Fox and Hedgehog by Jane McGinley

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Turn End

Last Saturday, seeing as it was a topper, I decided to get out of London and into the countryside, so I took myself along to the little village of Haddenham in Buckinghamshire. Where there are...

This beautiful, picturesque little hamlet was one of the film locations of the late 90's ITV drama series, Midsomer Murders, which I have to say, was a favourite of mine (mainly for the lovely settings and village greens), when I was younger, although having watched it again since, it's really quite dreadful! Anyway, the main reason for coming here (honest!) was to visit the gardens of the Turn End houses.


The Turn End houses are a group of three, beautifully designed by architect Peter Aldington in the 1960s. Peter still lives in the main house with his family, but he will kindly open his home to the public occasionally by special arrangement. The gardens surrounding Turn End are open to the public on selected days during the year, by entrance of a small commission, under the National Garden Scheme, to raise funds for The Turn End Charity, securing the future of both the house and gardens for generations to come.
The walled gardens, which sit perfectly around the houses, are a wonderfully peaceful oasis between two lanes, with large borders of wild flowers, scented roses, separated garden spaces, a fountain and pool, a miniature box tree maze, a giant redwood! It was so relaxing to stroll around the gardens, which is full of birds, exploring all corners.


I decided this weekend was a particularly good time to visit as it was also the last for the Bucks Open Studio Weekend, an event which takes place all over the county of Bucks during the last two weeks of June each year when artists and craftsmen and women open the doors to their homes, studios and galleries to the public and so too did the Artist in residence at the Turn End studio, the Book Artist, Heather Hunter.


Heather's books are very inspiring, and I particularly like her folded page books made from old reference books of butterflies. Heather has also been experimenting with a large press in which she prints on to paper using lace and leaves.

Whilst I was there, I also ventured into the historic town of Aylesbury to visit an old 13th Century Inn and enjoyed some delicious ales. More on that to come...

Wednesday 9 June 2010

My garden

Ever since I was little, I've loved Foxgloves and Hollyhocks, but could never grow any of my own because we didn't have a garden. Now that I'm lucky enough to live in a house that does, I have a one!!!
I sprinkled some wildflower seeds in the beds last year and this year they're still sprouting on up and this is what became...!

So here she is, my beloved Foxglove.

Tuesday 8 June 2010

Ale Jaunt

On Sunday, my friend Kate and I were in the mood for some very fine real ales, so we made our way to Parson's Green to the very fine real ale pub, The White Horse. This pub is AMAZING!! They have over 135 bottled beers from all over the world, from America to Belgium, and also a wide choice Cask Ales and Draught beers. They frequently hold beer festivals too! The next one is the American Beer Festival which is being held over the first weekend in July. It will have a huge variety of American beers on offer, and also some beers from English Brewery's, such as Dark Star and others inspired by the American style.

We took it easy on our first drink, fancying a light one, so my first tipple of choice was a half of
Adnam's Broadside 'a heart-warming English beer', one of my 'chipping away' favourites, and Kate's, half of a light golden ale, which was delicious but for the life of me, can't remember the name of (I'll have to ask her and let you know).

Kate and I are both big fans of Belgium beer, and seeming as we took it easy on the first we decided to go for some
Lambic next! I decided on the Oud Beersel Oude Gueuze;


This beer is delicious!! It was actually the first time I've tried Lambic (Kate is a old time connoisseur in this department) and I was very surprised at how it tasted! It's really quite vinous, like cider and it finishes off with a almost sour, fruity kick. I shall definitely be having it again! I'm converted!




Kate decided on the
Cantillon Gueuze which went down dangerously easier than mine!

For our last half we both decided to try the Black Cat, from Moorhouse. This one just caught my eye, mainly for the logo and I thought I'd give it a try... a mild,
almost black in colour with a lovely coffee, chocolate flavour.




Well, this is all we had time for on this particular afternoon, but we shall be back very soon for more tasting!!