New Beginnings, Sunshine and Rain!

Adapting to Change

Just as the season changes, life changes too. This month has been crazy busy getting ready to leave Rowly and move into a houseshare in Ewhurst. I was lucky enough to have lots of helpers on moving day and cleaning day, so was able to get straight back to work with my lovely clients on the Tuesday morning, after a day of getting unpacked and set up! So – my therapy room was up and running again super quick, and I’m enjoying treating folk here. The family I have moved in with are kind and welcoming, so a new chapter begins.

I was also lucky enough to have my daughter home from university for a few days, so it was lovely to spend some time with her – I miss her heaps. I want to dedicate this months blog, and all the lovely photos in it, to a very dear uncle (as well as husband, dad, grandad and brother) who our family lost this month, and who will be dreadfully missed. I have had many quiet moments in these gardens during these days, when my thoughts are with him and the rest of his close family too. I sat here on this bench by the lake at Hever for a long while with my thoughts, and was so very grateful for the peace here.

I have to be honest and say I’ve really not had the time to compile an educational or inspirational post this month with everything that has been going on! So – I thought I would just celebrate the various changes in weather this month, by sharing some photographs of a very sunny day out at the heavenly Hever Castle and Gardens and Chartwell House and Gardens last Sunday, and then a very wet morning out with dear friends at Borde Hill Gardens today - just a week apart!

Hever Castle and Gardens – 22nd October

Last Sunday I went to the wonderful Hever Castle and Gardens for the day. I’m very lucky as my lovely parents buy me annual membership every year as part of my Christmas gift, so I can go anytime for free. I never tire of this place, and this time I was totally blessed with the very sunniest of Sundays. My favourite view is always this one looking out at the lake from the Loggia.

Hever Castle dates back to the 14th Century, and is set in 125 acres of stunning grounds in Hever, Kent. It was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and Mother of Elizabeth I. It was restored and extended in the early 20th century by William Waldorf Astor. Its gardens are award-winning, and there is always something beautiful to see all year round. The grounds at Hever are just magical, and the Castle is lovely too, as it is not as huge as some, so it actually feels pretty homely inside. I love this little door that leads up to what was Anne Boleyns bedroom.

It was pretty busy being the start of school holidays (and one of the best days weather wise) but Hever is a big enough estate to be able to find quiet spots just to be. I’m also pretty good at waiting until folk move on before taking my photos – I like the peace of having no one around – just me and my camera (or iPhone!) and the time to compose a shot, and taking time to just ‘smell the roses’. Lovely to catch this one with the morning dew still on the petals.

My day was completely made, when I managed to get a couple of shots of gorgeous Dragonflies too. Anyone that knows me knows my fascination with these amazing creatures. I found this one sadly with a broken wing – but it was still managing to fly around the ‘secret garden’ part in Hever by the waterlillies. Then I found another one just sunbathing on the side in the same garden. A lovely gift at the end of a lovely day.

Chartwell House and Gardens – 22nd October

I wasn’t quite ready to come home after visiting Hever, so realising that Chartwell House and Gardens was only 10 minutes away in Westerham, Kent (and being a National Trust member), I stopped here on the way back for an hour, to make the most of the sunshine. It was a such a beautiful day and I love it here too. Chartwell was the family home and garden of Winston Churchill. It has many interesting facts, personal belongings and treasures in the house, and the gardens are just lovely too. Sadly this time the studio was closed, but I have been before, and they have a large collection of paintings done by Churchill himself, which are worth seeing.

There are some beautiful rooms and gorgeous windows in this house. I particularly liked these ones – probably something to do with the symmetry! I had to whizz through the house a bit too quickly this time as I only arrived an hour before they closed, but I will definitely be back to learn more about the house and the history of the place.

The Rose Garden (designed by Lady Churchill) was still in bloom – and with the bright sunshine pouring through the petals, I managed to get some gorgeous photos this afternoon. It really did me the power of good getting out for a lovely long walk on such a bright, warm, sunny day, after all the stress of the house move. Nature really is medicine to me.

I also found this incredible tree on my way out of the garden. It is a Japanese Cedar, thought to have been planted in 1852! I am always amazed how these trees manage to survive and thrive for all these years – I struggle to keep an indoor plant for one season sometimes! An incredible thing indeed.

As it was almost Halloween, Chartwell also had many different fine displays of their own pumpkins dotted about the gardens at this time – great fun for kids and adults alike! This photo is taken in the Walled Garden, which is a working kitchen garden that was built by Winston Churchill himself. It is beautiful here, surrounded by a stunning apple orchard and wildflower meadow.

Borde Hill Gardens – 29th October

Today I spent the morning with two great friends Steve and Roz, at the lovely Borde Hill Gardens, which is a wonderful family-run estate near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, with fabulous views over the 383 acre Grade II heritage listed parkland. They had kindly bought me membership for this place a little while ago, and although it was a very wet day, we still had a lovely time.

I love the way this garden is set out, with different areas and gardens to explore. There were quite a few fun decorations around for Halloween today too (great for the kids for half-term, and big kids like me!). There were still a few flowers out, and the autumn colours were absolutely stunning there.

It was fabulous as always to see the beautiful Italian Garden. This has to be my favourite part of Borde Hill. The statue of the lady here just says ‘freedom’ and ‘confidence’ to me. I absolutely love it. The intro shot on the cover page of this blog shows another angle of this stunning garden.

There is also this lovely sculpture in the water in the Italian Garden, and the pots either side, and the benches and various flowers in this area make it a wonderful place for rest and quiet contemplation. Today was mainly about avoiding the showers, but it was still a gorgeous place to be.

Another area I love here is where the Bamboo trees are, which always remind me of my time in Asia. This area of the garden is truly fabulous, with a mixture of plants and palm trees and a little waterfall sculpture too. But the Bamboos are my favourite!