INTERESTING LISTS

I've been surfing around the blogging world looking at a few new blogs and I came upon this blog.

It's quite interesting. It appears that it is all about making lists.

I thought I would join in this one.

...............................

"So here's this week's list challenge....

What have YOU learned from a place you once visited? (Either another county or another state....or maybe even your own culture...) "

........................

So here's my list compiled as a result of our recent holiday in England.

1. People everywhere are friendly ... especially if you tell them how much you like their country.

2. Weather can be changeable so be prepared  - always have a jacket and an umbrella.

3. The locals that you speak to - like the people behind the bar at your local pub - know all the best places to see... and a few that are not in the guide books.

4. Shopping at local supermarkets is a lot of fun.

5. Joining National Trust and English Heritage allows you to visit lots of fantastic historical sites and stately homes

Dunster Castle

Cliveden House

 Four visits to NT properties and you've recouped your membership cost , the rest are free

6. Driving is easy on M roads if you stay away from inside and outside lanes - the one in the middle is a safe alternative .

Trucks stay in the left hand lane and cars traveling VERY fast occupy the right hand lane.

Watch out for white vans - they're all driven by madmen

7. A SAT-NAV device ( we have a TomTom ) is worth its weight in gold. It takes all the worry out of driving and allows you to see the countryside without having your head buried in a map . Saves marriages too !!

8. Visit cities and towns but stay in villages.

Shrewsbury

Westminster Abbey, London

Paddington Station - the ipod app for London Underground is an amazing help.

The countryside is lovely and it's where you'll have a better chance of meeting people.

9. Try a country walk.

There are thousands and the system of Public Footpaths is unique in the world.

10. Cream teas are a specialty.

Have one at every opportunity.

DeGrey's, Ludlow

 Clotted cream is devine!

Cheers.

Edit: I have changed naming of  the lanes around to the correct names so that no-one drives in the wrong lane because of information on my blog ( see Comments ). Don't want to cause any accidents !!

THE BEST THING ABOUT ENGLAND - Part 2 - FLOWERS

I am very lucky because I have visited England in the Spring and Summer when the flowers are at their best.

The daffodils

Wow!

Bluebells - another sight to see.



Fields of buttercups.





Wild garlic
 (blooming in the woods in the Peak District near Monsel Head.)



Crops of beautiful linseed forming a pale blue carpet.....



and rape seed too

Daisies growing along the roadside,

Carpets of colour by the sea.



Cottage gardens to die for.

Blossom trees

Wisteria

I don't know what this purple flower is but it seems to just sprout out of rock walls.

Roses everywhere...

.. especially at Motisfont Abbey.

and the perfume !

Formal gardens at stately homes.....

and castles

and specially cultivated showpieces in country towns.

(Shrewsbury -The Dingle)
 

and wild flowers in the hedgerows

cow parsley

red campion ???

primroses

??????

celendine ?

??????

foxgloves

and that awful prickly gorse turns the hillsides gold.

I'll have to go back to see the heather and the red poppies.

Cheers.