A Trip to Portsmouth

Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy and final resting place of three of England's most famous battle ships. On Sunday we drove over to have a look. Pictured here is the HMS Victory, launched in 1765, and still the flagship of the Royal Navy. Among the most notable names from her illustrious past are Admiral Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. We also boarded the HMS Warrior, whose design and steam engine power were considered leading edge technology in 1860. The Mary Rose, who sank on her maiden voyage, lay at sea for 437 years awaiting the technology needed to raise her. Still to this day she is kept wet with a continuous spray of special preservative liquid until restoration can begin in 2009. In addition to the ships, there are several museums devoted to British naval history. It is an impressive site in a lovely city, one that merits another visit.

On the way home, we made a stop at the seaside village of Poole, where we walked along the waterfront and saw some incredible speed boats...Sunseeker Yachts...proof that naval architecture is still alive and well in this country!

Portland Walks

We continue to enjoy our daily walks around Portland. Limestone quarries are still in operation around the island, and there are several historic displays showing how quarrying was done years ago. A creature whom history has not treated too kindly in these parts is the poor rabbit, considered a symbol of bad luck. Even saying the "R" word is considered a tempt of fate. The island is blanketed in brambles and, like Br'er Rabbit of Uncle Remus fame, that species' preferred habitat. The only time rabbits are seen outside the brambles is when they sense the earth moving, usually associated with the collapse of a quarrying operation. While we often see evidence of their presence, yesterday we saw our first actual rabbits...five of them. No catastrophe to report...yet!

Our Townhouse

On Saturday we were able to have a look at the townhouse in Weymouth. It is booked by the week during the busy summer season, but starting late in September we can rent it for the rest of our stay. It's in a great location: a short drive to Dwight's office and an easy walk to everything for me. Kellaway Court is part of the restored Brewer's Quay complex, right in the middle of Weymouth's historic harbor district with its scenic walks and great restaurants. The train station and major retail areas are within a mile.

The main entrance is a few steps up from our parking space and has an outside table on a small walled terrace. The first floor has a large and well-appointed kitchen and the dining room. The second floor has the lounge (we would call it a living room) with fireplace and balcony as well as a full bath and a small bedroom. The third floor has two more bedrooms and another full bath. (Lots of steps to help cancel out those slices of French cake from right across the square!) We will be very comfortable in our English home and look forward to getting settled in when we return in September.

Fascinators

Any men readers have permission to skip this post, as it will most likely be of no interest whatsoever. I do want to document, however, a fashion item I have never seen in America, the "fascinator". A fascinator is worn in or on the hair, but it's less than a hat. The picture here just shows three of them, as I wanted a close-up, but in a store, a whole section of the accessories department would be devoted to them. There would be a variety of colors and styles to match most any ensemble. While they are all dramatic in some way, some are more "froufrou" than others, with the top of the scale being those with the longest and most plumes. When I was in Debenham's today (Weymouth's version of Dillard's) there was a pair of pre-teen girls mesmerized by them and picking out their favorites. Our friend Marilyn, whose daughter is being married next month, will wear one to the wedding. Their appeal here seems to be universal. I wonder whether they will show up on the American fashion scene.

This just in: My "fashionista" friend Connie says that the character played by Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex and the City" wore a fascinator, a bright teal one, in the wedding scene. Be watching for them at a store near you!

More just in: Cousin Gina reports that Red Hatters are also into fascinators. She had not heard them called by that name however.

Victoria Sponge

Well, I did it: I went back to Time for Tea and had a slice of cake...the Victoria Sponge. That was the one with the double filling of both cream and raspberry. Dreamy! And I walked to Weymouth! The first twenty minutes were all downhill, of course, but the rest was a steady hike that took an hour and a half, door to door. And after my cake and tea, I walked most of the way back!! It was only at the base of Portland's three-hundred foot cliff that I looked up at our hotel, looked down at the bus stop, and caved. Best investment I ever made!

My New Favorite Place

This was today's find, a place called "Time for Tea." It sits on Hope Square, right outside the door of the malting houses where we hope to rent an apartment starting in September. There are several pubs, cafes, and tea houses in that area, but for some reason this one called my name. When I went in, the first thing I noticed was the music; it was Charles Trenet, a famous French crooner to whom my friend Ruth Kaye had introduced me years ago. Then, looking at the menu, I found that everything was written in French first, with the English translations below. It's a small place with a simple menu. They're only open from 9:30 in the morning until 5:30 in the afternoon, so the offerings are on the light side. Looking around the room, I spotted a sideboard where a half dozen cakes were on display: tall, double layer cakes sitting high on pedestals. One had two layers of filling, one creamy, one raspberry. Another was mocha with walnuts on top. Another was the deepest, darkest chocolate. I asked my server which was her favorite and without hesitation she said the Dorset apple cake. Now, I've been really trying not to go overboard on the sweets while we're here, so I chose the salmon and leek tart with a side of lightly dressed salad and a pot of Earl Gray tea. But while I sat there enjoying it, I could not help noticing that everybody else was having cake or maybe scones with clotted cream. So here's the plan: When Dwight and I move to that neighborhood, we'll go to Time for Tea every Saturday afternoon. Each of us will choose a different dessert and we'll share bites. Then we'll walk all the way around to the far end of the promenade and come home the long way. And anyone who has clotted cream has to go around twice.

Monday Quilt Group

Just got off the phone with Jenny Feltham, the lady I was referred to by the quilt shop. She belongs to a circle of quilters who meet in each other's homes every Monday to stitch, chat, and eat lunch. I belong to just such a Monday group back home and was delighted to be invited to sit with our English counterparts this coming Monday. She said I can get there on the #5 bus, so I need to study the route map and figure that out. Dwight and I will go by car and "do a visual" this weekend. I am so eager to meet these ladies and to see what they are doing! I'll take my basket quilt, which I am hand quilting, and also some redwork to stitch on. Will report back.