Big day out!

K and I spent a lovely day (possibly one of the last sunny ones) on Saturday at Severndroog Castle, on Shooter's Hill. We went there for the first time a couple of months ago and whilst we loved the semi-derelict folly in the woods, we were sad to see it shuttered up and redundant.

Thankfully, I spied on a blog on Friday that it was part of the London Open House initiative, whereby us plebs can visit places normally closed to the public for one weekend of the year. It's all thanks to the volunteers who are trying to preserve and reopen the folly, that it even happens, so I wasn't about to miss the chance to see inside and climb to the top.

As it was a lovely day I packed a picnic and we spent a few hours lazing around in the nearby woods afterwards with the papers. But the real treat was getting inside and seeing what had once been a beautiful summer house, built by a loving widow in memory of her late husband, who died fending off pirates in India who were preventing the spices being sent to the UK. If anyone created something so stunning nowadays for a dearly departed loved one, they'd probably be accused of wallowing in grief and not 'moving on' rather than wanting to celebrate the special relationship they have lost.

As it was a bit misty the views from the top weren't as good as they could have been, but they were impressive all the same. So many places are like this all over Britain - crying out for funding and slowly rotting. As we walked back and passed building sites putting up those new 'grey metal, sand coloured brick and white plaster' monstrosities that pass for blocks of flat these days, I wanted to scream at how beauty and aesthtics have been totally sacrificed these days for low price and practical. We watched a programme on architecture on Channel 4 last night and it only served to remind me how things have changed.

Anyway, no point ranting and raving about this when the weekend was actually really lovely. We spent Sunday down at the river near the Thames Barrier and basically chilled out. K had an interview first thing today and I am back doing them tomorrow, so we have other things to occupy our (not so!) pretty little minds.

Right ho. Am off to do some baking now, as I am visiting my friend and her baby tomorrow and know that a new mum will thoroughly appreciate some lemon drizzle cake between feeds!