Havelock Walk Open Studios in Forest Hill

Remember Place in Print that I cycled over to see last summer?  Well yesterday I popped back to see the latest work by Ed, Nancy and Jamie as part of the Havelock Walk Open Studios event. If you're thinking that sounds fab and is somewhere you'd like to go, then you can because it's also taking place next weekend, and it's definitely worth a visit.

It was another lovely day for our visit and this was the sight that welcomed us:

The blue sky, the rooftop garden and the faded facade reminded me of Cuba, which I visited back in 2000 as a solo traveller, which was quite an experience.  As we looked along Havelock Walk though it was much more English in nature, complete with bunting and astro turf.

Place in Print's studio is right at the end of the walk, but it's worth the walk to see their wares.  The next couple of photos are examples of Jamie from Pen & Gravy's work. The snakes of Sydenham (below) were inspired from a trip to the park (in Sydenham) with his little boy, who saw snakes and it seems to have stuck.  Pretty though aren't they?  For snakes.

I was quite taken with the crockery above and you'll not be surprised to learn I bought two of the yellow mugs before we left.

There was also some textiles and notebooks from Nancy Straughan on display. I love the textures in the prints, and it's already well documented here about how much I'm partial to a notebook.  These were no different.

Ed from Place in Print has some new items too - I'm not sure if they're new stock or just that I didn't see them before - but these Bust Blind Scarfs would make a great present, especially in chillier weather.

The map above is of the surrounding area, with the street names as the streets. It's very clever and would make a perfect New Home gift for any London homeowner.

We had a wander around many of the other studios too, the art on display was varied and there's definitely something there for everyone. 

A PLACE TO REST AND SOAK IN THE ATMOSPHERE

THERE WAS COLOUR EVERYWHERE

JUST LOOK AT THOSE SHOES!

I couldn't help but pause and admire this architectural wooden door.

A WOODEN DOOR WITH A DIFFERENCE

COLOURFUL WALL ART

And as we left the final studio, these pretty gold patterned tiles were just glinting in the sun.

GOLDEN TILES

And I'll leave you with some more of the Pun cards from Place in Print.  They really do make me smile!

CAMBERWELL - CANARY WHARF - CANNONBURY

For more details see:
Dulwich Festival
Place in Print
Pen & Gravy
Nancy Straughan

With thanks to Ed, Nancy & Jamie for the heads-up and invitation to this fun event.

A Bank Holiday bike ride

We had a busy weekend just gone, even with an extra day we only just managed to cram everything in. There were chores and shopping, a meal out followed by a visit to Grand Designs Live over at Excel, some more weeding on the allotment, some tree work and finally some time for a proper bike ride.  I'll write more about Grand Designs and the trees another time though.

MOH was keen to try a new route and wanted to suss out how and where to get on the canal towpath at Limehouse Basin, somewhere we've cycled past before but not really explored too much. But today was the day, he was set and so we set off with a photocopied route from a book.

We emerged on the north side of the Thames from the Greenwich foot tunnel and headed left heading towards Tower Bridge. It's been a while since we cycled this way, in fact the last time we did it was a miserable day and we stopped to help a stranded cyclist. 

We turned into the park at Limehouse and after checking the photocopied instructions MOH has us leaving the park so we could start at the beginning.  We found Limehouse Basin and quite quickly found the canal towpath, which if we'd carried straight on once we'd got in the park we would have got to much sooner.  But anyway...

The towpath was narrow, much narrower than the one we left Grantham on recently and I was wobbling a fair bit and keeping as far away from the water as I could.  There was a floating jetty to cycle along too and I really wasn't sure about that, but on we went and it wasn't long before we arrived at Bow Locks.  Which for some reason gave MOH a fit of the giggles, he tried to explain it to me and I still didn't get it...  Let's just say it's schoolboy humour.

I hadn't realised there were locks at Bow, or even a towpath but when you think of the area's industrial past it makes sense that there is. We soon arrived at another part of London I didn't know existed and that's Three Mills Island. 

It's well named too, there are three former working mills on the island, which is one of London's oldest industrial areas that's still in existence. They also made for some great pictures.

JUST A LITTLE BIT WONKY

I had heard of the 3 Mills Studios which has become a centre for film and television production, but didn't realise it was here or that it was on the site of a former distillery.  I love how you can discover parts of London and its history on simple bike ride.  Remember when I found (not that it was lost!) Trinity Buoy Wharf last year?

With as many pictures taken as I thought I could get away with, we decided to head onwards - and then we saw the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic Park in the distance.

Before we set off though I was taken by this modern building on our left. It was unusually clad in wood - the brown in the picture and I loved its shape, but somehow couldn't help but feel it needed more glorious surroundings.

We headed on and into a park that had some interesting features. By now the weather was turning decidedly Bank Holiday-ish - yes I mean rain, so photos and stops were kept to a minimum.  There were a couple of sculptures that caught my eye, this one The Workers' Memorial, a sculpture by Alec Peever. It's a memorial to a fatal accident which took place nearby in 1901 and this area was where the Industrial Revolution in London started.

The other sculpture was this modern bronze by Thomas J Price and it caught my eye, not only for its size but also for the detail and the modern subject.  You can see in the background more items that interested me but by now my mac was on and I pencilled these in for a closer inspection another day.

We headed on through the park aiming for the Olympic Park. However we emerged onto the main road by Stratford High Street and the cycle superhighway, but even on a Bank Holiday it was busy and after a loop of Stratford without getting much closer to the park, we called it a day.

And so as the Bank Holiday rain started to fall a bit more consistently we headed home.  Thankfully making it indoors before it really tipped down!  We had quite an interesting - but slow - cycle covering almost 18 miles, and while I'm glad we've explored this part of London I don't think this is a route that we'll cycle regularly.

A stay on a farm in Newark

We arrived in Newark after navigating our way around the closed cycle path and found Barmby Road - the road to take us towards our Farm Stay - remarkably easily.  We'd seen where we were heading on a map, but seeing it on a map and finding it in real life can sometimes be different, thankfully not this time though.

Our route out of Newark took us across a level crossing and then up and over the A1 towards Ivy Farm. Clare, who runs the B&B had said that the entrance was next to the chevron signs. At the time I took this on board and hoped it'd become obvious when I got there, which it did.

From the chevrons, we knew we were in the right place so we let ourselves into the farm yard, parked up our bikes and headed into our accommodation for the next two nights. We'd booked the Hayloft and it was a lovely, comfortable room with everything we needed. There's four rooms in the B&B; two downstairs twin rooms, an upstairs double and a spacious family suite upstairs so there really is something for everyone.

OUR HAYLOFT ROOM
Photo Credit: Ivy Farm, Newark

The B&B opened in 2003 and happened because Clare and her husband wanted to keep the farm business healthy, so they adapted their business so their farm could be economically viable with a sustainable future.  The farm is a working beef and arable farm, with grassland of 50 acres on which John and Clare rear ninety male cattle for beef production. Their cattle are brought to the farm as ten-day old calves and are fed on formula milk and soon get to associate humans with food.

As we locked our bikes away for the night we met the farm dogs and cats. Gem the border collie kept us in order, CoCo the chocolate labrador was more reticent and Kizzy, a terrier was just slightly bonkers - in a nice way of course. There were a few cats too - greys, a long-haired tortoiseshell and a ginger tom who we made friends with too. The cats mostly tested us as we got our bikes in and out of the workshop, trying to sneak in somewhere where no doubt they're not really allowed!

JUST ONE OF THE FRIENDLY FARM DOGS
Photo Credit: Ivy Farm, Newark

I'm glad I booked two nights here as the breakfast was great. When I was looking to book accommodation one of the things that stood out for me about Ivy Farm was on their website they state their breakfasts have an "extensive choice of locally sourced produce" - the eggs are laid on the farm, so you can't get more local than that!

A BREAKFAST TABLE FOR TWO
Photo Credit: Ivy Farm, Newark

IN THE BREAKFAST ROOM

No pictures of the food I'm afraid - you should know me by know - when food arrives in front of me, the last thing I want to do is photograph it. Take my word for it though, it was good.  And I could also justify it as we were cycling!  

BREAKFAST BAR
Photo Credit: Ivy Farm, Newark

Although on our first day we were just heading into Newark, which was only about 3 miles away - and at the speed I cycle I don't think I would have cycled it off.  Clare is used to having cyclists stay and told us the best place to park our bikes in town - outside HSBC in the Market Square if you're interested - and also gave us some good tips on places to stop for tea and cake and for something more substantial.  

We popped into "Feeling Peckish" for a hot drink and a cake after a look around the castle and then later found ourselves back at nearby "Gannets" for a lasagne for me and a tasty stew for MOH. The day we spent in Newark was a chilly, damp one and the food stops were much welcomed.

So if you're looking for somewhere friendly to stay in Newark, then take a look at Ivy Farm  - we had a great time there, and I'd stay there again if I'm up that way. And in case you're wondering about evening food, there's a fab pub just a mile up the road.

Next time: A look around Newark