Don't know what to call this post. "Glimpses" is sort of vague. It offers a glimpse into some of the nicer things I've done in a peaceful pleasant couple of weeks. I've appreciated it. I haven't been that busy and nor has T and we have made the most of it and been grateful for the chance to enjoy life.
We have seen so many beautiful wild flowers....
Stood inside a hollow tree and looked up...
Went to help choose some wine for an event, in a wholesale wine merchant. I thought it was more fun than in a retail shop. The company has an beautiful modern building adorned with memorabilia and portraits of Lord Nelson. But you can only reach it through high-security gates, with the result that it took us about half an hour to find it in an anonymous industrial estate in one of the grottier bits of London. Well worth it in the end, though.
This sign in Waterlow Park, Highgate, made me smile on a beautiful, warm Spring Sunday. And also
I spotted a dalek looking at me from a neighbour's window...
We visited my mother and took S and N for a walk. They loved racing along the towpath of the canal, and at times were quite out of sight ....
Dropped into a fun Brazilian cafe in a scruffy part of London and had a very good meal. We were the only people not speaking Portuguese.
Took A to an open day at Handel's House in London. Jimi Hendrix also lived in the same house, a couple of hundred years later, but didn't even leave a guitar behind. A answered all the children's Easter quiz questions and won himself an little chocolate egg. 
Bought four volumes of Charles Dickens' magazine, "All The Year Round" in a rummage sale for a mere £5. Couldn't pass up this bargain. They date from the 1850s and I've been totally immersed in them, time travelling into the past, reading of the terrible frosts of 1855, and the bread riots of that year, in words which I suspect were written by Dickens himself - he wrote quite a lot of the magazineWe ate some excellent watercress, baby leeks and mint which someone was selling by the side of the road in the country .
It was nice to have a holiday, but I need to settle down to researching a new project, so I'd better get down to some work now. I'm grateful for my nice couple of weeks.
Wonderful photos (that admittedly looks like VERY thin ice).
ReplyDeleteI never knew that Jimi Hendrixs lived in the same house as Handel (A FEW years later, of course......) I wonder how Hendrixs and Handel would have gotten along?
What lovely pictures - but oh, the books - what a wonderful find and a brilliant bargain! x
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have had a good break. It is nice to relax and not have too much of a plan. I enjoyed seeing what you were up to. The cafe looks good. I am wondering what your new project can be? Exciting!
ReplyDeletewow you have been having a bit of fun...thanks for sharing the sights...the view up that hollow tree is really amazing...like the perspective on it...and nice bit of history on jimi too...
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful way to spend your holidays! I envy the old books, I think I would have bought them too! And the beauty of the country in spring..
ReplyDeleteWhat a jolly holiday! So many of your adventures would totally be on my list of things to do on a Holiday in England - especially the Dickens volumes!!! I have two treasured late 1800's editions of his "Sketches" written early in his career and will melt into a couch corner with them on occasion taking in all the luscious language and the feel of ancient pages between my fingers - when a teacup is not there, of course! Lovely pictures - delicious post!
ReplyDeleteJoy!
Kathy
Very good post for the G, I look forward to the rest of the Alphabet......
ReplyDeleteSounds as though you had a lovely time and saw some interesting things. The Dickens magazine sounds fascinating. My DH has several volumes of The Strand magazine which is a similar kind of thing but from a slightly later era, 1890s to around 1950 I think but his are the earlier editions bought because there are stories by Conan Doyle and Kipling in them.
ReplyDeleteI'm not normally the jealous sort but your Dickens' magazines have me positively drooling, Jenny. I can't believe what you paid. If you weren't so much younger than me I'd ask you to leave me them in your Will!
ReplyDeleteHello Jenny:
ReplyDeleteOh how we have thoroughly revelled in these wonderful images giving us the most perfect glimpses into your life over the past few weeks. And, how marvellous it is to have time to simply be with family and friends.
The event at the wine merchant looks to have been enormous fun. We hope that you managed to find your way out after finally discovering the way in, although having to stay overnight there would not have been a burden!!!
old books and fresh mint.
ReplyDeleteHeaven
Haha John, younger indeed -! I doubt the books are worth much on the second hand market, because they're not in great condition. I don't really mind that- it's the contents that are so exciting!
ReplyDeleteJane and Lance, we nearly DID get locked in (as well as nearly getting locked out)! Not intentionally, I promise! :D
Yes, Rowan and Kathryn, I love old magazines. Sometimes they reveal amazing things I never knew. I've seen Strand magazines. They have fine photographs and images too of amazing things!
Jon, my private guess is that Handel and Hendrix might have got along okay. Handel lived life to the full, and in the house it has a drinks order for several gallons of wine
A lovely recap of rest and relaxation. I especially liked the wine merchant, the cafe and the towpath.
ReplyDeleteMy Sweetie would love to have a wine adventure like that. And there is nothing quite like finding a "hole in the wall" restaurant that is authentic and delicious.
ReplyDeleteGlad you shared these with us.
Great photos! My daughter (the anglophile) just introduced me to Dr. Who this past January & we watched all the episodes with Matt Smith. Love the Dalek!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so pretty. I love that hallow tree!
ReplyDeleteIt is the day to day, everyday things that surround us and are part of us. Beautiful story of your day to day or as you say your time. Greetings.
ReplyDeletePdt. - I did not put black flowers, I think the flowers are beautiful, despite the poem and should not ever be black (I do not like).
I love your pictures and thank you for giving me a glimpse of your life. It is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you found some time to relax and enjoy a few restful adventures. I love finding out of the way authentic restaurants. Enjoy the rest of your week. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely outing/vacation you shared! I'd go bonkers for anything Dickens, and at that price,who could?
ReplyDeleteI've mentioned before that some of your posts really make me miss England. This was one of them: a delightful mishmash of Londonish things. Enjoy it all of behalf of the rest of us who can't be there!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting ramble. Reading something like Dickens' magazines would be really special. Not that I'm a big Dickens fan but I love reading old newspapers and articles and non-professional (ie politicians) diaries and memoirs.
ReplyDeleteIt is very wonderful supposing it is being able to see the room in which Jimi Hendrix lived ?
ReplyDeleteWhat great glimpses you showed us. I'd be thrilled to have the Dickens writings. I must admit I had to go find out what a dalek was tho.
ReplyDeleteDarla
I wonder what will come of this recharging of your batteries. It will be fun to see.
ReplyDeleteOh My Goodness where does your Mother live ? A canal, a towpath, must look that up, mowed grass a charming walk... perfection !
ReplyDeleteA Brazilian Cafe ! so envious, we have two Ethiopian restaurants in town but no Brazilian Cafe.... how fabulous !
Now back to work... me too !
cheers, parsnip
Looks like you had a wonderful time off.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pictures it seemed you had a lovely time loving life! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have more lovely weeks to come!
Big hugs
Leontien
Looks like you had a nice time to relax for a bit and recharge your batteries. OK - what is a Dalek?
ReplyDeleteLoved each/all glimpses . . . see you when you come back again . . .
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a set of diverse photos from a dalek to Dickens! I can't blame you for wanting those interesting set of nostalgic magazines.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds wonderful to have a breather after hectic weeks. I think looking up at trees from their hollows is underrated and should be indulged in more often!
ReplyDeleteWas that Handel's own little piano? It seems so small, like Schroeder's little grand piano in the Peanuts comic strip. But I am so jealous --alright, very happy for you! -- on your Dickens periodicals! I have been so immersed in things Dickensian, after getting kickstarted on re-reading/reading his novels for his 200th birthday. How wonderful to actually have his creative output from his own time in your own hands.
Jenny
Beautiful! You have a lovely blog, and I'm a new follower...♥♥
ReplyDeleteSo nice to meet you!
Best,
Anne
Thank you for sharing those lovely glimpses with us! Glad to know you had such a peaceful, interesting and entertaining couple of weeks and too the time to do those things together.
ReplyDeleteTerrific shots there jenny! Love the first picture, and the books are worth a lot more than £5. Good going! I hope you get peace to write for a while now.
ReplyDeletelovely glimpses, thank you
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lovely time, Jenny.
ReplyDeleteI like the picture you took of the hollow tree.
lovely things and times. and what a superb find of that Dickens' work!
ReplyDeletei always maintain that some of the best ethnic restaurants are those with patrons of its own nation. clumsy sentence but you know what i mean. lol
I bet "All The Year Round" has some fascinating glimpses into past times. It's a long while since we had any bread riots, but who knows, in the present circumstances, we might see them again! And only a fiver for the whole lot - what a bargain!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyable glimpses, Jenny. Liked the hollow tree. It's good to take some time off but I know what you mean about needing to settle down and get on with other things.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures...looking forward to your next project.
ReplyDelete:0)
ww.leavingcairo.blogspot.com
Lovely glimpses into your life Jenny. what a great find those bound Dickens magazines were.
ReplyDeletethe hollow tree..so scary...reminds me of the movie Sleepy Hollow....
ReplyDeleteFabulous moments - glimpses - my fav. Being the hollow tree.
ReplyDeleteHow energetic you are! And thank you for sharing your glimpses with you. They are nice to see.
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs, it was nice to walk a little way on the path with you (that, at least, is what it felt like), My goodness you did get a bargain with the Dickens.
ReplyDeleteYou managed to glimpse on a lot of amazing and interesting things, Jenny!
ReplyDelete:)
Loved the hollow tree!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to read those magazines! I love reading old newspapers, specially those from crucial moments of history and also the local ones with very curious news.. It really gets you into what the life of normal people would be like at the time. I started browsing digital libraries for family history research and now I could spend hours just because, wandering from one to another...
London is amazing for its reclamation of the old grotty bits such as that wine bar. And what luck to find Dicken's magazines at a rummage sale. Like you, I could immerse myself for hours and days.
ReplyDeleteThe Dickens magazines - amazing! Lucky you. I have a few old 'Vogues' from the 1960's and they're fascinating too. What a lovely set of 'glimpses'!
ReplyDeleteLove to see you inside the hollow tree.
ReplyDeleteGreat glimpses! I used to live close to Waterlow Park. Haven't been there for ages!
ReplyDeleteOh darlin' your pictures are marvelous and I felt like I was right there with ya!!! I especially loved that tree shot, what a grand eye ya have there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a find with those Dickens mags...you'll treasure those!
God bless ya and have yourself one magnificent weekend sweetie!!! :o)
Dickens books and baby leeks.
ReplyDeleteAh, Springtime!!
Great pictures. Seems like you really enjoyed yourself!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for such an exciting trip along with you all! I could almost taste the wine too! ha ha I really am glad you caught sight of the "dalek" and snapped his picture, because he's so alone in the universe! What a fun post, hoping to see more again sometime in the near future! Smiling- Karen
ReplyDeletehow utterly fabulous. love the dalek
ReplyDeletewhat an eventful time! good for you!! and i love your pictures!
ReplyDeleteThis glimpse into your life made me happy, Jenny. Blessed with the fine weather, just relaxing yourself to do what you’d like to is one of the most rare and precious times. Seeing many wild flowers, standing inside a hollow tree and looking up, and spending time with mother is what I also would like to do. You’ll do good works coming back refreshed from the lovely world.
ReplyDeleteYoko
Glimpses is a marvelous title - just this evening my boyfriend and I were discussing the clarity you can have in glimpses when you unexpectedly see something familiar through fresh eyes because you weren't expecting to look at it (which started when I mentioned that I tend not to notice how fat my cat is except when I happen to catch sight of her out of the corner of my eye). And this was a marvelous post - what a wonderful assortment of interesting and lovely things you've presented, and wow would I love to see that Dickens collection. Score!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment on my blog. Your week seems splendid filled with fun activities! I loved the wild flowers pictures. Wine selecting must have been great :)) Cheers, Ruby
ReplyDeleteHi Jenny,
ReplyDeleteA fleeting, yet wondrous encapsulation of your two weeks of holiday time. My friend, I'm grateful you shared these wonderful thoughts and photographic glimpses of your life. Have a peaceful, positive weekend.
With respect and kind wishes, Gary
Jenny thank you for sharing all of this, some truly amazing pics. A real treat!
ReplyDeletehow utterly lovely...haven't been to Waterlow Park for years must go again......I used to work near that Handel/Hendrix house and thought there must be a good story in that somewhere!!
ReplyDeleteFascinating post! The wine tasting looks fun......and the Dickens,I'm not surprised you're engrossed!
ReplyDeleteRuby
So many interesting pictures. I love those books, what a fantastic find!
ReplyDeleteOld books, places of Dickens,cafe, wine- I guess you'd a nice day!
ReplyDeleteWanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Sunshine Blog Award (details on my blog).
ReplyDeleteI always feel the enormous energy of spring when everything starts to bud.
ReplyDeleteThose books which you found are real treasures despite of their conditions. Enjoy nice time trip.
The Brazilian café is a kind of a place which I want to visit when I travel.
Oh, you had great days! Always delightful to visit your site!
keiko
I'm loving all the flowers around at the moment, it's so beautiful, especially when the sun deigns to come out for a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteAnd that ice is certainly thin, I wouldn't want to skate there ;)
Sounds like a perfectly wonderful life!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed peeking into your world.
HUGS Lorraine
It has been wonderful to read everyone's comments, so interesting that different people pick up on different things. I am very honoured by the award, and will be finishing visiting everyone's blogs in the next couple of days.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting to see how you've spent your holiday, and the glimpses from your life.
ReplyDeleteThat's VERY thin ice!
ReplyDeleteWonderful composition!
ReplyDeleteThe neighbor's dalek...., it's funny. I like your expression.