Girls' Day out

I had a day out in Salisbury yesterday with an old work colleague. I arrived in Salisbury early and so on my way from the station to our rendez-vous at the coffee shop I stopped off at a shop which I think would interest some of you. Called Lulu's and situated in Fisherton Street it had an amazing number of items for the home. Check out the website at www.lulus.co.uk

Pity about the car! Isn't that shop next door amazing - I do hope whoever takes it over will keep that fantastic tiled facade don't you?!

This is the interior of Lulu's

I loved this little peg doll which was the maker's trade mark I think as all the items made by this artist had these little dolls with the labels.

For those of you who worship at the altar of Kath Kidson there was a whole section of her stuff.

After we had had our coffee and a good natter we wandered down to the Cathedral - one of the loveliest in the UK I think - and joined a guided tour which was really interesting even though we didn't have time to stay till the end as we had booked a tour of Arundel's and we still had to have lunch!

Even though I have seen the cathedral many times I seem to find something different every time - I might use this photo on a Christmas card as it has the Virgin with the baby Jesus carved above the west door.

When you realise that this building was made before modern devices like scaffolding and cranes it is all the more amazing. All that carving done by hand.

I loved this ancient door handle - how many hands have turned it and whose hands were they I wonder?



These are the cloisters - again a very tranquil place and I think of how many people must have wandered here and whether they like us had problems and joys - for me an ancient place like this makes me realise that in the greater scheme of things any problems I may have are as nothing really and these stones have seen it all before!

How many voices have sung in this great space, how many feet have trodden the aisles and looked up in wonder at the stained glass?

We had our lunch in the refectory at the Cathedral with this stunning view of that amazing spire through the glass roof. The spire it seems was added much later and since the building was never designed to support such a weight the pillars inside began to buckle! It has been shored up with flying butresses (whatever they are!) and so on inside but the spire is not exactly vertical now and is in fact 29 inches out of true - our own Leaning Tower of Salisbury!

After lunch we crossed the Close to our appointment at Arundels - the home of Edward Heath. Whatever one's political views it is by any standards a beautiful house and the gardens are to die for. My friend and I had seen the gardens earlier in the year but not been able to see the house that day so yesterday wehad booked a place on a guided tour. It was a beautiful home and just as he left it but sadly no photographs were allowed. There was a library which had a fire burning in the grate, comfortable armchairs and French windows which opened onto the fabulous gardens.

Isn't this a tranquil garden? The lawns sweep down to the river and the water meadows beyond and on a sunny day it is so beautiful - I know because we were there at the beginning of summer on a sunny afternoon but sadly didn't have the camera with me that day.

I loved this little sundial set in a quiet corner

and in another little shady spot this stone seat - can't you just imagine sitting here with your crochet or a good book for a while?

When you turn back towards the house this is the view - imagine having that fantastic cathedral view from your garden!

Here is the driveway and the double gates leading to the Cathedral Close

I leave you with these two pictures taken in the Cathedral Close - autumn may be here now but these flowers didn't know that!

This lovely rose had such a fabulous perfume - I can almost smell it now!