Reflecting On England

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">What can I say...</div><div style="text-align: center;">so much we have learned </div><div style="text-align: center;">and so much we will miss</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for joining my journey!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsJ5GNS0m7pEna4G6ZuUFpDVNIbYM7bU1xtjPa2BTW0Rtri3DWp2jfAl-ia6I805GsHMdwjlGPmWOCnAX4xZDC5IU1mrBlOxUeHMeuynjbV8VnC1nJlnkz2V1yH38iw29FvTU-VQUjdhz/s1600/DSC01507-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsJ5GNS0m7pEna4G6ZuUFpDVNIbYM7bU1xtjPa2BTW0Rtri3DWp2jfAl-ia6I805GsHMdwjlGPmWOCnAX4xZDC5IU1mrBlOxUeHMeuynjbV8VnC1nJlnkz2V1yH38iw29FvTU-VQUjdhz/s1600/DSC01507-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I am so thankful you have read and commented on my blog</div><div style="text-align: center;">which in turn encouraged me to keep documenting our time here in words and images</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I start to look at England from a rear-view mirror perspective,</div><div style="text-align: center;">here's some of my thoughts about this wonderful country<br />we have been lucky to call 'home'...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE WEATHER</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enabling green grass and lush landscapes year around,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rain is an important fiber of the English culture<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhOQqX4VF621wFfYj4wemWnn0RjWPwrZxp6BEkm4E3eNfT4yNn76eXSHerXv8bNY4PI1-HGKsB9g6K6Xm6e6A1t6GVUT2AT59f1V-34y5FUWDAy30z1zpbk0s8EbGBdhIcYVVBrOmgudZ/s1600/photo+5-044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAhOQqX4VF621wFfYj4wemWnn0RjWPwrZxp6BEkm4E3eNfT4yNn76eXSHerXv8bNY4PI1-HGKsB9g6K6Xm6e6A1t6GVUT2AT59f1V-34y5FUWDAy30z1zpbk0s8EbGBdhIcYVVBrOmgudZ/s1600/photo+5-044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Providing not only a conversation starter,</div><div style="text-align: center;">rain has created a hearty crew who holds events rain or shine</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 'just gets on with it'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Molding fashion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you find adorable wellies and umbrellas at the ready for rain</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the sweater-scarf-leggings-boots combo is put to work </div><div style="text-align: center;">at least 9 months of the year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With rain comes rainbows and</div><div style="text-align: center;">the probable cloud cover provides soft lighting for photos</div><div style="text-align: center;">The mild weather is predictable with occasional 'sunny spells'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fog has been infrequent</div><div style="text-align: center;">but always a treat</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it drops a totally different lens to a wintry landscape<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o4APQIbygMKxwQkj8d2_klpAT4IapP5wY3fAhvcZnHG-ihID4jR9SIDcPINgRaceTjmj9J635U71l9keKLVyRVv2o5qFu6G6DvJo06JgxGYRkYyA1qWnqfaFBlY4NAgtKvDzewsDezsT/s1600/photo+4-027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o4APQIbygMKxwQkj8d2_klpAT4IapP5wY3fAhvcZnHG-ihID4jR9SIDcPINgRaceTjmj9J635U71l9keKLVyRVv2o5qFu6G6DvJo06JgxGYRkYyA1qWnqfaFBlY4NAgtKvDzewsDezsT/s1600/photo+4-027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wintertime is short but very dark,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and later we're rewarded by insanely long hours of daylight in summertime</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In general</div><div style="text-align: center;">the clouds and rain are like a cozy blanket</div><div style="text-align: center;">It makes me say, 'Ahhh, that's my England'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE OUTDOORS</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With all that rain and mild temperatures,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this island has the most wonderful conditions for growing things<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLU203Hc5DksbH8ls5CHkhvtKR14G-TXY_HKqt0Ti_V3A8qwW2enUT6a7Sd2Bni-KZSz5dLDuywqZ09WxYaKpdCw6nKe_nW9-YI4I6iDm8hotnE1Q02Wo-DBi4iVUImf4mw8y50hofKHqj/s1600/DSC01226-004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLU203Hc5DksbH8ls5CHkhvtKR14G-TXY_HKqt0Ti_V3A8qwW2enUT6a7Sd2Bni-KZSz5dLDuywqZ09WxYaKpdCw6nKe_nW9-YI4I6iDm8hotnE1Q02Wo-DBi4iVUImf4mw8y50hofKHqj/s1600/DSC01226-004.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dancing wildflowers are left to grow along the roadside</div><div style="text-align: center;">and walls of greenery guide you down the lanes </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the form of hedgerows and tree tunnels</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Picture-perfect crop fields are just as beautiful</div><div style="text-align: center;">as the countless public gardens that dot this verdant country</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Garden nurseries sell not only flowers and plants</div><div style="text-align: center;">but pots of tea, lunch and dessert</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With public footpaths zig-zagging the country,</div><div style="text-align: center;">there is no shortage of local hikes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and dogs can frolic off-leash to their waggy-heart's content<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoUacfDbm7fYbUcRyWrjwJV28YwgAu5kWl0fPZE6RAUmCHNAzHXbldz7q7iAiNgYFmL5HY44bgy-v6S4IenVq4oDtskkq0wWEe6YIo-J2tCqiR8sMDKAxyvnymbBCS2Hxizh7jQOwtnts/s1600/DSC09680-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoUacfDbm7fYbUcRyWrjwJV28YwgAu5kWl0fPZE6RAUmCHNAzHXbldz7q7iAiNgYFmL5HY44bgy-v6S4IenVq4oDtskkq0wWEe6YIo-J2tCqiR8sMDKAxyvnymbBCS2Hxizh7jQOwtnts/s1600/DSC09680-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Without the danger of bears, mountain lions, or poisonous snakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">children can run around more carefree than we are accustomed to</div><div style="text-align: center;">(there are venomous adders, but rare)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, how we will miss... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">being woken up at 5 o'clock by birdsong</div><div style="text-align: center;">old car horn sound of a pheasant call</div><div style="text-align: center;">bike pump sound made by the Great Tit</div><div style="text-align: center;">skinny little legs on the sweet and revered English Robin</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">wandering solitary fox</div><div style="text-align: center;">spinning tail of a newborn lamb</div><div style="text-align: center;">gorgeous haze of bluebells in Spring</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">shocking acid-yellow rapeseed<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwiJV2MO_jwUwRWiR-4VIvCzhmJAA3-sDZTfeCkLWBeinCbHl_mcTN7rMZob1wY9mANwEOO1PQCVDK5Fy6ohqLrs_tifLCm6M_Cj0G6IGT0GSzwJVlFXkpBXFZaxQ5Hk6TY2UGSh1J_hI/s1600/DSC01696-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwiJV2MO_jwUwRWiR-4VIvCzhmJAA3-sDZTfeCkLWBeinCbHl_mcTN7rMZob1wY9mANwEOO1PQCVDK5Fy6ohqLrs_tifLCm6M_Cj0G6IGT0GSzwJVlFXkpBXFZaxQ5Hk6TY2UGSh1J_hI/s1600/DSC01696-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">rich blue of a British summer sky</div><div style="text-align: center;">fairytale-like toadstools in autumn</div><div style="text-align: center;">magical hoar frost in winter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Like many Americans,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am quite smitten by the English accent</div><div style="text-align: center;">and surprised how it varies greatly</div><div style="text-align: center;">depending on class, education, and location<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj357jdTYsAltGAIjksuMfnt6gdmKzKxtn3WijmZcD_c_-5K8a-p5cvHcWP84D9F8QG67LvzuFbrpD9jYHS33TNoRt02n7FSNnQPvHKfjqWqnOmAbTZQaFCCLl33ySIIHErRU2OO2VfKWo0/s1600/DSC01270-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj357jdTYsAltGAIjksuMfnt6gdmKzKxtn3WijmZcD_c_-5K8a-p5cvHcWP84D9F8QG67LvzuFbrpD9jYHS33TNoRt02n7FSNnQPvHKfjqWqnOmAbTZQaFCCLl33ySIIHErRU2OO2VfKWo0/s1600/DSC01270-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've started to notice which type of accent is spoken in radio commercials</div><div style="text-align: center;">which provides a whole different level of information to the listener</div><div style="text-align: center;">as to what the advertiser wants to convey</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the English are not boastful,</div><div style="text-align: center;">they'll remind you of their original ownership of the English language</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And yet<br />they have pronunciation inconsistencies that make me look like a real heel</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as Cliveden - should be Clive-den but is pronounced Cliv'den -</div><div style="text-align: center;">and other pronunciation rule derailments such as Thames and Leicester</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I imagine the English use a larger percentage of their dictionary than Americans</div><div style="text-align: center;">and they have an impressively extensive vocabulary for landscapes such as</div><div style="text-align: center;">moor, tor, fen, fell, dale, vale, copse, lea, common, green, heath, and beck</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There is even a wordsmith game show on BBC radio</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love that the public will correct grammatically incorrect signage</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How I wish I had taken a photo of a notice placed in an elevator/lift I saw a few years ago</div><div style="text-align: center;">Someone had used a pen to make about 4 grammatical corrections on the sign</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was taken down that night<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But I did get a photo of this one at my local post office...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhwKtTImEFtuZT1HNnxAanYU_ZFrvXcwoeoTPPNJF3gwmSmtOimkXiGK2ddo9sarpv3QqU7yQGerswWWn2e6RBUJcEre31TgR7oolgF-qTzZACluDwKiigX4UDInaSz7XIPeDUunpp_So/s1600/photo+1-0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhwKtTImEFtuZT1HNnxAanYU_ZFrvXcwoeoTPPNJF3gwmSmtOimkXiGK2ddo9sarpv3QqU7yQGerswWWn2e6RBUJcEre31TgR7oolgF-qTzZACluDwKiigX4UDInaSz7XIPeDUunpp_So/s1600/photo+1-0061.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone attempted to scratch out the 's'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On a side note,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find it fascinating that the French has an official authority <span style="color: #444444; font-family: inherit;">(<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">Académie française)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">determining the usages, vocabulary, grammar, and dictionary of the French language</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">FOOD & DRINK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Let's cut the the chase:</div><div style="text-align: center;">man, how we will miss our country pubs<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kmq1iOs2DFUlzwpVX9LEEyqiTyHvoNKSbQdiXtoxfjwSlGlphfnkBcrALbBy9OX49dfyD4DonS-KCFafTsjtwVi6wbmshukJk6t2I-xw8HVT1VAbwMbv7_bgBWJrOT3qbUV5M9ByTwEd/s1600/photo+2-031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kmq1iOs2DFUlzwpVX9LEEyqiTyHvoNKSbQdiXtoxfjwSlGlphfnkBcrALbBy9OX49dfyD4DonS-KCFafTsjtwVi6wbmshukJk6t2I-xw8HVT1VAbwMbv7_bgBWJrOT3qbUV5M9ByTwEd/s1600/photo+2-031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Imagine a 17th-century pub with a warming fire in the fireplace</div><div style="text-align: center;">and board games stacked nearby just waiting to be played</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perfection!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A warming drink may include </div><div style="text-align: center;">a pot of tea</div><div style="text-align: center;">hot chocolate</div><div style="text-align: center;">(warmish) pint of beer</div><div style="text-align: center;">Winter Pimms</div><div style="text-align: center;">or mulled wine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happiness is sitting outside on a sunny day at a pub</div><div style="text-align: center;">while the kids play on equipment or hide-and-seek</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">'Quiz Night' is on Fridays</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday Roast each week</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dog and family friendly</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Pubs are the heartbeat of many villages</div><div style="text-align: center;">and there simply is no equivalent in the US<br />or possibly elsewhere in the world outside the UK/Ireland region</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With so many cool pubs to discover,</div><div style="text-align: center;">you never have to go to the same one twice<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCctux52X_k0o_wYpipRPvdjknXfEeDNtuQ4Jx0DmEx4gNX226y9bQnKqQ4GkQsaGt47a2584KL9nYXo0IHIICHWMoe0rpG0rmzUFu1lapD_Ibz5A7LW2TBvTcD3BdewOjGCFZZkWsMQH9/s1600/DSC00105-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCctux52X_k0o_wYpipRPvdjknXfEeDNtuQ4Jx0DmEx4gNX226y9bQnKqQ4GkQsaGt47a2584KL9nYXo0IHIICHWMoe0rpG0rmzUFu1lapD_Ibz5A7LW2TBvTcD3BdewOjGCFZZkWsMQH9/s1600/DSC00105-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While England gets a bad rap for food,</div><div style="text-align: center;">delicious Indian take-away is as common as Chinese take-out in the US</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The London food scene is amazing, delicious and diverse</div><div style="text-align: center;">and is constantly evolving with clever new ideas</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">From liquid nitrogen ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">to Alice In Wonderland tea,</div><div style="text-align: center;">from pay-per-minute cafes<br />to sushi on conveyor belts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">London has it all</div><div style="text-align: center;">and we're spoiled for choice</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet tooth will be missing a lot of British favorites:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">millionaire shortbread bars</div><div style="text-align: center;">lemon drizzle cake</div><div style="text-align: center;">treacle tart</div><div style="text-align: center;">sticky toffee pudding</div><div style="text-align: center;">honeycomb crunch ice cream</div><div style="text-align: center;">first of the season British strawberries</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And those unforgettably named dishes</div><div style="text-align: center;">Toad In The Hole, Bubble & Squeak</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In place of syrup,</div><div style="text-align: center;">who knew squeezing lots of lemon juice and sprinkling sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">all over pancakes would be a new breakfast favorite?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tipped off by a French friend who knows her food, we found another love</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>good local bread</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- so soft, so light, with lots of holes inside to capture the butter -<br />yummmmm</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aside from rain, tea also is an obvious integral part of England</div><div style="text-align: center;">Offered in homes and schools, by hairdressers, and at medical appointments</div><div style="text-align: center;">'a nice cup of tea' is another emotional cozy blanket in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">to either welcome or soothe<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKNVBnjBJ6yJAZT6O-QIhjajZk9VX2ufXqrWTOWDM1BKfCo6QDWqpEUG5-CtZ4Prdam1uxN1P_ThDU76u_Jc7Hyq7h8BSD32z1sjk2yhKs8vcbFxH229EZ7_1zL1ZZ-YDBS9JQe1npQuw/s1600/photo+4-049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKNVBnjBJ6yJAZT6O-QIhjajZk9VX2ufXqrWTOWDM1BKfCo6QDWqpEUG5-CtZ4Prdam1uxN1P_ThDU76u_Jc7Hyq7h8BSD32z1sjk2yhKs8vcbFxH229EZ7_1zL1ZZ-YDBS9JQe1npQuw/s1600/photo+4-049.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Interestingly</div><div style="text-align: center;">'cream tea' is more regional than I would have expected</div><div style="text-align: center;">with its clotted cream and scones</div><div style="text-align: center;">When I stumble upon one, I bring out my happy dance</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">THE DRIVING</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As intimidating and silly the driving exam seemed at the time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually am thankful I had to go through the process</div><div style="text-align: center;">or shall we call it 'a right of passage', hmm?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I definitely became a much better driver</div><div style="text-align: center;">thanks to the exam, the driving lessons,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and fellow drivers who honked at my missteps<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Y2cRdmJSSqj4_0YDjmKv81aqBX6piw79q1kTIfi0RIu7_90iJfJicTuBRtMsuTsjc0_2F3B8gT0YpzDmAy9umDNeEKnHBeszGJIPPT34CfNLH3VtHoEHh7v3Wc1XA3kQvaaq6lh6OX0/s1600/DSC09400-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Y2cRdmJSSqj4_0YDjmKv81aqBX6piw79q1kTIfi0RIu7_90iJfJicTuBRtMsuTsjc0_2F3B8gT0YpzDmAy9umDNeEKnHBeszGJIPPT34CfNLH3VtHoEHh7v3Wc1XA3kQvaaq6lh6OX0/s1600/DSC09400-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love the continuous driving enabled by</div><div style="text-align: center;">roundabouts and yields (no stop signs)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I appreciate 'creative parking'</div><div style="text-align: center;">in any direction on sidewalks</div><div style="text-align: center;">made possible by low kerbs/curbs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speed limits that change on digital signs </div><div style="text-align: center;">are a brilliant idea on the highways/dual carriageways</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You gotta love the single lane roads that call themselves a double lane</div><div style="text-align: center;">- smile if you know what I'm talking about -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And I can just hear the crowd go wild</div><div style="text-align: center;">when I totally nail one of those challenging parallel parking spaces</div><div style="text-align: center;">- that is some serious satisfaction, my friends -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">TRAVEL</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While we have the same number of school days as our American counterparts,</div><div style="text-align: center;">our holiday breaks are much longer<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQcYME2fzG7WzS2JqJLA2upcp7iz7-1fx9-cSwRyS_HWGVl4s3bYvNrxzlTGXzltC3AgjlA9FwvPS2NvQ8mlZwnxP47RjFrtXXbKxijN_vUPuO0NmRtKNqib7CDW5AhjTS0IhMCSoiLL/s1600/photo+3-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQcYME2fzG7WzS2JqJLA2upcp7iz7-1fx9-cSwRyS_HWGVl4s3bYvNrxzlTGXzltC3AgjlA9FwvPS2NvQ8mlZwnxP47RjFrtXXbKxijN_vUPuO0NmRtKNqib7CDW5AhjTS0IhMCSoiLL/s1600/photo+3-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ireland</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the US, it felt like nine months of solid school</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the UK, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it feels like we are on break, just finished a break, or about to have a break</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Consequently, English schools finish the school year in late June or July</div><div style="text-align: center;">making the summer holiday quite short</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And with two magnificent international airports nearby,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many destinations are just a direct flight away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Due to our location,</div><div style="text-align: center;">many countries are in a nearby timezone</div><div style="text-align: center;">meaning jet lag often is of no concern</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Travel is affordable-ish</div><div style="text-align: center;">with discounted airlines and most hotels open to some bargaining</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We will definitely miss all the mental breaks from school</div><div style="text-align: center;">allowing us quality family time even when we didn't travel</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feels like healthy living</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">MISCELLANEOUS<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A few other oddities I will miss:<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbMRET9NSF-FEnW1TVodLpjyWvAWi4VD37lW0oin7xn4UtqKEnnqOBItUNpZgOjP4oHh6JkBT2-JxMR_RSL96LdCodMbbE1W5Z3klwRomC_TlUG78GHSmXfuUblQT4HCDt2rQIdwUVDu0/s1600/photo+3-021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbMRET9NSF-FEnW1TVodLpjyWvAWi4VD37lW0oin7xn4UtqKEnnqOBItUNpZgOjP4oHh6JkBT2-JxMR_RSL96LdCodMbbE1W5Z3klwRomC_TlUG78GHSmXfuUblQT4HCDt2rQIdwUVDu0/s1600/photo+3-021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For portable toilets, that slogan is priceless!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* on/off switch on wall outlets</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* Panto season at Christmastime<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* LBC and BBC talk radio - giving me more insight into the English mind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* contest radio winners who respond with a simple 'thank you' or 'I'm. so. happy.' </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* upcoming Scottish independence vote and <span style="background-color: white;">UK General Election</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Refreshingly, voting happens with little fanfare and no endorsements signs</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sorry to miss feeling the pulse!<br /><br />* English synonyms for so many American words<br />My vocabulary has definitely expanded<br /><br />* little things such as the European '7' with a line through it,<br />the date written in a different order,<br />writing in upper case letters almost exclusively,<br />formally beginning emails with 'dear' and ending with 'kind regards'<br /><br />* the density of so much to do, see, learn, and photograph<br />so close to home<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LSuu4sd-UGK5DvW9PmUWV0yLBHkrAFXs7e8NOJNdOmuiX2c5uCQr9oYqcrfrRtHjjLtSVUVDjmAWBwL7lrZJkYfZDJ-h8oevWoxLwY1HR9X5j0PYmbxTHi2y915hymKqgi0EZZPDOL8H/s1600/photo+1-053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LSuu4sd-UGK5DvW9PmUWV0yLBHkrAFXs7e8NOJNdOmuiX2c5uCQr9oYqcrfrRtHjjLtSVUVDjmAWBwL7lrZJkYfZDJ-h8oevWoxLwY1HR9X5j0PYmbxTHi2y915hymKqgi0EZZPDOL8H/s1600/photo+1-053.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the time is right on many fronts for us to leave,</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are returning to the US as new, improved 'us'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm definitely a lot smarter having absorbed English history and culture</div><div style="text-align: center;">and grateful to learn a different way to do life and raise a family</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would I live in another foreign country again?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Although it has its challenges, yes, definitely yes</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all images my own -</span></i></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Reflecting On England

What can I say... so much we have learned  and so much we will miss Thank you for joining my journey! I am so thankful you have read and com...

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The Lake District

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">For the long holiday weekend</div><div style="text-align: center;">we took a quick zip to the Lake District, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the largest and most visited National Park in England </div><div style="text-align: center;">located near the Scottish border</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOsp4V9IQMey63zLLt6ro__WCPE6pYEq8x_RmhqMLs_7x4Dc-FimDHTiPZjDldz1PdexUMn8bPad1HiW2vI7WvfCN5-4Tf6bw_aOwW8MRP3DALFDy2p4jG2ULxYdeGXHXeIAgaF1-mk5L/s1600/DSC01358-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOsp4V9IQMey63zLLt6ro__WCPE6pYEq8x_RmhqMLs_7x4Dc-FimDHTiPZjDldz1PdexUMn8bPad1HiW2vI7WvfCN5-4Tf6bw_aOwW8MRP3DALFDy2p4jG2ULxYdeGXHXeIAgaF1-mk5L/s1600/DSC01358-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see how this area has inspired so many authors</div><div style="text-align: center;">including William Wordsworth and Arthur Ransome</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvFovpeBzOUA5GE62od9RNklNj8lMboA_CHfQnjHbMOAVKZZFO2WZYxCH4v_uc3Qei6t0y6dL-Rin3JdVGY8GM6MqS1DJZ5h9tTotZsdVoBUnuBSzNPrxOEm3Lvk9nScjvPQ7InXcbfGn/s1600/DSC01325-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvFovpeBzOUA5GE62od9RNklNj8lMboA_CHfQnjHbMOAVKZZFO2WZYxCH4v_uc3Qei6t0y6dL-Rin3JdVGY8GM6MqS1DJZ5h9tTotZsdVoBUnuBSzNPrxOEm3Lvk9nScjvPQ7InXcbfGn/s1600/DSC01325-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The area is known for its </div><div style="text-align: center;">long, thin lakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">hills (known as 'fells')</div><div style="text-align: center;">verdant countryside (indicating it rains a lot) </div><div style="text-align: center;">and hardy Herdwick & Swaledale sheep</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOboHP888sECFKJOvOT7C5tYS9z1RT18sC8uRbRxS7lOEP8i_Ey3DCLhK9jo3n02sA5kS4w7-8xm0pm-9YD3S7hyAr28O_FXB9QU4E3uNwJZPWAAZES4cMtojPAhWruLNt7in-p4Xw0ZLu/s1600/DSC01383-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOboHP888sECFKJOvOT7C5tYS9z1RT18sC8uRbRxS7lOEP8i_Ey3DCLhK9jo3n02sA5kS4w7-8xm0pm-9YD3S7hyAr28O_FXB9QU4E3uNwJZPWAAZES4cMtojPAhWruLNt7in-p4Xw0ZLu/s1600/DSC01383-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Aren't you in love already?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6QjOSC6LYr1PAWQC9urMKXoQxMkFea-WEAH69w1u5LsFzn6Inhon_B5HmFSkJzUB27maWgaNN8PDQoQfSTr7dNrkUq7JPbp9zF_10d7KcrV7lF7_wK13gfprJ9sO7tBVEqX9UPlmUJa6/s1600/DSC01574-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6QjOSC6LYr1PAWQC9urMKXoQxMkFea-WEAH69w1u5LsFzn6Inhon_B5HmFSkJzUB27maWgaNN8PDQoQfSTr7dNrkUq7JPbp9zF_10d7KcrV7lF7_wK13gfprJ9sO7tBVEqX9UPlmUJa6/s1600/DSC01574-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9p83Kqrn1Ytf-_tnJl0SZIcqTphRCBCVV9qvlyvkykrMlSifPnVfRJSOb1HAOnxlZchB7LVq5EwWu8nr279rHV5B1JZXn8FCQHmFXzpZkxVmYH1Lc-0tDhqzXmyY_vLVnPOgnpD_B8gv/s1600/DSC01443-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9p83Kqrn1Ytf-_tnJl0SZIcqTphRCBCVV9qvlyvkykrMlSifPnVfRJSOb1HAOnxlZchB7LVq5EwWu8nr279rHV5B1JZXn8FCQHmFXzpZkxVmYH1Lc-0tDhqzXmyY_vLVnPOgnpD_B8gv/s1600/DSC01443-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3RxtdxbNAywb4SmXR0K85npQ8NWzR0LmEhqRyLm_PZfD2wVaIoM5UJQfEU7aPJmZ7enpo0VntbebtodjIUpgSYtJT1PVk-4rTtkxczcwf3OEYCqY3iwMn0hFj9mOYHCuVZBoOFPZpiN_/s1600/DSC01413-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3RxtdxbNAywb4SmXR0K85npQ8NWzR0LmEhqRyLm_PZfD2wVaIoM5UJQfEU7aPJmZ7enpo0VntbebtodjIUpgSYtJT1PVk-4rTtkxczcwf3OEYCqY3iwMn0hFj9mOYHCuVZBoOFPZpiN_/s1600/DSC01413-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">We visited Beatrix Potter's 17th-century farmhouse, <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hill-top/">Hill Top</a>,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which was a real highlight</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We saw local village locations that appear in her books</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as this letter box</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuE6VtOC525ipAoZ4xoSR3rvi7ItWWkvMUhkSbQhBbqz2EWAZ0W-rbmmUSYwlT63TXvZ_wmCfsMsbJKpUjVT-rQxGq7jerrPdnm3WDzSB0spKWlo5ktCgpq_zRAnfNa-_Iz7oAtRy4jMI/s1600/DSC01455-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuE6VtOC525ipAoZ4xoSR3rvi7ItWWkvMUhkSbQhBbqz2EWAZ0W-rbmmUSYwlT63TXvZ_wmCfsMsbJKpUjVT-rQxGq7jerrPdnm3WDzSB0spKWlo5ktCgpq_zRAnfNa-_Iz7oAtRy4jMI/s1600/DSC01455-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Victoria was the first to put her 'royal cypher' on new postboxes<br />Here, 'GR' indicates this letterbox was placed during the reign of King George V (<i>George Rex</i>)<br />Queen Elizabeth II's royal cypher is EIIR (<i>Elizabeth II Regina</i>)<br /><i>Rex/Regina</i> is Latin for king/queen</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />So glad we fit in this last trip!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well worth the five hour drive :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- all images my own -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The Lake District

For the long holiday weekend we took a quick zip to the Lake District,  the largest and most visited National Park in England  located near ...

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Downton Abbey Film Locations

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Highclere Castle is the primary film location</div><div style="text-align: center;">for ITV's popular <i>Downton Abbey</i> television series</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Highclere Castle is open to the public select days each year</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6weBdpoNVkVh6ff_fscWuOMjco4KAIWq1LivJ-3x43ogdvC1-_4Tv0TeB1jvg0l6Ss80JgnhLpwUXhfS5wYs9B_7DY4Uf3C2UZ8YTjRM3-IeFKVr-OHSx7nmd68r_2ueQYavDoKYHE4cH/s1600/Downton_Abbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6weBdpoNVkVh6ff_fscWuOMjco4KAIWq1LivJ-3x43ogdvC1-_4Tv0TeB1jvg0l6Ss80JgnhLpwUXhfS5wYs9B_7DY4Uf3C2UZ8YTjRM3-IeFKVr-OHSx7nmd68r_2ueQYavDoKYHE4cH/s1600/Downton_Abbey.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Downton_Abbey.jpg">wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although I won't have a chance to visit Highclere Castle, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I recently had tea at Byfleet Manor </div><div style="text-align: center;">(aka Lady Violet Crawley's house in the series)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not too far from London,</div><div style="text-align: center;">this private home opens to the public for tea parties, special events, and pre-arranged tours</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQfW3fCk0AxT17Jp-T-GyfkMXXQ3lafqs4pUSZCCDvpgRIKwTwRtfmJ4t6JKg7Gouc0LhoUW6g761bu-d-BgIxn2Nkvwb5-LipJQ6UnU8UCpEmpdjwYilNAad45KvsE-aZz-6hsAWgb4O/s1600/DSC01231-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQfW3fCk0AxT17Jp-T-GyfkMXXQ3lafqs4pUSZCCDvpgRIKwTwRtfmJ4t6JKg7Gouc0LhoUW6g761bu-d-BgIxn2Nkvwb5-LipJQ6UnU8UCpEmpdjwYilNAad45KvsE-aZz-6hsAWgb4O/s1600/DSC01231-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The original portion of the house was built in 1670</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the location of a previous palace belonging to Henry VIII</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two wings were added later</div><div style="text-align: center;">and each lived in by different residents today</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Hutton family resides in the middle portion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which is used for filming</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFHPUhmAGNoYEbp5N9U65yb48cex3Kh0ZgU9HDebEYXjmlHGP-f-Z9HjKRsdnwLzF71p3OcyVRDGJiMNeJkuE21Tr0Xy1MSU2q-WEpolmzV9lPV7b9JYBNEM9vr7H-E2oqaZmrlanToK2/s1600/DSC01247-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFHPUhmAGNoYEbp5N9U65yb48cex3Kh0ZgU9HDebEYXjmlHGP-f-Z9HjKRsdnwLzF71p3OcyVRDGJiMNeJkuE21Tr0Xy1MSU2q-WEpolmzV9lPV7b9JYBNEM9vr7H-E2oqaZmrlanToK2/s1600/DSC01247-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most filmed room for 'Dower House' of Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith)</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A great story unfolded thirteen years ago...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">With a newborn in her arms,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Julie Hutton watched in horror as her dog ran off and bit a man </div><div style="text-align: center;">who turned out to be a judge</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As you would expect, </div><div style="text-align: center;">a policeman came knocking at her door to take the dog away</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The policeman took pity on the emotional new mom and did not take the dog,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and impulsively the Huttons bought Byfleet Manor with its fenced yard</div><div style="text-align: center;">(which she saw in a flier) </div><div style="text-align: center;">in an effort to save their pet</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It worked - the dog was saved</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw9Al75iAW2Ov1VNy4v-K2M7OApAkYlxFc27dV0EDwMbIB6Zb-dIBR9T8MoouegyqwT78VJfqj72sV4TobfSxdh2nr95l2oTDdt3uZ6Mq5sSQ9X_IDSnMTKX4vH9p8aUft_Gk7nMx6zMJ/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw9Al75iAW2Ov1VNy4v-K2M7OApAkYlxFc27dV0EDwMbIB6Zb-dIBR9T8MoouegyqwT78VJfqj72sV4TobfSxdh2nr95l2oTDdt3uZ6Mq5sSQ9X_IDSnMTKX4vH9p8aUft_Gk7nMx6zMJ/s1600/DSC01237.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Years later, a stranger knocked on their Byfleet Manor front door </div><div style="text-align: center;">and asked if the house could be used for filming a television show</div><div style="text-align: center;">(<i>Downton Abbey</i>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">They said yes</div><div style="text-align: center;">and interestingly all 'Dower House' scenes for the season are filmed in just one day</div><div style="text-align: center;">(plus one day to clear out the room and another day to put it back together)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRkH9dHCjU9_g85vNNKENH3ijxvrQmBJFrKUe5a133iUhiRZWf3iUT1fDnKO2KvWhC4Xs2LSXArKr2k1eY7R4775UZG3gY-vHfcaRERG2e9NvOhDJUo3RvN-5pdx9uWYM6gsIqFkf3leK/s1600/DSC01238-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRkH9dHCjU9_g85vNNKENH3ijxvrQmBJFrKUe5a133iUhiRZWf3iUT1fDnKO2KvWhC4Xs2LSXArKr2k1eY7R4775UZG3gY-vHfcaRERG2e9NvOhDJUo3RvN-5pdx9uWYM6gsIqFkf3leK/s1600/DSC01238-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a peek at the Hutton's beautiful garden within the 24 acre property</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtZZW7l1k-m-6AA06Che4AIEKQYzAjvWmJqO7X4Vc7iNzkB5pGcLeeRZ64BrN-i14gph46nQrIAaZGQ-laXMfPz5pgDN8xpmQ80m3438nC-gIIM50HqVNQHN7fichaxcpSjcgWAbwqHSn/s1600/DSC01250-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtZZW7l1k-m-6AA06Che4AIEKQYzAjvWmJqO7X4Vc7iNzkB5pGcLeeRZ64BrN-i14gph46nQrIAaZGQ-laXMfPz5pgDN8xpmQ80m3438nC-gIIM50HqVNQHN7fichaxcpSjcgWAbwqHSn/s1600/DSC01250-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">and one of their pet pigs</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSsrBXaq0rct-2SpFTES_8ypYpT5P4FWA9waO3Lq_S3G5floJ9aFgQcjpOpwcMTnK57UBeip8zWDUfPXHbwbqSOiKmBigTeafs74nJtfjmTnz3jbQoyAryAoVD9JhScg6_FGrTqBn0OiP/s1600/DSC01260-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSsrBXaq0rct-2SpFTES_8ypYpT5P4FWA9waO3Lq_S3G5floJ9aFgQcjpOpwcMTnK57UBeip8zWDUfPXHbwbqSOiKmBigTeafs74nJtfjmTnz3jbQoyAryAoVD9JhScg6_FGrTqBn0OiP/s1600/DSC01260-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I find this animal lover's story to be a great reminder -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When life sends you a lemon,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it could be for lemonade</div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- images my own, excluding first one -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Links: <a href="http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/">Highclere Castle</a>,<a href="http://www.byfleetmanor.com/"> Byfleet Manor</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Downton Abbey Film Locations

Highclere Castle is the primary film location for ITV's popular Downton Abbey television series Highclere Castle is open to the public ...

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Visiting Gertrude Jekyll's Home

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">So, wow.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This week I visited the Godalming home of </div><div style="text-align: center;">the most famous garden designer of all time,</div><div style="text-align: center;">at least in my mind</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- Gertrude Jekyll -</div><div style="text-align: center;">(pronounced GEE-kul)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VX2EGWz8AYhD7yF232XbfheyU10E1KRrV-eGJUyO9e_QljmYir9zgVly0ug2lvKD1B5OHbibLMfxgYGzXJzYMtfVI7wU5i4Fr-7bWvCq1V7BJeCOy4-OsUKp9JrqZ0KcQjEvdtPYrg2b/s1600/DSC01123-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VX2EGWz8AYhD7yF232XbfheyU10E1KRrV-eGJUyO9e_QljmYir9zgVly0ug2lvKD1B5OHbibLMfxgYGzXJzYMtfVI7wU5i4Fr-7bWvCq1V7BJeCOy4-OsUKp9JrqZ0KcQjEvdtPYrg2b/s1600/DSC01123-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not only was she THE garden designer for wealthy Edwardian homeowners,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she was an artist, writer, photographer, and propagator</div><div style="text-align: center;">(1843 - 1932)<br /><br />Think of the opulent era of the <i>Titanic</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Being an artist and photographer,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she came to landscape design with a fresh eye</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While formal French and Italian gardens had been in fashion,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she introduced the revolutionary herbaceous border</div><div style="text-align: center;">Americans would describe as 'the English Garden'<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJYIjgd-89DgNR-up-re9D-KgxZUwXPfyaH08SairXPsnfPx9G68ZLP3R9P2UqQSz1qo3Pur240AfUecmyfdBggdK0uwmJV37lpzdMx0tSUG3y3zBZBc21TJ6EwhOZxExriF935-SixTE/s1600/2014-05-15+12-07-036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJYIjgd-89DgNR-up-re9D-KgxZUwXPfyaH08SairXPsnfPx9G68ZLP3R9P2UqQSz1qo3Pur240AfUecmyfdBggdK0uwmJV37lpzdMx0tSUG3y3zBZBc21TJ6EwhOZxExriF935-SixTE/s1600/2014-05-15+12-07-036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She included plants that grow well in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">such as the rose, daylily, foxglove and lavender<br /><br />She was interested not only in flowers,<br />but also texture, structure and leaf shapes</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A border that is a little bit messy with drifts of flowers,</div><div style="text-align: center;">not tidy or formal at all<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWMNFJA7PIuqWw5gK60mqDOu8qI28n6oRasugQ8VtkbH5K419TbdICHNbtkdDAgiKrD87Rh9b0FY1qPFxz1mB0yLtXykVDKKMdwQLKWw7oV9aQ_w7uvJs_91tv8QP7quRzGKo1qSNehRH/s1600/DSC01112-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWMNFJA7PIuqWw5gK60mqDOu8qI28n6oRasugQ8VtkbH5K419TbdICHNbtkdDAgiKrD87Rh9b0FY1qPFxz1mB0yLtXykVDKKMdwQLKWw7oV9aQ_w7uvJs_91tv8QP7quRzGKo1qSNehRH/s1600/DSC01112-004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Uniquely,<br /> Jekyll also played with color schemes seen in her famous all-white gardens and</div><div style="text-align: center;">all hot and all cool colored borders<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ms Jekyll also came up with the idea of cozy garden 'rooms'</div><div style="text-align: center;">and a peek into another room through a hedge<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FyWx49_GE7Iu5PuzBEi7WgUKaZ2uNsJTodNtYGrezuvRUDfbg2ibe64PCLv4yBC3V9rOxA2oZjwRLv22Sb5mMwY8C2onJ11QOJTKwZdrXJtKIw3WPVhrN2gSvGc4pboHNdL_GdNXOPIc/s1600/DSC01072-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FyWx49_GE7Iu5PuzBEi7WgUKaZ2uNsJTodNtYGrezuvRUDfbg2ibe64PCLv4yBC3V9rOxA2oZjwRLv22Sb5mMwY8C2onJ11QOJTKwZdrXJtKIw3WPVhrN2gSvGc4pboHNdL_GdNXOPIc/s1600/DSC01072-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This tireless woman had a team of workers</div><div style="text-align: center;">help manage and cultivate her 17 acre property</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She grew all the plants she installed in her customers' gardens,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so her plantings still grow all over England today<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRZcrM9SlQNMV8US12hgDT54Q-F_ozPAhg60fnZrmDKmfIovMX2imqcE_Af6Grusum1DCmklCsSNJ0S8blfZvXSuBGkX9hKC_-a3eaoEm8vUx6OeMlbyB6juA18imAh84Uk78rYlwAiXp/s1600/DSC01065-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRZcrM9SlQNMV8US12hgDT54Q-F_ozPAhg60fnZrmDKmfIovMX2imqcE_Af6Grusum1DCmklCsSNJ0S8blfZvXSuBGkX9hKC_-a3eaoEm8vUx6OeMlbyB6juA18imAh84Uk78rYlwAiXp/s1600/DSC01065-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When WWI rolled around,</div><div style="text-align: center;">customers no longer had money to spend on her designs or plants,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her designs grew out of favor, and her workers went off to fight in the war<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuhAmMFwEuVgYBtMzoyt9MOZtOVHLnuSu0YgzWioHOszMLxf0d10alwesDLJLrnOc84UUMbVAyflhy-_QqZ1YYrl8AFSnQVARlhqDfZuYqjkKj9iIwDX_GTwYtEaGTyGiPJr0y5Pxt-Jb/s1600/DSC01100-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuhAmMFwEuVgYBtMzoyt9MOZtOVHLnuSu0YgzWioHOszMLxf0d10alwesDLJLrnOc84UUMbVAyflhy-_QqZ1YYrl8AFSnQVARlhqDfZuYqjkKj9iIwDX_GTwYtEaGTyGiPJr0y5Pxt-Jb/s1600/DSC01100-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From donkey carts to potting sheds, Jekyll's house was a working home</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Finding herself with a sharp decrease in income,</div><div style="text-align: center;">she did have a bit of luck</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although she never visited America,</div><div style="text-align: center;">a high demand for her services started coming across the pond</div><div style="text-align: center;">which created a resurgence in her business</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is probably why she is the only historical garden designer</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had heard of before I moved here<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp272xnfSU19kgevORE_tZdEjTqxEfwRzjqFyKDuwftWEsfUjQ1TCob5Ml9A961qpYv_hffWaRHOXmqCNQWeqxRaPZBtDBbuKJgFISIxsGlnzanDCCUvrcmaoYYH3vaapnmq_aRuftzmGn/s1600/DSC01078-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp272xnfSU19kgevORE_tZdEjTqxEfwRzjqFyKDuwftWEsfUjQ1TCob5Ml9A961qpYv_hffWaRHOXmqCNQWeqxRaPZBtDBbuKJgFISIxsGlnzanDCCUvrcmaoYYH3vaapnmq_aRuftzmGn/s1600/DSC01078-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">She left a legacy behind in America with Munstead Lavender </div><div style="text-align: center;">being one of the most common lavender varieties sold in the US today</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's named after her home, Munstead Wood, </div><div style="text-align: center;">where she propagated it<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qyckrTe61Kred6ysfKEZU7c-JBQsBt-jxWmn3qxqEzfpbc-mkLO2T8oLeK55BT4qPxwKUivhGqfGzg0WCMdD552VXUbHmoL00hBKbhiJvwXc-fv4JK6grB1752vwHSYgRlB6unolietz/s1600/DSC01090-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qyckrTe61Kred6ysfKEZU7c-JBQsBt-jxWmn3qxqEzfpbc-mkLO2T8oLeK55BT4qPxwKUivhGqfGzg0WCMdD552VXUbHmoL00hBKbhiJvwXc-fv4JK6grB1752vwHSYgRlB6unolietz/s1600/DSC01090-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After Jekyll died,</div><div style="text-align: center;">her property was divided into five parcels and sold off</div><div style="text-align: center;">Much of it was turfed over, and some transformed into a tennis court</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Fortunately the current owners of her home realized the treasure they had</div><div style="text-align: center;">and restored the gardens to their original state,</div><div style="text-align: center;">thanks to the documentation in Jekyll's photographs and plans<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDvizezPd7e3P6C8zEapAZxX8AV_7rDK7r0mNbd5tKQqTQdj_0BkpCVlBNrmltv4BdVkiAxJj8VCXq4Sehn-DSuHtGnYVv-dEK3R7BlCB7vmq06fWS1UxILZHmCnMD1IAz4KO8w7CDa59/s1600/DSC01127-003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDvizezPd7e3P6C8zEapAZxX8AV_7rDK7r0mNbd5tKQqTQdj_0BkpCVlBNrmltv4BdVkiAxJj8VCXq4Sehn-DSuHtGnYVv-dEK3R7BlCB7vmq06fWS1UxILZHmCnMD1IAz4KO8w7CDa59/s1600/DSC01127-003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the original trees still stand</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the gardens feel original<br />Ah, such tranquility and beauty<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In fact, Jekyll created the gardens <i>before</i> she had the house built</div><div style="text-align: center;">She had a very successful partnership with the famous architect, Edwin Lutyen</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was in great demand for designing country homes<br />and she designed the gardens for his houses<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">He designed Munstead Wood too<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWeNQzAZufGrADBy8QQ9rmEF9RzjNCemCtt-BIshHcqPBAGff2GpQWm6FSvZAFDJRls7y-CBMj-oRkA9cFz-ZqIalFiZvqMN5XZcxw_eF-dQEVnX5OYqttGmVG0OVne6z1qztYjk7vbwQ/s1600/DSC01093-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNWeNQzAZufGrADBy8QQ9rmEF9RzjNCemCtt-BIshHcqPBAGff2GpQWm6FSvZAFDJRls7y-CBMj-oRkA9cFz-ZqIalFiZvqMN5XZcxw_eF-dQEVnX5OYqttGmVG0OVne6z1qztYjk7vbwQ/s1600/DSC01093-002.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>So amazing to brush against</div><div>such a tireless and innovative woman</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos my own -</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Visitor informaton: <a href="http://www.lutyenstrust.org.uk/properties/jekyll.htm">Lutyens Trust</a> </span></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

Visiting Gertrude Jekyll's Home

So, wow. This week I visited the Godalming home of  the most famous garden designer of all time, at least in my mind - Gertrude Jekyll - (pr...

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A Smoky Sun

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">It's not until you stop seeing the sun for a prolonged amount of time</div><div style="text-align: center;">that you start to realize the indicators of a longed-for sunny day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Shadows</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunglasses</div><div style="text-align: center;">Squinting</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sun visor on your car</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunrise</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunset </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislRT-R9fs4fI5H_x3cIjMLrkOMNroVvLEnFknMaioHW9FWy8MlyVYPJuV_H2-sM_TbW_Hw_Q57dBi4VYuuHzGzP57BlSTOt-ycNiV4ecR_WHrBVNBnbHANKvyppF8PHF_yt_3WJhylSVx/s1600/photo+4-012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislRT-R9fs4fI5H_x3cIjMLrkOMNroVvLEnFknMaioHW9FWy8MlyVYPJuV_H2-sM_TbW_Hw_Q57dBi4VYuuHzGzP57BlSTOt-ycNiV4ecR_WHrBVNBnbHANKvyppF8PHF_yt_3WJhylSVx/s1600/photo+4-012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">After such a bleak winter, the sun is out </div><div style="text-align: center;">and everyone is busy in the yard</div><div style="text-align: center;">burning their garden refuse</div><div style="text-align: center;">(unheard of in America with wildfire danger)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The yummy smell of burning leaves will always remind me of England</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU62N3y8yZuK2mN-qZvkngVh5XcT21rSwEW0kWjvCe315qmOlLnxwHQLPaiIqzMdbzpKAx4OjoK60qPX8p045Pu8Hd40mSAvfQWL1VxCONglMQyFva149DpYDLTAwb6FUjfO-LEK-zO8jC/s1600/DSC_0101-0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU62N3y8yZuK2mN-qZvkngVh5XcT21rSwEW0kWjvCe315qmOlLnxwHQLPaiIqzMdbzpKAx4OjoK60qPX8p045Pu8Hd40mSAvfQWL1VxCONglMQyFva149DpYDLTAwb6FUjfO-LEK-zO8jC/s1600/DSC_0101-0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Due to all the smoke, we have had the most astonishingly beautiful sunrises and sunsets</div><div style="text-align: center;">with a haze providing an amazing filter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, such wonderful bookends to a day</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me -</span></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Smoky Sun

It's not until you stop seeing the sun for a prolonged amount of time that you start to realize the indicators of a longed-for sunny day...

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The War Of The Worlds & HG Wells

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">I've noticed that it is not always true when a book states<br />'Any resemblance to actual events or<br />locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental'<br /><br />To name a few, authors Jane Austin and Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)<br />cleverly wove locations, current events, and local characters into their stories<br />which would have been identified by their contemporary readers<br /><br />H.G. Wells was no exception<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbA1uvK41ZOrIixPf_1jfqcv4lZu_PtSzGNpTjeP5Hbv4Wy9lug8_RLFa4CpehPgSG-13gB2fD5LvojjPqaoURakPeV67iTmMQIi1W-IY9JdVYDHUAkZhV9sWa-xP_f7JxF-ouS0uK1ea/s1600/51FP9CQcmIL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbA1uvK41ZOrIixPf_1jfqcv4lZu_PtSzGNpTjeP5Hbv4Wy9lug8_RLFa4CpehPgSG-13gB2fD5LvojjPqaoURakPeV67iTmMQIi1W-IY9JdVYDHUAkZhV9sWa-xP_f7JxF-ouS0uK1ea/s1600/51FP9CQcmIL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-056.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-War-Worlds-H-G-Wells-ebook/dp/B00B0X3SUK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393862200&sr=8-1&keywords=war+of+the+worlds+book">Amazon</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Imagine my delight when I discovered that in 1897<br />Martians roamed past 'my' local craft store in Woking, Surrey<br />in 'The War Of The Worlds' by H.G. Wells<br /><br />The storyline of the book is<br />Martians arrive in spacecrafts outside London and<br />use heat rays and poisonous gas to destroy anything and anyone in their path<br />as they make their way toward the capital city<br /><br />The reader can follow the narrator's journey<br />through Woking to Leatherhead, Weybridge, and Walton<br />The routes haven't changed much in a hundred years!<br />(H.G. Wells was a keen cyclist and knew the roads well)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_PNwhFY1qF-m0uOKZWOW55xQxld7hjeZ1FbX0eUQC6XtnN7GcDEdIpBNe9nNumihEZ7SSR-UtvZUb77pEsxc_RWrQ_PCE6FvIrtjJJ-_iBLzeeQq1A7EleUq2HJf9GnTr8r8yTmTxbgF/s1600/DSC09259-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_PNwhFY1qF-m0uOKZWOW55xQxld7hjeZ1FbX0eUQC6XtnN7GcDEdIpBNe9nNumihEZ7SSR-UtvZUb77pEsxc_RWrQ_PCE6FvIrtjJJ-_iBLzeeQq1A7EleUq2HJf9GnTr8r8yTmTxbgF/s1600/DSC09259-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house Wells rented during his short stay in Woking</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although Wells only resided in Woking for 15 months,</div><div style="text-align: center;">it is where he wrote 'The War Of The Worlds' and wrote most prolifically </div><div style="text-align: center;">(7000 words a day versus his typical 1000 words)<br /><br />At the time, Woking was a 'cemetery town'<br />meaning it was where Londoners were laid to rest<br />due to a lack of burial space in London<br />(and still is)<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2zGmrEY5iOdNT8HfxOqqqzQc1gzqcUXrp_K4vjE6InIewuSx42prB7acmY1gBbbPn-w8Cg4IEw-s8YkDb3B51x1eYUenoZTYZ9YlutfU6e9NoeY7b-my_MpgpidgTuJWUH-8U6z1FY5l/s1600/DSC09261-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2zGmrEY5iOdNT8HfxOqqqzQc1gzqcUXrp_K4vjE6InIewuSx42prB7acmY1gBbbPn-w8Cg4IEw-s8YkDb3B51x1eYUenoZTYZ9YlutfU6e9NoeY7b-my_MpgpidgTuJWUH-8U6z1FY5l/s1600/DSC09261-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The street H.G. Wells lived on</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Victorian England was concerned about a military invasion</div><div style="text-align: center;">by Germany and/or France<br /><br /><i><b>'She seemed, poor woman, to imagine that </b></i><br /><i><b>the French and the Martians might prove very similar. </b></i><br /><i><b>She had been growing increasingly hysterical, fearful, and depressed.'</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The British people felt the military force at home was weak and vulnerable</div><div style="text-align: center;">while the British Empire was expanding its tendrils abroad<br /><br />I believe Wells questioned the actions of the Empire<br />a few times in his sci-fi novel<br /><br /><b><i>'Surely, if we have learned nothing else, </i><i>this war has taught us pity - </i></b><br /><i><b>pity for those witless souls that suffer our dominion'</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Internationally, </div><div style="text-align: center;">tensions were mounting between European imperial powers</div><div style="text-align: center;">as World War I loomed in the near future</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Wells foreshadowed the use of poisonous gas and flying machines in war)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Society also was concerned about refugees</div><div style="text-align: center;">flooding the country from Ireland and Eastern Europe</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">An 'alien' was anyone born out of</div><div style="text-align: center;">'faith and allegiance of the king of England'<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ttd5Swsrs7Y5KNnT2VlbHJf_h6YpXuX7Egp-YangeE8k9V3k-OeXFstFcTJ7iJH7gA93YUPiLzuK2BbJxEh3a62ojsxI10yjD_0K1hlvCLKK6rBDhVft4VsxdnI68dzU67-OesfQ646K/s1600/DSC09240-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Ttd5Swsrs7Y5KNnT2VlbHJf_h6YpXuX7Egp-YangeE8k9V3k-OeXFstFcTJ7iJH7gA93YUPiLzuK2BbJxEh3a62ojsxI10yjD_0K1hlvCLKK6rBDhVft4VsxdnI68dzU67-OesfQ646K/s1600/DSC09240-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The initial Martian landing was in Horsell Common<br />'...not far from the sand pits. An enormous hole had been made<br />by the impact of the projectile, and the sand and gravel had been flung violently <br />in every direction over the heath'</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Popular culture was fascinated with Mars</div><div style="text-align: center;">as modern telescopes were seeing new lines on the planet </div><div style="text-align: center;">that could have been water canals built by Martians,<br />they theorized</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So the Victorian fears of foreign invasion, </div><div style="text-align: center;">'aliens' coming to England,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the fascination of Mars</div><div style="text-align: center;">all culminated into the storyline </div><div style="text-align: center;">of 'The War Of The Worlds'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">H.G. Wells received clarity of his plot</div><div style="text-align: center;">as he walked Horsell Common<br />which he could see from his house</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb4aCCe6hSgYYCev3wNIpdwNE_hDWD5d1ImzZuLgXl_3ZdOk0obJp4L6x9fxHEbXyPupE62V3BIZnnSdbCUq84xDeRTHnOu40AvjpKa3Hm6JramB1q9k2E-wN0JWAnA2rkgylr5tB1EcL/s1600/450px-Woking_tripod.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb4aCCe6hSgYYCev3wNIpdwNE_hDWD5d1ImzZuLgXl_3ZdOk0obJp4L6x9fxHEbXyPupE62V3BIZnnSdbCUq84xDeRTHnOu40AvjpKa3Hm6JramB1q9k2E-wN0JWAnA2rkgylr5tB1EcL/s1600/450px-Woking_tripod.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alien statue in Woking to commemorate<br />'The War Of The Worlds'<br />via <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells">Wikipedia</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />With the help of Wells and lesser known authors,<br />Surrey became the 'cradle of science fiction'<br /><br />and Wells became the pioneer of 'alien invasion literature'<br /><br />My, how classic literature comes alive when you know the backstory<br />and can walk the real settings of a novel<br /><br />Just had to share!<br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">- photos by me unless otherwise noted -</span></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sources: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lecture by Prof Peter Beck, walking tour by Iain Wakeford, Wikipedia</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

The War Of The Worlds & HG Wells

I've noticed that it is not always true when a book states 'Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, ...

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