As a kid I yearned to join the ranks of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. Basically for those not in the vintage kids book know, they were a gang* of kids that met up & had sorts of jolly adventures in the countryside. No mythological computer games, 3D air sports or imaginary characters who they could abuse online, but the unlimited use of their imaginations and a dog Timmy that got them out of scrapes.

Rambling through the Surrey countryside with a group of mates, a rambunctious pup & a picnic lunch? Done.

That’s the England I found along the Thames River stretching along Twickenham a few weeks ago.

Rambling, discovering, chillaxing. I started without any destinations or places in mind, bar meeting a friend for coffee at Strawberry Hill near the end.

 Before exploring an unexpected castle at Strawberry Hill…

Almost a Famous Five worthy morning – next time I’ll make onto Eel Pie Island for a picnic and a touch of smuggling perhaps.

*Used in the cute 1950s way to mean a group, not the knife bearing New York ghetto kind