by laurelsbb | May 22, 2020 | Blog, Days out
In keeping with my unhealthy interest in the weather, it struck me today that I wasn’t sure where the term “Indian Summer” came from. I’d always imagined it was something to do with India and the fact the weather improved in September after the... 
by laurelsbb | May 21, 2020 | Blog, History
The JCB Story Some of you may know that JCB (of yellow digger fame) are based just up the road from us. If you’ve driven to Alton Towers via Rocester, the chances are you’ve passed their World Headquarters – a huge shed-like building with very picturesque lakes out... 
by laurelsbb | May 19, 2020 | Blog, Days out
Given that absolutely nothing is happening at The Laurels, in respect of fixing things that is, and that the weather was dry and warmish, we decided to take a trip to The Roaches. This isn’t, as you may suspect, some hideous place where six-legged insects... 
by laurelsbb | May 18, 2020 | Blog, Days out
When I was first told about well dressing, I imagined a group of immaculately groomed lovies in suits and frocks. As it turns out, well dressing is pretty much as it sounds – dressing up wells. Just up the road from us is the picture-postcard village of... by laurelsbb | May 18, 2020 | Blog, Painting & Decorating
Those of you who’ve stayed with us already will probably have noticed the beautiful sculpture that greets you, on your way to reception. What you won’t have seen, of course, is how she’s actually made. During lockdown, thanks to COVID-19 we’ve... 
by laurelsbb | May 12, 2020 | Blog, Days out
This sounds like a bit of a QI question, but did you know Kingfisher feathers are actually brown in colour and not blue? Their vivid colour is actually iridescence, not pigment – the pigment is brown. Interference between different wavelengths of light reflected from...
