Tag Archives: England

A room with a pub…and a view

09 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in Cornwall, Cornwall, England, Travel, Uncategorized

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This time of year I get notices from some of our favorite haunts in England advertising their winter specials.  It doesn’t tempt My Beloved Brit at all to go over in winter, but I always imagine tea & scones by a cozy fire and walks on quiet lanes dusted with snow. That of course is after several tours of the art galleries of London.

Winter lane St. Tinney Farm, photo by Phil Windley, wikipedia commons

St. Austel Brewery just sent us their newsletter with a gorgeous array of January deals in 15 of their wonderful small Hotels or Inns, most of which are in Cornwall.  We have stayed at their historic Charlestown inn, The Rashleigh Arms, which is within sight of the Tall Ships of Charlestown Harbour.

The Rashleigh Arms in Historic Charlestown, Cornwall. Photo from their website

Looking down the list of specials, I can find many that I would love to try. At the Rashleigh, we found the rooms were cozy, and the large English breakfast in the pub downstairs unbeatable. At the very least, it’s wonderful to sit by my own fire and dream…

From the 14th century The Masons Arms website, another St. Austell Brewery property. Doesn't this look cozy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for the St. Austell Brewery January deals newsletter, and dream a little dream of your own.

New Forest, new art

06 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in Art, England, paintings, The New Forest, Travel, Uncategorized

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Planning new trips always makes me review past trips to make sure we don’t forget old favorite destinations.  One of my most memorable adventures was a very special trip to England with My Beloved Brit.

After weeks of meeting MBB’s friends and family on our first trip across the pond together, I was thrilled but also a bit overwhelmed.  Having experienced the same in my home country, MBB was understanding and decided what we needed was a very special few nights in a quiet part of England. He’d fix it. His brilliant idea was a visit for the two of us to The New Forest, the perfect retreat.

photo from New Forest Official Visitors Site

This is a very special area south of London in south-west Hampshire that is filled with quaint, quintessential English villages, expansive views of heather and woods, and wild ponies and donkeys which often come over to say hello.

New Forest Ponies (wikimedia commons)

We stayed in a unique place, called Master Builder’s, located next to the historic English village called Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River. This tiny row of 18th century Georgian cottages brings you back through time. The Inn itself was almost modern by comparison.

Buckler's Hard (image copyright is owned by Peter Barr, Wikimedia Creative Commons)

After a wonderful night in this enchanting place, we got up early for breakfast (only spoiled by the smell of kippers being enjoyed by a guest at the next table) and went out to explore the forest surrounds and villages.

Nearby is the town of Beaulieu which is famous for its motor car museum ( which will feature a James Bond Car exhibit in 2012 that I am told we will most likely see).  But it also has a charming village center, and we went by the inn for lunch.  On our way out we noticed an unexpected guest.  Reservation for one?

My photo

I fell in love with New Forest. We return whenever we can, and on one of these visits I took a long walkabout and found such diverse scenes. I followed a path along the river and found some areas pruned to perfection…

my photo of the most perfect entry

and some areas where nature had taken over and gone wild.

my photo of apples along the path that follows the River

I loved both, but wanted an image that expressed the wild, untamed nature of the area. It was so unique, but I didn’t quite find it on my walk.

Then, driving across the vast landscape after dinner with My Beloved Brit I saw it.  But there was absolutely no place to park.  He let me off at the side of the road and drove about a quarter mile to a parking area and waited patiently while I explored every angle of a lone tree against a moody sky.  It was dramatic. You could see the wind in it’s branches.

I signaled MBB to turn around and come back to pick me up.  He is always so patient with these art adventures.  I love him for that.

And I loved this little painting.  It was everything I remembered of that day.

The New Forest. private collection

I always like to share my paintings.  If you want to see more visit my website at www.patwhitehead.com.

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Out with the old. Thinking about the new.

02 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in England, London, Sailing, Travel, Uncategorized

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We lost no time after the start of the New Year taking down the holiday decorations and getting on with things.  I love the holidays, but i think I like it even more when they are over.  It’s refreshing to start anew and think of what you want to do with all that fresh time laying out before you.

The "porch tree" came down. The holidays are over.

This always seems to be the time of year we start planning our travels, and top on the list this year is England.  The phone has already started ringing with calls from My Beloved Brit’s mates (admittedly most often from a pub where a group of them are in deep discussion on the year’s sailing strategy) trying to talk him in to joining this boat or that on a very important race coming up in 2012.  Of course he’d love to do them all, but he also has family and my art sojourns to consider. If all problems were this easy!

MBB in a past season planning the day's race over coffee with his mates on the Burnham River. photo by me

So we start making our lists of all the things we want to see and do.  This is a part of my life that I am so thankful for every day. I love to travel, and England is special.

Always on the list, Ashford in the Water. photo by me.

So we have the joy of spending hours over the next few months pouring over maps and brochures and internet sites, deciding on the itinerary.

Let the planning begin. photo by me

We want to see bits of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration, and old favorite sites as well as new discoveries. He wants to sail.  I want to tromp through the woods on the bank of a tiny lake. He wants fish ‘n’ chips and cornish ice cream.  I want to see the exhibit of the year at the Tate Modern and have lunch at Fortnum & Mason. Oh, the joy of planning a holiday in England!

A Cracker Tradition

25 Sunday Dec 2011

Posted by in England, Uncategorized

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I started setting the table yesterday with the help of my sister.  I love all the traditions of the Christmas dinner…turkey and stuffing and pumpkin pie. And decorating the table is part of the fun.

my Christmas table

The Christmas Cracker is a tradition that I was introduced to by My Beloved Brit, and I must say when I first heard of them it was difficult to find the pretty little fabrications that give a pop and are filled with funny jokes, small toys and charms and a colored paper hat or crown. I do think they are lovely sitting on the Christmas dinner table, but the paper hats may be a bit much.

 

The cracker is supposed to be pulled before Christmas dinner by two people, similar to a wishbone and one tradition has it that the person who gets the larger piece gets to keep the contents. We like to give each their own cracker and everyone at the table takes turns reading their joke or fortune.

Crackers were invented by Thomas J. Smith of London in 1847, a purveyor of bon-bon sweets that he sold wrapped in a twist of paper. Eventually, Smith started to come up with new ideas to increase sales. Initially he started including mottos in with the sweets, but soon he was inspired to put the “crackle” idea in to the treat when he heard the sound from the fire. The size had to be increased to include the snapper mechanism, and eventually the sweet was dropped and the little surprises were added when his son took over the development of the product. You can actually order Tom Smith’s Christmas Crackers in the US now.

Tom Smith's Crackers

The idea of the paper crown may have come from Twelfth Night celebrations, where a king or queen was appointed to oversee the celebration.

I read recently that even the royal family has crackers at their Christmas celebration and although I don’t know this to be absolutely true, the article said the only one at the table who didn’t wear the paper crown was the Queen herself.

Merry Christmas to all.  Let the feasting begin!

Location, location, location — “The Holiday”

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in England, movies, Travel, Uncategorized

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The Holiday. I love this movie and especially this time of year.  It highlights my two favorite fantasy locations–England and LA.  England, because, well, you know, it’s just so British, and LA because it is so entirely different and exotic in its own way from the east coast location where I grew up and lived most of my life.

‘The Holiday’ brings together the star talents of Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black in a charming romantic comedy with an international twist. The plot revolves around two women who swap houses for Christmas with the idea of escaping from their current lives and romantic problems.

Much of the English side of the story was shot in the village of Shere in Surrey, a quintessentially English village with antiques shops, tea rooms and several excellent pubs. The other Surrey town of Godalming also stars and is well worth a visit for its fine architecture, independent shops and peaceful riverside setting.

Wikipedia image

 

Church Street

Church Street, image from Godalming Guide

There is a wonderful blog called “Hooked on Houses” that goes into lots of detail about the two houses featured in The Holiday and even has a poll that talks about which of the two her readers prefer.  Thank you Julie.  It is still a fun read.

Here is Iris’s house in England (which was actually just a shell of the cottage built near an empty field for the movie set)

 

building the cottage 1

building the cottage 4

And here is Amanda’s house set in the movie at a Brentwood section of LA.

(actually the exterior shots of the house showing the gated property were filmed in front of Southern California architect Wallace Neff‘s Mission Revival house in San Marino, a suburb adjacent to Pasadena. Neff had built the house for his family in 1928.) Other Los Angeles locations included Arthur’s house in Brentwood and Miles’ house, designed by Richard Neutra, which is situated on Neutra Place in L.A.’s Silver Lake area, near downtown. The interiors were all shot at Sony Studio. But I digress.

The thing I find so interesting about this movie is how Iris’s house and location reflect such unique characteristics of the English way of life…the narrow roads (which still can scare the wits out of an American driver), the houses that simply don’t have enough heat when it is always cold and damp (not really), the interiors of many of the houses with every square inch covered with some kind of pattern or books or collectables. Then there is the local village and pub that is the center of life. We have yet to visit a village where we did not seek out the best pub to get a read on the true character of the area.

The movie is a fun time, if a bit light on the true cultural differences, but it does make the point beautifully that as different as we are, we are really just the same. I could have told you that, but not nearly with such charm.

 

Cornwall, Carlyon Bay and the quilted hills

14 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Cornwall, Cornwall, England, paintings, Travel, Uncategorized

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One of the first spots outside of the London area I visited in England with My Beloved Brit after we were first married was Cornwall.  His cousin lives there, who is like the brother he never had, and we drove the few hours west from Heathrow to visit.

I was groggy from jet lag (MBB had come over early to do some racing so he was my chauffeur), but I do remember the drive and the beautiful quilted hills. That was my name for those multicolored fields that were criss-crossed with hedgerows and pressed by endless sky.

It was home to MBB, and even when I woke up enough to register my astonishment that we had just driven past Stonehenge, he was rather unimpressed.  To him, it was just a familiar distance marker on the many trips he had made in his life from London to Cornwall.

We ended up in an area near St. Austell called Carlyon Bay where the hills finally met the sea.  From the tall bluffs you could look across the hydrangeas and see the rolling hills.  The cliffs were dotted with small inns and hotels, and we found a charming one called Porth Avallen Country House Hotel overlooking St. Austell Bay.

Perched on the sea road,  it was friendly and relaxed.  The labyrinth of hallways and staircases only added to the old fashioned charm, and we were perfectly happy.  Even more perfect, as soon as you walked outside, you could see the most amazing views.

The colors were beautiful and no matter which way you walked along the seaside road, the views were a painting waiting to happen.

But finally I saw the one that really held my interest. It was lovely.

That lone house on the edge of all those gorgeous hills.  There was something so isolated about it and yet, it was totally connected with its surroundings. You could just imagine curling up in one of it’s windowseats with a good book and a quilt.

I painted it hoping to capture that feeling, and now I love that painting.  It means domestic bliss in a wild world.

all photos and painting by me.

 

 

 

The Grey Country?

10 Saturday Dec 2011

Posted by in Art, British Virgin Islands, Cornwall, England, Sailing, Travel, Uncategorized

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A small cay near the British Virgin Islands, pastel drawing by me

It is a grey (or the American version– gray) December day, and this is often when our thoughts return to those warm days we spent on the British Virgin Islands. Several of My Beloved Brit’s English mates have been chatting with him this week (on Skype, of course) about heading to warm places for a few weeks to beat the winter chill of England. I know it brings back memories for him of his years on Tortola, and sailing into the sunsets…or getting ready to race across the seas.

MBB getting ready for a race on the British Virgin Islands in past glory

The shores of England have a totally different feel, I know.  But they have always had their own special appeal to me.

"By The Cornish Sea", pastel by me

I often think I would like to spend some real time in England getting to know that country on an intimate basis.  My Beloved Brit, on the other hand, grew up there, and although he misses it terribly (especially his family and his mates) he fondly calls it the “grey country” and hesitates to think of moving back to those cold wet days and early dark nights of a very long winter season.

It amuses me sometimes how much climate dictates our decisions about where we move. Of course being the gypsies that we are, there is always another shore to explore, but MBB prefers it to be a warm one. England? Chances are slim for a more permanent move to those misty shores, but at least we get a chance to visit during the lovely summer months.

 

 

But is it cod?

19 Saturday Nov 2011

Posted by in Cornwall, England, Food, Uncategorized

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Whenever we go to the seaside town of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to deliver my art to the gallery that represents me there,  we always have to stop for fish and chips at Go Fish.

photo by me

My Beloved Brit is very particular about his Fish and Chips.  Once we’ve searched it out in any area we visit, the first question as he gazes at the menu is “Is it Cod?” If not, it’s just not the same thing.

When we met his cousins in Cornwall and went to the historic seaport of Fowey, we stopped for lunch.  They had the puffiest, biggest center cut pieces of cod, along with spectacular mushy peas (you don’t want to know) and of course chips (fries to us yanks).  His cousins looked in horror as I opened the puffed golden fried batter and ate the white moist fish out of the center.  It was fabulous, but honestly, they just couldn’t see the point.

And yes, Go Fish has lovely cod for their fish and chips, and the friendly British accents to go with it.

 

 

 

 

The Royal Tour

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by in England, London, The Royal Family, Travel, Uncategorized

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Thank you Visit Britain for putting together a great tour with a list of royal attractions to see in Britain. Just in case you’re planning a royal themed trip, here they are. I’ve realized I’ve only seen 6 of the 12 so far, so I need to get to work.

12 Best Royal Experiences in the UK

1). Westminster Abbey – A royal trip to Britain would not be complete without visiting the historic Westminster Abbey which has served as the venue for coronations since 1066, and the wedding of Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in April, 2011, was held here. Visitors to Westminster Abbey can see the graves of 17 monarchs, as well as memorials to many notable figures in British history. In addition, the Coronation Chair is part of the Abbey’s museum, along with pieces of art, stained glass, textiles and more. The Abbey is open to the public six days a week and an adult ticket costs £16.00.

2). Buckingham Palace – not only a London landmark but the official London residence of the British monarch. The palace has 19 state rooms that are open for public viewing each summer, from late July to early October, with complimentary audio tours. The Changing of the Guard takes place every other day, and daily in the summer, in front of the palace.

3). Windsor Castle – Just a quick train ride from London, Windsor Castle is the largest and oldest occupied castle in the world, one of the Queen’s official residences, and where she spends most weekends. Open year-round, an adult ticket costs £16.50 which gives visitors access to the State Apartments, St. George’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and special exhibitions: throughout 2012 there will be an exhibition entitled “The Queen: Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years”.

4). Isle of Anglesey – Now the place that Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, call home, the Isle of Anglesey is known for its natural beauty. Visitors to the Isle of Anglesey can enjoy a visit to one of its many beaches or stroll along one of the coastal footpaths for a wonderful view of the Welsh coastline. For a tasty lunch, travellers can track down The Flaming Grill, a food truck that Prince William frequented during his training at the Royal Air Force Academy. Prince William was so impressed by that he gave it a royal seal of approval.

5). The Royal Yacht Britannia – a wonderful attraction to visit straight out of a royal fairy tale – this is where the Prince of Wales and Princess Diana honeymooned in 1981. During the 44 years that this ship served its country, The Royal Yacht Britannia carried the Royal Family on 968 official voyages all over the world. Now the ship is permanently docked in Edinburgh, where visitors can tour five of the ship’s decks. An adult ticket costs £11.00 and includes an audio tour.

6). Tower of London – Visitors wishing to see the Crown Jewels can do so at the Tower of London, where the 23,578 gems that make up the Crown Jewels, including the glistening Imperial State Crown, are housed. The Tower is steeped in history, having been used as a royal residence, military fortress and prison. Today, visitors enjoy touring the grounds and seeing The White Tower, Medieval Palace, prisoners’ exhibition and more, as well as keeping an eye out for the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn, who is buried in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.

7). Balmoral Estate – One of the Queen’s favourite summertime retreats is Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire set amongst the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside. Here, visitors might spot the Queen – as travellers can take up residence by renting a lovely cottage on the estate. The grounds, gardens and exhibitions are open to the public from April 1 to July 30.

8.) Enjoy a boat ride on the River Thames. – ahead of the Queen. On the afternoon of Sunday 3 June 2012, up to a thousand boats will muster on the River Thames in preparation for Her Majesty The Queen to lead the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. It will be one of the largest flotillas ever assembled on the river. Rowed boats and working boats and pleasure vessels of all shapes and sizes will be beautifully dressed with streamers and Union Jacks, their crews and passengers turned out in their finest rigs. The armed forces, fire, police, rescue and other services are all afloat and there are an exuberance of historic boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and other boats of note. However you don’t need to wait till next June – there are boat rides all year on the River Thames, from leisurely cruises, to quicker “commuter” trips and the high speed RIB journeys.

9.) The Palace of Holyroodhouse – The Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, the palace has many connections with Scotland’s turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived there in the 16th century. An adult ticket costs £10.50 including audio guide, or for £6.00 you can visit the Queen’s Gallery: in 2012 the exhibition “Royal Treasures: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration” will bring together some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection, with a selection of 100 outstanding works.

10.) Sandringham Estate – near Kings Lynn in Norfolk is one of the Queen’s most beloved retreats. It has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862, and the Queen visits the estate every year on the anniversary of her father’s death. Today, visitors are welcome to Sandringham House and can walk through the beautiful gardens during the summer.

11.) Beaumaris Castle on the Isle of Anglesey is the last and largest of King Edward I’s Welsh fortifications, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although construction was never completed, it is regarded as Wales’ finest castle.

12.) Kensington Palace – A royal residence in central London, Kensington Palace is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was also the official residence of the Duke’s mother, Princess Diana. The palace is currently undergoing a major transformation, to help visitors to better understand both the tales of the people that lived in the palace and its architectural and decorative schemes visitors can see the palace’s magnificent state apartments. The first of four planned exhibitions, on Queen Victoria, is due to open in time for the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Meanwhile, visitors can experience the “Enchanted Palace” a series of installations offering a fascinating interpretation of the palace’s hidden stories.

Guests can also drink tea at The Orangery Restaurant next door to the palace, which has some of the finest selections of tea in London.

A day in an English (or not) garden

04 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in England, Gardens, Peak District, Uncategorized

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I spent the day working in my garden. I like to think that it has hints of a proper English garden.  It is the end of the season, and everything is in wild disarray.  It is the last burst of color before it all goes quiet for the winter.

My garden in autumn

My Beloved Brit wanted roses in our garden.  They remind him of England.  This variety is “Don Juan”, a climbing rose that blooms all through the summer and in to fall.

The last rose?

I know it is the end of summer when the white hydrangea blossoms turn purple and green.  I pick a big bouquet and put them in my favorite blue and white vase in my studio at this time of year. They slowly dry and last the winter. It keeps me hopeful that spring will come again.

The sage has gone wild this year and covers the garden path.

I love gardening. It is everything that I am most comfortable with…color, flow and composition.

I think gardening is just one of the many reasons that I have always felt a strong connection to England.  Residents of the UK take their gardens very seriously. It’s a personal point of pride, and no matter how large or small the outdoor space, you will probably find a garden tucked in. The gardens there are everywhere, and everyone has a lovely story about theirs.  Is it all the rain?  Everything is always so green and lush.

A small house garden in the village of Ashford-in-the-water

Maybe I should get a gnome?

A dear friend of ours in England has a small fisherman’s cottage where we have stayed while MBB was racing.  In the back courtyard she has the loveliest garden, and this particular summer it had the tallest sunflower I had ever seen. I believe it was involved in a friendly competition between neighbors.

Jo's garden, Burnham-on-Crouch

The next summer I saw a field of sunflowers near a farm market in the Hamptons on eastern Long Island while we were on holiday.  I couldn’t resist, and a series of conte crayon drawings was born.

It always amazes me how images stick in my brain, and float and tumble and fall out after many days (or even months) on to paper or canvas.

The studio wall

That sunflower in that English Garden on a far coast kept popping up when I thought of things to explore in my art.  Who would have thought the seed from that garden would transform into a field of sunflowers and be one of the first works on paper series that I had tried in ages.

I post all of my work on my personal art website, or you can visit the website for Gallery 50 where my “Sunflower Fields I-IV” are displayed. Gallery 50 is a tremendous gallery run by Jay Pastore in the ocean side town near Washington, DC, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, USA. If you get a chance, go by and see him and his gallery that never disappoints for its quality of art and its diversity of styles. Thank you Jay.