Sunday 10th July 2011

How very different the world feels this morning after I have slept for ten hours. If such a sleep was required, why then do I feel so woolly-headed this morning too? Too much sleep I'm sure is what my Grandmother would have said, but it that right? And does it really matter?

Not a jot.

So, the world is still spinning on it's axis this morning after the News of the World prints it's last edition;journalists mostly mourn, the rest of us go out and buy a copy in case it ever becomes a collectors item.



Maybe we're off to Walmer Castle in a bit to see the summer flowers they have there; or maybe not. And then there is the choice of the British Grand Prix on TV or Le Tour de France. I'd prefer Le Tour as I love to see the French countryside slide past, and the sheer energy of the riders. That it may all be down to chemicals is another thing, but it is a fine thing to watch. Doubly so now as the tour has reached the hills and by the end of this week will be in the mountains.



Yesterday, we headed to the north of Kent to visit a famous house, Chartwell, the old home of Sir Winston Churchill, who may well have been the greatest ever Briton. In the end we just looked as his garden, ignoring his preserved bedroom, study and the suchlike in the house. It seemed to me, I did not need to see these things to appreciate how great the man was,just to realise his fortitude in 1940 when the country was up against the wall and alone. Whether he believed his words is debatable, but the country did and the war changed.



So, we drove up the A2 then onto the motorway, and then, as we were early, tried to looks for Kitts Coty, which after Googling it I see is a Neolithic tomb. Sadly, for something so wonderful, it was not signposted from any of the roads nearby, and despite being within what we knew to be a couple of hundred yards from it, we gave up. We do have a walking guide, and so at some point we shall ramble there and i shall take photos.

So, we drove on, up the M20 and then to the M26 and the M25.

Bingo!

Chartwell is situated in rolling countryside, with two if not three ornamental lakes, and is inbetween two motorway junctions, and the most straightforward way to get there was to take the M25 into Sussex and turn back east along an A road. Sadly, the motorways were crowded, and although not nose to tail, the traffic was heavy and not pleasant.
It was some relief to turn off at the next junction and head down a winding, picturesque road which passed through woods, wonderful villages and rich farmland. We followed the signs down ever narrower roads and lanes, until we saw signs for the car park and the house itself.



Being members, we did not have to pay for the car park, although we did have to hunt for our window sticker to show we were in fact members. And then onto the entrance and we were in.

The gardens were very fine indeed, the house a little understated from the outside, but set with fine views over the Kentish Weald. After wandering around a while, dark black clouds rolled in and the light darkened. We decided to head for something to eat, and so we walked back to the entrance and Jools went and got lunch; two brie and red onion marmalade sandwiches at £5.50 a pop.I know these places have to make money, but that is clearly ridiculous. We do, however, know the prices these places charge, and we could have brought our own food, but didn't. So, next time we had better bring a packed lunch!

Back round the garden, and into the kitchen garden, which was a delight, filled as it was with lots of unusual plants; boysenberries, youngberries, Japanese Wineberries and so on. I snap away.



As we take in the scene, with seemingly the whole of Kent in view as the land fell away before us, dark clouds rolled back in, and we took the decision to head back, as the light wasn't good enough for photography at other houses, and to be honest, I was cream-crackered.



Time then, once home, for a coffee and a very generous slice of limoncello and grappa tart, and then alls well with the world, as we are joined by our happy cats, happy in that they knew it was dinner time.