The loos at the Engine Room

The Engine Room is just over the road from Belvoir Castle in Lincolnshire, where we visited on our short break back in the summer. The castle is fabulous, the gardens more impressive than you might imagine as they’re set on a steep slope - you don’t get many castles that aren’t at the top of the hill do you, so that’s to be expected.

The Engine Room is a new development and mixes retail, entertainment and from what we saw is looking to build community. There’s a mix of food, garden and restaurants, and plenty going on. And some loos, of course - and more than your standard loos at that. That much was clear as soon as I saw the tiles.

Apart from the colours, it would have been easy to believe you were in Portugal - the weather the day we visited though, was far from warm and sunny!

I know a loo is a loo, these were pleasantly stylish - and I’m sure that was on purpose and reflected the ethos of the whole development. As well as the retail options during the day, there were also social spaces with entertainment planned. It looks like it would be a really good place to meet friends throughout the year - I’m sure we’ll be back there at some point.

But yes, those tiles. More muted than the blues and yellows I’ve seen in Portugal, but definitely no less beautiful/

PoCoLo

The Garden Year: December 2021

Hello there and welcome back to my garden linky, which opens at the start of each month and stays open for the whole month - meaning you can link up at any time. You’re welcome to link any posts that have a garden theme - this could be your garden, the plants you’re growing or the gardens you visit, or anything in between - just so long as it’s related to gardening.

Plants in their prime this month

  • Winter flowering clematis

  • Pansies

  • Hellebores

  • Holly

What to do in the garden this month

  • Check your winter protection is still securely in place

  • Insulate outdoor taps to prevent them from freezing

  • Take hardwood cuttings

  • Prune open-grown apples and pears, as well as acers, birches and vines.

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“TheGardenYear

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Post Comment Love 26-28 November

Welcome to this week’s #PoCoLo - a friendly linky which I co-host with Suzanne, where you can link any post published in the last week. We know you’ll find some great posts to read, and maybe some new-to-you blogs too, so do pop over and visit some of the posts linked and share some of that love. If you were here last week it was great to have you along, if you’re new here this week we’re pleased you’re here.

It’s been chillier this week than it has been and our heating is finally on regularly. It’s late this year though with the milder autumn, so that’s something. As we’re both still mainly working at home, and brought up with the ‘put another jumper on’ approach it’s something for us to have the heating on during the day, but there’s only so many jumpers you can put on (and don’t worry we don’t have that many layers on!).

It was quite different last weekend though, and it was great to spend some time in the garden - even though that time was spent clearing leaves. We filled our leaf bins, and filled a whole wheelie bin and still there were more leaves left to collect, and more to fall. It’s not my most favourite job, but being able to ‘lawn mower them up’ is definitely the best move.

This week’s photo was one I snapped in Marlborough when we stopped for breakfast on our way to relatives in Devon. The crocheted post box topper no doubt raises many a smile from people who pass, and it was great to see.

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