Unyielding

Stripped bare, still proudly standing

A fighter's spirit etched against the rolling countryside

Montisfont Abbey, Hampshire

Once a priory, this building is open to the public on the ground floor only, the key feature being the Whistler Room, with elaborate tromp'loeil murals painted by Rex Whistler.  The room looked enchanting in the warm yellow light, and the sparse furniture rendered space and elegance.

Exquisitely hand painted pelments and wall motifs

Murals in the chapel; the perspective is impressive

The Vyne, Basingstoke

Described as a Tudor 'power house' because it was visited by Henry VIII on at least three occasions, the place disappointed when power has long since evaporated, leaving the interior bolstered by the copywriter's imaginative use of the English language.  Still, on a cold September day, the exterior was mildly attractive.




One of the galleries boasting a harp and a grand piano



Detailed oak panelling throughout the house

Life Without Speech

It's been four days since I lost my voice to laryngitis.  Life without speech can at times be blissful; you can choose to disengage with a jolly good excuse.  It can also be frustrating; you lose the power of vocal expression, and you resign to using a nod, a shake of the head, the waving of hands, and sometimes exagerrated facial expression.  It's like living in a cocooned world, where daylight seeps through the gaps of the willow above water, worn thin by the constant movement of ducks. 

Nature

Nature often crafts some intricate and attractive objects, silently waiting to be admired.

Hatchlands Park, Surrey

A veritable treasure trove of keyboard instruments, associated with famous composers such as Chopin,  J S Bach and Elgar, this 18th century mansion stands in beautiful parkland with trails well marked for those who want to explore the countryside.

The front entrance overlooking 400 acres of parkland

A glimpse of the splendour of Robert Adams' design

A glimpse of the music room with

superb acoustics, an ideal venue for concerts

Clandon Park, Surrey

A Palladian mansion built in the 18th century, Clandon Park was once the home of the Onslow family, whose claim to fame was to have provided three Speakers of the House of Commons.  Inside, the mansion contains a superb collection of 18th century furniture, porcelain and textiles, a feast for the eyes but not for the camera.

Front entrance to Clandon Park

The magnificent two-storey marble hall

A stunning black and gold marble hearth

Majestic blue sky

Last signs of summer, and the splendour of a deep blue sky, as far as the eyes could stretch.

Basildon Park, Reading

Basildon Park is a re-creation and restoration of an 18th century mansion house, quite modest in comparison with other grander National Trust properties.  It was a pleasant drive getting there from Pangbourne and the meandering road alongside the River Thames, with a close eye on those treacherous speed cameras.  The 400 acres of parkland around Basildon Park were ideal for families having a picnic, a get together, and some late summer cheer.

An imposing Basildon Park, front entrance

The library

Stunning ceiling by John Carr

The details are exquisite

Images of Dusseldorf

After a stint of 6 months in USA when I mostly dined solo, I felt strangely comfortable eating on my own again, this time at the Seestern area, Dusseldorf.  Prago, signora, the Italian waiter beckoned.  The menu was in German, so some translation was called for.  In translation, angel fish became angle fish, which turned out to be two rubbery lumps of fish fillets, surrounded by tiny pieces of carrots and brocolli symetrically presented in a clockwork pattern. It was food for sustenance, if that.

An atrium warmly lit by electric blue lights on a wet autumn day.  The graceful gladioli struck a colourful contrast.  The long passageway looked welcoming and inviting - I almost saw a rabbit hurrying down the corridor, and I almost ran after it. 

Modern glassware displayed in glass cabinets in the hotel lobby.  The  eyes were inevitably drawn to the shapes, so neatly arranged in straight lines.  Poetry in simplicity.

Dusseldorf

It was a quick entry and exit at Dusseldorf International.  The beast of business travel is such that the traveller hardly gets time to explore the city.  Pity, as Dusseldorf is such a pretty place, even at dusk and on a very wet day.

An airy Dusseldorf International Airport.

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference

between one airport terminal to another.

On the way home, a dramatic skyline

with two helicopters flying off to their destination. 

The shades of blue were startlingly magical.

The joy of a blue sky

On the radio today, as schools reopen after the summer holiday, the broadcaster was lamenting the passing of summer.  Perhaps more the passing of summer holidays....  On a clear day, I can see, under a clear blue sky, the traffic on the A3 and the urban landscape beyond.  It's a view, and it's a view worth having rather than looking into a car park or across an open plan office with a sea of expressionless faces.

Hinton Ampner Series - Interiors

A glimpse into the elegant living of the upper class, a far cry from the functional utility of Ikea.  In each room is a folder describing the provenance of each object.  There is a preponderence of Regency furniture, Italian paintings, gilded mirrors, and hardstone items.

Hinton Ampner Series - Sweet nature

Ralph Dutton, Lord Sherborne, created what must be one of the finest shrub gardens in the country.  The harmony of colours, shapes, and contours truly delights the eye and the soul.

Hinton Ampner Series - Landscape

Hinton Ampner, a Georgian country mansion in Hampshire, boasts one of the finest gardens in the county.  It has open vista of the South Downs, long stretch of lawns almost like boulevards, intimate alcoves, a lily pond with a fountain, and endless delights at every corner.

Hinton Ampner, approaching it from the garden

Vast stretch of lawn, with clipped hedges

in perfect symmetry

Precision cutting 

View of the open landscape

from one of the bedrooms 

Richmond Park

Occupying 2,500 acres of land in West London, Richmond Park has become the playground of earnest cyclists in their lycra shorts and nimble joggers with their iPods. 

Mature trees rise majectically above felled logs

Just two of the fallow deer that roam the park,

first introduced by Charles I in the 17th century

when he used this park as his hunting ground.

Ham House, Richmond

Built in 1610, Ham House stands on the banks of the River Thames, then, according to the National Trust brochure, was only an hour's row away from London.  As a luxuriously decorated villa, it has grand rooms and equally grand gardens.    

The immaculately kept lawn was a statement to visiting guests and royalty in the 17th century, before the days of mechanic lawn mowers.  Today, it is a perfect place to have a picnic when the sun is out. 

The cherry garden, curiously named when there are no longer any cherry trees.  The cone-shaped borders are carefully trimmed to complement the beds of lavender. 

The magnificent Great Staircase, acting as a fanfare to the grand reception rooms above.  The details are themselves works of art.

One of the many exquisite Chinese cabinets in Ham House.  This one is situated in the Long Gallery, its length allows the owners to have some form of exercise, and the expanses of wall are lined with portraits showing off the family's connections and allegiances.