BACK IN LONDON

Sorry for the lag between posts but haven't been able to summon the energy to get on with it.....but here it is better late than never!

The trip back to Glasgow at dawn was rather fraught but spectacular....it poured nearly all the way but the mountains looming on all sides resplendent with snow & mist & the occasional herd of deer made it something we will never forget.

Not a kilt in sight

Glasgow was a revelation ...all those preconceptions of  a rather down at heel shabby place were proved wrong. Glasgow is a city of vast green public spaces & wonderful architecture...with Rennie Macintosh as the jewel in the crown.

Willow Tea Rooms

More Macintosh

Glasgow Art School..

and yet more Macintosh.......

House for Art Lovers

and a National Trust property called The Tenement House (we were determined to make the most of our membership's reciprocal rights).
Back in London after a four hour train trip Belinda & I endeavored to make the most of her few remaining days...so off to Lewes on yet another literary trail..this time The Bloomsburys at Charleston & the Monks House (defying the odds of being able to fit in the 2 houses in 1 afternoon by public transport...we arrived at Monk;s House 5 minutes before last admission...phew!!).

Beloved Charleston

 

After a famous photo...outside Room of her Own

The next day we managed to see the treasures of the British Library & The Viking exhibition at the British Museum.....

and then just when you thought we needed to put our feet up (heaven forbid).....the next day we walked to The Wolsley (famous art deco cafe) through Kensington Gardens, Green Park & Regents Park    and THEN to the Tate Modern    and home to collapse on Ben's couch.

Belinda returned home the next afternoon but we did a wonderful tour of an Arts & Crafts House at Hammersmith (not far from Ben's)before she left, that had belonged to one of William Morris's best mates Emery Walker who as it turns out left the world far better than he found it...have a look at him on Wikipedia.

Life without Belinda has been a little less hectic(not her fault at all...but I do miss her) ....did have a day off reading....but have been to visit Shirley & her family in Norwich & had a lovely time catching up...we went to a National Trust property called Oxburgh Hall.....lots of interesting features inside & out..including one of the few surviving prisets's holes left over from Henry's Catholic purges....

a day visiting my lovely cousins in Leicestershire  and a trip to The Globe to see a magnificent production of "Much Ado About Nothing"

and the Chelsea Flower Show with Ben today....which was wonderful despite the squillions of other show goers

Here we are...mother & son!

and last night I went to work with Ben to hear him give one of his seminars.......he is mighty impressive (no bias of course) and I am a very proud mum!

See you all soon....love Kath xo