Lets get straight into this, I’ve had such a wonderful whirlwind of a week, I’ve been lucky enough to have done lots of lovely things, so I’ll try to do my best to keep this short and sweet….no, I didn’t believe me either. :)
I really hope if you get nothing else from my blogs each week you know that life doesn’t end when you have a colostomy or any sort of stoma.
I can totally understand why you would believe pre op that life and fun is over. I know I did, but on the contrary, I live my life to the fullest, so a bag of poo comes too, so what?
On Wednesday last week Chris and I were fortunate enough to take some clients out on a wonderful day trip, no, not Venice this time, although I do look forward to doing that again.
No, this trip was on the Belmond British Pullman steam train to Stratford upon Avon. (It’s like the Orient Express, the same company run both)
It’s absolute heaven, I love the 1930’s so for me the trains are very special. I would say I was born in the wrong era but I know that’s totally untrue, let’s face it, I’d bound to have been a scullery maid or something similar and wouldn’t have ever got a chance to travel in the pinnacle of style and elegance of a carriage on a steam train…I’d say I’m in just the right era that I get to go and do all this stuff.
Like I said last week, taking clients out is always a pleasure and fantastic fun, we’ve been very lucky in that respect. A lot of Chris’s clients I’d now class as friends as we have gotten close over the years.
Dress from Silk Fred, Bag from Valentino Rockstuds, Shoes From Christian Louboutin.
The train carriages are absolutely incredible, restored and maintained to perfection. We were very lucky as we were a group of 4 we had been seated in our own little room…which is apparently called a Coupé, every day’s a school day.
It was heaven, the food and service on board was incredible, it really does immerse you into a bygone era.
I’d say the only (and I mean only) downside was trying to eat and drink during some patches of very bumpy tracks, not an easy task.
Did you ever see that episode of Jim’ll Fix It, when the Cub Scouts wanted to eat their lunch whilst riding on a rollercoaster? At times on the train it was very reminiscent of that (some of you might need to Google that treat).
We loved it though. Riding on a steam train in a magnificent carriage, being served incredible food, looking out on to the beautiful British country side, oh my goodness, this is what dreams are made of.
Now this is where I’m going to sound like the stereotypical Essex girl that I am. I knew the trip was to Stratford upon Avon ~ Shakespeare country, I just didn’t take into account how tenuous the links to Shakespeare are celebrated.
Name me one other celebrity apart the royal family where you visit the celebs mum’s or wife’s childhood home? Go on, name me one!?!? hahahahaha
I went for my day out very prepared attire wise, I wore stilettos for the train but took trainers to change into. Thank goodness for that really as I’d have been in the same pickle as a lot of women on the trip where they had to trek round in high heeled shoes round Shakespeare’s mum’s childhood home which is a little working hobby farm…complete with animal poop (my poor trainers will never be the same again! Hahahahaha)
Ready for the walkabout with my trusty trainers.
Trainers from Louis Vuitton, Bag from Longchamp.
It was very picturesque, it’s very sweet and beautifully kept in proper Tudor style. If you love the Tudor period you’d love Warwickshire.
To add to my delight of traipsing round the childhood family home of William Shakespeare’s mum there were people dressed up in costume and talking in olden times dialect…..arrrrgghhhhhh…room 101 for me I’m afraid.
God, I’m such a neanderthal aren’t I!! So be it kind sir, so be it! :)
I knew our train experience had a stop off. I was expecting to just look round Stratford upon Avon town centre itself. But they weren’t finished with us yet, after his mums house visit we got back onto the coach and they said we’re now off to Anne Hathaway’s house…I thought it was odd that the American actress from The Princess Diaries and Devil wears Prada would live in the little sleepy county of Warwickshire…well, apparently there are two Anne Hathaways…who knew?….anyone listening at school I imagine…and one was married to William Shakespeare! Hahahahaha
So off we go to the other (some might say the original Anne Hathaway’s) family home. Overall impression, nice, jolly nice. My feelings towards Shakespeare…indifferent at best. I didn’t enjoy studying the Tudors at school, I really didn’t feel any need to learn anything about them as a 46 year old. But learn I did!
Did you know that when they got married Anne was 26 and somewhat on the shelf by that time… and young William was a mere 18. And the reason they had to get married was Ann gave birth 6 months after the wedding?
Scandalous indeed.
Did you know that his first child was called Susanna and they also went on to have twins called Judith and Hamnet.
And that once he’d fathered all those, he buggered off to London for 9 years, only returning when his son died aged 11.
He sounds a right keeper that one.
Anyway, back on the coach we headed off to actual Stratford upon Avon. It was certainly worth the wait and well worth a visit. I’ve never been before. It’s a really pretty town. Birth place of Shakespeare don’t you know…hahahahaha
We sat outside a lovely ye olde public house down by the river and had a much needed rest and a drink.
After drinks it was time to head back to the coach that took us to the train to head back to London.
The train was amazing yet again. We all loved it. Every bump and bounce.
The food was out of this world, a delicious 4 course meal was served on our return journey. I ate too much, no shock there.
We had been taken care of so well all day, even with my picky food requirements.
What an amazing day out!
We were staying in London that night, Chris had some business meetings the next day so I went off and busied myself.
I headed on the tube over to Harrod’s, thought I might as well as I was in the area. I managed to get off at the totally wrong station and then proceeded to walk the wrong way…all whilst following the map on my phone…literally can’t even follow a map…with arrows telling you where to go. Hahahahaha
I walked 3.2 miles out of my way to get to Harrod’s. But let’s face it I need the exercise so it wasn’t a total waste of effort.
Top from M&S, Skirt from Silk Fred, Trainers from LV, Bag from Goyard.
I had a lovely day. Chris has his meetings and he was then out to a black tie awards do in the evening as an invited guest of the people of the company we met up with in Mumbai in Feb.
Although I wasn’t attending the function they very kindly said I could stay at the hotel with Chris.
So while he was enjoying his do I was enjoying the incredibly fortuitous location of this hotel.
It’s right by what I can only imagine is one of the biggest Primark’s in the world (although the one in Madrid is huge too), a very large M&S and Selfridges!! Oh happy days!!
And they don’t close till 10pm, Yey!
A great evening was had by all.
You’ll enjoy this little segway, our room was accessed by a tiny little vestibule. The door to our hotel room was in front, then there was the door to the enter the vestibule and to the side was a fire exit door. It was a tiny space. Chris had the room key so I stepped aside to let him open our door. What I didn’t know was that there was step to the fire escape so as I stepped back I lost my balance after hitting the step and I fell at speed out of the said fire escape! Hahahahaha hahahahaha it was hilarious. I tried to stop my fall with my elbows as it turns out as I have big gouges out of my skin there. Chris grabbed the front of my clothes to stop my entire collapse. We did laugh a lot. My clumsiness is well known. This was not my first fall, although it was my first one backwards out of a fire escape. Hahahahaha
The following day it was finally time to head home. I decided on wearing one of my new purchases. Oooooh I do love Primark, I love it even more when it’s a 3 minute walk from my hotel.
New dress £12!! Twelve!! Bargain!
I bought the shoes in the sale in Selfridges, it occurred to me that I don’t have (didn’t have) any green shoes. I do now. :)
As we’d been in London Tuesday to Friday you’d might expect to find me chilling in bed all day Saturday …as if! :)
Nope, Saturday we headed to Wisley a RHS gardens to meet up with Milly, Sam and most importantly baby Zak (sorry guys, we love you too, but baby Zak is number one now).
We haven’t seen him since the end of May what with their holidays and our schedule.
He’s climbed Mount Snowdon in Wales since we saw him last…he’s very advanced for his age hahahahaha.
Sam carried him up Snowdon in his back carrier. I can’t imagine how much effort that took, I mean I was a bit miffed about the detour I took to Harrods, and that was just me alone, let alone carrying a baby on my back up a mountain. Hahahahaha
I was worried he would be huge now, he’s a big boy but he’s still little to us. He’s 16 weeks and if not crawling he’s most definitely mobile.
I may well be slightly biased but he is sooooo cute! Such a smiler. So alert and bright.
Shirt from Ralph Lauren, Top From M&S, Jeans from Topshop, Shoes from Hermes.
Sunday was sort of quiet, well, we didn’t go anywhere but we had loads of people round for a bbq and a very impromptu game of cricket once England won the extremely hard fought Cricket World Cup.
My dad is a huge cricket fan so I’ve been brought up on it. It’s not something every Brit loves but I do. I find it very relaxing.
Not when I’m playing it though, I gave it my all and scored ooh, at least 3 runs, but I had to give up after a while of batting as my bladder isn’t what it used to be hahahahaha. Bloody radiotherapy, it has a lot to answer for… but as it saved my life I’ll let it off. :)
I had to retire early from batting but I still enjoyed watching the others play.