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Reflecting On England

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">What can I say...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so much we have learned </div><div style="text-align: center;">and so much we will miss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for joining my journey!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdCoKdvWX1MPiz-DF80K0Mu4pKVa4VLmW2yGUximm1ed7Uj6Sorycn6kxqBp1P_x6YFJYqSOuc9znccLGuxYzMZWVKcQmNfkqz9-0RzE-Uao5oZsVx84768M01zmeFqo7S2lMxqV2qHEC/s1600/DSC01507-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdCoKdvWX1MPiz-DF80K0Mu4pKVa4VLmW2yGUximm1ed7Uj6Sorycn6kxqBp1P_x6YFJYqSOuc9znccLGuxYzMZWVKcQmNfkqz9-0RzE-Uao5oZsVx84768M01zmeFqo7S2lMxqV2qHEC/s1600/DSC01507-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so thankful you have read and commented on my blog</div><div style="text-align: center;">which in turn encouraged me to keep documenting our time here in words and images</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I start to look at England from a rear-view mirror perspective,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's some of my thoughts about this wonderful country<br />we have been lucky to call 'home'...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE WEATHER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enabling green grass and lush landscapes year around,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rain is an important fiber of the English culture<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBVUb2L0VYZIQfRoUQuyHI5_nmewxBkPXgrK6XE4huknxzXBpuRQReQtzj4p5uQMX1G1AqAD7XJNi_1TsDfSOqzIsM-IUijmGL3cSn3_RcJA5gQZooemMfYzbu4BLAkqpLoKLB47WCpje/s1600/photo+5-044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBVUb2L0VYZIQfRoUQuyHI5_nmewxBkPXgrK6XE4huknxzXBpuRQReQtzj4p5uQMX1G1AqAD7XJNi_1TsDfSOqzIsM-IUijmGL3cSn3_RcJA5gQZooemMfYzbu4BLAkqpLoKLB47WCpje/s1600/photo+5-044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Providing not only a conversation starter,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rain has created a hearty crew who holds events rain or shine</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 'just gets on with it'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Molding fashion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you find adorable wellies and umbrellas at the ready for rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the sweater-scarf-leggings-boots combo is put to work </div><div style="text-align: center;">at least 9 months of the year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With rain comes rainbows and</div><div style="text-align: center;">the probable cloud cover provides soft lighting for photos</div><div style="text-align: center;">The mild weather is predictable with occasional 'sunny spells'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fog has been infrequent</div><div style="text-align: center;">but always a treat</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it drops a totally different lens to a wintry landscape<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2f8xsf5VNFD8c9n_BVeNYiucf5rSWpY596xjHlpxuNuiBqL9w0wBKD-BmAxQRzAb9OgmaqKyPfAUPvm6mm19mDr0Fd9RdMZDFmAj-PtBYyEeeugv5_OVWo9AI-d4ToR2deEnMxVxo-0/s1600/photo+4-027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2f8xsf5VNFD8c9n_BVeNYiucf5rSWpY596xjHlpxuNuiBqL9w0wBKD-BmAxQRzAb9OgmaqKyPfAUPvm6mm19mDr0Fd9RdMZDFmAj-PtBYyEeeugv5_OVWo9AI-d4ToR2deEnMxVxo-0/s1600/photo+4-027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wintertime is short but very dark,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and later we're rewarded by insanely long hours of daylight in summertime</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In general</div><div style="text-align: center;">the clouds and rain are like a cozy blanket</div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes me say, 'Ahhh, that's my England'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE OUTDOORS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With all that rain and mild temperatures,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this island has the most wonderful conditions for growing things<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHnHVJWAfz9bYAFLMKgRnW3606Vb-XPtDcdlB1v5b9LISZW9BW1aRY71dKOR7Wm3vuDlBpjF0-Zvs_9xYGPUMSWRbgUWnvvc0aQFmp_rW3LM1kNILLBVMjjfcyRAN3zrXtnK8Jeuflip2/s1600/DSC01226-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHnHVJWAfz9bYAFLMKgRnW3606Vb-XPtDcdlB1v5b9LISZW9BW1aRY71dKOR7Wm3vuDlBpjF0-Zvs_9xYGPUMSWRbgUWnvvc0aQFmp_rW3LM1kNILLBVMjjfcyRAN3zrXtnK8Jeuflip2/s1600/DSC01226-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dancing wildflowers are left to grow along the roadside</div><div style="text-align: center;">and walls of greenery guide you down the lanes </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the form of hedgerows and tree tunnels</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture-perfect crop fields are just as beautiful</div><div style="text-align: center;">as the countless public gardens that dot this verdant country</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Garden nurseries sell not only flowers and plants</div><div style="text-align: center;">but pots of tea, lunch and dessert</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With public footpaths zig-zagging the country,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there is no shortage of local hikes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and dogs can frolic off-leash to their waggy-heart's content<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0msRpQikMLfE8utoz2oBqiVbPQak7vgkFNOgZ9Uei0TdPh4aKP4FsLyqitSP6W4Ve3-BeIv_rrYwrj6D5hpaMK_dtiyGMNnwD2PtXTcGD-uQZ76mxhuC43-q1AFRExdSRtC1IJy2Nq-jD/s1600/DSC09680-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0msRpQikMLfE8utoz2oBqiVbPQak7vgkFNOgZ9Uei0TdPh4aKP4FsLyqitSP6W4Ve3-BeIv_rrYwrj6D5hpaMK_dtiyGMNnwD2PtXTcGD-uQZ76mxhuC43-q1AFRExdSRtC1IJy2Nq-jD/s1600/DSC09680-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Without the danger of bears, mountain lions, or poisonous snakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">children can run around more carefree than we are accustomed to</div><div style="text-align: center;">(there are venomous adders, but rare)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, how we will miss... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">being woken up at 5 o'clock by birdsong</div><div style="text-align: center;">old car horn sound of a pheasant call</div><div style="text-align: center;">bike pump sound made by the Great Tit</div><div style="text-align: center;">skinny little legs on the sweet and revered English Robin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">wandering solitary fox</div><div style="text-align: center;">spinning tail of a newborn lamb</div><div style="text-align: center;">gorgeous haze of bluebells in Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">shocking acid-yellow rapeseed<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30NYHlasCsRltbc3R088P9a_2pKkB0rNvV2VPi7chKRCaaC34RS27qohUzF_13X0qN2n1xgsM410JOTMYMOwSq6069RFyN7ryUNKAXQWqh-WDC8Zk0mLNgfN1vpkSajVzJsEbC0qCJwRW/s1600/DSC01696-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30NYHlasCsRltbc3R088P9a_2pKkB0rNvV2VPi7chKRCaaC34RS27qohUzF_13X0qN2n1xgsM410JOTMYMOwSq6069RFyN7ryUNKAXQWqh-WDC8Zk0mLNgfN1vpkSajVzJsEbC0qCJwRW/s1600/DSC01696-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">rich blue of a British summer sky</div><div style="text-align: center;">fairytale-like toadstools in autumn</div><div style="text-align: center;">magical hoar frost in winter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like many Americans,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am quite smitten by the English accent</div><div style="text-align: center;">and surprised how it varies greatly</div><div style="text-align: center;">depending on class, education, and location<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj05g5p0jsd3grvy7GXCDL_iKR5Pj8Ots5N5RlDu37_jRn2lHf8WpDXeZ_lmRFpZY2We1VpFpyTMRfd8dwLrYa7-9zrmBjZfRwz0n-AjcxurZy97-uwocmq-zW-ghmChtQGWP0Dzn-i24t/s1600/DSC01270-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj05g5p0jsd3grvy7GXCDL_iKR5Pj8Ots5N5RlDu37_jRn2lHf8WpDXeZ_lmRFpZY2We1VpFpyTMRfd8dwLrYa7-9zrmBjZfRwz0n-AjcxurZy97-uwocmq-zW-ghmChtQGWP0Dzn-i24t/s1600/DSC01270-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've started to notice which type of accent is spoken in radio commercials</div><div style="text-align: center;">which provides a whole different level of information to the listener</div><div style="text-align: center;">as to what the advertiser wants to convey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the English are not boastful,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they'll remind you of their original ownership of the English language</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And yet<br />they have pronunciation inconsistencies that make me look like a real heel</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as Cliveden - should be Clive-den but is pronounced Cliv'den -</div><div style="text-align: center;">and other pronunciation rule derailments such as Thames and Leicester</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I imagine the English use a larger percentage of their dictionary than Americans</div><div style="text-align: center;">and they have an impressively extensive vocabulary for landscapes such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">moor, tor, fen, fell, dale, vale, copse, lea, common, green, heath, and beck</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is even a wordsmith game show on BBC radio</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love that the public will correct grammatically incorrect signage</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How I wish I had taken a photo of a notice placed in an elevator/lift I saw a few years ago</div><div style="text-align: center;">Someone had used a pen to make about 4 grammatical corrections on the sign</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was taken down that night<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I did get a photo of this one at my local post office...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7es4OMitiWpSmViIQZ9utPYjFswLjz-sBxipNHquA8y-CskiAsiwdAvIh_yDVr3h6juAjpEBjSkCP_mD_yrfWr2pdgkxkDXAR4lKo16s7-snETdfMoH0SBAVoyId2qyFzsx1Cyg05s8p/s1600/photo+1-0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7es4OMitiWpSmViIQZ9utPYjFswLjz-sBxipNHquA8y-CskiAsiwdAvIh_yDVr3h6juAjpEBjSkCP_mD_yrfWr2pdgkxkDXAR4lKo16s7-snETdfMoH0SBAVoyId2qyFzsx1Cyg05s8p/s1600/photo+1-0061.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone attempted to scratch out the 's'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On a side note,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find it fascinating that the French has an official authority <span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Académie française)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">determining the usages, vocabulary, grammar, and dictionary of the French language</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">FOOD & DRINK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's cut the the chase:</div><div style="text-align: center;">man, how we will miss our country pubs<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmvYWrqSdqIYRih-IMTYNM-aiCNtAd9beiKqbyMnVzL3gI81ijncdUGQUL6EL2ByuggfQkEOCoHDxmDhj8kz1ur8KgupGmHs5oODGN3RE8IjEMaSlMv9cDOlC4M-Hy5NLy_5JaXzSWEPC/s1600/photo+2-031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmvYWrqSdqIYRih-IMTYNM-aiCNtAd9beiKqbyMnVzL3gI81ijncdUGQUL6EL2ByuggfQkEOCoHDxmDhj8kz1ur8KgupGmHs5oODGN3RE8IjEMaSlMv9cDOlC4M-Hy5NLy_5JaXzSWEPC/s1600/photo+2-031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Imagine a 17th-century pub with a warming fire in the fireplace</div><div style="text-align: center;">and board games stacked nearby just waiting to be played</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfection!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A warming drink may include </div><div style="text-align: center;">a pot of tea</div><div style="text-align: center;">hot chocolate</div><div style="text-align: center;">(warmish) pint of beer</div><div style="text-align: center;">Winter Pimms</div><div style="text-align: center;">or mulled wine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happiness is sitting outside on a sunny day at a pub</div><div style="text-align: center;">while the kids play on equipment or hide-and-seek</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Quiz Night' is on Fridays</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday Roast each week</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dog and family friendly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pubs are the heartbeat of many villages</div><div style="text-align: center;">and there simply is no equivalent in the US<br />or possibly elsewhere in the world outside the UK/Ireland region</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With so many cool pubs to discover,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you never have to go to the same one twice<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5YW-qAb9rNb7XJGjfNS7ZGFb3WRVsd8gGfmrWqHFMNpeQ7vcHeipMFv-fsFyi2AoiLFGdgJuNtOyCFsk8KHsFA7pYMzuDm7MMjj5JvIi7ryHsZ-C3AKZxtGhmI1sFONilJSlz47KjhdR/s1600/DSC00105-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5YW-qAb9rNb7XJGjfNS7ZGFb3WRVsd8gGfmrWqHFMNpeQ7vcHeipMFv-fsFyi2AoiLFGdgJuNtOyCFsk8KHsFA7pYMzuDm7MMjj5JvIi7ryHsZ-C3AKZxtGhmI1sFONilJSlz47KjhdR/s1600/DSC00105-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While England gets a bad rap for food,</div><div style="text-align: center;">delicious Indian take-away is as common as Chinese take-out in the US</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The London food scene is amazing, delicious and diverse</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is constantly evolving with clever new ideas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From liquid nitrogen ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">to Alice In Wonderland tea,</div><div style="text-align: center;">from pay-per-minute cafes<br />to sushi on conveyor belts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">London has it all</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we're spoiled for choice</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet tooth will be missing a lot of British favorites:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">millionaire shortbread bars</div><div style="text-align: center;">lemon drizzle cake</div><div style="text-align: center;">treacle tart</div><div style="text-align: center;">sticky toffee pudding</div><div style="text-align: center;">honeycomb crunch ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">first of the season British strawberries</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And those unforgettably named dishes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Toad In The Hole, Bubble & Squeak</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In place of syrup,</div><div style="text-align: center;">who knew squeezing lots of lemon juice and sprinkling sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">all over pancakes would be a new breakfast favorite?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tipped off by a French friend who knows her food, we found another love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>good local bread</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- so soft, so light, with lots of holes inside to capture the butter -<br />yummmmm</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aside from rain, tea also is an obvious integral part of England</div><div style="text-align: center;">Offered in homes and schools, by hairdressers, and at medical appointments</div><div style="text-align: center;">'a nice cup of tea' is another emotional cozy blanket in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">to either welcome or soothe<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmTRxsjhnS1EZ_LznKBzzTlLkxZUx2ZUCgBy9YJfXep9891X_50s38Bkw2r4un8haF_MIzCEpX49BNDl0yee8cl-tYv_8M-OPf0MtXhk9-fzY0lTKPNeeKbGD8iWfD4NhvGUtehQBXLWE/s1600/photo+4-049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmTRxsjhnS1EZ_LznKBzzTlLkxZUx2ZUCgBy9YJfXep9891X_50s38Bkw2r4un8haF_MIzCEpX49BNDl0yee8cl-tYv_8M-OPf0MtXhk9-fzY0lTKPNeeKbGD8iWfD4NhvGUtehQBXLWE/s1600/photo+4-049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly</div><div style="text-align: center;">'cream tea' is more regional than I would have expected</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its clotted cream and scones</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I stumble upon one, I bring out my happy dance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE DRIVING</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As intimidating and silly the driving exam seemed at the time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually am thankful I had to go through the process</div><div style="text-align: center;">or shall we call it 'a right of passage', hmm?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I definitely became a much better driver</div><div style="text-align: center;">thanks to the exam, the driving lessons,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and fellow drivers who honked at my missteps<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5D8Z1iHhTX8F8fn1VC3ZHahCBRpp6_anGLg0qKsVXtWnLijwqbk9gNNfgqe0Zw3f9NoDFgPJqxydt-sqUQl83MMo2_Xwd1F9jag8iuQbDmOQBOkd212o_h2vui8PcsanUPx8ya1uuo3k/s1600/DSC09400-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5D8Z1iHhTX8F8fn1VC3ZHahCBRpp6_anGLg0qKsVXtWnLijwqbk9gNNfgqe0Zw3f9NoDFgPJqxydt-sqUQl83MMo2_Xwd1F9jag8iuQbDmOQBOkd212o_h2vui8PcsanUPx8ya1uuo3k/s1600/DSC09400-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the continuous driving enabled by</div><div style="text-align: center;">roundabouts and yields (no stop signs)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I appreciate 'creative parking'</div><div style="text-align: center;">in any direction on sidewalks</div><div style="text-align: center;">made possible by low kerbs/curbs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speed limits that change on digital signs </div><div style="text-align: center;">are a brilliant idea on the highways/dual carriageways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You gotta love the single lane roads that call themselves a double lane</div><div style="text-align: center;">- smile if you know what I'm talking about -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I can just hear the crowd go wild</div><div style="text-align: center;">when I totally nail one of those challenging parallel parking spaces</div><div style="text-align: center;">- that is some serious satisfaction, my friends -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TRAVEL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While we have the same number of school days as our American counterparts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">our holiday breaks are much longer<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_NSzObmc3_trK9ZfDqLok9DuF8N-Cco50WI09ZnriQtbOlUzAdMCfiDY-Ce3biDcOQarsVQmfowCy5r4kx_QnYcVXuxPTLj2aF9SNQjSgXASbiQlpbPYDek7trqIHQyKIg6_Y0bDOzkj/s1600/photo+3-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_NSzObmc3_trK9ZfDqLok9DuF8N-Cco50WI09ZnriQtbOlUzAdMCfiDY-Ce3biDcOQarsVQmfowCy5r4kx_QnYcVXuxPTLj2aF9SNQjSgXASbiQlpbPYDek7trqIHQyKIg6_Y0bDOzkj/s1600/photo+3-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ireland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the US, it felt like nine months of solid school</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the UK, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it feels like we are on break, just finished a break, or about to have a break</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Consequently, English schools finish the school year in late June or July</div><div style="text-align: center;">making the summer holiday quite short</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And with two magnificent international airports nearby,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many destinations are just a direct flight away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Due to our location,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many countries are in a nearby timezone</div><div style="text-align: center;">meaning jet lag often is of no concern</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Travel is affordable-ish</div><div style="text-align: center;">with discounted airlines and most hotels open to some bargaining</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We will definitely miss all the mental breaks from school</div><div style="text-align: center;">allowing us quality family time even when we didn't travel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feels like healthy living</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">MISCELLANEOUS<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few other oddities I will miss:<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoXh3HhVeuJu0pmftLLfyVZWEuUdmGTIk0jbzBrIgOs998eRwAdeFsswLIkBcvsVGSqAxYGWiSIJtdDB8OpJSs41sAamgoDtJuRfSHRnFhUI7S13BiGdlJMOlAI-n33mas-zDPcxVpFH7/s1600/photo+3-021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoXh3HhVeuJu0pmftLLfyVZWEuUdmGTIk0jbzBrIgOs998eRwAdeFsswLIkBcvsVGSqAxYGWiSIJtdDB8OpJSs41sAamgoDtJuRfSHRnFhUI7S13BiGdlJMOlAI-n33mas-zDPcxVpFH7/s1600/photo+3-021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For portable toilets, that slogan is priceless!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* on/off switch on wall outlets</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* Panto season at Christmastime<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* LBC and BBC talk radio - giving me more insight into the English mind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* contest radio winners who respond with a simple 'thank you' or 'I'm. so. happy.' </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* upcoming Scottish independence vote and <span style="background-color: white;">UK General Election</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Refreshingly, voting happens with little fanfare and no endorsements signs</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sorry to miss feeling the pulse!<br /><br />* English synonyms for so many American words<br />My vocabulary has definitely expanded<br /><br />* little things such as the European '7' with a line through it,<br />the date written in a different order,<br />writing in upper case letters almost exclusively,<br />formally beginning emails with 'dear' and ending with 'kind regards'<br /><br />* the density of so much to do, see, learn, and photograph<br />so close to home<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHjDr4YOBdM4sh5TdaNRvr8ieKXnT5KJ5TuadfqYVa1s3-3U9dYalgC1DhvB3hGihT1xFMVnkJbhqWGzsBAVj7OU4fSC9hds9AzqcDGdhYQ8G2D7sfUrvQFJLQcOPpvcl38t7jZwLgzVZ/s1600/photo+1-053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHjDr4YOBdM4sh5TdaNRvr8ieKXnT5KJ5TuadfqYVa1s3-3U9dYalgC1DhvB3hGihT1xFMVnkJbhqWGzsBAVj7OU4fSC9hds9AzqcDGdhYQ8G2D7sfUrvQFJLQcOPpvcl38t7jZwLgzVZ/s1600/photo+1-053.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the time is right on many fronts for us to leave,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are returning to the US as new, improved 'us'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm definitely a lot smarter having absorbed English history and culture</div><div style="text-align: center;">and grateful to learn a different way to do life and raise a family</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would I live in another foreign country again?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it has its challenges, yes, definitely yes</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all images my own -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Reflecting On England

What can I say... so much we have learned and so much we will miss Thank you for joining my journey! I am so thankful you have read and com...

3:06 AM

British Library Tour

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Interesting<br />that in the world's largest holding library</div><div style="text-align: center;">you are unable to check out a book</div><div style="text-align: center;">and need special permission to touch one</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While I had visited this library before,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I went back for a proper tour just a few weeks ago<br />(there isn't much to see on your own, so a tour is a must)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiileLig5Y0oPxwmIKSC6y0vWxVojoWl_WDjg-FPu4AJDbbEUXPPFQMmNY6vrZ1t359WAiCBNVmHDHscp_7Lh93TBZKB67CIshKFUz_PGKe0jdhu7KVSahjtMQDLZxHJUdZajmvYgcY7znV/s1600/photo+4-041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiileLig5Y0oPxwmIKSC6y0vWxVojoWl_WDjg-FPu4AJDbbEUXPPFQMmNY6vrZ1t359WAiCBNVmHDHscp_7Lh93TBZKB67CIshKFUz_PGKe0jdhu7KVSahjtMQDLZxHJUdZajmvYgcY7znV/s1600/photo+4-041.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the UK and Ireland</div><div style="text-align: center;">a copy of every publication is donated to the British Library</div><div style="text-align: center;">for the sake of archiving the printed word</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Besides books, the British Library archives</div><div style="text-align: center;">store catalogs, maps, games, stamps, playscripts, and musical scores</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Moving images as well as sound recordings</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as music, animal sounds, and regional accent samples are stored as well</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Three million new items are added to the collection each year,</div><div style="text-align: center;">some of which are donated from other countries in different languages</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Miles of shelving are added annually to accommodate new additions</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the main library is in London</div><div style="text-align: center;">other branches are in Oxford, Cambridge, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and Dublin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Contrary to most libraries,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the British Library organizes their books according to book size</div><div style="text-align: center;">because the Dewey Decimal System would be too time consuming for reshelving books</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When a book is returned</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is placed at the end of the shelf next to books the same size</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpHS_AnMR2fjcTGIwxGpTjdMthHegY7f7BtOyGMyN0aKCpwWqu1rmGPl348BVmr7CsckuyF_rtOXxacp2vfK4Olf8i04VJKHb8VXSeMuVOPWTZ86Fg1F0eB2yFlTg9xk26DabDVN30ryV/s1600/photo+5-038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpHS_AnMR2fjcTGIwxGpTjdMthHegY7f7BtOyGMyN0aKCpwWqu1rmGPl348BVmr7CsckuyF_rtOXxacp2vfK4Olf8i04VJKHb8VXSeMuVOPWTZ86Fg1F0eB2yFlTg9xk26DabDVN30ryV/s1600/photo+5-038.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King's Library and public tables</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If one wants to look at a particular item,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a registration process must be completed</div><div style="text-align: center;">and permission is granted based on genuine scholarly purpose</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is mostly university students, professors, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and industry researchers who are granted access</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As nothing can be checked out,</div><div style="text-align: center;">items only can be viewed in monitored reading rooms</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Magna Carta is the most requested item (and denied)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5tt0sm5AHxms0wJDOAwqvFyt9bwtX2dbq0YnlwfTwJIYIWD5_sxYZAeB7-MfdViDwEyB0yj75SVBkZNPn3autWvnTBp47PXw61hTy2xzEC3PIUEJcwF9caYm4U7dkCND3mg3hwtRtH7U/s1600/photo+3-035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5tt0sm5AHxms0wJDOAwqvFyt9bwtX2dbq0YnlwfTwJIYIWD5_sxYZAeB7-MfdViDwEyB0yj75SVBkZNPn3autWvnTBp47PXw61hTy2xzEC3PIUEJcwF9caYm4U7dkCND3mg3hwtRtH7U/s1600/photo+3-035.JPG" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading Room</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When an item is requested, it goes through a system between the walls that reminded me</div><div style="text-align: center;">of luggage at an airport with trays on automated tracks<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BG3BLPLKPvhdX9KDe7RB7BlRkc0JNHVP5sXdlOYsbNnK-MO_ItPQk3WJ0yjrqHhI27ju-7TCjBHrGefBu9sq143ws6hVX8EvzsuPmpiwjI2igtXka7p3MGs3wdDEva3qRg5qY3obujXU/s1600/photo+1-046.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BG3BLPLKPvhdX9KDe7RB7BlRkc0JNHVP5sXdlOYsbNnK-MO_ItPQk3WJ0yjrqHhI27ju-7TCjBHrGefBu9sq143ws6hVX8EvzsuPmpiwjI2igtXka7p3MGs3wdDEva3qRg5qY3obujXU/s1600/photo+1-046.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Seventy people work in the basement 80 feet below ground</div><div style="text-align: center;">where items are stored on 20-foot high bookshelves</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The lowest level of the building is filled with pumps</div><div style="text-align: center;">since the basement rests below the water table and River Thames<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The King's Library holds King George III's collection</div><div style="text-align: center;">which is considered one of the most important from his era</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Originally donated to the library when it was part of the British Museum,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the collection is now housed in a customized area with a clever fire plan<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3txxsWDu6ixEjYuV_fcumzR7JPnj8J3fv2X7MdyhlqaSFr-Lhqmmk5AVUNMMwK2EQRm6WA4Jnd4DqX3AwkRzjE9pFtoF6h9l-Uue6Pk7TZi99DJo1WcL8UmGEn2aR4mlBtLesUjeYb1z/s1600/photo+5-041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3txxsWDu6ixEjYuV_fcumzR7JPnj8J3fv2X7MdyhlqaSFr-Lhqmmk5AVUNMMwK2EQRm6WA4Jnd4DqX3AwkRzjE9pFtoF6h9l-Uue6Pk7TZi99DJo1WcL8UmGEn2aR4mlBtLesUjeYb1z/s1600/photo+5-041.JPG" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King's Library</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In case of fire elsewhere in the library,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a fire retardant gel would fill the space between the double glass panes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and King George's collection would be pulled out of the skylight to safety</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Since water would create a lot of damage to books in case of fire,</div><div style="text-align: center;">other precious books are stored in an emergency blast freezer corridor</div><div style="text-align: center;">This means a vacuum sucks out air and blasts the area with cold air (-18<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;">°</span></span>C) to freeze books</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then those books are transported to freezer holds in area grocery stores for safekeeping<br />Sounds like a movie!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next time I would love to attend Conservation Studio: Behind The Scenes Tour</div><div style="text-align: center;">Offered monthly, this will be on my list for next time :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all images my own -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Link: <a href="http://www.bl.uk/whatson/tours/index.html">British Library Tour</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored tour)</span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

British Library Tour

Interesting that in the world's largest holding library you are unable to check out a book and need special permission to touch one Whil...

11:01 PM

The Lake District

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">For the long holiday weekend</div><div style="text-align: center;">we took a quick zip to the Lake District, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the largest and most visited National Park in England </div><div style="text-align: center;">located near the Scottish border</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPCEAuKW7eBGrAkkrhyeRUbP7Uhat9TUQCTY7y8nfjRBRmuZSOQqi81WfKpcVhoPmElHq0lbCc4Se68do_Rb8JckPUQd-kmgWD6qng4ZT5LylF15ZnScFrPr8Gyi0zwHc4QgS_4AbSVVn/s1600/DSC01358-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPCEAuKW7eBGrAkkrhyeRUbP7Uhat9TUQCTY7y8nfjRBRmuZSOQqi81WfKpcVhoPmElHq0lbCc4Se68do_Rb8JckPUQd-kmgWD6qng4ZT5LylF15ZnScFrPr8Gyi0zwHc4QgS_4AbSVVn/s1600/DSC01358-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see how this area has inspired so many authors</div><div style="text-align: center;">including William Wordsworth and Arthur Ransome</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTdCRcUBEYxsj2wbYATOGFnuqnhraJcGu9T1_dWJF5lYdJ5LnDVPHaA9dioupsqbtmoKUJiJdELOHGo8f9HYR8MLEamHvAKT2PRaCSzGnJ9RcxjwwrIccaVlZ9wbpgWz2xwXx67JdbTNy/s1600/DSC01325-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTdCRcUBEYxsj2wbYATOGFnuqnhraJcGu9T1_dWJF5lYdJ5LnDVPHaA9dioupsqbtmoKUJiJdELOHGo8f9HYR8MLEamHvAKT2PRaCSzGnJ9RcxjwwrIccaVlZ9wbpgWz2xwXx67JdbTNy/s1600/DSC01325-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The area is known for its </div><div style="text-align: center;">long, thin lakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">hills (known as 'fells')</div><div style="text-align: center;">verdant countryside (indicating it rains a lot) </div><div style="text-align: center;">and hardy Herdwick & Swaledale sheep</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GVkbUwKQuv3buCH_0UWn9qvV7JG4l8OHT71UgiXXLIIkDVBJuBn0tr0zjxEar8dZhGk56wwkr0AQMd2jPNnOVJG7HgE6a9pFuhG3rxUpWrlBD-bl9cUwjY0zkPsddc2VigiabNUpC9OB/s1600/DSC01383-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GVkbUwKQuv3buCH_0UWn9qvV7JG4l8OHT71UgiXXLIIkDVBJuBn0tr0zjxEar8dZhGk56wwkr0AQMd2jPNnOVJG7HgE6a9pFuhG3rxUpWrlBD-bl9cUwjY0zkPsddc2VigiabNUpC9OB/s1600/DSC01383-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aren't you in love already?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLxOtuIY2ZVH70L1dvvWb0GZ-YGhUQSKaTRmjUdApM1EA80c_-5CCDm_WcyB_nKq1iFPSExsikM_ip6QWeeSFa1xrDfLsns0oaNG_xuxQWFp6fFAt1GIbk9J_yCWIGWioeAhy0iyopJZ1/s1600/DSC01574-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLxOtuIY2ZVH70L1dvvWb0GZ-YGhUQSKaTRmjUdApM1EA80c_-5CCDm_WcyB_nKq1iFPSExsikM_ip6QWeeSFa1xrDfLsns0oaNG_xuxQWFp6fFAt1GIbk9J_yCWIGWioeAhy0iyopJZ1/s1600/DSC01574-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TTUI3OIRNOzdXQ3ZP67lLHHIwGg6DR3pPWTzB8RTZXIRECR3w21ORVCWSS0mDvDYDOPsz9W9EQMhlkboFaMgtRjxk0wQRWuVIxgHVzsxwgC01WgTnJ2uApf7h9_rQFU-kPzkN_BgWKZv/s1600/DSC01443-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TTUI3OIRNOzdXQ3ZP67lLHHIwGg6DR3pPWTzB8RTZXIRECR3w21ORVCWSS0mDvDYDOPsz9W9EQMhlkboFaMgtRjxk0wQRWuVIxgHVzsxwgC01WgTnJ2uApf7h9_rQFU-kPzkN_BgWKZv/s1600/DSC01443-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsALpgV-6GqVKgmmrdDzI6mCHMT3fBsHxdF_6x5BqXNDfUCbjDSMVZitUtzvSjr1_-S4QdsVmJ9RZbMSl9TfJ6FaoM12zbwpRf9UqLNthwqURRwoaafggXqc09otPOVKX1D5IHfbewMfiU/s1600/DSC01413-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsALpgV-6GqVKgmmrdDzI6mCHMT3fBsHxdF_6x5BqXNDfUCbjDSMVZitUtzvSjr1_-S4QdsVmJ9RZbMSl9TfJ6FaoM12zbwpRf9UqLNthwqURRwoaafggXqc09otPOVKX1D5IHfbewMfiU/s1600/DSC01413-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We visited Beatrix Potter's 17th-century farmhouse, <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top/">Hill Top</a>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which was a real highlight</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw local village locations that appear in her books</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as this letter box</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrnacTBmvA76RLJzlfbpJ8j0shBUMfnMaBIFZ5wZS7c0p4zRTi0GNULdQhcBEiAzfAqHM9salsLQelIgj0LP5N0M-B7KAiT-0Mn8F8RMHmVKhBvyupWoG0RoQQhx4QfFLtE1obYT8XC1O/s1600/DSC01455-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrnacTBmvA76RLJzlfbpJ8j0shBUMfnMaBIFZ5wZS7c0p4zRTi0GNULdQhcBEiAzfAqHM9salsLQelIgj0LP5N0M-B7KAiT-0Mn8F8RMHmVKhBvyupWoG0RoQQhx4QfFLtE1obYT8XC1O/s1600/DSC01455-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Victoria was the first to put her 'royal cypher' on new postboxes<br />Here, 'GR' indicates this letterbox was placed during the reign of King George V (<i>George Rex</i>)<br />Queen Elizabeth II's royal cypher is EIIR (<i>Elizabeth II Regina</i>)<br /><i>Rex/Regina</i> is Latin for king/queen</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />So glad we fit in this last trip!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well worth the five hour drive :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all images my own -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Lake District

For the long holiday weekend we took a quick zip to the Lake District, the largest and most visited National Park in England located near ...

6:57 AM

Downton Abbey Film Locations

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Highclere Castle is the primary film location</div><div style="text-align: center;">for ITV's popular <i>Downton Abbey</i> television series</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Highclere Castle is open to the public select days each year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx65Vz-LRyMmwpZWN0Ri3zRjqCv70kywPNozpqdaMu98DRxZ5lG2bfrGcG7IcSf8ZxgFBjC9tcmYB8NsmqxeVdYVChyphenhyphenvnaVnayT9zNXO6XlmtXw-mchLSyJk_HcOq845_nPIRx8sx95IT/s1600/Downton_Abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCx65Vz-LRyMmwpZWN0Ri3zRjqCv70kywPNozpqdaMu98DRxZ5lG2bfrGcG7IcSf8ZxgFBjC9tcmYB8NsmqxeVdYVChyphenhyphenvnaVnayT9zNXO6XlmtXw-mchLSyJk_HcOq845_nPIRx8sx95IT/s1600/Downton_Abbey.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Downton_Abbey.jpg">wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although I won't have a chance to visit Highclere Castle, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I recently had tea at Byfleet Manor </div><div style="text-align: center;">(aka Lady Violet Crawley's house in the series)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not too far from London,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this private home opens to the public for tea parties, special events, and pre-arranged tours</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOIXJQkXb08-rG9x7Tbzn5d0No_8xwEpW_X_cqAC_ldiclyj-4sDYB-6wWDEdFaLsn8hA3FD9cWaWdRzi3xSOaU1RAiaHAKyy7lwj3ZS35TkJj9aLwAXOOoCxlgiQlmN2WFmQ9U-0UAjo/s1600/DSC01231-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLOIXJQkXb08-rG9x7Tbzn5d0No_8xwEpW_X_cqAC_ldiclyj-4sDYB-6wWDEdFaLsn8hA3FD9cWaWdRzi3xSOaU1RAiaHAKyy7lwj3ZS35TkJj9aLwAXOOoCxlgiQlmN2WFmQ9U-0UAjo/s1600/DSC01231-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The original portion of the house was built in 1670</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the location of a previous palace belonging to Henry VIII</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two wings were added later</div><div style="text-align: center;">and each lived in by different residents today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Hutton family resides in the middle portion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which is used for filming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGPJSbHyBo3kguX-O3QmDVQjri62eecVAgtEIgHidp-hAJ3-kpC-D83I6e0hP-wVrZzY-iIX3yFZldIMFKfkB9_0wGQkbMtd9aDXY3AK9bKVOaTVdiiUjrwAsxo3dLy9qr06Wruch4FOW/s1600/DSC01247-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGPJSbHyBo3kguX-O3QmDVQjri62eecVAgtEIgHidp-hAJ3-kpC-D83I6e0hP-wVrZzY-iIX3yFZldIMFKfkB9_0wGQkbMtd9aDXY3AK9bKVOaTVdiiUjrwAsxo3dLy9qr06Wruch4FOW/s1600/DSC01247-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most filmed room for 'Dower House' of Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A great story unfolded thirteen years ago...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a newborn in her arms,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Julie Hutton watched in horror as her dog ran off and bit a man </div><div style="text-align: center;">who turned out to be a judge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you would expect, </div><div style="text-align: center;">a policeman came knocking at her door to take the dog away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The policeman took pity on the emotional new mom and did not take the dog,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and impulsively the Huttons bought Byfleet Manor with its fenced yard</div><div style="text-align: center;">(which she saw in a flier) </div><div style="text-align: center;">in an effort to save their pet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It worked - the dog was saved</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXhpHKN2Ze6clTQvWbQ9TRDxDlN5JnzAklRgIqMKjMhAPS-xd_MKwWEvaXniVa44ZzNCPufrIhJ7rLYPIjp-InhXh36chYQKP_4bmShIpv4IrZqA1N_XjJIRn9572N4oxhY3L8rmr7HOA/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXhpHKN2Ze6clTQvWbQ9TRDxDlN5JnzAklRgIqMKjMhAPS-xd_MKwWEvaXniVa44ZzNCPufrIhJ7rLYPIjp-InhXh36chYQKP_4bmShIpv4IrZqA1N_XjJIRn9572N4oxhY3L8rmr7HOA/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Years later, a stranger knocked on their Byfleet Manor front door </div><div style="text-align: center;">and asked if the house could be used for filming a television show</div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i>Downton Abbey</i>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They said yes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and interestingly all 'Dower House' scenes for the season are filmed in just one day</div><div style="text-align: center;">(plus one day to clear out the room and another day to put it back together)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlZJy-bmWBWzERCnavW1PRTkmgSfW36uVFEVoNC4SgnlvIvqItDulGYYkMFNwviqIh8mbOcA-uM0Ogj1l7g8dMXAPFb38Mg7EbWYBtdiqlvuPw0DmwRU6xJmVhF-SGi7Fe4OKRlz1G1O4/s1600/DSC01238-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlZJy-bmWBWzERCnavW1PRTkmgSfW36uVFEVoNC4SgnlvIvqItDulGYYkMFNwviqIh8mbOcA-uM0Ogj1l7g8dMXAPFb38Mg7EbWYBtdiqlvuPw0DmwRU6xJmVhF-SGi7Fe4OKRlz1G1O4/s1600/DSC01238-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a peek at the Hutton's beautiful garden within the 24 acre property</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv28jAGIuBVRIL1e4h_RdxRBV_qVqKqel9nNkRJhITqRLT9v92BXBViLGmoI_Z0_4ZiKxkQU-LbUxSp7LYJfgIqtuPYNKCN41slbYbvNQKvcgXRvOcbWl1JQVQ6wxqopcj16uN0pKzj7m/s1600/DSC01250-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv28jAGIuBVRIL1e4h_RdxRBV_qVqKqel9nNkRJhITqRLT9v92BXBViLGmoI_Z0_4ZiKxkQU-LbUxSp7LYJfgIqtuPYNKCN41slbYbvNQKvcgXRvOcbWl1JQVQ6wxqopcj16uN0pKzj7m/s1600/DSC01250-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and one of their pet pigs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wmVXuxYvknTkCRVQhWLf108Qsjltq7NHethwGbdjvXIOeyPCt8dvXmeL2Tt_w6lk_lSalt2DfnlQ2FXvbdAtmDFfe6mZGreBMBdxlJ_fNnqjy7gF_5K5z7vmxqn0Ue88DaQdRKKf9ZrJ/s1600/DSC01260-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wmVXuxYvknTkCRVQhWLf108Qsjltq7NHethwGbdjvXIOeyPCt8dvXmeL2Tt_w6lk_lSalt2DfnlQ2FXvbdAtmDFfe6mZGreBMBdxlJ_fNnqjy7gF_5K5z7vmxqn0Ue88DaQdRKKf9ZrJ/s1600/DSC01260-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I find this animal lover's story to be a great reminder -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When life sends you a lemon,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it could be for lemonade</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- images my own, excluding first one -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Links: <a href="http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/">Highclere Castle</a>,<a href="http://www.byfleetmanor.com/"> Byfleet Manor</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Downton Abbey Film Locations

Highclere Castle is the primary film location for ITV's popular Downton Abbey television series Highclere Castle is open to the public ...

11:56 PM

Visiting Gertrude Jekyll's Home

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">So, wow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I visited the Godalming home of </div><div style="text-align: center;">the most famous garden designer of all time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">at least in my mind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Gertrude Jekyll -</div><div style="text-align: center;">(pronounced GEE-kul)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a54lgmwnooLI-glUNkdrEBbvLWtRNfM6flOGJ7ZXYG3-9Nseu5DWjdopumjoqgPeIwFMjPkCtY9rBwxwSal4tdQDryyO2Lie3sGskDV8JeAB2A8q9zZ0uO3IN-n28mZuI5tK4H79w0fY/s1600/DSC01123-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-a54lgmwnooLI-glUNkdrEBbvLWtRNfM6flOGJ7ZXYG3-9Nseu5DWjdopumjoqgPeIwFMjPkCtY9rBwxwSal4tdQDryyO2Lie3sGskDV8JeAB2A8q9zZ0uO3IN-n28mZuI5tK4H79w0fY/s1600/DSC01123-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not only was she THE garden designer for wealthy Edwardian homeowners,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she was an artist, writer, photographer, and propagator</div><div style="text-align: center;">(1843 - 1932)<br /><br />Think of the opulent era of the <i>Titanic</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Being an artist and photographer,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she came to landscape design with a fresh eye</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While formal French and Italian gardens had been in fashion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she introduced the revolutionary herbaceous border</div><div style="text-align: center;">Americans would describe as 'the English Garden'<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-7lMxcaH8xgw1MzGjQZEHCfW4QCuswI3iA4360mU3ubklExA4xWl1Yw6zxzZCEoHhkRK6Qh87gDwvrtsq4THKymHAMD2KOJJnZCJ_zKaREwSYO1D8T-dWiySEPHrD8pNCyuC65J4nDWD/s1600/2014-05-15+12-07-036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-7lMxcaH8xgw1MzGjQZEHCfW4QCuswI3iA4360mU3ubklExA4xWl1Yw6zxzZCEoHhkRK6Qh87gDwvrtsq4THKymHAMD2KOJJnZCJ_zKaREwSYO1D8T-dWiySEPHrD8pNCyuC65J4nDWD/s1600/2014-05-15+12-07-036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She included plants that grow well in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as the rose, daylily, foxglove and lavender<br /><br />She was interested not only in flowers,<br />but also texture, structure and leaf shapes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A border that is a little bit messy with drifts of flowers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">not tidy or formal at all<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nNLAswqLFqmV9QH_tWN8Ue8acAxMiP_SJ03hO5qCFwEWF-aIrrJt5UZXmtBa5fGUOJIsMrCp_7umdNCZjE6XZN7vExnePa45rQyTSH1hOr3KOAQmI0nHjTbIUINDJq6ng20zmWibZc4u/s1600/DSC01112-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nNLAswqLFqmV9QH_tWN8Ue8acAxMiP_SJ03hO5qCFwEWF-aIrrJt5UZXmtBa5fGUOJIsMrCp_7umdNCZjE6XZN7vExnePa45rQyTSH1hOr3KOAQmI0nHjTbIUINDJq6ng20zmWibZc4u/s1600/DSC01112-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Uniquely,<br /> Jekyll also played with color schemes seen in her famous all-white gardens and</div><div style="text-align: center;">all hot and all cool colored borders<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ms Jekyll also came up with the idea of cozy garden 'rooms'</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a peek into another room through a hedge<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0EOJGLImttFMdhPtr-L8Nqh6661EnPvXM7nPowmIf-WgYeDoqqdIsSBkUHVm62nDODe07_8Sb5PEezm2EZbGfq9GZrCnzzw_nM7VYqm2ZYv33waKZjrxc0Q3p1yoNuLydFVV6RX0nSlX/s1600/DSC01072-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0EOJGLImttFMdhPtr-L8Nqh6661EnPvXM7nPowmIf-WgYeDoqqdIsSBkUHVm62nDODe07_8Sb5PEezm2EZbGfq9GZrCnzzw_nM7VYqm2ZYv33waKZjrxc0Q3p1yoNuLydFVV6RX0nSlX/s1600/DSC01072-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This tireless woman had a team of workers</div><div style="text-align: center;">help manage and cultivate her 17 acre property</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She grew all the plants she installed in her customers' gardens,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so her plantings still grow all over England today<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FsQq2JJh1LzlXovuMHwTHwKzjLXsiwf58xfGC06qZqjRP4fWrWxYtIaNwTlLkxT0ZQcpEyhXj0yjhWp6I3frS9lcsS61pzf6vMCfs24IRSGpG-q_yCufXc6B9YkpnFH4_Lq0Ah8alNAG/s1600/DSC01065-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FsQq2JJh1LzlXovuMHwTHwKzjLXsiwf58xfGC06qZqjRP4fWrWxYtIaNwTlLkxT0ZQcpEyhXj0yjhWp6I3frS9lcsS61pzf6vMCfs24IRSGpG-q_yCufXc6B9YkpnFH4_Lq0Ah8alNAG/s1600/DSC01065-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When WWI rolled around,</div><div style="text-align: center;">customers no longer had money to spend on her designs or plants,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her designs grew out of favor, and her workers went off to fight in the war<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp4swxFOi_zy5lh2dtN4hfAn6xkt-UeIfyfxUUwzxn_8Ix__MRGIRHRj3LO_juBk62OgpWW9G335pp2iSazSSOIkuavdXT4RZUy5UixtVIsXg-t5CeJowrgBxL6YMvPewN1DNhbA6JIhC/s1600/DSC01100-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp4swxFOi_zy5lh2dtN4hfAn6xkt-UeIfyfxUUwzxn_8Ix__MRGIRHRj3LO_juBk62OgpWW9G335pp2iSazSSOIkuavdXT4RZUy5UixtVIsXg-t5CeJowrgBxL6YMvPewN1DNhbA6JIhC/s1600/DSC01100-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From donkey carts to potting sheds, Jekyll's house was a working home</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finding herself with a sharp decrease in income,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she did have a bit of luck</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although she never visited America,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a high demand for her services started coming across the pond</div><div style="text-align: center;">which created a resurgence in her business</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is probably why she is the only historical garden designer</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had heard of before I moved here<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGWwhvPJzYr1qadWZTNJ52Jpl0FLccfnjXqXhVBtF6CpcjY9Oze5oiJ4_rOEhQ0Uivr7bqPcslOAnS74tyNVztWEx79emawL_jOiLssQbo7CHFCqG2J21K_4ZIOS1i-0fKhyphenhyphen-hUOMje4m/s1600/DSC01078-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGWwhvPJzYr1qadWZTNJ52Jpl0FLccfnjXqXhVBtF6CpcjY9Oze5oiJ4_rOEhQ0Uivr7bqPcslOAnS74tyNVztWEx79emawL_jOiLssQbo7CHFCqG2J21K_4ZIOS1i-0fKhyphenhyphen-hUOMje4m/s1600/DSC01078-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She left a legacy behind in America with Munstead Lavender </div><div style="text-align: center;">being one of the most common lavender varieties sold in the US today</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's named after her home, Munstead Wood, </div><div style="text-align: center;">where she propagated it<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQCBSMZhWxHP3CuPD7ujsKMj1YyGgqkpYnUmub5_g4XVtBxamflfcHsofMfcJwKsfVR4Hu_ntEtXPg592secvqDqHoh9i82cW5BjuP1TeLwOU7o9KBufg0YyL8RwUvbF_r3Et_mruSuHz/s1600/DSC01090-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQCBSMZhWxHP3CuPD7ujsKMj1YyGgqkpYnUmub5_g4XVtBxamflfcHsofMfcJwKsfVR4Hu_ntEtXPg592secvqDqHoh9i82cW5BjuP1TeLwOU7o9KBufg0YyL8RwUvbF_r3Et_mruSuHz/s1600/DSC01090-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After Jekyll died,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her property was divided into five parcels and sold off</div><div style="text-align: center;">Much of it was turfed over, and some transformed into a tennis court</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately the current owners of her home realized the treasure they had</div><div style="text-align: center;">and restored the gardens to their original state,</div><div style="text-align: center;">thanks to the documentation in Jekyll's photographs and plans<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx4xndvvU0lRL9q-vhhGLTmN83HQLMKcc-9RRJjZ8gasK6YkNHSG97G2EzB2NS51W3D-8zqpiJWHOP9Sa9sZ-AAZfGyGLOT_yIKQqfdVCyZK1cyXaVsRvWA3uX8rF5sL8_wYJPHnBhaYi/s1600/DSC01127-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx4xndvvU0lRL9q-vhhGLTmN83HQLMKcc-9RRJjZ8gasK6YkNHSG97G2EzB2NS51W3D-8zqpiJWHOP9Sa9sZ-AAZfGyGLOT_yIKQqfdVCyZK1cyXaVsRvWA3uX8rF5sL8_wYJPHnBhaYi/s1600/DSC01127-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the original trees still stand</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the gardens feel original<br />Ah, such tranquility and beauty<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, Jekyll created the gardens <i>before</i> she had the house built</div><div style="text-align: center;">She had a very successful partnership with the famous architect, Edwin Lutyen</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was in great demand for designing country homes<br />and she designed the gardens for his houses<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He designed Munstead Wood too<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyLaSMUD-47BMT-i4fJ7ISnxbHye80swysPZ4dHYLoa6nI2xTb4u0UVb3_nw31INbxspkBDA3XLybwHHsa-OloGNTGeY1oTQPTaJB7J5Qepets92CtEhDM5dlPvWSY5AMUbrTKXrOH6uP/s1600/DSC01093-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyLaSMUD-47BMT-i4fJ7ISnxbHye80swysPZ4dHYLoa6nI2xTb4u0UVb3_nw31INbxspkBDA3XLybwHHsa-OloGNTGeY1oTQPTaJB7J5Qepets92CtEhDM5dlPvWSY5AMUbrTKXrOH6uP/s1600/DSC01093-002.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>So amazing to brush against</div><div>such a tireless and innovative woman</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos my own -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Visitor informaton: <a href="http://www.lutyenstrust.org.uk/properties/jekyll.htm">Lutyens Trust</a> </span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Visiting Gertrude Jekyll's Home

So, wow. This week I visited the Godalming home of the most famous garden designer of all time, at least in my mind - Gertrude Jekyll - (pr...

4:07 AM

Alice In Wonderland - Oxford

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hello, lovely readers</div><div style="text-align: center;">How you filled my heart with joy</div><div style="text-align: center;">with your kind comments on my last post</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm still tackling my 'must visit' list</div><div style="text-align: center;">as our final weeks approach</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This one had been at the tippy top for years and did not disappoint -</div><div style="text-align: center;">a tour of Oxford through the lens of</div><div style="text-align: center;">'Alice's Adventures In Wonderland' (1865)<br /><br />I just have to share!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiJktR_Bi0sVXBgPmuLPAJf3Trl4Z5fLjywHbTwXIW-6fgWStHsztVI4vrMd7vWtXsIvTePxJwe8T-P7MZV0Rs_LMnSkIDVp3tVCWErvXXplOC6CJjqTw-zjOQkBPj5kXLTqS4daZJzU_/s1600/DSC01000-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiJktR_Bi0sVXBgPmuLPAJf3Trl4Z5fLjywHbTwXIW-6fgWStHsztVI4vrMd7vWtXsIvTePxJwe8T-P7MZV0Rs_LMnSkIDVp3tVCWErvXXplOC6CJjqTw-zjOQkBPj5kXLTqS4daZJzU_/s1600/DSC01000-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ Church College at Oxford University (where Carroll taught)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oxford University math lecturer, Charles Dodgson, </div><div style="text-align: center;">wrote many literary and mathematical works</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">His pen name was Lewis Carroll</div><div style="text-align: center;">and for many years his colleagues didn't piece together who Lewis Carroll was</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is speculated that Dodgson/Carroll was somewhat embarrassed </div><div style="text-align: center;">that he was writing children stories although they were successful<br /><br />In fact<br />Queen Victoria requested a copy of his next book,<br />which turned out to be about mathematics<br />(probably not what she had in mind)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrx97i1AQYSBTARpDBtKVaoJiw_1yshB7FlY3_FyYoIRWJs6NSie2VuPE9W5fj11lATQZess5MYBjY0p58J_PWqQYGoVGd-66_zfT4nuWZp7GKz_n1sCblNMKkkpp-76caZUw8k5gPpGh/s1600/DSC01010-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZrx97i1AQYSBTARpDBtKVaoJiw_1yshB7FlY3_FyYoIRWJs6NSie2VuPE9W5fj11lATQZess5MYBjY0p58J_PWqQYGoVGd-66_zfT4nuWZp7GKz_n1sCblNMKkkpp-76caZUw8k5gPpGh/s1600/DSC01010-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To set the scene,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oxford in 1864 was an elite university filled with boys and men<br /><br />It must have been a strange place for<br />the Dean of Christ Church's three young girls to grow up</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of his daughters was named Alice Liddell</div><div style="text-align: center;">(pronunciation - rhymes with 'fiddle')<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGoDzZ9A4VAKy8SHD4AQxpApk7h9k5YbI0x0kaH-LK6CSzeiyVjGXKauHbUGKKsea7w2lHAk7W068jKVQNzR_c58NKmiVBQKkRITsCCrFKKKuLqP6D-8x5sFwFRE-u04EH5iVA2O-VX8c/s1600/DSC01016-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGoDzZ9A4VAKy8SHD4AQxpApk7h9k5YbI0x0kaH-LK6CSzeiyVjGXKauHbUGKKsea7w2lHAk7W068jKVQNzR_c58NKmiVBQKkRITsCCrFKKKuLqP6D-8x5sFwFRE-u04EH5iVA2O-VX8c/s1600/DSC01016-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lewis Carroll would take the Dean's three girls on little day trips</div><div style="text-align: center;">in a rowboat up and down the nearby River Thames</div><div style="text-align: center;">and have picnics</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He told stories during their journeys</div><div style="text-align: center;">One day, Alice insisted that he write down his 'Alice' tales</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And so his first manuscript was called </div><div style="text-align: center;">'Alice's Adventures Under Ground' (1864) which included his own illustrations</div><div style="text-align: center;">- later renamed 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' -<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjuoBZzwnjXucSsTTJITAlzEW7KrVhhSXLjLsQFDHEcJF11o2guqXUQ5AZqn_Ilb0UvI36OBrZmUuko3ULOIfABdCmcHopgfZMHLhXS8NFIPZaEQuvff6SY3t4foGjLrdB5FbiPAgGpY8/s1600/DSC01026-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjuoBZzwnjXucSsTTJITAlzEW7KrVhhSXLjLsQFDHEcJF11o2guqXUQ5AZqn_Ilb0UvI36OBrZmUuko3ULOIfABdCmcHopgfZMHLhXS8NFIPZaEQuvff6SY3t4foGjLrdB5FbiPAgGpY8/s1600/DSC01026-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where Carroll would have launched a rowboat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And so this week,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we had the ultimate book club adventure<br /><br />With Mark Davies, an Oxford local historian and author,<br />we followed Carroll's and the girls' footsteps on a walking and boat tour<br />(even afternoon tea on the launch)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y0MBz_Vv6f0C-QJlPX1YQep6MUCrfjbZAFt5_TrAkXKF0zZjmqWEoMD8StYn8z4Mslk_QvNCbz9DFjdvKejHaWUJ_K3INJ4oDHXzNWV_065kQewseokaNLQN6CLhx4iKSQxdN8v3TNlQ/s1600/DSC01039-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-y0MBz_Vv6f0C-QJlPX1YQep6MUCrfjbZAFt5_TrAkXKF0zZjmqWEoMD8StYn8z4Mslk_QvNCbz9DFjdvKejHaWUJ_K3INJ4oDHXzNWV_065kQewseokaNLQN6CLhx4iKSQxdN8v3TNlQ/s1600/DSC01039-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Carroll's river route where he wove his tales for the Liddell girls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Carroll's journals confirm the Alice books include local trivia and events<br />and inside jokes the girls would have understood</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Surprisingly, the characters in the Alice books</div><div style="text-align: center;">personify real people in Carroll's and the Liddell's life<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> It's probable The Queen Of Hearts was one of Alice's governesses, for example</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Cheshire Cat is Carroll,</div><div style="text-align: center;">as 'Cheshire Cat' was a common term from someone from Cheshire</div><div style="text-align: center;">(where Carroll was born)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the Liddell girls had quite a few cats<br />so the elusive character would have appealed to them</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">About the hookah used by the caterpillar - </div><div style="text-align: center;">opium was in general use at the time</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you read the book, it seems so odd and dreamlike,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but with Mark's explanation, it all makes more sense</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fascinating and delightful!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QLB1t2MheXGsnaR7QK4hmHoTLqzx01NGP5iAKwqwbYBP-IMAXnkDUOecMS6o4FPQxchg4ppNAStlv1DGe_tBe-ddAfF6gMNV_LlPphk4dsYEY223lD5rwFfweO3Tn9bWb6iHjy90_KlR/s1600/DSC01034-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QLB1t2MheXGsnaR7QK4hmHoTLqzx01NGP5iAKwqwbYBP-IMAXnkDUOecMS6o4FPQxchg4ppNAStlv1DGe_tBe-ddAfF6gMNV_LlPphk4dsYEY223lD5rwFfweO3Tn9bWb6iHjy90_KlR/s1600/DSC01034-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course the partly sunny day </div><div style="text-align: center;">and delicious afternoon tea was the perfect</div><div style="text-align: center;">bookend to an already perfect day :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>-Lewis Carroll</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">:: all photos my own ::</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Links: <a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mark-davies-oxford-water-walks-3311481234">Mark Davies</a>, <a href="http://www.oxfordrivercruises.com/">Oxford River Cruise</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(An unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Alice In Wonderland - Oxford

Hello, lovely readers How you filled my heart with joy with your kind comments on my last post Thank you :) I'm still tackling my 'm...

3:41 AM

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