Fun three days...

Now that a friend and I are getting into the swing of painting - our dreams of being artists one day....and trying to find a style we are comfortable with, we decided to attend the Patching's Art Festival near Nottingham.  

Too far for a day, so why not make it three days.  So we set out on Thursday morning, caught our first train and when we arrived at the main station, asked for the Platform for the Birmingham train.  Had to be the fathermost one (Platform 13) - so huffing and puffing we took the escalator, across the bridge and down the other side, only to find we had about six minutes before it left.  

Ahhh...talk about aging - we found our seats and settled in for the trip, when this young girl came along and told us we were in the wrong seats....she didn't argue when we said they were our reserved seats and sat somewhere else.  Just seconds before the train left, I realised we were on the wrong train!  Ours did not leave until half an hour later.  We managed to get off just in time!  Whee that was a close shave, this train was double the price of our tickets. 

Thanks to the Railway worker who was seeing off the train, he directed us in the right direction - way over the other side where we just came from.....

At last we caught the train, the right train and the right booked seat and started our journey cross country.  In no time at all we had arrived - 

We thought we would first go to our accommodation to drop of the bag, not that it was heavy or big, but best we had less to carry.  So we found the bus stop for the City and climbed aboard and had our bus pass scanned.  I asked the driver to tell us when we reach Parliament Street. (neither of us had visited Nottingham for about 40 years).  We sat down and watched the world go by.  Had no idea how far the City was from the station, when suddenly we recognised a building - we had done a full loop in around 20 mins and ended up back at the Station!!

Well that was two things that didn't go to plan!  Eventually we found a bus again to the City and caught a bus towards our accommodation.  Everything now going to plan.  Our accommodation was through Airbnb, and it was pretty convenient for both the City and for our day at Patchings Art Festival the next day.

We caught the bus back to the City and spent the afternoon and early part of the evening mooching around the shops.  Just mooching - not buying a thing, except food for our tea.

I was fascinated by the water features - so nice to watch 

....and the trams that travelled all round the City.  Had to be careful crossing the road where the tram lines were.

Interesting alleyway...

This beautiful dress - if only I had the body to wear it. 

Next day - a taxi to the Art Festival -  I hadn't realised that a bus didn't go all the way to the Patchings Art Centre.  There would of been a mile or so of no footpaths and countryside which neither of us wanted to take the risk.  So we went in comfort - there and back. 

So much to see -

Good day - not too hot either and no rain.  Very relaxing.

Our last day!  Nottingham Castle - we caught the bus to the City popped into Starbucks for morning coffee and decided to walk to the Castle, armed with a simple map.  

Look what we found on our way - a Cafe with cats - real cats.  We had already had coffee so we just peeped in the window. 

 Our concessionary price for the Castle was £6.00 - it was worth it to see everything, although I do believe the Cave tours were another price, but we were too early for those and I don't think we would have the courage to go underground.

 Look at the wonderful views from the wall below the castle.

 We heard the most unusual music from below - it was two guys playing a musical instrument from below the roof top you can see here on the right of the path.  

 After taking in the views of Nottingham, we proceeded to climb the path towards the Castle.  I was told it wasn't the original Castle - bits had been added to it, but within the walls is a Museum, gift shop and a Cafe.  

A lot of work has been put in to keep the gardens looking great.

This was intriguing.  Pebbles stuck in between the paving stones and this lovely set of words.

More views of Nottingham...very windy, and I am not good with heights, so kept well back from the wall.

More views - we saw the Railway Station from here, to the left I think, and decided there and then we wouldn't catch a bus, but walk after our lunch in the Cafe.  So glad we did, there was such a lot to see. 

That is the end of our three day break, and a very busy one.  Now to find our train - the right one!  This one was going from Nottingham - London direct.

 Here we are - last carriage but one and only three of us in this carriage and we are the only one with booked seats.

....and how did they know we are retired!  Or at that time of life....

 Oh dear silly me - of course - we had to say we had the "Senior Rail Card".  How nice is that - a seat just for the oldies. Not that we needed this one, but it was the kind thought.

I am ready for another trip already - so best get thinking where to go next.  

Sunbury Walled Garden and Embroidery Gallery

What a great day - a trip  Sunbury on Thames, where we visited the Walled Garden and the Embroidery Gallery.  I hadn't been to Sunbury for years, and how some things have changed and some hasn't.

This beautiful Millenium Embroidery of Lower Sunbury is in a Gallery in the 18th Century Walled Garden, which is surrounded by parkland and just a short distance from the River Thames.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photograph of the Millenium Embroidery.  

The cafe which we visited first for a light lunch overlooks the Walled Garden, before we had a walk round the gardens.  So much to see and so peaceful. 

Trust me to photograph the gold transfer on the window of the Cafe.

This beautiful tree was in the Sunbury Park - where we cut through to reach the Gallery and Walled Garden.

Man at work!

Lots of statues and seats

 A lovely place to sit in peace and watch the world go round.  Today was hot and sunny, but plenty of trees if you want shade.

We left the Walled Garden to Thames Street for a short walk along the Thames

 Everything has changed over the years

St Mary's Church where I, my parents, my Aunts and Uncles and one of their Grandparents were married.  The Church is very old. 

Excellent day out!

I have been to LONDON to see the.......

Nah - nothing like that!  I went to London to meet up with friends......Meeting up with friends was not a problem....but visiting London?  Thats a different story.

I have to admit I haven't been to London - that is walking the streets of London for, let me see - it really has to be at least twenty years!  Why?  Because I don't like London.  Well thats what I thought until yesterday.  I actually had a great time.

And you wouldn't believe this...I live just a short way from the train station, I don't even catch the train! But what caught my eye on Saturday was the state of the footbridge.  I remember over twenty years ago when the old footbridge was in place, it was always looking nice.  Then soon after they, whoever they are, decided to put in a new bridge - a more modern footbridge they said - but look at it - its actually rusting away!!

Its terrible to let it get into a state like this!

 

 

I am always too early to catch a train, so I sat at the platform waiting for at least 20 mins.

A train!!  Nope not mine its going the wrong way! 

 

Not long after it arrived.  I found a seat and sat down and pulled out a book to read.  Behind me came two people with cycles! What, hey, where are they going............noooooo.....not their wheels up on the seat!!!  In my day, that is when I caught trains, bicycles had to go in the goods van....no good van??? Now I am wondering if I am sitting on a seat that had a dirty bike wheel on it! Mmmm mustn't think about it.

 

A few stops, a few pages read and a few sleeps we are pulling into London.

 

 

 

We are here!!  Now to find the bus.  Yes I had planned exactly how I was getting to Foyles Book Shop, where we planned to meet. First I needed to find the "Ladies", ahh here it is.  What??? 30p for a p.....!!! OMG I never heard that before!!!  Wouldn't of minded if they were super doopa loos, but they weren't........!

 

 

Well thats done, now off to find the bus.....

 

Which way?  Ahh here we are - the bus is already coming.  I hop on show my pass and was then told it will not be going to Charing Cross Road, but only just across the bridge.  Oh no....that means I have to walk - but which direction?  Ah yes I did print off a map - thank goodness.

Now I think I was clever.  I did not get lost!  Here we are....we all met in the Cafe for coffee and then to Prezzo, in New Oxford Street for Lunch.

What do we talk about?  Well lots of things really.....but we also talk about.............

 

and

 

Something we all have in common - we love books!  We swapped books, we had a book dip, we took books from piles from the centre of the table and some of us brought books that were on others wishlists........isn't that great!!

And after lunch - where did we go.  We went to a ......wait for it.......a bookshop.  Surprised? 
No I guess you are not surprised.  "Any Amount of Books" the shop was called ..... I didn't buy any - but others did - loads of them!!  I didn't buy any as I still got 835 on my shelves to read.

Well what a day!  Super weather and a nice long walk back to the railway station - thank goodness for comfy shoes.

Just can't wait to go again......