At Puddletown, I had booked us into "Troy Cottage". The address is simply "Troy Cottage, The Square, Puddletown". Perhaps no cottage around and behind "the square" is quite so significant. There are lots of attractive thatch roofed buildings, however "Troy Cottage" is special. It has featured in paintings and photographs for centuries. Why is it now named after Sergeant Francis Troy, the fictional character, a dashin...

Dorset Thursday evening when we returned from Portsmouth, I again used Sheila to direct me to the Europcar rental office down near the Southampton docks. I was on foot; however I have no idea what form of transport Sheila was using. She took me on a walk that left much to my own imagination, especially when she wanted me to turn right and walk off a cliff in the middle of town. Tourists off a ship asked for my help in finding the shopping precinct. I slapped...