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Tuesday 14 July 2015

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER SHOW …… a series of unfortunate events !!!!! ………



Unfortunately, our tickets for the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show coincided with the hottest day of the year !!! Now, I love the hot weather as much as the next person BUT our journey consists of :
Car to the station where there are ALWAYS spaces but on this day, it was completely full ….. not one space …… NADA !!!!
Had to then cross the level crossing { had to wait 10 minutes as the barriers were down } for the other small car park ……. FULL !!!! Time was ticking by and we were meeting a friend on the next train ……. there was one more small car park a couple of hundred yards away …. result …. there were spaces BUT ….. this car park shuts the barrier at 9.00 p.m……. hopefully, we would be back by then !!!! We had only been out for about half and hour and I looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards !!
Jumped on the train and found friend ….. a fifteen minute journey and then we had to change for the underground ….. 11 stations !!! Quite blowy and a bit cooler but, once on the train, BOILING !! 
Then, it was another train from Vauxhall to Hampton Court ….. 9 LONG stations !!!
Exit station ……. found lovely restaurant and had light lunch and a small glass of wine ……. big mistake ….. HUGE !!!! I had already drunk gallons of water but was dehydrated !




Popped into an antique shop for a little look …..


and took a photograph of this pretty little cottage.



….. and then, probably the best and coolest part of the trip, a ten minute boat ride to Hampton Court Palace.



Hampton Court Palace has loomed over the River Thames for nearly 500 years. Redevelopment began to be carried out in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, favourite of King Henry v111. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favour, the king seized the Palace for himself and later enlarged it. Apart from the Palace itself, other points of interest are the gardens, the maze which was commissioned in 1700 by William 111, the historic tennis court built by Cardinal Wolsey between 1526 and 1529 and the huge grape vine claimed to be the largest in the world. The grape vine is more than 230 years old and over 36.5 metres long and was planted by Lancelot ' Capability ' Brown around 1768.



Finally, we had arrived. I very rarely moan about the weather …… we have been in Las Vegas when it was 125 degrees and I was fine. I had also worn the wrong thing ……. I decided to wear a maxi dress ….. I haven't worn a maxi dress since the 70's but it was new and I thought I would get a nice breeze around my nether regions but it was made of viscose and elastine and far too hot. My long hair was not helpful and I could taste the salt dripping down my face !! 
ANYWAY ….. here are a few, not particularly good, photographs ….. my heart wasn't really in it !! 










Under the circumstances, I was rather proud of the above shot !!!



On the plus side, we did see Monty Don,



doing a piece to camera.



and, a final, tranquil, somewhat out of focus image looking back at the Palace. Just before we left we sat down and dangled our feet in the Long Water Canal and cooled off .  The show closed at 7.00pm …… boat back to the station which was packed and then the return LONG journey !! I found a seat after a  few stations and could see my reflection in the window. My face was as red as a beetroot, hair plastered to my head and, when we had sat and dangled our feet in the Long Water Canal, I had sat in bird poo and stinging nettles !! NICE !! There were many young women on the train ……. many in shorts and they ALL looked cool and beautiful { it's times like these when you realise how old you are !! }
It was nearly 9.00pm when we got on the last leg of our journey home …… which meant that the car would be locked in for the night. As luck would have it, the car park was still open ….. I have never been more pleased to get back home !!!!

It was such a shame as the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is the largest show of it's kind in the world …. perhaps we will go again next year…. and, hopefully, it will be somewhat cooler !!

No photos of me …… it would hurt your eyes !!!!






image 1: via the libertine enzine, image 5: via landmark trust. All other images via ME.

Jackie





46 comments:

  1. Sorry but I got stuck on the top photo.

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  2. Hello Jackie
    I am happy you persevered and made it to Hampton Court. Your photos are fabulous and the added bonus of seeing Monty. I just recently became aware of him as I watched a garden show. He is very knowledgeable and likeable. Hello Jackie
    I am happy you persevered and made it to Hampton Court. Your photos are fabulous and the added bonus of seeing Monty. I just recently became aware of him as I watched a garden show. He is very knowledgeable and likeable. I am sure you looked beautiful and held your own amongst those young girls in their short shorts. sure you looked beautiful and held your own amongst those young girls in their short shorts. Loved the thought of such an ancient grapevine.
    Helen xx

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    1. I can assure you Helen that I looked far from beautiful ……. I looked all of my 64 years I'm afraid !!!! XXXX

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  3. Sorry for your hot, long experience.
    But at least you DID make it to that fabulous palace.

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    1. It truly is an amazing place Rick……. and it's HUGE. XXXX

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  4. It is 100 degrees here today and I couldn't enjoy a thing out in that. But, the alliums themselves were incredible.

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    1. Exactly Donna …… it's very hard to enjoy anything in that heat. Those aliums were amazing. XXXX

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  5. The important thing is.. what did you buy?
    And p.s. Spotted you in photo no. 3.. :)

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    1. Yup Jessica …. that's me, decidedly sweaty !!!! I would quite like to look like photo number one but those days are long gone !!!!
      I could have bought loads of plants but could hardly walk with just a handbag so I just took loads of cards so that I can buy online. XXXX

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  6. It will be certainly cooler over the next years - hopefully!!!!!!
    Very short comment - just to let you know that I'm still "alive" - that you're still in my mind....
    like "a rose is a rose is a rose......"
    Heartful greetings, karin

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    1. Hi Karin,
      Hope that you are enjoying the beautiful weather in France. Our friends have a house in Lectoure and have just come back and said it was very hot. Shall be over to your blog shortly. Much love. XXXX

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  7. Replies
    1. It probably wasn't quite as bad as I've made out Z …….. no, it was !!!! XXXX

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  8. How high was the temperature? The flowers are beautiful. If The Hurricane had married her first British boyfriend (she's had many--British men seem to be attracted to her), they could have had the wedding at Hampton Court Palace. But she had to be selfish and cheat us out of a wedding in a palace. Such a child! Ten years later, and she still isn't married. Sometimes she says yes, but she always changes her mind.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. It probably reached the 100's Janie but it seemed to be so humid.
      …. and, that would have been a lovely wedding …… I'm sure that your daughter will give you a beautiful wedding soon !! My cousins daughter got married in St. Paul's Catherdral { where Princess Diana married Charles } and that was amazing although, we've been to weddings in church halls that have been just as good. XXXX

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    2. Ha; we had the option of marrying in St Paul's, but chose Gibraltar instead.

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    3. So could my sister and I but we chose not to as well !! XXXX

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  9. I'd forgotten how HUGE the palace is; I remember going when I was very small and being disappointed that the maze hedges had holes in them. Good to see that Monty looks as batty as ever.

    I'm not sure which is preferable; being too hot or too cold.

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    1. Oh Cro ….. because we are if a similar age, you often bring back memories to me. As a small child, I remember going to Hampton Court and couldn't get over the fact that the maze was so threadbare ……. you could see right through the hedges, couldn't you ? Well, it has improved immensely and is very lush now.
      …..and, it is HUGE, isn't it ? I always thing that, for grandeur and scale, Versailles tops it but they are vast. XXXX

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  10. Hi Jackie!!!

    Beautiful and I would say that if you did take a picture of yourself and showed us!! Thank you so much and for not giving in to calling it a day early on!! After a day like that, a nice soothing bath with a glass of wine would do the trick.

    Beautiful, beautiful flowers!! I love the antique shop you visited!! I have the little 2 small plant chair that my hubby bought me last year, here in Vancouver, BC.

    Enjoy the rest of the week!!

    Pam

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    1. Dear Pam ……. I really don't think that you would have said that if you'd seen me !!
      …. but at least we soldiered on !! It did get a bit cooler later in the day. XXXX

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  11. Dear Jackie
    I sympathise I wilt like a lettuce in the heat but just think how you would have moaned if it had rained all day. I have never been to Hampton Court and didn't realise just how huge it is. Visiting shows like that is quite tiring too - just ambling round gives me back ache. No wonder you were pleased to get back home.

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    1. Hi Elaine,
      I'm usually OK in hot weather but that day was excessive, especially travelling from Hertfordshire to Surrey !! Hampton Court is well worth a visit though if you ever get the chance. So much to see and all of that history and, the gardens are amazing …. you'd love them. XXXX

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  12. Replies
    1. It is Christelle and well worth going to. XXXX

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  13. Hello dear Jackie! I hope you have cooled off by now. Here, we have had such rain, and a cool-ish summer so far - only one day above 90 so far. The humidity still has been high.
    I follow RHS on Facebook and the photos there and here give me such garden envy! And inspiration. Thanks for this garden tour! xo

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    1. Hi Carol …… you would LOVE Hampton Court Palace Flower Show …… many people prefer it to Chelsea….. plus, it's at the Palace which makes it even nicer. XXXX

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  14. What a shame it was too hot, but at least you saw Monty, although I'm not sure if that's a bonus or not. ;-) xx

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    1. I actually really like Monty Deb so it was a bonus !! XXXX

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  15. O no!!...so Sad it was too hot!!...next year i hope it Will be better...great pictures !!!...love them!!...happy summer enjoy !..love Ria..x!

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    1. Happy Summer to you too Ria ……. much love from me. XXXX

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  16. Oh, the heat is never my friend. I wilt like a rose. I won't even begin to relate the Disneyworld in August tale. xoxo

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    1. Please tell us the Disney World tale Pamela ……. I think that it will make me feel better !! XXXX

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  17. YOU could NEVER hurt our eyes.......I follow MAGICAL MISTER PAUL on INSTAGRAM and he went too.I had asked which is better CHELSEA or HAMPTON.He said more to buy at HAMPTON.I would love to come to one of these shows...........and tour some of the old homes.Perhaps, next YEAR!I shall leave the HEAT in CALIFORNIA..............okay!!!

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  18. Hi Elisabeth,
    Well, I have been to both Chelsea and Hampton Court and I love both. Magical Mister Paul is right though …. You can buy EVERYTHING at Hampton Court but you can only buy plants on the last day at Chelsea….. I know that you would love both. XXXX

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  19. Ah Jackie....you looked fine I'm betting, anyway we can just get a glimps of a reflection and there you look beautiful as always. Oooooh!! Monty, Monty, Monty!!!!! Lucky you, he's just smashing, am VERY envious!

    Big hugs,
    P.s. It WAS blinking H O. T though, wasn't it?
    Jane xxxx

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    1. No, no, no Jane …….. I can assure you that I looked a mess !!!!!!!
      I LOVE Monty and I love his dog Nigel as well.
      Hugs back and it really was BLINKING hot !!!!!! XXXX

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  20. I feel the heat coming from your post Jackie :) you made it very entertaining as always...I love the sunshine but boy, I need to keep cool these days...I overheat very quickly!!!
    Happy Weekend...the sun's out without the temperature today...hooray!!!

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    1. I do think that age comes into it I'm afraid Catherine !! ….. although, that was an exceptionally hot and humid day.
      I have already been dead heading my rose and trimming my lollipop bay trees in the front garden and it is a beautiful day.
      Enjoy the sunshine Catherine. XXXX

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  21. Dear Jackie, I feel with you: such a hot day is a blessing, but also a challenge. I've been often to Hampton Court, but not on such a hot day. The photos show that it was worth the trouble - and to meet Monty Don: a special treat.
    By the way: there IS a photo of you - the reflection in a window.

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    1. Hi Britta,
      It was HOT, HOT, HOT !!!!!! …. but, it was lovely to see Monty, I just wish that his dog, Nigel, had been with him …. I LOVE Nigel !!!!
      YES …. that's hot and stcky me reflected in the window !! XXXX

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  22. OK ~ I feel your pain! I have the biggest grin on my face though as I would be exactly the same way. After all that you did get some beautiful shots and I know you still had fun. xoxo

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    1. I usually have fun whatever the situation Lori but it SO wasn't fun !!!!!!! …. well, maybe just a little bit !! XXXX

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  23. It may have been hot for you, but I enjoyed the show in front of my computer screen. How I love flower shows, and especially the ones I get to see in your country on television. Nothing in the US compares to them!
    It's hard to look smashing in the heat isn't it? I had to attend my nephew's wedding a couple of weeks back, it was outdoors and 107 F. I looked awful by the end of it all, and felt awful as well.
    Yep, getting older can be a bummer!
    much love from me...

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