Saturday into London

I remember writing this before 'Into London' which seemed such a short time ago but it was 3 yrs ago .....Well I caught a couple of trains up to Portabello Road Markets where there is another favourite fabric shop & also to walk down the Portabello Road Markets.    I started off going into the same little coffee shop that I had met my friend Tamara Fogle (whom I bought Grain Sack Bags From)for breakkie last time - to have a much needed coffee & catch up with Tony. Then I wandered across to 'The Cloth Shop' where Tamara's Aunt Alex works. She knew me straight away & delighted in serving me & chatting about all that was happening. It is a lovely little shop where the owners son lives upstairs as well as being part of the business. There is the resident cat who sits on the window sill & will squeeze through the bars at the window into the little garden the shop looks out onto. I was touched that Alex wanted to make contact with me outside of work to give me some other sources for fabrics....things just happen on the journey. 

After this as I walked down the street, it was a sight to see -  well so much to see. There was a lot of vintage ware, be it clothing, hats,  china & silverware, let alone the lovely old camera's, old prints & maps. So much to absorb & process. 

To leave Portabello & get down to Sloan Square, I needed to find a bus as the tubes for Portabello were not operating now due to upgrades. Having reached the end of Portabello Road & reaching Notting Hill, it brought me face to face with my favourite lunch cafe 'La Pain Quotidien'.  I was able to stop for lunch before finding the right bus ! 

Off again & got to Sloane Square where you certainly feel like a lady as you walk along. Many of the women were beautifully  dresssed,even if casual & so many worr little ballet pumps - very sweet.   I started going in & out of some of my favourite shops then happened upon an outdoor food market attached to 'Partridge's Food Hall'. The stalls were just unbelievebly good. It was like the best of the best. I found a few yummy things to take back to Val's for dinner.  Needless to say I also found 'Chelsea  Flower Gin  & Tonic'.  Couldn't resist taking a couple of little bottles,  Gin & Tonic is Val's late afternoon tonic ...When I brought it out she was a bit sceptical but upon having some she soon relealized just how good it was & it was. It was not till afterwards  when I read the label that  I saw it was double the alcohol that is usual in this size bottle !!!!

Further along I came to 'Anthropologie', 'Cabbages & Roses', & The Chelsea Gardener'. By this time I had walked quite a distance & decided it was time to walk back to the station to get home.     

The evening was so warm that Val & I sat outside for dinner & then stayed reading until after 9 pm as it is still so light. Lovely end to the day.  

Tom the cat squeezed through the bars to go & sun himself in the garden at the 'Cloth Shop'  

Massive pans of food at the Market which had been cooking since 9am .. 

More hand made foods .. 

Old letters from a lettering/printing press & the gentleman from this stall was taking orders to do printing for people. 

This couple were used the passing parade ... 

A lot of Stalls were nicely set up despite some being just tables piled high & no norder to anything. 

Such an array of old cameras.  

An artists Studio & Shop - creative Paintings, Artwork, Painted Fabrics, Sculpture.  

Another angle of the studio.  

The 'La Pain Quotidien' with lovely old interior still remaining from previous tenants.  

My first ride on a bus this trip.  

Children making sand castles near the Food Market.  

Food Market  

Home baked cakes  

Inside 'Partridges' Gourmet Food Hall. 

As I stepped outside Partridges I noticed that there was an Organic Butcher selling too.  

Now inside Anthropologie ...

Amazing displays & creativity in here.  

Anthropologie  

Anthroologie

Chelsea Garden Shop

Chelsea Garden Shop

Chelsea Garden Shop

Chelsea Garden Shop

Sad Day As Tony Leaves

It was a gentle start to the day as Tony did the final packing, sharing together the things that needed to happen once Tony was home .... we went for a long walk together along a path that went around a large reservoir about 2 minutes walk from Val's home. 

After taking Tony to the airport, I started to make some calls to the girls I am catching up with over the next couple of weeks. I will be travelling to Ardingly (Sth of London) to be part of an Antique & Collectors Fair with my friend Maud.  Then onto Salisbury to have an Art Lesson from another lady (Patricia Samantha) who does water colour on Linen. 

I then spent some time with Val doing girlie things (she wanted to haveher nails done & a pedicure but hadn't had the courage to actually go & do it by herself) so off we went. Had a lovely time & then finished the day by visiting her Godson  & sharing takeaway Indian. (Feels like all I talk about are the lovelies & food !!!).  This was the holiday part, then I begin my work which is going to be an adventure of a lifetime !!!

Thought Bal is 81 - she so wants to stay young & just loved the girlie things along with wanting a pair of sandals like I had !!! She has worked hard to loose a lot of weight after loosing her sister, brother-in-law & a close friend.  

Wednesday - Tony's Birthday !!!!

Awoke to a gorgeous sunny day - perfect for a trip up the Thames to Windsor to celebrate Tony's Birthday (& belated for Val) together. We stop off at Windsor for 3hrs to have lunch & walk around the Town as well as being able to walk near Windsor Castle ( not quite enough time to do a tour) & view the walk from one end to the other of the grounds. 

The trip was a gentle pace & also through a couple of lochs ...the views going up & back are lovely. Much wildlife to be seen, lovely homes & lots of houseboats.  As we came back we saw many people who had come to the river, parked & sat on lazy chairs drinking their wines & just enjoying the summer sun.....

We returned home with an hour or so to spare to get ready to go out for dinner. We had booked to go to the 'Fox & Hound' which is near Windsor.  Off we went with Val (living by herself all her life - we are the life of the party for her as she has lost nearly all family members now & cares for an elderly friend, & her Godson who had to retire early from work as he has muscular dystrophy)We had a great time & again the meal was so good. It was a lovely end to a special day for Tony.  

Views on the trip.. 

At the entrance to the Windsor boat docking ramp.  

The Greek Restaurant we went to for lunch & this was the same place I had taken Val to 3 yrs ago & was just as good !! 

Windsor Castle - the one that 'the people love' 

Some people near us having a meal called out to us to take our photo outside what is called 'the crooked house' which it was. Having been a tea rooms it was now a dear little shop with Pearl Jewellery from the Jersey Isles.  

Inside the 'Fox & Hounds'.  Many renovated Pubs have signs written on boards or walls - this one read 'Laughter is brightest in the place where food is'

The light is still so soft & beautiful at 9.30pm as we leave .. 

Tuesday to Seville Gardens.

Tuesday morning had been quite a frustrating time of trying to organise some business things with lots of interference & computers not working BUT finally sorted a few things & felt to get out for a walk.  Val knew of lovely gardens close by that we could walk through & have afternoon tea in the cafe. 

It was so nice & a place you would like to keep coming back to - even to lay on the grass & read ... It was a good way to unwind & have a little time together.   

Just as we began to walk there was a Canadian Goose with her 3 goslings & they were used to people walking very close to them .. 

There were water streams throughout & a kaliadacope of greenery .....

Everywhere you looked it was so lush & green.  

More loveliness.

Part of the Tea House

Including 2 large Copper Oizza Ovens & you just see the chef flipping the dough ..