A few days ago I was treated to dinner at one of London's oldest and most renowned fine dining establishments: they have been serving food for over 250 years. My dining companion had eaten there before so, with a reservation made a day earlier, our anticipation of an evening of unsurpassed service and mouthwatering food was high. We dressed as befitted such an evening and as we wandered to the restaurant we wondered whether our expectations would be met. To be honest, there w

I have lived in this area of England on and off for almost 25 years. Whenever I return from my stints in Asia it is always to the rural beauty of Devon. It’s a region of rolling hills and stark moorland, high sea cliffs and golden sandy beaches. There a villages a plenty and market towns here and there, many still with thriving farmer’s markets and weekly livestock sales. There is only one city, home to an exquisite cathedral and one of the country’s best universities. The ec