Hurrah for Betjeman! The current media frenzy concerning the centenary of John Betjeman's birth is heartily welcome here at Bagnall's Retreat. In particular the broadcasting of some of his witty, evocative and elegiac BBC documentaries from the 50s to the 70s was easily the TV highlight of last month.

The late great Poet Laureate also collaborated with some of my all-time favourite British illustrators on quite a few travel and architecture books. Above is a beaut by the great Edward Bawden from the Shell Guide to Cornwall (1964.)