I was inspired by this post from Weaver of Grass (http://weaverofgrass.blogspot.com/2009/04/bettys.html) to jot down my favourite tea-shops. I like a cup of tea at home, and making scones, but going to a good tea-shop also comes a long way up my list of favourite things to do away from home.
The first tea-shop I remember is De Grey's in Ludlow. Very posh, very traditional:
http://www.degreys.co.uk/tea-rooms.htm
Now I don't know whether it's still the same, possibly not, but when I lived in Malvern, the cafe at St Anne's Well was great fun:
http://www.hillsarts.co.uk/stannswell/
In Cambridge, I frequented a place in All Saints Passage but I gather it's now chagned. They did very nice cinamon-butter crumpettes.
During one long vac I discovered the Bridge Tearoom in Bradford-on-Avon:
http://www.thebridgeatbradford.co.uk/ This place is brilliant. If you like tea, or particularly cake, go there.
On the north side of Clapham Common was another haunt of mine, but it too has changed names. It might still be good for all I know. I remember particularly the almond tart there.
And finally the present. Two or three years ago my husband planned the most amazing birthday for me, which included a day in Wisley, and then tea in the treehouse here: http://fannysfarmshop.co.uk/
Monday, April 6, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
I love trains
Seen from the car in north Norfolk last summer. Please click on the picture to see it properly.
Have you seen this?
A couple of days ago I found a new favourite blog, here:
http://aroundbritishchurches.blogspot.com/
You might or might not be especially interested in old churches, but the ones the author chooses always seem to be special, and he writes with great knowledge and enthusiasm. Have a look.
http://aroundbritishchurches.blogspot.com/
You might or might not be especially interested in old churches, but the ones the author chooses always seem to be special, and he writes with great knowledge and enthusiasm. Have a look.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Retail Therapy
(This post is in response to a suggestion kindly offered by Dirt Princess, who showed pictures of her neighbourhood: http://northmobilegardensociety.blogspot.com/2009/03/journey-or-destination-way-i-see-it.html)
Today I am off to do a spot of shopping. So I leave the house,
and set off up the street:
All of the front gardens are different. Some are modern:
Some more traditional:
At the end of the street there are a vet's, a hairdresser's, a fishing tackle shop, a newsagent, a tiny supermarket, and my destination:
Having made my selection, I walk back down the other side, to see different gardens including this one:
Back home again,
... where my purchase is inspected by the quality control department:
Today I am off to do a spot of shopping. So I leave the house,
and set off up the street:
All of the front gardens are different. Some are modern:
Some more traditional:
At the end of the street there are a vet's, a hairdresser's, a fishing tackle shop, a newsagent, a tiny supermarket, and my destination:
Having made my selection, I walk back down the other side, to see different gardens including this one:
Back home again,
... where my purchase is inspected by the quality control department:
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Passing through
During my travels at the week-end I passed through Wellingborough railway station. The detail of the architecture caught my eye.
From Wikipedia I learn that it was built in 1857 (designed by C A Driver). There is apparently a plan to rotate the whole building shortly when that part of the town is rebuilt. Even more uncanny is the detail of an accident in 1898 when a trolley ran onto the track in front of an express train, killing 6 people and injuring 65: a ripple nearly lost in time.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A Walk in the Park
Today I went to meet two friends in London. I am happy to report we had a pleasant and totally respectable afternoon.
I took some photographs of my walk from St James's Park underground station to Piccadilly.
I took some photographs of my walk from St James's Park underground station to Piccadilly.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wollaton Park
Last Sunday I was very kindly taken to see Wollaton Park, in Nottingham. This is an Elizabethan mansion which has been a city museum since the 1920s, originally solely for natural history. I loved the setting, on the brow of a hill in a spacious country park:
The building has been redolent of learning from its original decoration with heads of classical scholars:
The windows look out to terraces and planting that feel very nineteenth century:
But behind the solid doors,
... surprises are waiting,
And they've brought their friends and relations...
You feel as though the 1920s exhibits remain, and only the attendants and visitors have moved on:
The modern touches are light,
and the next generation is already here:
And after all that it's out for a cup of tea in a very handsome service block:
which is more vernacular viewed from within:
Refreshed, we went for a wander through the park and admired the deer (on a golf course, ha!)
I loved seeing them reflected in this:
which was outside the Camellia House (sadly not open, perhaps because it is full to the brim with plants)
And finally down to the lake, in the last of the afternoon sunshine:
The building has been redolent of learning from its original decoration with heads of classical scholars:
The windows look out to terraces and planting that feel very nineteenth century:
But behind the solid doors,
... surprises are waiting,
And they've brought their friends and relations...
You feel as though the 1920s exhibits remain, and only the attendants and visitors have moved on:
The modern touches are light,
and the next generation is already here:
And after all that it's out for a cup of tea in a very handsome service block:
which is more vernacular viewed from within:
Refreshed, we went for a wander through the park and admired the deer (on a golf course, ha!)
I loved seeing them reflected in this:
which was outside the Camellia House (sadly not open, perhaps because it is full to the brim with plants)
And finally down to the lake, in the last of the afternoon sunshine:
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