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@ Don't Disparage the Carriage
Esmerelda begins her 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

White Daisy Egg
My pets are in awe of these beautiful eggs—they would love to try to paint their own one year. Easter and spring are times of joy as the earth awakens, plants are pushing forth from the soil, and the days are becoming warmer. Many baby animals are born in the spring, and life is burgeoning. May these eggs bring you joy and be a reminder of the earth renewing itself.

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
"Wasn’t it worth coming all this way, Esmerelda," said Selene, "for this experience alone?"
Esmerelda, lost in admiration of the virtual reality scene they were now in, heartily agreed!
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
Esmerelda and Mulrey shook paws, said “How do you do?” and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Esmerelda. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Mulrey. “This is my best side.”
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've bought so many souvenirs from the gift shop already my rucksack's almost full!" said Skye.
"Me too!" said Esmerelda. "It's great on this experience, isn't it?"
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
"Oh, Esmerelda! You know that dark grey you see as soon as you turn off the lights—just before complete darkness takes over or your eyes adjust to the lack of light?" asked Suzie.
"Er—no, but yes?"
"It has a name! It's known as 'Eigengrau'. It's a German word meaning 'intrinsic grey'".
"Wow!"
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
“Oh hello, Esmerelda!” cried Mocha. “Didn’t we bump into each other in New Jersey back in late spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
”It certainly is!” declared Esmerelda.
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
"Oh, Choose a name, this VR part reminds me of something in the paper today," announced Esmerelda.
"What's that, Esmerelda?" asked Choose a name.
"New sarcophagus unearthed in Eqypt! Archaeologists find a mummy wrapped in gold foil. It was the tomb of Pharaoh Rocher!"
Choose a name groaned quietly.
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 framed print of that amazing optical illusion, Cherry," said Esmerelda. "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, Esmerelda!"
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
"I've bought so many souvenirs from the gift shop already my rucksack's almost full!" said rex.
"Me too!" said Esmerelda. "It's great on this experience, isn't it?"
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'm going to buy a framed print of that amazing optical illusion, Guaca," said Esmerelda. "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, Esmerelda!"
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
"Did you know, Andrew, 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, Esmerelda?"
"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."
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
“You know what, Esmerelda?” said moo moo. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Esmerelda. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
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
"I've bought so many souvenirs from the gift shop already my rucksack's almost full!" said Choose a name.
"Me too!" said Esmerelda. "It's great on this experience, isn't it?"
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
“You know what, Esmerelda?” said Isabella. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Esmerelda. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
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
"I'm going to buy that ornate ink-well and fountain pen for my Granny, Killion," said Esmerelda.
"That sounds like a great idea, Esmerelda—she’ll love them!" replied Killion. "I'm really liking this gift shop!"
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
Esmerelda and Molly shook paws, said “How do you do?” and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Esmerelda. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Molly. “This is my best side.”
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
“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 Brujula.
Esmerelda joined her in hearty laughter at the memory.
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
"Did you know, farid, 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, Esmerelda?"
"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."
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
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said shotzee, after she and Esmerelda had spent some time in the virtual reality chamber.
"Is there a gift shop at the end?" enquired Esmerelda. "The thought of that generally keeps me going."
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 that ornate scroll in the antique bottle, Abel," said Esmerelda. "It'll go nicely with my painting of the Cliffs of Moher from when we went to the Irish Republic and the set of slate coasters from Wales."
"You're building up a fine collection of souvenirs, Esmerelda!"
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, bluey, this VR part reminds me of something in the paper today," announced Esmerelda.
"What's that, Esmerelda?" asked bluey.
"New sarcophagus unearthed in Eqypt! Archaeologists find a mummy wrapped in gold foil. It was the tomb of Pharaoh Rocher!"
bluey 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
"I'm going to buy that ornate ink-well and fountain pen for my Granny, Roskaizan," said Esmerelda.
"That sounds like a great idea, Esmerelda—she’ll love them!" replied Roskaizan. "I'm really liking this gift shop!"
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 ...
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Esmerelda?” suggested coco, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Esmerelda agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
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
“You know what, Esmerelda?” said Choose a name. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Esmerelda. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
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
Esmerelda has now completed her Peregrinational adventure! As she exits the world of fantasy, she 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!
Esmerelda has enjoyed her Peregrinational adventure, but it is time to go home now! Castles in the Air is over now, but there will be more events in PnF soon!