A La Ronde

One of the first things that CJ and I together with Helen did in Exeter was visit A La Ronde, an 18th century 16-sided house located near Lympstone, Exmouth, Devon in the ownership of the National Trust. The house was built for two wonderfully interesting and eccentric spinster cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter.  The diamond windows were the inspiration for the diamond windows in the last Harry Potter movie.  If you ever get the opportunity this is a place to visit.  CJ and I will be returning!

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The Shell Gallery at the top of the house 

Wasp Spiders

It's 9.15am.  I have two days before I leave Eagleton.  I've brought in the storm shutters from the garage because there is not much wind this morning for the first time for a week.  I was getting concerned because they are too big and heavy to carry in a strong wind.  I have a HUGE list of things to do this morning in town including taking all Gaz's pictures to An Llantair for the annual  Grinneas nan Eilean Art Exhibition.  Then I have a friend coming for lunch at noon.  So why am I thinking about Wasp Spiders and standing in front of a laptop?  Don't ask 'cos I don't know the answer.  It defies common sense.

But I woke up with a desire to share wasp spider pictures.  The first two were taken at Chudleigh Knighton Heath near Exeter in 2007 and the last one in the Lot-et-Garonne this year. 

The Journey to Exeter

I am ensconsed in my bedroom at the Woodbury Park Hotel near Exeter having traveled the 240 miles down from the Pennine foothills via the M6 and M5 and arrived at around 3.30 yesterday afternoon (although it seems like an age ago).  It's just over three hours to The Wedding.  My niece, Helen and her partner Ian are tying the knot.  The Nighthawk and I have official duties ferrying the Bride and CJ.  So yesterday afternoon I took The Nighthawk to get a good wash and brush up so that it would be respectable after the 5 day journey from Lewis.  I might as well not have bothered.  It's poured this morning and she's filthy again.  The roads around Exeter seem uncommonly mucky!  The garage is too far away for me to have another go and it'd probably be just as mucky again when I arrive back here.  C'est la vie.

Sometimes It's In The Detail

When I was in Exeter with CJ we went, as we usually do, into the city centre for a wander and, more specifically on this occasion, I wanted to find and photograph Ye Olde Tea Shoppe which a friend had visited 17 years ago. Whilst doing that I took quite a few other photos. One was of an old building (sorry I have no more information than that) which was attractive but about which I would not have blogged had it not been for the detail to the left of the first floor window as one looks at it.

The building

The detail

As to what exactly the significance of the galleon is I am not certain. However behind the present building is the Ship Inn about which CJ blogged last year and which suggests the significance.

Standing Stones

Near to the house of Niece Who Loves Nature and Partner Who Loves Otters in Exeter is a Sainsbury supermarket. At the entrance are three sculptures by Ray Smith commissioned by Sainsbury and entitled Standing Stones and comprising metal figures in granite blocks. Their relevance to the area is that they are on the route of the Great West Run.

Happy Giraffes

To be honest giraffes and happiness are not two things that have been naturally linked in my brain. Today I came across the following in Exeter town centre:

The context was part of the rebuilt centre on a cool, wet May morning. Fortunately I need neither good weather nor giraffes to make me happy. Although the sun does help, I have to admit.

Exeter to France

I started out early today from Exeter with the aim of getting the 1550 train through the Eurotunnel. Fortunately I went the route that Garmin (I must give her - my SatNav - a proper name) suggested along the A303 to the M3 and M25 because if I'd used the motorway all the way (M49 and M4) I'd have been stuck for hours because of rush hour traffic round Bristol and the total closure of the M4 for hours because of an accident. As it was I arrived at the Eurotunnel at 1230 and was put on the 0115 train so didn't even manage a loo stop at the terminal.

Despite what some of you who may be reading this think the Eurotunnel is a brilliant way to travel. It saves at least 3 hours travelling time. Today, for a variety of reasons, it probably saved me six.

Driving off the train onto French soil was a dissappointment because it was dull and raining and much worse than the weather I'd just left in the UK 23 miles away. This did not bode well for the sun I was hoping for. I arrived in Neufchatelle-en-Bray North of Rouen at 1700 hrs after driving nearly 600 kilometres today and having been guided by Garmin to the front of the Hotel, booked in and went for a walk. The evening has been very enjoyable and relaxing. I have managed to hold all my conversations (except with an English couple) in French which appears to have been understood without any problem or concessions by the Patron and the lady of the Hotel. This has given a considerable boost to my self-esteem which has never been high when it comes to languages and that then makes it easier for me to understand what people are saying to me. I'm not sure whether that makes sense to you but it does to me.

The bonus for the evening is that I have a new love in my life. Transitory it may be but then I've come to the conclusion that 'transitory' is a relative term. Many things in my life that were 'permanent' were simply of a longer transitional nature than others. Tonight's fling is probably only a one night stand and we have been inseparable. I may not even see my love again in the morning but while it lasted ............

Noay

Noay

Tomorrow will be another day. I hope. When you go to sleep you just never can tell.

Not Just Water Pursuits

On Sunday the area round the The Quay was so full of families and people indulging in all sorts of recreational activities. There were more cyclists and dog walkers and joggers per square yard than I've seen in one place for many a long year.

The Quay: Eateries

Around The Quay on the River Exe are many old buildings some of which have been very extensively renovated. There are lots of residential flats and offices but also many eateries:

Music and dancing too!

Broadgate House Mosaic, Exeter

When CJ and I were walking back to the car from the Exeter City Centre yesterday we came across a mosaic in the Broadgate House complex.

The mosaic was laid in 1995 by Elaine Goodwin assisted by Rhonwen Vickers who worked on the borders. It is one of a pair and depicts the Garden of Livia in Naples from the time of Augustus. It shows the garden filled with colourful flowers, trees and a selection of birds. A bird is included in the following panel as a tribute to a local, Ann, who fed the local pigeons and who had just lost her pet rook (bottom left hand corner).