Categories: uncategorized
Date: 02 July 2005 13:49:18
While I'm waiting for my soup (butternut squash and sweet potato - yum!) to cook, let me tell you about today's fab culture. Not only had I never heard of this place before getting my aforementioned London Gardens Guide, even when I was on the street right outside you'd never know it was there. It was amazing to watch all of the tourists and locals walking past, probably nearly all of them totally oblivious to its presence. "It", in this case, being the utterly wonderful Kensington Roof Gardens, which nestle 100ft above the Gap store in Kensington High Street. I must admit I felt a bit of a scruff there in my jeans, given that since 1981 it has been owned by Sir Richard Branson and is often used for posh exclusive functions (which is why I couldn't go there the last couple of days). But for the time I was there this morning I was the only person there, it was brilliant. My own photos are here. It was a bit surreal seeing a couple of pink flamingoes by a little twee bridge and underneath the overcast skies, but it all added to the charm! If I was rich I'd have a London leaving do here. But I'm not, so will have to make do with my memories and pictures.
Sigh. One day I'll have a garden that looks like these.
After that I wandered off to Covent Garden to spend my remaining vouchers in Stanfords (which also got a plug earlier, and very possibly a visit today, from Maddie). It's the most fantastic shop - maps, travel guides, atlases, globes, anything travel-related, over 3 floors - heaven! I (reluctantly) limited myself to the £30 I had remaining in vouchers (though as usual I could have bought half the shop) and bought a walking guide to the countryside around UpNorth (which is pretty spectacular and I can't wait to explore it), and Bob Geldof's "Geldof in Africa", which is a huge, heavy, beautiful, tubthumping coffee table book, although my coffee table (if I owned such an item, which actually I don't) would need reinforcing to support it! Can't wait to immerse myself in that.
On the train on the way back I started flicking through the walking guide, and dreaming of wonderful walks. Of course all the pictures are in, if not glorious sunshine, at least a state of glorious dryness. I do realise that UpNorth is where it rains lots, so the reality may be a bit less romantic than my idyllic musings, but still I'm looking forward to it a lot. What I particularly like about this book is that it includes easy and not too strenuous walks, and most of them are only a few hours long, which suits me just fine. Although since going to the gym and losing some weight I'm fitter than I was, I am still a bit phobic about strenuous hill-climbing, and hills are something that UpNorth has in abundance. I can remember a quite upsetting time in the Lake District, many years ago, when I gave up pretty near the bottom of Helvellyn because I just knew I wouldn't be able to do it, and I have that same sinking feeling whenever I'm at the bottom of any big hill. I know it's irrational, and I'm sure now I am a bit fitter that I'd find it less traumatic, but I think I'll start off with the slightly gentler walks. Despite my phobias though, this culture vulturing in London has given me quite a taste for culture vulturing UpNorth - both in the city and in the surrounding countryside.