Last Sunday, Jay and I joined our friends, the Stamps, for a hike (they call it a "walk" or a "ramble" here) in Surrey along the North Downs Way, one of Britain's National Trails. We took the train to Westhumble via Epsom, where the Stamps live, then set out.

Highlights included views of Box Hill and Britain's biggest vineyard, Denbie Farm, as well as a swing by Polesden Lacey, a stately home renovated by the heiress to the India Pale Ale fortune.

The weather was stunningly beautiful -- hardly a cloud in the sky. A great day out.

Walking Britain is a pleasure. I recommend it to anyone.

Catching up -- the Sunday before last I went to the Dulwich Picture Gallery. It's a great place in southeast London -- one of the first art galleries deliberately built as such. They have a few fine Rembrandts and other great Italian, Dutch and British art. The cafe itself is well worth a visit -- very inventive. I had an excellent mushroom soup with a nice hunk of bread.