What’s top of my mind:Getting back into the groove of retirement.
2021 was the year that I didn’t work a single day. I loved it. Then, as you know, I was drawn back into the teaching world, where the concerns of the school and the students are paramount and you spend lots of energy each day.
I quit work and then immediately went on a very busy 5-week holiday. Since I’ve been back, I’ve found that I need to take naps nearly every day, just as I did in 2021 when I first retired.
Now I know that the naps will decrease as my body learns to relax properly again. I’m re-learning how to take it easy and to realise that I don’t have to fit all my tasks into the one day.
I have TIME. It’s pretty cool.
Where I’m going: The Melbourne Botanical Gardens.
Tomorrow I head off on a minibus tour of the gardens. I’ve lived in Melbourne all my life and I’ve barely set foot in them. Time to see where things are!
This is the third excursion from the voucher I was given 3 Christmases ago. I probably shouldn’t take a nap during this one.
Last week I said that I was reading the Scrublands trilogy by Chris Hammer, and yes. Loved them.
The Tilt is even better. It’s the second book featuring two detectives but I only found that out after I finished this one, so it’s definitely a good stand-alone read. It’s set in a small country town surrounded by forest – which has beautiful descriptions, by the way – and the novel is split into three timelines. Hammer handles this deftly, with the clues and connections all falling into place as the novel progresses.
I was intending to have a very productive day yesterday, but I couldn’t put this book down. If you’re looking for a good book to give as a gift this Christmas, I highly recommend this one.
And Then I Woke Up by Malcolm Devlin. This was one of the smaller novels I borrowed to get up to speed again with my Goodreads Challenge. I found it interesting – it’s like a zombie tale but it explores differing views of reality. I found myself thinking of the Cookers and Trumpers…
This is also Australian. 🙂
What I’m watching: The Crown.
Love this show.
What I’m listening to: Trevor Noah.
This is a bit of a cheat because I haven’t listened to any episodes yet, but this morning I found out that Trevor Noah has started a podcast on Spotify, where he interviews interesting people from all walks of life, with differing views.
It sounds like he’s trying to stop the situation that ‘And Then I Woke Up‘ is exploring.
Just the usual, though I did lash out and buy a roast pumpkin and falafel wrap for lunch on my Little Adventure.
I don’t mind a falafel.
What I’m planning:a birthday present for my girl.
I have a great idea for them, but it’ll work even better if people club in with me. I’ll be putting a message out for the boys to contact me. Hopefully they haven’t already bought their present. The birthday is 4 days after Christmas.
I love this time of year, with people plotting and planning for gifts to give.
Who needs a thumbs-up:the Little Woofs.
Just so constant and… well… just there. I’m never alone and I love it. They’re my constant companions. I took this shot on a late afternoon as I was on the couch on the front verandah, reading a book with a glass of wine.
What has made me smile:my parsley seedlings.
We use a lot of parsley in summer. The plants we grow here are from seeds that I was given on a community garden walk years ago, when I still lived at the old house. Her grandmother had brought the seeds from Italy in the 1930’s and the family had been sowing the seeds from the seedlings ever since.
I love the continuity of this. I collect seed from these plants every year to keep the tradition going.
First up, apologies for being a day late again. I just wasn’t in the zone for writing a blog post yesterday. I was too busy buying Christmas presents and booking another holiday…
What’s top of my mind:How nice it is not to have to go to work.
I don’t know about other jobs, but in teaching, every day is divided up into 48-minute chunks. So I can look at the clock on any given workday and see that it’s 10:27 (5 minutes to wrap up the lesson before recess) or 11:30 (ugh. Still 28 minutes to go before period 3 ends…) or, like now – It’s 11:59. (It’s in the early minutes of period 4. W while to go before the lunch bell.)
Instead, I’m at home. I’ve just paused in reading a book to finish off this post and then throw some food in the slow cooker for dinner tonight, to make the most of the solar power. Might even make some bread rolls.
Then I’ll finish my book, start another one, then plant some seedlings and ,maybe squeeze in a nap. It’s all pretty sweet.
Where I’m going: Kangaroo Island.
Many years ago I bought into a time-share, thinking that it would force me to take holidays with the boys. It did for a while, but then as they grew older and I grew busier, I wasted a lot of money by letting my points lapse most years. Now that I have more time to spare, I’m determined not ue the Club to its capacity.
The timeshare I’m with is Accor Vacation Club, where they use a points system instead of the usual “lock into the same week at the same property” model, so it has much more flexibility.
Earlier this year David20 and his brand-new bride spent a week in New Zealand at one of the properties, and I spent a happy weekend away with all of the girls in the family in Ballarat at another place. When I bought the timeshare, I had the 4 small boys to consider so my points bought a week in a 2BR apartment. Now, of course, I get more holidays for my points, as now I only need a 1BR or studio apartment.
Happy days.
The club now has access to a room on Kangaroo Island. I’ve booked 4 nights there in late January. A couple of years ago I stayed on the peninsula nearest to KI and even looked out across the water, watching the ferry go across. In two months time I’ll be going across and seeing it all for myself.
Kangaroo Island is famous for its wildlife and its cheeses, honey and other gourmet titbits. I’ll be taking my car with me so I’ll tootle around and have a look at all the things. Before that, I’ll be staying with Jenna’s parents in Adelaide for a couple of days. It’ll be a lovely way to bring in the new year.
(And it uses up most of the points that are expiring on June 30.)
Where I’ve been: my sister’s place.
Kate and Francis have bought a new puppy. He’s a groodle (Golden Retriever X Standard Poodle) which means he’s going to be a big boy. He’s the size of a large Cavalier at the moment and he’s only 12 weeks old.
Kate is already besotted.
This is young Huxley.
What I’m reading:
Argh! Spending 5 weeks not reading much while travelling and writing lengthy blog posts in the UK and Ireland has put my Goodreads challenge for 2023 in jeopardy. I wanted to read 110 books this year and I’m currently on 90.
Goodreads sent me an email with a list of short books so that I could catch up, so I selected some that I thought sounded interesting and now all 11 of them are waiting at the library for me to pick up.
Yes. Eleven.
Trouble is, I’m reading a set of 3 books that are quite long, but gee I’m enjoying them. I figure that the books on hold will have to wait till Saturday. So what are these books?
The first is called Scrublands, by Chris Hammer. If you liked ‘The Dry’, you’ll like this one. The interesting thing for me is that Chris Hammer was originally an investigative journalist, and so is the protagonist in this series. He knows what he’s writing about, in other words.
I’m halfway through the next one and I have the third one on the nightstand, ready to go. The next couple of weeks are clearly going to be Reading Weeks. I haven’t failed a Goodreads Challenge yet. And I don’t intend to start now.
I’m also reading ‘Shakespeare’s Wife’ by Germaine Greer. I downloaded it as a free pdf years ago on my old laptop and I started reading it in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep. It’s an excellent book for this purpose… I start to surface at around 3 or 4 o’clock, realise that if I grab my computer I have to read that book and it’s boring. So I roll over and go back to sleep again.
‘The Children’s Bach’ by Helen Garner. I know that Helen Garner is a national treasure. So is Time Winton and I can’t stand his writing either. I’ve tried and tried to enjoy Garner’s work, but I’m officially giving up. I dislike the people she writes about and life’s too short.
So there!
What I’m watching: Sex Education season 3.
I’m still catching up on the tv I’ve missed. I’m really enjoying this show. I’ve got 2 episodes to go.
What I’m listening to: Spotify on my NEW TV!!!!!
My new soundbar comes with a subwoofer. omg.
Mum’s Boppin’ Bangers has never sounded better.
What I’m eating:Rye bread.
My sister Kate and I went to Costco on Monday to look at dog food for Hux. While we were there she went mad. I’ve never been to Costco with a shopper before. I’m a “hunt it, bag it, bring it home” kind of shopper. She’s a “let’s look at every aisle” one.
Our bill was over a thousand dollars. My share was $387, which is normal when I buy the big bags of grain-free dry dog food. I also bought a loaf of rye bread, which I haven’t had for AGES. She bought a couple of packets of raw meat patties for the puppy. The rest was other stuff.
Costco doesn’t have those enormous trollies for nothing!
What I’m planning: how I can be productive and still read twenty books in 6 weeks.
Those shorter novels may be the saving of me. They’re about the length of Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm‘, just to give you an idea.
I’ve already bought nearly all my Christmas presents… just have to decide what to get David30! They’ll all be wrapped by the end of today. I love wrapping Christmas presents. I’ll finish ‘Silver’ and start the third book today.
I won’t let this challenge beat me!
Who needs a thumbs-up: my sister.
Turns out I haven’t had 4 sons… I’ve had 3 sons and a daughter. My sister was fantastic when she was told, especially when she saw them and congratulated them on the news.
She’s a good egg.
What has made me smile: the way my lounge room looks now.
What with the rug, the new tv and soundbar… it’s all coming together. We have an old footstool that used to belong to my grandfather that Scout now uses to get up onto the couch. It’s red, so soon I’ll be taking it to the upholsterer to be transformed into an appropriate colour.
Today I picked up the carpet offcut/rug that I ordered a couple of weeks ago. (This section is a copy-and-paste from the frogblog, so if you’ve already read it, jump to the next answer.)
My sister Kate suggested this, as it’s much cheaper than buying a huge rug to cover the space.
Funny story: I measured the space that I wanted the rug to define (my lounge room) and it came to 3m X 3m. I saw a suitable piece and ordered that size. For some reason, the next morning I decided to measure it again and I realised that it was too small. ARGH! I needed a piece of 3m X 3.2m.
I rang the carpet place in a mad panic. Nope, they’d already cut it. Oh well. It meant that instead of the 3 seater couch having all its legs on the rug, only the front two would.
I went to bed and had a nap. Twenty minutes in, I sat bolt upright. Why don’t I get another piece sewn back on the end? Most of the seam is going to be under the couch anyway!
I rang the carpet place. Yes it could be done. And you honestly wouldn’t notice it’s even there if I didn’t hunt for it and show you.
And the price? Just over $500. A ‘proper’ rug of comparable size is at least 3 times that.
So I’m happy.
Where I’m going:Noble Park
See below…
Where I’ve been:JB Hi Fi
You might have noticed that the couches are facing a bare wall. This is because I’m going to have a 65″ new TV mounted there, with a sound bar mounted underneath. David30 and Ryan28 are going to do the work, which will save me $300 or more.
The room is going to look amazing, especially when I add a bigger coffee table and a lamp or two. (I heard what Neale Whitaker said on The Block – “every living area needs lamps!!!”)
This is a cracker! It’s written by the guy who wrote “Everyone in my family has killed someone” that I read last year sometime. I just love how this author writes. There are some literal Laugh Out Loud lines and the way the narrator tells the tale is utterly different to any crime narrator I’ve ever read. Definitely a big THUMBS UP from me.
Roald Dahl’s Ghost Stories – Honestly, don’t bother. This s a collection of stories he complied as being the best of the best. All I can say is – they must’ve scared a lot easier back in his time than we do now.
This has been released as a novella and it’s beautiful. I read it in one sitting and days later, I’m still thinking about what went on.
What I’m watching: Outlander season 7.
I’ll be finishing this tonight – I have 3 episodes to go. How I love these novels and the tv show!
They have stayed really true to what happens in the novels, which pleases me greatly.
What I’m listening to: a fly’s buzzing.
I have no idea how it got in, but now it’s trying to find a way out. It’s driving me crazy…
What I’m eating: boiled eggs and an avo.
Can’t wait until my avocado trees start producing fruit.
What I’m planning: a drive to Noble Park tonight.
I want to get Ryan28 some jewellery for their birthday, and I think I’ve seen something they’ll like on Marketplace.
Reminds me that I actually went onto Marketplace to put my crazy-legged bureau and little coffee table up for sale. I got distracted.
Anyway, I’m hoping to be home before they are. Shhhh!
Who needs a thumbs up: whoever sewed the extra bit on my carpet.
Whoever they were, they’ve done a sensational job. I’m impressed.
What has made me smile: the way my house is suddenly coming together.
The impetus for all the work being done was the big party last week, but the momentum is still going.
As I get each new thing completed, it makes me so happy that I’ll be spending my retirement days at home in a place that I know is really pleasant to be. So even though I’m spending a lot of money right now, I think that it’ll pay emotional dividends in years to come, as I can relax and enjoy my beautiful surroundings.
Which reminds me… as soon as I press publish, I’d better go and water all of those veggie seedlings.
What’s top of my mind:Feeling glad I threw the party.
On Sunday we had a belated party for 4 birthdays, which all happened when I was away on my England and Ireland trip. We had 19 adults and 4 kids, spanning 4 generations. The place was jumping, baby!
Ryan28 and I worked like navvies to get this place ready. You’ve already seen how he and David30 worked to get the Man Cave ready – we were also scrubbing the outdoor area, manoeuvring huge terracotta pots into place to make it look inviting and filling them with massive plants. We had a hard rubbish collection to get rid of a couple of outdoor couches that had seen better days, while then filling the spaces left on the front and back verandahs with plants, plants and more plants.
The morning before the party, a couple of extra people suddenly said they were coming, so Ryan28 and I went to Bunnings and bought another trestle table and 6 more chairs. Safe to say that we are now party-ready at the drop of a hat.
It turned out to be a lovely afternoon. Everyone sat out the back and simply enjoyed each other’s company. The dogs, initially a little frightened of the little children, soon discovered that having little people holding food at their eye level was GREAT. Jeff enjoyed it so much that we had to put him away for a while so little Austen could actually finish a sandwich.
I’m hosting Christmas this year so I feel that we’ve broken the back of the work we’ll need to do to prepare. And now we have enough seating to prepare for anyone who wishes to come.
Where I’m going:Alaska and Canada.
I was scarcely back from the last trip when I was booking the next one. Megs, a friend from work, is taking Long Service Leave next year and she asked if I wanted to travel somewhere with her. Seeing as I wanted to knock over my seventh continent sooner rather than later, I suggested Alaska and Canada.
We’re all set to go for 4 weeks in May/June next year. We’re taking a 2-week land trip around Vancouver, seeing Lake Louise, Banff etc, then we’re jumping on a plane and flying to Anchorage to take an expedition ship, similar in size to the one I went to Antarctica on, down the coast and back to Vancouver.
It should be good fun.
Where I’ve been:taking it easy.
Yes, the last two days after the party have been full of reading, binge-watching tv shows and having little naps.
It’s convenient when you don’t have a job to go to.
I know I’m late to the party with this one, but it came up on my library’s Borrowbox for reading and I remembered years ago that my sister said she really enjoyed it.
I started reading it when I was waiting at the hairdressers yesterday. It’s a little confronting when reading about the abuse that poor little boy suffered, but I can’t deny that it keeps you flicking to the next page!
What I’m watching:American Survivor.
The 45th season. I binge-watched 5 episodes yesterday.
Hey – I was still tired after the party, ok? Don’t judge me…
I’m catching up on podcasts and this is one that I’m a couple of weeks behind in. But WOW.
‘Shandee’s Story’ was a podcast that looked at a cold case murder back in 2013, which inadvertently uncovered a huge scandal at the DNA lab in Queensland, where for well over a decade they had been covering up a shockingly badly run laboratory that was missing DNA in thousands of samples.
This meant that since 2008 or so, serious criminal cases in Queensland, such as murders, rapes, sexual assaults and the like, have been going unsolved because the DNA lab had been missing DNA that would have been crucial to identifying the perpetrators.
The people running the lab KNEW THIS. But they thought it was more important to get results out quickly, rather than taking a bit more time and getting ACCURATE results to the police and courts. It beggars belief.
There’s been an enquiry and the lab is now working on a backlog of at least 30,000 samples that have to be re-tested, which will take years.
But it seems that there was still more corruption going on there. It’s uncomfortable listening. It’s awful to think that there are people who would put anything before the proper running of a DNA lab that is meant to find violent criminals and protect the community from them.
What I’m eating: Leftovers.
God I love a leftover! It’s the best thing about entertaining at home. There’s nothing better than sashaying up to the fridge for lunch and dinner and having gourmet food there, already prepared… for free.
What I’m planning:When to do my sky-dive.
I asked the kids for a sky-dive for my birthday and they didn’t disappoint.
Who needs a thumbs-up?ME.
Yesterday I received a job offer from the school for a 4-day-a-week teaching job for term 1 next year.
I turned it down without a moment’s hesitation.
I’m proud of myself. I drew a line in the sand last term before I left for my trip and I’m sticking to it.
What has made me smile:The cake.
I decided to make life easy on myself for this party, given all the renovation and garden work we were doing beforehand, so I went to Costco and bought a cake with our real-life names on it.
When everyone went home, there was still a huge amount of cake left, so I called out to the kids next door and asked if they wanted it. Ryan28 dropped it off (I was already in my pjs by then) and then 10 minutes later, as I was clearing away a few things from outside, little Delila climbed up on the fence and handed me this:
While I was away, I had a birthday, David 29 has turned into David30, Evan26 is now Evan27 and Mum had her 83rd. So, because I’m an idiot, I invited around 30 people over to mine to celebrate.
This of course means that the house and garden are in for some serious work.
I’ve had it painted and the shutters have been installed. The back verandah area looked AWFUL. So Ryan28 and I have been sweeping, cleaning, power-washing, and calling in a hard rubbish collection to get rid of things that we don’t need anymore.
I’ve spent a LOT of money on pots and plants to soften up the area and make it inviting. I’ve done the big things for this party – I’ll add some flowers with Christmassy colours for Christmas Day – plus the rest o the shutters will be installed by then.
David30 has come around for 3 nights after work to help Ryan28 finish off the big wall unit for the Man Cave. He also hung many pictures that have waited years for a home. Remember the propaganda posters I bought from North Korea? I went there in April 2018. Yes, 5 years ago. They now have a place on my wall.
Busy, busy, busy. Spendy, spendy, spendy too. But I figure that what I’m doing now will pay dividends for years to come. I want to be proud of the house I live in – especially as now I’m retired, I’ll be looking at it all day.
Where I’m going: probably back to Bunnings.
The photo was taken yesterday, when I was driving home from Daicos Nursery and hoping I wouldn’t have to reverse anywhere, because I couldn’t see out of my back mirror.
I have a carful of pots and potting mix at the moment that I bought at Bunnings today, but I’m sure to need something else before Sunday.
Where I’ve been: to see the kids’ shows at the Melbourrne Fringe Festival.
Evan27 got a Judge’s Pick award, which was a really nice thing to happen.
I’m so proud of these two. It’s been three years since their uni degrees – Evan27 in Acting and Jenna in Musical Theatre – and they’re still writing, creating and performing their work.
We saw both shows on the same night. Evan27’s show finished 30 minutes before Jenna’s started. It was a mad rush to get from one venue to the next. An ex-Theatre Studies student grabbed me in the bar after Evan27’s show ended and I would have LOVED to catch up, but I hugged him, said, “I’ve got to get to Jenna’s show!” and left. Yikes.
What I’m reading:Nothing… yet.
But I saw a lot of books in Ireland and in Target today that I want to read, so I’ve photographed them and have put them on hold at the library.
Won’t be long now!
What I’m watching: Still catching up on tv shows.
It’s going to take me weeks to get back on track. I enjoyed the first 3 episodes of Frasier, though.
What I’m listening to:Evan27’s podcast.
I’ve been driving a lot to nurseries and carpet places and Bunnings, so I’m finally up to this week’s episode. I’ve caught up on this and on The Block. I feel such a sense of accomplishment.
What I’m eating: Tuna Mornay.
An oldie but a goodie. David30 is coming over after work tonight to hopefully finish off the wall unit, so I thought I’d make him a comfort food that is PACKED with lactose. Izzy can’t eat anything like this, so he can sneak a meal in.
What I’m planning: the party and beyond.
I’ve ordered a carpet to be made into a rug for my lounge room. Kate was right – it’s SO much cheaper than buying a rug, plus I wanted a 3m X 3m rug which I was never going to find.
Unfortunately, it’ll be ready next week, which is after the party. It’s ok though – the Christmas day people will see it in all its glory.
(I just hope the dogs don’t throw up on it or something…)
I’ve been looking for ideas for my house and front verandah. This place is going to be amazing to live in. I can feel it in my waters.
Who needs a thumbs-up: The middle boys.
David30 and Ryan28 have worked their behinds off to help me this week. As I type this, Ryan28 is out power-washing the bricks in the backyard, while David30 is coming over for the third night in a row after work to get the Man Cave finished.
They’re good people. I’m glad I made them.
What has made me smile: seeing plans come to fruition.
See those propaganda posters? I knew they’d look good together.
Once all the tools have gone, you’ll see Molly Malone from Ireland with her bright red coat standing there on the shelf. As of yesterday there’s a plant by the door. It all looks fantastic.
This room will one day be full of art from my travels.
I can’t believe I forgot about Wednesday W’s yesterday. I’ve suddenly become really busy with a lot of projects on my hands, so I suppose it’s not surprising. I really want to share with you what I’ve been doing and planning.
Have a look at this photo. I was devastated when ‘Death of a Salesman’ with Anthony LaPaglia was coming to Melbourne, because I was going to be away on my trip the whole time. If there was one actor who was born to play this role, it’s him.
I was at the theatre on Friday night with my friend Megs and she happened to mention that it was still playing, with only a couple of nights to go. Before the show started, I was sitting there on my phone, buying a ticket for the matinee the next day.
IT WAS FANTASTIC. I think Anthony LaPaglia is a terrific actor. (His brother Jonathon is the Australian host for ‘Survivor’ and is even better than Jeff Probst.) The ticket definitely wasn’t cheap but I’ll remember this show for years to come.
Funny story – my sister hasn’t read the play and thought it might have been a good, motivating show to take her sales team to!!!! When she told me I yelled out, “NO!”
Where I’ve been: The Teacher’s Pet – an interview with Hedley Thomas.
When I was in England at the beginning of the trip, Megs messaged me, said she was going to this and had an extra ticket. I messaged back, “I’m in!”
I’ve mentioned this podcast on the blog before, probably a year or two ago. Basically, a woman disappeared from her house on Sydney’s Northern beaches in the early 1980’s – her husband said she just walked out, leaving behind her two young daughters and every stitch of clothing she owned, including contact lenses and glasses. The police barely looked for her and her daughters grew up believing she’d deserted them. If not for this podcast her husband would have gotten away with murder.
He’s released a book, including things that weren’t in the podcast. Of course, you all know that I’ve requested it from my library! I’m 4th in line. It was interesting to hear what he had to say. Some audience members asked some excellent questions, too.
Where I’m going:Back to Flight Centre.
No sooner am I home from the last trip that I’m booking the next one. Megs has long service leave next year and we’re booking a 3-week trip to Canada and Alaska. This will tick off my last continent, which will be a fun thing to do, and we’re sure to see some spectacular scenery.
It seems that I’m booking expensive places to explore… maybe next year I’ll stay closer to home…
I’m also seeing Evan27’s Fringe Festival show and Jenna’s one. They’re on the same night but hers starts 30 minutes after his ends. We’ll be sprinting to get from one to the others!
I just finished this novel and I really enjoyed it. I’ve loved her work in the past – she’s the one who wrote Life After Life, which I’ve never forgotten – and now I’m going to track down the rest of her novels.
What I’m watching: Everything that has banked up while I’ve been away.
My sister-in-law and I text each other while watching The Block, so top priority was to get up to date with this. It helped that there’s a couple on here who are just AWFUL. I can’t imagine what their families must be feeling as they watch this show. But it’s excellent viewing!
I only watch TV in the evenings, so it’s going to take me ages to get up to date with everything.
What I’m listening to: Podcasts and Spotify.
The same banking-up effect has happened with my podcasts. I’m currently listening to my son’s podcast episodes as I drive around, but there are lots of others as well.
I’ve added some of the Irish tunes that the coach driver played for us to Mum’s Boppin’ Bangers on Spotify.
What I’m eating: Nothing special.
I’m hosting a big family get-together next weekend to celebrate 4 birthdays – 2 ending in zeros – so I’m starting to think about what to do for this one.
What I’m planning: LOTS!
Three days after I got back I had my plantation shutters installed. They looked so good that before the guy had left, I was on the phone booking an appointment for the company to come back and measure up the rest of the house. I didn’t know that you could get them for sliding doors.
So the whole house should be shuttered before Christmas. I’m hosting Christmas this year so I’m happy about that.
2. I’ve popped my artwork from the trip off to get framed and when they come back I’ll be hanging everything – including my North Korea propaganda posters that never had a permanent home. The Man Cave is taking shape and hopefully will be looking good before the party. If not – definitely before Christmas.
3. I’m giving my living area a major overhaul. Kate, my sister, suggested going to a carpet place and getting two large rugs made from carpet, one for the Man Cave and one for the lounge. With the shutters going in, although they look lovely, it does mean that the spaces need a bit of softening.
I’ll be getting rid of my current TV cabinet, moving my TV to the Man Cave and getting another TV mounted on the wall at eye level, with a couple of lamps for nicer lighting at night.
4. New handles on the cupboards in the kitchen… it’s all happening!
Who needs a thumbs-up: The nice man from Dawsons and Ryan28.
When I got home, Ryan28 greeted me with the delightful news that we had a rat problem. UGH!!!!!!!
They were eating the bark from my lime trees, they were digging holes under all the fences and had gotten in under the house. I was appalled.
Two days later the house was treated. Turns out they hadn’t made it to the roof, which was great. I also had two outdoor traps installed.
Ryan28 is even more grossed out than me. He actually SAW one in the backyard one day. He’s been doing a massive clear-out of the backyard, ripping out foliage that could offer them any shelter. He’s also lining the back fences with wire fencing to stop them coming in. Added bonus, it’ll stop the dogs from ever trying to dig their way out, not that that’s an issue.
The worst thing? I let all our neighbours know. The next morning I received this text from the woman next door with the loud dogs, hoarder’s house, overgrown garden and lots of little kids:
“Dave told me about the ???? We hadn’t seen any inside until today when I saw one come in through our front door! ????”
She said that she couldn’t believe how confident it looked. (I’m thinking that we may have just located where they’re coming from…)
What has made me smile:The dogs.
They were so happy to see me. And I was missing them too.
This is an old photo. Ryan28 clipped the cavaliers while I was gone and they’re not looking their best at the moment.
Hands down, this is a wonderful outfit to travel in. The dress is Sierra, a swing dress that can easily be used as a pinafore, meaning that it would never actually touch my skin, thus cutting down on washing.
The real beauty of this dress is that it’s made from merino wool, which means that it’s odour-resistant, easy to wash, crumple-free and absolutely comfortable to wear.
This makes it stellar for travel, especially if, like me, you choose to only take carry-on and so space is at a premium. Having just one outfit makes carry-on travelling a breeze.
Obviously I was very protective of Sierra, being extra-careful where messy foods were concerned. Before my travel I had to spot-clean a few times, but while I was travelling it was never an issue.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. How and why did I choose to wear just the one dress – not just for my 5-week holiday – but for a full 100 days?
For those who don’t know, I began a 100-Day Challenge run by Wool&, an American company that makes merino clothing. What interested me in buying one of their dresses – after I thought about it for 2 years – was that merino is an excellent fabric for travel.
I went to Antarctica last year and bought merino long-sleeved tees to travel in, wear on the ice and on the ship, and those tees were absolutely brilliant. Due to this, I decided that I was going to take the plunge and invest in a Wool& dress and do their 100-days challenge.
Because after all, why not? I love a challenge and a US$100 voucher is nothing to be sneezed at. Having two dresses would make a perfect travel capsule.
I also decided that the easiest way to succeed at this would be to schedule my end date to be the day I got home from my 5-week trip to England and Ireland. If I gave myself no alternative outfits to wear, I’d have no option but to succeed! I counted back the days and the 100 days began on July 1.
Before my trip, I treated the dress as I would anything else. I was protective of her – I wore an apron when cooking to eliminate any oil spots and I was careful with sauces and such. Spot cleaning is easy – I just used a bar of Velvet soap and handwashed the area.
Just before my trip I washed the dress by using the velvet soap, immersing in water and then rolling her into a towel and standing on it. I hung her up in a well-ventilated spot and the dress was dry by morning!
Incredible.
What was also incredible was that before I went on the trip I was teaching secondary students. Not one of them noticed that I was wearing the same dress every day.
While travelling, I was very protective of the dress.
“Not near THE DRESS!” I’d say if any ketchup or creamy sauces were handed around near me, and it became a running joke. I didn’t have to spot clean once and I only gave her one full wash towards the end of the trip, not because I thought she needed it but because I thought that it was a good thing to do.
(The merino tops were hung up every night and spot-washed in the armpits every 3 or 4 wears, usually when I had 2 nights in a room, just to make sure that they’d be dry when I needed to pack my case again.)
Merino is definitely the best fabric for travel.
Right at the end of my 100 days I noticed a couple of pills on the fabric where the strap on my travel bag was running against it. You can see the size of my travel bag in the photo above – it’s large and was quite heavy some days.
I don’t think this is a problem – I worked the dress hard and if there a tiny bit of pilling at the end of the challenge, then so be it.
The clothes I took on the trip were as follows :
1 x Wool& dress.
4 x merino tees.
3 x undies.
2 x bra.
2 x black tights.
1 x walking boots.
1 x runners.
1 x woolen cowl.
1 x woolen beanie.
1 x light raincoat.
1 x warm fleece jacket.
That’s all I wore for 5 weeks and, to be honest, I only needed the fleece jacket once when we went to the Cliffs of Moher. I’d think about leaving it home next time, depending on where I go next.
I really enjoyed just having carry-on luggage. It was so good to simply get off the plane and walk straight to the exits. Wheeling it around on the streets was also very easy.
At the end of my trip, when my carry-on case was stuffed to the gills, I had to walk up 3 sets of stairs to get to my room in an old hotel in England. I don’t think I would have been able to get up there if I’d had a traditional 30KG suitcase!
So all in all, I’m loving the Sierra as a travel dress. Having the one outfit that I could dress up or down as I pleased made the whole trip so easy.
Will I wear her in my ordinary life? Maybe. I’m actually liking the thought of folding her up and putting her in my carry-on case, ready for the next trip next year.
Here am I at Market Harborough station, waiting for my train to London.
The morning was spent trying to get my carry-on case to close. It took me ages to cram everything into the tins and around sculptures and artwork lying flat. For a few minutes it looked as if my beloved flannelette pyjamas were going to have to be sacrificed, but some creative packing saved them. (In fact, I’m wearing them right now as I type.)
After I checked out of the hotel, I wheeled myself over to Scott and Mark’s, where I spent the next few hours having lunch and getting my tarot read. I’m never getting my tarot read again because this reading foretells a future that’s so TERRIFIC. Scott kept turning over the cards and saying, “Oh my god, Frogdancer!” and I’d be like, “What? What?” and it would always turn out to be good.
Well, except for one card, but you can’t have a life without something going wrong at some stage, so that’s ok.
Ruby came and lay on the cards for a while, just to be involved. Fortunately, it was on the section that we weren’t reading yet, so by the time we got to it she’d moved away.
We walked to the station and Scott stayed until the train came, which was nice of him because he has his brother from NZ arriving tomorrow so he must have had a million things to do.
I’d booked a room, on Scott’s recommendation, at Heathrow terminal 2. It was a little exxy but so worth it when the alarm went off at 5:30Am and al I had to do was walk across the car park to get to the airport.
My flights went flawlessly and I was able to bring all my souvenirs home in my slightly heavier than allowed carry-on case and handbag.
So what did I bring home?
Keep in mind that I only had carry-on, so my space was limited. Weight was also a consideration. They don’t tend to weigh carry-on, but if I was unlucky and was asked to pop my bag on the scales, I would have been in trouble. For most of my trip, I reined myself in with regard to size and weight, but in the last few days I went. a little crazy.
I could have bought a bag and checked it in, but to be honest, I didn’t want to clutter up my wardrobe with another bag. Plus, I was already really enjoying the sensation of simply walking off the plane without having to wait for luggage.
My souvenirs from Kinsale in Ireland. I’m calling them Molly Malone and Sean. Molly had airport security in Dublin wanting to go through my bag with a fine-toothed comb. She was wrapped up in bubble wrap and a tea towel and they couldn’t make out on the x-ray what she was. I had to describe her before they’d let me through.
For the rest of the flights, I just had her in my handbag so I could unwrap her if they wanted. She was easily the heaviest thing I bought.
Note to self: steer away from pottery items in future. She made my handbag pretty heavy.
When I travel, I like to bring home art and also practical souvenirs. Here’s my soap holder from the Tiptree Jam museum. It’ll stop my soap from sitting in a pool of water and so it’ll last longer.
This is the huge framed print I bought at Windsor Castle. It’s now hanging at the end of my hallway. I had to pay duty on it before they’d let it into the country!!
This is the little Toby jug that Deana’s friend Kathleen gave me on the drive into Stansted airport before I flew over to Ireland. It fitted snugly into a tin and is now in my china cabinet.
My Belfast earrings. I wanted to buy a pair of earrings that were small enough to wear every day. I ended up buying 2 pairs. Oops.
A few days later I bought these. They have Connemara marble in them.
A sketch of Yates.
I bought this little card – and it’s tiny – at the town where they shot “The Quiet Man’ movie with John Wayne and Maureen O’Sullivan. It’s off getting framed.
I love it so much.
This little one comes from Wimpole House, along with a couple of garden ornaments. He was surprisingly light for his size and I just love the shape of him.
Postcards and magnets.
These are excellent souvenirs to buy when you’re worried about size and weight. The magnets fit into tins and the postcards are stored flat with your artwork.
Every day I can see souvenirs from my trips to Europe, Antarctica, Ireland and England.
An ironing board cover from Maldon. Hey – it provided handy wrapping for a breakable item in my case!
I saw this in Cork and had to buy it. This was the only tin that kept its contents because I was curious as to how shamrocks taste.
Spoiler alert: these teabags just taste of green tea.
These are two flat garden ornaments that I’ll be nailing up somewhere in the backyard. These came from Wimpole House, along with the rabbit. Really easy to transport. I just popped them in with the artwork.
A coffee mug. I loved this place!
I’ll be showing all of the Christmas tree decorations but this one deserves its own photo. It’s so intricate, so silver and so expensive. The buyer’s remorse is still struggling with this one…
Christmas tree decorations!
My Blarney Stone hat! The cowl I’m wearing around my neck travelled with me the last time I was in England and Europe in 2015.
I went home with this fully-framed and glassed print in my case. I was worried that the glass would break but it came through unscathed. It was nearly the straw that broke the camel’s back though — I only just managed to get my case zipped up after I put this into it!
Ken the climbing man. Not too sure where he’ll go, but it’ll be somewhere that hands won’t make him chip my newly-painted walls. Again, he wasn’t too heavy and his rope was folded up so he could fit in the case.
Tea towels! So handy for wrapping around breakables and stuffing into corners.
I bought the bright yellow one because 3 of the boys have names that are on this tea towel. Maybe Ireland is my spiritual home because I don’t have a drop of Irish blood in me, yet I named them Irish names.
Anyway, more useful souvenirs.
Speaking of useful souvenirs, look at these babies! These were great for fitting smaller souvenirs into and also for providing a flat base for me to lay all of my artwork down so it wouldn’t get creased. I didn’t think of that before I left, but it soon became evident that it was a smart way to go.
When I’d pretty much covered the bottom of my case with tins, I decided that I was finished. Until Scott pointed out the tin with the three Westies on it in the last few days of our trip. This tin travelled home in my handbag with my wallet, cough lollies and tissues in it.
I ate the shortbread for dinner on my last night in England.
My rescued Cavaliers. I’ve always had Blenheims and one tricolour. Maybe this is a sign that I should get two whole colours for my last pack?
My Antarctica souvenir that I found in Ireland! Being framed and will live in the Man Cave along with the other pictures.
I love this for two reasons. The first is because my friend James told me about fairy trees when we were driving around and the memory makes me happy. Secondly, the fairy tree that we saw when I was on the bus a week later looked almost exactly like this.
This print of Derry isn’t as pretty but look at this:
This is the view from the bridge. I found the walking tour around Derry deeply moving. It’s not something I want to forget. The stories of a city tearing itself apart over something as stupid as religion were searing.
Especially with what’s going on in Gaza and Israel.
And finally – the little sheep in the Irish colours that James gave me.
All I want to do now is to post something separately about the experience of wearing the same dress for the whole trip – and the two months before it. Yes, I wore the grey sack for 100 days.
I’ll send it, along with my selfies for the whole time period, to the company who made it. They run a 100-day challenge.
But now? Time to get showered, get dressed and get to Bunnings.
I want to buy a fuschia as another little souvenir from the trip. I saw them everywhere along the streets and gardens of my trip.
Thanks again to Scott, Deana, James and Corinna. What amazing friends you are to me and I love you all. There’s a spare bedroom here in Melbourne… just saying!
Here is the building that graces the middle of Market Harborough. It’s a grammar school built in 1640, with the open-air structure underneath used for markets and the occasional raging flood sweeping through the town in the olden days.
For this reason, the church that stands beside it doesn’t have its own churchyard. No one wants to be sitting listening to a sermon only to see Granny’s coffin bobbing around beside them. The church was given space in St Mary’s, which is wisely placed on higher ground.
In 1569 the town was briefly in the news as the Privy Council debated whether a local girl Agnes Bowker had given birth to a cat.
I thought that this quote underneath the grammar school was very appropriate for a single woman wearing a grey sack on her voyage across the world. No man was going to give me a second glance wearing this!
Scott wanted a sleep-in now that he was back in his own bed, so we’d agreed to meet at 11. I decided that rather than staying in and writing a blog post, I’d get out and about and have a look at the town.
Plus I could find that gift shop and have another look at the depressed cow vase I’d spotted in the window the night before.
I set off.
I saw this disgusting-looking overcoat in an op shop.
Finally, I got to the gift shop and although the depressed-looking cow vase was lovely, it was just too expensive. Also, I couldn’t see how to make it fit in my overburdened carry-on case.
But then I saw this…
I’m calling him Ken because he doesn’t have a penis. He’ll be a fun little addition to a wall somewhere, though it’ll have to be where people won’t try and move him. I don’t want my new paint being chipped!
On the way back I decided to get Scott a little snack for our trip today. (By the way, I patted those dogs.) I decided to harken back to my visit to Dublin with James and so I bought him a couple of little Bakewell tarts.
Then I dived into the church.
It was full of toddlers having a dance class or something. I looked around for a bit, then went back to the hotel, passing an op shop on the way. I found two whole-colour cavalier ornaments there for only ÂŁ1.50 each.
Cavaliers in an op shop for such a basement price? This is the best breed in the world!!! This is OUTRAGEOUS!
Not on my watch.
So I bought them. They could easily fit in one of my tins, I reasoned.
It was a really good idea to use tins as souvenirs when I had so little space. I gave away the biscuits/tea/fudge the tins contained and as I went, they filled up with souvenirs or clothes.
Now I have them as decorations and storage for my sewing room.
When I was in the gift shop where I bought Ken the climbing man, the owner asked me where I was going that day. When I said that I wasn’t sure, but I thought there was an almshouse involved at some stage, he gave me the hot tip to go to Kirby House, an Elizabethan manor house nearby. He also mentioned that the village of Rochester was pretty. It has a castle but it was closed for the season.
So when Scott picked me up, we headed off to Kirby Hall. We’d heard it described as a ruin, but on the strength of the gift shop man, we decided to give it a go.
I’m so glad we did. It was one of the most evocative places I’ve ever seen.
Kirby Hall was one of the great Elizabethan houses of England. It was built for Sir Humphrey Stafford beginning in 1570. In 1575 the property was purchased by Sir Christopher Hatton, Lord Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I.Â
For. acouple of hundred years it was maintained and renovated and kept beautiful. Henry VIII stayed there for a few days with his wife, Katharine Howard. It was either from here or from Lincoln Castke (which we saw on my last trip), that poor Katharine Howard wrote the love letter to Thomas Culpepper that was used in her trial against her.
They weren’t the only royals to stay here. Eighty years or so later, James I and his wife Anne of Denmark stayed here 9 times. Must’ve been good hunting here!
Unfortunately for Kirby Hall, the family built another mansion at Eastwell park in the late 1700’s and the family moved there, leaving this place as a holiday house.
THEN the 11th Earl of Winchilsea sold off the lead from most of the roof to pay his gambling debts. Can you believe it?!?
From then on the place fell steadily into ruin, with only the Great Hall and the rooms above it, which include the Royal rooms, being still as they were.
It’s such a shame, because the place would have been stunning. Still, the ruins now have a beauty all their own.
The details of how the building was put together were all there in front of us.
Little things like how the fireplaces are stacked one on top of the other, because they used the same chimney. With a floor in between them, you wouldn’t notice it.
Even back in 1786, some idiot was carving his name into the building.
With so much gone. there were still details remaining, like these elaborately carved friezes over the doors.
After exploring the ruins at the front of the house, we made our way to the intact rooms. Look at all of the little Tudor windows! They didn’t know how to make glass windows bigger then.
As I went in, I took a look back. Imagine how stately and beautiful this house would have been? Fit for royalty to come and visit. And don’t forget that James I was the king who threw the owner of Audey End into the Tower when he saw how amazing his house was. Just how much bigger and more expensive was Audley End when it was complete?
This is what is left of the great Hall. You can see the minstrels’ gallery above.
After the place began to fall into ruin, the local farmers moved in. They used to welcome parties of the getry who would pop in to have. apicnic and mourn at the state of the house. One shepherd’s child was actually named ‘Kirby’, so he was probably born here.
Here’s a model of what they think the grounds would have looked like in its heyday. They’ve restored the pretty waking garden at the side of the house. I’ll show you later.
Ignore the person vacuuming. Look at those windows! This would have been such a pleasant room to hang around in. It’s huge!
The room next door has windows just as impressive. This was designated as the library.
This is the view from the King’s Room. I leaned on the windowledge for quite. awhile, touching the exact same ledge as Henry VIII and James I. Looking out onto the type of view they would have looked at.
It’s just amazing that these places are still around. In Australia, it would have been knocked down and the stones. carted off to be reused elsewhere.
It’s nice to see how we would have looked had we been born back then.
Because naturally, we would have been nobility.
The Long Gallery was where major entertaining was done and where the lord of the manor and the King, if he was here, would greet people.
Even in its state of neglect, you can still almost feel what it must have been like.
Here is where the Long Gallery was. It has a window in front of it now, but there was a grid underneath the window that, when placed correctly, you can see what the hallway would have looked like.
Fortunately, I had Scott with me. He’s a details man. I held the grid in place and he took the photo…
After that we went outside and wandered around.
I liked the look of the decorations at the top of the building against the sky.
I felt that the gardens, while pretty when looked. atfrom the house, would have been pretty dull to walk around in. Still, if I were encumbered by all those skirts, a walk around these paths might be all I could manage, who knows?
We walked around to the back of the house.
See how bumpy the lawn is? Do you know why?
Mole hills!
I was excited. I’ve read about them, but never seen them. I can understand why people don’t like them – they were really making a mess of the lawn.
Then we walked around the side of the house to find the ruins of the kitchen area. These were so beautiful and interesting.
Look at the size of the fireplace down here! There would have been many a pig, cow or goat roasted on the spit here.
On the way to the Bede Almshouse we passed through the village of Rockingham. Scott was able to get a park for the car, so. Iran back down the street taking photos.
Look at how thick that thatch is!
Talk about a chocolate-box village!
Sometimes it’s just the details. I’d love to have a doorway like this.
Look at how one half of the house is thatch while the other isn’t.
My god. It’s so ENGLISH!
Imagine living in a fairy-tale cottage like these ones?
Amazing…
After I’d scampered up and down the street while Scott ate the Bakewell tarts I’d bought earlier, we headed off to visit a vastly different place – Bede Almshouse.
But first there was the church.
The medieval paintings on the walls were covered by whitewash at the time of the Reformation, but in 1937 some areas were cleaned and the surfaces treated to preserve them. The most interesting painting is that behind the pulpit, which consists of a king in ermine cloak and cap, holding an orb. He is thought to be Edward the Confessor, who bequeathed part of Rutland as an endowment to Westminster Abbey on his death in 1042.
This was the clearest one.
I forget what the wooden divider is called, but it’s genuine Tudor.
Then we walked over to the building huddled next to the church… the almshouse.
Basically, an almshouse was where you went if you were too poor to feed and house yourself. It was better than going to the Workhouse, but not much.
This place was built 300 years ago.
It housed 12 men and 2 women. Once you got in, as long as you followed the rules, you had a place for life.
It wasn’t as kind as it sounds.
Before you got a room, you had to be free from lunacy, leprosy and french pox. Naturally you had to be of good character, so people had to vouch for you to the priest.
Once you were in, you had to attend church A LOT and pray A LOT and do general work around the place. The women were were up in the second floor, away from the men, and were expected to look after the mens’ laundry and basic cooking and cleaning. As well as go to church and pray A LOT.
The doors were small. Maybe they were shorter than us, or maybe it’s a ploy to keep the heat in.
If it was the latter, they were wasting their time. These rooms were COLD.
Zoom in on the corner of the fireplace. It’s a Tudor rose!
The gift shop was where the kitchen once was. So. I bought a tea-towel. Seemed appropriate.
These rooms were basic. And they were so very cold. It was a clear autumnal day outside. It was not raining but it was still pleasant to wak around in. But as soon as we walked into these rooms, the cold slapped us in the faces.
This is how they think the rooms would have been set up. The church is just 100 metres away, so the sound of the bells would have punctuated every day.
Men over 30 who could no longer support themselves, either through age or illness, could apply to the Cecil family for a vacant place at the bedehouse. Two spaces were also reserved for widows over 45. Many applicants had connections to the family estate; others hadworked as craftsmen, tradesmen, or labourers in thesurrounding villages.
The residents received clothes (a blue gown and black cap) and an allowance of 3 shillings a week, and had to apply themselves to a handicraft, unless they were too blind or old. They assembled in the bedehouse every day for prayers and attended church every Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and holiday. Places at the bedehouse, which provided respectability and security for the residents’ final years, were keenly sought after. The Cecil family and their descendants, the earls of Exeter, continued to support the bedehouse until the 20th century.
It wasn’t just poor people who lived here. This place was also home to the bishop of the area. He lived in the upper floors, away from the riff-raff. They also entertained important people. Wen Henry VIII stayed here in the summer of 1541, he brought around 4,000 men with him. It was. ahuge burden on the estate to feed and house so many people.
Beyond that big room was this room – a private room for the bishop to be alone.
The bishop withdrew to this room to hold his most private conversations, and probably slept here. With its ornamental fireplace and handsome ceiling, this would have been an impressive room, furnished with a canopied bed, rich hangings and decorated chairs.
The information board says “Bishop John Longland (in office 1521-1547) was possibly the last bishop who occupied this room. He was King Henry VIll’s confessor and was caught up in the king’s struggle against the Church: while he supported Henry against the Pope, Longland also spoke up for the power of the bishops. The king’s visit to Lyddington in 1541, just after the suppression of the monasteries, would have been a particularly delicate time for him.
I like the words “particularly delicate”. The king wanted to destroy the Catholic church in England – a catholic bishop would have had to choose his words very carefully, whether he was the king’s confessor or not!
These old stone steps – look at the wear in them. How many feet have stepped on them over the centuries?
Up in the roof. See how the roof tiles are slate?
I love the angles.
It’s never occurred to me to wonder how they get flat pieces of slate to hold together on. aroof. Here’s how. See how each slate has a nail punched into it that hangs on the wood slats? I found this really interesting to see.
How beautiful is this?
And just look at how this door was put together.
After that we drove back to Market Harborough. I was going to dinner at Scott and Mark’s place and I was really excited to see their ‘new’ apartment. (I put that in quotes because they’ve been there for years… it’s just the first time I’ve seen it.)
In the gap between getting dropped off and going to theirs for dinner, I went to an art gallery. There I saw the perfect “England” print. Their houses are all tall and skinny and jammed together. It screams ENGLAND to me.
Then I walked the 5 minutes to Scott and Mark’s.
Mark cooked while Scott showed me around. They’ve got a fantastic place on the top floor of a converted warehouse. It was a really fun, relaxed evening and I got to renew my acquaintance with the cats. Oliver and Ruby took to me like ducks to water, but Rose wasn’t too sure.
Tomorrow I have to pack my suitcase to make my way home. I hope that the glass in my new picture won’t break. Scott suggested taking it out of the frame to get it home but no way! I paid for that frame and by god… I’m going to try my best to get it home.
Today was primarily a travel day to get from Maldon to Market Harborough, where I’ll be staying for a couple of days to catch up with Scott’s husband Mark and their 3 cats.
We walked around Maldon on the last morning, and I bought an ironing board cover and a salt pig. You all know how I like to buy useful souvenirs. When I got home, Ryan28 was rapt about the salt pig. “I never thought you’d buy one, but they’re so handy!” he said.
Anyway, back to England.
To break the trip up, Scott had selected a stately home for us to look at along the way.
It’s easy to forget how tiny England is compared to Australia. We were driving along the motorway when I saw a sign for an exit to Cambridge. I was like, “WHAT??” I went to Cambridge on my last trip.
Scott looked across and said, “You know England is small, Frogdancer.”
It’s true. The whole of England can fit inside the state of Victoria.
Along the way, we saw this truck which is basically a giant whipper-snipper. This is how England and Ireland keep their narrow streets free for cars. He very kindly backed up to let us through, otherwise, we would’ve been there for ages.
This place was very popular. It had a huge car park which was pretty much full when we got there. It was the middle of the day on a Wednesday! This building was the old stables, which is now being used as the gift shop.
I went a bit mad, buying a couple of flat garden ornaments, a model of a hare gazing soulfully upwards with his ears pulled back, (he was very light), and another Christmas tree ornament. I knew that there was going to be a reorganisation of my carry-on case when I got to the hotel room tonight.
To have this on the top of your stables isn’t flamboyant at all…
As we walked closer to the house Scott said, “Look at the rose!”
He said it didn’t smell. But I think we can all agree that it looks beautiful.
Here’s the house again.
The estate was held by the Chicheley family for over 250 years, beginning in 1428 with Henry Chichele, who was Archbishop of Canterbury. The last of this family to hold the house was the politician Thomas Chicheley, who was responsible for the “new” house that was completed in 1650.
I love how the word “new” describes things that are hundreds of years old in this country!
 Chicheley established the formal gardens and architectural landscape of the estate. He enjoyed the house for 36 years until, weighed down by financial problems, he was forced to sell it to Sir John Cutler.
In 1689, Sir John gave it as a marriage settlement to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Charles Robartes, 2nd Earl of Radnor.
On the death of Elizabeth in 1697, without an heir, the estate passed to Edmund Boulter, nephew of Sir John Cutler.
Poor old Edmund didn’t have a title. What a commoner!
In 1710 it was in the possession of John Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, who left it to his daughter Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles upon his death the following year.
Upon Henrietta’s marriage, in 1713, it became the possession of her husband Edward Harley, the 2nd Earl of Oxford and he was also Earl Mortimer.
Sounds like a good match, hey? Two Earl titles with the one man? But notice how when she married, it “BECAME THE POSSESSION” of her husband. Can’t have the little woman owning an estate!
In 1740, Edward sold Wimpole to Philip Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke, in order to pay off his debts. Wouldn’t you want to kill him if you were Henrietta???
On 27 October 1843, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the hall. They listened to speeches by local politicians including the Earl of Hardwicke, and dinner was served for 26 people. A ball was held in the evening. On 28 October 1843, Her Majesty visited the farm in the morning before departing for London.
There is a portrait of her in the dining room, which she was reported as saying was “a perfect likeness”. So much is made of her visit, but she was only there for one night.
In 1938, Capt. George Bambridge and his wife Elsie, daughter of Rudyard Kipling, purchased it after having been tenants since 1932. They used the inheritance left to them by her father, and the royalties from his books, for the long-needed refurbishment of the house and grounds. During the War, for instance, the house had no running water or electricity.
omg.
During her time at Wimpole Hall, Elsie was known to become irritated by members of the public gathering too close to the house for picnics, so much so, that she once returned to the offending couple’s property and had her own picnic on their lawn.
Haha. Good for her! How funny.
Here is a view of the backyard, with the fake ruined tower that someone in the Victorian era put in. Nothing like a fake abbey in your backyard to impress your friends and neighbours!
But what rocked me back on my heels was a single line on one of the information boards, saying that the architect John Soane had worked on the house in the late 1700’s.
This picture shows the yellow dining room, which is one of the rooms he worked on. There was a large skylight and a couple of BIG mirrors that would have cost an absolute fortune when they were put in.
John Soane also put in a rather large “plunge pool” tucked away at the bottom of the house. You have to wonder what it was used for and if there were any kinky parties going on back in the day.
This painting has hung here for around 250 years. Imagine the people who have walked past him in that time? The plaster mouldings were also really impressive.
After we visited the house we ate our lunch in the car like we did yesterday, but this time we were looking at the building where the toilets and entry were.
Somehow, it just didn’t have the ambience of the decommissioned nuclear power plant.
Then we drove the rest of the way to Market Harborough.
The three of us went out to dinner that night. It was lovely catching up with Mark again. He and Scott make a great couple.
On the walk back to my hotel we passed a gift shop with lots of interesting things in the windows. Scott and I were planning a late start to my last day of exploring England tomorrow, so I vowed to get back there in the morning to have a look through.
Surely my carry-on could squeeze another souvenir or two in? I can still do up the zips…
