Safely home after the usual long flight. Great times were had and we will miss the early morning grandies visits, stories, games, family outings, baby chinos and pretzels! Enjoying beautiful sunny weather today and catching up. Lovely to see family here and catch-up on Amelia cuddles. The gardens at home are very lush and some serious work is now required.
Category: 2014
Leaving London
All good things come to an end and so do trips and visits to the family in London. Has been wonderful to spend time with everyone and especially with the grandsons. Today’s outing was to a Google kids party with the boys dressed up and looking magnificent as the Gruffalo and the Mouse. Awesome costumes and cutest models!Had a quick stroll into Hyde park after lunch and then afternoon tea at Ottolenghi’s in Belgravia. Beautiful food from a great Israeli chef, restaurant owner and cookery writer. Very posh area and I tried to pretend the driver in the Rolls parked by the curb was my personal driver.
The weather over the last few days has been superb – London showing off as we depart for NZ.
Autumn at Kew Gardens
A fine old day for a stroll around Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.
Lots to see with autumn colours, beautiful vistas, the lake, old glasshouses, a great treetop walk, good indoor and outdoor childrens’ playground and of course the many displays and plantings grouped together (like the Holly Walk originally laid out in 1874). We probably only saw a half of the gardens.
Micah enjoyed searching for clues in a specially set up children’s experience related to deadly and disgusting plants. He also got a Venus Fly Trap plant now called Kew.
The boys also enjoyed the Xstrata treetop walkway, Micah climbed all the stairs up (98 steps) and back, and Benji just loved running along the platform. There were great views out of the Kew Gardens.
An Afternoon in Cambridge (UK)
Cambridge has grown substantially since the University of Cambridge was established in 1209 by scholars fleeing from Oxford. There are 31 autonomous Colleges making up the university and a self-governed community of scholars. The buildings as well as the academic reputation and free thinking, attract much attention (consistently in top 5 of world universities I believe) and lots of visitors.
Wandered in the courts of Christ’s College, grounds of King’s College and peeked through gate at St John’s College. Buildings are of course very old and quite beautiful. Many of colleges have restricted access (except to members, Fellows and fee paying tourists in some parts) so just enjoyed what was open and available. Saw some staff wandering in their gowns and students looking both serious and relaxed!
Also looked in on Great St Mary’s (the University Church) and the Round Church – second oldest building in town and built around c.1130. Unusual to be round rather than cross-shaped floor plan.
Punting on the River Cam is a well known pursuit here and fun to watch. Some beautiful scenery as you look at colleges from different perspective and famous bridges over the river, houseboats and a lock or two. A bit of drama at King’s College when a lady jumped in and needed to be rescued (and needing medical care I think!)
Lots of bicycles everywhere – encouraged to reduce the congestion in the old narrow streets. Some time to also window-shop.
Link to Photos of Cambridge
Deciding I need to do some history study (one day) – all quite interesting and this travel lark certainly highlights a general lack of knowledge in all things historical!
A bit of ocean and a lot of owls
Cruised down a bit of Suffolk Coast and seaside villages of Lowestoft and Southwold this morning. Lowestoft is the most easterly point in the UK. Quite low lying and on edge of the broads. Had a large coffee at the Lighthouse Diner – the level of the huge flood in 1953 – quite a way from the water. Village has a huge seawall that is part of the North Sea cycle trail and holiday parks with portacom type homes as well as traditional row houses and hotels along the seafront and a large lighthouse. Also has a couple of piers with entertainment and slot machines but modest and shut down for winter. One of the bigger industries is Birdseye Foods …a name from the past. Reasonable port with fishing and some Northsea Oil servicing.
Southwold is a beautiful village (still with pier and slot machines) with a gorgeous row of brightly painted beach huts literally on the sea front. Very cute and somewhat exposed today. Had lunch in a quaint little tearoom with old style lolly shop and handcrafts for sale. Catching little crabs is a big thing here – they like bacon and kids love to go crabbing – only tiny crabs and they are released to race across the mud back to the water.
Drove across rolling country in early afternoon to Suffolk Owl Sanctuary – through green pastures and cropping with occasional windmill, tiny villages and narrow lanes, pretty thatched houses and pastel coloured houses (occasional ochre), and church steeples poking out above trees. Nice countryside.
Owl Sanctuary is at Stoneham Barns with over 80 owls and birds of prey, meerkats and red squirrels. Owls just beautiful! Some photos to post but quite hard to catch through netting and foliage. Worth a visit.
Stayed at Creeting House – victorian Grade 2 listed former rectory built in 1856.
A Bit Chilly in Suffolk/Norfolk
Dampish start to the day with the temperature dropping quite a bit by day’s end and the wind blowing a gale. The sea tonight at Great Yarmouth is really whipped up and there are not many people on the promenade! Great Yarmouth (Norfolk) is a seaside resort with a Marine Parade and a “Golden Mile” of amusement parks and attractions – like a cross between Brighton/Las Vegas. Glad we are not here in summer when it is really busy. Very glitzy. OTT with what looks like every kind of attraction you might want, or not!
Had an interesting day wandering about old market towns and driving across the Southern Broads (Suffolk/Norfolk).
Impressive churches in Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk) – built out of/around the remains of a huge Bendictine Abbey. Noticed again lovely pale coloured houses, some half timbered homes and lots of different coloured entry doors. All characteristics seen in many of these towns. Guess the coloured doors give your row house a unique touch. Lovely rolling countryside on the way – green meadows and copses of trees in various autumn hues.
The Suffolk and Norfolk Broads have a common border in the Waveney Valley which we came through. Lots of rivers, canal areas and small lakes (broads) form a 200km waterland area with reserves, market towns and villages and numerous walking, hiking, fishing, nature watching and sailing opportunities.
The market town of Diss (Suffolk) became important with Flemish weavers and now best known for The Mere – a large 6 acre hole 6′ deep and with 40′ of mud – formed at end of ice-age when underlying chalk bedrock collapsed. Lots of wildlife visible on very choppy water as we enjoyed hot soup in the warm pub. Diss gets its’ name from the Anglo-Saxon Disce “ditch of standing water”. Diss is a Cittaslow town “slow town or city”where local distinctiveness is acknowledged and maintained and the quality of life is maintained. Cittaslow is a worldwide movement (new to me) which respects and supports local traditons and protects the environment. Sounds good.
Beccles (Suffolk) is also a medieval market town with streets still in much the same layout. St Michaels Church has a separate 97′ bell tower with clocks on 3 sides only – as the story goes the Suffolk people didn’t even want to give their Norfolk neighbours even the time of day! town also has a tiny 18th century octagonal Town Hall.
Constable Country
Heading away for a few days to East Anglia and the counties of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
Lovely autumn colours as we headed through parts of Essex aiming for the Stour River Valley and Dedham Vale area. Enjoyed the little villages of Stratford St. Mary, Dedham, East Bergholt and finally Flatford. Lots of little country lanes (Give Way), pastel coloured houses and picturesque countryside scenes. The views here inspired many of the paintings of John Constable nearly 200 years ago. Indeed very charming and nice to see identified spots at Flatford such as Bridge Cottage, The Bridge, The Lock, The Granary, Valley Farm, Flatford Mill, “The Hay Wain” view and Willy Lott’s House. Fortunately not crowded with visitors at all – maybe because it was a little hard to find!
Stayed at Drinkstone Park B&B where there used to be a large mansion (built in 1760 and now demolished) and park. The famous painter, Thomas Gainsborough painted Drinkstone Park in 1747. One the Grigby family, the first owners of the park, not wanting to be buried in a churchyard, was buried (1829) in the grounds – reputedly standing upright so he could keep an eye on the gardeners! His elaborate tomb is still well preserved.
The current property is only 3 ha and the gardens are well known and visited.
Lunch at Sevenoaks, Kent.
Quick trip to Sevenoaks this morning – bit of family nostalgia. Sevenoaks is a market and commuter town 20ish miles from Central London and where the Browns were last known to have lived in the UK. Went via the Dartford Crossing, a major road crossing of the Thames – bit congested but mostly seemed to be due to the toll booths – 2×2 lane tunnels go north with 4 lane cable stayed southbound bridge. Found a nice spot for lunch in Sevenoaks village.
Reasonably expensive property here. Most notable landmark is Knole Park home of the Sackville family (Dukes of Dorset). A very impressive stately mansion.
Some trivia for the record – have been oaks in Knole Park for a very long time. In 1902 seven oak trees planted adjacent to the Vine Cricket Club to celebrate coronation of King Edward VII. Only one remains, but other oaks of various ages around. The Vine Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket venues in England. It was given to the town of Sevenoaks in 1773 by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset (1745 – 1799) and owner of Knole House, where the ground is sited. The land was thought previously to have been used as a vineyard for the Archbishops of Canterbury (hence the name). Of interest to me, given we have “peppercorn” rentals at work, the Vine Cricket Club must pay Sevenoaks Town Council a rent of 2 peppercorns per year – one for the ground and one for the pavilion, the archetypal peppercorn rent. They, in turn, must pay Lord Sackville (if asked) one cricket ball on 21 July each year. The club is notable for being the first place in England where cricket was played with three stumps rather than two.
Borough Market
Saturday family trip to Borough Market in Southwark, Central London – one of the oldest fruit, vegetable and fish markets in London City located at the south end of London Bridge. Gorgeous old buildings- art deco style. Very busy place, standing room only on our visit. Yum food stalls amongst the trading stalls and vibrant atmosphere. We ate our lunch in the grounds of the adjacent Southwark Cathedral.
Wandered afterwards – along Bankside, past The Golden Hinde II, The Globe Theatre and Tate Modern, over the Millenium Bridge to St Paul’s, and around other parts of The City of London – along Fleet Street (very quiet cause not a business day) and The Strand ending up in Covent Gardens for gelato!
The City of London (capital C) or “the Square Mile” is an independent city and self governed area right in the middle of the metropolis that is commonly known as London City. The City of London local authority, The City of London Corporation, is unique and has amongst other things its own police authority. Had not quite made these distinctions on previous visits here! The City of London and 32 other boroughs including the adjacent City of Westminster now comprise what we commonly refer to as London city metropolitan area. Just to complicate things, the City of London Corporation looks after the City of London and also has other responsibilities outside of the Square Mile.
Another nice wander earlier this week in Richmond Park with successful deer spotting close-up. Nearly missed it so close in the grass beside the trail. Deer cull starts next week so might be harder to find some of these guys and won’t see some at all!
Cake, Pies and Chips
Fun times and lots of walks with the family which seem to gravitate to the coffee shop en route or end up there for coffee, pretzels and a babychino. For Matt’s birthday (15th ) we also had a nice lunch at the marketplace. For some it was dumplings but others had the best-est pies ever! Scrummy light pastry and delicious fillings – nicest is chicken and fennel. Micah and I made a birthday cake for Matt. Lots of fun and it tasted yummy too. 
PS. Nice dinner out too for birthday celebrations at The Wharf, Teddington Lock.