Bank Holiday Part 2

Romsey is a wonderfully friendly (esp. those lovely people in Tourist Info.) quintessentially english market town in Hampshire, handy for the New Forest and South Coast. It is dominated by a large Norman Abbey. 

you can also travel through time at King Johns House -

and in the secluded gardens see an amazing memorial terracotta army of War Horses -

In the near surround there are a number of gardens of note - 

Hillier Gardens

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is a 72 hectare arboretum with over 42,000 trees and shrubs notably a collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron.

Mottisfont

Mottisfont Abbey Gardens are set in the delightful Test Valley, where the River Test, famous for its trout which can be seen in large numbers in its clear waters. Mottisfont Abbey is famous for its rose gardens set within a walled garden, with lovely lavender walks and colourful herbaceous gardens and a small lavender parterre close to the Abbey.The historic Abbey is also open with many superb rooms, furniture and decorations.

Circle of Life trees

fishermans hut

Houghton Lodge Gardens

Some gardens are made for planting, others should be left as natural as possible - Houghton Lodge is one such garden. Wonderful walks through fields, woodland and along the picturesque River Test. Houghton also has a hydroponicum, in which plants are grown without soil, and a wonderful orchid collection with many rare varieties.

fire breathing topiary dragon!

the alpacas - Tom, Dick n Harry

The question now is - are we to have a late 'Indian' summer or is this the onset of autumn?

Bank Holiday Part 1

It really was a bank holiday week of two parts. First half marred by wet weather so we did away days. Second half was fine and sparked a long weekend in Romsey.



The bikes got another airing as we did part of the Family Cycleway in the Forest of Dean. 

got a bit muddy!

but then came refreshments :)

It was also the weekend of the Saul Canal Fest. canal boats and associated hardware of all shapes n sizes:

With a centre piece flotilla of restored lifeboats spanning the 1900's 

And ending with a day trip to Kelmscott Manor the Cotswold retreat of William Morris, his family and his friend and colleague Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the Pre-Raphaelite artist.

Dropping Like Flies

Guruji

BKS Iyengar

Caroline Gooding

Disability rights lawyer and campaigner who helped introduce groundbreaking legislation.

Dickie Attenborough

Actor, Director, Philanthropist

Goodnight Pinkie

Mancunian Way

Just got back from Manchester, a friends 60th, amongst the hightlights were:

Visit to the Manchester Peoples History Museum

Anyone who has ever campaigned
will recognise one of these :)

Well worth a visit if your up there. Great exhibitions, workspaces, cafe et al.

It celebrates some unsung heroes/heroins who fought against the odds to make life that little bit more bearable for working folk.

It was also great to see such a marvellous facility housed in such a wonderful, modern, well equiped and spacious venue

Trouble is, these days, many exhibits from the past I recognise from my youth.

They have an unbelievable collection of banners, many showing great skill, expertise and patience in their making.

Manchesters Chinese Quarter

Sporting an amazing arch it's a concentration of eateries - the biggest problem is choosing which one to eat at! After much indecision Marilyn plumped for The Little Yang Sing which proved a great choice :-p

Goodnight Vietnam

Robin Williams

a prodigious talent

and another one, and another one
bights the dust

Mutual Exchange

First half of this glorious week was spent in Carlisle with Sis revisiting some old haunts, when we could tear ourselves away from the garden :)

After such a dry spell the water at Aira Force was low enough to allow you to sit on the rocks in the middle of the fall and watch the water tumble around you.

Views from Jeans garden

Second half was spent down here between Gloucester, Dewston cave gardens:

and Bristol. After lunch and a walk along Bristol dockside, including the Tai Festival and great childrens water play area:

great bit of street art :)

+ an interlude from Bristol Samba -

then it was off to the Hip for a revival of 'Singin in the Rain:

memorable performances from Stephane Anelli as Cosmo and Vicky Binns as Lina (of the amazing voice) Lamont + 12,000 litres of water on stage (amazingly dried away by the energetic stage hands during the interval !!).

Finishing with lunch n a pint by the river Severn at Awre as we watched the sun go down - doesn't get much better than that :)