Old and the new

The other day Susan spotted that the Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen, was giving a talk on her life at Ravenseat at the Tabernacle, Notting Hill this evening.

Tickets were booked and to make a day of it we decided to explore Richmond Park one of the Royal Parks we’d not yet visited. Our plans were modified when I saw Ham Ham House, a National Trust property on the OS map. So we had a very pleasant walk from Richmond station to Ham House along the Thames, stopping for lunch in the warm sunshine.

As we arrived at the property, the Royal Parks Shire Horses were being used to mow and turn hay on the riverside meadows. Shame the driver was on his mobile phone! Good job the police didn't spot him, although he had stopped. We enjoyed a coffee and scone before viewing the gardens and house. Of particular interest was the Walled Kitchen Garden and the Cherry Garden. The latter did not contain a single cherry but was a sea of beautiful and fragrant lavender. The extra does not do it any justice

There was just enough time to walk along the western edge of the Park back to Richmond to travel to Notting Hill, grabbing a quick pizza in Zizzi’s and get to the venue for a 7.30 start.

An interesting talk; it amazes us how she can help run a sheep farm high up in the Dales, manage 9 children, write books and articles, make TV programmes, go on a speaking tour and cater for Coast to Coast Walker’s during the summer.