Dear Diary Entries Archive: 2015

^{A Different View!}

^{If you can today, take a walk - in the city, by the sea, in a park; wherever. And as you walk, regularly: Look Up! You are sure to see something new.}

Friday 19th June 15

Hello dear Friend,

Can't believe it is now June! I hope that you and yours are well! I have been on a few trips since I last wrote - lucky me!

Corfu trip

It was fantastic to be back in my beloved Greece. The first week's weather was mixed, the second a heatwave with much swimming and walking and meeting with friends. The countryside was filled to the brim with a rainbow of spring flowers growing tall to compete for sunshine with waving grasses.

As the people continue to suffer from imposed austerity measures my thoughts and prayers remain with them. On Wednesday I read online a very interesting article on this subject in the Independent. A lot of criticism has been thrown at the Greeks but the bottom line seems to be that the IMF have indeed shamefully let Greece down.

Yorkshire

With friends I visited Helmsley, a lovely country town. Last weekend it held celebrations marking the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. Their involvement was due to their Baron, Robert de Ros, being one the guarantors appointed at the time to ensure King John kept his word.

If you fancy a daytrip expect lots of teashops and eateries, a castle, the historic All Saints Church, and maybe, as when we visited, a square filled with gleaming Harley Davidsons and affable riders.

If you want to stay over there are some good hotels. We stayed at the prestigious #Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa . We were celebrating my friend Jan's birthday. The evening began with champagne in the Library, then moved to dinner in a private room. There was also unexpected dancing as the waiter brought us some speakers to link to an i-pad . The staff, as you can see, were very obliging, the accommodation special, and with a heated outdoor pool and spa what more could you want?!

For more details see: #www.fevershamarmshotel.com

and #www.helmsleytowncouncil.co.uk

London

I was up in London earlier this week meeting my friend Brett. We walked to Little Venice and had afternoon tea beside a pretty barge café.

In the evening we took in the award winning show #Sunny Afternoon at the #Harold Pinter Theatre with #Kinks music and the story of the band's rise to success. It was brilliant: funny, moving, and great songs. The script was excellent and I take my hat off to everyone involved.

For more info see: #www.sunnyafternoonthemusical.com

The next day we visited #Carnaby Street as my friend wanted to buy some baseball boots (?!) . The street was a disappointment as it is now lacklustre. I would like to see a history board at least with some photos its 60s heyday. But, my friend bought his boots at Office. See: #www.carnaby.co.uk

It was onto #John Lobb the bootmaker - for bespoke boots and shoes for men and woman including royalty. We had only popped in for some shoe polish (for Victor who creates and mends shoes in Russia and swears this is the best polish ever). It was like stepping back in time. Aproned craftsmen were building shoes on lasts with painstaking effort. Rolls of assorted leather lay on counters. Racks of gleaming shoes enticed. The Queen's coat of arms spoke its own story of the quality of goods produced here.

The person who sold us the polish (can't call him an assistant - think he was one of the craftsmen) ensured, with a demonstration, it was just the right shade of brown required. The shoes are expensive - start at £3,000+ but currently they are doing a good deal with a huge reduction if you order two pairs. What makes them different? Well, for one, as I understand it, each shoe is to last a lifetime - so repairs are free. And they look amazing and I am sure they are super comfortable.

For more info see:#www.johnlobbltd.co.uk

Next it was onto the #National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. This is my favourite gallery and the place I really developed my taste in art. I marched straight to the Impressionists section and drank in the beauty of #Monet, Manet, Renoir, Pissarro, Degas, and then onto my very favourite artist, post-impressionist Van Gough. What a pleasure to be in their company again!

For further details see: #www.nationalgallery.co.uk

This has turned into a book! Wishing you all a great weekend.

Love and blessings

Teresa

PS To see my book trailer for 9 Days to Heaven , The practical guide to joyful living, please follow this link: