Monday 30 March 2015

Liberty and Bourbon Blues








What a bustling, busy city London is, I'm glad to be back to the relative peace of our little Duchy.  I will not moan about our traffic again ........ well yes of course I will.  The workers all look so tired and stressed as they cram onto the tube and buses heading for far away homes.  Others are packing the bars for after work drinks, fighting to get served, spilling out onto the streets with loud chatter, living life as if their days are numbered.  Along the rivers and parks, lycra clad joggers sweat and puff their way painfully along as if being chased.  Even recreation and leisure activities are done at full competitive pace.  It's no wonder so many make the decision to move out of the cities for a more sedate pace as they become exhausted by this city life.

I love to visit London, I love the thrill of the city, but I could never live there.  Maybe when I was younger, but I made my life in the County of my ancestors and don't regret it for a moment.  It was a wonderful place to bring up our children. They may not have had the Science and History Museums on their doorsteps, but they had the beaches as their playgrounds.  Picking them up from school and heading down to the beach for a bbq, staying until it got dark, the freedom to run wild in nature, that was the childhood I wanted them to have.

We have been to London many times so don't feel we have to rush around seeing the sights, we choose a few things we would like to do.  If we don't manage it we just put it on the list for another time.  This time some of the things on my list were ticked off, others I didn't manage, but thankfully I made it to Liberty.  What a beautiful special place it is, of course the first place I head for is the fabric, but I did stop to take photos of the beautiful building for those who have not been lucky enough to visit.  It has real character and creakier stairs than we do.
















I wasn't tempted to buy one of these funnily enough.







Fabric


Fabric



and more fabric (and yes I did buy some)



I loved this evil looking cat








What about the Bourbon Blues?  We went to the great Scarfes Bar in Holborn which is full of Gerald Scarfe satirical cartoons, live music and delicious cocktails.  Now I know what you are thinking, but no I didn't have too many, just the one but I stupidly didn't think about what was in it.  It was the gluten in the Bourbon that did for me.  Leaving me out of action most of Saturday and too scared to eat anything on Sunday.

More of our London adventure on my next post.

Chickpea xx

Welcome to new followers Connie, girlofmanderley and veronica :)

24 comments:

  1. I lived and worked in London in my younger days but after 10 years of it moved out to the south coast which is much nicer now I'm older! Used to work about 10 minutes away from Liberty and took it for granted at the time - think I would apprciate it a lot more nowadays and would love to pop back there again, especially after watching the recent "behind the scenes" tv series

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    1. I missed the t.v. series, will have to catch up with it. :)

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  2. Lovely photos of one of my favourite stores!

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  3. I'm lucky enough to be able to pop to London for the day - I love the bustle and business, but am always glad to get back to my little spot in the country. We might not have such fancy clothes and shoes, but we take time to notice what there is around us. Like you, I'm glad I was able to bring up my son where he could have freedom and space. x

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    1. As you say, it's about taking time to stop and smell the roses :)

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  4. We used to lived on the outskirts of central london so could pop in any time. Have done all the sights, shopping etc over the years. And our children have done all the school trips there. Now we have been in Cornwall for nearly 10 years we appreciate a slower pace of life and a more friendly way of life. But I do go back occasionally for a shopping trip...... but love to come home away from the crowds. Love love Liberty, Great pictures.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. Thank you Rosezeeta, glad you are enjoying your life in Cornwall :)

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  5. Liberty's looks wonderful! I'd love to go one day x sorry you had a bad reaction to the bourbon, I would have thought it would be ok, hope you're feeling better now x

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    1. I am so careful about the food I eat, but have been caught out a couple of times by drinks now. Damn that gluten. :(

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  6. Wonderful! Liberty is a wonderful place isn't it. I could spend hours in there just wandering around looking at the building never mind the merchandise! xx

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    1. Wonderful wonderful place Amy, I could have stayed there all day :)

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  7. I've only been to London about 5 times in my almost 60 years. Don't think I've missed anything really
    Hope you a over the gluten glitch

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  8. It's many years since I was in Liberty's it still looks so wonderful, I don't think anyone who goes there could leave without being inspired.

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  9. Oh, would've loved to have browsed those shops with you. Love the light fittings.

    P.S. Will be posting off your parcel tomorrow when I go to town :)

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  10. As you know I am a Londoner but now live in Lincolnshire, and do miss it terribly - but! the tubes at rush hour, the Christmas shopping, the hot summer's days (and being in the tube) - Yuk! Still can't keep me away though! What I love about Liberty's is that it is like visiting a very good museum rather than a shop. I love the place, but I don't think I would buy one of those lip enhancing rings either :-) xx

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    1. Ha ha, no I think my lips will have to stay as they are! :)

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  11. Oh I love liberty, I haven't been there in years. Great pictures. x I lived in London for many years , now I like to visit but certainly wouldn't want to live there again.

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  12. I adore traveling to far away places with my blogging friends. I dream of seeing the UK one day, but it might only truly happen through blogging. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to tag along with you. I'll be back to see more on your next post.
    Oh, I fully agree the country life is the best for raising children.
    Happy Easter.
    Connie :)

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  13. WOW,what a store,never been like I said but saw the tv programme which was a scream,loved it.Thanks for sharing your amazing pics.Sorry though that you were poorly,do hope you are fully recovered now.xx

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