Cornish Footpath

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by pat in Cornwall, Travel, Uncategorized

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Early one morning this past summer, I woke up and had a lovely breakfast in the pub downstairs from our room at The Rashleigh Arms.

Our pub with rooms, The Rashleigh, where we stay in Cornwall.

I decided it was time to walk off some of this toast and marmalade, so as My Beloved Brit went upstairs to shower and get ready for the day, I headed towards the nearest footpath at the end of the village of Charlestown in Cornwall.

The bottom of the town near the sea, where the footpath up the cliff begins. Photos by me.

It was time for a climb.

I thought this week was the perfect time to share these pretty pictures.

Back down again. Another splendid UK footpath.

I am thankful for these splendid walks through the English countryside. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Ship Shape

26 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by pat in England, Food, Travel, Uncategorized

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Ramsgate

Tucked away in a small corner of Ramsgate, a coastal town on the English Channel…

You might miss it and just walk by on your way down to the marina…

But there is a sweet little cafe almost like a cave in the seawall near the water.

It has cakes and jacket potatoes with beans, and little sandwiches. All the British staples.

I love England. There are these little hidden gems to be found in every old place.

Cambridge

03 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by pat in England, Travel, United Kingdom

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Cambridge, The River Cam, University of Cambridge

This is the first year we got around to visiting Cambridge, and I fell in love with it.

Cambridge is surrounded by green fields and parkland. Photo by me

Cambridge is surrounded by green fields, rivers and parkland. Photo by me

As we drove into the area, we saw parks and fields and cows right up to the city center.

And then it is all there, a great big university town located in Cambridgeshire, England 50 miles north of London on the River Cam.

The River Cam flows right through the middle of Cambridge. Photo by me.

Within a relatively small area, there are these beautiful classic buildings of the various colleges and churches and shops.

The main streets of Cambridge lined with scholastic buildings of the various colleges. Photo by me.

We came in early after flying all night from the states, so to stay awake we wandered the streets.

Red and gold brick and stone everywhere. The city is stunning. Photo by me.

I couldn’t think of a better place to get over jet lag than Cambridge.

Even the tea shops look astoundingly grand. Photo by me.

Around each corner there was something else to see, and the shops were attention grabbing.

A book shop in Cambridge. Photo by me.

Many of the university and college grounds were admissible by ticket only, but we were just as happy this day to wander and look in from the main streets.

King’s College Chapel. Photo by me.

There was plenty to see just wandering around aimlessly.

Photo by me.

Word has it that Cambridge was founded by disgruntled scholars from Oxford who didn’t get along with the educators there. I think they founded a mighty fine alternative. And the University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 is consistently ranked as one of the top five universities in the world. The city is flooded with tourists and students (there are over 24,000 students in Cambridge), even in August.

Bicycles everywhere. The center is closed to b=vehicular traffic. Photo by me.

We ended the day perfectly for a first day in Britain…dinner in a Cambridge pub.

The Miter was perfect for a light meal before bed. Photo by me.

We decided then and there to return towards the end of our trip, and explore this magnificent city in more detail.

Cambridge Clock

28 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in England, Uncategorized

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Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, The Corpus Clock

Walking down the main street of Cambridge past the beautiful architecture of the various colleges, we saw a group of people on the corner watching something. On closer inspection, it was a phenomenal “clock”.

on the corner of Cambridge. Photo by me.

On a corner of Cambridge. Photo by me.

The Corpus Clock is outside the Taylor Library at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, in the UK. It is beautiful, large and very sculptural. It was conceived and funded by John C. Taylor, an old member of the college, and officially unveiled 19 September 2008 by Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking.

The clock’s face is 24-carat gold-plated stainless steel. It has no hands or numbers but displays the time by opening individual slits in the clock face, backlit with blue LEDs; these slits are arranged in three concentric rings displaying hours, minutes and seconds.

Of course what you notice first is the intricate metal sculpture of an insect similar to a grasshopper or locust. Taylor calls this beast “Chronophage” (literally, time eater). It moves its mouth as if to eat up the seconds as they pass, and occasionally blinks. The Chronophage is affectionately known by students variously as “Rosalind” or “Hopsy”.

Below the clock is the inscription from the Vulgate 1 John 2:17: which translates as “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof”.

Makes you think.

Services on the Motorway in Great Britain

18 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in England, Travel, Uncategorized

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UK Services

One of the first things, and the last, that we see when we visit Great Britain is the “services” on the motorway. Usually, we pick up a car at Heathrow, and move onto the M25 (the London beltway) heading out to our destination…this summer our first night was in Cambridge.

Very soon after leaving the airport, we always want to stop and have a cup of coffee or tea and a break. That’s where “services” come in, the common name in GB for “rest stops” on the highway. They are usually on a fairly complex “roundabout” off a motorway exit.

They almost seem American now, with Starbucks and KFC often featured.

But they also feature very British breaks, such as M&S (Marks & Spencer’s), Waitrose and Costa Coffee. Last year we even pulled in, pushed our car seats back, and took a kip (nap in American) before continuing on to Cornwall after an all night flight. I often see others doing the same thing in the services car parks.

It now seems like a friendly greeting when we arrive…

and our last farewell before we turn the car back in.

Goodbye England for now. I promise some great future posts on our visit this summer. I never had enough time to fit everything in, but there are stories to come.

Kensington Palace Fashion Rules

06 Friday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, Gardens, History, London, The Royal Family, Uncategorized

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Diana, Fashion Rules, Kensington Palace, Princess of Wales

We spent a morning at Kensington Palace earlier this week. Another glorious early September day in London.

The Sunken Garden. Photo by me.

I wanted to visit the palace again and see the new Fashion Rules exhibition.

The public entrance to Kensington Palace. Photo by me.

New this year, the exhibition of dresses from the collections of HM The Queen, Princess Margaret, and Diana, Princess of Wales has proved to be very popular.

The 1950s: HM The Queen. Photo by me.

The workmanship and style of the dresses was amazing. It was fabulous to see the craftsmanship of the garments up close.

1960s and 70s Princess Margaret. Photo by me.

It really did recall a specific time vividly through fashion.

My Beloved brit reckoned the fur trim was supposed to add some warmth to the coat. Photo by me.

The card said the fur added some warmth to the coat. My Beloved Brit reckoned they were kidding. Photo by me.

A past era, revisited in cloth and color and style.

Elizabeth I. Photo by me of the exhibition film.

The Diana, Princess of Wales display featured five gowns that looked so familiar from past newspaper photos.

Photo by me.

For the Japan State Visit, a dress the color of cherry blossoms on the left. Photo by me.

I remember when she wore this dress with the metallic stars–she was such a style icon. Photo by me.

Photo by me.

Photo by me of the exhibition film.

And outside the palace, the golden gates on the south side were decorated with notes, clippings and floral tributes in memory of the princess. It was the anniversary of her death on August 31st, and there were reminders throughout London.

Photo by me.

Kensington Palace had been her home where she raised her boys, so here more than anywhere there were thoughts of her life.

The gates outside the road to the palace. Photo by me

Even across the street from the palace road, a cafe helps keep her memory alive.

Cafe Diana across from the palace road. Photo by me.

And then there is the future, celebrated at this same cafe Diana herself used to pop in to for a cold drink.

In celebration of baby George. Photo by me.

The line of a tradition carries on.

Back to Bath

05 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Bath, England, Travel, Uncategorized

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Pulteney Bridge

I love Bath. It is lovely anytime of year. Last time I was here it was late autumn and the leaves were golden. This year, it is end of summer and there are flower baskets everywhere.

Bath on an early September day. Photo by me.

It is a spectacular city. Classic and modern, Roman and English, country and city. The best of contradictions all in one very walkable location.

The Roman section of town. Photo by me

The main shopping promenade. Photo by me

Flower baskets are everywhere. Photo by me

The Bath Abbey. Photo by me

Around every corner there is another great scene. Photo by me

The lovely park in the center of Bath. Photo by me.

The lovely park, Parade Gardens, in the center of Bath. Photo by me.

Classic Bath. Photo by me

We’re off to Wales, and the weather is supposed to change from sunny and 70s to cool, autumnal weather and rain. Sounds like England to me.

Pretty Pictures from Burnham Week

03 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Bath, Cornwall, England, Guana Island

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Burnham Week 2013

With a week filled with races and partying and visiting, it seems only appropriate to share some of the images from Burnham Week 2013. Just in case we forget how absolutely perfect the weather was this year despite one Saturday of fog and rain, here are a few images to remind us.

Goodbye Burnham. Thanks for the week.

Art Day in London

02 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by pat in Art, Art Museums & Exhibitions, England, London, paintings, Uncategorized

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National Gallery of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square

Between sailing races last week, I took a few detours in to London to visit art museums. Last Friday, I decided to concentrate on the National Gallery of Art…

Photo by me

with a bright blue cock right out front…

A new addition to Trafalgar Square in front of the National Gallery of Art. Photo by me

and The National Portrait Gallery.

The entrance to the National Portrait Gallery. Photo by me

The two world-class museums are snuggled up next to each other off Trafalgar Square right in the center of London, and offer more art than any one person can take in a day. But I tried.

Both galleries are located directly off Trafalgar Square. That’s Big Ben in the distance. Photo by me

I spent my first hour at the National Portrait Gallery.

Harry and William in a relaxed portrait. Photo by me

It is a favorite of mine. Intimate in its size and varied in its content, it has new exhibits all the time and old favorites that I like to re-visit.

Photo by me

There was a special exhibition of drawings by Bob Dylan, never having been shown before. I thought of how he may have sketched all these years just for the joy of it never caring if anyone else saw them. He was an idol of mine in my youth, and this scenario suited my image of him.

Bib Dylan’s sketches. Photo by me

I ended my visit in the upstairs galleries featuring historic paintings. This one of Queen Elizabeth I was one of my favorites. And again, as always in London, the sense of history is so overwhelming.

Photo by me

The museum is rich and varied. And although there were restrictions on what I could and could not photograph, the images linger in my mind.

Ocean’s portraits of people who visited his studio. Photo by me

The National Gallery of Art, attached yet separate did not allow any photography at all inside. But the collection was more familiar, so hardly necessary to recall the great art. Seeing the Constables, Monets and Van Goghs was like visiting old friends.

Photo by me

All in all a very pleasant day. As I slowly strolled across the city to return to Liverpool Street Station to catch my train back to rural England, I was felling very lucky indeed to be allowed access to all that London has to offer.

St.Paul’s Cathedral on the walk back to the train. Photo by me

Burnham Week 2013

31 Saturday Aug 2013

Posted by pat in Burnham-on-Crouch, Cornwall, England, Sailing

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Burnham Race Week

The end of Burnham Week, and the end of summer…August 31st is the last race of the week, and for My Beloved Brit, probably the year.

The sea wall at Burnham-on-Crouch. Photo by me.

The town is quieter this week than in past years, but still lovely. Especially this summer, one of the warmest England has seen in years.

The view from our window yesterday at The White Harte. Photo by me

The shops are busy and there are not many empty storefronts. The lines for ice cream on the river front are long.

Burnham’s High Street. Photo by me

But, there are fewer boats these days racing.

Day one of racing, Burnham Race Week 2013. Photo by me.

Many say it is the economy. Some say people can’t afford to take the time off.

The "RBs". The boat MBB was on is 80 years old, and pink. Lovely. Photo by me.

The “RBs”. The boat MBB was on is 80 years old, and pink. That’s it second from the right. Lovely. Photo by me.

Dock talk (the general banter on the sea wall about this and that) says that the young sailors are not coming along to replace the sailors retiring from the racing circuit.

The Crouch Yacht Club on the river. Photo by me

The new sailors are here, but many less than in the past.

My Beloved Brit sails out through the fog on a small boat called an "RB". Photo by me

My Beloved Brit sails out through the fog on a small boat called an “RB”. I love that it is pink and the crew wears pink shirts under their jackets. Photo by me

When I first started visiting Burnham-on-Crouch for Burnham Week with my Beloved Brit over 16 years ago, the crowds were massive. Now it seems so much calmer with less crowds on the seawall, and fewer boats competing.

The seawall in front of our hotel, The White Harte. Photo by me

The streets are more peaceful, although bands of revellers still walk the sea wall at night going from yacht club to yacht club seeing who has the better band and the best sailing banter to relive the day.

A lone figure watches the start of the race. Photo by me.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds.

The "RBs" starting their race. Photo by me

The “RBs” and “Squibs” lining up to start to race. Photo by me

Will it come back to its former glory when the economy finally recovers?

And they’re off! Photo by me.

Or is the golden age of racing a thing to tell stories about at the local pub?

accentBritain

~ a romance with art and all things British

Category Archives: England

Cornish Footpath

Ship Shape

Cambridge

Cambridge Clock

Services on the Motorway in Great Britain

Kensington Palace Fashion Rules

Back to Bath

Pretty Pictures from Burnham Week

Art Day in London

Burnham Week 2013