The adventures of Little Miss M

:)

2009-05-01T16:26:00.005+01:00

Hi and thanks to all the boys and girls for following my little adventures. I will see you all again on my next adventure. Take care for now and kisses to you all!!!

Little Miss M
xxx

My little sin!!!!!

2009-04-30T19:57:00.003+01:00

I just discovered this French patisserie near by and I think it is time I have something sweet. I know I am going to regret this and spend more time in the gym to "pay" for it. People always say to me that my weight is normal but when I look in the mirror I see different things.

They just love me!!

2009-04-30T19:54:00.003+01:00

When I get these little visitors they just can't put me down. I love them too. They always want to hold me and carry me around with them, even when they go for walkabouts!

Relaxing!

2009-04-30T19:53:00.002+01:00

Just relaxing a bit. I love sleeping you know.

My train trip!!

2009-04-30T19:49:00.003+01:00

I love looking out the window to see the scenery passing by, let my mind wonder.

«Ω γλυκύ μου Έαρ...»

2009-04-17T23:13:00.001+01:00

To our Christian friends who are observing Good Friday today, we hope you enjoy this Byzantine hymn that is sung in all of Greece this evening, when the Epitafios, the symbol of Christ’s funeral bier, is decorated with flowers and taken out in processions in every town and village with everyone joining Mary, Christ's mother, in her mourning: "Oh, my sweet spring, my sweetest child, where has your beauty gone?"

Happy Easter mourgo! :-)

2009-04-14T16:17:00.005+01:00

Walking to the butterfly farm

2009-04-14T16:17:00.002+01:00

Playing with Danai - she is sooooo cute!!!

2009-04-14T16:12:00.003+01:00

Easter munchies

2009-04-14T16:10:00.002+01:00

Checking out the new house

2009-04-14T16:01:00.003+01:00

The new house

2009-04-14T15:56:00.002+01:00

A bakers dozen

2009-04-12T23:04:00.001+01:00

...and then lunch at Wagamamas!! Yumm-yumm

2009-04-12T13:06:00.000+01:00

sunday morning coffee in Croydon

2009-04-12T13:02:00.001+01:00

Spring is here :) :)

2009-04-12T12:50:00.001+01:00

Sunday afternoon, a scroll thought the park by St Mary's Church.

:)))))))

Anne Hathaway's Cottage

2009-03-30T22:52:00.000+01:00

Anne Hathaway's Cottage, made famous on chocolate boxes and tea towels, is arguably the most picturesque of the Birthplace Trust properties. The cottage nests in the idyllic setting of Shottery, which lies a mile west of Stratford. The cottage belonged to the prosperous Hathaway family and was the pre-marital home of William Shakespeare's wife, Anne. Although referred to as a cottage, it is actually a substantial, twelve-roomed, Elizabethan farmhouse. Externally the building with it's low thatched roof, timbered walls and lattice windows has changed very little since Anne Hathaway's time. Parts of the building structure date back further than the 15th century, using some of the earliest English house-building techniques. The cottage was built on a slope, and parts of the building consequently sit at different levels.

Internally the structure of the house has changed a little; the house has now been divided up and would originally have been one. There are many 16th century fireplaces still in place and the remains of the original Great Hall are still clearly visible. The bedroom upstairs contains an Elizabethan wooden bedstead, with a mattress of rush cords threaded onto the wooden frame. It is said that this is the bed that Anne Hathaway was born upon.

The cottage belonged to the Hathaway family until 1892, when it was bought, along with furnishings, by The Birthplace Trust. The Trust restored it to it's original character, removing the Victorian items that the Hathaway family had gathered. The original open hearth fireplace was restored to it's former glory. Beside the fireplace is an old wooden settle, upon which it is believed that William Shakespeare courted Anne Hathaway. In 1969 the cottage was severely damaged by fire, but was successfully reclaimed once again by The Birthplace Trust.

The cottage was known as Newlands Farm in Shakespeare's day and had over ninety acres of land attached to it. There are some enchanting footpaths winding across the fields from Stratford to Shottery, tracing the paths that Shakespeare must have walked on his way to see Anne. The cottage has retained it's own beautiful, old-fashioned, English garden, with an orchard adjoining. Also a few footsteps away, a tree garden has been planted in honour of William Shakespeare. Anne Hathaway's Cottage has the advantage of being set in beautiful countryside, which provides a perfect backdrop throughout the seasons. It is not surprising that so many of Shakespeare's works, appear to be inspired by the countryside around the hamlet of Shottery, perched on the edge of the Arden Forest.

2009-03-30T22:51:00.000+01:00

Butterfly car!! this could be my car!

2009-03-30T22:49:00.000+01:00

More driving around!!!

2009-03-30T22:47:00.000+01:00

Driving about

2009-03-30T22:44:00.000+01:00

mmmm...

2009-03-29T12:02:00.001+01:00

Yummy butterfly chocolates. :))))))))))))))

Sunday, lazy sunday... :)

2009-03-29T11:57:00.002+01:00

Hot coffee (decaf obviously ;) ) music on and browsing through the Sunday paper.

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.

2009-03-27T20:26:00.001Z

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but do not quit.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit-
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

Big-big yawn! I need to go beddy-byes now! I'll see u tomorow

2009-03-26T20:58:00.002Z

... I think it is time for my favourite rhyme now:

Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

Good night e? :-)

Cupcakes, chocolates and Butterflies!! I love them all!!

2009-03-26T20:53:00.000Z

2009-03-26T20:50:00.000Z

2009-03-26T20:46:00.001Z

Garden Center

2009-03-26T20:44:00.000Z

Garden Center

2009-03-26T20:39:00.001Z

Garden Center

2009-03-26T20:32:00.001Z

Garden Center

2009-03-26T20:28:00.000Z

Oakham Castle

2009-03-26T20:24:00.001Z

Oakham Castle

2009-03-26T20:20:00.001Z

The Great Hall was built by Walkelin de Ferrers, a Norman baron, in about 1180-90. The remains of other parts of this fortified manor house lie beneath the grass of the inner bailey. It was surrounded by earthen banks and stone walls which had at least two towers. To the north were gardens and fishponds.
The castle was the residence of the lord of the manor of Oakham. Sometimes the king held the manor himself and visited the castle. The Great Hall is famed for its collection of Horseshoes. 240 horseshoes hang on the walls of the Great Hall. These represent the unique custom that every peer of the realm must give a horseshoe to the lord of the manor on their first visit to Oakham. The custom has been followed for at least 500 years and probably dates back to the 12th century. The oldest surviving horseshoe is said to have been given by Edward IV in about 1470. The most recent were given by HRH The Princess Royal in 1999, HRH The Prince of Wales in 2003 and HRH Princess Alexandra 2005.

By the early 16th century many of the buildings were ruinous. However the Great Hall continued in use as a courtroom, the hub of both the manor of Oakham and County of Rutland. Assize courts were held here until 1970. Today, occasional Crown Courts and Coroner's Inquests still take place.

Oakham Castle

2009-03-26T20:15:00.001Z

The splendid Great Hall of Oakham Castle is one of the finest examples of late 12th century domestic architecture in England.The hall is decorated with a range of 12th century sculptures. Above the columns are six musicians, each playing a different instrument. They are made of local stone from Clipsham and although damaged, they are of superb quality. They are believed to have been carved by masons who had worked at Canterbury Cathedral.

Eye Kettleby Lakes

2009-03-25T19:22:00.003Z

Eye Kettleby Lakes is a family run fishery which has been running along side the farming business for over 10 years.
Eye Kettleby Lakes are situated in the heart of the Leicestershire countryside on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray, they have been established for over ten years and are set in 150 acres of peaceful surroundings.
Melton Mowbray is a historic market town which is famous for its fabulous pork pies and stilton cheese.
There are seven day ticket coarse fishing lakes, these can all offer a wide varity of good quality fish. All the lakes are well stocked, this providing excellent fishing for all types of angler.

http://www.eyekettlebylakes.com/

Working....

2009-03-25T19:16:00.002Z

I need to do some work too you know!! I am a whizz with computers but I do have the tendency to brake my printers but that's ok because I know some people to call and they come around to fix my printers!!

See u soon. :-)

Cream tea time!

2009-03-22T22:07:00.002Z

A cream tea is usually eaten as a mid-afternoon snack or when on holiday, as a stop-gap during that long break between the midday and evening meals. The essential ingredients of a cream tea are:
A scone - (pronounced either to rhyme with 'bone' or 'gone') a small cake made from flour, fat and milk, baked quickly in an oven. A less common alternative to a scone is a 'split' made from a rich sweet yeast dough.

Jam,

Clotted Cream,

Tea or coffee

Enjoy!! :)

Castle grounds

2009-03-22T22:05:00.000Z

Views from the castle towers

2009-03-22T21:56:00.001Z

A Countess and her Castle - Daisy's bedroom

2009-03-22T21:53:00.000Z

Born Frances Evelyn Maynard at Easton Lodge near Great Dunmow, she was one of three children of The Hon. Charles Maynard and Blanche Fitzroy. Charles Maynard was the eldest son and heir of Henry Maynard, 3rd Viscount Maynard, whose estates Daisy inherited in 1865 upon the Viscount's death, her father having died 3 months prior. Blanche Fitzroy was a descendant of Charles II through his mistresses Nell Gwyn and Barbara Villiers. Two years after her father's death, her mother remarried to a favourite courtier of Queen Victoria's, thirty three year old Lord Rosslyn.

At one stage Daisy was considered as a possible wife for Prince Leopold (later Duke of Albany), a younger son of Queen Victoria. The Queen approved, but the Prince was in love with someone else.

Instead, she married Francis Greville, Lord Brooke, the eldest son and heir of George Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick, in 1881. The couple had three children in the first four years of their marriage. Her fourth child, a son, was born in 1898. He was given the surname of Maynard and was undoubtedly not her husband's child, though his father is unknown. Lord Brooke succeeded to the Earldom in 1893, and the family moved into Warwick Castle.

Inside the Castle

2009-03-22T21:46:00.001Z

Warwick Castle

2009-03-22T21:44:00.000Z

Warwick Castle is situated on a sandstone bluff at a bend of the River Avon. The river, which runs below the castle on the east side, has eroded the rock the castle stands on, forming a cliff. The river and cliff form natural defences. The castle is in the town of Warwick; when construction began in 1068 four houses belonging to the Abbot of Coventry were demolished to provide room. The castle's position made it strategically important in safeguarding the Midlands against rebellion.[4] During the 12th century, King Henry I was suspicious of Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick. To counter the earl's influence, Henry bestowed Geoffrey de Clinton with a position of power rivalling that of the earl. The lands he was given included Kenilworth – a castle of comparative size, cost, and importance,[1] and rebuilt in stone by Clinton[6] – which is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) to the north. Warwick Castle is about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) from Warwick railway station and less than 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) from junction 15 of the M40 motorway; it is also close to Birmingham International Airport.

Warwick Castle

2009-03-22T21:42:00.003Z

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England. It sits on a cliff overlooking a bend in the River Avon. Warwick Castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 within or adjacent to Anglo-Saxon burh of Warwick. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978.

From 1088, the castle traditionally belonged to the Earl of Warwick, and it served as a symbol of his power. The castle was taken in 1153 by Henry of Anjou, later Henry II. It has been used to hold prisoners, including some from the Battle of Poitiers in the 14th century. Under the ownership of Richard Neville – also known as "Warwick the Kingmaker" – Warwick Castle was used in the 15th century to imprison the English king, Edward IV. Warwick Castle has been compared with Windsor Castle in terms of scale, cost, and status.

Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone structural changes with additions of towers and redesigned residential buildings. Originally a wooden motte-and-bailey, it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognisable examples of 14th century military architecture.

Warwick Castle Website

Hyde Park

2009-03-21T22:19:00.003Z

Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, England and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.

The park is divided in two by the Serpentine. The park is contiguous with Kensington Gardens; although often still assumed to be part of Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens has been technically separate since 1728, when Queen Caroline made a division between the two.

Hyde Park is 350 acres (140 hectare/1.4 km²) and Kensington Gardens is 275 acres (110 ha/1.1 km²) giving an overall area of 625 acres (250 ha/2.5 km²), making this park larger than the Principality of Monaco (1.96 square kilometres or 485 acres), but still smaller than New York City's Central Park (3.41 square kilometres or 843 acres). To the southeast (but outside of the park) is Hyde Park Corner.

Although, during daylight, the two parks merge seamlessly into each other, Kensington Gardens closes at dusk but Hyde Park remains open throughout the year from 5 am until midnight.

Hyde Park is one of London's finest landscapes and covers over 350 acres.

Henry VIII acquired Hyde Park from the monks of Westminster Abbey in 1536; he and his court were often to be seen on thundering steeds in the hunt for deer. It remained a private hunting ground until James I came to the throne and permitted limited access. The King appointed a ranger, or keeper, to take charge of the park. It was Charles I who changed the nature of the park completely. He had the Ring (north of the present Serpentine boathouses) created and in 1637 opened the park to the general public.

In 1665, the year of the Great Plague, many citizens of London fled the City to camp on Hyde Park, in the hope of escaping the disease.

Towards the end of the 17th century William III moved his court to Kensington Palace. He found that his walk to St James's was very dangerous, so he had 300 oil lamps installed, creating the first artificially lit highway in the country. This route later became known as Rotten Row, which is a corruption of the French 'Route de Roi' or King's Road.

Queen Caroline, wife of George II, had extensive renovations carried out and in the 1730s had The Serpentine, a lake of some 11.34 hectares, created.

Hyde Park became a venue for national celebrations. In 1814 the Prince Regent organised fireworks to mark the end of the Napoleonic Wars, in 1851 (during Queen Victoria's reign) the Great Exhibition was held and in 1977 a Silver Jubilee Exhibition was held in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's 25 years on the throne.

In 1866 Edmund Beales' Reform League marched on Hyde Park where great scuffles broke out between the League and the police. Eventually the Prime Minister allowed the meetings to continue unchallenged and since 1872, people have been allowed to speak at Speaker's Corner on any subject they want to.

The Lido was set up by George Lansbury, the first Commissioner of Works, in 1930 and in warm weather is used for sunbathing and swimming.

Here is the official website for Hyde Park

Four Seasons in Bayswater

2009-03-21T22:14:00.003Z

Well after all that walking I am hungry now! I think Chinese is in order. Yummy!!!

Bayswater and Agia Sofia

2009-03-21T22:02:00.002Z

Bayswater is one of London's most cosmopolitan areas, with the significant diversity of the local population added to by having one of London's highest concentration of hotels. Notably, there is a significant Arab population towards Edgware Road, a large number of Americans, a substantial Greek community attracted by London's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the area is also a centre of London's Brazilian community and a substantial local population.

Architecturally, the biggest part of the area is made up of Georgian stucco terraces and garden squares, mostly, although not exclusively, divided up into flats. The property ranges from very expensive apartments to small studio flats. There are also purpose built apartment blocks dating from the inter-war period as well as more recent developments, and a large Council Estate, the 650 flat Hallfield Estate, designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and now largely sold off. There are some garden squares in the area.

Queensway and Westbourne Grove are busy High Streets, with a very large number of ethnic restaurants.

Here is the website for Agia Sofia

Portobello Road

2009-03-21T21:58:00.000Z

Portobello Road Market draws tourists. The main market day for antiques is Saturday. However, there are also fruit and vegetable stalls in the market, which trade throughout the week and are located further north than the antiques, near the Westway Flyover.

The market began as a fresh-food market in the nineteenth century; antiques dealers arrived in the 1960s.

The market section of Portobello road runs in a direction generally between the north-northwest and the south-south-east. The northern terminus is at Golborne Road; the southern end is at Westbourne Grove, to the east. The market area is about 3,080 feet (0.58 miles or 940 metres) long.

About one third of the way from its north end, the market runs beneath adjacent bridges of the A40 road and the Hammersmith & City line of the London Underground.

Notting Hill

2009-03-21T21:44:00.003Z

Notting Hill is an area in West London, England close to the north-western corner of Hyde Park, and lying within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is a cosmopolitan district known as the location for the annual Notting Hill Carnival, the setting for the 1999 film Notting Hill starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, and for being home to the Portobello Road Market.

My preffered mode of transport

2009-03-21T21:26:00.001Z

Walking around London now.

Driving around London

2009-03-21T21:19:00.003Z

Gone for a drive around London today. It was a sunny day and I am going to visit Notting Hill, Portobello and Bayswater!!

2009-03-20T22:39:00.000Z

Hi! again. Still enjoying the sun. I might go for a walk later.

2009-03-20T22:35:00.000Z

Today is a sunny day!!! Yieppieeeee! I'll just stay here and soak up the sun for a while. I've heard there could be lots of rain in the UK

2009-03-20T22:31:00.000Z

Hi everyone my name is Little Miss M and here you can read about my adventures travelling in the UK.

For now I am getting used to the money. It is quite different from the Euros!!

:-)