MISS ELAINEOUS VISITS THE PLANTATION GARDEN...

Known to locals as Norwich's Secret Garden (yes, I have read the book and seen the film!😀) this is one of my secret special places (well, maybe not so secret now!)

The Plantation Garden is three acres in size, English Heritage registered and Grade II listed.  It is administered by the Plantation Garden Preservation Trust and maintained by volunteers.  It's hidden away behind the Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist- itself slightly younger, and constructed between 1882-1910- on the outskirts of central Norwich.  Its layout is very lovely; with a perfectly manicured lawn, uniform flower beds, a wooden walkway and bridge, a summerhouse, an Italianate terrace and a Gothic fountain.  It also has a medieval-style wall which is a mosaic of brick and tile, and contains faces, shapes and symbols.

I have also created a YouTube vlog, link:-

https://youtu.be/vOzlEHJw0gE

It was created over a period of 40 years following 1856, after successful Norwich upholsterer, cabinet maker and Baptist minister Henry Trevor (1819-1897) acquired a disused chalk quarry.  He built Plantation House and set about creating what is now known as one of the finest surviving Victorian gardens in England.  

Following his death the house changed hands several times including, lately, being one of the buildings that made up The Beeches Hotel.  After the Second World War the garden was virtually abandoned until 1980, when restoration began.  It is still considered to be a work in progress.  

It is a really tranquil place- sitting on one of the benches, it's hard to imagine that you're not far away from a busy road.  I did find, though, that the whole garden has a real sense of melancholy about it.  I would love to know more about the personal history of some of the characters who lived here.  Maybe their spirits live on and their ghosts shape the atmosphere in some way?  Did someone get their heart broken on the stairs of one of the sloping walkways of the terrace?  Or was someone murdered in a blaze of bloodshed down there on the lawn?  Or am I just being fey, fanciful and a touch daft in the head?!

  It's amazing what an overactive imagination can do.

Here is the flurry of leaves that is the metal entrance gate.

The long, atmospheric view down the garden.

A closer viewpoint.

Gawd knows what variety of tree this is- some kind of palm, methinks, but then I could be very wrong as I'm no horticulturalist!

The Gothic fountain, which is made from moulded brick and flint.  I kept my eyes peeled for passing frogs but didn't see any!

I think this little stone tower is very cute.  There is more than one and also Gothic alcove ruins- which were once part of a fernery- and a 14th century window from the church of St Giles in the garden.

Flower bed, and the garden has been described as "a rich man's folly," or "a tycoon's folly!"

Another flower bed, and these photos were taken in May.

The Italianate terrace.  I have no idea why, but I got a feeling of immense sadness when I sat looking at it.

...Or maybe I'm just being whimsical...

A view back down the garden, taken from the terrace.

The little woodland path veers off in more than one direction.

A view of the terrace, taken from the terrace- with my SuperDean.

Back to where we started, but this time taken from the bridge.

The garden is unsupervised most of the time, and is a habitat for wildlife.  The charge is £2, as dictated to by the letterbox-style 'Honesty Box' just through the entrance gate.  Naughty, naughty me nicknamed it the 'Dishonesty Box' as I slung all the change I had into it.  I think it came to over a pound, but I wouldn't swear on it!!!!

This charming haven is a real oasis of calm, and is well worth a try if you're ever in the area.

I will return, but until then,

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

XXXXX
XXX
X

ALL OF ME: MY EXTRAORDINARY LIFE by BARBARA WINDSOR

ALL OF ME: MY EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

BY BARBARA WINDSOR

THE BLURB:-

Barbara Windsor- Carry On star and EastEnders favourite- here reveals all about her colourful life.

All Of Me details the highs and lows of an extraordinary career spanning fifty years. From her lonely childhood in London's East End, to her troubled first marriage to Ronnie Knight and her much-publicised affair with fellow Carry On actor Sid James, Barbara emerges a strong woman with nothing to hide.

Now happily married to Scott Mitchell, the son of a childhood friend, she looks back at the extraordinary events in her life, culminating in the proud moment in July 2000 when she received her MBE. It was a fitting tribute to a much-loved actress- the fun-loving cockney with the smile and the giggle, the walk and the wiggle, who has become an adored British icon.

THE REALITY:-

I whizzed through this book, which was by no means short, at 588 pages long- and that's with quite small print. It was very interesting and I flattened it in a week.

Whilst not the world's biggest fan, I do like this saucy little bird with the sexy, curvy figure, but I've only ever known about the most obvious parts of her life. I'm a Carry On fan and my own day-to-day life is peppered with saucy double entendres! I watched Eastenders for many years, although my once almost obsessive interest has faded in recent times. I also remember going to Butlins Minehead in 1985 and she was performing there with Jack Smethurst but I think the show was adults only and I was only 14 (although, with the right amount of make-up on my face I easily passed for 18 and could get served at the bar!)  I think you also had to pay to see her show- in an otherwise all-inclusive holiday camp- and I wouldn't have had the kind of money required for the entrance fee. This would have been at around the time her career was on the decline. I saw the very enjoyable and poignant show about her life, 'Babs' televised recently, and when I found this autobiography in a charity shop shortly afterwards, could not resist giving it a go as I didn't know much about her life, especially her illustrious stage career, which would have taken place before I was born.

This is one lady who has certainly been very busy. It would seem that she's constantly been in demand (even during the bleaker years) and has had a real WOW of a career with not an awful lot of resting time. She's met -and shagged- some very well-known people and I'm quite glad that she was a bit of a slapper as I've never been an admirer of sexually precious, morally self-righteous people. Maybe it's because my mother was quite rigid about such things yet also of Barbara's generation, being born only a few years previously, much older than myself, and I was a bit of a naughty rebel... and I'm proud of it. If it's sex you want to read about then you won't be disappointed as there's a hell of a lot of it in this book, along with gritty happenings such as the illegal abortions Barbara went through.  A few gorier, salacious details would have been a wonderful addition, though.

Barbara's first two marriages sounded really unhappy, with carryings-on (sorry, I couldn't resist that!) on both sides.  These men appeared to use her and then sell personal and sordid details of their life together to the newspapers. She seems to have a penchant for toyboys and, whilst I'm very sure that I wouldn't want a man more than a couple of years younger than me, bloody good luck to her. The photographs in the book are taken at various stages of her life and are a nice addition.  They tell the story in their own way.

This is only one person's account of Barbara's life so you have to take it with a little pinch of salt. As it's an autobiography, you have to wonder about the parts she has chosen to leave out, but then I suppose that if I was writing my memoirs (I wouldn't, I'd put them into novel form!) then I'd maybe write the bulk of it like a curriculum vitae; i.e. me on a very good day.  I kind of got the impression that there's more to her dealings with London's criminal underworld than first meets the eye- by that, I don't mean that she's a criminal herself, but maybe she thought it best not to draw too much attention to that side of her life.  After all, it was a long time before she was awarded her MBE and many thought it was long overdue.  I think her associations held her back, in this respect, for a long time.

I found this work quite heartfelt and you also get to find out about the quirks and nuances of some of her former, well known, co-stars such as Kenneth Williams and Sid James, and get to learn the extent of the latter's obsessive infatuation with Barbara.   Her childhood was very interesting, and I'm glad she opened her heart about her difficult and complicated relationship with both her parents.  This was a good enough read.

THE HOUSE ON BELLEVUE GARDENS by RACHEL HORE

THE HOUSE ON BELLEVUE GARDENS

BY RACHEL HORE

THE BLURB:-

Bellevue Gardens is a tranquil London square, tucked away behind a busy street. You might pass it without knowing it's there.

Here, through the imposing front door of Number 11, is a place of peace, of sanctuary and of secrets. It is home to Leonie; once a model in the sixties, she came to the house to escape a destructive marriage and now, out of gratitude, she opens her house to others in need.

Rosa, Stef and Rick are running from their own problems. They have all found a way to Leonie's home, each seeking a refuge and searching for a new start.

But then Leonie discovers that the house which has provided sanctuary for so many is under threat. Can she rescue the place that saved her all those years ago?

THE REALITY:-

Turn the key to enter Rachel Hore's most compelling novel yet... said the remainder of the blurb... But I have to admit that I probably found this book her least compelling yet, and I've read all of her novels.

Maybe I'm being unfair as, although this story comes across as of the light, bright and trite variety, the beauty is in the subtlety; the way the characters develop and react to the situations dished out to them. I'm going to be reading this novel again as I read it during the week I was on holiday and I want to recapture that mood. I will also keep it in my collection, in the “research” pile, as I intend to make a character in my next novel (entitled “Lydia Darling”) a model, and will use this book to refer to for inspiration (even though Leonie is a model in the 1960s and Lydia will be a 1980s/1990s model).

I liked that this book was set in London, so I could relate to some of the areas the characters find themselves moving in, but was also surprised that King's Lynn, the town I grew up in got a mention. I spent a bit of time trying to figure out exactly where it was that the author had used as inspiration for the street where Michal's safe house is situated, but decided that that part of the descriptive is probably purely fictional!

I loved the sensitive way in which Leonie's marriage breakdown was detailed and also Stef's story, which has its similarities and shows just how something good can turn sour as someone maybe a bit vulnerable gets manipulated until they find their self esteem and leave. I think we can all relate to that- I certainly can, unfortunately.  Michal and Rosa's story was a modern take on the sadder, sleazier side to immigration, and it's horrible that that kind of thing goes on. Again, another example of vulnerable people being manipulated, which appears to be a bit of a theme throughout this book. This was definitely a novel about good guys versus bad guys and all of the characters sat either on one side of the fence or the other.

I liked that fashion got a big mention, from Leonie's career to Stef's passion for design as the latter was once such a big part of my life.  I don't envy this character following a career in fashion, though.  Unless she ends up self employed she will end up unemployed, so good luck with that.  Yep, the story was capable of arousing emotion within me!

A big shame for me was that the novel didn't come to any kind of conclusion. We never did get to find out whether Leonie's painting was valuable enough to make a considerable dent in the asking price for the renewal of the house lease, when a big part of the story revolved around the security the house had brought to its residents. A nice novel that has its merits- the ending not being one of them.

TITANIC NECKLACE and LIFEBOAT NECKLACE...

Whilst I was in Great Yarmouth I visited their Time and Tide Museum, which is housed in a converted herring curing works and demonstrates what their fish trade was all about.  It also shows a more general history of the area and is a truly lovely tourist attraction, being educational yet informative.

Their temporary exhibition was the fabulous Titanic: Honour & Glory, a fascinating collection that depicted what life was like on board the doomed ship.  My favourite displays were the model of the ruined ocean liner sitting destroyed on the sea bed and a replica of the Heart of the Ocean (Le Coeur de la Mer) necklace that Kate Winslet wore in the 1997 mega-successful film, Titanic.

I was upset, however, that copies of the necklace were not available to buy in the museum shop (a bit of an oversight on their part, methinks) as I was hell-bent on buying one.

But I searched eBay and found this little set for just over a fiver... 

Here's a very nonplussed Charlie the Chocolate Magic Monkey modelling the stunning necklace and cute earrings, bracelet and ring.

Moving on from ocean liners to lifeboats, we always make time to visit Caister Lifeboat Station when we partake of out annual pilgrimage to Caister, as it is not part of the RNLI and is totally reliant on charity.  We always do our bit by having a wander around their visitor's centre, looking at the lifeboats, both old and modern, and talking to the various characters who help keep this place going.  We treat ourselves to a cuppa and cake and this year had the added bonus of seeing many well-behaved mutts, as a dog show was taking place.

I bought a couple of books from their charity shop and also found this lovely pearl and diamante earring and necklace set.  For £2, I wasn't going to say no!

Modelled by my monkey...

Close up...

I shouldn't even be looking at costume jewellery as I own W-A-A-A-Y too much... 

But I love my bling!!!!

THE MISBEGOTTEN by KATHERINE WEBB

THE MISBEGOTTEN

BY KATHERINE WEBB

THE BLURB:-

Rachel Crofton escapes her unhappy employment as a governess by marrying a self-made businessman. But her life soon takes an unexpected turn.

Reclusive Jonathan Alleyn is a man tormented by the disappearance of his childhood sweetheart. Alice.

Starling, foundling child and now servant, is convinced that Alice, the woman she loved as a sister, was stolen from her. Did Alice run away? Or did something altogether more sinister occur?

As Starling tries to expose the lies behind Bath's immaculate facades, others want only to forget, and will go to extreme lengths to do so. And the courage both Rachel and Starling need to bring these truths to light will come at a very high price...

THE REALITY:-

I've read all of Katherine Webb's novels, and this one fights with her first work- The Unseen- for the position of the best. She has an unusual style of writing, yet it is not unattractive (and not actually displayed in this book!) The Unseen was written in the present tense in the historical sections and the traditional, past tense in the contemporary sections and I believe she used this way of communicating in at least one other of her stories. Do I like this way of writing? It's okay. And, like I said, not actually displayed in this book. I loved the title of this book as “The Misbegotten” implies intrigue and something not quite right- it's all to do with the “Mis” part, methinks. The front cover caption “Dark truths. Beautiful lies” is also very compelling, so I was drawn in before even reading a single word.

Enough of my waffle! This book touched on an area of history I don't know that much about (the early 1800s) and would like to know more about, especially regarding the Napoleonic wars. I have read novels set around this time- such as Vanity Fair- and also by writers of the day- Jane Austen- but would love to learn more of the facts surrounding the Regency era. The war parts of this novel were actually those that I found the most tedious and long-winded, but I persevered and absorbed some of the horrors described in the pages. Incidentally, I put down the much-acclaimed (and longer winded) White Teeth, by Zadie Smith, during the war section of her novel and never sought to pick it up again, so I must choose where and how to do my war research carefully, if I ever need do so for my own work.

Bath came to life in this story and made me want to take a visit to this place. I had a friend do a day trip by coach from London recently, taking in this historic city and also Stonehenge, so maybe I will do the same.

I'm still waffling...! This novel was practically addictive and I loved the concept of one of our heroines, Rachel, being an almost perfect doppelgänger of another of our heroines- Alice. It is something that is a starting and an ending point to the story, as well as a thread running throughout. The characters were so varied and some truly despicable. The scenes and houses were atmospheric and the character of feisty foundling Starling rather heart-warming, though she is far from angelic. The language (or rather slanguage- I believe there is a book written as a guide to this and I will seek it out) used in the book really transported me back in time and also made me laugh in paroxysms.

I did, however, find the story confusing in places.  Letters got mentioned a lot; we had the letter that never got sent...and the letter that got sent but then discarded and picked up again...and then the letters which we did not know existed and the letters that got destroyed.  Enough of the letters, already!  Then we had the glaringly obvious problem of Abi's age being different to Alice's (read the book and you will see why this is significant) and I felt that this problem could have been brought to the fore earlier.

The question of what it was like to be a woman in those times arose and, I have to say, the choices for a female were limited and the morals of those times offensive. I mean, if a lady spent time with a gentleman, unaccompanied, then her reputation would be ruined- WHAT KIND OF A CROCK OF SHIT IS THIS?! What was that all about? It seems to me that those doing the observing were the ones with the problems; self-righteous, morally turgid idiots. I would not have wanted to live in those times, and that's without taking into account the escape routes, such as contraception and divorce, we have available to us nowadays. But here's a little note for you to give thought to as I end this review. Immoral (or should that be amoral?!) me seems to think that there was a simple way out for a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage- it was possible to kill someone in those days and get away with it... there were no modern forensics like there are today.  Chew on that... and read this book; it was totally enthralling, fascinating and held me in its vice-like grip from start to finish.  It will be well worth your while.