MetaChat - Yesterday ....

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

19 August 2007

Yesterday .... →[More:]I had a rocking day.

I have a friend staying for the weekend, a 75-year-old lady named Nancy, originally from Washington DC, now living in Naples, FLA.

We went first to Greenstead Church, which is the oldest wooden building in the world, dating from 845 (with later additions). We're going back today for the morning service (I'm not a churchgoer, but Nancy is and she says it's an experience she'll never repeat, worship in the oldest church in the world).

Then we went to Ely, which, English bunnies, if you've never been, you absolutely must. Ely rocks! It has this enormous stonking great medieval cathedral with the awesomest stained glass ever, and the greatest tea shop in the world.

We had a cream tea of smoked salmon, ham, egg & cress and cream cheese & cucumber sandwiches, scones, jam, clotted cream, chocolate cake and lemon cake, and I could barely walk afterwards. I don't think I've eaten so much carbohydrate, fat and sugar in one go for a long time.

Oh, and there were thousands of ducks, geese and swans wandering around, with many, many ducklings too.

Just the day I needed after the news of my aunt's death. We had a lovely time and I only hope I am half as full of zest for life as Nancy is when I'm 75.

post by: essexjan at: 02:06 | 11 comments

Clotted cream is good. And pub grub, as I recall. Otherwise, my memory of English cuisine is, mercifully, a complete blank.

Looks like you had a great Saturday with your friend, essexjan. And that is something to be relished.

posted by paulsc 19 August | 02:45

paulsc - The food situation here has changed a lot, from what I'm told. The advent of the gastropub and all that. I hear tell that there aren't enough chefs to go around, and salaries are through the roof.

posted by chuckdarwin 19 August | 05:54

what an incredibly English sounding outing! Yay. The church especially sounds wonderful.

posted by By the Grace of God 19 August | 07:21

and I am so jealous that that beautiful mama duck and her lovely babies got so close to you!

posted by By the Grace of God 19 August | 07:23

Ely is fantastic! So is fancy tea. My favorite place for having fancy tea is the Orangery in Kensington Palace Gardens. It's not ridiculously expensive and they have amazing cakes.

There is now good cuisine in the UK. Sadly, most of it is not in Cambridge. I almost never go out to eat by myself in Cambridge; the food is not worth it.

Next time I feel like being a tourist without going down to London, I want to visit the mustard museum in Norwich.

posted by grouse 19 August | 09:30

essexjan, what a lovely time. I want that silver tray of cakes and sandwiches.

My favorite place for having fancy tea is the Orangery in Kensington Palace Gardens.

We went to the Orangery for tea on our last day in London and it was closed for a private party. Oh well, next time.

posted by LoriFLA 19 August | 09:41

:( I guess one should check first. I never have.

posted by grouse 19 August | 09:44

What fun!! I'm hiring you as a tour guide if I ever get to England - these are exactly the sorts of places I'd love to see.

posted by redvixen 19 August | 10:42

I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time just after your loss. I hope I have as much energy at Nancy's age but I think it may be in the name. I am going to see my Aunt Nancy this week and she is 77 and has a new boyfriend. They go dancing two of three nights a week.

I would love to visit Ely Cathedral. What a great building.

posted by arse_hat 19 August | 11:57

Oh. Oh. Cream tea. I dreamed of cream teas as a child, and as an adult, every time someone describes a cream tea, I feel an urgent need to visit England.

And I hear there are other reasons to go as well.

posted by Elsa 19 August | 12:02

redvixen - ha! I've said the same thing to my mum - that if we ever get a chance to go to England together (I was there once, 11 years ago) I know just the bunny to hire as chauffeur (driving there is a nightmare, yes I tried it) and tour director!

posted by deborah 20 August | 13:03

← I AM DONE!!! || Birthdays Without Pressure →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN