The English Countryside

The next morning, we had to go back to Kings Lynn to pick up our rental car. Because the place was outside of town in Byrne industrial area, Briony recommended that we take a cab, and she called Martin, her local cabbie. He drove fast, but had lived there his all his life and knew the roads perfectly. He gave Barney some driving tips about using the roundabouts. Vauxhall car in hand, Barney bravely exits onto the road and off we go.  We are to meetBriony & co.  at The Lord Nelson pub, the place where he grew up and sailed from. Driving through the back roads gave Barney a chance to get comfortable with the car.

The Lord Nelson Pub is hundreds of years old, and they know Briony well.

I have a shot of “Nelson’s Blood,” a clove spiced mix of rums, which was delicious. I had duck terrine with walnut salad, Barney had a ham and brie sandwich. We were joined by a friend of Briony’s named Jules, who was very interesting and funny, and owns a firm that does display work for luxury brands. I realized how wonderful it is that there are now so many women entrepreneurs who run their own businesses … something no one talked about when I was young. This is a change for the better.

We drove back through Burnham market, a rather posh village with lots of upmarket shops. Briony mentioned a hat shop we should go to. And what a shop it is. Women’s hats of every possible color, and 20 or so of each color, from large brimmed hats to fascinators, Madeleine would have loved this shop! They have her favorite color in a cute straw bag.

I tried on some different styles and convinced Barney to try on hats. He did not like the caps, but we found a beautiful grey wool fedora that looked great on him, so now he looks like a proper Englishman! Back to Staithe House for tea and more produce picking in June beautiful garden, we are joined by two of Briony’s neighbors in London, Peter and Julia, who both have wonderful sense of humor …. we have really enjoyed the humor of the British people we’ve met, lots of wordplay and puns. After tea, Barney took a nap and I helped prepare dinner. The dog tussle quirk a bit, Cassie is 11 years old and not crazy about Gatsby’s energy. He is tireless, climbing on everything and everyone until he tires himself out and falls asleep wherever. But he is adorable.

Dinner that evening was in the formal dinner room, painted a beautiful red and lit by candles and sconces. Pork roast with cracklins, beans and leeks, gravy, more tomatoes, roast parsnips and carrots. Dessert was a delicious blueberry upside down cake, and the wine was a lovely red St Emilion. Off to bed and we slept very well. This is such a lovely place.