Dear Readers, here I am in Dorchester for a visit to Mum and Dad’s grave tomorrow, and I’m starting the day with breakfast at my hotel, the King’s Arms. I’ve written about it before, but today I looked up from tappity-tapping away in my phone and noticed these amazing columns. They’re sturdy, topped with a capitol, and girded with metal bands, all of which made me think that maybe where I’m sitting was actually once a courtyard. Checking out the history of the building, I found out that the current King’s Arms building dates back to 1720, but its heyday was probably 1850 , when it was an important coaching inn. Forty coaches changed their horses at the King’s Arms every week, and there was stabling for 120 horses where the restaurant and kitchen is now. The coaches would leave at 11 a.m. every day, and arrive in London at the Swan with Two Necks pub (which was located where Gresham Street is now). I can almost hear the sound of horses hooves clopping.

And look at these flagstones…

There is another point here, though – if I hadn’t looked up from my phone, I would never have noticed the pillars. It’s easy, especially if you’re on your own, to just stick your nose in a phone, or a book, but I wonder what else I’ve missed? More on this shortly, but first, a few more photos of the King’s Arms.

It’s a tricky building to ‘read’, having been changed so much in its history, and being on so many different levels, but here are a few highlights.

This is the Casterbridge Room, where Thomas Hardy wrote ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’. Casterbridge is really Dorchester, and you can’t spend much time around here without coming across Hardy-esque paraphernalia. This is a beautiful room, with a gorgeous round Georgian bay window.

And this gives you some idea of the different levels of the hotel. I would say that if you have mobility issues you might want to have a chat in advance. Nice chandelier though!

And look at this absolutely gorgeous encaustic floor.

Anyhow, after buying way too many shoes in Hotter, and buying plants for Mum and Dad’s grave visit tomorrow, and doing some work on my OU course, I head off to the Dorset County Museum cafe for some lunch. And sitting next to me are a lovely couple who live in Dorchester, in Brewery Square.  The man is a big Byzantium buff, and as it happens, we’re watching a series about the Crusades at the moment, and are planning a trip to Ravenna later this year. It’s not until the end, when the man stands up and puts on a portable oxygen supply. I think of Dad and his COPD, and my heart lurches a bit. Time was I would probably have stuck my nose into my Kindle and not looked up, but I seem to have more energy for social interaction since I gave up work, and it occurs to me that people, and their lives, can be every bit as interesting as a book. Plus, a woman of 64 with grey hair is much less likely to be harassed by a random chap than someone younger and more amiable, so there’s a lot to be said for being ‘of a certain age’ so it’s easier to be more open, while still having a handy ‘look of death’ if there’s any old nonsense.

Oh, and look at these two. I have a nice view over the rooftops from my (very quiet) room. I think that love might be in the air…