Flutterby Patch

Water, water everywhere

Today I awoke to cheerful sunshine but the skies grew ominously darker all morning and by lunchtime the rain was pounding down yet again. Just the sort of day for a bit of retail therapy I decided. As a long journey wasn't advisable hubby and I headed for one of our favourite places, Touchstone Interiors, an exclusive little shop with cafe at nearby Skelwith Bridge.

The rain was persistent and all around was wet and dripping. The rivers seemed fit to burst.

A new water pipe was being fitted along the main road so we sat in a queue of traffic and watched the rain running down the windscreen.

Imagine working outside day after day in this weather.

Touchstone Interiors (formerly Kirkstone Galleries) in an old converted bobbin mill and it sells wonderful items for contemporary living. At this time of year there is always a mouth watering selection for Christmas.

As we parked the car the glowing interior looked warm and inviting

A quick glance through the window assured me I wouldn't be disappointed. But I'm afraid that is as far as my camera can go as pics aren't allowed inside the shop......sorry!

Before I sign off I'd like to thank you for all the heart-felt comments and suggestions regarding my son's housing dilemma, they were very much appreciated. There could be good news coming soon as another fine dwelling has just been found but I won't tempt fate by saying any more at the moment.

Hope you are keeping snug and dry in your part of the world,

Until next time
Eli

October afternoon in Cartmel Village

It's a lovely autumnal afternoon. Skies are a little overcast but the weather's fine and so I thought we'd visit the village of Cartmel in my county of Cumbria (north west England) and take a little walk around the old streets.

Cartmel is dominated by the ancient Priory which was built by Augustian monks in the 12th century. It is a wonderful old building that watches over the higgledy-piggledy cluster of houses that make up the village.

It is quite easy to slip back in time in Cartmel and imagine yourself living in the past but I'm afraid the many cars parked haphazardly sadly spoil this illusion.

I would be quite happy to live in any of the old village houses.

I love the pretty aqua shade of paint used at number 9, and just look at those window boxes.
 

Most house have no front gardens but to reach this little cottage you must open a pretty white gate nestling under an arched hedge of carefully clipped evergreens.

This little place used to be one of my favourite shops in the village but it closed several years ago and is now a private dwelling (and a very pretty one too).

If you lived in this little waterside home you could sit and dream all day on your terrace and throw the occasional morsels to passing ducks.

There are old properties tucked around every corner. Being of great age they often require major renovation work which seems to be what is happening here.

No two cottage are alike. Most are private homes but there are just a few shops.

Is this pretty bow window a shop or a home I wonder? Is that doggy real or is he a toy dog being offered for sale. Let's take a closer look ....

.... just as I thought...

he's a real dog, watching the world go by.  

I wonder what the little fellow is thinking.

Before leaving we'll take refreshments at the Kings Arms, an old hostelry that will have fortified many a weary traveller over the centuries. 

The afternoon sun has now dipped below the rooftops and I can feel a distinct autumn chill in the air. I think it's time to return to the car and head for home.

We'll go through the medieval gatehouse which once formed one of the entrances to the monastery.

As we pass more 'postcard pretty' cottages I fear you will hear me complain about the rash of wheelie bins that now blight our British streets and front gardens. Not so long ago our bins were concealed in back yards and emptied weekly but sadly not any more. Refuse collection is now done fortnightly and bins on wheels (wheelie bins) must be deposited at the front of properties or they will remain unemptied. This poor little cottage seems to be standing guard over a wheelie bin collection point.

 I love this vintage metal sign which dates from the 1930s.

Properties in Cartmel aren't offered for sale very often. I envy the new owner of this house. What a wonderful place to live.

Before we leave the old village let me tempt you with this old garden summerhouse adjoining the river. It conjures up images of afternoon tea and games of croquet on the lawn.

As always our car is parked under the old blue cedar tree in the shadow of the mighty Priory. The clock has just struck four and it is sadly time to leave this lovely place. I hope you've enjoyed your visit.

Until next time,
Eli

Scene from the car

I feel as if I've spent much of the week sitting in the car watching scenery and traffic flash past and I'm afraid that pictures taken through the car window is all I can show you this week. On Tuesday we drove 250 miles south to visit  family and friends who live 30 miles west of London in the county of Buckinghamshire (often referred to as Bucks County).

If you live in Pennsylvania USA you might also be familiar with Bucks County situated on your side of the Atlantic. The link is William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. He spent much time in Bucks County (England) and many of the place names in PA are from England.

This is an old picture of Bury Farm in the town of Amersham (Bucks, England) where William Penn visited his future wife. It dates from the sixteenth century and on Tuesday I passed it (in the car of course). I think William Penn might still recognise the house and if you read on you can see if you agree.

After 4 hours travelling from my home in the mountainous Lake District I can at last see the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire rising in the distance. This is where I once lived and although the hills are nowhere near as grand as the Lakeland mountains where I live now I'm very fond of the area as many generations of my family have raised families here.

The Chiltern Hills are made from chalk and the motorway cuts right through them.

If I stay on the motorway I will soon reach London but I'm heading for High Wycombe a town I know very well.

Perhaps I should say 'I thought I knew well'. I moved away over 20 years ago and during that time many of the traditional old buildings I remember have been demolished to make way for modern architecture. This is the Marks and Spencer store.

And here is Sainsbury's. I'm afraid I'm not a lover of these monsters. After driving through High Wycombe we head for the old town of Amersham.

I was relieved to see the old high street had scarcely changed. The buildings date back many hundreds of years and the wide streets that once carried stage coaches are now lined with parked cars. William Penn would have been familiar with many of these buildings and would probably remember a few of them.

And here is Bury farm at the far end of the old street. Today the house peers over its wall at the never ending stream of traffic passing by. I wonder if William Penn would recognise it and what he would think to the changes that have taken place in the 300 years since he stayed here. I'm not sure he would approve!

William Penn 1644 - 1718