Time Out | A Walk Along the River Lea

Time Out | A Walk Around Waltham Abbey Church

Local Gargoyles

Walking locally, I looked up instead of ahead or on the ground.  There is an interesting looking old coach house that is fenced off.  The top windows and above are visible.  Up on the roof tops I could see figures strategically placed around the building.  The figures are gargoyles.

These photos are not very clear because they have been enlarged with my camera phone.  In my original photos you could hardly make out what they are!

Weird as they are - I love them!  They're not just pretty faces you know but served a practical purpose.  They act as rain water spouts to divert water away from the building and prevent the mortar from degrading upon prolonged exposure to water.  Do you have any gargoyles on building near you?  If so I would love to see them.

Follow On Post

A few photos of last week's visit to the City of London.  I loved the sky in this photograph with the billowing clouds.  The sky looks huge even with the buildings towering up below  This was taken just outside Liverpool Street station on the Bishopsgate side.

The building above is Spitalfields Church.  My Great Great Great paternal Grandparents were married there.  Such an impressive looking church especially for humble working class people such as they were.  I didn't go inside.  I always feel uncomfortable in churches.

Outside another church I found this well maintained cultivated space secreted behind a hedge.  A place of reflection or respite perhaps.  I didn't notice a man sleeping on the next bench who my son pointed out to me before I got snap happy with my camera phone.  London is a place of extremes in fortune and misfortune and everything in-between.
 

Hatfield House Part Three

A section of the long gallery.  The ceiling was originally white but covered in gold leaf by the 2nd Marquess after seeing a gold ceiling in Venice.

The Library. This is just a small part of the library which was full of over 100,000 books going back as far as the 16th century to the present day.  It;s a pity that we couldn't explore the shelves!

 A replica of Charles I death mask on the right.

 A suit of armour.  I was half expecting it to walk!

Stained glass windows in the private chapel depicting scenes from the Old Testament.  The chapel is still used by the family each Sunday.

Hatfield House Part Two Around The Gardens

This post focuses on the outside of the house showing parts of the main garden and also the private garden which is only open on a Wednesday.

 The garden above is directly outside the The Old Palace where Queen Elizabeth I played as a child.

I believe this is nicotiana or tobacco plant.  I used to grow it many years ago and remember its heady evening scent.

Not sure what the plant above is.  Can anyone help?

We walked along a wild orchid path.

 Looking out across the lake from above the boathouse.

Nature left to go wild beyond the topiary.

 Magnificent topiary elephants in the private garden.

 That's the private East Wing behind the elephants.

 Love that little baby one!

 Horseshoes that adorn the topiary.

 Tree seat.

Massive sculpture. Neptune?  I still have more photos to share including back inside the house and of the private kitchen garden. 

A Taste of Hatfield House Part One

Hatfield House is an historical landmark in Hertfordshire.  You can read more about visiting it on the website here. 

It was built in 1611 by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, who was one of Elizabeth I's most important advisors. He used material from the Old Palace, part of which is still standing today, to build the present house. (Info from here.)

We visited on a Wednesday afternoon.

 It was all so very grand.

 Knowledgeable guides stood in every room and were keen to impart lots of information.

 There were so many interesting paintings and lots of doors hidden in the oak paneled walls.

Whoever carved the staircase didn't do it with cleaning in mind!  So intricate with many unreachable nooks and crannies.

 Up to the first floor.

 The first floor landing.

 This room was wall to wall and floor to ceiling with paintings.  So much to see.

Ornate ceilings in every room.

All the photos are taken in the west wing.  The east wing and the third floor are out of bounds as they are still in use by the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury and their family. 

Out and About in February 2019

In the name of research I spent a few hours out and about yesterday.  I walked in solitude soaking up the atmosphere in the gardens of Myddelton House.

A bank of snowdrops shimmered in the early sun.

I admired the shape and design of gold painted leaves on the intricate wrought iron gate. So often I get distracted by the detail..............

A Long Walk

I went for a long walk today.  I didn't intend for it to be a long walk but I got stuck on a path and had to keep on going until I reached a sign post!  In all I was out walking for two and a half hours.  I was completely alone for most of the journey - not a soul to be seen and hardly any wildlife too.  When the occasional dog walker passed by I breathed a sigh of relief.  Being alone isn't a problem, it is the thought of being mugged or attacked that is.  Part of the walk took me deep into woodland and I'll admit that I muttered a few prayers under my breath as I trudged on not knowing what I was walking towards.  I was unsure what path to take once the path widened and branched off into different directions.  Luckily I got my bearings and chose the right path.

When I eventually arrived home I was relieved to be unscathed by my journey in the wilderness!

Light at the End of a Tunnel

I walked through this tunnel today.  I had to bend over to stop my head hitting the top.  My two companions were not brave enough to walk through.  Later, they found a smallish zip wire. They both went on the zip wire and cajoled me into going on it.  My stomach flipped as I careered down the wire only for my husband to drag me back to the top and then let me go down again!  It was a great photo opportunity for all but luckily for me, the images will not be featuring on this blog!

Itinerary

I have a day off from work next week.  I am so excited!  Rather than just waste the day by staying home I thought I would come up with an itinerary to follow to squeeze the most out of my leisure time to optimize (my word for the year) the day.

So far my itinerary is at the planning stage but I know I want to go here and experience breakfast or lunch or coffee and cake!  Whilst in the Covent Garden region I may have a birth chart reading done at The Astrology Shop and have a look at the crystals and gemstones they have for sale. To satisfy my baking urge, I really want to try making a cake using chestnut flour and 'the' place to buy it is in Lina Stores in Soho.

If I get time I might even immerse myself in some culture and art here.  I must remember to take my camera for any photo opportunities that may arise.  I look forward to blogging about the day on my return.

September Sunday

For those of you that still read the blog - hello!  I went for a long walk today stopping off at a farm shop to buy some organic vegetables and then had a walk around a walled garden.  I took a photo of these flowers that look like they are just going over.  I think they are verbena bonariensis and I keep meaning to grow them in my garden.  Maybe next year?

Today I am pottering about the house, cooking dinner, doing some reading.  All ordinary stuff.  Thank goodness for the ordinary.
  

Reasons to be Cheerful

 

 Looking at the blue sky one could be fooled into thinking that I am holidaying in the Med. 

In fact I am just about a 20 minute drive away from where I live.

Playing mini golf in a lovely setting at Trent Park Country Club was a gentle way to while away an hour or two and a respite from unsettling news.

St Mary's Hall Coventry

On the brief stop at Coventry (see yesterday's post), I took a look at an interesting courtyard which was home to a magnificent building - St Mary's Hall.  You can read further about it here.
It was so atmospheric on a gloomy afternoon in February.  I would love to go back one day and have a look inside.  Mary, Queen of Scots and Shakespeare are said to have passed through the doors!