What we did on our hols.

Yes, it seems a long while already since we went to Florence, two weeks ago we arrived there, returned five days later. Whole trip was brilliant, everything was right.

Travel: we went from Gatwick South to Pisa, flying with Easyjet, from Pisa fast train to Florence about 50 miles, took about an hour through the countryside.
Some five minutes case pulling walk from station in Santa Maria Novella Piazza was our hotel, Rosso23 was amazing, we couldn't believe the size of our first floor room

The length of the room was 21 paces from window to the far wall; had air conditioning, clean towels and bedding every day, fresh soap daily even if not needed, excellent shower, easy to understand lever fittings and plenty of hot water.

My only criticism, and it is a very minor one, the flat screen TV was mounted on the wall above the fireplace so it could be watched only from the bed rather than from the armchairs or the sofa. Not that it mattered, some days we didn't put it on, we didn't take our iPads or switch our phones on. We survived!

and then the views from the balcony overlooking the square

 Had to have this photo, there was scaffolding - Ian said it was new scaffolding too - where another hotel in the same chain (Whythebesthotels) was being refurbished although we were never aware of any building noise.

 There was impromptu entertainment in the square, a singer with a mic and a guitar singing rather 60s/70s songs, none the worse for that.

The church occupied a much larger area than was apparent from the balcony, to the right there was an enclosed garden, well some grass with bushes around, and then cloisters went as far as the red tiled two storey building in the distance.

Rather than attempt to describe the hotel here's the link ....
http://www.whythebesthotels.com/florence-hotel-rosso23/en/florence-hotel.html

Breakfasts offered a good choice, same menu each day, we'd been advised to have a good breakfast so found we needed little at lunchtime except say an Americano with a pastry or a small filled roll. Breakfast, for me, was fruit with plain yogurt, although there was yogurt flavoured with Nutella or coffee; then different hams, Brie and another continental cheese, rocket, cucumber and tomatoes. Then there were pastries, one called have cereals.  To drink, fruit juices and coffee with great variety of tea bags on the table, hot water available but we never had any tea whilst in Italy at all, Americanos gave us our caffeine fix.

Will write more about our adventures later ...with a few more pictures as didn't take that many.

This Week: 3rd September 2013

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2013

This Week: 3rd September 2013

The weather ... still sunshine, keep meaning to sit out in the garden more, am sure I will regret not soaking up the sun.

I am wearing ... East linen summer dress, sleeveless, much turquoise and marina blue design.

I am reading ...  for reading group the book is Notes from a Small Island, enjoying reading this again, hadn't realised how political it is in places and becoming a little dated, or rather historical. When this is completed will pick up Barbara Pym's Quartet in Autumn, also have a copy of Pride and Prejudice as have read only Northanger Abbey. That was a set text for O level, we analysed it out of existence, I remember a phrase about a curtain that seemed to move and fuss about a laundry list, so many years later I aim to catch up on Jane Austen.

I am creating ...   Hexipuffs, have made 247; also am sewing up cardigan called Gabrielle from Let's Knit magazine in 2010. I haven't used the recommended yarn, but instead that given as a Christmas present with a fiendishly difficult pattern so tinked it and found Gabrielle instead. Now just need to make the border. Chance to practice my picking up stitches skills.

I am listening ... to Ian talking to daughter who has just phoned home, sounds a cheerful call.

I am watching ... British Bake-off; Who do you think you are and last evening especially enjoyed the first programme of three - Robert Peston goes Shopping, enjoyable as I have lived through the changes in shopping although didn't shop in Chelsea Girl.

Also, can anyone tell me why on news and current affairs programmes when there is a male and female presenter, the man sits on the left and the woman sits on the right. I know it is round the other way in the studio but from the viewpoint of the viewer.

I am enjoying ... Pilates class, I moved myself from the beginners' class which have been attending for nearly 6 months to an intermediate class which is held at a more convenient time of 9.30am rather than midday, also the same teacher takes a class on Thursday evening, as her method of instruction makes sense to me I intend to attend that too.

From the learning rooms ... Ian's course doesn't start till next month.

On the menu .. Need to be a bit more organised about this, but we have cleared much of the freezer, chucked some rather dubious foodstuffs and now have little in there except soya beans and chicken pieces from last Saturday's Farmers Market. We are becoming old fashioned, shopping every few days buying fresh foods as we need them. It helps we have a greengrocer and an artisan baker recently set up shop in our HIgh Street. We generally make our own bread, but it is fun to try different breads and cake. The greengrocer has our support, we do find that one cannot buy large quantities, the fruit and veggies need to be eaten within a couple of days. Not quite Waitrose quality, but reasonable and nearby.

On the calendar ...nothing planned; keep meaning to go to Kew Gardens, to take a boat trip on the Thames. Met up with former housemate on the South Bank last Friday, I was amazed how the whole area has changed, I felt like a tourist in my own city again, so much that it had more impact than the Press Photographers exhibition we had come to see. More visits to this part of London needed methinks.

Thanks to The Bookworm for I have used her template for my blog. 

Decluttering

I had intended to bring you a post about our trip to the Royal Academy on Friday when we saw exhibitions about Sir Richard Rogers and Sir Hugh Casson. Also, I was going to mention that I felt like a tourist, especially when I saw a bus destination given as Clapton Pond. I'd never heard of it, made me realise just how little I know of my own city and how we tend to stay in the familiar, mainly western sector.

I digress, for I thought I would sync my iPad and laptop, then I thought of the thousand  or so pictures and decided to have a cull. After all the deletions according to my iPad I have 2,461 photographs still on there and on my laptop, dating back to May 2007 when Ian bought the lap top for me. Many of the knitting and yarn photos are on Ravelry, why am I keeping them in two places? After such a clear out I'll give you a couple of pictures of my favourite library, not one in which I have worked, but one I could have joined if I'd been the sort of person who needed a London bolthole.

 The Reading Room of the London Library above, and below, the stacks where one could sit all day and be in literary heaven.

Ian has been doing the same but with paper, filing or shredding. This sort out stems from the end of about eighteen months solid study, there was an overlap last October between one course ending and another beginning so all these domestic paperwork piled up. Running a household today is like running one's own business, on the 1st day of the month we read our electric and gas meters, the numbers are entered onto Ian's iPad, instant calculations compare our usage with last year's. If we don't do this on 1st of the month we lose our Nectar points, a small consideration when planning our diaries, next item on the agenda is car insurance, although we shop around we usually end up with what was Frizzells and is now LV, but each year with much negotiation so we aren't penalised for loyalty. It is not loyalty, it convenience. I insured my first car with them when I was 21, I paid £150 for a 7 year old Morris 1000; the fully comprehensive insurance was £42.10s.

I digress. Need to sync the iPad and to sleep.

August days.

At the end of my last blog I mentioned that Ian and I had spent a week apart, he had gone north to Nottingham University for an OU residential school MSXR209 -  mathematical modelling. Previous to this there had been an assignment prepared, to be marked by the other students; then long days of work from 9am to 9pm, a group presentation interspersed with not very good meals and then since his return work on the second assignment which was posted today.

Now it is holiday until the beginning of October when a course with the number 365 starts, this time it is for 30 points, not 60 as in previous years, so we may be able to go out and play sometimes. My life is all holiday in some ways, don't have to worry that the man coming to look at the boiler today didn't make it, tomorrow will do, it is so lovely not to stress about using up annual leave for this sort of thing! I know I'm fortunate to have Ian to share household management, his absence made me realise just how much of the day to day burden of living he does. Just going out for the paper each day was a major exercise, locking up the house, setting alarm, remembering the voucher, checking whether I needed food, decisions made without recourse to discussion.

I wasn't lonely, I'm happy with my own company for I lived on my own for a couple of years and house shared with others who were away much of the time. Maybe it was the realization that I''d never been alone for so long in this house where we'd lived for over 15 years, for over the last 5 years we've been home together during the day too and we just missed each other so much. Ian was surrounded by students and tutors; I had invites, afternoon tea in the garden from one friend, morning coffee in the garden from another and a visit to Sunbury walled garden with friend and her grandchild but it all felt strange to be without shared companionship, our habit of us both having the same thoughts or ideas, just a look and we know the other's thoughts. Has made me appreciate even more how fortunate I am, that I must cherish this time we have together, remembering the story of the rich fool, 'This night your soul will be required of you'. We had that scare nearly 19 years ago, Ian had a DVT in his lung, to quote the nurse "We've jump started him" so every moment since then is precious and we don't like being apart for too long.

Boat trip and other ponderings.

Just a quick mention of our last day in Cornwall, we went to Fowey as one of the other guests had recommended a boat trip from there.

With more preparation I think we would have known to take a ferry rather than the long drive up one side of the river valley and down the other, but so what, we were on holiday but it was a relief to discover a large car park with a bus service into the Fowey. even better, we Ancients didn't have to pay for the bus ride.

Like many places the eating establishments and shops provide much revenue for the town, certainly these were a little more upmarket than most in Looe; not all Looe's shops were tat, I found a pink Radley bag to wear across  me, (not quite sure how else to describe this) but it means handsfree, plus no need to find somewhere to put the bag down and risk it being taken.

I digress again. Eating, another fish meal for me and an enormous Pizza for Ian at The Bistro, French cuisine with a British twist from Glynn & Karen Wellington.  Apart from a wobbly table because of the very old uneven floor,  all was good and they were happy for me to have a starter as a main meal, certainly very generous portions.

This  Monday was our wettest day, but the rain stopped as we started our river cruise, Ian and I were the only takers so we could ask questions of our boatman without upsetting any other punters. There were many boats moored that one wonders how often they are used, but the colourful sails enhanced the scenery.

Daphne du Maurier's home above.

Added in the train photos, these wagons are carrying the china clay, think it was going to the Potteries. Good that rail still takes goods traffic, perhaps that should be encouraged, I was surprised to see a goods train on our local suburban line this week.

Of course, after all the fresh air one needs tea and cake and these were supplied at The Well House, a building dating back to the fifteenth century. The other attraction, apart from good teas is their dog, Frank, a very well behaved black labrador.

Now Ian has returned home today the next blog will be about our week apart.

After the gardens

After the visit to Lost Gardens of Heligan last Sunday week, Ian and I were not too sure how to spend the evening, so after examining the map book we chose to visit Mevagissey for an evening meal, it was sort of on our way back to the hotel.

Quite a touristy place, none the worst for that, with the usual shops selling 'stuff' with vague links to the sea, one can tell the stock by the design and layout of the store without going in. Lots of pale blue distressed wood, blue glass jars, floaty scarves and striped tops.

Around the harbour were plenty of Kodak Corner opportunities, it must be clear from this blog we hadn't done our homework about locations around Looe, it didn't help that after borrowing a guidebook from the library it was then left at home. This is why we need to go away more, obviously learning not to forget stuff is not the only reason for a holiday. Someone, not sure who, suggested we compile a packing list. Sounds like practising beforehand, spoils the game. If we had done that years ago we would never have become so familiar with the Solihull branch of John Lewis.

I digress, we were looking for somewhere to eat, Ian looking around a less picture postcard view of the harbour,

before we spotted the Central Café, Fish and Chips, Eat in or Takeaway. Well we ate in, sorry no picture of this very traditional establishment, many photographs of the Royal Family covering almost all of the twentieth century adorned the walls, tea had to be the drink of choice, but I was impressed that one could have poached fish instead of in batter. Having chosen that, the standard piece of fish appeared rather small without a battering but the huge quantity of chips made up the calories.

Final chapter of what we did on our holiday will be relayed another day, for I have been invited to have a cup of tea and a biscuit in a garden as it is sunny and warm today, so will change into a dress and sally forth. I am more a skirts and dresses person than trousers anyway so no hardship.

Where to start?

I am so far behind with posting about all our adventures but first the best news of all was received last Sunday morning when Ian looked at his emails and learnt that he had passed his exam., not just scraped through either but a respectable pass so we are now reconsidering our future plans yet again. Just added to the joy of our Cornish holiday, we went last Thursday and returned yesterday.

We stayed at the Fieldhead Hotel  http://www.fieldheadhotel.co.uk/ in Hannafore, West Looe, we were delighted with the service, food, ambience and small details that make a holiday. Just one tiny example, there were facecloths, this pleased me as I like to give my face a good scrub and rarely do hotels includes these as well as bathrobes and slippers for their guests. So lovely again not to stay in a chain but a family hotel with a manager who worked so hard to ensure all was well for his guests. HIs wife was the chef, the meals were of a very high standard, lots of fresh fish, looking back I have had just one meal with local sausages at a National Trust café, all the rest have been fish based so it didn't matter I forgot the cod liver oil tablets.

This was the view we encountered on our walk into Looe last Friday morning, very steep coming back up, in fact there were quite a few steep walks and roads, even worse for driving that I chickened out and left it to dear Ian. Am just so unfamiliar with narrow country lanes, especially with no passing places, farm traffic and cloudbursts on our way to Fowey. Much as we like to leave  the car behind as we did on Friday, to reach places such as Lanhydrock, Fowey, Mevagissey and Heligan Gardens driving was the only way.

In Looe found a lovely second hand bookshop, one of our criteria for a good holiday along with good food, and this one was good, we purchased four books between us.

Our visit to Lanhydrock was fascinating, especially the kitchen areas, even spotted scales identical to mine, indeed much of the equipment is similar to modern kitchens, perhaps made of modern materials that won't rust though. We didn't realise just how big the house is, that meant a very late lunch so we didn't have time to see the grounds. Perhaps next time we go to Cornwall a return visit will be in order.    http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock/ 

Another enjoyable aspect of our holiday was the spontaneous conversations that sprung up between holiday makers so we received an invitation from one couple to visit them  in their  Florida home; in the National Trust café we learnt about teaching maths to infants (sorry KS 1) is best done by teachers who don't find the subject easy for they see the difficulties from the child's viewpoint.

Our return visit to Heligan Gardens was to link up with an architect friend with whom Ian had worked in the Middle East. David Rowe is a watercolour artist based now in Falmouth so the gardens were a convenient meeting point where we could catch up whilst seeing some of the extensive gardens. We were presented with one of his watercolours, so delighted both to have one his paintings as well as the memories it brings back for Ian as a colleague and friend. Whilst in the café there was a fascinating conversation with the parents of three delightful little girls, Dad was German, Mum was Japanese, the girls had been born in Russia and now Dad worked in England. Dad kindly took this picture for us, in spite of the poster behind we weren't waiting for Godot.

Just to end, on our way back yesterday we stopped in Honiton for lunch, and found a proper wool shop, The Wool Stack  where I bought a hank of creamy coloured Artesano definition sock yarn. Some luxury yarn for hexipuffs, for a brief second I thought shawl, but having made 236 hexipuffs I would like to concentrate on completion. Joining up this number will take time. Honiton is full of antique shops, found a basket with four divisions for bottles, just £8.50 so handy in the car when shopping, plus an illustrated  book about London between the wars.

A few weeks ago we watched a TV programme about the A303 road so I'm chuffed to say I drove the whole length of it yesterday, even noticed the insignificant parting from the A30, fortunately the journey homeward was better than the jams we encountered going west.

Will end my rambles aware that I haven't mentioned Fowey, the boat trip on which I took more photos than any other time, the bistro and cake shop with dog. Well, another time.