Well I'm up to my eyeballs in School Fair (yes, capitals required- it's a HUGE do) preparations. Months ago I volunteered to run the secondhand kids clothing stall, knowing full well I would be away for 5 weeks leading up to the Fair. 'Yes, I'll do it! Sure! Of course I can do that! And, yes, I'll also bake for the Cafe!', says I.
The donation collecting was very kindly taken over by another school mum while I was away and much sorting, folding, hanging, pricing and boxing up has already been done! So that's great!! Now it's just the final sign making, general admin, contacting other stall volunteers, trestle table and clothes racks obtaining.... etc.... I really hope all goes well and I haven't bitten off more than I can chew.
I kind of wish I was still sitting here...
...at the Petersham Nursery Cafe in London. Sandy (our London host, long time good friend of Rod's, immediate good friend of mine and one of Juliet's beautiful Godmothers)(oh, yes, she wears many hats) took us for a drive one day while we were in London. First we went to Richmond park- amazing country side within a bustling and ancient city...
Sandy walks with her friends in this park sun or rain, mostly rain I'm guessing (designer Wellies and all).
She had planned to take us to a nursery cafe for lunch and after driving through narrow winding streets we turned into what looked like a suburban driveway...
One of those London lanes where you don't want to meet another car coming the other way. Then from London suburbia we see this country field...
...actually, I want to call it a meadow, and something started to tickle my brain. Cafe... restaurant... nursery... London... ahhhhhmmmmmmm- and I went blank. Completely in holiday mode, I was in the UK and my brain cells were in the Bahamas.
I loved it as soon as I walked in. Gorgeous potted plants for sale (at HUGELY inflated prices)...
There were tables and chairs casually scattered through a glassed greenhouse, spilling out to an outdoor area complete with fountain and more beautiful plants...
... and bath tubs...
We didn't go into the restaurant (tick, tick... come on brain!) but sat out at a table in amongst the plants. And the food! Just pre made sandwiches- but not only 'just', they were on tasty, fresh sourdough and the ham and salads were perfect. Obviously quality ingredients.
Then I poked my head into the restaurant. Skye Gyngell. Thankyou, brain, welcome back. I've seen photos of her with the restaurant as a back drop, I knew it as soon as I saw it.
So what was already an awesome place to take us was made super awesomely special by being the restaurant and cafe of a chef I knew (well, not personally).
Thanks, Sandy.
