Ah…nothing better than a birthday in the countryside just outside our town. No need for a petsitter or train, just the little red car, sunshine and our National Trust member cards (love this membership).
First stop, lunch at Kingston’s ‘The Juggs’ pub established in 1400’s. Sitting outside amongst all the flowers enjoying the sun, listening to the birds singing and horses clopping by, and enjoying great food, perfection. It’s not often Dr T is so tall she has to duck through a pub door.
Next stop the village of Rodmell just down the road for a visit to the country home and gardens of Virginia Woolf. She shared Monk’s House with her husband Leonard and it is literally out our back door. The house is so divine and quirky it took our breath away.
Bohemian style cottages are an absolute ‘treat’ to both of us. We instantly felt surrounded by calm and inspiring energy. Every corner and every room held something wonderful to enjoy. And we hadn’t even gone outside yet (but the views were enticing).
The Monk’s House gardens are vast: lawns, lakes, bowling greens, orchards, sculptures, small flower beds, and many benches where you can sit and soak up the birdsong, scents and magnificent views.
And then, the piece de resistance, the very thing we were so excited to see…right there at the back of the garden…Virginia Woolf’s writing cottage. A simple but profound place where she wrote the novels we had both studied in our womens studies courses and loved to read. In fact, we declare, every woman must read ‘A Room Of One’s Own’. Who wouldn’t be inspired to write surrounded by gardens and an orchard just outside your door. Standing in this little gem of literary inspiration was a ‘pinch us moment’ we could only have dreamt of decades ago.
Village life in Rodmell is so beautiful it was hard to leave, but we will definitely be back again and again as the seasons change. If you look close you can see our little town in the distance (told you we lived close by).
We arrived home to a surprise delivery, a huge box from Fortnum & Mason department store (someone has expensive and good taste). The Burnout Pups got so excited, they love an unexpected box! The gift? A cannister of favourite tea and a fabulous biscuit tin that started to play Happy Birthday!!! That sent the pups wildly over the top…thanks Auntie Sher you know how much you’re loved for this!
Until we share our next adventure, and finish off the biscuits and tea, keep daytripping.
Love,
