• Bedroom

    Bedroom, 78 Derngate, Northampton — Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Bathroom

    Bathroom, 78 Derngate, Northampton — Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    The mosaic tiles aren’t. It’s custom wallpaper.

  • Clock — Mackintosh style

    Clock. 78 Derngate, Northampton — Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Light fitting detail

    Light fitting detail. 78 Derngate, Northampton — Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Bedroom details. 78 Derngate, Northampton — Charles Rennie Mackintosh

    Bedroom details. 78 Derngate, Northampton — Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Lizzi, knowing we have an interest in architecture and art took us to Northampton to visit 78 Derngate.

    78 Derngate was the architect’s final major commission; his visionary patron, Northampton model engineer, W.J Bassett-Lowke. It is the only place outside Scotland in which Mackintosh’s mature architectural and interior style can be seen in their original setting.

    78derngate.org.uk

  • Towcester council offices and town square

    Day Eleven

    Towcester council offices and town square. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    After spending the night in Portsmouth, we had to get on the road quickly to keep an appointment with Lizzi in Towcester. Lizzi is our host and one of the organizers for tomorrow’s work event.

    Interesting facts: The road you see there was originally a Roman road called Watling Street. Towcester is also thought to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the country. There is evidence that it has been settled by humans since the Mesolithic era (middle stone age). There is also evidence of Iron Age burials in the area.

  • Flickr meet-up

    Flickr meet-up.

    We first met Jacqi in person in 2008 at Bletchley Park in the UK. Then again in Springfield, Missouri as she traveled to her new home in New Zealand in 2011. When we discovered we were all in the UK at the same time, we arranged to meet in Brighton. We spent a wonderful (but wet) afternoon catching up and wandering around Brighton in the rain.

  • Brighton Pavilion, not the usual view

    Brighton Pavilion, not the usual view — we had a walk along the seafront and around the pavilion while we waited to meet up with Jacqi who was coming down for the day by train. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Brighton Pavilion, not the usual view

    Day Ten

    Brighton Pavilion, not the usual view. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I started the day with a run along Brighton seafront to Hove and back (2.6 miles). After we packed our bags and walked along the seafront and around the pavilion while we waited to meet up with Jacqi, who was coming down by train for the day.

  • Dover Harbour and Ferry Port

    Dover Harbour and Ferry Port — Seen from the White Cliffs of Dover. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • Dover Harbour and Ferry Port

    Dover Harbour and Ferry Port — Seen from the White Cliffs of Dover. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

  • The White Cliffs of Dover

    The White Cliffs of Dover. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    That’s not Brighton … Upon leaving Folkestone to go to Brighton we decided to head off in the opposite direction instead and visit the White Cliffs of Dover.

  • Room with a sea view

    Day Nine

    Room with a sea view. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    We opted for a room with a sea view, for a day spent catching up on work. Watching the changes in the weather and enjoying the view up and down the coast was, as they say in the ads, priceless. Best Western Clifton Hotel, Folkestone.

    Our plan for today is to head west to Brighton, ready to meet our friend Jacqi tomorrow.

  • Wait, I didn’t think we were in Missouri

    This looks very familiar. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    This looks very familiar. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    This looks very familiar, and sparked a conversation on copying in architecture and art. This is the Step Short Memorial, honoring WWI soldiers, not a copy of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

    We spent most of the afternoon and evening in the hotel, alternately working and watching the weather, which eventually turned to rain.

    Remember I mentioned Dungeness Power Station? Well, from our hotel room, you could see it in the distance, along the coast. 🙂

  • Folkestone beach and harbour wall

    Folkestone beach and harbour wall. Copyright © 2024 Ginger Allman, all rights reserved.

    Ginger captured this excellent view of the beach and harbour wall. The next morning I had a great run1 of just under three miles. I ran from the hotel, through the back streets and passages down to the harbour, and out along the harbour wall. Then back along the beach and sea front ending with the 160 ft climb back to the hotel.

    1I ran on 13 days, managing 34 Miles. Unfortunately, I didn’t fit in any strength training while we were away. I really felt it when I finally got back to the gym in September.

  • Even the bathroom was ‘Victorian Style’

    Even the bathroom was ‘Victorian Style.’ Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • Home Altar

    Home Altar in our room at St. Benedict’s B&B. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    I’m used to religious artifacts and architectural features having special names (I even have a book dedicated to the topic). However, despite numerous web searches, the best I could come up with for this is ‘Home Altar.’

  • Bi-Fold Room Divider — St. Benedict’s B&B

    Bi-Fold Divider leading to the ‘Dressing Room’ at St. Benedict’s B&B. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
    Dressing Room at St. Benedict’s B&B Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
  • St. Benedict’s B&B

    Day Eight

    Our room at St. Benedict’s B&B. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Today our plan is to head further east to visit Folkestone (you guessed it, I’ve not been there), missing out Dungeness on the way — I have been there1.

    We want to be out of here quickly, to get to our hotel (and a room with a sea view) in Folkestone. Hopefully the cell service and the internet will be better than it is in St. Leonards, as we have a bunch of work to catch up on.

    The whole house has been restored and carefully curated with Victoriana and religious artifacts and memorabilia, extending to details such as the bell pull is a pull and rings a bell that could be heard tinkling in the distance. I also noticed a working ‘dumb waiter.’

    A cassock-wearing orthodox priest served breakfast (excellent). While settling our bill, we exchanged anecdotes on the merits of working with bishops.

    We liked St. Leonards-on-Sea, and St. Benedicts. I’d like to think we’ll be able to fit in another visit in the future.

    1. Many years ago, a couple of colleagues and I founded a company. We completed some projects for Nuclear Electric, and I spent lots of time at several nuclear power stations. The nuclear power station at Dungeness was one of the sites I visited. The relevance of this will become obvious later.

  • Dressing Room at St. Benedict’s B&B

    Our Dressing Room at St. Benedict’s B&B. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.

    Complete with a home altar, storage, and, of course, the en-suite.

    Divider through to the dressing room. Copyright © 2024 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
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