The loos in the bank vault

Yes that’s right, and it’s definitely a first - even for me - but it was kinda fun, and very well done. Before we get to the loos though, we were in Nottingham for a visit to the opera, like you do. Well we don’t that often actually, it’s probably only our third or fourth opera and it was a fabulous production of Romeo and Juliet by Northern Ballet. It was our first time in the Theatre Royal, which was a lovely old theatre and completely in contrast to the Concert Hall which we’ve been to many concerts and productions in before.

Before the opera though we went for pizza - we’d seen a restaurant we wanted to try on a previous visit, and then neither of us could remember its name or where it was. But, after some internet searching we found it and so found ourselves enjoying pizza and mocktails in Rudy’s Pizza admiring the architecture, the high ceilings and the plasterwork and so much more.

How beautiful and grand is it? It’s definitely a statement of wealth and prestige. So even before my visit to check out the loos we knew we were sitting in an old banking hall - we’ve both been in a fair few of those in our time working in the City!

The thickness of the wall and doorway into the Ladies confirmed the prior use of the building - the thickness of the wall confirmed this was a previous bank vault.

And the safe’s doubly confirmed it!

It makes total sense to leave them in situ - as not only will they be heavy (to say the least) they’re huge and more than likely would struggle to get out of the vault, and they definitely wouldn’t have got up the stairway I went down. The ladies cubicles were built around the safe, sadly though I wasn’t able to look inside the one with half a safe in so I’m not sure if it was visible inside or not. Though I’ll happily go back and try another time as the pizzas were pretty good too!

So quite a different vibe here, but one that reuses a space creatively and with a nod to the building’s heritage - and another post in the Loo Series, which just a week or so ago I wasn’t sure when the next one would be! And I’ve another one to share too, but I’ll save that one for a moment.

The sputnik in the loos at the Nevile Arms

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a post in the Loo Series, and as you’d expect often I don’t know when I’ll find a loo worthy of sharing. So when it happens, who knows, but here I am sharing a loo from after our circular walk from Kinoulton to Hickling.

At first I didn’t notice what you’ll come to see dominates my pictures, but once I’d spotted the light fitting I was mesmerised. I mean it’s a great light fitting, and it totally gives the small space (they’re mostly a small space aren’t they?!) it’s character.

I told you it was a great light fitting, didn’t I?

The rest of the decor was pretty classic and smart, but the sputnik light fitting added the character. Though while it caught my attention, it wasn’t the only design feature.

Both the cherry blossom-like garland around the mirror and the floor tiles would usually have captured all the attention - and the floor tiles especially are just fab (shame I don’t need any new tile inspiration for my new house!). But the three together - garland, tiles and light - made a small space pretty special.

Here’s to the renewed energy to this series of this posts, who knows when I’ll share one next!

A walk from Kinoulton to Hickling and back again

Feeling a bit of cabin fever we checked the weather forecast and planned a walk for the best predicted day for some fresh air, nature and a pub lunch. We opted to head away from our cluster of villages, and the lanes we usually walk and to explore somewhere different for a change.

MOH has been to Hickling with his cycle group, and we’ve visited the Old Wharf Tearooms there for lunch - though on one of those bitterly cold days, but the food was good and the setting will be much improved by some warmth, so we hope to head back there over the summer.

The walk started in Kinoulton (and I’ve shared the route map from Strava further on) and we parked in the street close to The Nevile Arms which I’d seen on Facebook, and where we planned to stop for lunch after the walk. Getting our bearings we were off, walking out of the village towards fields and past this gorgeous looking property.

It wasn’t long before we were picking our way across fields, which while mostly dry were at points still a bit moist. I may have been over-optimistic with my choice of footwear, opting for walking sandals rather than boots, but my feet were aching for some fresh air too. It was mostly ok apart from one place where I did get a little muddy, even after choosing what I thought was the best route - but I’m not sure there really was a good route. I didn’t mind getting muddy, even though I don’t like walking in mud - it’s the slipping and sliding that I really detest, and which really slows me down. I also knew that I had clean shoes and socks in the car, as there’s no way I could be driving in any kind of walking footwear.

It was good to be out in the countryside and amongst nature, the weather was actually a bonus. The route was teasing us with glimpses of this even grander house in the distance - we never actually reached it, but it was great to see it coming more into view.

At the gate we doubled back on ourselves and headed around the fields trying to keep ourselves on the right path while avoiding walking directly across the fields, which was where the path on the map looked to be but in reality it was hard to spot.

Years ago we went walking in France on a walk that took in many sunflowers, these rather sad and spent looking sunflowers reminded us both of that trip and made us wonder what we’ll encounter on our upcoming walking trip to Italy.

Before heading back to the road for a short stint I spotted this bee taking a break and refuelling - and it underlines the need to keep some dandelion flowers early in spring for just this.

We arrived at Hickling Basin and well it was a bit greyer than when we’d started out, but just imagine this view on a sunnier day - though I think you’d need to imagine a lot more people there too!

At this point we’re halfway through the walk - by destination, if not in miles - and so I’m sharing the Strava map at this point rather than at the end, we walked in clockwise direction heading toward Colston Bassett (and the big white house). Both Colston Bassett and Long Clawson produce good local cheeses - which we’ve tasted and agree with! Cotgrave, which we’ve not visited, is a former mining town whose colliery finally closed in the early 1990s, but like other Nottinghamshire mines continued to operate during the miner’s strike in the mid 1980s.

The next leg of the route back to Kinoulton, the car and lunch took us along the Grantham Canal path, so different scenery completely - but also the chances of more mud encounters severely reduced.

What we did see though was a pair of swans building and tending their nest. One swan was pulling reeds through the water and adding them to the already well established nest, while the other stayed with the nest. With swans eggs hatching between May and July, it’s possible that there were already eggs in the nest.

It was great to watch - and a complete time waster - but we dragged ourselves away and continued along the towpath. Our reward as we left the path was this fabulous tree in blossom.

What a joy!

And such an enjoyable walk too. Now to find the car - though I’d managed to park just further down the same road without knowing, isn’t it great when things work out! A shoe change and we were set for lunch in the local pub, The Nevile Arms - who do a special lunch menu, alongside their usual menu. Our fish and chips were good, and it’s somewhere we’ll add to our ‘places to stop and eat list’ along with the Old Wharf cafe which was already included.