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  1.  

    Here's a shout-out for Heritage Open Days!

    It's England's largest community-led festival of history and culture, and thousands of local volunteers and organisations are involved.  

    The festival celebrates heritage, culture and history - so there are stories to hear, traditions to explore and histories brought to life!  And it's all FREE!

    Amongst the events, there are walks and tours, exhibitions, workshops and talks.  They cover all sorts of categories:  local history, faith, outdoors and nature, living history and re-enactment, traditional skills, sport and leisure, eco/green living and geneaology, to name a few.  Many need you to pre-book.

    Organisations taking part (not at every venue they look after, by the way), include the National Trust, the Churches Conservation Trust, the Woodland Trust, English Heritage Historic Houses and Friends of Friendless Churches.  

    There's a search facility so that you can find out what's on in your area, which makes life easier - or perhaps next year, you could think of volunteering yourself!

    Find an event near you here.

    Volunteering is a great way to meet people and make new friends amongst people who also want to do things for their local community (or further afield!).

    In 2024, the Heritage Open Days run from the 6th to the 15th September. 

    Find out all about Heritage Open Days here.

  2. Did you know that it’s Afternoon Tea Week from the 12th to 18th August?

    It’s a chance to celebrate this wonderful tradition.  For there’s nothing like sharing a cup of tea or coffee with a loved one, whether they’re a good friend or family member.   It’s a chance to sit and chat, to catch up and share a moment.

    There is something in the nature of tea that leads us into a world of quiet contemplation of life
    Lin Yutang

    Perhaps it is while drinking tea that I most of all enjoy the sense of leisure.
    George Gissing, The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft, 1903

    Virgin Experience Days have LOTS of afternoon teas all over the country, including of course, Afternoon Teas in London. 

    How about Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at The Fortnum & Mason Bar and Restaurant at Royal Exchange? 
    How about Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at
    The Fortnum & Mason Bar and Restaurant at Royal Exchange?

    In fact, if you’re looking to treat someone to an Afternoon Tea in London, you could look at their blog, called 18 of the Best Afternoon Teas in London, to help you decide which afternoon tea you’d like to treat someone to. 

    Tea time is a chance to slow down, pull back and appreciate our surroundings.
    Letitia Baldrige

    They’ve got Afternoon Teas at Fortnum and Mason, The Petersham in Covent Garden, which offers a sanctuary from the crazy world that’s London, The Stage at The Londoner, the Ochre at the National Gallery, SUSHISAMBA, where Asian flavours meet British classics, and a Jurassic Afternoon Tea for Two Adults at The Ampersand Hotel.  There’s also a Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two at the 5* Rubens at The Palace Hotel.

    A cup of tea is an excuse to share great thoughts with great minds.
    Cristina Re

    Take a look too at the Free-Flowing Bubbles Afternoon Tea for Two at The County Hall Hotel and a MAP Maison Tapas Style Afternoon Tea with Free Flowing Cocktails for Two.

    Don’t forget The Langham and The Lanesborough, the Melody Restaurant, and The Washington Hotel, as well as the TĪNG Restaurant on the 35th Floor of The View from The Shard., and Harrods which has a number of different options.

    And Virgin Experience Days also has a number of Afternoon Teas in London under £75.00.  Taking tea is a great way to escape the pace of life in London or anywhere else!

    Tea:  a moment of peace from the constant battles of life.
    Terri Guillemets

    There’s also a wide choice of Traditional Cream Teas, Gin Afternoon Teas, Spa Days and Afternoon Teas, Vegan Afternoon Teas and Afternoon Teas exclusive to Virgin.  With over 450 experiences to choose from, you won’t be short of choice.  

    For garden lovers, there's a Visit to Kew Gardens with Prosecco Afternoon Tea at The Botanical for Two

    For garden lovers, there's a Visit to Kew Gardens with Prosecco Afternoon Tea at The Botanical for Two
    in Richmond. 

    And there are lots of options if you want Tea for Two under £50 with lots of geographical locations to choose from. 

    How about a Piglets Pantry Afternoon Tea at Home for Two?
    How about a Piglets Pantry Afternoon Tea at Home for Two?
    See more Hamper ideas here.

    Afternoon, a time for reflection, a time for calmness, a time for renewal.
    Lailah Gifty Akita

    Some of them offer a bit of a theme – for example for big cat lovers, how about giving them a Paul Hollywood themed Afternoon Tea in Kent – you can sip your tea and tuck in whilst looking at some amazing big cats at the Big Cat Sanctuary!

    No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.
    Earlene Grey

    There are Afternoon Teas (and Cream Teas) you can enjoy together with a visit to somewhere such as Bletchley Park, Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent, Kew Gardens, Blackpool Tower Ballroom, and the Swinton Estate.   Or you could combine it with an activity such as a spa day, a walk with alpacas or llamas, or a creative activity.  So there’s plenty to browse!

    In Yorkshire, there's a Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two at The Swinton Estate
    In Yorkshire, there's a Traditional Afternoon Tea for Two at The Swinton Estate

    The cup of tea on arrival at a country house is a thing which, as a rule, I particularly enjoy. I like the crackling logs, the shaded lights, the scent of buttered toast, the general atmosphere of leisured cosiness. P.G. Wodehouse, "The Code of the Woosters," 1938

    Head off to Virgin Experience Days to browse their Afternoon Teas!

     

     

     

  3.  

    It is supposed to be summer in the UK but here where I'm sitting in Sussex, today it feels more like autumn with a good fresh breeze and cloud cover, and it looks like it might rain.

    However...

    Let's imagine that it's a lovely hot day, and you feel like something cool and refreshing to sip as an aperitif in the garden or on your balcony, or just sitting somewhere with the windows open.   There's nothing like taking a moment to enjoy a cool drink.

    So Microbarbox can help there.  They have some wonderful Cocktail Gift Sets, which would make great gifts for anyone who loves their cocktails and enjoys trying new things out.   And they can enjoy them at home, so no need to worry about trains, cars or buses to get out to a bar or pub, and then getting home again.  It's kind of like an at-home bar experience, and just the thing for any occasion! 

    So here are three possible gift ideas for you - there are lots more on Microbarbox's website.  And there's a special offer - get 15% off with the code SUMMER15

     
    This is August's Box:  the Summer Cocktails Gift Set

    This is August's Box:  the Summer Cocktails Gift Set
    with four delicious summer cocktails! - 
    Mojito, Piña Colada, Margarita and Cosmopolitan!

     There's also the Big Punch Cocktail Gift Set
    There's also the Big Punch Cocktail Gift Set
    with a bottle of overproof rum, high cask scotch whisky and a 60% gin. 
    The cocktails include 2 x Negroni, Punch, Dark 'n' Storm, 
    Scotch Mule and Pineapple Whisky Sour. 

    and the Summer Spritz Gift Set

    and the Summer Spritz Gift Set
    with a bottle of bubbly prosecco, a splash of Spritz, a hint of soda water, and some orange slices!
    Cocktails are Melospritz, Campari Spritz, Nectarspritz and Orange Spritz

    There are also lots of gift sets by drinks such as champagne and prosecco, gin and pink, whisky and bourbon, baileys and Tia Maria, rum, spritz, Tequila, vodka, Amaretto and mocktails and no alcohol sets, too.  So if your loved one has a particular taste for a certain drink, this page could be a great start.  See the gift sets by drink here.

    SPECIAL OFFER! 

    There's also a mouth-watering 15% off with the code SUMMER15, and if you spend over £50.00 delivery is free!    

    Visit Microbarbox here.  Cheers!

     

  4. RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show

    The RHS Wisley Flower Show in Surrey takes place from 3rd to 8th September 2024 and what an opportunity to experience a great floral day out!

    The show is supported by Access Garden Products, Bonne Maman (I love their jams!)  and Hello Fresh.   Not only that, but there are over 40 specialist nurseries, who’ll have growers on hand to help you choose the right plant for your growing space so this is a great chance to ask lots of questions!  Tradestands are aplenty at the show, selling garden and homeware.   The RHS asks that you please bring bags to take your goodies home with you!

    Enjoy a day out at the RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show this September

    There are fantastic displays, specialist nurseries, expert talks and of course the opportunity to do lots of shopping… and eating and drinking…

    Browse a fantastic range of tradestands too, selling garden and homeware from pruning tools to garden art and outdoor ovens. Where possible please bring bags to take purchases home.

    There are talks and demos as well at the new Hilltop Live Theatre which was only opened in June – costing £35 million – and the programme of talks is here (you need to scroll down after you’ve clicked through).  Find out about no-dig gardening, growing mushrooms and Medieval gardens, meadows and growing dahlias. 

    RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science is the RHS’s new centre of horticultural excellence, a place for us to inspire the next generation of scientists and officially opened on 24 June 2021. Encompassing RHS Hilltop are three gardens brimming with ideas that reflect the latest research for people to take away and incorporate at home, in schools and in communities:  a Wildlife Garden, a Wellbeing Garden and a World Food Garden.

     

    Discover all about Hiltop Live at RHS Wisley


    By the way, aside from the RHS Garden Wisley Show, Hilltop Live is a series of free daily talks, demonstrations and interactive sessions that take place in the RHS Hilltop building and there’s a programme of talks here. 

    There’s the National Dahlia Society Show’s marquee, where you can enjoy a wonderful display of garden dahlias, and cut flower and container displays.  The National Dahlia Society Show is from 3rd to 5th September in conjunction with the RHS Wisley Flower Show.  The very informative website for the National Dahlia Society is here

    There’s also floral art from the Surrey Area of the  National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies.  The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies have a magazine subscription which could make a lovely gift for someone who loves flower arranging. 

    Find out more about the RHS Garden Wisley Show in September 2024

     

    Now, tickets for the RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show must be booked in advance, which you can easily do here. 

    Flowers, eating and drinking, and relaxing – what a perfect combination!   Enjoy!

    Buy your tickets for the RHS Garden Wisley Show here.