Bath England in a week ::: bit of a back story

Isn’t there always a back story?

I’ve been working a new job for eight months now. It has been full of just about all highs, but truth told, I need a mental break. I still plan to think and absorb colors, smells, ideas, but not think about the time, what my story will be for 10 pm, if I know how to pronounce every word for the hour long show I anchor, if my outfit will look good on tv or if my hair is working (it rarely is).

Instead, my biggest decision will be where to eat and if I want coffee and dessert. Just what dreams are made of in this life I live!

Here’s the kicker. This will be the first time I’m traveling alone. There is a bit of a back story to this that makes me feel a bit like Bridget Jones, so it’s worth a little tale. England wouldn’t have been my first pick on where to go this year. I’ve been to England and want to see some other places, you know, in case I’m tragically taken from this earth too early. I don’t want to get jipped. But….an old boyfriend, who I met on a previous travel,  moved there recently. I thought…hum…I’ve always wanted to go back, the last time there I was 17, and there is no easier/cheaper way than to have a place to stay for free, plus he’s only living there temporarily. He was in a new city and thrilled to have a friend to show around. Until…two months ago he got a girlfriend. This is a guy who is terrible with women so I didn’t even plan for this. He didn’t remove me from the situation :: I removed myself :: awkward!! So, now I’m going to England alone!! I’m not worried about him; he’s stuck with me as a friend FOREVER. Anyhow, I’ll see him for dinner, instead I have the chance to do everything I want to do on a trip and truly have a personal/inspiring experience.

I’ll be in London most of the time, but I am going to Bath for one day. Shame, this is the part of the trip I’m most excited about. You see when I was there at 17, I fell in love with the feel. It felt so light and alive to my never outside the south self. I remember standing outside the flower drenched hotel telling myself, “one day you will come back to this beautifully romantic place with your husband.” HA HA!! Not that I necessarily wanted a husband, but I guess I thought that’s just what would have to happen by the time I came back. hum….cute/naive/lovable little 17 year old Lindsey.

Who in the world is that brunette?

Mom made a scrapbook after our trip in 2001

It was all so green and pristine

 

 

Telling ya I was mesmerized by the flowers

 

 

Broke from the trip to see where Jane Austin lived
By the way, rockin passport protector, Linds
if you could only see my birkenstocks

 

 

ummm…why didn’t I know then that I had HOT legs??

I would have worn mini skirts.

I think Mom kept this as a secret on purpose

 

 

For this trip in a week, I found an adorable hotel in Bath. It’s called The Brindley’s. It looks to be so neat and relaxing.

http://www.brindleysbath.co.uk/gallery.asp

 

 

 

 

 

Last night I tweeted the owner of a vintage clothing store in Bath who gave me some great restaurant recommendations. I think I’ve picked my dinner spot. The others will be great for lunch on either day. Tweeting/facebooking people who more than likely have similar taste to you really works. I know if someone asked me I would be thrilled to fill them in about the places I love.

Here they are…..

Gascoyne Place

I’ll eat lunch here one of my two mornings. The look is very light and comfy in an old Georgian building. I love the look of the bar and snug. I’ll definitely stop by.

 

 

The Circus Restaurant,  This will be my dinner pick. It’s the favorite of my recommender.

This restaurant seems to have that homey feel I love and the food doesn’t seem to be pretentious, but instead based on fresh ingredients and taste. The location sounds like a great place. Love the color choice. Mix between gray and green. Perfect with the stone found all over the city.

 

Le Beaujolais, Casual French

Woods, French

Casanis, French

Tags | Bath England, Beaujolais Bath, Casanis Restaurant Bath, Gascoyne Place Bath, The Brindley's Hotel, The Circus Cafe and restaurant Bath, Woods Restaurant Bath

Porch Time…it’s starting

Found a couple of porch essentials this weekend

The seat cushion is new

so is the outdoor rug in the 2nd photo

I’m trying to keep this space VERY cheap

Since it just gets covered with dust, dirt and pollen

ps I’m right proud of my $1 wicker chair from

Gulfport Goodwill before it closed :: years ago

 

 

 

And just for fun the tulips I bought yesterday

MEGAbus is MEGA Cool!!

Two thumbs up. And not on the side of the road hitching a ride, because last weekend I had the EASIEST ride from Memphis to Nashville possible. Well, having my own personal driver would be easier, but…..

Megabus is in cities across the country, and I finally decided to give them a try.

http://us.megabus.com/

You see. I hate driving long distances, which to me is anything more than an hour. It’s not that I’m lazy or incapable, instead I get very snoozy. To the point that I get very anxious knowing how easy it is to just doze off a bit. (yes I nap like an old woman) When I was at Ole Miss driving 6 hours home to Long Beach, I had no trouble. It has only been the last 3 years that my apparent narcolepsy has hit me. Raycom Media, if you are reading, I really don’t have narcalepsy. Man, I need to watch my writing before it gets me grounded. 

So here is the info on Megabus. It’s a big, clean double-decker bus. It has wifi and electrical plugs for your gadgets.

Happy Happy traveler

with time on her hands and $$$$ in her pockets

 

For my round trip I paid $20. Yes, it would have cost me more to fill my jeep up for the trip. The people on the bus were mostly young people using it to go back and forth to college. SMART!! I’ve heard nightmares about riding greyhound, but this was a much happier experience and cheaper. Don’t tell too many people. Seriously. 

Waiting outside the bus

 

The line to board

 

We did have a mandatory 30 minute stop at a truck stop on both the to and from trip, which could irritate some people. I thought it felt like an adventure. I did my makeup in the bathroom and drank lots of trucker coffee. You could have also had your choice of Subway or McDonald’s.  Cool, right. Even with this stop, the trip took four hours. When I drive it myself I get there in about three hours and twenty minutes. win win

Where you live depends on where the bus goes. The cost also depends on the time of your ride and when you book it. It only stops in larger cities.  My next Megabus trip will be to St. Louis. Join me, though only if I can nap on your shoulder.

Disclaimer :: my trip was fantastic, but if yours, your friend’s, your child’s or someone you know had a poor ride, I’m sorry. My idea of “worth it” might not be the same as yours. I’ve been known to rough it for travel.

I can’t quite touch it :: I’m trying

Now that the weather is changing I have some memories I just can’t shake. They aren’t bad memories, not at all, but still, they make me a little nostalgic for a moment I can’t get back. They are of a Meridian, Ms friend’s apartment just before I moved up to Memphis.

It was actually a dump with some qualities about it that made the low $400-ish rent a steal. It may have had no proper air conditioning :: leaving all of us hanging out there to stew in our spring/summer sweat, but that made the place feel even more otherworldly. Outside the windows vines ran all over the building. They cast a green tone on everything. I knew at the time it was special.

This is the only shot I have that would show the feel

There was always the smell of something fresh cooking. (that dish above was amazing) It all made me feel alive even though my limbs were swollen from wine and heat. I’m in the process of making my apartment feel alive after what felt like a very long winter even though it really wasn’t. I’ve started with the simple like just leaving my doors open (I have a screened in porch) and getting fresh herbs in my kitchen so I can see the green and smell them in dishes I cook. Yes, I’m cooking!! This weekend I plan to get in my yard and do a lot of digging. I have a new book about easy/colorful container planting.

Some shots early in my quest to bring life

Making the best of it :: Sick Day

Woke up with some stomach issues that just aren’t fit to describe on my blog. (You are welcome) So, I’ve been at home all day on this last day of winter that feels like the nicest spring day one could ask for. I spent my time drinking water, a little coffee, reading design mags and snapping shots of my just blooming tulips and azaleas. I might feel icky, but mother nature has given me a fantastic pick me up.  With her help I’ll be back on the air tomorrow at four. Here are some snap shots of my day. Can you tell I was bored??

I never get to relax with my coffee
I had a whole pot to myself

 I bought this fantastic book back in the winter
I’ve been waiting to enjoy it now
It gives recipes and names the best veggies for the season
The pictures are so crisp

It’s porch time!!!!

Being home sick game me a chance to look at all I have to do
Trip to the nursery this weekend

I ignored this project
I’m clean out of shelf room for my books
These are my newest crime reads
I want them all on a shelf together by author
Not today, though

Another pot to fill

I’m so happy with how these turned out
I planted late so I get them now

My azaleas are almost out too

Ran out to sip my coffee

Looked a wee bit like a lunatic in my pj’s and trench coat

Opened ALL the windows
So lucky to live in a home with so many windows
natural breeze and light

Without cable I just watched how the light changes and enjoyed the breeze
moving through my rooms