tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11895140622649387332024-03-06T00:11:32.416+00:00Love Letter from London... On vintage fashion, historic architecture and anything beautiful which takes my fancyMiss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.comBlogger244125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-87506404366829924272014-11-03T22:32:00.000+00:002014-11-03T22:33:12.142+00:00A Soul! A Soul! A Soul Cake!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLfzN1mAgzX_vI_I_1KzOBETzz3B2I1NNqbRZtVxcExXhDzexPt24WSqrOVDe2gfcEowk6PHfYn1_90ck_BgWr9OiYhP613ZzuiTuiZiq35D50e3IxuZ8bH93NDHiVg_wOAF2MfXO2Qh-/s1600/soul+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLfzN1mAgzX_vI_I_1KzOBETzz3B2I1NNqbRZtVxcExXhDzexPt24WSqrOVDe2gfcEowk6PHfYn1_90ck_BgWr9OiYhP613ZzuiTuiZiq35D50e3IxuZ8bH93NDHiVg_wOAF2MfXO2Qh-/s1600/soul+cake.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soul cake with perry - not an ingredient, just a good accompaniment</td></tr>
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As you may be aware, yesterday was All Souls' Day. As I mentioned in my Halloween post <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/hallowmas.html">last year</a>, it was traditional on this day for people to hand out soul cakes to 'soulers', people who went around singing and praying for the dead. So I thought this year that I would make some soul cakes myself, as a good activity following an evening requiem service at church.<br />
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My understanding is that there are many variations on soul cakes... which isn't at all surprising when you consider that the concept dates back to the medieval period, when people around the UK couldn't just look up a recipe on the internet and see what them in the next county were cooking. The thing that unites them seems to be sweet spices and dried fruit.<br />
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Here is the recipe I used, taken from the blog <a href="http://www.lavenderandlovage.com/2013/11/saturday-bakes-cakes-all-souls-day-and-a-traditional-soul-cakes-recipe.html">Lavender and Lovage</a>:<br />
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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175g butter</div>
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175g caster sugar</div>
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3 egg yolks</div>
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450g plain flour</div>
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2 teaspoons mixed spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)</div>
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100g currants</div>
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(a little milk to mix)</div>
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<b>Step 1:</b></div>
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Pre-heat oven to 180c.</div>
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<b>Step 2: </b></div>
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Cream the butter and sugar together, and then beat in the egg yolks.</div>
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<b>Step 3:</b></div>
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Sift the flour and mixed spice into the mixture. </div>
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(At this point I realised that the mixed spice I'd bought had coriander in it... Although the person who I had in mind as I baked very much liked coriander, I wasn't sure how it would go in sweet cookies. Fortunately I had whole nutmegs and ground cinnamon and ginger in my cupboard. So I grated some nutmeg, spread the measure between the three spices and the day was saved...)</div>
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<b>Step 4:</b></div>
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Stir in the currants and add enough milk to make a soft dough, similar to scones. </div>
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(I only added the tiniest dash of milk for luck, and then added up probably compensating when I floured things up as a rolled the dough out... So long story short is that milk may not even be necessary. Play it by feel.)</div>
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<b>Step 5: </b></div>
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Roll (or pat, if you're like me and don't have a rolling pin) the dough out on a floured surface. If you have a round biscuit cutter, use this. If you're like me and don't, roll into balls and then squish flat. You should get about 12. Place on a greased or/or lined baking tray and mark with a cross.</div>
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<b>Step 6:</b></div>
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Bake the cakes for 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack (... if you have one...)</div>
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<b>Step 7:</b></div>
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Eat and/or distribute to family, friends and neighbours. Enjoy with a drink and make a toast to loved ones who have gone ahead of us.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-4278238472884711602014-11-01T20:04:00.000+00:002014-11-01T20:07:49.377+00:00This is Halloween<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Some photographs snapped around Westminster Abbey after work yesterday evening.<br />
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And the friendly bat that lives on my balcony door (his friend lives with my sister):<br />
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Hope everyone's having a good weekend, however (and whether) you are marking Hallowe'en, All Hallows' Day and All Souls' Day.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-56150779774018507672014-10-12T18:07:00.000+01:002014-10-12T18:07:04.701+01:00Curiouser and Curiouser<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My brother's gorgeous girlfriend took this series of photos of my darling mother recently, looking like Alice in Wonderland or some other fairy tale...<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-57043940856721701462014-09-28T21:29:00.000+01:002014-09-28T21:29:16.190+01:00Distinguished Gentlemen (and Ladies)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I strolled down to Borough to spectate at the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride... And I had a thoroughly enjoyable morning there.<br />
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The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride happens in cities all around the world and is held to raise money for prostate cancer research. It involves gentlemen (and ladies) dressing up dapper and mounting their classic and classic-style motorbikes to ride around, making lots of noise, creating a (well-mannered) spectacle, and hopefully raising awareness and sponsorship money. I found out about it through a very good friend of mine who was involved in the ride in Sydney, Australia. Unfortunately, I'm unable to ride myself and I don't know anyone with a bike here in London so was unable to join in even as a pillion. But I could go down and look at all the lovely bikes and admire everyone's style... People had made a great effort, with only a few shameful fake moustaches. (Seriously, when are some people going to realise that events that call for you to dress as a gentleman are about proper style, not about fancy dress piss-takes? Sorry, rant over.)<br />
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So on to the bikes and gentlemen:<br />
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Sorry, lots of photos there, but I figured it was the best way to demonstrate just how awesome the whole thing was! Oh, and a video snippet is definitely necessary, because what's a classic motorbike calvacade without the roar of the motors??<br />
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Finally, what did I wear as a distinguished gentlewoman spectator? Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at the event as The Cat was unable to make it (despite being a motorbike fan himself - with a licence but without a stead...) so I had to wait until I was home to get a photo. It's <u>still</u> warm and sunny here in London, despite the fact that it's late September, so while I'm still able to get away with it, I'm wearing all the light summer dresses I can. I was going to wear gloves but it was just too warm! I did rock the (fake) pearls though, for a little distinction...<br />
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If you'd like to read more about the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride, and if you would like to make an 11th hour donation, you can do so <a href="http://www.gentlemansride.com/">here</a>.</div>
Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-28968631826095009502014-08-25T19:47:00.000+01:002014-08-25T19:51:02.387+01:00The Grass Beneath My Feet, a Walk on Sand...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have been off the radar for some time - the result of some unexpected and major life events - but am making a return to blogland now. I am, however, currently still in the process of looking for a new flat to move into, so I may still be slightly sporadic for a while at least. But I'm definitely back, and I have a little stash of things to post about. </div>
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The first of these is my Bank Holiday weekend visit to Kew Gardens, in the last week before my year's membership expires. Fortunately I opted to go yesterday, when there was some sun and warmth about, rather than today, which is all about torrential downpours and hanging about inside with cats (I'm currently cat-sitting...).<br />
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In addition to being the last week of my year's membership, it's also the last few weeks of the current event running at Kew Gardens, called Plantasia and being all about the healing power of plants. In addition to Plant Family Croquet (see the picture above), where I learnt about how plants are turned into medicines, I went on the Barefoot Walk. (The Barefoot Walk came before the croquet for me, hence the slightly dirty feet in the croquet picture!)<br />
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The Barefoot Walk had you removing your shoes and walking across and through various textures and surfaces, including stones, bark, charcoal, logs, water... and thick, sticky mud.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting off...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could opt to take the dry route or the mud... I went with the mud, of course!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidepono5KVDv6_C1cs38vOuCTRY_85ZDwAYHTIfAHhP4j6DkRdhdhTDr4f-8ogNDhnMeN6Srlj_t_sU9Trrkvf0cREcyuWrSVg6vDSAtsKls1FDaEPkL5Bt-zAqbhApz_L5AUfcWpLSl2S/s1600/kew+barefoot-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidepono5KVDv6_C1cs38vOuCTRY_85ZDwAYHTIfAHhP4j6DkRdhdhTDr4f-8ogNDhnMeN6Srlj_t_sU9Trrkvf0cREcyuWrSVg6vDSAtsKls1FDaEPkL5Bt-zAqbhApz_L5AUfcWpLSl2S/s1600/kew+barefoot-4.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fork in the road...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT46P-wujFpeODyHL-ayAQu6Bj7HMq_vBRe3fJi8CU8vfOjX9LSCaaW4Yy1GbjAy_F9pq97hSgHaylauwPL9BC7CXJJexmyh1aEVb7ckS12_sICsbfKVrL8Nc9vYfOfVGvVRlVGG31IpS/s1600/kew+barefoot-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlT46P-wujFpeODyHL-ayAQu6Bj7HMq_vBRe3fJi8CU8vfOjX9LSCaaW4Yy1GbjAy_F9pq97hSgHaylauwPL9BC7CXJJexmyh1aEVb7ckS12_sICsbfKVrL8Nc9vYfOfVGvVRlVGG31IpS/s1600/kew+barefoot-5.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It was wonderful and fun, and I opted to leave my shoes off afterwards, except when I got to croquet, as I thought I might not be allowed to play barefoot! But I'm a great believer of slipping off your shoes whenever you feasibly can when you come into contact with the natural earth. It is definitely re-energising at any time, and I very much enjoyed all the textures and temperatures and squelching of the Barefoot Walk.<br />
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Then I checked out the Healing Giant - a garden planted in the shape of a human body, with the relevant herbs and such planted in the areas that they are reported to heal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumlzhctLQXG0scFu07QuANDNRIuria4mF1PBaGJ-2BrNRVRTjfEUYOdCRl8cyW2QH736ra7bYunoeBdwiPLroqfQrQtavl5PSN5CEhEZ9UH5qOcxlZxdHBvsetbvAGLrCyaB6zjGm-btY/s1600/kew+healing+giant-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumlzhctLQXG0scFu07QuANDNRIuria4mF1PBaGJ-2BrNRVRTjfEUYOdCRl8cyW2QH736ra7bYunoeBdwiPLroqfQrQtavl5PSN5CEhEZ9UH5qOcxlZxdHBvsetbvAGLrCyaB6zjGm-btY/s1600/kew+healing+giant-1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarTcGGmjT_ZH83EMAz42RRtUtTRXMbz3Xi_F5ijD0MfSP3-oR5BLuf40OPvM88d_nflhwVvqpGVQn4Yum8u0Ppucl4R9NhDXTGWxCLGjnReC5d9hCw5C4OlWHrzdfZhUqcCnBeUQ53bJr/s1600/kew+healing+giant-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarTcGGmjT_ZH83EMAz42RRtUtTRXMbz3Xi_F5ijD0MfSP3-oR5BLuf40OPvM88d_nflhwVvqpGVQn4Yum8u0Ppucl4R9NhDXTGWxCLGjnReC5d9hCw5C4OlWHrzdfZhUqcCnBeUQ53bJr/s1600/kew+healing+giant-2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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But what was my summery Kew outfit for this adventure, aside from my <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/new-blue-shoes.html">new(ish) blue shoes</a>? Well, it was my jolly daffodil/ray of sunshine Easter dress. Which is a good thing as I never got around to posting any Easter outfit photos here as Easter Sunday was such a rainy, un-photogenic day this year. And what's the best thing about this dress, apart from the fact that it's such a happy colour, and exactly the colour dress I've been wanting for ages? I made it myself!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglN8ZiCl577FpvBQ5e8fgMQ7KJxzYYSfQgfEh7oBGGtusf6PZAy7iF-pbLUdJyKxc2F2V2E2AxLb3W15LTX0fzLh4xrVkXY9-yNAtKa-y42M0hgwDCs2vmccrLcm6Jj5tUntnAJWiUtCxH/s1600/kew+august+outfit-6.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglN8ZiCl577FpvBQ5e8fgMQ7KJxzYYSfQgfEh7oBGGtusf6PZAy7iF-pbLUdJyKxc2F2V2E2AxLb3W15LTX0fzLh4xrVkXY9-yNAtKa-y42M0hgwDCs2vmccrLcm6Jj5tUntnAJWiUtCxH/s1600/kew+august+outfit-6.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yes, indeedy, I bought a 1960s pattern from <a href="http://www.oldpatterns.com/">Patterns from the Past</a> and headed out to Walthamstow Markets, then got out my neglected sewing machine and whipped up this baby. It wasn't smooth sailing either, as I launched straight in without trying the sizing beforehand and the bodice was WAY too big around but also WAY too short. So I had to adjust it to be slimmer and add in some length. Fortunately, I could work it so that the seam where I had to sew in the extra strip of fabric came under the bust and it ended up not looking like an accident...<br />
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A close-up to allow you to appreciate the fancy contrast hand-stitched bit around the collar (that was actually part of the pattern, not an accident correction...)<br />
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Oh, and the other awesome thing about this dress? There's a matching jacket! But that's in storage at the moment as part of the flat-moving process, so I teamed it with a cardigan instead when it got a little bit chillier yesterday.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI3K1f0hEa2Pi594h_g8WLd-gwmdBHptRKXSiYmin2PTfkameAwJ9duzRmvDchNijj3s9rOBseHteh6YDaX9AC_1sqYQBNMdqZjQpLU76gFMTDT41HrTiv849jl4y2khtrB5X8zrGW84H/s1600/kew+august+outfit-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPI3K1f0hEa2Pi594h_g8WLd-gwmdBHptRKXSiYmin2PTfkameAwJ9duzRmvDchNijj3s9rOBseHteh6YDaX9AC_1sqYQBNMdqZjQpLU76gFMTDT41HrTiv849jl4y2khtrB5X8zrGW84H/s1600/kew+august+outfit-2.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dress: made by me<br />Cardigan: Charity shop<br />Hat: Accessorize<br />Shoes: Jones Bootmaker</i></td></tr>
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And here are some flowers to complement the colours of my dress. As I suggested, the two shades of yellow I picked for my dress were inspired by daffodils, appropriately for the timing of an Easter dress. But these flowers are nice too... and there's some bees in there, as an added bonus.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsQlR_GRqpvaQJND-jhVAZJBaWcdvdlUvCkHNEavWqUzYo29Qn3ONXm45QfKPtY0wtdZW3XAgqKqUzvF4VpMxaaFLSm4zXec0Lb9hOY5DJzcvqfVJRGuPKauHUu5n2srytvX7vckqsWs5/s1600/kew+august+flowers-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsQlR_GRqpvaQJND-jhVAZJBaWcdvdlUvCkHNEavWqUzYo29Qn3ONXm45QfKPtY0wtdZW3XAgqKqUzvF4VpMxaaFLSm4zXec0Lb9hOY5DJzcvqfVJRGuPKauHUu5n2srytvX7vckqsWs5/s1600/kew+august+flowers-2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span id="goog_2144886561"></span>So, I will leave you with a few lines from one of my favourite Belle & Sebastian songs, <i>Asleep on a Sunbeam</i>, which feel especially appropriate to the Barefoot Walk and the last days of the season:<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Another summer's passing by</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">All I need is somewhere I can feel the grass beneath my feet</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">A walk on sand, a fire I can warm my hands</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">My joy will be complete.</span></i></div>
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And, indeed, it follows on to be appropriate for my flat-hunting:</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">I thought about a new destination</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">I'm never short of new inspiration</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Roll out the map and mark it with a gin...</span></i></div>
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Good bye, Kew! It's been nice having a year with you. Maybe we'll do it again sometime. </div>
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If you want to check out my other posts of Kew through the seasons, you can enjoy another <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/foraging-for-mushrooms-in-summertime.html">August</a>, <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pumpkins-leaves-and-halloween.html">October</a>, <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/royally-botanically-autumnal-afternoon.html">November (2011)</a>, <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/february-is-that-you.html">February</a> and <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/kew-garden-florals.html">May</a>. Also, <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wakehurst-winter-love-letter-from-west.html">January at Wakehurst</a>, Kew's sister gardens.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-24197136822496006882014-08-04T20:49:00.000+01:002014-08-04T20:50:25.119+01:00Lights Out<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As we remember 100 years since the UK entered WWI, I thought I would share with my readers the war memorial from King's Cross Station. The 11 stones, engraved with the names of the men from the Great Northern Railway who lost their lives in the conflict, were relocated during the recent refurbishment of the station. The new arrangement reflects Sargent's painting, <i>Gassed</i>, which depicts soldiers injured in a mustard gas attack. And it is beautifully poignant.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gassed</i>, John Singer Sargent (1919)</td></tr>
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All over the country tonight, people and organisations will be marking the beginning of the UK's involvement in the Great War by switching out their lights, leaving a single light or candle glowing. The act is in reference to the British Foreign Secretary's statement in August 1914: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime". It is hoped that the collective gesture will encourage reflection on the lives lost and changed during the four years of the war.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-19949785701931266602014-05-31T21:34:00.002+01:002014-05-31T21:35:26.748+01:00Rainy Day Gardens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I visited the deer park at Knole <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/virginia-vita-and-knole.html">last summer</a>, I noted with some sense of regret that the walled gardens at the property are open on Tuesdays only over the late spring and summer. I love an historic garden, but when does one ever have a free Tuesday when one works full time in an office? If you have a Tuesday off, it's generally because you also happen to be abroad as part of a longer break.<br />
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However, I was delighted to discover that my new place of work has a few extra bonus days off each year in additional to the usual ones, one of which is the Tuesday following the late May Bank Holiday. So I knew immediately what I was going to do with my day, come rain or shine. And boy, did it rain! But that's okay, because I had my brand new wellies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-3iOkYey3WK8hh7m9A8-ibTx51D2HkY143iklCue91oZ5TjLlWWF0ECNHltGoN4is08eVPEd99SGhCu_lvkiGBt5qjJcTbzgTIbWVBjvGhE8NZL2fNyX9cG2ozXafXzm2vONXqBP0DHy/s1600/knole+garden+outfit-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-3iOkYey3WK8hh7m9A8-ibTx51D2HkY143iklCue91oZ5TjLlWWF0ECNHltGoN4is08eVPEd99SGhCu_lvkiGBt5qjJcTbzgTIbWVBjvGhE8NZL2fNyX9cG2ozXafXzm2vONXqBP0DHy/s1600/knole+garden+outfit-1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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My new wellies were just one part of my incredibly generous parting gift from my former workmates. One of my friends took note of my comment that I was in need of a pair of fit, respectable, good wellies. My new job is likely to require walking around a fair few churchyards, which can be very wet underfoot, so it was thought that furnishing me with wellies would be a good idea for seeing me off on my way.<br />
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So when I knew what the weather was to be for my Knole visit, I dressed from the wellies up. I went with a fitted green jacket (part of a 1940s suit) and shirt for a respectable country look, but coupled with a denim skirt to keep it from being too dressy for a muddy, puddly garden romp.<br />
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And I had a delightful time in the garden in the rain. Yes, I couldn't sit down and enjoy a book or anything like that but I marched through with my wellies and umbrellas, unhindered. What a wonderful, extensive gardens, full of many hidden treats within the 'Wilderness' and all around.<br />
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Because my wander around the gardens was naturally slightly inhibited by the weather, I also had plenty of time to explore the house, which I missed on my last visit as I was too busy enjoying the fine summery day. No photography was allowed inside, but sometimes that's kind of preferable, because you can just look without feeling as though you have to capture...<br />
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The house was itself wonderful, and I would definitely recommend a visit. The spaces were amazing, the stories fascinating and the collection full of fabulous and exquisite objects, furniture and paintings. I enjoyed hearing about the Spangle Bedroom, which takes its name from a bed with curtains which, in their Elizabethan heyday, would have shimmered and sparkled with the firelight reflecting off the thousands of spangles or sequins that formed part of the decorative embroidery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooaNIqQmRDLIPmlRrgjLIuPujpc5xuyGe0s0hFt3Oaj8G8d0y39dhoOWfOFRVkjtinpOtgNkFZAa7EosupvzqDq3N8xmR_IILe6YML927I8e1-e8A_RKV8ao_51h8-byLrV-cZcbKRVvo/s1600/spangle+bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooaNIqQmRDLIPmlRrgjLIuPujpc5xuyGe0s0hFt3Oaj8G8d0y39dhoOWfOFRVkjtinpOtgNkFZAa7EosupvzqDq3N8xmR_IILe6YML927I8e1-e8A_RKV8ao_51h8-byLrV-cZcbKRVvo/s1600/spangle+bedroom.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spangle Bed (Image source: <a href="http://knoleconservationteam.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/conservation-trial-for-the-spangled-bed/">Knole Conservation Team Blog</a>)</td></tr>
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So, all up, a rather satisfying day of rainy day walking, historic interiors... and a perfectly warm and delicious toasted cheese and bacon bagel bought at a bargain price from a local bagel shop on the way back to the station... Bliss!<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-35224127021243542952014-05-25T23:14:00.000+01:002014-05-25T23:14:14.796+01:00Go Right at Buckingham Palace...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It was a beautiful day in London today for Bank Holiday Sunday (though tomorrow's forecast is not so ideal... Never mind!). In an appropriately leisurely fashion, I therefore took the time to smell the roses in Hyde Park. To get there, I hopped on my trusty bicycle. As I was looking up my route from Islington before I headed off, I was saying the instructions out loud to help them stick in my head. And as I did so, I was struck how much it sounded like something from a children's book about London...<br />
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"Along the Strand and through Trafalgar Square...<br />
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... up The Mall (through Admiralty Arch)...<br />
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... then right at Buckingham Palace..."<br />
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I love how a commute through London can be so iconic and take in such sites and more without even trying!<br />
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Although it was a perfect day to be outside, I spent a few hours in the V&A before getting to Hyde Park. It's been quite some time since I was last there and I've been looking for an opportunity to get there for the past few weeks. It didn't seem like a waste to be inside a museum, especially after my lovely cycle (it's so much more relaxed cycling on a weekend then during weekday rush hour!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the contemporary display in the silver gallery at the V&A</td></tr>
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But after a couple of hours, the sunshine was calling me, so I headed back out and to Hyde Park. I was enticed into the rose gardens there, where I stopped to stroll, admire and inhale... and to take some pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink roses for my pink outfit!</td></tr>
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Hope that you've all had a lovely weekend, and that those in the UK who get a bonus day off tomorrow have a good one.<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-28237251440966193672014-05-14T21:53:00.001+01:002014-05-18T22:36:10.663+01:00Existential, Unrequited Love Letter from Salford<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was in Manchester over the past few days, and my friend and I went on a magical musical adventure around the city, seeing some of the significant Mancunian music-related sites. This included a trip to Salford Lads Club (don't you love the fact that it's 'lads' rather than 'boys'?) to strike a heaven-knows-I'm-miserable-now, Smiths-esque pose, inspired by the famous shot in <i>The Queen is Dead</i> album sleeve.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa Marie, May 2014</td></tr>
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I think this is the first time I've appeared in my glasses on this blog, which feels somehow appropriate for the Smiths' aesthetic. I don't need them all the time - just for seeing details, like when I'm catching trains, and reading things from a distance, and when I fancy seeing everything in super-sharp focus, which is often the case when I'm going on devoted architectural wanderings...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Smiths, c. 1986</td></tr>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-49225760362827867042014-05-04T22:51:00.004+01:002014-05-04T22:51:42.620+01:00Kew Garden Florals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been quite a while since my last Kew visit. So with the long weekend, good weather, and my determination to do some proper, carefree unwinding following the hectic end days of my long-term job, it seemed like a good idea to head out there today.<br />
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This is what I saw, and this is what I wore. Flowers and colours in abundance, in both instances! I wore tulips, thinking it was about the right time for them but I saw very few of them in fact, and think I may have been a tad late in my timing. Oh well, there were plenty of other things to see...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plane caught my attention... One of the few problems with Kew is the massive number of loud, loud planes <br />that go over. It somewhat interrupts the sound of leaves rustling in breeze...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making friends with trees <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pumpkins-leaves-and-halloween.html">again</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee! I love bees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAsHDAxacG373cQi-it5oVKN2u9SUxdCg7HF-Nk3NG1qS_LHt7et8OW9kA58ztvnaBQn4Jil-H558UxhJbTqeCCALVENVOdmOouXyv6vUQj8z5P5F-ySfr_SNwcoxbrdSbly04WpSM-hj/s1600/kew+gardens+may+outfit-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAsHDAxacG373cQi-it5oVKN2u9SUxdCg7HF-Nk3NG1qS_LHt7et8OW9kA58ztvnaBQn4Jil-H558UxhJbTqeCCALVENVOdmOouXyv6vUQj8z5P5F-ySfr_SNwcoxbrdSbly04WpSM-hj/s1600/kew+gardens+may+outfit-3.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dress: <a href="http://www.beyondretro.com/en/">Beyond Retro</a><br />Jacket: <a href="http://www.wearecow.com/">Cow (Sheffield branch)</a><br />Belt: Beyond Retro<br />Shoes: <a href="http://www.jonesbootmaker.com/">Jones Bootmaker</a><br />Bracelet: Recent gift from a friend<br />Earrings (little red beads that are barely visible!): market in Nottingham</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-last-of-seasons-roses.html">photographed</a> some of the last of the season's roses last year... and this is one of the <br />first of this year</td></tr>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBVrW9QL1lczhCyuic_Jr_Ir1WDqZCHJnNyw7vPcQg4NUDFTL2oPPBgf9IyZcqF5O5Vfsmb9DNSFUiyn5ZZHc6YORelSlP3rGnJ5d_fUCIWzEIKWgAvHhWATDcWPZUNPU6NTL1esinbJx/s1600/kew+gardens+walled+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBVrW9QL1lczhCyuic_Jr_Ir1WDqZCHJnNyw7vPcQg4NUDFTL2oPPBgf9IyZcqF5O5Vfsmb9DNSFUiyn5ZZHc6YORelSlP3rGnJ5d_fUCIWzEIKWgAvHhWATDcWPZUNPU6NTL1esinbJx/s1600/kew+gardens+walled+garden.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue entitled 'A Sower'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some ironwork photographed <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/february-is-that-you.html">once before</a>, but now with leaves on the tree and a <br />brighter background</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cricket on Kew Green after the Gardens</td></tr>
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Happy Sunday! And happy May Bank Holiday to those other lucky people who get the day off.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-39076428665271363732014-05-01T23:57:00.001+01:002014-05-02T00:01:16.349+01:00New Blue Shoes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l6dYC_p8LKrAQ3dlw5uBx8XLqu9CeEBwFxB7v63eIavPtBDoVpV_x40MjJqdW4nWO8TW3rbP-x0FXjqHY7ez-CoOmNdvzoUofHnfiGEm4SWMrb5_9OruOyZ4D_Nm19f8LtgNshcMRnON/s1600/new+blue+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l6dYC_p8LKrAQ3dlw5uBx8XLqu9CeEBwFxB7v63eIavPtBDoVpV_x40MjJqdW4nWO8TW3rbP-x0FXjqHY7ez-CoOmNdvzoUofHnfiGEm4SWMrb5_9OruOyZ4D_Nm19f8LtgNshcMRnON/s1600/new+blue+shoes.jpg" height="400" width="314" /></a></div>
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I bought new blue shoes yesterday, on the way home from my first day of my new work, walking back from Westminster to Clerkenwell because of the tube strike and the puncture on my bike wheel.</div>
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I went into a shop thinking (in the immortal words of Eve Rice in her classic children's book and one that has stuck with me through the years): "I want new blue, nice blue, nice new blue shoes." </div>
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... And I found some! What are the chances?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoes: Callaloo, <a href="http://www.jonesbootmaker.com/jones-bootmaker-accessories-heeled-shoes-buckled-shoe-2611200529">Jones Bootmaker</a></td></tr>
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Pop back soon to see them styled... And happy May Day to one and all!<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-25825028289775662852014-04-27T13:29:00.003+01:002014-04-27T13:29:57.376+01:00The Cities...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smithfield Market before the buildings, 1855, in the <i>Illustrated London News </i>(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Smithfield_Last_day_of_Old_Smithfield_ILN_1855.jpg">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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I really want to sit down and do a proper blog post as I do have several things up my sleeve. Unfortunately I've found myself terribly busy over the past month as I'm starting a new job! This means I have lots of things I'm having to get organised and finished, inside and outside of work hours, and I'm quickly running out of time...<br />
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I intentionally make sure to be quite obtuse about the specifics of my work on this blog, to keep things separate and to make sure that I don't step on the toes of professionalism, confidentially and all that. Though I can say that I am rather sad to be leaving my current job in Smithfield, where I have been based for over six years... But I am also terribly excited to be taking up my new job in Westminster, where I will now be based.<br />
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So, from offices in the historic City of London - the heart of England's commerce - to offices in the historic City of Westminster - the heart of England's parliament. What new streets and treasures will I discover on my lunchtime strolls, I wonder?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdWymfNAZxhxwgy_kfuMfIITbBHycVa1fwQOgcIJNdZQxSmhsZ-kZoLvzPJQpDMO-rlTgrB8BVPhfloNczjzjkPAMlGY2Hzl5J8zNnPA72zz8iLJ0g3y3jYXN1V0QE_zUbAZA7ka8iDVx/s1600/westminster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdWymfNAZxhxwgy_kfuMfIITbBHycVa1fwQOgcIJNdZQxSmhsZ-kZoLvzPJQpDMO-rlTgrB8BVPhfloNczjzjkPAMlGY2Hzl5J8zNnPA72zz8iLJ0g3y3jYXN1V0QE_zUbAZA7ka8iDVx/s1600/westminster.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster from the River, 1792, by Samuel Ireland (<a href="http://thames.me.uk/s00130.htm">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-4152792716629167842014-04-21T20:06:00.000+01:002014-04-21T20:06:12.733+01:00Lake Shore Easter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I was doing some reading up on the history of Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and came across this picture, which I thought I'd share with my readers on this Easter Monday. Mr and Mrs John Barnes, strolling down Lake Shore Drive with their dog, Dandy, on Easter Sunday, 1932.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb2GkgAdxtcbVNKsA3P_dgC73DZaAltEorwX6vLb9CzDbwk1-mIcfgOXtBY3_emH92mI4o4bwVbF58CqmJb07o5fyxHfjIlQlTmYJKnJMkFCbHIpZKrW98SbHu9hN9IgY4IIPTHSrD8ER/s1600/Lake+Shore+Drive+Easter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb2GkgAdxtcbVNKsA3P_dgC73DZaAltEorwX6vLb9CzDbwk1-mIcfgOXtBY3_emH92mI4o4bwVbF58CqmJb07o5fyxHfjIlQlTmYJKnJMkFCbHIpZKrW98SbHu9hN9IgY4IIPTHSrD8ER/s1600/Lake+Shore+Drive+Easter.jpeg" height="640" width="532" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://galleries.apps.chicagotribune.com/chi-131219-flashback-vintage-lake-shore-drive-pictures/">Chicago Tribune</a></td></tr>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-20885123418562528552014-04-20T21:50:00.002+01:002014-04-20T21:50:37.556+01:00Happy Easter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It may be raining in London today, but there were sunshine and flowers in Buckinghamshire yesterday. Wishing all my readers a joyous Easter and God's blessings at this wonderful time of year.</div>
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PS There will be an Easter dress post to come, I promise... It's rather a special one this year, even if I do say so myself.</div>
Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-8271352343890946712014-04-13T22:16:00.000+01:002014-04-14T19:10:05.362+01:00The Flower Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've taken an unexpected and rather prolonged blogging break! Things got rather busy all of a sudden - some of it planned but most of it unexpected. I thought I ought to pop by with a post, albeit a small one, just to keep things ticking over here...<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, I finished reading a biography of Edward Burne-Jones called <i>The Last Pre-Raphaelite</i> by Fiona McCarthy. As you may know from <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/love-letter-to-artist-2.html">one of my posts</a> a while ago, Burne-Jones is one of my favourite artists and so I thought it was worth sitting down and finding up a bit more about him.<br />
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The book mentioned this series of small paintings he did for <i>The Flower Book</i>, begun in 1882. He did the watercolours for his own enjoyment, rather than as a commission, using the common names of flowers as the inspiration for each scene. This concept definitely spoke to my imagination and, thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to find <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Flower_Book_by_Edward_Burne-Jones">all the images</a> when I got home from reading in the park.<br />
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So I thought I would share just a few of them here in a post. It seemed appropriate with spring having arrived, with flowers and trees all coming back to life, and with Easter just around the corner. As well, it's a harbinger of next weekend, when I'm off to see Burne-Jones' <i>Briar Rose</i> series at Buscot Park in Oxfordshire with a couple of my best friends. I've wanted to see those paintings for quite some time so I'm very excited! Expect to read about it all soon...<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-2877532313841769632014-03-24T21:33:00.000+00:002014-03-24T22:29:40.299+00:00Gentleman Provider-of-Ruins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My third monthly trip out of London for 2014 took place three long weeks ago, on the very first weekend of March, but I'm just getting around to writing about it now. I spent the weekend with a friend in Cambridge - the first day was spent in Cambridge itself and the immediate surrounds, while the second day entailed a trip out to Wimpole Hall.<br />
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This is the same friend who accompanied me to <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/love-letter-from-sutton-hoo.html">Sutton Hoo</a> and we both took out National Trust membership there so we figured we'd make the most of it with another property. This one, however, entailed a short train trip from Cambridge and then a cycle ride. Fortunately Cambridgeshire is a flat county as we'd also done a lot of cycling the day before and I'm only an occasional weekend cyclist...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were delighted to find our bikes matched the train</td></tr>
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Upon arriving at Wimpole we got our energy back up with a cup of tea and a scone and then went exploring. We started out at the house but were both slightly underwhelmed by that experience. Yes, the grand country pile just wasn't right for us, darling.<br />
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But, in all seriousness, the period and style isn't the favourite of either of us and we found the experience a bit stuffy compared with our recent Sutton Hoo adventure. There were some wonderful spaces but it was a classic National Trust house with roped off rooms and a sense of moving rigidly through the set route. In fairness, this is somewhat fitting for a house of its type, as the eighteenth century saw the rise of country house tourism, where one would travel around to different manors, being met at each with a grand house designed with a definite sequence of rooms, through which one would move, admiring the collection of art and objects. And there was undoubtedly some fine architecture, art and objects at Wimpole:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ceiling and lantern in the Soane room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a peculiar fondness for pineapples appearing in historic house settings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning clock in the Soane room</td></tr>
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Okay, it all looks wonderfully charming when I select out a few key photographs, and it was undeniably splendid in parts, but it just somewhat lacked atmosphere. (There was even a lady playing piano, like at Sutton Hoo, but it had a completely different vibe.) So, if that style of operating doesn't really do it for you then you want to at least learn something about the people who lived there, where their wealth came from, the trajectory of their fortune, and all that jazz. That's what gives these places a unique quality when they all have a similar look. Unfortunately, there wasn't much written interpretation, and sometimes you don't necessarily feel like having to ask the volunteers (as lovely as they are). So, I learnt a bit about the last inhabitants of the house but not much more about the generations before that, which was a shame.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who is this lady? I'll never know...</td></tr>
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Once out of the house, we went for a wander around the immediate grounds and the walled gardens. I do so love a walled garden, even when it isn't in bloom. It appeals to my longing to have a secret garden of my own one day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The walled kitchen garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parterre</td></tr>
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We then broke out from the genteel surrounds of the house and out into the wider estate to march our way up through the mud and the wintery landscape on a particular mission...<br />
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... The Gothick folly! For those who don't know, a folly is basically an architectural feature put in the landscape to look fabulous, but with no actual use. The quintessential folly is the ruinous folly - not actually the traces of a medieval building, as the wealthy estate owner would have us believe, but a structure deliberately built as a ready-made ruin. Unfortunately this fake ruin must now be in actual fact a true ruin, as it was fenced off with 'danger: do not enter' signs.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvmV5Vei1SqByNQKgQsYd5O78iffrqLAK-A40FylajLwZakrvXgWSkmPAzHrzJgHIRVPVZo_0anzIvJz4RPvTX8TKu8ehO4LPJNTWKe8kXzh77fu1dCS4stAHZrq3CQcV3NqejVjXoPR_/s1600/wimpole+folly+-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvmV5Vei1SqByNQKgQsYd5O78iffrqLAK-A40FylajLwZakrvXgWSkmPAzHrzJgHIRVPVZo_0anzIvJz4RPvTX8TKu8ehO4LPJNTWKe8kXzh77fu1dCS4stAHZrq3CQcV3NqejVjXoPR_/s1600/wimpole+folly+-2.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the things that I actually did learn when I was in the manor house was that the folly was built by Sanderson Miller, who was a 'gentleman architect' (that is, he wasn't formally trained as an architect, didn't need to work for money but he just kind of fancied giving it a go). It took something ridiculous like 25 years to complete due to stops and starts. By the time it was complete, fashions had moved on - not from follies entirely but from landmark follies such as this. Instead of being set up as a prominent feature in the landscape, the trend had changed to secret follies that one would stumble upon in one's exploration of the extensive estate. Oh well, it's still good, despite being unfashionable.<br />
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Upon later looking up Wimpole Hall in the relevant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buildings_of_England">Pevsner guide</a> (otherwise known as the architectural historian's bible), I came across the description of Sanderson Miller as 'the celebrated gentleman provider-of-ruins'. Don't you just love that? I can totally see him as this charming dandy who not only designs follies for the gentry but also ruins the virtue of the young daughters of his clients when he comes to visit... And just let me clarify that is <u>my</u> concept for a bodice-ripper and if I come across anyone using my idea, I <u>will</u> sue.<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-89962223759280387132014-03-17T23:19:00.002+00:002014-03-23T14:16:03.040+00:00Of Night and Light and the Half Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The natural well at Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal</td></tr>
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<i>Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths,</i></div>
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<i>Enwrought with golden and silver light,</i></div>
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<i>The blue and the dim and the dark cloths</i></div>
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<i>Of night and light and the half light,</i></div>
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<i>I would spread the cloths under your feet:</i></div>
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<i>But I, being poor, have only my dreams; </i></div>
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<i>I have spread my dreams under your feet;</i></div>
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<i>Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.</i></div>
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(W.B. Yeats)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgZeisKFStv8e1TVUuJAlw1P-7pPLCOkYfnsu_KfrIsx7rSArCakTQKv919sAoXYwjTK651KENX1-AR2DKbXpgX2LjRtuI6GUBBvE8TemJ6kDHt0JWo4nwjbwESloO1JlVu-6z4hDFet2/s1600/well.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgZeisKFStv8e1TVUuJAlw1P-7pPLCOkYfnsu_KfrIsx7rSArCakTQKv919sAoXYwjTK651KENX1-AR2DKbXpgX2LjRtuI6GUBBvE8TemJ6kDHt0JWo4nwjbwESloO1JlVu-6z4hDFet2/s1600/well.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tying a votive to the tree at the well</td></tr>
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My family is from Ireland a few generations back on my father's side and I carry an Irish surname. I love it when a couple of my friends call me Mac (it's fun to be one of the boys sometimes) but I never felt too much affinity with my Irish roots, even after a visit to Dublin many years ago. However, my trip to my actual ancestral home of County Donegal <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/come-away-o-human-child.html">last year</a> brought me more in tune with that heritage and the romance of the Irish countryside...</div>
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And then there's Yeats. I've always struggled with poetry, I must confess, but Yeats was one of the few poets that I actually got, that actually grabbed me, even back in high school English classes. </div>
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So, with a far greater sense of connection and with far less cynicism about it just being an excuse for a piss up, this year I wholeheartedly wish you a happy St Patrick's Day. And I'll leave you with a traditional Irish blessing:</div>
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<i>May the road rise up to meet you.</i></div>
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<i>May the wind be always at your back.</i></div>
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<i>May the sun shine warm upon your face,</i></div>
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<i>And rains fall soft upon your fields. </i></div>
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<i>And until we meet again,</i></div>
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<i>May God hold you in the palm of His hand.</i></div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-11907824957313010312014-03-11T22:40:00.000+00:002014-03-12T20:29:31.440+00:00Fashion & Gardens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAq0_6zyQjQMpY4tIJIr6yyvPRbX5AXp1e9MtZSvB3qUjrqCx6BLLBJCfqyTmSKjAtphzZ6uRBeSKKCz7PiXmYJY-MmQ8z-Xe58Zbnib-7HTgb3S4S3Ae6nbxwbjzifTgShC0Og1YJEyT/s1600/garden+history+museum+-+fashion+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAq0_6zyQjQMpY4tIJIr6yyvPRbX5AXp1e9MtZSvB3qUjrqCx6BLLBJCfqyTmSKjAtphzZ6uRBeSKKCz7PiXmYJY-MmQ8z-Xe58Zbnib-7HTgb3S4S3Ae6nbxwbjzifTgShC0Og1YJEyT/s1600/garden+history+museum+-+fashion+-+1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The other weekend, I went along to the Garden Museum to see the current exhibition, <i><a href="http://www.gardenmuseum.org.uk/page/fashion-and-gardens">Fashion & Gardens: Spring/Summer - Autumn/Winter.</a> </i>The exhibition traced the connections between garden styles and clothes fashion from the sixteenth century through to the modern day. As the blurb on the Garden Museum's website explains, 'Both gardens and dress aim to bring a sense of occasion to a season. Midsummer is more authentic if passed among organza and roses; russet velvet and gold-licked chrysanthemums concentrate our senses that autumn has arrived.' If you've followed either my posting of <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/summer-personified.html">monthly personifications</a> or my <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Kew%20Gardens">visits to Kew</a>, you won't be surprised to hear that this exhibition immediately grabbed my attention.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork by <a href="http://www.rebeccalouiselaw.com/">Rebecca Louise Law</a>... If only I had a space in which to hang hundreds<br />
of dried flowers...</td></tr>
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It was a very... shall we say 'compact' exhibition but it was fascinating and I feel that I came out having learnt a whole lot more than I knew when I went in. And the advantage of smaller exhibitions is that you ultimately take more time to appreciate each item.<br />
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So what did I learn? I learnt about the correlation between the patterns in Elizabethan knotwork gardens and the patterns on their clothing and upholstery, demonstrated in the exhibition with the display of exquisite embroidery. I also learnt that, while floral patterns on fabrics were popular throughout much of the eighteenth century, there was a transition from sparser patterns to busier, more clustered patterns. So if I see someone in a period drama set in the 1780s, wearing a lightly patterned floral dress, I can now titter knowingly about how deeply unfashionable they are.</div>
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One of the things that I found particularly interesting, as someone quite affected by colours, was learning how trends in colours changed both in the fashion world and in gardens. The introduction of chemical (rather than plant-derived, natural) dyes made all sorts of rich, vibrant colours possible in the nineteenth century. As methods improved, production increased and prices came down, these bright colours entered the middle-class and lower-class markets. At the same time, the numerous new public gardens established in cities to provide the general public with green spaces within dense urban areas in the mid-nineteenth century were frequently planted with bright, hardy flowers. As a result, there was a backlash, and the upper classes made a return to soft, subtle colours for their clothes, achieved with natural, high quality dyes, while their private gardens and preferred flowers followed suit.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'None of those obvious, bright colours for us, thank you very much. We're ladies.'<br />
<i>Miss Martin</i>e<i>au's Garden</i>, John Sant, 1873 (<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/sant-miss-martineaus-garden-n03671">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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Also interesting was the development of garden fashions and country style, in which, as the exhibition proudly pointed out, the Brits lead the world (partly because of our love of gardens, partly because of our rubbish weather and the waterproof nature of garden and country wear, from Burberry macs, through Barbour waxed jackets, to Hunter wellies). This 'dressed down' style, which was still posh enough to differentiate the gentlemen from the labouring gardeners, began in the eighteenth century as a result of trends for connecting with nature, albeit in a highly controlled manner. Think the 'natural' but in reality highly structured <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picturesque">Picturesque</a> gardens with, for instance, cattle forming part of the vista from your French windows, but nicely kept at bay with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha_ha">ha-ha</a> so that they didn't actually come up and nibble and defecate on your carefully maintained lawn... Along with all this a slightly more casual 'outdoor' clothing style was adopted by the upper classes, to allow them to get down and dirty with a spot of poking around in the garden.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1USMC9nphUtgeW8RjpZm39BGT12OhlWAVqCASQwOUJ5W4N8S7TW1_3FecqjU2Abgh9IinicNitdhylJM6h4HUCPFAc_CzdlgKyKL7EgLEmVYki0iuHVEnLv0V-mkOUR2cG6R5uAend2GN/s1600/kate+middleton+country+look.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1USMC9nphUtgeW8RjpZm39BGT12OhlWAVqCASQwOUJ5W4N8S7TW1_3FecqjU2Abgh9IinicNitdhylJM6h4HUCPFAc_CzdlgKyKL7EgLEmVYki0iuHVEnLv0V-mkOUR2cG6R5uAend2GN/s1600/kate+middleton+country+look.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate Middleton effortlessly bringing the 'country chic' look <br />
(<a href="http://debramurray.onsugar.com/Country-Chic-look-12186302">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh1oigIwAs3_dVN3CPHdhV9k2P2x_tpYUXvAxH6QAelyBz7gXT88fchIld7P8ae7WkkgxAPtuyrOh1Rho4CROKLUqKneF5Q0yUhBMOgc203w_TPdsxuJ55W3bLOKlMqt9T8v16B0sI7D2/s1600/burberry+vintage+ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLh1oigIwAs3_dVN3CPHdhV9k2P2x_tpYUXvAxH6QAelyBz7gXT88fchIld7P8ae7WkkgxAPtuyrOh1Rho4CROKLUqKneF5Q0yUhBMOgc203w_TPdsxuJ55W3bLOKlMqt9T8v16B0sI7D2/s1600/burberry+vintage+ad.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the French admit defeat by the Brits on the mac style front <br />
(<a href="http://www.adclassix.com/images/25burberry.jpg">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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Following the Fashion & Gardens exhibition, I had a wander around the rest of the museum. I've been here for talks and into the garden when the museum was closed for renovation a few years ago, but never properly explored the permanent collection. Again, it's small, but lovely. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPXlhah51Pql82FngwfnbO3TugWZEIZ_V0nAK1PTTa_aBbSDzY5ZIX-QGkJW-EqkvZ1jfgdFkv9gomXxmO0sx5gX3oaZHq3j0Zx1oSRQq2HFfDqGu2WJFT9CEL7zmX42xEotI_SJKLg3R/s1600/garden+history+museum+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPXlhah51Pql82FngwfnbO3TugWZEIZ_V0nAK1PTTa_aBbSDzY5ZIX-QGkJW-EqkvZ1jfgdFkv9gomXxmO0sx5gX3oaZHq3j0Zx1oSRQq2HFfDqGu2WJFT9CEL7zmX42xEotI_SJKLg3R/s1600/garden+history+museum+cat.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarecrow in cute cat form, c.1920s</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkz6xko_an5thtvEfCfJM71vaKr1EdYaDF2FGUDEe431i26V-VgzAZ6d1HzI9D3JmjLd5KalLlvG7H3T5VRBAGX0TYZoGIXEFHhRLPThNXRHmAseWlWF4PKs7bz-0TdgSkqmCQ0j-Z9T-x/s1600/garden+history-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkz6xko_an5thtvEfCfJM71vaKr1EdYaDF2FGUDEe431i26V-VgzAZ6d1HzI9D3JmjLd5KalLlvG7H3T5VRBAGX0TYZoGIXEFHhRLPThNXRHmAseWlWF4PKs7bz-0TdgSkqmCQ0j-Z9T-x/s1600/garden+history-1.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Seeds for sale'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoFEdrdVDXt4fxHtJK5oqGGbLY4YzRPIb-jqtLQwUP7wwIoBzttNVvSQP8B01mZvaTVRQUYfEKtyI7JtXBomkgNxrXDU4ibefw9nLt_ZrIFlsOzYqHxQZ6Q0d_uaSgmH4yrE2mjNGIIA6/s1600/garden+history-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoFEdrdVDXt4fxHtJK5oqGGbLY4YzRPIb-jqtLQwUP7wwIoBzttNVvSQP8B01mZvaTVRQUYfEKtyI7JtXBomkgNxrXDU4ibefw9nLt_ZrIFlsOzYqHxQZ6Q0d_uaSgmH4yrE2mjNGIIA6/s1600/garden+history-2.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carrots are only intermediate...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQVPcOXxiPAik_47sWDN6YJ2_Dej9MHARDclCywTWkRVOQHOrQ21wQUTSD9zVSfirYSfDZbZ6CvPYbU_T8hhlIKRl83i4i31LWyOKdc0SPbq844IJleXwhutLQ3IkcBZsNTyfAEMojSZP/s1600/garden+history-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQVPcOXxiPAik_47sWDN6YJ2_Dej9MHARDclCywTWkRVOQHOrQ21wQUTSD9zVSfirYSfDZbZ6CvPYbU_T8hhlIKRl83i4i31LWyOKdc0SPbq844IJleXwhutLQ3IkcBZsNTyfAEMojSZP/s1600/garden+history-3.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... but the rhubarb is GIANT!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PBuEcZwveRj7rdMVIRvrUt9txglT70NClAM_PPzh-7xLH9c6bnppA2RdIDoiHY9BHyTXXAm4xRD1ENtXOFlDFIgg2MV1wcaR0gilhcoLnbQk11xDb5PdnKq75lJC6bqZcPWJ7Ixb6IGt/s1600/garden+history-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PBuEcZwveRj7rdMVIRvrUt9txglT70NClAM_PPzh-7xLH9c6bnppA2RdIDoiHY9BHyTXXAm4xRD1ENtXOFlDFIgg2MV1wcaR0gilhcoLnbQk11xDb5PdnKq75lJC6bqZcPWJ7Ixb6IGt/s1600/garden+history-4.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But they both pale in comparison to this <u>prize</u> tomato</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwYXc-LsoKL-3Eyj8B-dpNO7VDrWPm73vVIRHn_xm2Q4YQQvgc7buNMAe0B7OecRifgBp_D_HeJ7-0Xy9TJFnLAkDVLSkTCXRWgHs8YIokVfdnJWd1fejFTYNdpvy9IXgtflkvpOrwFzn/s1600/garden+history-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwYXc-LsoKL-3Eyj8B-dpNO7VDrWPm73vVIRHn_xm2Q4YQQvgc7buNMAe0B7OecRifgBp_D_HeJ7-0Xy9TJFnLAkDVLSkTCXRWgHs8YIokVfdnJWd1fejFTYNdpvy9IXgtflkvpOrwFzn/s1600/garden+history-5.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The museum is located in a disused church, and on the way out of the building I noticed the memorial below in the entrance porch. Unfortunately, the bottom of it was covered up but I was suitably intrigued - 'killed by thunder and lightning'? At the tender age of 34? There's got to be more to that story, surely?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzkqhvOlcxHRGjGwEu_ABJebZWfg7fjQmbIEuxa91oFNc7laxkaKsWnQpioPoUESAg86cuy9Ncbo4Qdr3pXNparu-g9o6hL5ay4dMhKyPVBKRwPyN3BkjDw_mnQ1VTuOIwMaX3Oiohaeb/s1600/garden+history+-7+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzkqhvOlcxHRGjGwEu_ABJebZWfg7fjQmbIEuxa91oFNc7laxkaKsWnQpioPoUESAg86cuy9Ncbo4Qdr3pXNparu-g9o6hL5ay4dMhKyPVBKRwPyN3BkjDw_mnQ1VTuOIwMaX3Oiohaeb/s1600/garden+history+-7+.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the memory of William Bacon<br />
of the Salt Office, London, Gent.<br />
who was killed by thunder & lightning<br />
at his window July 12th 1787<br />
Aged 34 years</td></tr>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-44123038289133954122014-03-06T23:20:00.002+00:002014-03-06T23:20:57.799+00:00A Bookish Character<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I only realised late yesterday evening that today was World Book Day, which, in the school-going world, often involves dressing up as your favourite character from a book for the day. I was rather annoyed at myself for not clocking this earlier, as I would have dressed up as my favourite character for the office, if only I'd had a little more time to think and plot and plan. Fancy dressing for the office is frequently more of a challenge than for recreational fancy dress, as you have to strike a balance between respectability and fun (as experienced <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2012_05_01_archive.html">here</a> and <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2012_05_01_archive.html">here</a>). So I really needed more time to work something out. But as I started conjuring up ideas belatedly this evening, I realised just how endless the possibilities are... <div>
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<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/AVvXsEiq5pKekx-BKOgWrg2bBTs8GX-zJLkqNHSQYq7g9FSd-XA8nh7X13GoV7Zb2sTFu0jx9HPZqT8j_JpCJj0hbOdCwEwnx9Y_6gaWuvtutDIU6SIE0eLbfJ2n-oXzkKbL4xdh7ApPAtic5FYF/s1600/the-naughtiest-girl-in-the-school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5pKekx-BKOgWrg2bBTs8GX-zJLkqNHSQYq7g9FSd-XA8nh7X13GoV7Zb2sTFu0jx9HPZqT8j_JpCJj0hbOdCwEwnx9Y_6gaWuvtutDIU6SIE0eLbfJ2n-oXzkKbL4xdh7ApPAtic5FYF/s1600/the-naughtiest-girl-in-the-school.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book-details.php?id=313&title=The+Naughtiest+Girl+in+the+School#illustrations">Image source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKJaEAtQpK1lblUxKlgpTxDxcwibrKq67KJ3AdntxN1-p2luxTFUChVr_IaTyqns9M04vHgMXrLzMkHvZp7CGZIH7RP_Rx7Ps429OjIZYsbkAN1B6jiqfnanu2j37jnNTUTm6C8NS-JeB/s1600/What+Katy+Did.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuKJaEAtQpK1lblUxKlgpTxDxcwibrKq67KJ3AdntxN1-p2luxTFUChVr_IaTyqns9M04vHgMXrLzMkHvZp7CGZIH7RP_Rx7Ps429OjIZYsbkAN1B6jiqfnanu2j37jnNTUTm6C8NS-JeB/s1600/What+Katy+Did.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dovegreyreader.typepad.com/dovegreyreader_scribbles/2006/10/what_katy_did_b.html">Image source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8tXFXQAO0KKzvdw9cdrXP8xmBEmTPNlx19yI1Jt5xnK3SE9BvWZHvhyphenhyphenATOL3gaCa4I7A0CYu3LUmma3P3jRnPkvMTMQy74yvdJ2RbuSOfbhSDYpS44O3JnMWArDmswvcmhjzVQidcUqw/s1600/alice+in+wonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8tXFXQAO0KKzvdw9cdrXP8xmBEmTPNlx19yI1Jt5xnK3SE9BvWZHvhyphenhyphenATOL3gaCa4I7A0CYu3LUmma3P3jRnPkvMTMQy74yvdJ2RbuSOfbhSDYpS44O3JnMWArDmswvcmhjzVQidcUqw/s1600/alice+in+wonderland.jpg" height="400" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://flavorwire.com/146497/the-evolution-of-alice-in-wonderland-a-book-cover-odyssey/">Image source</a><br />(I urge you to follow that link - a fascinating <br />progression of covers for Alice over the years)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKtybryx21moTB-nKJ71Oy1ZzvafLgjysUAWsZSnl8Yp5ddv-51j_rxnwEExmSuUc6e3xNie_rVV8gegJs9nm6w_VB7sZ7_M3ifi-05MrhXVWM0wSJD1NfigSotY3lrMcMmm-42JSfL0A/s1600/LittleWomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKtybryx21moTB-nKJ71Oy1ZzvafLgjysUAWsZSnl8Yp5ddv-51j_rxnwEExmSuUc6e3xNie_rVV8gegJs9nm6w_VB7sZ7_M3ifi-05MrhXVWM0wSJD1NfigSotY3lrMcMmm-42JSfL0A/s1600/LittleWomen.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/28/top-100-childrens-novels-47-little-women-by-louisa-may-alcott/">Image source</a><br />(Again, follow that link!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HnfuvxQ-IVSuNOKELnn4u2V4wGD_ka6gKHmXSKmLRpWjtHTUv8tYOyV3MxHXSKwzws55LWOi6d4cvNLYMKXvGfJ3NI3hFJ4oQ5fRTnmyzVQsNIx0bQZJif6xG78YHQuggbb-p-rLQaTe/s1600/all+in+the+blue+unclouded+weather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HnfuvxQ-IVSuNOKELnn4u2V4wGD_ka6gKHmXSKmLRpWjtHTUv8tYOyV3MxHXSKwzws55LWOi6d4cvNLYMKXvGfJ3NI3hFJ4oQ5fRTnmyzVQsNIx0bQZJif6xG78YHQuggbb-p-rLQaTe/s1600/all+in+the+blue+unclouded+weather.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://piroskawolf.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/books-of-2010.html">Image source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TAn3kdkahZEe5SJqw6fr_zxPjwtcwdFnUMql7Tnj6rhrdej2aPWs0l1nFY1EgLH6QjIymPtHmMQFX-qzlqGmrArcQucJo0c9maP2kKFZxqjrJdNRQGS0K_4JbYZEOTBmRdD0DIu6kTxW/s1600/LionWitchWardrobe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TAn3kdkahZEe5SJqw6fr_zxPjwtcwdFnUMql7Tnj6rhrdej2aPWs0l1nFY1EgLH6QjIymPtHmMQFX-qzlqGmrArcQucJo0c9maP2kKFZxqjrJdNRQGS0K_4JbYZEOTBmRdD0DIu6kTxW/s1600/LionWitchWardrobe.jpg" height="400" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://piroskawolf.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/books-of-2010.html">Image source</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzGnmHgg_5uuZb50YxkAcdTUxPVNgWWdyzKiqywFHPKsiONVLw35JHMrEdocn5F-GUYVxbDB85M2eE6O3mYTIsxEb8q1jnySfl2RWUPyewsZ6ajeZQEM-zaenpFGMmT_5VjKdtFrH2Pga/s1600/baby-sitters-club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMzGnmHgg_5uuZb50YxkAcdTUxPVNgWWdyzKiqywFHPKsiONVLw35JHMrEdocn5F-GUYVxbDB85M2eE6O3mYTIsxEb8q1jnySfl2RWUPyewsZ6ajeZQEM-zaenpFGMmT_5VjKdtFrH2Pga/s1600/baby-sitters-club.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thejanedough.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/baby-sitters-club-1.jpg">Image source</a></td></tr>
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<br />Do you think I could go as a character from <i>The Wind in the Willows</i>? Obviously I wouldn't paint on whiskers or wear ears, so it would just be Edwardian country gentlemen's clothes really.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSlNTARssKk0XHtzQxCGLCwaNp_osi-bJIGGTdwIfccc5Yl3F3b-e2GxmPtYjM3lgpYpLfgMFlCPMqef5E4InVBzA9YLyl7mNR-YXLixT6WPySGW6KBnb5yHD8MW-L137QRzCTsamuhN_/s1600/wind+in+the+willows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSlNTARssKk0XHtzQxCGLCwaNp_osi-bJIGGTdwIfccc5Yl3F3b-e2GxmPtYjM3lgpYpLfgMFlCPMqef5E4InVBzA9YLyl7mNR-YXLixT6WPySGW6KBnb5yHD8MW-L137QRzCTsamuhN_/s1600/wind+in+the+willows.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thejanedough.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/baby-sitters-club-1.jpg">Image source</a></td></tr>
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Of course, it doesn't have to be only children's books that I draw from. But considering how many ideas I came up with just from that section of the library of the world's books, there doesn't seem to be the need to go elsewhere. And the concept is derived from an idea for children, after all. Hm, it would be somewhat ironic if I went as, say, <i>The Naughtiest Girl in the School</i>, wearing my take on a school uniform - exactly what the kids of the world are getting out of wearing on that very same day.<br /><br /><div>
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Anyway, I'll put in my diary for next year and plan ahead - not just a costume for myself but maybe a nice little event with my workmates and/or friends revolving around favourite books. Watch this space!</div>
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And happy reading!<br /><div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-356642160085271782014-03-01T09:30:00.000+00:002014-03-17T23:42:19.849+00:00The Forgotten Saint's Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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People tend to start thinking about St Patrick's Day around this time of year and planning their emerald green outfits, but what about the patron saint's day that comes today, two weeks before St Patrick's Day? Yes, happy St David's Day everyone! Or more rightly, in Welsh, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant hapus!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs7kf2DFvutvngRwCrB2XUjmUu-AVbuV6LvIM4S_GssbmKX5NGtQlP68SaleYb_aNT5KhEy36_u8DIWdG6szeJRcm7ZuylK9Oxq0rNMRtUu3eIcgYLE80u0NNYEnapAyFWgWKrWZOaxR5/s1600/welsh+castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs7kf2DFvutvngRwCrB2XUjmUu-AVbuV6LvIM4S_GssbmKX5NGtQlP68SaleYb_aNT5KhEy36_u8DIWdG6szeJRcm7ZuylK9Oxq0rNMRtUu3eIcgYLE80u0NNYEnapAyFWgWKrWZOaxR5/s1600/welsh+castle.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the valleys</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">I've had a soft spot for the Welsh and Wales for some time, all beginning with getting into some Welsh bands when I was a teenager. And what a better avenue in to exploring the Welsh culture than music, as the Welsh are famously known for being a musical people - with 'music in their blood and poetry in their souls'.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvnGiJvbVZLHA8xFPA6PvqAPFBPcX9D7am9gQs-ZYRbTykXharwKS9WQHXI6Zdm1XN_uNdQQoEhrTuHAshkQKeHgDfLAbjbUqNOhUPMNMGZD5-vj3nlLOiKhqzmGoEk11ZEtjbTvUkT54/s1600/welsh+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvnGiJvbVZLHA8xFPA6PvqAPFBPcX9D7am9gQs-ZYRbTykXharwKS9WQHXI6Zdm1XN_uNdQQoEhrTuHAshkQKeHgDfLAbjbUqNOhUPMNMGZD5-vj3nlLOiKhqzmGoEk11ZEtjbTvUkT54/s1600/welsh+beach.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the south coast</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">And what a beautiful country it is, to inspire that music and poetry. I remember the first time I ever went to Wales, travelling from the south, up out to Aberystwyth on the coast and then ultimately up to the north. When I got to Conwy, I remember standing on the castle walls that surround the town and looking out into the surrounding mountains and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">truly believing there were dragons out there in the wild.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-Prw07I6smuhicamnNQHHNbESmtB09S-rRstXHeapaI-XTTCHXRt9eFb6VTPwEC34Dha33H9tGsQoGOOz0K5haDd6vw67ZI1xou49wlSku-VysmsGwZ7binTz3qnMqZolU37sUPCYcjE/s1600/welsh+crosses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-Prw07I6smuhicamnNQHHNbESmtB09S-rRstXHeapaI-XTTCHXRt9eFb6VTPwEC34Dha33H9tGsQoGOOz0K5haDd6vw67ZI1xou49wlSku-VysmsGwZ7binTz3qnMqZolU37sUPCYcjE/s1600/welsh+crosses.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Llangollen</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">So I thought I should mark the day of the Welsh patron saint with a wee post, sharing some pictures of that mountainous, beautiful land from a winter-time family trip there a few years ago. So, go ahead, drink Guinness and enjoy the craic in a couple of weeks' time but do spare a thought for the Welsh and their saint today. I give you my blessing to go out and pick a wild daffodil and wear it in your hair as a mark of solidarity with the Welsh... Or how about cooking up some Welsh cakes? Mmmm... So tasty.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU1KR3S4AC1JH4pvDJI5hJpvaiySJHwbRlKZORnvVSpugQCPnQ9GuHghyphenhyphenERSLWRc8ndm_Nipe9b8TsKuF6Y70C2INo-oi5vd6zY-sPV2lwVRDot5BCjper9Z5n_LlJ_UeO96H4Glf0pAn/s1600/llangollen+vintage+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTU1KR3S4AC1JH4pvDJI5hJpvaiySJHwbRlKZORnvVSpugQCPnQ9GuHghyphenhyphenERSLWRc8ndm_Nipe9b8TsKuF6Y70C2INo-oi5vd6zY-sPV2lwVRDot5BCjper9Z5n_LlJ_UeO96H4Glf0pAn/s1600/llangollen+vintage+train.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Llangollen train station</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Gyda chariad (with love), </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">Miss Marie</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">x</span></span></div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-29779619882028248342014-02-26T22:31:00.000+00:002014-02-26T23:00:38.306+00:00Dear Tess...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7T2gJVrTZD7NzNFfR_jxVfBI3ow0QWJ3-vN2IWmVS6RUs6aOJboMEZPgql1CNKz3ln1je6MPHLrOHWtcNuOU-w0d1G6NWnOSM0m7lzP55OsPEQHTO4GgUpknJt5U56RKYjOCNRXEs0P3/s1600/tess-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7T2gJVrTZD7NzNFfR_jxVfBI3ow0QWJ3-vN2IWmVS6RUs6aOJboMEZPgql1CNKz3ln1je6MPHLrOHWtcNuOU-w0d1G6NWnOSM0m7lzP55OsPEQHTO4GgUpknJt5U56RKYjOCNRXEs0P3/s1600/tess-4.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration from <i>The Graphic</i> in 1891 (<a href="http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~ttha/Illustrations/Novels/TESS/tess.htm">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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So, I recently read <i>Tess of the D'Urbervilles</i> for the first time ever and I may or may not be a little bit obsessed with it now... If you've not read it, I would highly, highly recommend it. It is one of Thomas Hardy's most famous works and was originally published in serial form in <i>The Graphic</i> magazine in 1891. I don't know if I could have handled reading it in serial form, having to wait between each edition of the magazine, as I absolutely devoured it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2PCiJj1hktvp71UMiYI0v6U9awMcq-mQxHbyyQLu21g7DQAs20NDnHnh8cR7T1TYF7ZoLXzzHWbSyelbMro8xbJT4jTbV03eUB7PNoBMYjs45zG4I_qy1dgn4S70kNkN2LqprNX3hO82/s1600/tess-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2PCiJj1hktvp71UMiYI0v6U9awMcq-mQxHbyyQLu21g7DQAs20NDnHnh8cR7T1TYF7ZoLXzzHWbSyelbMro8xbJT4jTbV03eUB7PNoBMYjs45zG4I_qy1dgn4S70kNkN2LqprNX3hO82/s1600/tess-1.jpg" height="640" width="431" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1892 edition cover (<a href="http://www.calibanbooks.com/shop/caliban/B23525.html">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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It's a perfect Victorian melodramatic tragedy. And although poor, sweet Tess suffers blow after blow and is let down by various men, and in some ways is hopelessly meek, I also found it unexpectedly empowering as she ploughed on despite the odds against her. It's all just beautifully written and terribly, terribly Romantic too. Call me sentimental, but I also just loved the romance at the core of it all, even as things go horribly wrong and the young, foolish lovers really make awful decisions and screw things up for each other and for themselves. That's more like life, isn't it? The ending too, is strangely happy, despite the fact it's actually hopelessly depressing...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc_-tFrahustbLmx-I_eeL7HJ73CDZ_2UwXkU5bOiSO_QCKPkwQFcNq5T05v7YdLPyliDY5yS9Y4OqtX8I_RicuTbiyoNRlwSY-7TzE9vuNVLCCO2J6f88OIstz1Vse-dbYLPCOUsNjoi/s1600/tess-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc_-tFrahustbLmx-I_eeL7HJ73CDZ_2UwXkU5bOiSO_QCKPkwQFcNq5T05v7YdLPyliDY5yS9Y4OqtX8I_RicuTbiyoNRlwSY-7TzE9vuNVLCCO2J6f88OIstz1Vse-dbYLPCOUsNjoi/s1600/tess-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frontispiece from 1920s edition (<a href="http://ladyofsilences.blogspot.co.uk/2010_04_01_archive.html">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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If you've not read it, and you don't know the story of it, I hope this has suitably intrigued you. Even though, as I said, it's perfectly Victorian and the central story revolves around the principles of a culture which has thoroughly changed in many respects in the Western world, it still feels remarkably relevant and fresh. Well, let's face it, although women are no longer explicitly judged on their purity or otherwise, and double standards aren't quite so severe as they were a century ago, we can certainly still feel affinity with a girl being tossed around and torn apart by men and her own self-judgement. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24WlRwNBAlmQrGVflxLCNSeuwh7BE7LmCVjAlJHfY0aIAUlTlFUJGY87Ki_d_kU791_zAK6YAlUuZFbsMiOzfRlTybN8c7jPazFdveOybA_Crz2Da3CZUTm6dVUItUx2wHaLfWhOnhJPw/s1600/tess-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24WlRwNBAlmQrGVflxLCNSeuwh7BE7LmCVjAlJHfY0aIAUlTlFUJGY87Ki_d_kU791_zAK6YAlUuZFbsMiOzfRlTybN8c7jPazFdveOybA_Crz2Da3CZUTm6dVUItUx2wHaLfWhOnhJPw/s1600/tess-3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recent edition cover (<a href="http://www.chinesebookshop.com/english/tess-of-the-d-urbervilles-hardy-simplified-chinese-book.html">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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But, yes, ever so slightly obsessed. It's probably a bit much to read it again immediately, especially when I have so many other things on my reading list... although I have been sneaking back to certain bits and lingering over them again. A friend mentioned that he watched the 1970s version many years ago and I did try to look it up out of curiosity, to see how it was rendered. I wasn't able to find it online but I came across the BBC serialised version made in 2008 and, although I haven't watched the whole thing yet, I have browsed through. (Can you browse through a TV show? Well, you apparently can online.) It's quite good - very picturesque and Gemma Arterton is a fox. (I'm allowed to say that - Tess is supposed to be easy on the eyes...)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifG0pDyeaFoN0L2JFIblCfxcDNr_i1OaGH_0bqvF-6mOwtgMG_5Lt7oshW7yw_MYxDtigcecW0w3SrohhOmtMLAQDdOEiisFT_I4xwv9RafO1BqrbgA86fWTboiw1IFy4_eAI0J0ct1o2/s1600/tess-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifG0pDyeaFoN0L2JFIblCfxcDNr_i1OaGH_0bqvF-6mOwtgMG_5Lt7oshW7yw_MYxDtigcecW0w3SrohhOmtMLAQDdOEiisFT_I4xwv9RafO1BqrbgA86fWTboiw1IFy4_eAI0J0ct1o2/s1600/tess-5.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gemma Arterton in the 2008 BBC version (<a href="http://vermeerdear.tumblr.com/post/34335292792/quiteromanticindeed-tess-of-the-durbervilles">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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Still I can't get it out of my brain though, and so I've been conjuring up plans to go on a pilgrimage to Wessex. Hardy based his novels in a semi-fictional south-west of England, named after the ancient Saxon kingdom of Wessex and covering the counties around Dorset and Wiltshire and such. He made up names for the various places in his stories but they are apparently based around real towns and cities. So I'm now planning out a trip, to hopefully take place in Spring - I'm thinking about May Day, as the time of year the novel begins... Definitely on my list of locations is Bindon Abbey, apparently the inspiration for one of the most striking scenes of the novel... though apparently these days the ruins are in the grounds of a health spa, which won't be quite the same as the image in my head, conjured up by Hardy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bindon Abbey in Tess' time (<a href="http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2013/01/a-life-less-ordinary/">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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Have you read, or seen, <i>Tess of the D'Urbervilles</i>? What are your thoughts? Did you like Tess or find her insipid? Did it make you rage against men or just sigh at the world and human complexity and ill-judgement? And have you read any other Hardy? Is it worth me trying another or will it be another case of the time I was enthralled by <i>Oliver Twist</i>, assumed I would like all Dickens, but then wanted to bash my head against the desk as I forced my way through the trite and awful <i>David Copperfield</i>...? Do share!</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-81362913655926472202014-02-21T23:36:00.002+00:002014-02-21T23:47:14.595+00:00February? Is That You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last weekend I went on my latest adventure to Kew Gardens, as I continue to make the most of my membership. I've now had <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/foraging-for-mushrooms-in-summertime.html">August</a>, <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pumpkins-leaves-and-halloween.html">October</a> and <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/second-sunday.html">December</a> in Kew and January at its sister site of <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wakehurst-winter-love-letter-from-west.html">Wakehurst</a> in Sussex. Sunday's trip had an extra adventure in that I cycled all the way there - that's 13 miles, ladies and gentlemen! It was mostly along the river and was awfully pleasant, particularly once I got through the centre of London. Cycling along the Embankment and river path at Putney was especially lovely - people were strolling along, enjoying the sun and there was a fleet of sail boats out on the Thames. I would have stopped to take photos but it was already quite late in the day and I didn't want to delay my arrival at Kew any longer.<br />
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And when I got to Kew? Well, Spring has well and truly arrived. It really did not feel like mid-February, with the warm sunshine out in its full glory and all sorts of flowers already sprung to life. Last year, I struggled to find a few daffodils at the <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/happy-easter.html">very end of March</a>. This year, there's already snow drops and daffodils by the hundreds, not to mention crocuses.<br />
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So I enjoyed my wander around the gardens, spotting all the signs of life, not only in the bright flowers on the ground but also the hints of green budding from the trees. I ended up exploring a little corner of the garden which I've not been in before as well, which was a treat. Here are some of my snaps I took as I wandered about. You will notice a few bare branches here, giving away the true season, even if the blue, blue skies might have you thinking of a later one for a moment.<br />
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Unfortunately, I didn't get any snaps of my outfit in my usual tradition - a combination of having limited time as I arrived there quite late in the day, fading light, and a popular day in the gardens leaving me little opportunity away from people to set up the camera on timer to grab some shots... However, it was worth missing out on posing about in front of the camera in order to catch the orchids exhibition in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, and the fun displays encapsulating the exotic expeditions of Victorian plant-hunters.<br />
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I also admired some Amazonian fish in the Conservatory, adding to my list of means to entice The Cat to come to Kew with me on one of my future adventures. It can be hard, sometimes, convincing boys to frolic in gardens... It's just a good thing I'm happy floating about on my own!<br />
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Hope you all have a lovely weekend, and enjoy any early signs of Spring that you encounter.<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-37844794318743132832014-02-17T20:04:00.000+00:002014-02-17T20:04:50.916+00:00Love Letter from... Sutton Hoo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lonely landscape of Sutton Hoo</td></tr>
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As I mentioned back in January, my New Year's Resolution this year is to make a trip out of London once a month. My January excursion was to <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wakehurst-winter-love-letter-from-west.html">Sussex</a> and February took me to Suffolk. This excursion actually took place several weeks ago on the 1st of February, I was <u>that</u> excited for the next installment of my resolution...<br />
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I've never explored Suffolk before, despite it being so close to London and despite my boss telling me repeatedly of the charms of the county (... a slight prejudice based on the fact he was born there). Well, I made my boss doubly pleased when I announced this excursion because I was bound for Sutton Hoo. My boss is an archaeologists by training and Sutton Hoo is the site of what is probably England's most momentous archaeological find ever - an Anglo Saxon ship burial full of exquisite treasures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burial mound and Tranmer House, the manor house on the property</td></tr>
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I caught the train to Melton Station, meeting a friend who was coming from Cambridge. From Melton, it was a reasonably short walk to the property. When we got there, we first had a look around the exhibition, which told us all about the Anglo Saxons (well, as much as anyone knows...), the finds at Sutton Hoo and the excavation. The dig took place in the 1930s (right before the outbreak of war) so there were lots of excellent photographs of men in flat caps, smoking pipes as they dug about, unearthing priceless treasures...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat caps, smoking pipes and the remains of an Anglo Saxon boat, <br />as seen in 1939 (<a href="http://www.archaeology.co.uk/specials/the-timeline-of-britain/sutton-hoo.htm">Image source</a>)</td></tr>
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We dressed up in Anglo Saxon garb (apparently we're roughly the same size as 10-year-old children, but 6-year-olds were too much of a squeeze), admired some reproductions of the original treasures, and were shocked by some lewd riddles, before moving on for a turn about the estate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui2dj3xiBEI357wKww9-Y2HOUvEYGl1aUdVec7JmvRUTHHfSF3gNjMbLz0oNLDHSMylWAuUdRra0RyMwAMJ-T_0v6M2uB3rOUI3-nk_kusm9QrTfAQJG3pqmbs6hyphenhyphenBs6aqdGnQb_tHac9/s1600/sutton+hoo+clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhui2dj3xiBEI357wKww9-Y2HOUvEYGl1aUdVec7JmvRUTHHfSF3gNjMbLz0oNLDHSMylWAuUdRra0RyMwAMJ-T_0v6M2uB3rOUI3-nk_kusm9QrTfAQJG3pqmbs6hyphenhyphenBs6aqdGnQb_tHac9/s1600/sutton+hoo+clouds.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloud spotting... Smudges of white paint in the sky...</td></tr>
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We were delighted to stumble across a carpet of snow drops - the first floral signs of spring, surely brought out by the fine sunshine of the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB1pS7ak4yooKrPYLOiEq9c1fv40oY2H3u6YeCWDAA9Rwa1_Dju-DjzH3igXYbEkdY2lKv2k8VuIN-l-Vjw_OTthXFlAdEXxhsniWR2YijDWbxfUWoK-Ev5b4DD1VZLDQR6S3hRN5B2lk/s1600/sutton+hoo+snowdrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB1pS7ak4yooKrPYLOiEq9c1fv40oY2H3u6YeCWDAA9Rwa1_Dju-DjzH3igXYbEkdY2lKv2k8VuIN-l-Vjw_OTthXFlAdEXxhsniWR2YijDWbxfUWoK-Ev5b4DD1VZLDQR6S3hRN5B2lk/s1600/sutton+hoo+snowdrops.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow drops!</td></tr>
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I was amused by the farm animals, which were a slightly different offering to the usual cows and sheep. We got these wild looking ram things and some pigs off in the distance...<br /><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ9Zt7-8tj_gy5DOSWKgsz0xb6eoxFaFtWufcJ7cAEtyQd5rPx2mXmSi2euD78MtJNkbIRk0_-7U9TG1Jnes5TrMvH9f01zFcZasiavrNnye0RiCqSCZHvs_jD3SkTc_MX6urc32aTd02/s1600/sutton+hoo+rams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ9Zt7-8tj_gy5DOSWKgsz0xb6eoxFaFtWufcJ7cAEtyQd5rPx2mXmSi2euD78MtJNkbIRk0_-7U9TG1Jnes5TrMvH9f01zFcZasiavrNnye0RiCqSCZHvs_jD3SkTc_MX6urc32aTd02/s1600/sutton+hoo+rams.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wooly ram-type animals...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigs...</td></tr>
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After we'd had enough walking and being buffeted by the high winds, we made our way into Tranmer House. This was the early nineteenth-century residence of Edith Pretty, who lived on the estate and commissioned Basil Brown to undertake the archaeological investigations of the burial mounds in 1939.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwnelpu-xJo8-EOFDbh9si0iWAI9psvGpiV4qGa9gidZDBGC9zBSLdjeiLO-Lg2WVgOtwARkcKoYDIQUAxrad2PMYdyzqDDMtL_OL7wCpkCh_KIKcaqMNkze4Tv_fLtyHPAxGylfJvnBT/s1600/sutton+hoo+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwnelpu-xJo8-EOFDbh9si0iWAI9psvGpiV4qGa9gidZDBGC9zBSLdjeiLO-Lg2WVgOtwARkcKoYDIQUAxrad2PMYdyzqDDMtL_OL7wCpkCh_KIKcaqMNkze4Tv_fLtyHPAxGylfJvnBT/s1600/sutton+hoo+house.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tranmer House, across a chasm of sorts</td></tr>
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The drawing room was all set up for lounging about in, with a woman playing classic jazz age tunes on the piano, games set out on a table and 1920s-30s reading in the form of <i>Ideal Home</i> magazine and books such as <i>Don't for Dancers</i>. We watched the wild winds out the window for a while and then took a seat by the fireplace to leaf through some of the literature. Our only disappointment was that we had to leave and walk back to a modern cafe to partake of tea and cake (a requisite of any National Trust outing). We would have preferred to take tea in the drawing room... or better yet, port, brandy or sherry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sneaky snap taken by my friend... I'm sure Mrs Pretty never lounged about in such a casual manner...</td></tr>
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Once our day was done at Sutton Hoo, we wandered back along the River Deben to Woodbridge for a pint and a pub meal, enjoying a fine sunset along the way.<br />
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All in all, a successful February outing, particularly as it was coincidentally and perfectly timed for a beautiful sunny day. I can also highly recommend Sutton Hoo as one of those few National Trust properties that are dead easy to get to by public transport. I feel I may well return again. And shall I take a hip flask next time, so I can enjoy that drink in the drawing room?<br />
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-85139871323409688792014-02-14T22:22:00.000+00:002014-02-15T13:34:10.734+00:00Ten Things That Make My Heart Beat Faster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Last year, the lovely Jessica over at Chronically Vintage wrote a post entitled '<a href="http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/02/ten-things-that-make-my-heart-beat.html">Ten Things That Make My Heart Beat Faster</a>', which was in turn based on a 1956 interview with Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor in <i>Good Housekeeping</i> magazine.<br />
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In celebration of St Valentine's Day, I've done my own version, which I present to you below. It was tough, I can tell you, and I had to leave a lot out and stop before I got carried away. If I did it again in a week's or even a day's time, different things would probably come to my head first and it would be an almost entirely different list. But I can say that, tough as it was, it made me very happy in the process of thinking of all the things that lift my spirits, quicken my heart, make my breath catch in my throat and bring a smile to my lips.<br />
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In <a href="http://loveletterfromlondon.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/love-sweet-love.html">my usual St Valentine's Day fashion</a>, I've aimed to make it all inclusive, picking things that hopefully everyone, including those without an individual person to call their Valentine, can identify with and enjoy... unless they happen to be a dog person...<br />
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Happy Valentine's Day, one and all.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1189514062264938733.post-79714570533651564362014-02-08T21:22:00.000+00:002014-02-08T21:22:04.867+00:00Random Reasons to Love London #12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I had to trot up to the British Library to buy a present from the shop there (which, incidentally, has a really <a href="http://shop.bl.uk/mall/BritishLibrary/">great selection of books and gifts</a>, if you're ever looking for something for a discerning book lover). Deciding to get a coffee after having accomplished my mission, I stopped into St Pancras Station, which is, in my opinion, one of London's great public spaces. There's something lovely and exciting about railway travel, and this just imbues the place...<br />
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Seeing people tinkering on the two pianos there also always makes me smile, especially when you get a total juxtaposition between the players on each one. Today, there was a professional busker on one piano, accompanied by a woman on a French horn... and they seemed largely unperturbed when a slightly strange bearded man came along and leaned on the piano, intermittently tinkling a few keys at his end. At the other piano there was a small child having a go, later replaced by the couple above. I've seen all sorts playing there and I love the variety of people it attracts.<br />
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When I eventually emerged from the station, I was faced with a passing shower, resulting in a rainbow over King's Cross Station (which, between you and me, I prefer to St Pancras, architecturally, but that's a subject for another post).<br />
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It was a crazy day for weather generally, with gusty winds and frequent changes from sun and blue skies to rain and dark clouds. It somewhat messed with my original plans for the day, which entailed a bicycle, but it didn't work out at all badly, ultimately.</div>
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Miss Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952933650748631441noreply@blogger.com13