All the trees were raging, fiery autumnal colours; the sort of glorious display that we here in Norfolk have to wait until November to enjoy.
It reminded me of how we are still basking in the warm and fuzzy glow of a lazy late summer here in England.
Last weekend, after our trip around Phil's Magic Kingdom (see posts passim), he led us round to the other end of Lotus's test track, across the old wartime airfield to this place:
Welcome to Ketteringham Hall.This used to be the home of Lotus's Formula One Grand Prix racing team, but is now used for more corporate events. The chapel at the far end of the front façade used to house the testing rig for racing car engines.
So anyhoo … For those of you Colonial Cousins who are already wincing from the first bitter nights of Autumn, this is what it is like back here in the Mother Country at the moment.
On the front lawn of the hall, the local village cricket team was being quintessentially English. This isn't some crap for the tourists - we don't let them near our private pursuits; this is what actually goes on in rural England. And yes, there are cups of tea and plates piled with cucumber sandwiches in the pavilion.And when somebody plays a good stroke, everybody politely applauds and shouts "Jolly good show, old man. Well played!"
Round the side of the hall are two lakes, which Phil and his chums from the Magic Kingdom are allowed to fish in. As you'll see if you trawl back through Phil's blog.He's out there today with his merry men, raking back the weed that the sun has brought into bloom.
This is the boat they'll be using. With some freshwater mussel shells plonked on it for effect.Late summer in England is pretty bloody gorgeous.
Toodle pip!
8 comments:
Oh, Dive, it's beautiful here. Global warming's good for something, I guess.
Enjoy your sandwiches. I think I'm off for some pumpkin pancakes.
Drat. It's not pumpkin time for a few more weeks here. I can't wait! I love pumpkin pie.
Very bloody gorgeous. The Mother Country is truly beautiful--thanks for the pictures of what we left behind, Dive.
You could always come back again.
Though don't bring everybody; it's crowded enough here as it is.
lovely, absolutely gorgeous, sugar! i made you an offer in response..check it out...
Ketteringham hall....I fucking love just the sound of it. I was reading on Scout's blog the other day about the cab quizzes and took the quiz. One of the questions was all about the 1666 fire at Pudding Lane. I was enraptured.
I would love to live in a place called Ketteringham hall on Pudding Lane. Instead I am stuck in the Brady Look-alike house on Center Road. Not nearly as romantic.
And hey...Bing has submitted a movie to Apple for one of their seminars. If it places, she will get to go to LONDON to introduce it in the Spring. I am already bugging her to take Liv and I with her. It would be educational for Liv...that is MY argument. But, of course, I just want to meet you, Dive.....
Spectaculaire, Dive,
I have a nice little recipe for mussells, perhaps I will send it to you when I work out this 'iMovie' thing.
Toodle-pip to you too, kind sir.
Savannah: I'll be right over.
Maria: Pudding Lane is these days just a cobbled street at the back of some offices with loading bays in it.
But the original meaning might change your mind.
"Pudding" back in mediæval times was human "waste". People came round at night with the "honey cart" and emptied all your poo from your outhouse and carted it down to Pudding Lane, near the Thames, where poor kids would sift through it for any money or other lost valuables.
Later, as the city expanded, this was moved to Pudding Mill Lane in the East End where mountains of the stuff was rendered into fertiliser.
Yummy.
And woohoo! I'll keep my fingers and other extremities crossed for Bing. That would be great!
If you come over too, you'll probably end up sitting and twiddling your thumbs while Bing and I have widdle-fests in guitar shops.
Liv would love London.
Monsieur B: I'd love to try your mussel recipe. And see your movie!
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