TWICKENHAM ….. A POST THAT WON'T INSPIRE !!!! ……….

My husband likes rugby ….. I like watching sport and watch rugby but it's not my favourite ! This post probably won't bring me many Brownie points or comments and will probably lose me some followers. It won't appeal to many ….. it didn't really appeal to me much ….. BUT, we went on a tour of Twickenham Stadium, the Home of England Rugby …… AND …..

it was a really good day out. 

Even though Twickenham is quite a long journey from where we live, it was a beautiful day and we had friend's to chat to.

Twickenham Stadium is located in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames in South West London.

Guarding the gate is the golden Lion. It is a Coade stone lion { like the one at Westminster Bridge } and came from the old Lion Brewery on the South Bank.

Twickers, as the rugby faithful call it, seats 82,000 people and is the largest dedicated rugby union venue in the world. The pitch had just been re-seeded when we went so that's why it's brown !!

The first game was played in 1909 and, 100 years later, is still going strong.

The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Rod Stewart, Genesis, Lady Gaga and Rihanna are just some of the acts that have played there.

……. and, those faithful rugby fans { and me !! } got to see Sir Clive Woodward who was a former England rugby union player and coach. There was some 'do' going on on the day we went and we got to brush shoulders with many sporting dignitaries.  Sir Clive Woodward was the coach of the England team from 1997-2004, taking them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

These are a couple of the original baths that have been left at the players request. They are used for ice baths now. I asked where the communal bath was but was told that there has never been one …… slight disappointment !!!!

….. the changing rooms. Each cubicle has the names of every player who has used it. I sat in Billy Beaumont's !!

….. the tunnel …..

….. and me on the edge of the pitch !

The historic venue of Twickenham began life as a humble cabbage patch, hence the name of the pub that we went to where I had ……

a really lovely tomato and basil linguine.

SO, the moral of this story is go on any trip that is offered …… they usually turn out to be worth it.

Regular readers to my blog will know that our son is a music producer and has done the music for the London New Year fireworks and, when we got back from Twickenham, he informed us that he is doing the music for the Rugby World Cup's glittering Opening Ceremony which starts on the 18th September 2015 !!!!

Apologies to anyone who isn't interested in rugby but will be back to flowers next as we are going to RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this week !!

Beautiful weather is forecast for Wimbledon and I shall be glued to the tele for the next fortnight, rooting for Andy Murray !!

XXXX



images 1 - 11 via ME. image 12: via perfect pint, image 13: via gastronomers guide

A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE ………. OR A CLEMATIS !!!! ……….

Roses seem to be especially good this year. The above is our David Austin ' St. Swithun' . The flowers are HUGE and there are so many this year that the whole plant is weighed down by them !! Each bloom has hundreds of pale pink petals and have that traditional old rose perfume of Myrrh and, after the first major flush of flowers in May/June, it flowers continually until October.

I picked these to bring indoors with some alchemilla mollis.

We planted this creamy rambler years ago and one on the other side of the garden and they are both smothered in flowers.

 We planted this one to tumble over our rusty arch about three years ago and I've lost the label so I don't know it's name. Not very Monty Don of me !!!! For non UK readers, Monty Don is a gardener on UK TV !!

….. and, finally, because they are out, are these clematis. They only grow between 1 and 2 feet and bloom from May to September. The purple one is called 'Bijou' and the pink one, 'Filigree'.

What a blooming lovely late Spring we're having !!!!

All photos by me !!

ARE YOU BENDY ?!! ……….

I like to think that, at the age of 64 { …. only just 64 !! } I'm still quite bendy !

The other night, at a friend's house, we were remembering how we used to jump up off of the floor, without a thought. 

We then idly wondered if we could still do it ….. our friend's husband tried but couldn't do it { ….. and he is one of the fittest men we know, who cycles a zillion miles every weekend ! } My husband didn't even give it a go …… our friend's wife tried and ….. she did it !

Well, that meant that I HAD to do it.  I placed my feet right behind me as my friend had done and started to push up when ….. POP ….. something snapped behind my knee !!!! There was a great deal of pain and much ' you should have warmed up first ' being mumbled !

Obviously, if I'd warmed up first and I hadn't torn something, I would have done it !!!!

Can you get off of the floor without using your hands or knees ? ….. and …..

BE WARNED !!

WARM UP FIRST !!

image 1: via mixmag, image 2: via a beauty feature, image 3: via sam haskins, image 4: via daily mail

BY INVITATION ….. INTERIOR TRENDS ….. DO YOU FOLLOW THEM AND DO YOU REPEAT THEM ? …..

Our By Invitation topic for February is ' Do you follow trends when decorating your home ? ' and ' Do you have a look which you repeat often ? ' and was chosen by Penelope Bianchi 

I think that we all follow trends to a certain degree ….. or not …… some people have other interests and their home is a place to eat and to sleep and that is enough. 

 I have always had an interest in houses, old ones in particular. Our home before the one that we live in now was built in the 1640's. Charles 1st was on the throne and The Great Fire of London was still to come !!  In our deeds it said that anyone could knock on our door and had the right to graze their sheep on our lawn. We were paid £5.00 per year for the inconvenience ….. nobody ever did !!  

We have lived in our present house for nearly 30 years. 

In 1895, a Mr. W, Theatrical Costumier and master hairdresser, built a large house called ' Paradise House ', for himself and his wife Elizabeth. He dabbled in property, purchased houses in the east end of London which he rented out and built a few houses in Hertfordshire , including ours and two others either side. These three detached houses were called ' The Briars ', ' The Ivies ' and ours in the middle ' The Laurels '. ' The Ivies ' fell into disrepair and was knocked down and two houses built in it's place. ' The Briars ' is still there but all original features have been removed over the years although, the present owners are gradually putting them back. Our house however, had many original features remaining. Luckily, no one had removed the fireplaces, the original dresser, the sash windows or the stained glass windows and front door.

The above are some of the original fireplaces that we have in our home. When houses were being built in late Victorian England, the builder would go down to the ' fireplace shop ' and choose the fireplaces that he liked . Our house was built in 1895. The beginning of the Art Nouveau style started to be recognised in Britain during the 1880's and our Mr. W, being arty and theatrical, obviously favoured  this new Art Nouveau style and, when he popped down to the fireplace shop, he chose, for me, the most wonderful fireplaces.  

I just have to say that the arched fireplace in the middle of the photograph is the only one that isn't original. It's a reproduction one and is more Georgian than Victorian but, we like it !!

When we moved here in the mid 1980's, Victoriana was the way to go and, our house was a step back in time with festoon blinds, dark colours and Laura Ashley patterned wallpapers. Now, it's the neutral palette of Farrow and Ball, distressed furniture and a Scandinavian feel. 

But, to answer the original question, YES, I do repeat the style that I have chosen in all of the rooms. My personal preference is a neutral palette but, a good friend of mine who is an art teacher has colour everywhere and her home is eclectic and beautiful. Each to their own. I love the fact that we are all different ….. it would be pretty boring if everyone's house was the same wouldn't it ?

I really don't believe that there are any rules. Everyone should choose what they like and go for it ….. after all, it is your home and you have to live there. 

I'm sure that there will be many people who won't like my style and will wonder why I have old French shutters, letters and my Dad's 95 year old christening dress but, I like them !!

To see what other contributors of By Invitation think about interiors and decorating, Marsha has all of the links. 

image 1: via la bonne vie but with my words ! All other images via ME !!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY ….. AGAIN !!!! …..

Cake, food, wine, family and friends …..

NICE  !!!

image 1: via me, image 2: via zsa zsa bellagio

BY INVITATION ……. AUTUMN NECESSITY …..

Our By Invitation task this month is to share our thoughts on a piece of clothing that we know will serve us in good 

stead this Autumn.

Here is mine ….. 

It's my All Saints Nia coat.

 Autumn/Winter is my time, fashion wise. I LOVE coats, jackets and boots so, I'm in my element as soon as Autumn sets in and set in it has !! There's not much to say about my coat apart from how much I love it  …… shallow, I know, but there you are. I love the handkerchief hem and all of that pleating. Alexander McQueen had a similar one in his collection but was a great deal more expensive and I like mine more !!!!

….. and, finally, last years picture of me in my pork pie hat that always comes out at this time of year !!

For more Autumn fashion inspiration, please visit Marsha to be transported to all of the By Invitation contributors.

HAPPY AUTUMN

image 1: via barbara hulaniki design, images 2, 6 & 8: via what if winter is not a place outside, images 3, 4 & 5: via google, image 7: via me !