TWO years ago I was given a CHRISTMAS GIFT from THE ITALIAN.

A trip to ENGLAND to go see a few GARDENS in MAY on a BUS with OTHER PEOPLE!

Shortly after I signed up I heard about another BLOGGER who I had seen around the COMMENT section of BLOGS but had NOT taken the time to VISIT HER BLOG!

BIG MISTAKE!

DEBRA AT 5TH in STATE.  HER BLOG CLICK HERE!!!

SHE is an INTERIOR DECORATOR and a LANDSCAPE DESIGNER,Plus she has a SHOP!

She takes small groups of WOMEN to ENGLAND on GARDEN TOURS /ANTIQUE buying trips once a YEAR!

This was her 25th year doing this trip!

SO, she knows what SHE IS DOING and SHE has THE CONNECTIONS TO DO IT!

One of these CONNECTIONS is a DAME called SYLVIA!!!!!!!

SYLVIA,was a Model back in the day in LONDON and has done many things, too long to list here!Lets just say SHE has MORE energy than ME!Well, Most people do, but lets NOT go there TODAY!Sylvia had all 17 of us for DINNER at her place our first night in SHERBORNE and she had spent the entire DAY with us OUT and about!

I must BACK up a moment BEFORE I GET TO THE GARDEN STUFF!

As I arrived two days early to meet MY INSTAGRAM BUDDY ANITA.

FIVE YEARS of FOLLOWING EACH OTHER ON THIS THING WE CALL INSTAGRAM!

HERE SHE IS!!!

Vue_at_jindivick

 

and her husband PAUL!They had been to SCOTLAND on vacation and were headed back to AUSTRALIA via LONDON.SO, I had to make that WORK as our DATES almost MATCHED UP!NEAT as she likes to be called had me staying at a PUB………YES, a PUB! ACROSS FROM KEW GARDENS! I might add.Well, let me tell you it was GRAND!Library like chairs and BIG ROOMS with interesting PEOPLE and DOGS to VIEW!NEAT SPIED me arriving through the window and POPPED UP out of her chair as I came wandering inside with my luggage…….

Big HUGS a few TEARS and we were instant FRIENDS just like we had known each other a LIFETIME!

You see we have been phoning each other and sending Birthday parcels back and fourth now for a few years.Both of us have Two SONS about the same AGE and Both of us like TO GARDEN!We both follow MIMI and discuss her recipes at length……….IT WAS GOOD TO FINALLY MEET!HER HUSBAND IS A KEEPER!WHAT A GORGEOUS MAN!She has said HE and the ITALIAN would get along just fine to come DOWN UNDER as PAUL had LOTS of TOYS meaning TRACTORS and TOYS with engines; well NEAT was RIGHT!MY ITALIAN and HER husband would find Plenty to do TOGETHER. While NEAT and I could be out searching for the COWS her neighbors have a Dairy Farm!!! THAN baking some delicious desert and talking up a storm about the GARDEN!

AUSTRALIA should be the next travel escape!WE know enough people THERE!!!!

HINT~ HINT MISTER ITALIAN HUBBY OF MINE!!!

Here is a VIEW of the PUB from the OUTSIDE!

PUB INTERIOR for all you DECORATORS!

                    THE THREE OF US CELEBRATING BEING TOGETHER for THE VERY FIRST TIME!

PLUS, it was PAULS BIRTHDAY the DAY BEFORE!

The next day we hit the VICTORIA ALBERT MUSEUM after getting me an Oyster Card  for the TUBE!

YOU all know I will ONLY use that if I am with someone who knows what they are doing!!!!!

I am VERY GOOD AT RAISING MY HAND AND FLAGGING DOWN A TAXI!

 

This was a MAN’S attire…….back in THE DAY of THE 1700’s!!SINCE I was headed for GARDENS I was KEEN on BORROWING IT!!!!!!

JACKET WAS ALL I NEEDED!

NOTE  LINEN THREAD!!!!!!!!!

I thought YOU DEAR READER needed to SEE the SIDE and BACK A BIT!

What FLOWER is that on the POCKET with the BROWN inside?

DO you think there are FLOWERS that are NO longer around from other centuries?

WE have the RAY of LIGHT BEAMING DOWN ON US!!!!HEADED to DINNER WE WERE!

I’m a bit JET LAGGED HERE.

NEVERLESS, HAPPY to BE WITH MY BUDDY who is a CHEF by TRADE I might ADD!

IF YOU ARE HEADED TO AUSTRALIA

or

LIVE THERE PAUL & ANITA

run a BED & BREAKFAST

~

~ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS~

BED AND BREAKFAST ACCOMMODATION

~ BEEKEEPING WORKSHOPS~

~ COUNTRY LIVING~

WWW.VUEATJINDIVICK.COM

STOLL ROAD

JINDIVICK,VICTORIA

AUSTRALIA

SO, we are at breakfast and ANITA thinks this woman is a FAMOUS PERSON!

I’m intrigued.

I walk over to HER and ANITA who has never experience MY BOLD behavior hangs back thinking,

“OH NO!”

I say,”EXCUSE ME, my friend and I think you look familiar are You someone we should know?”

She immediately starts CRYING and LAUGHING and puts her fork down and starts sobbing!

She is with her grown SON I assume.

She catches her breath and tells me the same thing had happen to her FATHER!!!

AS she starts shaking her HEAD……….NO, NO, NO!!!

The TEARS were for JOY!

Her FATHER was a LAB technician and I’m not quite sure but Anita thinks he led those people to believe he was THAT famous person who they thought him to be.

She informed us that SHE was a NOBODY and came from SOMERSET.

MORE TEARS OF JOY!

I THINK WE JUST MIGHT HAVE MADE THIS WOMAN’s DAY!

 

This display made my DAY!

~ ~ ~

This was a GIFT to someone KING GEORGE?

MAYBE PAUL will RECALL………we read the sign together!

For some HEROIC ACT!

Just MADE ME SMILE ALL THIS SILVER!

What do you suppose they served in that BIG FAT round TUREEN on the BOTTOM?

MASHED POTATOES or SOUP?

I’m JUST HAPPY LOOKING AT IT!

CAN YOU SEE A FLORAL DISPLAY IN IT?

Of Course, the display is pretty AWESOME TOO!

 

MARIE of VERSAILLE……..

in case you have NEVER seen HER portrait!

NO CAMERA’s back in the day!

CAN you imagine them doing the SELFIE STICKS AT COURT!

She was the one who said, ” LET THEM EAT CAKE!”I bet she meant it in a GOOD WAY!

ANY WOMAN who builds her own little FARM away from the VILLA and wants to have chickens and COWS and wears farm girl clothing has a HEART!

WE found our way to PETERSHAM NURSERY in nearby LONDON suburb of RICHMOND.

The TAXI dropped us with LUGGAGE(Thank GOD I HAD PAUL AND ANITA as my GUIDES)a distance away and we traipsed through this MUD to the entrance of THE NURSERY with luggage on wheels!!!!!

GREAT INVENTION!

This POST gave the DIRECTIONS!

Never seen SO many LAND ROVERS driving by!!!!

WE are in NURSERY HEAVEN!!!

I have NO IDEA THE NAME of this PLANT if YOU DO PLEASE TELL ME IN THE COMMENT SECTION!

HOW ABOUT THIS TABLE!?!

HERE YOU GO!

THE  FLOWER of THAT PLANT I ASKED ABOUT!

Now, if you need a gift for me I would LOVE THESE TWO LITTLE HEADLESS CHERUBS THAT CANNOT TALK BACK TO ME AND ROLL THEIR EYES!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING……………..will someone please tell THE ITALIAN!

LUNCH IS SERVED AT PETERSHAM NURESRY!

I KNOW………..TOO DEVINE!!!!!!!!!

I did not EAT at this TABLE but just know EVERYTHING was DEVINE!

I brought this to give to the ladies in the office at PETERSHAM as it is the daughter of the owners of PETERSHAM NURSERY.

I saw in one of our USA MAGAZINES!

I assume the magazine did not send them a copy……….SO I took it upon myself to DO IT!

IT allowed me to keep my luggage in their office for a spell!

VERY NICE OF THEM.

I have a BASKET FETISH and when I SAW these DOUBLE DUO’s I went into OVER DRIVE!

MY youngest SON ‘s voice came out of NO where and He was saying” MOTHER……..BREATH!”

I was BREATHING DEEP and decided to just keep walking……………as there was NO way I could transport those HOME!

Than once HOME where do I keep them?

I have a VERY small HOUSE!

  I love these old prints especially in black and white……….I love HIS JACKET even MORE!

Let’s NOT even mention THE TURBAN!!!!

ADORE!!

IS THAT A FEATHER BLOOMING FORWARD?!!

PART of OUR GROUP……..ALL of which were LOVERLY LADIES!

DAME SYLVIA!

ONE OF OUR FEARLESS LEADERS!!!!!!!!

ROOM WITH A VIEW!

MY BEDROOM IN SHERBORNE.

DOES NOT GET BETTER THAN THIS READERS!

I was thrilled with this photo as I missed the perfect photo OP as the BOYS CHOIR had run in on our arrival and I had missed them in their RED robes sailing in the breeze!I was swearing at MYSELF and stood there at MY window for at least 5 minutes before this LAD came LATE!I was SO HAPPY to SEE HIM and actually this is a Live Photo so I capture HIM going in the door as well!I put this photo with the red bicycle and RED DO-DA in the distance on Instagram I was quite pleased with MYSELF and only to be MORE pleased when A friend of ours who shot Photos for National Geographic MAGAZINE told me

“BEAUTIFUL SHOT……..LOVE YOUR EYE!”

This is the The Abbey Church of St Mary the Virgin at Sherborne in the English county of Dorset, is usually called Sherborne Abbey. It has been a Saxon cathedral (705–1075), a Benedictine abbey (998–1539), and now, a parish church.

OLDER THAN GOD!

Speaking of OLD on our way HERE we PASSED STONEHEDGE coming HERE!

I was NOT on the Right side of THE BUS and NOT quick enough with the TELEFONINO!!!!!!!!!

I SAW IT!!!!

Right by the HIGHWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

What do YOU think…………..20 feet out my window?

NO, I did NOT GO OUT AND BUY PURPLE TULIPS for MY WINDOW SILL!

I am NOT THAT ECCENTRIC……….YET!!!!!!!!

They are OUR PRESIDENT’S FAVORITE WORD……….FAKE.

THE ABBEY with MY ROOMMATES!

CANDACE and SHARON

TWO GALS WITH STORIES that YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!

 

SHARON,Is a PORTRAIT painter and GIFTED ARTIST which is SLOWLY emerging on her INSTAGRAM!

CANDACE, spent her first few years growing up in VEGAS in the TROPICANA HOTEL as her FATHER was a SINGER and did the opening ACT for JOHNNY MATHIS!!She thought her MOTHER was a MOVIE STAR as she DRESSED in LONG GOWNS and GLOVES and JEWELS to go and watch her FATHER Perform every NIGHT!

SHARON, was a KINDERGARTEN teacher and had to INTERROGATE 3 children on a brown item under a table before the TRUTH CAME OUT!Believe YOU me the INTERROGATION was PRICELESS with SUPER HERO PANTIES and NO need TO call the Mother etc.But The The 4th Little BOY fessed UP with “OH MRS. >>>>>>>>NO NO NO, That is my BREAKFAST SAUSAGE I put in my POCKET!MY MOTHER wanted me to EAT and I didNOT want TO EAT so I slipped it in MY POCKET!”I have not done the story justice to hear MY ROOMMATE tell it I had TEARS in MY EYES!!!!!!SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT TEACHER…………thoses were SOME LUCKY KIDS!

CANDACE drove an HOUR and 20 minutes to work each day and than back Home!Her CODE NAME is FLORAL GODDESS and I being the ANTIQUE GODDESS on instagram well it was FATE! Candace had a COOL JOB!She is retired NOW which is FABULOUS because I was exhausted just thinking about her drive in THAT WEATHER back in CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!She did FLOWERS for CONVENTIONS!She flew all over THE COUNTRY!SOME of her airplane STORIES are OUTRAGEOUS!

Needless, to SAY they MADE MY TRIP EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE!

THANK YOU GIRLS…………..YOU WERE A DELIGHT!

SHERBORNE ABBEY

RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR!

I better STOP for NOW.I have given YOU the back bone of the trip……..I’m on a GARDEN TOUR in ENGLAND with 16 other LADIES!

A BLOGGER is LEADING THE WAY!

I am ALONG for the ride and did not even print out an itinerary as I trusted HER and because I did not know where I was staying CUSTOMS would NOT let me PASS without an ADDRESS!

SO, learn from MY MISTAKE!

YOU MUST HAVE YOUR ADDRESS with YOU where YOU are STAYING !!

He wasNOT NICE TO ME and MADE ME HOLD UP THE LINE while I went through MY EMAIL and CALLED DEBRA early, early IN THE MORNING!!!!!!!!!!

WE were in THE COUNTRYSIDE.

ENDING AT HIGHGROVE!

I stayed on for FOUR DAYS in LONDON to see MORE BLOGGERS and INSTAGRAMERS.

AND TO DO ABSOLUETLY NO SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I didNOT bring an EXTRA BAG.

I did SHIP a BOX from SHERBORNE!

IT BEAT ME HOME!

THIS is a TRIP TO FEED MY SOUL!

CAN I SAY IT DID THAT AND MORE!

NEXT POST will be on THE GARDENS I SAW!

PLUS, the PEOLE I ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE WAY…………..!

 

FRIDA and I with a BALCONY in MY BONNET!

GREAT CAPTURE ANITA!

Unfortunately, THE FRIDA exhibit was SOLD OUT that DAY and we did not get to SEE IT!

I was fading FAST from JET LAG and a BAD BUG……….so sat down at a table behind FRIDA and sipped a TEA and made THE DREADED CALL to CANCEL HIGH TEA with ONE OF MY FAVORITE INSTAGRAMERS AT CLARIDGES later in the DAY.

It was NOT meant to BE!

ALL in ALL I had a GRAND TRIP TO ENGLAND AND London Town!

I am READY TO MOVE!

ENGLAND YOU HAVE STOLEN MY HEART!