From 'Crikey it's Vintage' in Exeter to Canterbury Cathedral via Belgium!

Please indulge me for a minute or two while a share a few holiday snaps.  

Our trip started at the 'Crikey its Vintage' fair held at Killerton House, a National Trust property in Exeter. With fashion shows, sixty stalls of vintage and retro fashion, classic car displays, food, drink and music it was a real festival for nostalgia.

Crikey! it's Vintage. Visit the website

Books, flowers, pretty lamp shades – I love vintage fairs!

Then it was on to Buscot Park in Oxfordshire the home of Lord Faringdon now owned by the National Trust. 

The Gardens at Buscot Park. Visit the website

Next stop Hungerford in Berkshire to visit the Best Antiques Centre in the U.K (according to the BBC Homes & Antiques Magazine). We also visited Freeman’s Marsh home to many wild birds, plants and animals.

Hungerford Arcade. Visit the website

Hungerford Arcade

A mummy duck and her well camouflaged brood at Freeman's Marsh. Visit the website

From Hungerford, it was on to Chartwell the family home of Britain's wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. Much of Chartwell remains as it was during Winston Churchill’s life, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the wide-ranging interests of a great statesman. The gardens reflect his love of the landscape and are a testament to the creativity of Lady Churchill.

Chartwell - home to Sir Winston Chruchill. Visit the website

One of my favourite pictures from the gardens at Chartwell

Next stop Ashford and a quick trip by Eurostar to Belgium where Terry and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary. 

Celebrating in Brussels! Rather an odd angel but I think it sort of works. 

Note the spotty handbag in the left hand corner, I’ve been coveting a Kath Kidston bag for ages but didn’t want to pay £65 so was delighted to find this ‘look-alike’ in a small shop in Hungerford priced at £28.

La Grand-Place, Brussels a Unesco World Heritage Centre. Visit the website

I couldn't resist this photograph of four friends enjoying a chat amidst the splendour of La Grand-Place.

Just one of the many flea and antique's markets held in Brussels. I’m sure there are treasures to be found here if you know what you are looking for.

Another day and another train trip. This time to Bruges where it’s Christmas all year round.  

Bruges was damp and cold but still beautiful. Can you spot the little dog? He spent the entire day inside the carriage drivers handbag!

We spent five days in Belgium before returning to Ashford and then on to Canterbury for one last night before returning home.

A view of Canterbury with the cathedral in the background.

A pretty jug on a table in the garden of The Old Weaver's Restaurant. Old Weaver's House is situated on the banks of the River Stour with a view of the boats and a ducking stool!

Apparently, the original ducking stool (long since replaced) was used extensively during the middle ages. Nagging wives were given a quick dip paid for by long suffering husbands. Cheating businessmen were ducked into the water in front of a baying crowd and then forced to leave the city. Most famously it was used to determine if the person in the chair was a witch. Any woman accused of witchcraft would be placed in the chair and submerged in the river for 2-3 minutes. If she survived this lengthy ducking, then clearly she was a witch and would be burned at the stake. If she died after being submerged, her family would receive an apology from the Church, and she would be given a Christian burial. The second scenario was obviously the best outcome, but it was death either way for anyone accused of witchcraft! 

Thanks for taking the time to look at my holiday snaps. I hope to catch up with all my favourite blogs in the next few days.