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Monday 14 May 2012

Garden of England


It seems a while since I have written a blog, but have been away staying at my favourite B & B in Kent where we had a lovely welcome from Pippa.

On our way down to Kent we stopped off at Batemans which is Rudyard Kipling’s home, for me it is a little dark and austere, but the house from the outside is beautiful and the gardens (well will be when the flowers eventually come out) there is also a working  mill where you can buy the flour. 



The next day we thought we would visit Sissinghurst (Vita Sackville-West’s) gardens, but guess what due to my lack of not looking in the National Trust book it was closed, so off to Rye we went and spent a few hours looking around the antique shops and then the heavens opened, so off to Hastings (also looked a little grim in the rain) but came across this lovely shop, very interesting and very expensive!!







Now for what I was really looking forward to the Decorative Living Fair just outside Tunbridge Wells, the weather held off and there was so many beautiful stalls, including Caroline Zoob and Lizzie from The washerwomanblogspot, who had travelled up from Taunton.






Love Lane Vintage was also there here stall is so pretty, and I have booked to have a stall at her Village Vintage in Cuckfield in July.


Rain eventually took over so we spent a long and leisurely lunch at The Bell Apparently in Ticehurst.  Really recommend this pub and I believe it has rooms as well.

Friday I eventually got to see Sissinghurst (probably better to see in June/July when all the flowers are out) but I loved it as well as the structured gardens my favourite was the wild meadows it will look superb when the wild flowers are all out.








Back home and getting ready for my next fair in Instow, spent the weekend potting on my seeds and planting out some vegetables all I want now is summer, in fact I am at the moment looking very seriously into going to France in a few weeks (south of France that is!!!)


This evening I hope to be spending my time visiting you all.

Have a good week.

Jillx

15 comments:

  1. Glad you had a good old rummage around Kent and Sussex while you up this way, I had been looking forward to coming to the fair at Eridge, marked it in my diary but im afraid to no avail, as my work was changed to include Thursdays the week before............drat!

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  2. Could you tell me where that expensive shop is in Hastings, if possible? I saw they had material there that I could actually feel, I want to make cushions for the garden benches.
    Thank you :-)

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  3. Hi Jill .... nice to hear from you again ..... what a wonderful post.
    I enjoy your pictures ....... it looks so cozy!!
    This is the England....which I love so much.
    With warm regards,
    Silvia

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  4. Hello Jill! It sounds as though you had a marvelous time despite the dreadful weather! Your photographs are beautiful - especially the first image of Bateman's. I love the look of A.G. Hendy and Co. - it looks like such an old fashioned store - although perhaps the type of hardware shop that it is modeled on was not quite as perfectly coordinated or stylish I imagine! Sissinghurst, as ever, looks beautiful - I've still yet to visit myself, and I envy you your trip to the Decorative Living fair - I would SO love to have gone to that. Lastly, if you do end up going to the South of France in the next few weeks - any room for a little one? Paula x

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  5. Wow you certainly packed a lot into yor visit, looks fab! Have a lovely week, Claire xxx

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  6. Batemans is one of my favourite places, yes it is a little dark but so atmospheric. Hendy's looks a real find, just the sort of place to get you in the right frame of mind for a village fair. I love the simple flowers in the last photo and the vase you have chosen is beautiful.

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  7. hiya- great pics with your great camera!
    I love LOVE the shop in Hastings, I think I'd like to move in there!
    have a good wek
    x

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  8. I love Sissinghust, we were there last year and there is a beautiful guest house in the grounds which we made enquiries of. A bit pricey but the rooms were fabulous. I'd love to go to the Cuckfield Vintage Fair in July depending on what's going on at the time. We're off to The Dordogne at the end of June and can't wait.

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  9. am off to kent in a week or two....sissinghurst on the list after seeing your post and charleston which i've been aching to visit for an age....have you been there?

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  10. I'd love to go to Batemans....looks like a super place to visit....great pictures!x

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  11. Well the weather may have been against you but your photos are stunning...and as for the shop and the fair...I trust you are now broke..I would be!!

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  12. Beautiful pictures, you are lucky to have such wonderful fairs in England.

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  13. What a fanastic shop - great photos. Glad you enjoyed your trip to Kent Jill. I can see the difference a month has made to the gardens at Sissinghurst - they look much more verdant. I love that tree!

    Don't blame you for planning a holiday in the South of France - some warm sunshine would go a long way here too!

    Jeanne
    x

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  14. Truly beautiful photographs Jill, I always enjoy reading your posts.
    It looks as though you had a wonderful time and what an interesting shop that is!
    Hope you are having a good week,
    Essie x

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  15. I really do need a holiday now after seeing all of your stunning pictures Jill. I'm glad you had a lovely time! I love the look of that shop...
    Can I come to France with you????

    Lou xxx

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Thank you for your lovely words