I decided that a quick tour of Warwick (which has some of the most amazing medieval architecture in England) would be in order before heading south and as I have already visited Warwick Castle I checked out a couple of Ness's recommendations. First port of call was the Period House Shop - an Art Directors dream!! So many lovely period embellishments - maybe one day I will work on a project that will require them! I can but dream! The shop was situated a stones throw from Warwick Wool - a really nice LYS with quite alot of Rowan... and not much else. I also managed to find a couple of charity shops and couldn't resist buying these stamps....
and these......
and these!......
I am not sure what I am going to do with them - maybe I will do some "art". Ness's second recommendation was that I go to Wylies Food Emporium for coffee and cake. If there is one thing you MUST do if you ever visit Warwick - it is go here. It is like stepping back in time. The cafe is two rooms decorated in 1940's style with lots of original victorian period details (fireplaces etc) It has such a unique atmosphere helped in part by the music playing (1940's swing/jazz style). All the cakes are made fresh every day and displayed under large glass cake domes - I had a piece of Plumptious Scrumptious Chocolate Cherry Cake - and the coffee is like rocket fuel. The piece of cake was so big that even I couldn't finish it! You pay for your food in the little room at the back which is done out like a really old sweetie shop, selling sweets long since discontinued (or so I thought) - all the sorts of things I used to love as a child. The strange thing is that it all seems very 'real' - not at all forced or 'themed' - well worth a visit.
Buzzing on caffeine and sugar I set off on the long drive to Cornwall by way of the Cotswolds. I have never visited the Cotswolds and was not prepared for the beauty of the countryside as I drove along. I passed through the lovely market towns of Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold - there were even Farmers Markets on - an English idyll! I had a brief wander and hit the road again heading for Bath. Bath is a place I know well having spent many a Saturday there shopping with my Mum - we usually went to Bristol but Bath was always our favourite place to go. Of course I got stuck in traffic (Bath is a nightmare in that respect) but it gave me plenty of opportunity to appreciate the fine Georgian architecture and reminisce. Unfortunately this reminiscing led to the rash decision to go across country to Weston-super-Mare (my home town and incidentally also hometown of actor Rupert Graves who was 2 years above me at school) on the old road (we always went that way to Bath) This road happens to take twice as long as the motorway but is far prettier, and windier...and narrower....and scarier!!! I'm a city girl and country roads scare the s**t out of me! Note to self: NOT a good idea to set off on a long winding country road with no stopping places having just drunk a litre of water!! By the time I reached a service station I was ready to burst!
I arrived in Golant (the village where my sister lives) around 7pm - I negotiated the ever decreasing roads - imagine going down a tunnel with a 6ft wall of granite on either side - and was feeling quite pleased with myself for getting that far without getting lost once - when I turned the corner to be confronted with a flooded road.
There is only one narrow road in Golant that circles the village and twice a day - at high tide - that circle is broken and you cannot get past unless you back up an incredibly steep and narrow road and go the other way round! Thanks for letting me know Anne! My nerves were shredded by the time I arrived and the large glass of red wine that I was greeted with was very welcome - as were the next several - lucky my sister owns a pub!
what a beautiful summery image of the lane with the blue sky...and a trip of discovery! Cx
Posted by: caireen | October 04, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Great stamps! And I'm enjoying your journey, too.
D x
Posted by: Diana | October 04, 2008 at 05:59 PM
Wow, this looks to be such a picturesque trip. I wish I could go!
Posted by: ambika | October 06, 2008 at 02:46 AM
Wunderbare Bilder,man möchte dort sein und träumen ,schauen,genießen.
Größe Regina
Posted by: Regina | October 07, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Looks like you had a wonderful trip! That yarn shop looks amazing, and I love the sunshine picture of your sisters pub!
Posted by: Laura | October 10, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Hey, we are only about 5 miles from Stow, you could have popped in for a cuppa!Did you get caught up in the awful road works or are they done now? I happen to think the Cotswolds is one of the most beautiful places in the world, especially of you go off the beaten track, but I am biased.
What a very pleasant looking little pub, lucky you!
Posted by: PG | October 11, 2008 at 06:37 PM
you were so close... and you didn't come to see me?????
bad, bad girl!
Posted by: monica | October 16, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Oh I love Warwick, I used to drive the children over to Kenilworth castle (Can be seen from the battlements of Warwick Castle) on a Sunday afternoon for picnics and archery practice (English Heritage).
Posted by: carolyn | October 20, 2008 at 07:14 PM
Hello Suzanne,
I finally got around to posting about the needlecase/ giveaway and I hope you don't mind but I have nicked some of your pictures to promote your Etsy shop. Sorry it's taken me this long but hopefully as you've recently restocked your Etsy shop this will be good timing.
Carolyn x
Posted by: carolyn | October 21, 2008 at 04:40 PM