Notes from A Small Island

Never been to a craft fair before but I enjoyed it greatly at Thoresby Park on a warm Autumn day. The following pics are arranged in the order of our visit.  

從沒有去過英國當地的手工藝市集 , 上週六到臨近的 Thoresby 公園才發現這樣的市集其實很有意思. 尤其暖暖的十月天令人格外珍惜. 看照片囉!    

 
The first sight of Thoresby Hall           首先映入眼簾的是秀麗的Thoresby Hall  

It was love at first sight when Thoresby Hall met my eyes. It stands on a green field with leaves curling around the window, the arch and the wall. The Steetley stone gives a melancholy feel to it. We couldn't quite weigh up what type of artitecture it was but later found the answer here ( http://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/index.cfm/Overview_/1245) - Victoriana style. 

英國有很多城堡大廳或遺跡, 但我真的很喜歡 Thoresby Hall  這類型的建築, 尤其是攀爬在窗台牆沿的赤紅色藤蔓跟斑駁的石頭壁面, 為這棟建築物帶來莫名滄桑淒涼的氛圍- 很像是英國古典小說所描述的場景.     

Craft Show - the ground

This is what is happening at the craft show - several tents spread out on the ground.  Each tent has quite a few stalls selling crafts from people across England.  Some craft-goers are chilling out with a hot drink.  

顧名思義, 手工藝市集就是集合了各類手工藝品或食品. Thoresby 公園是中英格蘭區中蠻常舉辦市集跟古董車展的場地. 現場有十數頂帳篷, 其內販售英格蘭區手工製作的木製品, 織品, 食品等.  待我一一為您解分曉. 

Food Tent

The first tent we went in as the smell of some hot food is so tempting. Here are some crowds and dried fruits. 

香味四溢的食品區尤其令人無法自拔, 熟食區還有試吃 - 手工的香腸真的粉好吃,無暇顧及照相, 也不管手上拿的是剛下鍋的香腸碎片, 一口下肚.  還試了手工的牛肉蘑菇派也不錯.  看來我還是頑固的肉食動物.   

Clocks

I thought those hand-made clocks were soooo cute and fun. They come in some lively colours and amusing shades - can't put them down.  A brilliant idea to have them on boring white walls.  Fancy a quirky catapillar clock to brighten up your day?

這一攤賣的是色彩繽紛的造型時鐘, 英國陰鬱多變的天氣是需要一些顏色, 一些幽默, 一些童趣來調劑.  

goblins  (imaginary creatures, usually ugly and small, are harmful to humans) 

What quirky creatures they are!  Can't imagine creatures as small as these can do harm to people. Mind you, bird-eye chillies have the potential to spice things up. 

我其實滿喜歡小精靈的, 不過這些可是調皮淘氣的小精靈 - 雖然 “小” , 魔力可是驚人.  嚐過 “小”  辣椒的厲害吧！  

Ties & pocket watches

These ties look great in the picture but might be a bit too tasty to wear in real life for my liking, what do you reckon?                色彩豔麗的領帶, 有些走中國風, 龍阿鳳阿的圖案.  有些則適合魔術師造型 - 言下之意 , 比較適合舞台效果啦. 我覺得

Ageless entertainment - puppet show

Here comes our favourite outdoor entertainment for children and perhaps the grown-ups too - a puppet show.  It doesn't matter what the story is as long as the puppets are talking and fighting and flying. 

接下來是老少咸宜的布偶秀, 這齣布偶劇沒有音樂只有操偶人透過麥克風傳來的對白. 我覺得最精彩的是這些小朋友每個都瞪著大眼, 聚精會神的看著台上的布偶或打或飛或跳. 隨著台上布偶的聲調高低及動作而發出尖叫聲, 劇情怎麼走似乎不是那麼重要了. 

Welcome to Thoresby Hall - it's now a spa hotel. 

See the sign on the left of the pic - PRIVATE. That's right, stop right here before the stately gate and that's all you can see, unless you become one of their customers. 

現在 Thoresby Hall 已是一個具備SPA的高級旅館 , 所以遊客只能一窺其建築外觀 , 想要入內參觀就得住宿. 照片左方的告示寫著 PRIVATE - 簡直像是下了一道禁制令, 樹立了門內與門外的界限 , 在這個國度隱私權是多麼受重視的事啊.

hot chocolate with some mouth-watering cream on top at the courtyard 

You're gonna love this - the best whipped cream I've ever had with hot chocolate. It's just fabulous - the sugary and soft cream melts in your mouth. Marvelous!

離開 Thoresby Park 之前我們到旁邊 courtyard 的咖啡座 , 享用初秋的暖陽及下午茶 , 這是我點的熱巧克力 - 漂浮在熱飲上頭的是我吃過最可口的奶油 , 甜而不膩入口即化.  真的超級好吃！