In 1909 the German Garden City Association visited the UK, including the garden village of New Earswick

Last outdoor swim of the year - 13.5 degree water temp is definitely my limit even in the beautiful sun

Allotment life is a welcome break from the news. Though the leek judges are tough. We will be celebrating our third place in the best newcomer category and my wife has accepted that she will now be forever known as Harry

Not much time left but if any housing geeks happen to be in Vienna this week then the Suburbia exhibition is worth a look. We combined it with a trip to Karl Marx Hof and Hundertwasserhaus

Obsessed with allotment life

Wondering how many planned communities, new towns and model villages I can fit into this holiday before my wife puts her foot down. We start with Nowa Huta (with bonus points for the steel works admin building tour)

So excited to have made it to the top of the allotment waiting list and I think we have struck lucky with the plot

Hopscotch taken very seriously around these parts. 1 - 50 and back again

Sunny days on campus really show off York’s brutalism

Our boy is an angry cat. He has a special note on his vet’s file. Sometimes they resort to a muzzle. Sometimes they sedate. We are trying to get several doses in a day armed with nothing more than a towel and the advice to gently stroke his chin…

I wonder whether the closure of these roads (c2009?) were as controversial as recent attempts to expand LTN measures in Heaton. The new garden looks nice, remains to be seen if it will prevent flash flooding on Chillingham Road

Friday afternoon pick me-up: some 1960s planning followed by tea and cake

Not even a trace of aristocratic posing here…

Recommendations that really speak to me…

Manchester Victoria always feels like the servants’ entrance to the city. Once past the Victorian features it is dingy and always feels like it needs a good wash. Can never understand how a station connecting so many large cities hasn’t managed to maintain a decent shop

Enjoying the vibe here so how about some urban nature for my first post. Great fundraiser for the Sand Martin colony in Newcastle’s Ouseburn: www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/ouseburn-s...