TR-Mission:Exploration of new worlds by Capt’n Wrongway Wendy-Complete

[Aussie Wendy]

Yes- we enjoyed it even more than I thought we would, having heard several negatives about the parks. Hope your bro' takes the opportunity and enjoys too. Yes, today my ankle was fine luckily - my knee cap stayed sore for several weeks if pressure was put on it - and I found it hurt if I put a lot of weight on it (like carrying a heavy bag up stairs) but otherwise didn't notice it - so think I was lucky and got off lightly.

 

[Frosted]

Wow!!! what a fabulous trip. Enjoyed all your photos and hearing what you did each day!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Yes- we enjoyed it even more than I thought we would, having heard several negatives about the parks. Hope your bro' takes the opportunity and enjoys too. Yes, today my ankle was fine luckily - my knee cap stayed sore for several weeks if pressure was put on it - and I found it hurt if I put a lot of weight on it (like carrying a heavy bag up stairs) but otherwise didn't notice it - so think I was lucky and got off lightly.

He's not going till September; so plenty of time for him to decide if he wants to or not.

Hope you're all better now.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Destination 3: England.

Post 1 On the Fens

Stardate: Monday 20th May.

Captains Log:

Friday was a travelling day. It was an easy journey by train from Marnee La Vallee to Chatellet les Halles and thence to Gare du Nord. Got a bit panicked by the crowds of commuters after Vincennes and how were we going to get through with the luggage but the train emptied out again over the next few stops and it was fine (except I got glared at by some big mama whose legs were facing out into the aisle thus I bumped them with my suitcase!)

The train to Gare du Nord left from the opposing platform so that was easy peasy and we were soon in the line for customs for the Eurostar. Ridiculously crowded waiting area with insufficient seats and toilets but not too long a wait til we were able to board.

The Eurostar is always a smooth trip – reminds me of an airline really and we were soon at St Pancreas Platform 9 and there was Platform 9 1/2. Today we didn’t delay however. I did lead us slightly astray as there were trains heading to the Midlands (which is where Peterborough, our destination, is but none went there). Realised we had to head outside across to Kings Cross Station, so with much head shaking from the First Officer, it was a short trip over the road and we were organised.

Expensive train tix purchased (for the same price we were going to travel all the way to Edinburgh next week!), fortified by delicious spinach and brie soup, toasted foccacia and coffee we boarded the 1.36 pm slow train to Peterborough and 1 hour 15 mins later arrived.

It was 10 degrees C and freezing! Even colder than Paris! Lucky only a short walk around the corner, over the railway bridge and there was Avis and our hire car. I navigated us successfully around the city centre and 15 mins eastwards to the village of Crowland and our self-contained unit for the weekend.

Eastside@Fenacre was wonderful. If anyone has any need (not really a tourist destination) to stay in Peterborough then stay here. It was truly a home away from home. I had been chatting via emails to the owner Julie for some months, as her brother lives near the Gold Coast and she was so lovely. We had the one bedroom unit attached to their house but they also had a second unit, I think possibly two bedroom, also attached. Here are some pics.



Lounge. As expected in most places we had free wifi here.



Kitchen/dining. You receive a starter pack of cereals, milk, bread, freshly laid eggs, tea, coffee, sugar, apple juice etc and we discovered the pantry to be well equipped (I guess by previous guests) with all sorts of sauces, vinegars, herbs, oils etc. Very handy for the transient visitor.



The best part of the unit was the conservatory. I know the Brits love these – and now we know why. Saturday was cold and overcast but in the conservatory it was light and bright and so warm. We would live here all day. This one was off the bedroom.

Graham snoozing before heading out to friends Sunday.



This area is on the edge of the fens – once marshland and wetlands that stretched inland from the Lincolnshire coast and were drained in the 17th C. Crowland was one of many isolated islands. It is famous for its Trinity Bridge, an unusual 3 in 1 bridge structure that until the 1800’s traversed the junction of two streams.





Also known for its Abbey, once a Benedictine monastery. I was amazed by all the spring flowers that were out when it was practically summer.









There are many thatched cottages in Crowland – look at the cup and saucer on the teashop



Here are some pics of Peterborough itself

Market Cross



Cathedral



Church and grounds in the village of Baston where my friends live (taken 2010)




After catching up with friends and shopping in town Saturday am we spent the afternoon eating lunch and snoozing in our warm conservatory. Sunday was spent with friends including our traditional walking the dogs over the fields after a huge, vegetarian lunch and talking non-stop.

In the morning en route to Baston, we also visited another village, Spalding, and were captivated by the tulip display outside this medieval manor house turned museum, Ayscoughfee Hall, which then drew us inside and out to its extensive gardens (all free). They had a good display on the Fens including stories and photos of how the dikes were sabotaged by locals when they were first being built as they naturally didn’t want their livelihoods destroyed; how in the freezing winters they ice skated everywhere to get about; and these huge guns operated from punts that could shoot down 30 birds with one shot.






Close-up of some of the stained glass



Fen boat and gun



In the gardens






Walking the dogs



Monday we caught up with our friend’s daughter Demi who was taken ill with ME, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, which she developed after a bad bout of glandular fever in her 20's. She is now confined to a wheelchair except for very short distances and has ongoing health issues including her heart and spends much of her days in constant pain. Her husband who she met whilst she was sick, is a darling, taking such good care of her and so supportive. She is, however, despite all life has dealt her, incredibly optimistic, funny and a joy to be with.

We spent the day with her and her husband watching Star Trek 2 as we are all sci-fi nuts followed by a pig-out lunch at Jimmy’s World Grill and Bar, an all-you-can-eat international buffet. The Indian curries were very good, the Chinese and Japanese dishes also good (especially the vegetable tempura) and the Italian blah. Deserts were pretty average too but there was certainly a ton of choice for £7.99 for the lunch buffet and it was a cut above the quality at Sizzlers. I celebrated with a cocktail but it was a bit too sweet as I find most are.







After a lovely weekend it was time to head off south to our next home for the week on the outskirts of a town called Ware (source of numerous jokes/confusion i.e. immigration official – where are you spending the most time in England? Ware. Yes where? Ware – W.A.R.E. Sigh!) I’d hate to live here permanently!

Capt’ns highlights and lowlights of the weekend: Highs: Renewing of friendships. Wandering the Fens. Snoozing in the conservatory. Star Trek 2! (not a bad piece of fiction I suppose though I think they get the captain all wrong and I would have dealt with the threat all so differently..…).
Lows: Regretting our friends and us live continents apart so we can only catch up in 3D every 3 years or so.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great pics Wendy. That looks fantastic! Seems like you made a great choice with your accommodation. Peterborough looks lovely. And I'll admit that I have yet to see ST2 (*hangs head in shame*)

 

[Aussie Wendy]

DD is desperate to see ST2 but keeps getting other social commitments and can't fit it in! Not only is it Star Trek but it also has Benedict Cumberbatch in it as the baddy - how can you miss it!! (We were just rewatching ep 1 of Sherlock Holmes). Actually I was prepared to not like the new Star Trek as the old was pretty corny and was pleasantly surprised at how good both have been.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Sorting my way through 150 pics of the Chelsea Flower Show at the moment. Taking the opp while I have time before work kicks off again next week - and judging by all the stuff they have been sending me it looks like a fairly daunting job and very busy and wall to wall meetings, not my favourite. Think of the money says DH!! He is right and I know new jobs always look worse til you settle in and come to grips with what they want! I have been spoilt working in my comfort zone the last few contracts.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Couldn't make the time - Stressful project at work.

And I'm such a Benedict Cumberbatch fan too. Eagerly awaiting the 3rd season of Sherlock!

Good luck with the new role.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Thanks

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Destination England. Post 2 Ware are we?

Stardate Monday 20th to Thursday 23 May

Capt'ns log:

Our new home at Leven’s Green just north of Ware was in a complex of renovated stables. Due to confusion over dates - due to a mistake by she who shall remain nameless, this was a lucky back-up option as my original choice was full for the correct dates and they helped me find this (which was extremely good of them so hats off to Dalmond’s Barns and to Leven’s Green who came through with a vacancy.)

This was no comparison to Peterborough but it was clean and self contained; the wood plank floors were incredibly squeaky – no sneaking out at night. I also found various things annoying-first night tea and coffee provided but no sugar, no toaster just the grill on the oven, but it had free wifi and a big walk-in shower that was always hot and strong.

We went out to stock up on groceries from the nearest Tesco’s – enjoying as always exploring all the strange new options and buying far too much - and surprised the rellies who weren’t expecting a visit til Tuesday. The bed was comfy though hot under the duvet – an experience we found throughout all our travels in Europe – winter weight quilts when the weather was not always that cold and in Spain well - sometimes you just need a sheet!

Some pics just in case anyone ever wants a place to stay in this area (very handy for Stansted airport and on the train line to London). The complex was full and the owner said they have lots of overseas visitors – there was even another Australian family staying there.



Inside our stable Chevey (door to the far left on pic above) - there are 2 one bedders and 3, 2 bedders I think.



View across the fields



Tuesday and Wednesday were lovely days spent with rellies. They feed the birds and squirrels – here are the obligatory pics of a squirrel DH took.



Yummy nuts!





We made our usual pilgrimage to Van Hage Garden Centre – a huge complex that has a brilliant, ginormous gift shop, garden statuary and pots, as well as plants, and includes a very good café, children’s zoo and train on weekends.





A nice display







I would have loved to have brought some sheep or deer home for the yard – easier to keep than real ones! A hedgehog did manage to find its way into my bag.



And in the children’s zoo, the marmosets were fascinated by my hedgehog looking at them.



We also bought a few extra layers of clothing from local charity shops, including a sheepskin lined suede jacket for DD, to deal with the incredibly cold weather we were experiencing.

Wednesday evening we had a brilliant meal in a pub (called, unsurprisingly The White Horse) reuniting with long lost cousins on my mum’s side who I hadn’t seen for over 20 years since the death of their mum, my aunt (who had helped dad bring me up after my mum died until he remarried and we emigrated). No food porn – too busy chatting which is a pity as it was a great, old fashioned pub with heavy oak beams and the food was considerably upmarket and delicious (like my confit duck in orange and port sauce and Eton mess for desert).

Thursday was an overcast, wet day for the Chelsea Flower Show. We packed some overnight gear into our bags as we were staying at a friend’s in London for the night. We met our friend near Victoria Station for lunch first at a local pub – I think the Windsor Castle – old panelling and etched glass and a decent Guinness pie and vegetables. Then he got back to work and as we had some time to spare, we had a wander along the embankment to Westminster. Even nicer the sun came out.



To the left over Vauxhall Bridge is the MI6 building in case anyone is interested – you may recognise it from the Bond movie Skyfall. We also walked past the much more unassuming MI5 headquarters in Thames House.

Bit clearer shot of MI6



A view downstream, just get a glimpse of the London Eye and to far right, the tip of The Shard



Victoria Tower Gardens has a monument commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, the Buxton monument. It also has a statue of Emily Pankhurst and opposite Westminster, Churchill.







Westminster from Victoria Tower Gardens



It was very busy here with crowds. Houses of Parliament and Richard the Lionheart statue.



An obligatory, not very good, shot of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.



We caught the tube to Sloane Square and followed the crowds around to the entrance to the Chelsea Flower Show, pics next post.

 

[PrincessInOz]

The Digs look lovely! Nice picture of the squirrel jumping down.


I see the MI6 building got fixed after the Skyfall blowout???

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Yeah looks like it! (Now that was a sad Bond). Our mate says you walk past and the security camera's follow you. He should be used to that. Due to his job working at a senior level for a HRH sponsored charity he is often invited to events at Buck House - he posted yesterday pics of his visit to the annual garden party hosted this year by everyone's favourite Princess Anne - name (and pic) dropper that he is!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Post 3 Chelsea Flower Show

We caught the tube to Sloane Square and followed the crowds around to the entrance to the Chelsea Flower Show. The weather annoyingly kept having rain bursts making your brollies soaking, then the sun would come out. This was a special year for the flower show as it was in its 100th year.



The show was a bit like the House and Garden Shows here but with more display gardens. 100’s of stalls selling stuff, that I didn’t expect, though if I’d thought about it, shouldn’t have surprised me. Like outdoor settings, conservatories, spas, fires, garden implements, ride-on-mowers, pots, ornaments, and then all those stalls that are everywhere that don’t seem related to the actual show itself like some whizgig new appliance or face cream.

The show gardens were great though the crowds made it a bit hard to see some well or for picky taking. The smaller displays, mostly by nurseries specialising in a particular plant, in the Great Pavilion were also very good. Have since discovered while trying to id some pics, we totally missed the 8 artisan gardens which is a pity but it was so big and rambly I am surprised we didn’t miss more actually.

Of course the big news this year was for the first time the Australian entry won the best of show garden – causing controversy in the local papers too as there was disagreements between judges I gather. Of course we knew that, which was why we chose to go this year (wink).

Let us start our tour with the prize winning garden:

An Australian billabong emphasising a self sustaining environment and usable spaces to connect people back to nature. I loved the pod studio space in the shape of a waratah, and the waterfall and ladders.









Then others I especially liked: Arthritis Research UK garden which was in three stages illustrating the emotions of someone (especially someone young) suffering from arthritis, from confusion at first to understanding to management and enjoyment of life (the radiant garden). It was also the People’s Choice garden winner.

The final stage, the Radiant Garden with the Libertine sculpture



I also liked the serenity of the Brewin Dolphin Garden with it water features.



Another view



There was the Sentebale garden sponsored by B&Q inspired by Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale (“Forget Me Not”) in Sesotho, expressing the landscape, beauty and inaccessibility and fragility of the country and its people.



Another favourite of mine, Sowing the Seeds of Change sponsored by Homebase and the Alzheimer’s Society , a family garden with space to relax, entertain and grow vegetables. Love that hand crafted bee-hive!






Windows through time celebrating 100 years of changing British garden design, designed by Rodger Platts



Another view



Royal Bank of Canada Blue Water Roof Garden



Another view



Laurent-Perrier Garden (not as fussed)



Couts Seeability garden demonstrating what its like to see with impaired vision



The Telegraph garden with a Japanese influence



Stockton Drilling As Nature Intended



Unusual water features



A cottage style garden we liked



The Rush of Nature by Mark Quinn, designed to celebrate the centennial.



Then there was all the displays in the Grand Pavilion. A selection of ones that we took pics of:

My favourite flower the daffodil –if only we could grow so many varieties.



Paintbox



Tulips



Continued next post

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Chelsea Flower Show post 2

Unusual way to display Hippeastrums



Kevock Nursery alpine plants



Cacti anyone?




South African proteas





From the huge Hillier nurseries display with the theme of Risk. Crocodiles.



Or perhaps you prefer badgers?



The Birmingham City Council outdid themselves with not just Tolkien



But also the war



Miracle Growers 1940’s garden


Look closely at this tree..



Another display that caught our eye



Flower and vegetable arrangements



Another bulb seller




David Austin roses



And someone else’s, possibly Harkness




Orchids galore



Taiwan Orchid Growers Association display



Nong Nooch Pattaya Tropical Garden made a stunning centrepiece in one area



Interflora’s colourful displays





Continued next post

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Chelsea Flower show final

Then there was the statuary outside. By the entrance:





I love David Goode’s work but way out of my budget





Admired some literary classics by Robert James





And some totally weird.



One of my favourites



The Royal Chelsea Hospital itself.



By 7pm (having arrived at 3.30pm) we were exhausted and there is very limited seating. Lots of old-hands had brought their own stools. Afraid we didn’t partake in Pimm’s that was “the” drink to be seen with nor champagne – let the side down I am afraid. We found a bus to the tube and the tube to Blackhorse and made our way to our home for the night where we enjoyed a post dinner glass of port and some good company!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Fantastic insight into Chelsea, Wendy. Looking at your pictures, it's no wonder it is considered the world's best flower and garden show.

Have you considered coming down to see Melbourne's F&G show?

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I probably had Canberra's Floriade first on my list but only recently have been hearing a lot more about Melbourne's F&G so one year, yes. I haven't made it back up to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers for about 10 years, which is even closer.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I probably had Canberra's Floriade first on my list but only recently have been hearing a lot more about Melbourne's F&G so one year, yes. I haven't made it back up to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers for about 10 years, which is even closer.

Something to tempt you and perhaps bump it up the list.....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2692561

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Thanks PIO - OK you have succeeded in my bumping it up the list!
I have noted the dates for 2014 - quite possibly doable!!

 

[Minniemum]

Looks like you're having a fabulous time catching up with family and friends.

You're photos of the Chelsea Flower show are amazing. My heart melted when I saw "The Owl and the Pussycat" sculpture. This is my favourite children's poem/song/story and one I have shared with many of my kindergarten classes over the years. A quick check on google tells me we won't be adding it to our garden anytime soon - £3,500 for the Cold Cast Bronze or £19,750 for the Hot Cast Bronze. I can only imagine the postage on something that heavy

Thanks PIO - OK you have succeeded in my bumping it up the list!
I have noted the dates for 2014 - quite possibly doable!!

PiO, Melbourne's travel ambassador, strikes again!