870 miles due west of Lisbon lie the Azores, a group of nine islands in the mid Atlantic including the island of Terceira. Terceira is and has been for the past 24 years home to Angrajazz. The festival is held each year in the capital Angra do Heroismo, a town of just 34,000, notwithstanding the festival punches well above its weight and has, during the past 24 years, presented some of the greatest names in jazz. Its proximity to the US ensures that in addition to European artists, particularly from its nearest neighbour Portugal, many of the biggest names on the US jazz scene are enticed to this remarkable island.

The Verdict (Jazz Club) in Brighton has, for over 20 years presented some of the best of British Jazz. Post covid the club has been curated by drummer Tristan Banks and excels in presenting a wide selection of jazz from the UK and beyond. With an amazing array of excellent musicians resident on the south coast, weekends at The Verdict are not to be missed.

As a devout tea drinker I have, for many years carefully selected my tea, be it loose or a tea bag for convenience, and preferring a full-flavoured dark nutty tea (with milk) have gravitated mostly to Ceylon or Assam teas.

For almost as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with the Hunza Valley and the Karakoram Highway but the UK Government travel advise has generally not recommended travel to this region or some areas of this wonderfully dramatic and colourful destination. This year I bit the bullet and travelled to Islamabad from where I could connect with KKH and journey north to the Hunza Valley.