Despite the boxes of treasure piled high at Umsinga I’m mostly in a collecting frame of mind. I love to nose about the charity shops, auctions, shops and fairs here in West Wales.

The need to furnish a large house means I’m hunter and gathering most days. Well, more hunting than gathering. So many furnishing items are only ‘just-so’. I bought a desk last week, not the best but with a nice leather top it’ll satisfy until something better comes along.

I’m reminded too that after the gentle softening up of England in Particular and after I’d my greedy hands on Peter Ashley’s Unmitigated England I was Googling and eBaying feverishly looking for that ‘just-so’ print.

Peter Ashley is particularly good on the look of mid and early 20th century England (and I suppose Britain). His blog took me to some wonderful web sites. This being my favourite. I have a wishlist if anyone would like to buy me an early Christmas present.