Photos of The Palace of Versailles

(Remember, you can click on the photo to enlarge it, if you feel the inclination)

 

The Palace forecourt at 8:45: relatively empty

The Palace forecourt at 11:30: queues snake around forever

The Hall of Mirrors is a wonderful spectacle, built to impress visiting dignitaries 

The gardens complement the palace: geometric, formal and regal  

Marie Antoinette and rose (and Jackie)

Can you see what I've done here?  Clever innit? 

 

Just so that Carole and I didn't get overwhelmed with the culture and history, we did a selfie on the noddy train. 

Crowning Glory

I find there's nothing like a new haircut to lift the spirits and make me feel like I'm taking a stand against the ravages of time.  I think this style is demure enough to see me through my third age, and yet suitably distanced from a blue rinse, set and perm. 

 
May I quote the Aussie hair products philosophy without being ridiculed?  No, well I'm going to anyway... 'There's more to life than hair, but it's a good place to start'    

Postcard from Versailles

Hi there

Having a lovely time here in Versailles with my sister. Travelled on Eurostar from Ebbsfleet to Paris then caught a local train. Hotel is pleasant enough, but its main recommendation is that it is just a few minutes walk from the palace. Inevitably our bonding session this year has focused on mum  - it's 5 months since she passed and we are beginning to move on from the sadness to share fond memories.

The Palace of Versailles is beyond excessive. It's enormous. The gardens are very formal and so extensive that you can hire a golf buggy to get around. I decided the noddy train was more our style, much to Carole's disappointment. Inside is also vast, opulent and spectacular. Ok, enough superlatives; even if I didn't pick up too many interior designs for my home, I'm still impressed.

Not surprisingly, yummy food and delectable wine has been a big feature of the trip - back on that diet as soon as I've finished tomorrows croissants.

I do love travelling. We've already been discussing possibilities for next years trip! A river cruise is the hot favourite.

Conscientious Stupidity

I am a dedicated list writer and I've always believed that this has made me frighteningly efficient.  Having recently completed my exam, there were a hundred things that had been put on hold and now feature on a long to-do list, ranging from 'take the cat to the vet' to 'apply for a visa to enter China' and a whole lot in between.

This week I crashed through the to-dos.  Flushed with success on Monday (put away all the crockery from the weekend BBQ, book Toby into vets, download next years OU books, get a file manager app for my Kindle), I eased into Tuesday (take Meg to her sister-in-laws, little shop at M&S for summer essentials, get 2 day pass for entry to Versailles palace, prepare probate forms for the solicitor) and so on, accelerating through the week.  Completing both mine and Richard's 12 page visa application for China felt like a pinnacle of success and there was a definite spring in my step as I walked to the post office to send off the package. I was grinning, not only at the happy thought of our impending trip, but also in anticipation of crossing the item off the schedule when I literally stopped dead in my tracks.  This was a near-disaster! Just in time, something clicked in my brain - 'how would I get to France with my sister this weekend  if my passport was in the Royal Mail on its merry way to the Chinese Visa Application Centre?'   A narrow escape from my over-zealous, lets-get-on-with-it, list-ticking, conscientious stupidity.   

Calm down, chillax, loosen up, take it easy.  No need to multi-task anymore.  No need to juggle balls or spin plates.  Super mum is so last century for me.  I need to mix a little bit of mañana and r&r into my bag of tricks.  Slow the treadmill to a speed my mind and body can keep up with.  It's difficult, when I've spent the last half century hurrying along, but one of the good things about retirement is that one of my wishes has come true.  I have more time. I just can't quite believe it yet.        

Our Summer Extravaganza

Unexpected good news: after 2 or 3 years of complaining that the Biggin Hill air show was simply too expensive to put on, the powers-that-be announced that they had found a way (to make money, I guess) and we'd all be enjoying the annual event again. This was especially welcome news for us as we get free viewing from our garden, so I immediately went about planning our summer extravaganza and inviting family and friends along.  I mean, who else can boast a Red Arrow display at their Barbeque?  Still, getting a freebie isn't what it's all about.

What fun to get family and friends together. As Meg's stay with us this year coincided with the airshow and Shelley is carrying the new addition to the family, that's 4 generations at one party.  I love the way that everyone pitches in, which helps to make an informal and friendly atmosphere. I turned down all offers to contribute to the food as retired folk have plenty of time to prepare for our entertaining, don't you know.  But I was more than grateful to Meg, who assisted with the cooking, Richard & Ben for being the BBQ chefs, Shelley for accompanying me on the big grocery shop, Liz for setting up the deck & garden with seats and tablecloths etc. (three times, due to the showers), and for all my lovely lady friends who ferried dishes in and out and helped me to keep on top of the mess on the day.  But, of course I don't ask people over just because they are well-behaved guests.

Never get fed up seeing the Red Arrows from our garden

The weather was a bit of a disappointment, and the air show didn't live up to the standards of previous years, although the Red Arrows gave a spectacular finale.  Nonetheless, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all had fun, eating, drinking and making merry.  I went to town with the catering; as usual with aspirations that stretch my culinary talents.  The homemade sausages were a lot of faffing about, curry puffs are always popular but are a 3 stage cooking effort, the fruity rice required excessive amounts of chopping, slicing and dicing and dips, ribs and salmon were marinating well before any of my guests were stewing in the traffic jam.  I'm sure all the thanks were heartfelt and so, yes I put in a lot of hard work, and yes it was all worthwhile to see everyone happy and relaxed.  But why go to all that bother, when people would have been just as replete with supermarket crisps, bangers, burgers and a bag of lettuce?

Everyone came armed with very welcome contributions, but a special thank you goes to:

• Julie & Mick for the blooming marvellous pot of chrysanths
• Hilary and David for the chocolates and the sweet Scotts Pines (born & bred in Scotland)
• Carole & Tim for the cute cushion that matches the newly decorated bedroom so perfectly
• Jill for the goody bag, especially for my favouritest  Comte cheese and fancy biscuits
• and to Louise for the special bottle of red and a topical book 'The Time of Their Lives' - for anyone who wasn't born yesterday. 

Doesn't that conjure up a nice little scene: sitting on a comfy cushion with pretty flowers, a good read, chocolates, cheese and biscuits and a glass of red?  So there you have it - why do I go to so much trouble for a summer gathering? Cos I like the hostess gifts, of course.

Such a Perfect Day

Louise, Elaine and Kay plot a route to see the best gardens

In my dreams my garden looks like Margaret's!

Sunday was my idea of a PERFECT DAY.  For a start, the weather was ideal - one good thing about our miserable English weather is that we sure do appreciate a hot, sunny day.  My good friend Jill lives in Danbury, Essex and each year they raise money for a local hospice by organising an Open Gardens day.  Jill would only raise eyebrows if she opened up her garden to the public, but she cooks a mean bacon butty, and they were selling faster than hot cakes, although the cakes were pretty popular too.  The gardens were stunning: from a dinky little plot that was home to 160 different roses to the spectacular manor complete with swimming pool, at least two ponds and three summer houses.  Personally I was inspired by Margaret's English country garden.  The free hop-
on hop-off buses stopped for lunch and so we had to while away some time in The Rodney public house.   Back home, later in the evening I enjoyed a family meal in my own garden.  Not a cardigan in sight all day!

I've been humming Lou Reed's Perfect Day ever since - click on the link below if you fancy a sentimental musical moment of your own
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uN90xB7DswE

Life is good - I think I am reaping what I've sewn. 

Back To School

I have had my head in a book, feels like forever, revising for this jolly exam.  I've just worked out that I haven't done a full-on, three hour writing exam for 40 years.  Maybe I am a bit long in the tooth for this.  I keep forgetting everything - I can't even remember why I wanted to do the course at all.  Why couldn't I just have read my books?

I had a break for lunch today, and went for a few cherry tomatoes left in the fridge with my sandwich.  What's all this water in the bowl, I thought.  No, hang on a minute, the screw cap of the half-finished bottle of wine lying in the rack above was dripping slowly on the tomatoes, gently marinating them in Sauvignon Blanc for the last 24 hours.  Nice. 

Exam tomorrow.  Can't wait to get it over and done with.   Feeling Frazzled.