Cliveden in the sun

On Sunday two weeks ago we took advantage of the glorious sunshine and headed to the National Trust property Cliveden, which we love.  It used to be home to the Astors and some of the Profumo affair took part on the property.  There's a really beautiful landscaped garden, great stately house (which I've been lucky enough to be taken to lunch at by my beloved for a previous birthday) and you can walk down to the Thames and take a boat ride.  We'd never done the boat ride before so thought it was a perfect day for it.

Below are some scenes taken from the boat as we enjoyed the trip and listened to interesting factoids told to us by the captain and guide.

This cottage was used in the Profumo affair, and can now be hired to stay in along with your own personal butler.

After the boat ride, I was very pathetic and didn't think I could face the climb back up the steps from the river bank - it's quite a trek so we decided to hitch a ride on the little mobility bus which is there for people a little bit less able than us.  Don't panic, we didn't take anyone's seat - he was leaving to go back up with two empty seats, so we quickly took advantage of it.

Us on the mobility bus.  

Mobility bus - we sat right at the back facing out.

Now for some lovely pictures from around the grounds of the house - below the shell fountain.

Very picturesque garden which they plant up with different plants throughout the year to keep the colours going.

Now the following two pictures are for all those people who think that I'm obsessed with graveyards - in the grounds is a pet cemetery from a very long time ago - it's very overgrown, but Ken and I like trying to work out what sort of pet the animal is by its name and how long it lived.  Some do say the species, especially the horse ones, but some are just down right confusing.

Headstones amongst the grass.

This is the confusing one - Pussy, a dear pug!  Last time I looked, a pug is a dog.

If you look closely under the leaves, you will see a mother duck hiding from the sun with her babies.

Hope you enjoyed this look around one of our favourite national trust properties - it's very nice no matter what the season as there's always something to look at.

I'm very behind with my blogs, so hopefully will catch up over the next few days, so look out for Cornbury Festival, and Peace in the Park.

Until then, be good, enjoy life, and look after each other.

Pamela & Ken

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P.S: Final photo of the house at Cliveden

Greenwich Adventures

We are back from our hols in the beautiful land down under, and despite still waking up at silly hours, we headed out on Sunday for a day of fun. We didn't have a plan apart from wanting to end up at Greenwich Market.

Our first stop was at North Greenwich for the O2 (formally known as the Millennium Dome). If you look closely at the picture below you can see people walking over the Dome - not quite as daunting as Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The next few piccies are taken inside the Dome - there are lots of restaurants, a cinema, and the concert/exhibition area.

Check out my bike

Now before I go any further I must mention my gorgeous boots which I got this week. They are truly a thing of beauty.

After our mooch around the O2 we went to the cable car across the Thames which was built last year. The views from the top are amazing and well worth the ride. Here are just a few that show this fab experience.

Aw - how cute

The O2 from above

I was very impressed with my beloved going on the cable car as he has a slight tendency to be scared of heights, but he was fine.

We got on the Docklands Light Railway back towards Greenwich, but after just one stop  we got back off as we saw the below creation from the train. It's made of scraps of wood by a very creative person.

We eventually made it to Greenwich, and these interesting people were wandering the streets - great hair don't you think?

The market isn't very big but it's still really nice to look around as there are some quite eclectic stalls. Here are a few pics from the market, including some food stalls.

After a bit of a mooch we had lunch in a yummy Mexican restaurant, just across the road from the market. On the way we found this lovely crown on a wall that Ken wanted to get in his size - I think he looks very dapper.

Yummy food

A new friend that my beloved adopted for me - he's made out of socks

Malibu creamy cocktail - too nice

It was a really fun day out, and Ken amused himself by bothering a total stranger. There was a woman sitting in a cafe with one of those disposable rain ponchos on, so Ken took it upon himself to bang on the window and yell, take it off. He's either traumatised her for life, or he possibly made her day having a gorgeous (in my opinion) man wanting her to take her clothes off.

Strange man who accosts women in rain ponchos

 That's it for today - apologies that it's a bit long. Make sure you have a fun week, keep smiling, stay safe, and eat cake.

Pamela & Ken
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P.S: Final two pics are of my furbies enjoying their catnip mice that we got them at the market.