This is our last day in this beautiful part of the world, a place that is so significant to Roger's heritage. This morning we wandered around Green Street Cemetery and found some de Carteret graves. Yesterday Philip de Carteret had told us that many had been vandalized over the years. Later we drove to St. Clements to Samares Manor garden. This was large but was not up to what we had seen in UK. It was good in parts but too often viewpoints were lost by unattractive buildings or signs. Roger decided just to sit in the car and read Phoenix's email about the graves. This was probably a wise decision. They had a nursery with a plant sale so I bought a pretty amber rose for Adele and Philip which should tone in nicely with the manor's stone walls. I showed them my painting and Adele asked whether it was for sale. I hadn't considered selling it but was delighted that I will now have a painting at St Ouen's. Philip and Adele are such a lovely couple and so welcoming of the poor relations from the antipodes. They also had a doctor from Sth. Africa for lunch. He has been doing a locum in Jersey. Adele has lived in Sth. Africa and she and Philip now spend the Jersey winter there. We had a magnificent lunch of lobster prawns and crab followed by strawberries. We were then given a grand tour of the Manor, Bruce, the doctor, a neighbour of theirs in Sth. Africa had not visited previously so our tour was very comprehensive. The wood panelling in the grand hall is particularly impressive with each panel individually designed, many with interestingly stylized figures while other have floral motifs. The stained glass windows are beautiful and the very large house has numerous paintings including Lely portraits. As well as paintings they have a vast collection of squirrel ornaments, plaques and sculptures as a squirrel appears on the de Carteret coat of arms. As well as the remarkable history everything is beautifully presented and homely. Adele is an excellent interior designer and the dining room is a beautiful rose colour that complements the framed documents and the dark portraits.
We had a lovely afternoon. I spent about half an hour refining the painting while Roger had a nap in the sitting room. They were very happy with the painting - probably they may have been happy with it as it was but to me it just needed a few modifications. It was about six when we returned home. We walked to The Goose for soup and ice-cream but I probably could have done without anything after our magnificent lunch.
Have been packing most of the night. It is a pity brochures weigh so much. We hope we are underweight but don't have scales to check but may ask Maz in the morning. Our flight is about 1.15pm but will go to the airport early.
There is much that we have not done here but this time has been made special by social occasions with Roger's distant cousins. We hope we may be able to meet again either in Jersey or Australia.
Our wonderful trip is now virtually over. We fly to Paris for an overnight stopover before making the mammoth flight back home. Hopefully, we will survive but we may not surface for a few days.
I hope you have enjoyed my waffle. I have mostly blogged very late at night so hope it has made sense and that you have been able to travel vicariously with us just as I have done with several of my friends' writings.
Looking forward to catching up with all the news from Oz and meeting you soon.
love
Jo and Rog
No comments:
Post a Comment