Time for Greenwich - A nautical weekend

Greenwich - what a treat! I enjoy my monthly summer trips to London but I knew when I explored Greenwich that I would need more than a day. Its a area in South East London by the Thames that has a long association with all things nautical and is home to The Cutty Sark, The Royal Naval College, The Royal Observatory and The National Maritime Museum plus several other nautical monuments. N agreed to come with me as I planned to stay overnight and I believe that he thinks London just isn't quite ready for a loose Sue :-) so I booked us a room as close to the Thames that I could get - The Mitre Hotel which proved to be the perfect choice. We went up on the train on a Sunday which is very easy from LA and later we ubered to The Mitre to drop luggage off and start our adventure. 

First stop was The Cutty Sark which was a very easy walking distance from where we were staying. once inside my first impression was TEA - The Cutty Sark is an old tea clipper built in 1869 which greatly improved the transportation of tea from Shanghai, China and the fastest of them all. You can still smell the tea in the hold which was rebuilt in the forties after a fire and incorporated used tea chests. I love the feeling of being in touching distance of anything old and with a history and my imagination runs riot with thoughts of what it must have been like to live on such a vessel in the 1870 as she sped through the oceans. The experience itself is very immersive and you can plot a course from China to England  - which we both failed miserably to do at first attempt. We learned about the navigational instruments the captain would have used and saw photographs of the working crew and details of their very poor rations served up from the tiniest of galleys. We admired the renovation and the variety of knots in the rigging (which I later learned a friend of mines dad had been involved with while at Naval College). It was very interesting and well worth a visit ........ and an opportunity to have a 'Titanic' moment on the upper deck! We hopped off the ship and walked over to the pub by the same name to have lunch - which was surprisingly good!

After lunch we headed up to the observatory - again we ubered but this time we were not so lucky as our driver was clueless and dropped us where google maps told him the Observatory was which happened to be quite a long walk! So we limped into the observatory - our enthusiasm waning with every step.

The Royal Observatory is a beautiful building high on Greenwich Hill looking down on the Thames and is the site of the Greenwich meridian (GMT) and had the important role in navigation and astronomy. It was commissioned in 1685 by Charles 1 and at the same time he created the role of Royal Astronomer to, "apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation."  

John Flamsteed was appointed and the museum is in Flamsteed House where he and his family lived. As well as interested details of the family and the history of navigation and study of the heavens, the museum has some amazing instruments of the time which I found fascinating and was in awe of the craftsmanship and thinking that lay behind sectors, compass and astrolabe. Some were really beautiful and again my thoughts conjured up the people who used them and how clever they were. I got to stand with one foot either side of that important Greenwich meridian. In fact I loved this visit as it was more than I expected and the view down over the Thames was worth the long walk. We were in luck on our return as a disability golf cart stopped as we were trying to get a signal to call an uber to get us back down the hill and offered to take us - Thank Goodness! we were dropped only a few yards from The Mitre and were able to have a well deserved tipple and access our room to freshen up for a very late Sunday roast! After which we managed to get ourselves drawn into the weekly Sunday Quiz night that the Mitre holds. It was both terrifying and hilarious as we had no idea of the answers to some of the more modern questions and our guesses brought much mirth to the team marking them!

On Monday we planned to visit The Naval College- just to enjoy the Painted Hall and we thought the earlier the better to enjoy it without the crowds. The College buildings are massive and sprawl over the banks of the Thames. They were designed by Christopher Wren and build between 1696 to 1712. They have been a palace and a hospital and they are very impressive! - they house The Painted Hall which is a magnificent baroque masterpiece by Sir James Thornhill and has over 200 figures of Kings, Queens and mythological characters  painted over walls and ceilings and over an area of 3700 square meters and features the artist himself. It was a sight to behold and again I learned so much as our guide brought history to life for us and N was able to imagine his great grandfather having dinner in this great hall as he attended this very naval college. Unforgettable but I left with a crick in my neck after spending a couple of hours looking heavenwards. We needed a rest and chose to  walk up the Thames to a landmark pub called The Trafalgar - so easy to spot as it was covered in Naval flags which we sat under as they fluttered around us! A bit early in the day for a tot of rum but a nice long shandy was very welcome before we made our way towards The Queens Gallery en route to the Maritime museum.

The Queens Gallery houses a stunning collection of maritime art and I was hoping to see  Constable's The Fighting Temeraire but was disappointed as it was out on loan. However we saw The Armada Portrait of Queen Elizabeth 1 and an unexpected pair of LS Lowry's and had a peak at the magnificent staircase which I believe has featured in several films! Again all housed in a beautiful building.

By now we were feeling the pace - London is sprawling and exhausting to navigate so we continued our day by finding food - in the cafeteria of the Maritime Museum! The chairs were most welcome and the food surprisingly good and after a brief rest we went to the info desk and as time was ticking and our legs were aching, we asked to two 'not to be missed; exhibits and were directed to The Trafalgar Room with exhibits of our late great Admiral and then on to view relics from The Titanic. We were both by now feeling that sinking feeling and went to collect our luggage and walk to the Uber boat station on the Thames where we fittingly ended our visit. WoW! The nautical weekend truly exceeded our expectations and although we did a lot - we learned a lot and felt it was worth the energy invested - having said that we were grateful for our long rest on the train home. Greenwich is lovely and such an interesting place.

A new direction.

Having a contemplating week - Yes! I know a bit deep but I've been thinking what is the point of my blog other than keeping an online diary and recording my travels so I have decided to add some purpose to my ramblings. I'll continue recording my ramblings and roaming adventures but my focus from now is to create a positive space for being ageing. I am 71 - 'NO' I hear you think and so do I most days but I am that age and although I feel years younger and have a positively juvenile outlook on life Id like to share with others what works for me. Not anti ageing secrets but more of a pro ageing wisdom.

Although I consider myself to be an intuitive being, I believe most things in life start with a decision or choice and that's how I start my day with decisions I have made about my day and so day by day I have consciously decided how I want my life to be. Sometimes the universe gets in the way of all this and makes decisions for me - like incidents beyond my control such as illness or other obstacles thrown in my way. I surrender to these and think of them as lessons and a hint to slow down or rethink direction.

Back to the decisions I have made about ageing - my blog is called The G Spot for reasons I explained in 'about me' in the side bar, I plan to live my Golden years with Grace, Gratitude, Generosity, staying Grounded and Genuine and I hope I can live with a little Glamour and Glitz to light my way! So the G spot is still where you'll find me but I'll try and keep my wanderings on tack by promoting pro ageing and sharing what I have learned so far on living young - into my seventies!

Beautiful Galway and Killarney

We seem to be having a year of castles - so we started our stay in Ireland at Ashford Castle. We flew to Dublin from Southampton - a first for me. The appeal was a small airport just over an hour from here and avoiding the crowds and energy that Gatwick or Heathrow demand. It was indeed a small airport but with 30 people inside it soon becomes packed. The small queue took forever to process but the upside was that we didn't have long to wait at our gate. I had no carry on luggage but N always takes his medicine in his carry on as it is life saving! Security was a nightmare and I swear we will all have to turn up naked at the airport soon as shoes, belts, jewellery and were removed. I got through pretty much unscathed  but poor N went back and forth as lights flashed and was frisked like a criminal - all because his passport was in his pocket and setting everything alight. More drama as when we went through the departure gate they decided that his tiny carry on case which has been through many airports and is the same one he has travelled with for years was deemed too big and he was fleeced out of £30 - the same carry on on the same journey on the same plane was not a problem coming home - we would complain but  at Aer Lingus it is impossible to speak to a human! Enough ranting.........

Castles! We opt to stay in the less grander Lodge at Ashford Castle - it is warmer, cosier and friendlier than the actual castle and you can enjoy all the amenities and also the restaurant in my opinion is better. However I don't know who decided on the colour scheme of our suite but it was RED - like a fire engine. Red bedhead, red and white striped curtains - i felt I should check behind them in case a clown jumped out! We got used to it though and after three days thought it was perfectly normal to have a shiny, red PVC headboard. The lodge has an eclectic art collection and I can only think the red bed was part of some art installation. We unpacked, settled in and enjoyed a wonderful meal while enjoying a view of Loch Corrib  and so we relaxed as we always do in Ireland. Its a completely different vibe over there - friendly people who smile a lot more than folk here and a different pace of life. We had a lazy breakfast and took a ride to Achyl island where I had the best prawn sandwich in the world once upon a time. On this trip we ventured into a small family owned restaurant and was served traditional Irish fare - home made pie served with enough vegetables for 20 people! The scenery around the coast in Ireland is amazing - very like New Zealand on a miniature scale with mountains just dropping into the sea which is dotted with small islands all up the coast. A grey day which turned out to be beautiful - we parked the car and walked along the beach - no one really thinks Ireland and beach in the same sentence but they have lovely, long, windswept stretches of sandy beach that are usually deserted.  

The following day we decided we would make use of the castle and enjoy drinks and afternoon tea - one of the best I have enjoyed. I chose a cocktail to enjoy with it - not realising that it came in a smoke filled dome and looked like a Harry Potter special! It made quite an entrance and was very enjoyable. We watched the weather change as we sat there and our plans to explore the gardens changed accordingly so we whiled away the afternoon and caught up with reading and the news. 

Wednesday was racing day - and N had plans to meet up with old friends. I love both watching the horses and the ladies fashions at the races and those Irish ladies have bags of style. They just look beautiful - we had a lovely afternoon with two horses running in the same race - no winner but they ran well. The party was still in full swing when we headed back. On our last day we had planned a trip on Loch Carrib - the Carribean as the skipper calls it. The weather was perfect - the loch like glass and I took the most amazing photographs of the cloud reflections - even the skipper was impressed and asked me to send them to him and they were featured on their social media. Another wonderful stay in a favourite place.

We headed to Killarney for more adventures, more delicious food - including a traditional Irish restaurant hidden above a craft shop - we left two hours later with a little blue pottery jug and a collection of Seamus Heeny poetry! I am always lucky in Killarney and found shoes and other bargains in TK MAxx - a place I usually don't have the patience to shop in. 

We drove our last day around the Dingle Peninsular to the most westerly pub in Europe and meandered off the beaten track homeward bound. I'll  never get tired of that beautiful land or its lovely people! Always sad to leave and always grand to be back.

Sunshine and Gardens

 'The earth laughs in Flowers', someone once said and late June brought sunshine and showers - just what a garden needs and so we headed off to explore the best that the National Trust has to offer.

Mottisfont The garden at Mottisfont | Hampshire | National Trust

Mottisfont is known for its roses and particularly its old style French roses. Fertile land and a 'font' aka spring attracted a settlement and establishment of a priory on this land in 1201. The dissolution of the monasteries under Henry V111 led to the house being gifted to Lord Sandys and throughout the ages the house and garden has served as a country seat visited by Elizabeth 1, to an artists haven through the patronage of Maud Russel a wealthy society hostess in the 1930s.

The gardens are colourful and fragrant with huge borders of lavender that beg to have hands trailed through them enclosed bright beds of blooms. Entering the rose garden is like falling into a vat of silky pungent rose petals - you see I become very poetic around flowers! It is home to the National Collection of pre-1900 shrub roses which create an annual spectacle. Over 1000 rose plants which flower once a year are planted among complimentary plants such as cool agapanthus and iris and bright lilies and dahlias. We had been once before but as the roses were dying off so felt that we hadn't seen it at its best - this year there was a magnificent display. Afterwards we sat in a shady part of the garden having lunch and was joined by a family of birds swooping quickly down to catch the crumbs. It really was a memorable day and worth the long drive.

Woolbeding Woolbeding Gardens │ Sussex | National Trust

This is another National Trust property that we have visited previously and your visit has to be planned because there is no parking on site. A shuttle bus runs between the gardens and the town car park in Midhurst and that has to be booked also the gardens are only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Its all a bit hit and miss with the unpredictable weather but we were lucky to enjoy a sunny day for our visit. The gardens are set out in a series of 'rooms' . The West Borders are planted in shades of white, blue and yellow with the walls full of climbing roses. There is a well garden, a fountain garden, the long walk and the orangery and pool garden. The various colour schemes are really interesting but the piece de resistance is the Woolbeding Glass House and silk route garden. The striking ten sided, kinetic glass house was built by Heatherwick Studio and is in the shape resembling a lotus flower or a crown and is cleverly engineered to provide sunlight and shelter as required. The winding path leading to it is called the Silk Route garden and contains 300 species and 12 distinctive regions of the silk route. It's just so different than anything I've seen before and really interesting to visit. We met a lovely couple there too - we kept bumping into them as we meandered around and ended up sitting in the glass house and chatting with them for ages. On arrival I spotted bunches of sweet peas for sale - one of my favourites - and asked for a couple of them to be put in water for when we left and their scent filled the car on the way home. A lovely day out!

Arts and Crafts House Standen House and Garden | Sussex | National Trust

We generally don't bother with touring the house when we visit National Trust properties - unless it rains and we need shelter - my interest usually lies in the garden but this was a lovely sunny day and we had also visited this house during Covid and denied the opportunity to go inside. This visit I found the house more interesting that the garden, designed by Philip Webb and interiors furnished by William Morris -  its one of the finest examples of an Arts and Crafts workmanship. It was build in 1891 for the Beale family - a thoroughly modern home with heating and and electricity. Me Beale was a successful solicitor specialising in railway work. His wife Margaret was a keen gardener and they had a large family. The sunflower motif is prevalent throughout and there was lots of arts and crafts ceramics and fabrics to ogle at. Seeing it put all together rather that the odd piece in isolation was like seeing the finished jigsaw picture. The cherry on the cake was that the garden was looking lovely too and the sausage rolls on sale were particularly good - simple pleasure!

Chartwell Chartwell - Wikipedia 

A bonus trip to Chartwell a couple of weeks ago as my son is a huge fan of Winston Churchill and he was visiting briefly. I have enjoyed both the house and gardens before and once again lady luck smiled on us as the day was just as good as summer can be in England. Obviously the attraction of the house is that the great man himself and his family lived here and its quite a modest home considering the magnitude of its owner. However its the personal touches that make a visit here special - the awe of walking in the footsteps of a man to whom England owes such a great debt. Things like his painting stool and easel set up by the pond where he spent hours trying to capture light and movement - as a painter he was very influenced by the impressionists. His desk a few metres from his bed - its well documented that he used to work when inspiration struck - often from his bed! This has been verified to me by a secretary of his who was in a book club that I belonged to. His study lined with his favourite books, family photographs and a framed photograph on his desk from Montgomery with the message, 'To Winston, my friend faithful and true on his birthday. 83 salutes from 100, 000 guns! Signed with love. A huge mark of respect from another great man. His collection of paintings and his art materials that travelled with him and evidence of his love of art surrounded him - not a valuable collection but a personal one. He was a practical man who loved pottering in the garden and got involved with brickwork and fixing and mending. The final room of the house was the kitchen - very austere and I wondered if he ever entered that room! Another great day out!

I find I learn more and retain information better when its presented in a visual way and my visits to National Trust properties really do help fill the huge gaps I have in my knowledge - particularly history. I think I slept through it at school!

Looking forward to many more visits and garden outings soooon!

My London Season

 I have continued my London days out but they started a little late this year as I was waiting for good weather - I'm still waiting! Since I've been back in the UK I've fallen into a pattern of going up to London once a month during the summer months when the days are longer. I usually go on my own and I think of it as a culture fix - I think the attraction is that I feel that I missed out a lot on theatre and art when I was living in SA  - the reality is that I saw lots of excellent theatre when I was living there both in Port Elizabeth and in Capetown and I maintain that the best art exhibitions I saw were when Sean lived in Singapore and I visited and was usually stuck for choice as there was so much going on. However I plan my days with military precision to include an exhibition, a matinee show and afternoon tea and once I've booked it all, I usually forget all about it until a few days before when I start worrying about getting lost, the weather and what I'm going to wear. As a rule I take an umbrella in case it rains, my portable fan in case its too warm, a jacket in case its too cold and a flask of black coffee to keep me awake! 

So far I've enjoyed Top of the Rock, The Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins, Operation Mincemeat, Boys from the Blackstuff, Le Cage aux Follies (the Birdcage) at the open air theatre in Regents Park, The Witches, The Ocean at the end of the Lane  and on my most recent outing I saw Witness for the Prosecution. I've visited the National Gallery, The Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery and enjoyed a David Attenborough immersive experience called Earth and recently one at a gallery called Frameless which I really enjoyed because I knew all of the art featured and had seen most of it during my life.

I've enjoyed afternoon tea at various places - twice at the magnificent The County Hall, at The Parlour in Great Scotland Yard, Fortnum and Masons, Browns and The Ivy in Covent Garden and cocktails at the National Theatre. 

I'm always worried about missing the train home but usually end up in Oliver Bonas at Victoria Station if I have any spare time and arrive home weary after clocking up thousands of steps and vowing that I wont do it the following month - this feeling lasts about two days before I start investigating what's on in London that I cant miss!

Usually the journey is spent reading, doing a crossword or puzzles along with a bit of people watching which these days means watching people looking at their phones or laptops, but last week was different. A lady got on with a rather large suitcase and sat opposite me - I asked if she was going somewhere nice. "Home", she replied. Home happened to be about five miles from where I grew up so we had a nice long chat about Rainford, Eccleston, St Helens and discovered people and places we knew in common.  She was a retired midwife and had been to a reunion with the nurses she trained with. A little further along we were joined by a very flustered chap who couldn't get a signal and needed to 'connect' urgently. We got chatting as he needed to explain his frustration to someone. He was heading in the same direction as the other lady and said his mother had been a nurse and joined in our conversation. He was in the Navy in some civilian role and was going to introduce and hand over a ship to someone. The journey passed very pleasantly and in no time at all and we all parted as friends. The nurse and the navy chap climbing in a taxi together to continue their journey across London to Euston for their connection. On the way back I was joined by an elderly man with a large bag of sticks! "Cricket"? I enquired, "Morris Dancing", he replied and for half the journey I enjoyed hearing about how he got into Morris Dancing and how much he looked forward to it as his wife has dementia and it was a real diversion for him to spend a fun day out.  If only people spoke to one another I thought like they used to how much more pleasant rail journeys would be!

I've ubered here there and everywhere but this month I felt very brave for venturing on a London bus with my unused bus pass and who knows what this break though will lead to on my next visit - I think I'll be able to fit one more in this year before the nights start drawing in and my London season draws to a close - now what's on in London in September I wonder?

A Royal Tour

 

Part of the purpose of travelling up to Scotland was to see or visit Balmoral. At the time of organising our trip Balmoral Castle was not open to the public but the grounds, gardens and an exhibition hall was, however we spotted an opportunity to tour the estate with a guide and go up into the heathers with the chance of seeing some wildlife. Great!' I thought and then saw the cost for this personal tour and thought not so great. It's designed around a family or single group of six so to do it as a couple was pretty pricey and we decided not to and then as I was nodding off that night, N said, 'Sod it, book it!' We are so glad that we did as we had the most amazing afternoon. 

On arrival we had a walk around the gardens and, because we had booked this tour, we were allowed to park literally on the doorstep of Balmoral which saved a long walk from the carpark and I felt quite special being waved through the royal gates! We also had a browse around the exhibition which included some of the Kings paintings and pieces of the royal Scottish wardrobe. tweeds, tartans and evening wear and lots of mounted deer antlers - a true status symbol of any Scottish Castle or Lodge. We then had a quick bite and coffee and reported for our tour. The Landrover was waiting and we were handed a pair of Swaroskvy binoculars with great ceremony and for a moment considering what the tour had cost, I thought they were ours to keep. Our drvier and guide was an ex military, retired business consultant and now loving life in the highlands. He was very well informed and lived in the locality and very accommodating to my love of photography and my endless questions about the changes that the King was implementing, how the staff and locals felt about them and about rewilding and the environment. I loved every minute of the three hours allocated to us. We started off in what the staff call, 'the gardens' which is the estate nearest to the castle which is open to the public. We drove past the venison larders where any deer shot in the hunt would be brought in to be butchered and stored - time being of the essence the deer are brought down from the mountain as soon as possible. usually by horse and often any spare protection officer is used for this. We also drove past the target at which anyone going out on the hunt has to shoot at accurately to ensure a clean kill - no easy matter from 300ft. Then through the gates and onto the wider estate. 

We passed various cottages - John Brown's Cottage (he was a companion to Queen Victoria) here and the the cottage for 'The Munchi' which will make sense if you watched the film Victoria and Abdul. When Victoria was Empress of India she went through a phase of infatuation all things Indian and he was part of it. read here. Then the cottage where our beloved late Queen stayed on her visits to the castle - she preferred a cosier life on Balmoral than the draughty old castle offered and usually stayed in a modest home on the estate which bordered the gold course. I felt so privileged to see this and it only added to my admiration of her. Queen Elizabeth 11 loved Balmoral and felt relaxed and happy here. I think it was the closest she was allowed to be herself and relax with her family and her animals. Later on our tour around the pristine woodlands and heathers, we had a stop of the Royal picnic place where a small log cabin had been erected and the late Queen and family enjoyed the fresh clean air to relax in nature and enjoy a barbeque - so very different from those state occasions.  A beautiful peaceful site on banks of a small lake fed by a babbling stream and no wonder chosen as a favourite.  Further on we encountered a herd of red deer with many young and up on the heather and listened to the absolute peace and quiet with the odd call of an eagle maybe.  We heard about the endangered Capercaillie bird that have nesting pairs on Balmoral - there are about 600 left in existence and a handful left on the estate but the numbers are up. We couldn't get close as it mating season. 

So it seems that King Charles is already making progress to returning the land to how it was pre Victoria's time. He visits regularly but has his own estate separate to Balmoral  - Birkhall - where he is happiest away from the visitors and intrusion but is seen walking and enjoying the outdoors and fishing in the River Muick. Part of the Balmoral Estate highlands is accessible for walking and open to the public and there are stories of Americans lost up there encountering the late Queen on her walks and asking for directions or for her to take their photo - having no idea who she was in her raincoat and headscarf! 

It was an afternoon well spent ad worth every penny even though we had to give those binoculars back.  Back at the castle we were offered warm venison pie - I was starving after all that fresh air and of course I had to have a look in the Balmoral Shop. I bought a commemorative tin of shortbread with a most beautiful photograph of the Queen in her tweeds and some Balmoral gin which we opened it recently - it tasted of wild. salty heather and happy times!

The last day at Pitlochry was spent at another castle Blair Castle here was in some ways grander than Balmoral - owned by the Athol family who have the only private army in the country - and they are certainly well armed! We arrived to drizzle and saw a coach party pull up at the same time so raced into the castle ...... and felt like pulling up the drawbridge. 'Hang on a wee while the piper is about to play', the lady at the door said and it was worth it for entertainment value from our dry viewpoint as he grinned through clenched teeth while fifty tourists stood next to him in various formations to have a photograph with him! We started our exploring to avoid the damp mass that was about to follow. A castle steeped in history from 13th century medieval to Victorian eras, and home to nineteen generations Clan Murray and the - the ancestral home of the Duke of Athol - the current Duke was born, raised and lives in South Africa. We spent an hour  or so enjoying the history and antiques and I thought many times - if only these walls could talk. We left to enjoy the gardens but got lost in the grounds and the Scottish weather got the best of us and we headed back to are lovely accommodation to sample another Scottish Rock Rose G&T before another excellent dinner at Knockendarrach.

We had to leave the highlands the next morning and head to Loch Lomand for the night - always a favourite stop on our way back down to the south. Loch Lomand is next to the pretty town of Luss and a morning spent there with a bit of shopping and enjoying the views over the water was just what we needed. I'm always sad to leave Scotland and 'cannee' wait for our next visit! 

Summer Time

 

Summer time - except it isn't sunny! This country is a different place when the sun shines - people get happy and smile occasionally, the summer roses spring to life and look fabulous against a blue sky and all is well with the world.  
Except summer doesn't necessary guarantee sunshine here and most days so far - and we are mid July - have been grey. No wonder the Brits go on holiday to sunny climes and go mad in the sunshine - as they say 'only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun!' A day out is meticulously planned here with many weather charts consulted before a commitment is made but we have managed to make the most of the meagre sunshine and have a few days out enjoying the nation's gardens courtesy of the National Trust and we have had a holiday to Scotland when expectations were naturally lowered as the sun seldom shines up there!

Our journey started with a few days in Derbyshire because we had never been there, because I have a niece who lives there and I wanted to connect with and because I have long been a fan of a photographer and nature enthusiast called Villager Jim. I had heard he had a cottage on his property and we booked to stay there in the pretty village of Furlow  - he is very elusive and I thought I may get to meet him or even get some tips but no - we never clapped eyes on anyone from the main house. The cottage was quaint but very small and we spent three days bumping into each other. It made me think of how in times gone by anyone lived in a one bedroomed 'hovel' and even had children in there! Anyway we soon got the hang of making ourselves smaller and navigating the minute bathroom and the village of Furlow was very pretty and had a great pub The Bull - and this is where we met a day catching up with my lovely niece and her partner and enjoying local life and gossip! 

Derbyshire is so pretty - a stone wallers paradise - it reminded me very much of the west coast of Ireland without the mountains but lots of sheep and farmland and down to earth folk. We explored Matlock, Matlock Bath,  Buxton and Bakewell -  where we enjoyed the famous Bakewell Tart. There was an abundance of birdlife in Foolow and we woke to birdsong every morning which was lovely.

We then travelled up to Kelso on the other side of the Scottish side of the border and stayed in a beautiful old castle with a spa and an outdoor swimming pool. Kelso is a pretty border town and consists of quaint shops, restaurants and bars around a large square. We enjoyed some shopping here as we had both heard there was to be SNOW - yes in June - on our trip further north in Scotland. Nick bought some warmer trousers - he wasn't tempted by the kilt on display in the window and I bought a warmer jersey. We then wandered into the smallest pub in the world - labelled a micro pub - it was packed - all of 6 people - that was all there was room for. While in there we had a phone call from the shop up the road to say Nicks trousers were ready - they needed taking up an inch - which was very good service indeed. Like stepping back in time! The two owners of the pub shared their joy of fly fishing and told us of a Kelso tradition where the locals mark the borders on horseback the following month. Civic Week . A pity we were not around for that as it sounded like something unique. We spent the following day at Flores Castle - enjoying the gardens and then we had a lovely day with our Scottish friends Fred and Kathleen to catch up on family news and old times. Each evening after dinner we enjoyed a fine Scottish whisky in the booklined library/bar served by a lovely young man with the red colouring in traditional dress. It was the event of the day - none of the whiskeys were too expensive and all quite different and whisky is great at loosening lips and we got chatting to the other guests and enjoyed their company. Kelso was lovely and that area is definitely a favour so we will return again next year.

We then headed further north up to Pitlochry - travelling through dramatic scenery to enjoy a stay in a gastro hotel called The Knockendarrack. Here we enjoyed the most amazing food and also the highlight of our Scottish trip - which I will tell you all about in my next blog!

April was a difficult month - I thought I had appendicitis -thankfully it wasn't  - but it was a month of trying to get a doctors appointment and finally seeing a nurse at the practice who organised a blood test in over a months time! Yikes I didn't realise the NHS was so broke - or broken! Long story short - I paid for a GP and blood tests and all seems well and the crisis seems to have passed. Anyway I am much better despite having Covid again - but all of the above saw April fly past.

We went to Ireland and the Punchestown races - I have come to love this annual outing!  Its an opportunity to dress up a little and meet up with old friends. enjoy some racing and enjoy seeing the Irish ladies in the style stakes. They really know how to put an outfit together and this year was no exception.

We had a runner on Ladies Day - Authorised Art - who hadn't run for over six months and was a 33 to 1 outsider. Well he surprised everyone and was in the first three the whole race and in the lead two fences from the winning post - he was pipped at the post into third but it was very exciting and we were thrilled with him. We also had a lovely breakfast with trainer Ross O Sullivan and family in a village called Kill. A misty morning but the kitchen had wonderful views over the countryside and was such a friendly affair - then it was up to the gallops - very enjoyable!

Following the races, we headed north - unusual for us as the warmer south calls and Donegal is very weather dependant but we chanced it and enjoyed a night in Sligo en route and then a couple of nights at Letterkenny. We drove the coast and enjoyed spectacular view and then stopped in to Glenveagh Castle and the lovely gardens there. It was dry - YAY - but overcast but anything up there that isn't rain is a bonus! I had the second best prawn sandwich in Donegal in a tiny cafe on the waterfront full of huge trawlers. The holder of the title of best prawn sandwich still belongs to an equally small and insignificant eatery on the Isle of Achill. No frills but delicious fresh seafood! It was a lovely trip and made better by staying in some really nice places. to stay in. There are some great places if you stay off the beaten track and we enjoyed two country estates with lovely grounds and surrounded by woodland all lush and green where we could relax. Going racing three days straight can be quite tiring and full on so some downtime was in order. 

Now home again and over the Covid that followed me home the unpredictable weather continues but we have had some sunshine and yesterday we drove over to Kent - the garden of England to visit Sissinghurst Castle garden. Only our second National Trust visits of the year- we will be doing more especially when the roses are in bloom mid June but before that we are going up to Scotland via Derbyshire and looking forward to that.

Our Balcony pots have burst into life and the geraniums are in full swing and our lavender survived the winter too and is getting ready to flower.

Summer must be on its way - hey??

A Peek at my Week

 

Is it really only four weeks since our return? It feels longer and I need another adventure! This is the first February that I have had in the Uk for a while and my memories of this time of year from long ago conjured up snow, ice, cold dark afternoons and steamed up windows from trying to get the washing dry (pre tumble dryer days). These days its much warmer - thanks to central heating and in fact so warm that I don't know why we buy winter clothes as everywhere you go has the heating cranked up to tropical temperatures while the nation waddles about in puffer coats. It drives me mad that we bundle up to walk from the house to the car and then sit in sweltering cafes, shops and pubs! 

Anyway ,,,,,, trying not to moan and today the sun is shining and in fact this week has been quite nice. I can feel that Spring is in the air and I am enjoying the spring flowers and watch the trees green up a little. It seems ridiculously early for magnolias and camellias to be in bloom but the earth is confused and has sprung to life because of the mild conditions so much so that the National Trust is very concerned about their blossom. If we have a frost now then the season will be ruined. We had a very pleasant walk around NT Nymans this week enjoying the daffs and a carpet of crocus and today I walked into town - not that there are any shops left - but I had a hair appointment. Town seemed to have an abundance of people walking around muttering to themselves and I looked at them expectantly thinking that they were talking to me but no - they are on their phones with their ear buds in chatting away with invisible people instead of wishing fellow citizens a good day. Nobody talks to one another in person these days! Its quite sad really!

Last week we went to a film depicting true events that happened in this town about seventy years ago when there was a person sending poison pen letters to neighbours. Wicked Little Letters - it wouldn't happen today as no one writes to one another and the price of a first class stamp causes people to use foul language. The film was very entertaining and somehow you get a thrill when you can identify the filming locations as just up the road - also I learned several new swear words - the mind boggles! We have also been to a French evening organised by our neighbourhood group where I wore a beret and ate Beef Bourginion - cant get more French than that :-)

In other news - we have joined a golf club - with no intention of playing golf but we have already enjoyed a tasty Sunday lunch there and have signed up to attend a comedy evening. Here's hoping that membership will enhance our social life and that other members don't swan around with their ear phones in muttering away! 

Back to the river

 

February already! I am about to get on a boat and bob around Knysna lagoon - something we did a couple of years ago. We are on our way back from Capetown having spent a week sightseeing with a friend and it was busy, hot, amazing and wonderful - Capetown never disappoints and it was wonderful showing it off to our visitor. We went to Kirstenbosch which was looking wonderful in the sunshine - very hot sunshine, and after a lovely shady walk we headed for the restaurant and wisely sat indoors but by the door to catch some of the breeze and caught it we did! The strangest of swirly breezes came up and blew my salad off my plate - now I know why its called rocket! It also blew an umbrella on a visitors head and wine glasses went flying and then all went quiet again - quite peculiar! We headed to the Waterfront later and were treated to South African dining - a braai - which was just what I wanted and an impromptu display of African singing and dancing which was magic.

The following day we headed up the mountain after an hour of queueing - there were two cruise ships in the bay and where the mountain is concerned you have to spy your chance as the conditions on the top are very temperamental. Once up there it was perfect and we enjoyed the views and an ice cream before an afternoon of retail therapy. The following day we had arranged a private tour to Cape point via Chapmans Peak Drive and Hout Bay and then a drive to the Cape of Good Hope where we enjoyed the antics of wild baboons on the road and I took my favourite photo of the trip of a mother baboon and her two young sitting in a protea bush. They posed quite happily for us but I wouldn't have risked getting too close, and then lunch at Boulders Beach and a visit to the penguins. It was a full day but a happy one and  we slept well that evening! Thursday took us to the winelands to visit two of my favourite - Boschendal in Franshoek and Stake Conde. We did a wine and chocolate pairing, a wine and cheese pairing and a champagne tasting - all delicious - before driving to Starke Conde in the magnificent Jorgenshoff Valley. I have been going there since Neil Ellis was the winemaker - it was not commercialised at all then and there was no charge for tasting and no frills other than the most magnificent scenery. Now they have tasting in the gazebo on the lake and serve delicious lunches at the Postcard Cafe. It was a really hot day 38C so we relaxed before driving back to have an afternoon nap. We had some wonderful meals out in Capetown and our friend commented on the high quality of food available - something that I took for granted when living there! We were sad to see our friend off the following day - we packed up the following day and made our way to Hermanus to relax in the most beautiful B&B right on the cliffs. We both love Hermanus as its small enough to navigate easily and yet there is plenty to do a short drive away. We drove through the Hemel and Aard Valley (Heaven on Earth) more wine tasting and a gourmet lunch at Spookfontein. I needed some TLC so spent an afternoon being pampered at the local spa and we relaxed the rest of the time.

Our time in Knysna was also spent relaxing - we stayed at St James on the point and its such a lovely venue that we wanted to make the most of it - we only ventured as far as Il du Pain which is a fabulous bakery and partisserie and Thyssens Isle has some lovely boutique shops which I made the most of.

The few days we had back in Port Elizabeth was a frenzy of activity to complete tasks that wed left to the last minute - banks, doctors. seeing friends and spending time with family - Phew - and packing. Needless to say I slept like a baby on the journey home (and I dont mean waking up every hour).

Now back by the river the first couple of days have been grey and wet as was my mood but the sun is shining today and although there are no elephants, giraffe or rhino on the horizon, there are Spring flowers in the shops and many Spring bulbs pushing through to remind me of sunnier days ahead.

We are already making plans for the rest of the year and I am hoping to get to Verssailles this Spring and perhaps a river cruise or a European city break is on the cards. Life goes on.......

Welcome 2024

 It’s the last day of 2023 - New Year’s Eve is my least favourite day of the year because I feel like I’m in limbo …… between seasons, between months, between years! There’s an expectation of fun that I just don’t feel and everyone seems to have plans and I haven’t made any. I’ve never enjoyed celebrating with a room full of jolly strangers who all hold hands and see the new year in with the okey-Cokey! I’m much happier in perched in front of the TV being distracted until the madness passes.

I have been reflecting on the year and personally it’s been a good one - I’ve enjoyed our travels and there are plans afoot for more. I’ve achieved most of what I set out to do and it’s time to take stock of what and who I’m taking into 2024 with me. Sitting here I’m remembering my dad who died on this day and I’ve raised a glad to him. I’m giving thanks for the people who have been there for me during the year and letting go of those who have let me down. 

3 January 2024

Is this the longest week of the year or what? I seemed to have lost my mojo and need it back pronto! It rained for most of  New Years Day and much of it was spent watching horse racing. I realise that I’m not very good at doing nothing so yesterday I sprang into action starting with a bank issue I needed to sort out. On arrival I was told to take a ticket and be prepared to wait an hour…….an HOUR! So I said NO rather loudly in fact and went shopping instead followed by lunch and on my way out of the mall I  popped my head back into the bank which was by now quite empty …… and fifteen minutes later I was leaving and all was sorted out - YAY!

I have been contemplating my New Years Resolutions and narrowed them down to three ….

Declutter all areas of my life. Surplus possessions, people and unnecessary worry have no place in 2023. 

Put into practice all that I know about living a healthier life.

Limit my time on social media - which has become a real time thief! Get writing instead!