Chateau de la Barre, Loire

Such a long absence since my last blog.  It's as if the heart has missed a few beats, while the summer heat dissipated languidly into long simmering nights.

It was a long trek to the Loire Valley - neary 400 miles each way.  The fun came from the navigation system in the Jaguar, which clearly is not one of the most friendly systems to use. 

The Chateau Hotel de la Barre, situated between Chartres and Tours, beckoned.  The Sunday Times billed it as one of France's best chateau chambres d'hotes by a stretch.  Or was it?

It was an ideal gateway to the Loire Valley Chateaux.

Chateau de la Barre

Part of a stone wall surrounding

the garden of the Chateau

The main dining room

Chambre Marin de Vanssay,

a delightful room with

extensive views of the garden

Buckler's Hard, Hampshire

On the banks of the Beaulieu River, in the heart of the New Forest National Park, lies the peaceful haven of Buckler's Hard.  This is where ships for Nelson's Navy were built.

Cottages on the approach to Beaulieu River

The vast blue sky and the soft summer breeze,

perhaps a perfect time to fly a kite?

Yatchs under repair

Blue sky under threat from dark clouds

Sweet and savoury

As in life, food can be sweet, savoury, or even bitter.  These were images captured at Selfridges food hall, Oxford Street, London.

The silent life of the Mind ....