A Nice Day Out

On Wednesday my WI group had a lovely trip on a canal boat

There were lots of people on paddle boards

It was a lovely tranquil trip on the water

and the weather was glorious, sunny with a nice breeze

The only dissapointment was we didn't know the cafe closed at 4 which was when our trip finished, so no coffee and cake ☹

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Harrods

My friend M says that Harrods coffee is the best she has tasted so the the plan was to go there for coffee and she could get some makeup, then go to the Victoria & Albert museum. That didn't happen, we ended up staying at Harrods for most of the day! 

The last time I visited was about 1995/6. I took my mother, she had never been to Harrods and was thrilled to finally be going. As we were walking through the food hall I saw a woman who was the image of Princess Diana, when I saw a young Prince Harry with her and two bodyguards behind her I realised that it was Princess Diana. We were both so excited and my mother was beside herself with joy, not only had she got to visit Harrods but had also seen Princess Diana. It was a wonderful experience for her, one she loved relaying to family and friends.

It was the place everyone wanted to visit - it was so posh. Today, oh my word, it is opulent, a beautiful building, sumptious decor, selling gorgeous things! By the time we had wandered around and M had bought her makeup we were in need of refreshments. It was almost midday so we decided to have lunch, after which we did more wandering around looking at things we couldn't afford to buy!

and checked out the Georgian restaurant with a view to treating ourselves to  afternoon tea, which is expensive at £75 per person, but we're worth it, and there are quite a few deals to be had reducing that to £56. I've seen a review on Youtube, and it looks amazing.

By this time it was too late to go to the V&A so we mooched around a bit more and then walked along Brompton Road for a while before returning home.

The only thing I bought was this delicious crème brûlée.

We will probably go to the V&A next time.

And M was right, the coffee was GOOD

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Good Friends

Yesterday was a wonderful day - I met my 3 lovely best friends from when I used to live in Bedfordshire. Two are still there, I'm in Essex and S now lives in Surrey.

We think it's been 10 or 12 years since we last met. After hugs and greetings at the station we had coffee at BloomsYard and then went to The Ivy for lunch. 

The decor is beautiful

Shepherds pie is their signature dish, and it is delicious. I thought I made a mean one but theirs is the best I have tasted. I think I went a bit overboard with the veg!! That Toffee Fudge Espresso Martini cocktail went down very well. I had Crème Brûlée for dessert

We met at work over thirty years ago and despite a bit of an age gap between me (the eldest) and S (youngest) we instantly became friends, sharing the general ups and downs of life, enjoying lots of short breaks away, nights out, evenings at each others houses, commiserating when boyfriends behaved badly, and then later weddings The conversations never stalled, we had so much to catch up on and reminisce with much fondness.

oOo

An update on Mr & Mrs Canada Geese

On my way out I was concerned when I couldn't see them

at the pond, and the nest was empty.

I was so relieved when I returned later and saw mum and dad and a chick

and then one by one 5 more furry little balls of cuteness

emerged from under mum's wing.

I was very concerned that they would get too close to the road

but mum soon called them back.

Stay safe little ones.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

Saffron Walden

My U3a bus pass group had an outing to Saffron Walden on Friday. Saffron Walden is a lovely picturesque market town with a history dating back to the Neolithic period. It is believed that a small Roman settlement and fort existed as an outpost of the much larger settlement to the north. The town was originally just called Walden, derived from the old English 'walhdenu' meaning 'valley of the Britons'. In the 16th and 17th centuries the saffron crocus was widely grown, thanks to the town's favourable soil and climate, and that industry gave Walden its present name - Saffron Walden.

At the heart of the town lies the historic Market Square, where markets have been held since 1141.

Opposite the square is the lovely old library building 

with some nice bright open spaces

I love the sentiment but the grammar is very bad! It should read either "Time spent is never wasted" or "Times spent are never wasted" I was contemplating telling a member of staff, but didn't!

There are lots of lovely independent boutiques, shops, and cafés

and lots of charming cottages

the church is magnificent

The Fry Art Gallery is a lovely little building showcasing an impressive number of paintings, prints, illustrations, wallpapers and decorative designs by artists of the 20th century and the present day who have connections to the area.

I really wanted to get a photo of the whole wall but people kept getting in the way! This represented the cattle markets from years gone by.

this sculpture represents many of the artists in the collection

Beyond the gallery and this lovely house is a serene garden

We had a lovely day with sunshine.

oOo

I catch a bus into town from a neighbouring village. When I left that morning there was a Canada Goose at the pond flying around making a lot of noise. I wondered if he was protecting his mate from possible predators but didn't have time to investigate. When I returned I looked around and sure enough there was Mrs Goose on the little island sitting on her nest.

She has chosen well.

That white statue is in memory of Godfrey

who used to be the resident patriarch of the pond.

I hope it protects Mrs Goose and deters predators.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x 

St Albans

My last day out read "glorious weather made for a lovely day out", we had the windows open in the car and I spent a good part of the day wearing a short sleeve t-shirt. That was just seven days ago, yesterday's day out was cold, rain and a vicious wind. I had a day trip to St Albans a Hertfordshire market town, originally the Celtic Iron Age settlement of Verlamion. After the Roman conquest of Britain in AD 43 it developed as Verulamium and became one of the largest towns in Roman Britain but was later destroyed during the revolt of Boudicca in AD 60-61 before being rebuilt. The town is named after Alban a pagan who was converted to Christianity when he sheltered a Christian priest. The legend goes that Alban switched cloaks with the priest and was arrested in his stead by Roman soldiers and subsequently executed for his faith. Alban’s declaration “I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things” is still used in prayer at St Albans Cathedral. He was later made a saint and named as the first Christian martyr. Historically a market town, it grew in importance, gaining city status in 1877, largely due to its cathedral which is HUGE. 

My friend M didn't go because she has a cold. The coach dropped us off in the High Street, after a coffee and croissant I headed in search of the cathedral. I visited a few shops and looked at a few restaurants with lunch in mind and then lost sight of the cathedral! but I knew it was somewhere near.

I explored an alley with some lovely small shops

and came out in the cathedral grounds.

It's the 137th anniversary of the foundation of St Albans High School for Girls and preparations were under way for a service of thanksgiving.

There was a good exhibition from a local college exploring the themes of Shrines and Homes

oOo

Time for lunch. 

There were so many eating places

it was hard to choose - sandwich, soup, a roast.

Because I hadn't had breakfast I decided on a small English all day breakfast

at the courtroom cafe in the museum. 

Bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato, hash brownies and a perfect runny poached egg on a slice of toast, delicious

This is where the accused entered the court

from the holding cells below. The courtroom was in use from 1831 right up to the 1960's when the court was moved to a new location.

Some cells are now toilets

Judges chair

There were some interesting but sad cases

If you click on the images you should be able to read the transcripts

The museum was small but very good

Famous people with a connection to St Albans

I think it's a parrot

At one time there were 92 pub in and around St Albans!

Fragility is Strength

The bricks have London Brick on them, my father worked for

the London Brick company in Peterborough.

Before boarding the coach for home I had time to buy a jumper

from a charity shop and visit St Peter's church

I was lucky with the weather, the worst of it was when I was having lunch.

But it was very windy and cold

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x