Super Saturday

 

I was up and out by 8am, 7am UK time, and ready to take in as much of Limoges as I could.

First stop was  petite  dejeuner. I opted for croissant, espresso and orange juice, although some of the hardcore locals were on beer  and wine.

I then set off to walk  to the charity shop that I had found on the internet, sadly it was closed down, so any hopes of French linens were once again thwarted. However this  was quickly forgotten as I set off walking, and walking, and walking. I had clocked up 6k steps before I knew it. 

I also got drenched in a downpour but never one to be knocked back I soldiered on.

I am staying in what they call the medieval town, which is standing  high overlooking the river Vienne, with the cathedral at the top.

A trip into the botanical gardens, nxt to the Cathedral, made me realise how high up we are, although walking up and down the roads I did really know this and it  has seriously given me a much needed work out. today my legs, and derriere really are aching.

The gardens themselves are stunning, from the 'wild' area to the formal gardens. so beautiful

I then decided that having now got more steps under my belt it was time for lunch, so I wandered into the bountiful square in the medieval town, that now housed restaurants. Sitting outside as the sun had now come out, I watched the locals going about their Saturday business. It was very easy to imagine this in the medieval age with animals wandering around the cobbled streets and people going about their daily life.

And then lunch arrived 

A chilled rose with smoked salmon, avocado and quails eggs on toasted baguette. It was just perfect and exactly what I needed.

I followed this with cafe gourmand, wow, and wow again, it was exceptional. There was mini creme brulee, cheesecake, mango sorbet and hot chocolate volcano sponge.

I will be dong this when I get home

I wandered up to the Cathedral, which is a fabulous gothic building, breathtaking and also having work done on it in places. 

Stunning inside as well as out and the gargoyles were still doing their job well with the rain that kept falling.

I nipped back to the apartment and ended up having a nap for half an hour and then set off to catch the petit train tour.

This was my chance to see more of Limoges, it took an hour and it was brilliant, well worth the not too pricey price tag and seeing things that I may not have seen in my time here.

It  was funny driving though the streets on the mini train and being waved at from pavements and cars.

Hotel de Ville

Limoges Benedictins train station

This amazing station , which sadly my photo does not do justice to, is listed as an historical monument.it was built in a combination  the Art Nouveau and Art deco style and was built on a former Benedictine monastery and leprosy hospital. The clock tower is taller than that at the Gare de Lyon in Paris.

The station is also built above the tracks and not along side them.

Stunning building.

The tour ended where it started at the tourist office and I wandered round looking at the over priced pieces of mass produced porcelain, not what I wanted.

The one thing that I have found is that the people are very friendly, and smiles are always returned with smiles and a friendly 'bonjour'

Wearily I walked home, and decided that I was too tired to get changed and head out, so I would cook at home, and that I did after a glass of chilled cremant D'Alsace  and nibbles. Chicken cordon bleu with lambs lettuce, mini plum tomatoes and coleslaw, followed by chestnut mousse, it was very nice. sadly, not homemade, all shop bought but tasty just the same.

bed followed not long after that.

today is another day, I am just preparing my petite dejeuner and then will head out for more  exploring.

I wish you all a peaceful Sunday.

My heart is happy

 

So with just one month before the start of my 'big year' ( the year when I do something/go somewhere I haven't done/been before), I decided to lead into it by having a jaunt to Limoges ( somewhere I haven't been) and  take the opportunity to do some shopping and learn more about the porcelain for which the city is famous.

I have visited many parts of France over the years and never tire of the country, Paris I can take or leave,  because there are so many other wonderful places to visit in  this vast country.

As I got off the plane, I got that familiar feeling, the same one  I've had getting off the plane before in France, or driving my car off Le Shuttle or  the roro, the feeling of a happy heart.

I got a taxi from the airport to the 'old' city. I am in the old timber framed houses close to the Gothic cathedral , sound familiar, so very similar to Beauvais where I visited in July.

I have rented a studio for the long weekend that I am here  as I did in Beauvais, and it has not disappointed so far.

It had been a long day and I decided to find somewhere to eat and then hit the sack.

I walked 'down' the street and I mean down,  three days of up and down this and I will have buns of steel.

I crossed over Pont St Etienne and was just struck by thee beauty of the river and the autumnal colours, 

I got a pizza to take back to the apartment and then  just soaked up the late evening sun and  headed back up the 'road' , oxygen at the top would have been good. And I was in bed by 9pm, 8pm UK time I know how to live. to be honest several bottles of French beer may also have been to blame.

Lets see what today has in store for me.

A mini break

 

I've been away for a mini break in Nottingham, it was to meet up with one of my oldest friends and also to see some of  the last cricket before the season ends ( turn off now if not a cricket fan).

I drove down, and found the apartment that I had booked, it was only minutes walk from the cricket ground ( bonus) and had parking ( top bonus). My apartment was on the top floor ( minus points), that was a nightmare to get to with my luggage.

However the apartment ( West One Studios, Muster Road Nottingham) were worth the climb.

A lovely little eating area and  kitchenette, as well as a shower room and very comfortable double bed.

It was perfect for my stay , and once the car was parked everything that I needed was in walking distance.

There were also some great places to eat ( mainly chains) , The Botanist and The Giggling squid ( which we went to  2 nights in a row) were closest, and there was also Cote Brasserie which served a splendid breakfast. ( and food throughout the day).

Having been to Trent Bridge many times, I'm ashamed to say that I had never been down into West Bridgford ( where all the eateries etc were), however I will make sure that I do go back when I am in Nottingham again.

Most of  the days were spend at Trent Bridge were I was looked after in the Committee room and consider myself very lucky to have  had this level of hospitality.

The banter was just to my liking ( cricket) and meeting some  wonderful people. I saw Middlesex get more batting points than they've had all season and a great century from Ryan Higgins, just after lunch on day 2 raised spirits amongst the Middx supporters around the table.

I did venture into a public house ( once or twice!) and the one that we frequented was The Stratford Haven, a lovely pub in West Bridgford, set on a side road. Very much a 'locals' pub, but very good wine! It was situated mid way between  The Botanist and The Giggling Squid.

Before I knew it my break was over and I was on the road back up to the North East.

The few days away have been what I needed and it was lovely to see friends, meet new people and chill out.

August nearly over

 

The early mornings have a chill in the air, and the leaves on the vine in my garden are starting to change from vibrant dark green to a dull light green tinged with yellow. A sure sign that Autumn is approaching. July and August in the UK this year have been chilly and very wet, which my lawn loved but I was not so keen on.

Outdoor eating has taken a back seat to indoor dining ( until I decided to decorate the dining room, when dining turned to a tray on my lap). The fact that at 8.45pm I now have to put on lights is not something that I like either.

Although I was born in November, the cold and wet, ice and snow are things that I dislike immensely. And with that in mind this year I chose to have a warmer birthday holiday, to the southern part of the Med.       ( more about that in a  later blog).

I often had holidays in Western France  in September, where it  usually was still basking in late summer sun interspersed with quick downpours which  would  leave petrichor wafting  in the air from the quickly drying ground. Swimming in the pool or paddling in the sea in the last throes of summer, always something that I looked forward to.

 I am heading off for a mid week break in the UK in September, to meet up with my chum Harry and watch a spot of cricket at Trent Bridge, this will see me through until I have a long weekend break in October, when I hope that heading  to Limoges, may see slightly warmer temperatures. Who knows?

What I will say is that this year I have put in the airmiles, from Amsterdam to Tunisia, to France x 2 and the south of the Med later in the year. Add to that the UK miles, Yorkshire in the cottage  x2 ( Xmas will be there again) , Leeds, Sedburgh and Nottingham( still to come), Ive been on the go a lot!

Will I stay home ,more next year?

Not if I can help it!

A quiet August

 

August has been very quiet for me, and this is how I planned it, its not that I don't like children,but I prefer to have my holidays  out of school holiday time ( too many years working in a school and having to holiday at more costly and allotted times). So I'm at home for August.

I'm having a mini break in the UK towards the end of September, and also preparing to do my first Antiques fair in many many years, this could be  the start of  something that I do on a regular basis ( as well as clearing out the house).

I had planned to start my 'big birthday year (2024) in January, this will see me doings things I've never done and going to places that I haven't been too, both home and away. However I am going to ramp it up a bit and will be starting the  countdown in October this year.

After all its best to live life to the fullest as it only happens once.

And so with that I am off to do some planning

Where to next?

 

 I have been home a few weeks and already have itchy feet. So much so that  I  am now planning another couple of trips before the end of the year.

I have always loved to travel, and  after a few years hiatus, I am back into the swing of it. 

So I have booked a long weekend to go and  explore another gothic cathedral, in a city famous for its porcelain. 

Can you guess where it is?

I am very busy working out my itinerary, I will try to cram as much into the weekend as I did in Beauvais, possibly without the drama of a police car ride!

I also completely changed my plans  for my annual birthday holiday and instead of racing around on a city break I am having a winter sun break. More about that nearer the time.

So in the meantime I will be sorting out my bag again and hoping for some autumnal sunshine.

Can't wait

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.