A quick night away

 

Ah the British summer, how we love the long hot days, filled with the scents of summer, when we can have a night away in a quaint English town and sit outside  the pub watching the world  go by, laughing with friends.

Well yes that's what you imagine, not driving across the A66 in monsoon type rain  (not to mention driving back in monsoon x 2 rain ). However the drive was worth it as I arrived in Sedbergh. A town      ( and school with a wonderful cricket ground) in Cumbria.

I was meeting up with friends Sophie and Terry who had rented an apartment for the weekend  to watch cricket, (which sadly never happened). The apartment was in a beautiful stone building which had been converted into  flats  and was obviously very popular with walkers and travellers. The apartment had a lovely outside area which, had it been the glorious summer days we dream of, would have been amazing.

To be honest this apartment is ideally what I would love to downsize to.

So after much chattering and  watching the Test match, we had polished off a bottle of fizz and decided it was time to head out to eat.

1st stop was The Thirsty Rambler on the high street. A very nice bar which also stocked local beers and ciders and they told you the distance that the particular beer/lager/cider had travelled.

Terry had a local lager, and Sophie had rioja, whilst I opted for a Chenin Blanc.

The bar was popular and dog friendly even providing dog beds for furry friends to get comfortable.

Finishing up we headed on to The Dalesman for dinner.

The menu was amazing and locally sourced foods were on offer.

Starters of mozzarella stuffed tomatoes and Sedbergh gin cured sea trout were eagerly eaten. Huge thumbs up for the starter.

For mains there was a salmon dish for Terry, to which he added creamed leeks and cabbage. Sophie and I both opted for 12 hour slow cooked beef cheek ragu with tagliatelle. Oh my days it was just amazing. I would go back  just for that.

We were pretty stuffed by this point, but Terry and I shared an Eton mess with homemade honeycomb.

Yummy!

We finish our wine and headed back to the apartment. 

So quick  10 hours fast forward, we were up and ready to leave, but not before one more trip to the high street and  a spot of breakfast.

I would highly recommend a trip to  this cafe. 

We were first in. The menu was just right, not too much choice but very varied.

Sophie and I opted for  creamy scrambled eggs with smoked salmon on buttered crumpets. The stuff of dreams, and completely living up to its name, the eggs were really creamy.

Terry went for a 'full work' barm. Seriously this was bursting with bacon,sauage and egg.

And then just like that, it was time to say farewells. lockdown and life in general has meant that we haven't been together in nearly 4 years.

What a great way to catch up.

Beauvais, the debrief

 

And so it was over in a flash, my mini break back to my beloved France.

So what was the actual run down on the this small northern city.

Well transport links to and from the airport were brilliant, a local bus ( no 6) took you from the airport to the city , close to where I was staying and vice versa. cost approx € 2. time to city approx 25 mins 

Taxi's were good from the airport  but not very visual in the around the city. however any bar or cafe can help out with this. Time from the airport in a taxi on a public holiday, 7 mins, time back to the airport in normal traffic approx 15 mins

Eating out, most restaurants etc do a 'plat du jour' some with wine, some with a soft drink starting at €13 for mains and dessert with a soft drink I thought was rather good.

Some in the town square were as much as €29 but were 3 courses with wine, again, not to be sniffed at.

Food shopping, some things seemed slightly higher in price than the UK, the market was dearer than the local Carrefour, whose fruit and veg were as fresh as the market. Interestingly, all fruit and veg in supermarkets were labelled with were they had come from, not in small print but very 'in your face'. Helping you to make a choice on local/ home grown or imported.

I stayed in a very typical French apartment with narrow steep stairs, I chose this over an hotel and I am glad that I did as it was just perfect for me, I've spotted one just across the road from where I was, which is larger and has a dishwasher ( yes I know its not the most important thing but its handy), maybe for my next trip!!!

The people were very friendly and very helpful. 

There are lots of things to see if you like museums and architecture, if you are looking for wild nightlife, I'm not sure this is the place for you.

I was very close to the centre of the city and right outside the cathedral, and at night it was very, very quiet. I slept so well ( not happened since I came home).

The cathedral bells or the chiming clock did not bother me in any way.

There is a lake about 15/20 mins walk away which has a restaurant and numerous water sports as well as areas to picnic, I needed an extra day to go there.

So would I go again......in a heartbeat.

Would I recommend it.......no, I want to keep it for myself., ok,  yes I really would.

Off to check out the flights now!

The last day

 And the last day dawned gloriously sunny and very hot, much like the previous days.

I was up and out early to have my final wander around. I walked up to the train station after deciding that when  I come next time, I might have a day out on the train.

Walking back through the large town square I was struck  by the cleanliness, there are litter bin at ever corner and any shop that sell 'take away' goods or has outside seating to eat, has bins.  I guess also pride in where you live matters too

 I found a vintage clothes shop but it was certainly not at vintage prices!!! I fell in love with a gorgeous silk dress, luckily for me and the bank balance it was not my size.

I then went to have a civilized lunch sadly  no wine, as I had to drive home from the airport.

I went back to the apartment to pick up my suitcase. Glancing around, I realized how I had settled in very well,  I closed the windows for the last time and drew the curtains to try to keep some of the heat at bay. Then I struggled down the two flights of narrow stairs with a now considerably heavier suitcase.

Hopped in a taxi and was at the airport in a matter of minutes, as we couldn't yet check in, I sat outside  catching the last bit of French  sunshine.

Well all things looked good, we checked in, went  through to departures. I was just minding my own business when the lady next to me started to chuckle, glancing up, I saw a man doing yoga, going through a number of poses repeatedly. By this time he had quite an audience, and set about doing press ups, I started counting late but he must have done 100. By the time he started to do a plank and hold it for what seems like an hour, it was obvious he was doing it for show, my thoughts, I bet he is sat next to me!!!

 It got to the time that we should have been taking off, and we hadn't boarded, mainly because there was no plane! and there were no announcements either.

I managed to find out that the plane was still in Leeds. 

Finally it arrived and  we were hurried on, arrived back in Leeds 2 hours late. As I stood waiting for  the bus to the car park, two girls from Teesside joined me.

'Have you been to Paris' they asked, 

 'no ' I said 'I've been to Beauvais'  

'What like, you stayed at the airport!! said the girl

'no I stayed in Beauvais the city'

'What the airport has a city' was the reply.

Well no answer to that!

Picked up the car and  drove home, so a very late night for me.

This did not dull what had been a great holiday I can't wait to go back again.

Day three in sunny France

 

Things I love about this city break,

1. Its a beautiful city with lovely people

2 The city still  has many timber framed buildings and cobbled streets ( no cars allowed) relating to its past.

3 The fact that its not that big but has lots to offer.

4 A cathedral which is breath taking 

5 never a dull moment ( or is that just me)

I booked this break after doing  a bit of research, my plan was to see the cathedral and tapestry museum ( not made it there), what I found was so much more interesting for my architectural geeky side.

The beautiful Art Nouveau house that I stumbled on when I took a wrong turn yesterday morning

I want to live in this house!!!

The oldest house in Beauvais, which is behind my apartment and was built in 1410, it was threatened with demolition so was dismantled and put back together in its current location. This style of house  mirrors the urban landscape around the Cathedral before  the destruction of the town in 1940. At this time the area round Saint-Pierre ( the cathedral ) was still quite mediaeval in its look.

Ok less of the geeky  stuff.

On  my wandering I found the war cemetery which had some English graves. I always get very tearful entering these, and no change yesterday, luckily I had opted for a no mascara day.

A good few minutes quiet reflection. And as always the grounds were  beautiful and well kept.

By this time we were well into afternoon so I headed off back to the apartment, passing the THE restaurant.

The owner was shouting to me, I waved, he shouted to go over, ( I am going to make this quite concise)

They had been watching for me, as they wanted to give me lunch gratis. With wine, well hell, you know me, offer of wine and let the party start.

Seriously the hot homemade bread sticks are a thing of sheer joy!

A few hours and few glasses of wine later I made a decision.

I headed over to the cathedral and donated my money from yesterday. I think that it needs it a bit more than I do. And it stays local and will go to do some good.

I got home had a siesta and then decided that a spa shower, PJs and Netflix were the order of the evening.

One last day to go.

I'm sad that it is all nearly over so quickly.

Day two, what a day!!!!

 

Day 2 started with a lie  in after a really good nights sleep, then up and out the door by 7.45am and down to Place de Halles for the Saturday market. I did my shopping of food that I will need for the next couple of days and then went to find something for breakfast.

An alfresco brekkie of Croque Monseiur and coffee was just what was needed and I headed back to the apartment to drop off my provisions before heading straight out again.

I walked back up to the Musee de L'Oise which is a chateau in the centre of the city the grounds were beautiful with a stunning knot garden, 

The history of the place is that it was originally a fortress then turned into a religious house and then in 1981 turned into a museum

Many wonderful artworks and treasures. Worth a visit. And anyone who knows me knows I love  a museum, this is quite a normal museum for me to visit.

Next stop the stunning Cathedral Saint-Pierre, which I have seen from all angles on my  walks and my window.

Inside did not disappoint and totally took my breath away. so much so that I had to sit in a corner for 5 minutes as I seemed to have some dust in my eyes

I also found out that the choir I heard last night in the apartment were English, Brockham Choral, who performed a programme of Rutter, Schubert, Mozart, Chilcott, Howells and Tallis. I have to say listening to them last night was wonderful 

As I walked through this stunning building it became very obvious that there is major works going on to keep the cathedral standing. ( my construction and architectural geek getting a look in here)

and this is inside, outside from my window I can see more evidence of the amount of work that has gone into keeping this beautiful building standing.

And then there was the astrological clock...........

the lighting in this area seems to be set so that you can never get a good shot of it.

here is the history blurb ( thanks google)

The clock was built between 1865 and 1868 by Lucien Auguste Vérité. It is 12 metres high, and 6 metres wide.

The 52 dials display the times of the rising and setting sun and moon, the position of the planets, the current time in 18 cities around the world, and the tidal times. The clock also displays the epact (i.e. age of the moon in days on January 1) and the golden number used in calculating the date of Easter.

The hours and minutes are shown in the large central face which depicts Jesus Christ and the twelve apostles.

I have to mention the stained glass windows of which there are too many to photograph, but I got some

Two signs in the cathedral  brought a tear to my eye

So by the time this was all done and I had cleaned the mascara that had run down my face I thought I had best go and get some wine from the supermarche.

I filled my 'vinbutin' bag ( bought in Iceland at Vinbutin, taken all over the world since), and headed off to the restaurant I had got the pizza at yesterday. and had Plat du Jour for €13.

excellent!!

Head off home via the huge hydrangea bush and I took a couple of cuttings ........................then

I spot 3 credit cards laid on the ground. I pick them up, they all belong to the same person. One was a colour of American Express that I will never be able to have that's for sure!!!

Head back to restaurant and they phone the police, who turn up like 30 seconds later ( take note Aycliffe police).

They ask me to accompany them to the police station. OMG was I being arrested!???? ( answer was no)

Into police cars ( no selfie allowed), take me to the station ( no selfies allowed), lots of chatter about M Gilbert. apparently M Gilbert is a grande fromage in these parts! ( only me ffs!!!)

10 mins later M Gilbert arrives at station.

He didn't know he had lost his cards he had been in that area whilst I was eating,

Police ask me what I was doing when I found the cards, well I was hardly going to say, nicking foliage to try to propagate it! Just casually said , walking to my apartment after lunch.

M Gilbert is so happy he offers me €500 and a lift home, I decline the money and I accept the lift home as I have bag full of wine. Only in his full spec ' boules de chien ' Porsche Cayenne ( would have been better if a Maserati but OK I'll take the Porsche) He was still bartering with me as we pulled up at the apartment.

€500 was way too much to take and to be honest I just stumbled upon the cards. In the end I took €100 and said I would buy something to remember this trip, not that I need a reminder.

He said I was a rare person.

I've been called some things in my time but rare is not one of them.

I made it up the 2 flights of stairs and took to my bed with a cold glass of rose!

I need a 'normal' holiday!!!

I didn't leave the apartment after that and sat in watching Netflix and drinking wine ( not the whole bag of wine may I add)

Regardless of anything else, honesty is the best thing, I always hope that if it was my cards someone would have handed them in.

I also found out what the salamander was for, you follow the gold cobbles on a trail of ancient historical monuments.

Today I am off to the ancient ramparts before I just wander aimlessly and see what mischief I fall into.

And if you made it to the end of this epic, very well done!

Have a wonderful day

Day one on a new city break

 

It was another 4 am start for me, and a drive down to Leeds/ Bradford airport. No decent city break  (or holiday for that matter), is started without the glass of champagne or 2 usually at unsociable hours. Mine was at a more sociable 9am, but I had been trying to cough a lung up for half an hour like a Victorian heroine with consumption . 

After getting over that  I had a Greggs Latte which was no match for a glass of chilled champers, so off to the Cabin Bar I went.

Also did my fair share of people watching, as well as discovering things I didn't know were a 'thing'

1. Wearing rollers at the airport, yes really and one of the roller wearers was on my plane and still had them in at Beauvais

2 Silver cowboy boots, who knew???? who knew cowboy boots were still a thing. I saw 3 ladies wearing them and they weren't all with each other.

3 Quite a few young chaps who would have been trendy hipsters with their beards a couple of years , now sporting handlebar moustaches. As my lovely Mum would have said, 'what do they think they look like'!!

Onto the plane, and once again landed in a pretty shaky fashion, it seems to be happening a lot to me.

Out of the airport, and into  a taxi, yes a taxi, it was very new and had sliding door ( it was more of a people carrier than a car so had to be safe)  7 mins later I was outside my apartment in the lovely compact city of Beauvais.

After negotiating 2 flights of  typically French stairs, with my suitcase ( I know, I know, I'm only here for a long weekend , but I was  in the Brownies and the Girl Guides so 'be prepared' is still my motto), I was into my sanctuary for the weekend.

Oh my days!!!!! Beautiful wooden floors, huge windows, original mouldings, and a spa shower, I was over the moon. and then this...........................

I drew back the curtains and the comment of ' the apartment is  close to the Cathedral' really didn't prepare me for this!

So I decided to go  out and get my bearings and as it was Bastille Day I knew there would be something going on at the town hall.

Well yea, there was lots, the police, the fireman. the ambulance/ medics all on parade.a band playing and obviously no shops open, for little old me to get provisions.

I made my way to a pizza restaurant and ordered one to take away, whilst I was waiting I ordered a bottle of water and glass of rose (soaking up the holiday vibes and local chatter)

Then I had a brainwave, why not ask if I could have a bottle of wine and bottle of water to take away too.

€22 later I was on my way home a very happy bunny, despite them asking me if I was Russian, my first thought was those shot putters at the Olympics of my childhood. Diet when you get home Lainey for sure.

I always think of France as home of the hydrangea, and finding a huge display of Annabelles ( stunning hydrangeas in white)  near the cathedral made my day.

I  found a little gold disc with a salamander on, along the cobbles  on the Rue De Musee so I will be looking into this.

I am up  and about to head to the market, which a very nice young policeman told me is definitely on today, so food shopping sorted.

one more thing I learned  yesterday, as it gets to dusk, French birds get very vocal and by vocal I mean 'squeaky', strange squeaky calls, which stopped very suddenly ( even more freaky), and there are bats too!!!

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode.

Happy Saturday

Coming soon

Well I am getting closer to my next jaunt, which will include my first trip on  Ryan air in quite a few years.

I am also going 'home' for the first time in nearly 6 years and I am excited beyond belief.

So where am I going?

Well, I am heading off to the city of Beauvais in Northern France.

As many of you who read my blog 'Tales from the Boundary' will remember,  I was a regular visitor to France and have been for more years than I care to mention. So now that I am getting closer to  my departure  date, I am sooooo excited.

I have rented an apartment for my stay which is across the road from the Cathedral and I already have a list of things that I want to do whilst I am there, all of which I will bore you with later.

So I still have over a week until I go, but the bags are packed and I am ready to hot foot it to the airport.

I have also made the decision that next year (2024) as it is the year of a big birthday ( yes I am finally 21!!!), I am going to do something every month, that I have never done before. I will keep you updated on this from January next year. I am still working this out.

As I have done  a lot of the things that people rave about at the moment ( Glastonbury ( twice too many time), Henley Regatta (regularly), Cowes week ( regularly)Ascot ( too regularly) Wimbledon (often)  these things will not be featuring, and neither will any bridges be involved in the year long party.

Right I am off to make another list, of things I may/may not need. I am taking a case to France , it is nearly empty so that I can fill it with ( hopefully) lots of  goodies.