Weekend reflections in Florida

Walking around the lake early this morning the reflections were at their best:

 

 

 

 

Florida 2013

It was after 8pm when I arrived here yesterday and I felt too exhausted to do anything except go to bed. I can never sleep on long haul flights but I did manage to catch up on a number of films I wanted to see. This morning, feeling greatly refreshed I went for a walk around the estate where I am staying with friends A and N who have lived here for about 9 or 10 years now. So here I am in Florida in a place called Wellington not too far from West Palm Beach.

 

The weather is beautiful and very warm. All the houses have a view of a lake. Not sure how many lakes there are but quite a few. It  is a five mile walk around the outer edge of the estate.

The estate has been built on reclaimed land but natural areas remain and are protected. There was so much wild life especially bird life around that I am not familiar with and unfortunately cannot name.

 

 

Scotney Castle part 2

Following on from the previous post about Scotney here is the Victorian mansion at the top of the hill.

The Hussey family had this built in 1837 and remained in their family until a few years ago when it was given to the National Trust to maintain and open to the general public. The interior of the house had been little altered until 1952 when Betty and Christopher Hussey moved in and brought it up to date. As you wander from room to room you can see that it was very much used and loved as their country home rather than just a stately manor.

These are the steps leading up to the apartments at the side of the house. It was here that Margaret Thatcher spent time during her premiership to possibly get away from the media and pressures of her work. I can't think of a better place to relax as you wander around the gardens.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this tour of Scotney castle and gardens with me. Tomorrow I am flying to Miami to spend a few days with my friends A and N and then off to New York.

Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle , Lamberhurst, Kent was built in the late 14th cent. Originally constructed to protect Roger de Ashburnham from the French who were invading the Sussex coast, the castle was built on two islands in the River Bewl. It had four towers but only one now remains giving the appearance of a fairy tale castle.

The tower is connected to an Elizabethan Manor built by Thomas Darrell in the late 16th cent. He had most of the medieval castle pulled down but when he built the new house  he attached it to the surviving tower.

It is a beautiful place to walk around as the large moat reflects the old stone buildings and the gardens.

  

Old stone steps leading to the tower.

Remains of the Elizabethan manor house.

In 1778 the Hussey family bought Scotney from the Durrells and around 1830 built a Victorian mansion at the top of the hill. In my next post I will take you with me up the steps and through the gardens to the house at the top of the hill.




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The Millennium Bridge

This was the first new bridge to be built over the Thames since Tower Bridge in 1894. It is a pedestrian-only crossing of the river and was opened in June 2000. It is a suspension bridge and when it first opened it wobbled so much that some people felt unsteady and nauseous. It had to be closed immediately for repairs and it was another two years before it was finally re-opened. I thought just a handrail down the centre of the bridge would have helped but the engineers have stabilised it now so you don't get the bouncy effect of a suspension bridge.

The bridge is situated between theTate Modern art gallery on the South Bank and St Paul's Cathedral

It was featured in the film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince when the Deatheaters destroyed the bridge.

 

Tower of London reflection

There are images of the Tower of London on everything from towels to table mats but I thought this one was a little different.

I didn't realise until I  was home and looking at the photos that you can also see the towering glass building 'The Shard' behind the Tower of London. The Shard is the tallest building in Europe since it opened in February this year. The public can go up to a viewing area and see spectacular views of London, but it costs £25! I doubt I will be seeing those views for that price.


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Fiery instrument

Whilst out walking along the Thames at the weekend I saw this street entertainer with a difference. As he was playing the tuba a large flame would shoot out of the top of the instrument. I think the lady in the picture was going in for a closer look.