Tea Time in Wonderland

Archive for the ‘Espaces verts: respirez! / Parks, etc...: breathe!’ Category

A few ideas to treat your mum…

- Stop @ Selfridge’s to personnalize a card or a cupcake on Friday…

- Let her choose a gift @ this craft festival…

- Wouldn’t a floral exhibition @ Hampton Court be a royal occasion?

- Or a Mrs Dalloway walk?

- Take her to Ham House – mums go free on Sunday!

A few alternative idea…

- Don’t miss St Patrick’s parade!

- Raining? Try a in-house picnic with Courvoisier…

- Collect pop-ups. The latest one is a Parisian shop taking a pause @ Liberty

- A touch of Hollywood, maybe?

- More photos @ Somerset House. Free. Including some Irving Penn (when you would have to pay to see some @ The National Portrait gallery)

You’ll find me @ this extraordinary steam fair which promises wonderful rides… Finger-crossing for sunshine! And also strolling at Selfridge’s (craving sushis) through their new Beatrix Potter exhibition.

The British are not particularly known for their cooking talents nor for their gourmet-attitude. They do however have nice traditions such as Sunday lunches down their local pubs…

Living in Farnborough – a very boring dorm-town – I haven’t really had a chance to enjoy a lovely roast dinner in a welcoming pub. We’re kind of lacking those around – let alone child friendly ones.

For that kind of situations, I know no better solution than blogger friends. Mindlegap certainly has quite a few addresses in stock!

We meet at the Black Swan, amidst the countryside. Lovely wooden notes, showing timbers, naturel light, lots of space between the tables, a few antiques here and there to give a nostalgic touch such as this wonderful old style cash-register. Modern and pure lines you expect to find in a gastropub bu a home feeling. As soon as you step in, a welcoming chimney, comfy armchairs in case your table is not ready yet and a pile of board games.

The place has an extraodinary feel good effect. Families do know the place – plenty of children and babies around. We’ll stay 3 hours and a half, chatting the afternoon away with not even a frown from the staff, our kids happily playing around the table.

The menu has a lovely range of British classics -  huge plates for the sunday roast (the lamb is fab), but also excellent fishcakes, wonderful mashes potatoes with spring onions…. and so much to try! Mindlegap strongly recommends the cheese platter. The bread and butter pudding is to die for -  although you could easily share it, I struggled to finish my very large portion! Oh and do steal a spoonful of chocolate-hazelnut icecream from the kids…

Plenty of tables outside for the sun days to come. A few countryside paths around too and a forest a few minutes drive away for a walk.

The place is so pleasant that time just flies. I can picture myself there every Sunday… But do book, as it is quite successful!

The Black Swan
Old Lane
Ockham
Surrey
KT11 1NG

Once upon time, London was a much smaller place. Each borough increased in size until meeting the city. Can you imagine Lambeth as a muddy countryside?

The simple life became a town one. In 1800 -  a million people were living in the capital. In 1850 – 2.3 millions, what a jump!

Faced with this ever increasing populations, the graveyards around little churches just cannot cope. Bodies are buried a metre from the ground, with basic decorum: ideal for body snatchers.

That explains why cemeteries often look, well, crowded… How do you get from one grave without stepping on another one?

In 1832, the government finally decides to move and settles for a ring of cemeteries around London, also known as the Magnificent Seven: Kensal Green, West Norwood, Highgate (a real jewel, I hear), Nunhead, Brompton, Abney Park, Tower Hamlets will open between 1837 and 1841.

Some see is as a real opportunity. A protected, kept, green place: middle class decide to bury their beloved in style and show the social status of their family through elaborate graves. Marble, sculptures…

These days, it is not so much used as a cemetery than a lovely place for a walk. Large alleys sheletered by trees. In spring, bluebells and daffodils.In fact, you’ll be suprised to meet quite a few football fans: the Chelsea stadium is right behind. Do visit the place on amatch day. The atmosphere is surreal! One minute, you’re enjoying the quietness, listeming to a robin chirp happily. The next, a goal has been marked and you hear the loud clamour of the stadium as if you were in it. quite a new dimension!

Another amazing detail -  Beatrix Potter used to live nearby and loved strolling around. She actually used names on the graves for her book characters: you’ll find here a Mr Nutkins, a Mr McGregor, a Jeremiah Fisher, and even… a Peter Rabbett. It is even said that the enclose wall inspired her for the one in McGregor’s garden.

Of course, you’ll find plenty of crosses around, some celtic, other greeks. Angels too…

And many symbols the Victorians loved.

A few:
A rosebud wuld be for a child – half opened for a teenager – fully bloomed, someone in their twenties. Several and you can calculate their age.
Urns usually meant an ossuary, garlands redemption.
Dog symbolised loyalty.
A wreath, eternal memory. Laurel was kept for the elitehaving received a distinction in arts, litterature…

Birds symbolised the winged spirit, flying to heaven. A dove with an olive branch would mean hope.

See those three intricate letters, almost a symbol: IHS? Those were for Jesis Our Saviour in Greek. So much smarter to add little touches of your faith in mysterious ways…
My favourite are those hands. Look closely @ the first picture. A handshake is easy -  a goodbye. But the sleeves are different, you see? A frilly one would be a woman’s, buttons a man’s – obviously a couple. The person who died first clasps the living’s hand, which remained open. Here, the gentlemane died first. A finger gesturing downward mean a sudden death.

There also are plenty of marine symbols. My first thought was a seaman… But look at the last one – poor little Rose, 18 months… An anchor with a cut chained meant the interrupted life too.

Many graves look completely abandonned. There has been talks of cleaning them. Quite a polemic as they shelter a fascinating collection of insects and birds. Migrating ones love to stop here too. Even families of foxes live in the catacombs!

Oh, and you rarely will be on your own. The squirrels are used to visitors and will quickly make their way to you (or any food you might have)….

Brompton Cemetery

The friends of Brompton Cemetery propose a guided tour every second and fourth Sunday of the month – only £4!
Finborough Road
London, SW10

Oh, feeling so lazy these days. But come on, plenty to do!

- Admire extraodinary ice sculptures @ Canary Wharf Friday and Saturday…

- Enjoy the V&A newly openedMedieval and Renaissance galleries. You think you’ll just walk through them and end up staying an hour!

- Redecorate your house thanks to the London art Fair…

- Learn about 200 years of North-American rituals and traditions @ the British Museum…

- See something new @ the Saatchi Gallery: Richard Wilson’s new structural art work, 20:50…

- Turn slow movement into art…

- Take the kids to the mime festival…

- try the new pie and mash restaurant in Covent Garden…

- Find a colourful way back home, at nightfall, through Jubilee Park…

- and sleep @ the Natural History Museum! £45 for 5 children 8-11 and 3 adults. A night visit, torch litof the galleries, a film projections, talks about insects… Ideal for adventurers!

You’ll find me instead… cocooning in front of a roaring chimney fire with a mug of cocoa in Cheshire. How about you?

Fed up spending your evenings wrapping a mountain of presents in golden gift paper? Chill out!

- Mix your own soda on Thursday…

- Take your kids to the Scoop on Friday to sing Xmas…

- Or play Gay Bingo on Friday at Selfridge’s…

- Munch your way through the slow food market on Southbank or at the Real food market at Covent Garden, more gourmet.

- Have the kids create their own Xmas disguise…

- Or ride in a carriage at Kew Gardens…

- A little flight simulation, guys?

- Or would you prefer a pint and some table football?

- Have a look at the new Sherlock Holmes @ Mme Tussaud (and double the occasion with the Sherlock Holmes museum a few steps away)

- Listen to poetry and short stories in Hyde Park while eating mince pies…

- Grab a glass of mulled wine and listen to Xmas carols @ Covent Garden…

- Stop at St Pancras and see ice sculptures…

- Watch the Chinese Circus and dream…

- Add a little pop street art…

You’ll find me at the All of everything exhibition between two suitcases to be packed…

I stumbled upon this Japanese garden in Holland Park. It just invites you to sit and forget about your day…

This originally was a gift from the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce for the Japanese festival in 1991. Very traditional. Trees are cut respecting the natural shape of the branches. The cascade is in 3 steps and represent miniature mountains and gorges while the pond symbolises the quietness of the ocean.

It’s easy to be hypnotised byt the clouds refecting in the water – soothing. Only the koi, the Japenese carps will wake you up with a splash of colour…

51.5032 -0.205736 http://www.qype.co.uk/place/170694-Kyoto-Garden-in-Holland-Park-London/photos Kyoto Garden in Holland Park

Celine had intrigued me with this out-of-the-ordinary shop window, made of used teabags to create various tones and colours. Well targeted isn’t it?

I found it on my way to the Marmite pop-up shop. Do step in and enjoy the Alice au pays des merveilles meets Tim Burton atmosphere. From the vegetal wall to the snuggled walls via the china mosaic skirt… this is not a shop, more an art gallery, a lifestyle, an experience, a walk in the wildest dream…

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Sorry? Oh, yeah, it does also sell clothes, furniture, house items. Unfortunately, most of them are really bad for your bank account. However they do boost your spirits!

Anthropologie
158 Regent St
London W1B 5SW

Si Burlington Arcade ne semble pas, au premier coup d’oeil, etre passee a l’heure de Noel, c’est qu’il faut considerer la gallerie dans ses details…
If Burlington Arcade may not seem festive at first sight, check again, it is all into small details…

A moins que vous ne preferiez les trucs en plume?
Unless you prefer a gift hunting approach?

Chez Ted Baker, les festivites s’annoncent cocasses…
Ted Baker much prefers a humorous xmas…

Les petits et grands enfants prefereront Winter Wonderland dans Hyde Park. De jour, simple fete foraine, un peu factice, mais ideale pour les petits. De nuit, la magie surgit, elle brille de mille feux…
There’s something for everyone, though @ Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.  By day, it does look a bit tacky, a giant fairground, ideal when you have kids. But by night, oh, how magical!

Inutile de resister, la grande roue vous tend les bras… Vous apercevrez l’autre roue de Londres, the Big Eye et Westminster. £7.45 la place, mais largement le temps de remplir vos yeux d’etoiles…
Don’t even think of resisting, how could you not go on the big wheel? You’ll even see the London Eye and Westminster from up there. Not cheap @ £7.45/person, but well enough time to fill your eyes or camera with pretty lights…

Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park
London

Jusqu’au 03 janvier 2010
Until january 03. 2010

The idea was so good.  Ten tree stumps, taken from rainforests, their tortured roots screaming silently towards a threatening sky, creepy shadows all around you, the ghost of a disappearing forest, far away but one day, close to you, this small of wet earth, a red, bleeding earth. the atmosphere should move you, make you shiver, shake you, upset you, make you shout no to deforestation.

I just couldn’t project myself. Too much of a daily dose of ecology? Too much a gap with the place? Too flashy the lights? Too purple the fountains around, clasing with the sadness it should have involved? Who knows. Don’t get me wrong – such projects are to be encouraged. Bring it closer to the people, make them see, reinforce the subject. it just didn’t do anything for me.

Different, educative, yes, of course. I had never imagined those trees grew higher that Nelson’s column. Makes you appreciate better the impact of any of those disappearing. Kids remain impressed by the width of the trunks.

To be seen if you’re around trafalgar square, for your green side of you, for the event, for the change of scene. maybe not worth crossing the toen, just for this. No worry, you can follow everything on the webcam.

Want to know more? Click here for the artist’s interview and there for her project…

Ghost Forest
Trafalgar square
London

Until November 22, 2009

A hot chocolate, a new scarf and gloves, and here you go. Plenty to see this week-end to get into the Xmas spirit. Not that you can really escape it!

- Start on Southbank – either with the Slowfood market (jazz themed this time) or the Cologne Xmas market…

- Oxford street launches its market this week as well…

- Want more? Head to Hyde Park for a walk and a big wheel ride with the Winterwonderland…

- Stop @ Covent Garden for the Lacoste experience or simply for the kids to enjoy candlelit stories…

- Head to Victoria station or Westfield to see the Cirque du soleil (and hopefully win free tickets!)…

- See another dimension in Trafalgar square with the ghost forest…

- Take the kids to the London children film festival…

- Want to make them gasp in wonder? Have a walk with them in the Enchanted forest @ Syon Park. Thousands of lights in the trees. £5 per adult, £2 per kids – quite cheap for the thrill…

- Skate at the Somerset House. Have alook at the program: Breakfast @ tiffany’s matinees and DJ evenings!