In Which the Earl of Don and His Lady Marylee Conclude Their Travels to the Far Shores of Englande

Our final port of call, B & B wise, was a tiny hamlet just outside Cambridge. The rambling farmhouse was jam packed with gorgeous antiques, a hostess who could talk for Texas, and a dog named Lily.

Outside were surprises around every corner from cosy patios...

... to ancient mill stones.
The following day we hit the hallowed halls of Cambridge. Well, the streets anyway.




And the river Cam. No trip to Cambridge is complete without a bit of punting!

Our fabulous tour guide and captain of the ship. Whose name I've long since forgotten.

A Really Really Olde Bridge. Like super old. Like 400 years old. Or something.

Not really. Seeing as how it's wood and all.

It's called the Mathematical Bridge and the original was built in the 15th century for some clever reason by some clever person. It's been rebuilt several times since. The current bridge is only about 20 or 30 years old, more's the pity. Fortunately there's lots of other Really Really Old Stuff to ogle.

After all our punting, we were famished, so where else to partake of Afternoon Tea than Auntie's Tea Shop!


The scones weren't nearly as good as the ones at A La Ronde in Devon, but they were still darned tasty.

And that, my dear friends, was that. We headed back to London to recover before the Noble Parents boarded their winged coach back to the Shires of Idaho. Back to bumbling about the country on my own.

Suddenly I find myself craving scones... hmmm....

In Which the Earl of Don, His Lady Marylee, and His Beloved Daughter, the Lady Pamela, Departe Post Haste for the Devon Coast

After a relaxing train ride into the wilds of Devon, we began the rather dubious adventure of driving on the Wrong Side. Well, Dad began the dubious adventure of driving on the Wrong Side. Mom and I mostly held on for dear life while muttering expletives.

Ok, fine. I was the one muttering expletives.

Our first port of call was A La Ronde, a 16 sided house built in the 18th century buy a couple of spinster cousins. Before building the house, they spent ten years travelling the world together. It's believed they designed the house themselves, inspired by the art and architecture of their travels.






A La Ronde is set in several acres of beautiful gardens and surrounded by a stunning view of the bay.








While the women may or may not have designed A La Ronde, they certainly were responsible for decorating it. The rooms are brimming over with treasures both acquired and created.





And, of course, every nook and cranny holds a surprising world of it's own. Consider me jealous.



As if the library weren't enough, they had to tease me with the perfect writer's desk. I think my laptop would fit nicely, no?



The upstairs was added later. Cosy rooms and even more stunning views.






And for some unknown reason, a camel saddle. Don't ask.



Of course, dorky me didn't take pictures, but we partook of cream tea in the tea shop. Seriously the Best. Scones. Ever. Like ever. I'm thinking of taking the train down and kidnapping the cook.

The following day was our tour of Greenway; Agatha Christie's holiday home in Devon and inspiration for the setting of the novel "Dead Man's Folly".



We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the house, more's the pity, but I found it truly inspirational. If Mom hadn't been so antsy to see the gardens and we weren't limited to parking time, I could have happily spent the entire day just wandering from room to room, asking questions of the volunteers and reading the materials provided for our edification and amusement.

Since I can't share the inside of the house, I present... The Gardens:







Here's the boat house which most likely inspired the Scene of the Crime in "Dead Man's Folly":










And that, my dear friends, as they say was that. We could have easily spent many more days in Devon, but it was not to be. The peasants awaited our pleasure in the Cotswolds.