I’m BACK!
I had a WONDERFUL trip and not certain I am ready to be BACK!
London is a BEAUTIFUL city……THE PEOPLE are SO KIND and NICE!
A Very clean CITY……….
I felt they are a much CALMER SOCIETY than WE AMERICANS.
I love the fact, they walk the children to school……….IN UNIFORMS in conversation TOO!
I saw very few CELL phones in peoples hands as they were walking and NONE in restaurants!
HOW CIVILIZED IS THAT!
WE experienced ZERO RAIN…………..UNBELIEVABLE I am told.
I did sleep through a thunder storm in RYE.
I arrived in London after a two hour delay in SAN FRAN………………I flew VIRGIN ATLANTIC for the first time and I was IMPRESSED!
My first night there I met THE SEQUINIST for dinner.She is as well TRAVELED as she is CHARMING!
She bestowed upon my long fingers a ROCK that could be used as a weapon if necessary!She is SELLING on her BLOG under SHOP ,so if you think YOU might be in NEED they come in a pale BLUE color as well!. Click here for a view of what she BLOGS ABOUT!
Our Photo together was GREAT of HER…… Horrid of ME so YOU CANNOT SEE US TOGETHER; I apologize……..YOU must realize I had been traveling for many many HOURS!Just know she lives in London but HALES from the good old USA!!!
My View while I waited for the elevator in SOUTH KENSINGTON:
The Mews where once upon a time carriages and horses would be housed!
Next Blogger UP that I was SO LUCKY to MEET up with was the INCREDIBLE CATHERINE ROBINSON from http://www.catherinerobinsoncashmere.com.She had booked a TEA for us at THE CAFE ROYAL on REGENT STREET…………….they had GLUTEN FREE!!!!
What a TREAT for me to look right into her eyes…………..we are both the same height!We HAILED a CAB and jumped in and traveled from KENSINGTON downtown chatting ALL the way!At some point,I said, “OH,I better look around me!”
We had a little SNAFU as the FIRE ALARM went off……………and WE thought it was the REAL DEAL!All I could think of was NOT in this ROOM!They chased after us as it was a drill and we resumed our CHAT!You can SEE why I was thinking NO WATER IN THIS ROOM PLEASE!!!!!
KEW GARDENS were Beautiful but A LOT was under renovation.
WISLEY…….. THE ROYAL HORTICULTURE grounds were SPECTACULAR.
THE CHELSEA GARDEN SHOW…………………..was a ONE minute TUBE RIDE from where we were staying!WE were told NOT to sit down as it would take longer to get up and fight the crowds to get OUT!The train in the TUBE is just like OUR BART here in The BAY AREA!All 69 of us were standing in front of the GATES by 7:40 AM in HOT HOT weather………I had a HAT on and thought I might FAINT!
Once inside I did a BEE line for the EXHIBITORS before the crowds got too DEEP.I then did the MARQUEE which had one of THE QUEENS CARRIAGES on display and a whole BUNCH of PEONY,ROSES and DAFFODILS!Before doing THE VENDORS I thought I should get a bite TO EAT.So, I stepped inside the FOOD TRUCK area and contemplated what I COULD EAT……..NO!NO!MAYBE YES!I stepped up to the veggie burger window and asked if it was GF…………..YES!I then ordered!The response I got back was it is only 9:30 AM and the grill is NOT on yet!We are happy to fire it up for YOU it will take a few minutes…………I laughed as I felt it was MORE like 11:30am………….so, my reply was…….”I’m on vacation GO a head and make it with a green salad on the side!”WE ALL HAD A GOOD LAUGH!
I sat with my Veggie Burger and noted the woman behind me was sipping her VINO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I found my favorite GARDEN small FOLLY made of bricks and arched windows………with an old CISTERN for holding ice and beverages….
The wall was for SALE but I know someone who can build it for me!I hope I took enough photos!How many times will he say NO before he says YES!?
I NEED A FOLLY PLEASE………………Perhaps my next GIFT from THE ITALIAN!
A DINNER meet up with the lovely Alyson WALSH of THATS NOT MY AGE took place at CAFE MURANO on ST. JAMES STREET.
She has a NEW BOOK due out in NOVEMBER!
THE CURRENT BOOK IS CALLED
STYLE FOREVER
The Grown up Guide to looking Fabulous!
I have a few corners turned down in this BOOK!
I have suggested she comes to the STATES for a BOOK TOUR!
If anyone in the LOS ANGELES area could HOST her that would be VERY SPECIAL indeed.
Much More Fun to stay with another FASHIONISTA than a HOTEL!
PLUS, names of BOOKSHOPS would be HELPFUL as well.
I have given an ASSIGNMENT!
ANYONE up for it?
Click on ALYSON’s BLOG below.
Leave her a COMMENT and tell her WHO sent YOU!
http://thatsnotmyage.com
LA CONTESSA HAVING A PONDER!
AT CHARTWELL.
CHARTWELL……………..long trip out to the countryside in KENT but OH MY!I felt I had found MY HOME away from HOME!
MAGICAL setting………..MAGICAL PONDS……….MAGICAL geese with baby goslings!We made a little video lets see if I can put that in here!
CHARTWELL, was the country home of MISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL.He purchased it for the view of Kent.I do believe in the distance is FRANCE!One must cross the CHANNEL first.It is not a GRAND BIG HOME and maybe that is why I liked it SO much.I LOVED THE DINNING ROOM which had low ceilings and beautiful arched windows!Mister Churchill was given an Orange Cat later in life named JOCK.To this day an ORANGE CAT is ALWAYS in RESIDENCE at CHARTWELL that was in the WILL.I did not have a SIGHTING of TODAYS JOCK,but just knowing he was there was heart warming to me as YOU all know I have an ORANGE CAT named THEODORE!
The property was BEYOND breathtaking……..large PONDS or LAKES and the Garden with it’s orchard and vegetable garden and brick walls was right out of a movie!
SEE MY MOVIE BELOW!!!!!!!!!!
MOVIE ADDED THANKS TO MY COMPUTER WIZARDRESS THE MAGICAL BLOGGING 911!
LA CONTESSA at CHARTWELL……………
LOOK AT THOSE CLOUDS!
LOOK LIKE COTTON BALLS!
WE DONOT HAVE THESE IN CALIFORNIA!
Do you UNDERSTAND Me NOW?
It was a DREAM property.
The story goes that Winston was NOT very good with Finances and in his later years did not have much money!A few friends came together and bought CHARTWELL from him so he could have the cash to live on and live there rent FREE until his last breath……….
I walked to Kensington Palace once ( I was told it was a 10 minute walk from our hotel!) and than took a taxi another day as there was an exhibit I wanted to see.IT WAS MORE LIKE 20 MINUTES for ME!There was a time FACTOR involved.
No Luck either time getting into the exhibit,but this was worth the TAXI ride!
I get in my cab and he tells me it is his second trip to the PALACE that day!He had had a phone order earlier in the day which are unusual……….he had picked up PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT!I wanted to know if she had sat EXACTLY where I was sitting!I was so excited as I had met her years ago in SAN FRANCISCO at the FALL ANTIQUE SHOW……..maybe a few of you remember that BLOG POST where they ran out of books and she told me to go on line and send to the palace!!!!!(Well, I did and she returned the book my ROYAL MAIL!)
YOU COULD HAVE HEARD MY SHRIEK OF DELIGHT!Not only the book but a signed photo of the two of us and a letter!
Anyway, MY TAXI MAN and THE PRINCESS had to wait to exit the PALACE because HARRY was arriving with his entourage!!The next DAY I SPIED OBAMA with HARRY at KENSINGTON PALACE on INSTAGRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!YOUR CONTESSA is traveling in the RIGHT CIRCLES these DAYS!
BELOW THE GATES…………..which back up to HYDE PARK.Where I got LOST and couldn’t find my way OUT!
I think I better STOP here as this is a LONG POST for me.
I have MORE to share from the CHELSEA GARDEN SHOW and a few of MY FAVORITE GARDENS……….
I will try and POP them OUT at GREAT SPEED Before I forget TOO MUCH.
Just know I had a MARVELOUS TRIP.
The DOG, CAT and PIG SURVIVED without me but upon my return the PIG did not leave my side ALL DAY!
I WAS MISSED!
BY THE ITALIAN TOO!
LUCKY ME!
HO FINITO!
FOR NOW!
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