June 2019 - Part 2

 June continued to be the gift that kept giving, The month seemed to go on forever and we did so many things together.

An attempt at making a pizza (For some reason I can never ever get the dough rolled into a circle, they always end up in this sort of random square shape. Any pizza makers able to share some tips?)


The friendliest bar staff that ever was. Who doesn't love petting and playing with a dog while out for a drink? Maybe more pubs need pub dogs!
Came into work to discover this on my lunch break. So toast for me was out of the window then!
Our first pot of jam from the blackberries we had picked, mixed in with some strawberries too. It was divine! Perhaps I should be selling it and adding more funds to the holiday pot?

We then had a lovely day out at Stourhead park, a beautiful house and gardens in Wiltshire, owned and run by the National Trust. Its possibly one of the most beautiful and interesting gardens and landscapes in the country, its full of beautiful plants, follies, grottos, statues, animals and even a watermill. We didn't get to go in the house, but had a fantastic time exploring the gardens.


Of course, we found some friends to feed and entertain!
The beautiful copy of the Pantheon in Rome in miniature, it had these beautiful statues decorated with flower garlands, and it gave the best views through the columns across the water.


One of the little huts where you could sit and take a moment to relax and take everything in.
This was in the grotto. Oh my, what a contract, the dark dingy, jagged rocks, contrasting with the bright white and fluid lines of the statue. Utter beauty. That coupled with the trickling of the water around you made it feel even more special.
One final view across the water at the cows on the opposite bank. It was blissful, and despite it being quite busy, its such a big site everyone tends to spread out and not bump into each other. (until you get back to the restaurant that is for lunch!) Entry for the site starts at £20 for an adult, which for how much you can see and do there, is quite good. Of course, National Trust members enter for free. But just a catch, if you're not a NT member, expect to pay another £4.50 for parking. But don't let that put you off this wonderful place. I will be visiting again soon, hopefully in the autumn to see how the gardens and landscape evolve through the year.

Comments

Post a Comment

Hi there! Use this comments box to leave any feedback you may have. Many thanks!

Popular posts from this blog

Been so long...

Hello. I do apologize for there being such a delay in this post. Something has really stopped me from blogging the past two months, and it's almost felt like my fingertips have had no life in them. But the fact that I am typing this now may mean we are back on track. Lets see what I have to tell you. First off, I guess the most important news is that I now have two jobs. As well as working at the other place, I've also taken up a second job at another well known high street chain working Saturday and Sunday night's for some more cash before I go travelling across Europe. It's not too bad on the weekends I don't work at the usual place, but when I do work there, I end up going for no sleep or even a proper break for nearly 36 hours. It's bloody hard going, but at the end of the day, I need to do this if I want to get anywhere. As they say, no pain no gain. It was Nan's birthday saturday, so we all went up to her's for fish and chips and a bit of cake....
Click here to read more »

Siena

Image
Now we all know towns and cities that have a major rivalry. Back home in England, it's between the city I live in, Southampton, and a city further along the coast called Portsmouth. It's mainly along football lines, but it's a rivalry all the same. However, no rivalry will ever come as close to being as fierce as between Siena and Florence. For years the two cities have tried to out do each other right from the beginning of time it seems! I can't tell you if there is a winner or not, but instead  have a look at some pictures of the fabulous Sienese cathedral. Even if you just do a day trip like I did, I promise you Siena won't dissapoint. Maybe then you can decide which of the two cities is the best? 
Click here to read more »

San Marino

Image
Next I visited everyone's favourite micro state, (no not Andorra!) San Marino! It was a bit of a challenge to get to, I caught the train from Ravenna to Rimini (literally managing to get on the train as it was about to pull away after a small fiasco at the ticket machine) then a coach from Rimini to Citta Di San Marino. First of all, no I didn't meet Valentina Monetta while I was there, but my gosh wow the views are fantastic! The whole city is perched high on the hills, and the ground is just a vertical drop next to you And perched atop these dramatic cliffs are the 3 towers of San Marino. Only one was open while I was there, and not only did it give me amazing views from the top, but It also had quite an interesting medieval weaponry exhibition, (yes that is a child's toy cannon, and people wonder why so many children died from accidents when they were allowed to play with cannons and muskets!) San Marino is a bit like the land that time forgot. Everywhere ...
Click here to read more »