Christmas is coming and if you find yourself in need of unique and exciting gifts for your friends and family you should check out the Totnes shops in devon. It’s easy to get there on the London / Paddington main line or by road if you’re a little closer.

Plan to spend a whole day browsing the independant shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. You can see a quick glimpse of what’s in store in the video….

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

 The English Garden is more simply arranged than either of the others. It is of considerable extent and laid out in beds of shrubs and flowers, traversed by gravel walks, which are so managed as to conceal the real limits of the enclosure.

   It contains many beautiful and majestic trees, among which are several fine magnolias, cedars of Lebanus and Virginia, and a few large cork-trees. This delightful retreat is decorated with a square Doric paviliou, containing a sitting room, and a bath, supplied with hot and cold water from the mouths of two bronze dolphins.

A bench in the garden is inscribed with the lines from Cowper.

The path which leads from the English Garden to the Blockhouse descends into a deep excavation, overshadowed by trees, and containing a number of antique funeral urns and sarcophagi: among the heap of architectural fragments ids a fine capital of the Corinthian order, brought from the reigns of Alexandria. A short distance from this spot, and close to the beach of Barnpool, is the Blockhouse which, with the little fort on the opposite promontory of Devil’s Point, was built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth for the defence of the harbour.

guest house in devon

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

An 1830 historian’s description of the Italian Garden at Mount Edgecumbe, Cornwall.

At the bottom of the lawn, close to the waters edge are the Flower Gardens, cultivated in the English, French, and Italian styles. In the Italian Garden which is planted with evergreens of the rarest description, divided into sections by gravel walks, all radiating from a superb marble fountain in the centre from which a jet d’eau rises to a considerable height, presenting a remarkably pleasing effect. The bason from which the jet ascends is of marble, and is supported on the heads of four tastefully carved cariatides standing on a pedestal. This garden is chiefly charactised by long avenues of odoriferous orange trees, which is winter are removed for protection to a noble Doric building; 100 feet long and proportionably high and wide. This spot also contains several statues of modern workmanship among them is a bust of Ariosto.

plymouth guest house

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

An 1830, description of the French Garden at Mount Edgecumbe, Cornwall.

The French Garden is laid out in a tasteful and ingenious manner. A hedge of oak, bay, and myrtle includes a square area, arranged as parterre, ornamented in the centre by a jet d’ eau, and surrounded by trellis work, forming arches festooned with numerous species of fragrant plants. One side of the garden is occupied by an elegant octagonal room, prettily furnished, and opened into conservatories. On the removal at the back of the apartment, a beautiful antique statue of Meleager is discovered, backed by a mirror, which reflects every part of the garden, creating the pleasing illusion of a cameraobscura.  The garden also contains a statue of Mercury which has a very attractive appearance when beheld through the opening of the leafy arches. Here is also a remarkably fine magnolia, opposite to which is a votive urn, erected in memory of the late Countess of Mount Edgecumbe who died in 1806.

Near the French garden, on a point of land which commands a diversified view of Devonport, Stonehouse, the Dock-Yard and Harbour, is a small alcove, denominated “Thomson’s Seat, in homer of the poet of the “Sessons.” guest house near mount edgecumbe

Thanks to the surge in interest for comics and graphic novels, due to films such as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk and next year’s WATCHMEN film adaptation, many people are turning to the pointed page in search of the perfect Christmas gift for 2008. Getting into graphic novels can be extremely daunting due to the sheer number of available titles, so here’s a run-down of ten of the greatest graphic novels of all time. These are title which fans new and old should have in their collections. These are amongst the finest examples of the genre and the comics industry as a whole. They are presented here for your delectation in no particular order.

WATCHMEN

Widely acknowledged as the greatest graphic novel of all time, and certainly the bestselling book to hit comics shelves. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created something so monumental that it has been a bestseller for almost two decades, not to mention spawning the most anticipated film of 2009.

V FOR VENDETTA

Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s original graphic novel that inspired the ht movie. A moving and gripping masterpiece that is considered one of the genre’s landmarks.

MARVELS

The beautifully painted artwork of Alex Ross was the perfect accompaniment to Kurt Busiek’s flawless script in this superb book. A unique and near perfect exploration of the Marvel Universe’s early years.

KINGDOM COME

Alex Ross also supplied the artwork for DC’s incredible alternate future story. Complex and engrossing, Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, cemented Ross as one of the true stars of the comics medium.

CIVIL WAR

The biggest event to rock the Marvel Universe in years. Hero faced off against hero as the debate over the superhero registration act spilled over into violence. A truly monumental thriller, which saw writer Mark Millar take the core Marvel characters to a new level of drama.

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

Frank Miller transformed the comics industry, and more specifically the character of Batman, with this seminal graphic novel. Batman has been retired for ten years, and Bruce Wayne once more takes on the mantle of the Bat in order to take on a new breed of villains.

MAUS

This is a unique memoir by Art Spiegelman, presented as a graphic novel, which thirteen years to complete. It recounts the struggle of Spiegelman’s father to survive the Holocaust as a Polish Jew told in a stark black and white story featuring stylized cats and mice.

PREACHER

The nine volume DC Vertigo series PREACHER is one of contemporary comics’ greatest works. Wriiten by Garth Ennis and featuring gorgeous art by Steve Dillon with covers by Glen Fabry, it is a harrowing and gripping tale of redemption, religion and vampire hicks.

Y, THE LAST MAN

A fascinatng, multi-part epic following the misadventures of Yorick, the last man on Earth, and his monkey. A deeply moving examination of a very dark future indeed.

THE KILLING JOKE

Currently the most sought-after Batman title published. This stunning one-shot provided some of the source material for the mega hit movie The Dark Knight, and features a typically sparkling script by Alan Moore and sleek art from 2000ad star Brian Bolland.

These are just some of the groundbreaking trade paperback graphic novels that have enthralled comics fans all over the world, and have cemented the comics industry as a force to be reckoned with. The impact of these works is huge, and has seen the genre move from being a niche interest to an entertainment and literature phenomenon in recent years. There are countless others to enjoy, but these are the cream of the crop and would make a good starting point for your Christmas gift list. Happy reading!

Andrew Hawnt

Duration : 0:2:12

[youtube XvijyBIgazE]

Duration : 0:6:31

[youtube rzstbfBi6R8]

Duration : 0:1:23

[youtube PDUvuDNFmXc]

Duration : 0:9:52

[youtube VjsgrWcbfZQ]

Duration : 1:27:28

[youtube BfQkIYpdro4]