So it’s rained pretty much every day since 2026 began, a relentless, sodden late winter that has encompassed all forms of precipitation, from drizzle to storm, from mizzle to squalls. As yet, nowhere in Europe has warmed enough to be escaping to sunshine, so the only thing is to find indoor things to do. To this end, we decide to make a visit to an interactive exhibition in a nearby city.

A visit to Winchester, a little north of us in the county of Hampshire, is always a delight. It is beautiful, historic and elegant, has many interesting sights and boasts a lot of lovely restaurants, cafes and pubs. We could get there by train very easily in about 45 minutes, except that rain and more rain has disrupted the railway, causing delays and cancellations.

Husband suggests we do a cheeky overnight stay, which I’m not about to argue with and he finds a ‘pub with rooms’ in the city centre with parking nearby. Winchester is one of those cities with a complicated one way system and not a great deal of convenient car parks, so this will do nicely. Maybe we’ll look at some more things in Winchester, although we have seen all the obvious sights on previous occasions.

After driving round and round the one way system in an abortive attempt to find the nearby car park, we do locate the entrance- only for a while though, because the science centre is outside of Winchester, a car journey away. We park and check into the Westgate Hotel- part of the Youngs Brewery chain. I need hardly say that it’s raining. We won’t be doing too much wandering outside.

The Westgate is charming with a tasteful decor, although our room is up several flights of steep, narrow stairs, which do my arthritic hip no favours. The room, however is dinky and has a great view of the castle.

There’s only time to drop the bags then we must collect the car and set off for the science centre, hindered by traffic, rain and the huge road works en route. The rain continues as we park and enter the centre- only just in time as it happens, because the show is starting and there don’t seem to be any empty seats. We’re in the planetarium part, projections circling on the domed ceiling. We’re taken through Van Gogh’s early life through his paintings then progress onwards through his various locations.

I’m very excited to see Arles and Saint Remy portrayed, as these are both places in the south of France where we have stayed and both beautiful in their own ways. By the time he got to Saint Remy, poor Vincent was suffering with his mental illness, his painting obsession having driven him, quite literally, mad; so that he needed to stay in an asylum. All in all, it’s enjoyable, although probably not the best value for the price.

When we exit, the rain is still plummeting [of course]. Rather than trudge round town, we opt to stay in the cosy Westgate, whose restaurant is perfectly good with a few menu options well cooked.

Next morning the rain has slowed to drizzle with a few bright intervals so we pack up and dump bags in the car then go to the ‘Arc’ cultural centre where I’m sure there’s a William Morris exhibition, except there isn’t, because it finished yesterday…

So it’s coffee, a short stroll to the cathedral and home….

Novels by Jane Deans [Grace]: The Year of Familiar Strangers and The Conways at Earthsend. Visit my website: janedeans.com