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@ Don't Disparage the Carriage
Rick O'Shade begins his Peregrinational adventure!
Don't Disparage the Carriage
They may look very basic, but these sturdy seats are quite fit for their purpose of allowing you to relax on a long train journey. They are highly utilitarian but there's craftsmanship gone into them to allow you to sit and look out of the window to watch the passing scenery!

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@ Ready to Ramble

Blue And Gold Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Ready to Ramble
The prerequisites for rambling or orienteering—a map, a compass, a hat to ward off the midday sun and flying critters, plus most essential of all—good sturdy boots! Take care of your boots with regular cleaning and polishing, plus careful Dubbin to nourish and protect them!

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@ Story's End
"I'm going to buy that ornate ink-well and fountain pen for my Granny, Marmite," said Rick O'Shade.
"That sounds like a great idea, Rick O'Shade—she’ll love them!" replied Marmite. "I'm really liking this gift shop!"
Story's End
There can be no more satisfying feeling for an author to be able to type "The End" at the conclusion of all the hard labour that has gone into writing and rewriting his tale! These days writing is mainly done on computers, but there are authors who prefer to write by hand, or even use an old-fashioned typewriter!

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@ Pied-à-terre with Flair
“You know what, Rick O'Shade?” said Tammie. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Rick O'Shade. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
Pied-à-terre with Flair
What better little house to come back to than this darling bijou residence, half-hidden by greenery until you're right in front of it! It would suit any pet wishing to relax and recoup their vitality in nature. From its nasturtium-clad fence and gate, a short path leads to its dear little circular front door, enabling a pet to shut out the world and be peaceful.

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@ Cornish labyrinth
“I could stay here forever, Rick O'Shade,” said Finley. “Virtual reality is an amazing experience!”
“Well, you never know what lies ahead, Finley. I wouldn't be surprised if the next one is even better!” said Rick O'Shade.
Cornish labyrinth
Glendurgan Garden labyrinth in Cornwall, south-west England. Cornwall has some of the warmest weather in England, as can be seen from the semi-tropical appearance of some of the shrubs

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@ Little Stone House
"In our tour brochure it says red and yellow are the most appetising colours. The combination of these two colours boosts the appetite of the average person," said Rick O'Shade.
"That makes sense," replied Mystery. "When you think that so many eateries incorporate those colours!"
Little Stone House
This is a perfect little hidey-hole for a pet who enjoys cellar living! A stone house with an insulating thatch of grass, and its own well outside is the ideal pad!

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@ Elegant Maze
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Rick O'Shade?” suggested Hester, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Rick O'Shade agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Elegant Maze
A pet need have no fear of getting lost in this beautifully set out maze of flowerbeds! You want to be able to look over the low hedges to see the pink and purple flowers and shrubs in bloom. It is a delight for those who prefer order, calm and regularity over wilderness.

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@ Wooden Tree House
“I could stay here forever, Rick O'Shade,” said Pony Pony. “Virtual reality is an amazing experience!”
“Well, you never know what lies ahead, Pony Pony. I wouldn't be surprised if the next one is even better!” said Rick O'Shade.
Wooden Tree House
Remember what fun it was to play in tree houses when young? What would you imagine the view would be like from this one?

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@ Maze with Arches
"I'm going to buy a bag of those silver stars, Po," said Rick O'Shade. "It’ll be nice to sprinkle a few in with the Christmas gift paper when I’m wrapping presents in December!"
"That sounds like a great idea, Rick O'Shade!"
Maze with Arches
Mazes have been around for millennia and one of the most famous, the Labyrinth, home of the Minotaur, plays an outstanding part in Greek mythology. Let's hope you don't encounter the Minotaur in this green and pleasant maze! Mazes are also in vogue in popular culture, from Westworld to the British cult TV series, The Crystal Maze.

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@ Hobbit House
"Oh, Flying free, this VR part reminds me of something in the paper today," announced Rick O'Shade.
"What's that, Rick O'Shade?" asked Flying free.
"New sarcophagus unearthed in Eqypt! Archaeologists find a mummy wrapped in gold foil. It was the tomb of Pharaoh Rocher!"
Flying free groaned quietly.
Hobbit House
A perfect little dwelling with its cheerful, tiny garden, its sun-blistered buttercup painted door and rose-bedecked roof!

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@ Taxi!
"I've bought so many souvenirs from the gift shop already my rucksack's almost full!" said Silky.
"Me too!" said Rick O'Shade. "It's great on this experience, isn't it?"
Taxi!
An iconic London black cab as you've never seen it before! Get in the back and take gently off and be wafted to your destination by dozens of balloons!

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@ Compass Points
“A picture of this would look lovely printed on Christmas cards, wouldn't it, Rick O'Shade?” Millicent said.
“It certainly would, Millicent!" said Rick O'Shade.
Compass Points
Where to go next? We have our map, we have our compass. Where next shall we do some globetrotting?

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@ Elegant Authorship
"I'm going to buy a framed print of that amazing optical illusion, Midnight," said Rick O'Shade. "It'll go well with my glass maple leaf paperweight from Canada, and my model of Edinburgh Castle from when we went to Scotland."
"That sounds like a nice collection of mementoes, Rick O'Shade!"
Elegant Authorship
Imagine composing one's correspondence with such a beautiful quill-topped pen with its silver holder, plenty of ink to hand plus sealing wax!

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@ Glass bottle bearing message
"Did you know, Choose a name, that the exact same thing can taste differently depending on the colour of the crockery in which it's served?"
"So which colour crockery is best, then, Rick O'Shade?"
"Experiments in which volunteers drank the same hot chocolate from mugs of four different colours—white, cream, red, and orange—found that the hot chocolate in the orange and cream-coloured mugs were considered better tasting than the other two."
Glass bottle bearing message
What message lies curled up within the bottle? Is it from a castaway on a remote desert island? Or does it contain words of inspiration and motivation for the random recipient? Or perhaps it\'s a survey of the see-how-far-this-will-travel variety! You will feel charged with anticipation as you reach for the cork to liberate its little scroll!

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@ Quirky House
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Quirky House
What an adorable concept! With its curvy, wavy walls and facade, this house makes a punch of an architectural statement!

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@ Purple Prose
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Bananas, after she and Rick O'Shade had spent some time in the virtual reality chamber.
"Is there a gift shop at the end?" enquired Rick O'Shade. "The thought of that generally keeps me going."
Purple Prose
Let's hope the author doesn't go overboard with excessive adjectives, adverbs and metaphors! This delicate shade of violet ink is suited to writing poetry and sharing your innermost thoughts. Perhaps choose another colour to write to your bank manager, though!

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@ Aide-Mémoire
"Did you know, Tendril, that the exact same thing can taste differently depending on the colour of the crockery in which it's served?"
"So which colour crockery is best, then, Rick O'Shade?"
"Experiments in which volunteers drank the same hot chocolate from mugs of four different colours—white, cream, red, and orange—found that the hot chocolate in the orange and cream-coloured mugs were considered better tasting than the other two."
Aide-Mémoire
What story might you weave from these long-ago treasured mementoes of a holiday in France? Undo the string tying them together. We have photographs, souvenir postcards of trips up the Eiffel Tower and other sights, a key to some long-forgotten trinket box, perhaps, and a seal for wax.

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@ Playing Cat and Mouse
"Did you know, Shadow, that the exact same thing can taste differently depending on the colour of the crockery in which it's served?"
"So which colour crockery is best, then, Rick O'Shade?"
"Experiments in which volunteers drank the same hot chocolate from mugs of four different colours—white, cream, red, and orange—found that the hot chocolate in the orange and cream-coloured mugs were considered better tasting than the other two."
Playing Cat and Mouse
Eek! A hunter stalks home in a satisfied way with successfully caught prey. But—oh no, what awaits around the corner? How does this tale end? This street art in Neuburg, Bavaria makes one stop and look closely!

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@ Sombre Corridor
"Oh, Dunkle, this VR part reminds me of something in the paper today," announced Rick O'Shade.
"What's that, Rick O'Shade?" asked Dunkle.
"New sarcophagus unearthed in Eqypt! Archaeologists find a mummy wrapped in gold foil. It was the tomb of Pharaoh Rocher!"
Dunkle groaned quietly.
Sombre Corridor
How would you describe such a scene? Would it set your imagination going to weave a tale about who passes up and down this corridor? Or has the building been unoccupied and empty for time out of mind? What would you see if you were to look out of one of the windows, or if you were to venture to the far end of the passage?

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@ Monument Bar, County Cork
"I'm going to buy that ornate ink-well and fountain pen for my Granny, Fizzgig," said Rick O'Shade.
"That sounds like a great idea, Rick O'Shade—she’ll love them!" replied Fizzgig. "I'm really liking this gift shop!"
Monument Bar, County Cork
I don't think you'll get served very promptly at this bar in Casement Square, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland! It has a virtual front which is extremely lifelike!

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@ Street Art Raven
“You know what, Rick O'Shade?” said glowy. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Rick O'Shade. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
Street Art Raven
This striking and scary image of a black raven pouncing with outstretched claws makes one look twice, in this amazing street art in Dunedin, New Zealand!

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@ Book Nook
"I'm going to buy a bag of those silver stars, Tassie," said Rick O'Shade. "It’ll be nice to sprinkle a few in with the Christmas gift paper when I’m wrapping presents in December!"
"That sounds like a great idea, Rick O'Shade!"
Book Nook
An inviting and cosy scene for book -- and chess! -- lovers in a deep armchair in front of a roaring fire, with footstool to hand. What more could one ask for?

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@ Old Fashioned Desk and Inkwell
"Oh, Mark, this VR part reminds me of something in the paper today," announced Rick O'Shade.
"What's that, Rick O'Shade?" asked Mark.
"New sarcophagus unearthed in Eqypt! Archaeologists find a mummy wrapped in gold foil. It was the tomb of Pharaoh Rocher!"
Mark groaned quietly.
Old Fashioned Desk and Inkwell
Before computer files everyone had a well-thumbed notebook or two! This hotel reception desk has a brass bell, a stand for pens and two different colours of ink and a register or guest book or two.

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@ Pen and Ink
"Did you know, Cherry, that the exact same thing can taste differently depending on the colour of the crockery in which it's served?"
"So which colour crockery is best, then, Rick O'Shade?"
"Experiments in which volunteers drank the same hot chocolate from mugs of four different colours—white, cream, red, and orange—found that the hot chocolate in the orange and cream-coloured mugs were considered better tasting than the other two."
Pen and Ink
What will be penned by the scribe with this simple yet sturdy silver nib and the blackest of Italian ink? Will it be an invitation to a party? A letter of endearments to a loved one? Or perhaps long-awaited family news from far away?

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@ Tell me a story ...
"I'm going to buy a bag of those silver stars, Draco," said Rick O'Shade. "It’ll be nice to sprinkle a few in with the Christmas gift paper when I’m wrapping presents in December!"
"That sounds like a great idea, Rick O'Shade!"
Tell me a story ...
Once upon a time ... what fond memories we must all have of our younger days when these four words led us, entranced in happy anticipation, into a new, magical world of exciting adventure, but everyone ended up safe and sound having egg on toast for tea ...

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@ Three-Storey Library
“Do you remember that scene in Johnny English Strikes Again where English thinks he's in a VR scene but he's really out in the streets and shops in London and starts attacking someone with a baguette?" said Ari.
Rick O'Shade joined her in hearty laughter at the memory.
Three-Storey Library
For those fond of reading, you can never have too big a library. This one has a basement plus a gallery! All you need is a comfy chair and plenty of time ...

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@ Geometric Maze
Rick O'Shade has now completed his Peregrinational adventure! As he exits the world of fantasy, he receives a wonderful gift!
Happy Hippo, Going Above and Beyond
Flying is a romantic adventure with the magical, irresistible appeal of an open cockpit! Those addicted to adrenaline who dream of flying on their own are going to be extremely happy to have their own little aeroplane. It represents independence, giving you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. And, of course, you're not limited to just the road...

Geometric Maze
What is the difference between a maze and a labyrinth? Although considered synonymous by some, it is generally accepted that a labyrinth contains only one path, often spiralling around and folding back on itself, in ever-decreasing loops, whereas a maze contains branching paths, presenting the explorer with choices and the potential for getting very, very lost!
Rick O'Shade has enjoyed his Peregrinational adventure, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy a fantasy adventure!