Saturday 12 May 2012

A Day Out

I had a lovely day out with Linda Sue and Stella today. It was great to meet them. They are staying in a coach house in Pimlico, full of art and antiques all just left there as if the owner just departed.
 We visited Windsor castle to see Queen Mary's dollshouse. An amazing creation, all made as a present for Queen Mary who collected miniatures, and thought it was the best present she had ever received. It was also made as a showcase for British arts, crafts and manufacturing after the first world war, and includes the work of so many people. It was designed by Lutyens, at the same time as he was designing New Delhi, and has a garden by Agnes Jekyll. It is incredible, and a shame that you can only spend a short time looking at it due to the many visitors. I bought a book about it so I can study the different parts in much more detail.

 I took these dolls, a pearly king and queen who used to live on ebay but now live with me. They were a little overawed by the whole experience.

 The Frank Spencer of the gargoyle world.
 In amongst the incredible oppulence and good taste of the rest of the place, apparently the royals went to B+Q one weekend and bought some cheap trellising.
 A tower with a face.
 Big bird of prey circling as we lined up to view the dollshouse. I think it might be a red kite, but it kept moving too fast to get a good shot.
 Cheeky goatee bearded gargoyle.
 Patchy blackbird.

10 comments:

Jill Zaheer said...

Thanks for showing us this amazing castle!

Leenie said...

Jealous of your day with Linda Sue and Stella. Glad you were able spend the day with them.

All those gargoyles leering about add some real spice to the amazing royal architecture.

Rattling On said...

When we lived in Reading, Windsor was a favourite day out. Love the fact that you took the Pearlies for a bit of culture, will their trips be a new feature maybe? And I'm jealous of your blackbird!!

BonnyBadger said...

Looks like a great day out. Lovely day for it!!!!

snoopydogknits said...

Wow! Great to have a day out with like-minded people. I love you you draw the reader's eye to small detail, that may well go unnoticed otherwise. Have a great week. Ros

Sarah said...

The Pearlies may well be out and about again!

Jenny Woolf said...

I've wanted to see Queen Mary's Dolls House ever since I read a very old book about it which belonged to my mother. She went to see it when she was 6 and has never forgotten it! I can't believe I've been all those years wanting to visit it and never done so. Must remedy that...

jabblog said...

Queen Mary's Dolls House never fails to fascinate - the work in it is incredible. I can't imagine anyone not being impressed by it.
Your bird of prey certainly looks like a red kite - they're getting quite common in Berkshire.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Such a pretty place!

kendalee said...

What a lovely day! I grew up with stories of that doll's house from my mum and grandmother and when I finally saw it for myself it did not disappoint - amazing!

The B&Q trellis thing made me smile! Do you think they popped down themselves, incognito, and picked it out? :)