Thursday, September 19, 2013

Beaconsfield c

We went to Blenheim Palace on my last day. (Years and years ago the first Masterpiece Theater was "The First Churchills" inspired by Sir Winston Churchill's biography of his ancestors, the first Duke and Duchess of Marlborough. )


Now, this is a LIBRARY! I was in lust.


It was a huge room lined with books.


The Churchills became the Spencer-Churchills.


There were some pictures of Lady Somes (Winston's daughter) that we all had to look at very closely because we thought it was the queen.

This is a cake replica of the Palace.


A large collection of soldiers.


The downstairs rooms were furnished and had a special exhibit about Winston. A highlight of the tour was the room in which he had been born.

We had lunch in the cafe with Blenheim Palace sparkling water. (I bought Blenheim Palace tea as a souvenir.).


After lunch we left John to rest and Elizabeth and I did the audio visual tour on the second floor. It was really fun. There were a series of rooms, each depicting some scene in the history of the Palace. Doors opened and closed automatically and you moved from room to room. Some rooms had computers that could be used to see things about the life from either the upstairs or downstairs point of view. I would have liked to be able to spend more time there.

This was a famous scene from the first duke's days as a young rake. The woman in the bed is Barbara Villiers, the mistress of King Charles II. The king is pounding on the door demanding to be let in and John Churchill is hiding in the closet. (He was discovered, but forgiven.)



We walked around the grounds





To the cascade.


Picked up John and went home.


Elizabeth had a very frustrating time with the chemist and the doctor's office, so we both said at the same time, "we need a Pim's cup!" So we went home and had one.


This is the end of a really good trip. The best part was visiting old friends, but the rest was good too.

I highly recommend changing planes in Minneapolis. It has iPads all over the place all to be used for free and free wifi if you have your own device. A very civilized place.



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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Beaconsfield b

More pictures of food: boeuf bourguignon


Potatoes gratin


Berry crisp - all from Cooks


The baked bean aisle at the supermarket


Starbucks everywhere also.


Elizabeth and I visited the gardens of Cliveden, a stately home nearby. It is now a hotel, so the inside can only be visited at certain times.


Chuck would have loved the beautiful clipping job. He loved to clip.





We made it to the center of the maze and out again in record time. John was waiting for Elizabeth to make his cucumber sandwich for lunch so we had to hurry.


On our shopping rounds (picking up Elizabeth's computer at John Lewis), we ran into friends who invited us to tea the next day.

Fiona


Fiona's dog, house and garden. Somehow I missed her husband in my pictures.


As a thank you for their wonderful hospitality, we went to a "really nice restaurant" right on the Thames for Sunday lunch. We had a table by a window and these were our views.


Every once in awhile the lock opened and hen we had a parade.


The restaurant from the other side of the river.


We all chose the same: Scottish salmon.


Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes,broccoli, green beans and carrot purée.


For dessert Elizabeth and I had chocolate cherry creme brûlée.


John chose something that sounded strange. Cranachan is toasted oats folded with sweetened whipping cream and some sort of fruit and topped with a splash of whiskey - preferably a god single malt. I think that all scottish recipes are better with a splash of whiskey - I've seen it recommended for oatmeal!


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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

8/28 - 9/3 Beaconsfield

The best part of my trip was to visit an old friend. Elizabeth and I met in the craft group in Geneva. We both remember those days fondly. The last time we saw each other was 11 years ago when Alec, Jef and I were in England.

For this part of the trip, I'm just going to clump things together instead of going day by day.

John suggested that I label this "The Meredith's welcoming me to their summer cottage!" (Really it is the gate to Blenheim Palace. They really live in a lovely 3 story red brick with a dogwood in the front. Hence their address Dogwoods.)


Tea and crumpets were a favorite in the afternoon.


But we also enjoyed a Pimm's cup. I learned how and now I,can make them at home.


The elephant was my napkin holder. In America we tend to use These for decoration instead of their real purpose which is to identify one's napkin for more than one use.


My new favorite place was Cooks. They have the best frozen prepared food I have ever tasted. Elizabeth feels comfortable serving these at dinner parties. (And she really did do all of her own cooking for important business dinners, so she has really high standards. (Unlike me.)) Here, we have Chicken
Dijon and
Chicken, ham and leek pie.


I love the fact that all desserts are called "pudding".


This was the bacon section at the supermarket. Calder would be in heaven.


We went to Costco on Friday. Which is my day to go at home. John loves to go to the cheap lunch place. They had almost the same menu, exactly the same seating, but were not as efficient in serving.



Looks the same.


Same raspberries exactly. I forgot to check the prices.


Same fish stand


Same loaded carts.


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Monday, September 09, 2013

8/27 b

The floating flower shops are one shop after another of loveliness.


Right across the walk was a shop selling other things that Amsterdam is famous for. We got a big kick out of the knitted cock.


Ana had seen a little box that she regretted not buying, so we tried to retrace our steps. We found the store where we had taken shelter in the rain. I remembered it because of the great garden made of metal.





The sales clerk insisted that they had never carried the box Ana remembered. Where could it have been? Outside we continued retracing our walk and found it in the store across the canal. Ana calls me her living GPS, and still cannot believe that I was able to find the store.

This giant dog was sharing his master's steak. (I'm not sure it was entirely voluntary.)



We went to our favorite frite place to have one last indulgence (with mayo) and then to the bar that let us sit with a beer and eat them. See, we really do know our way around now.

Took the train back and went to bed early. Ana has to leave for the airport by 6:30 and as soon as she leaves I need to be up and getting ready. I, at least, have time for the breakfast that comes with the room.


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Tues. 8/27 Amsterdam again a

We docked in Amsterdam very early and our group was getting off the ship among the first groups. We had a shuttle to take everyone who wanted to go to the airport. Ana and I are spending a night at a hotel close by because we are leaving tomorrow and decided this was a good way to get there.


After off loading our stuff, we took the train into the city. We are feeling so comfortable here. We have some things we want to buy and know exactly how to get there.

First we went to the Rijksmuseum to see the famous Night Watch.



It has been cleaned since I saw it last, and is much brighter. The whole museum just reopened after a big redo. The room in which this was hung also had other paintings of guild groups by other artists, so you could really see what made Rembrandt's special.


It was a beautiful day and we wanted to try Dutch pancakes. We found this place to sit right by the water.


Ana watching a family of ducks and the boats going by.


We shared a large crepe with strawberries and whipped cream


And the smallest order (10) of the little puffy ones. We were glad we shared and really glad we tried them.


The cook and the griddle for the little ones.


This a city filled with bikes. I have never been quick enough to catch the ones transporting children. This holds 3 kids in the box and one behind.


This one has one behind and one on a little seat between the pedaler and the handlebars.


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