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Much of a muchness
Things that make you go 'hmm'…
A nice day out
Posted by on July 20, 2008
I had such a nice day yesterday. My girlie mate, Amanda, suggested we had a girls’ day out and we decided to go to Totnes in Devon. We chose Totnes as some friends, Sarah and Joe, have an art gallery there called White Space. It’s a really lovely gallery, selling a wonderful range of contemporary art. We went to see their Summer Exhibition which started yesterday. It was really excellent – you can view it online here. It was hard to choose a favourite but here are two I particularly liked – the first is ‘Peonies’ by Sarah Bowman and ‘Misty River Dart’ by Wendy McBride.
Of course, no girlie day out is complete without lots of shopping and a nice lunch. We managed to find both. After some very successful clothes shopping (a skirt, a top and a gorgeous little flimsy cardigan/wrap thing) I was thrilled to find a small but wonderful stationery shop called ‘Paperworks’ – a little gem and I bought some very pretty papers which you will no doubt see adorning some new books over the next few weeks. After a walk by the river and a cup of tea and a piece of carrot cake (Diet? What diet?) we decided to head for home but on the way back we stopped off in Lyme Regis, a beautiful little seaside town, on the Dorset/Devon border. You may remember Lyme Regis as the setting for the book/film ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’
The harbour wall where Meryl Streep is walking is known as the Cobb and dates back to the 13th century. Amanda and I walked the length of the sea front, past some very pretty thatched cottages and houses which I suspect are holiday homes, to the Cobb and then walked to the end of the Cobb to pose for our ‘Meryl Streep’ moment. It was quite breezy as you can tell from the windswept hairstyles, so no clues as to my new hair do just yet…
The views are quite spectacular. We could see across Lyme Bay to Burton Bradstock, which as you may know is my favourite local beach (see my header photo). The whole coastline here is called the Jurassic Coast, as it is full of fossils. We were amused to notice the lamp posts are all decorated with ammonite motifs to celebrate the rich heritage of this pretty and historic town.
Of course, by now we were hungry again so we bought a bag of chips to fortify us on our journey back home. All in all, a splendid day. So here for your delectation and delight are highlights of our day out (not including the shopping successes and the chips….)
Incidentally, I want to mention a competition I won over at Go Smell the Flowers a while back. Jim and Em regularly run competitions, the current one is to win some Belgian chocolates, by suggesting/inventing a new Olympic event. The prize I won was a year’s supply of flowers from Flora 2000. I have sent some as birthday and Mothers’ Day gifts and they have been absolutely beautiful causing much joy and earning me big Brownie points. I’m going to keep the rest for myself, I think. So thank you, Jim and Em, the prize is being much enjoyed.
And finally…a couple of things I found while Stumbling around. This must truly be the most disgusting snack ever invented. If you know of a worse one, I’d be intrigued to hear about it. Here it is.
A Krispy Kreme donut bacon cheeseburger. I can feel my arteries furring up just looking at the photograph. And next, today’s lesson.
Oops.
Anyways, amazingly the sun is shining so I am off into the garden to try and make a start on my tan before my upcoming holidays. Of which more next time…..
I just had to add this which I received from my friend in Los Angeles, Claire and then read about in the Sunday Times here. Watch the frogs which are quite clever and amusing and then keep watching. You will be astonished.
Much of a muchness 
You’re going on holiday again!!!!?! ……. sheeeesh.
I will endeavour to help you with your diet tomorrow ……. in my own way.
……….. and stop visiting places I like please – thankyou
I was saying to a friend yesterday that I wish I’d had a gap year and she said that my whole life was a gap year…..harsh but fair, I think :)
Have you noticed the related posts up above (chosen by WordPress)
‘Sigh’ and ‘Me! Me! Me!’.
Are they trying to tell me I am a little self absorbed? ME?…….oops.
*Sigh*
Sorry – what were you saying? ……. I was looking in a mirror
Great photos…as usual! I love having a vacation without actually having to go anywhere. ;)
Disgusting Krispy Creme burgers (and I’ll eat pretty much anything). I love the “Should you forward that email?” cartoon! I’ll have to tell people to come over to look because I’m not forwarding that one to everyone…haha!
Good for you for winning that contest! It must be so cool to have a year’s supply of flowers. I feel like cut flowers are too much of an indulgence and so never buy them, but I love them.
And you’re not self-absorbed. We come here to read about you and your view of the world! So if you stopped talking about yourself, I may as well be reading someone else’s blog.
I saw Swan Lake in Manchester many years ago and it was certainly nothing like that. WOW!! She has to be made of rubber & what balancing skills….. thank you for sharing it. The link to the Sunday Times wouldn’t open … are they touring in the UK??
Lyme Regis & Totnes have just been put on my ‘must visit ‘ list , how lovely.
Can’t believe The French Lieutenants woman is 26 years old … great film (may have to revisit it again after this taster) :-)
DP – a song by Carly Simon is playing through my head at this moment….
Teresa – that’s what I thought. It’s my blog, I can write about whatever I like…I thought this post was a bit too long, should have saved some for another day but I get so excited about stuff I just have to pour it out! Glad you enjoy my outpourings… I love yours too :-)
70steen – I tried the link and it seemed to work…it’s in todays Sunday Times – an interview with the principal dancers…they are appearing at the Royal Opera House. She is SO bendy! I wish I was half so flexible…
I recommend Totnes and Lyme Regis (which is just down the road from me) perfect for a day out. Head South!
PS saw it was 40 degrees in Madrid – that’s a bit hot!
OMG A krispy kreme burger? I had to go back and look several times to make sure I hadn’t made that up!! That is soooooooo disgusting!!
Otherwise sounds like a fab day out. I love the first painting, it feels so french country home…or perhaps Norwegian?
I managed to get the link opened eventually ,, great synopsis ofthe ‘ballet’
Next year….beware, I and tenn maybe heading your way ;-)
yes Madrid is way hot just now so i expect it will be when I am there …. thank goodness my mate has air con !! (oo I am going to frazzle being a fair haired English gal.. factor 25+ is in order!)
Dianeca – I agree, so hideous! Individually, Krispy Kreme donuts – yum!
Bacon cheeseburgers – yum! Together? Yuk!
I know what you mean about Sarah’s painting. I have been collecting her work since she was a student. She is so talented. Actually, a real Dorset girl :-)
70steen – come to Dorset and I will be proud to show you my ‘patch’ !
Can’t promise Madrid temperatures though…
Sounds like a great day out. Good for you and congrats on the successful shopping!
That Krispy Kreme sandwich sounds totally dreadful. #1 Krispy Kreme is totally overrated around here. #2, icky!
I love that forward email chart. Hilarious!
Finally, Friday’s Doctor Who was good. It was the one where Donna turns right instead of left and everything goes to crap. Now, we only have the two part season finale. Can’t wait!
You Have 2 Much Of A Muchness Fun! Sounds Like A Wonderful Day :~)
Paul – thanks – and congratualtions again on your writing competition win! I knew it was a winning story!
Doctor Who is SO good, you will get to the end of the first part and you will not believe your eyes! I almost wish I hadn’t sen it so I could watch it all over again for the first time :-)
Speedy – hello! I do have too much of a muchness fun sometimes – but that’s OK, I reckon :-)
I just had to share, my 4 year old boy…who will still eat dirt occasionaly, saw the krispy kreme burgers and said “yuk! what’s that?” and when I told him, he said “that’s disgusting!” lol
A krispy kreme burger? YUK…..just as bad as battered Mars Bars or Hedgehog flavoured crisps…..more YUK.
Love the pics of Totnes, Devon does have it’s good points too lol.
Lyme Bay has some terrific spots too doesn’t it…whata way to spend a day :)
Take care my dear friend and have a great day,
Colin from Life & Free PC Security
wow that’s a great video! have you seen this one?
Loved the second painting; it’s extremely profound. And these are some high calorie donuts, thankfully I have always come across better versions. I used to learn Jazz but could never achieve this kind of flexibility. I am feeling so envied now. :-P Have a great Day.:)
Deanna – Ha! Your son has great taste!
Colin – Devon is gorgeous. I’m lucky that I live so close to the border between Dorset and Devon so I can enjoy both counties!
Hpe you are well :-)
Nurse M – I have seen that video. It’s astonishing – such amazing timing…
scratchbags – congratulations on your award!
She is so bendy isn’t she? I wish I was half so flexible but have probably eaten too many donuts…..)
:-)
I know, I have been trying for years to get that kind of flexibility but alas! failure is all I have experienced. :-P
hello Diane
I nearly fell out of the chair when I saw the video…
that girl is incredible….what a superb version of Swan Lake….are you going to see it in London?
I can’t wait to see the opening of the Olympics…I’d take a guess and say that it will be out of this world…..
looks like you had a wonderful time….such a pretty place ..Lyme Regis…I remember visiting when I lived over there :)
ps…and to think I used to be one of the four swans….
I could never have danced it on my hands though..lol
Kim – it’s quite astonishing isn’t it? I must find out when it’s on. It hadn’t struck me about the Olympics, but you are right – the opening /closing ceremonies should be amazing!
If you went to Lyme Regis, then you weren’t too far away from where I live now! What a shame we didn’t know each other then…
I’d would have loved to see you dance as one of the four swans – I love that part of Swan Lake so much!
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