Drakensberg is Dutch for “dragon”. The mountains have various types of grass and shrubs. Animal life includes birds, several different types of antelope, frogs, and fish. On the lower slopes, you’ll find rhinos, wildebeests, antelope, and reptiles. There are caves with bushmen cave drawings which sound pretty cool.

Today in history:

• 1954 – Computer programmer William Tunstall-Pedoe calculated this day to be the most objectively dull day since 1900. I only included this because it made me laugh. He might change his mind if he’d shared some of my days.

On TV tonight: Ghost Hunters and Top Guns

Reading: Now re-reading The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers

I’ve never really considered a trip to Brazil, but this particular Brazilian archipelago is pretty cool-looking. Fernando de Noronha lies about 200 miles off the coast of Brazil. The islands are actually what you can see of an underwater mountain range. It has lovely beaches and scuba diving opportunities. And the towering mountains are pretty cool to see.

Today in history:

• 1898 – Actor/singer Paul Robeson was born.

• 1901 – Actor Paul Willis was born. He was one of the best known child actors of the silent era.

• 1903 – Actor Ward Bond was born. He’s probably best remembered for his role in the TV series Wagon Train.

• 1939 – Opera singer Marian Anderson sang at the Lincoln Memorial, after she was denied the right to sing at the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Constitution Hall. For the sin of being black. Not the DAR’s finest moment.

On TV tonight: Hawaii Five-O and a Titanic special on NatGeo

Reading: I’m currently re-reading Unnatural Death by Dorothy L Sayers which is the third Lord Peter Wimsey book.