Ok, I'm here....in Southampton...so let's get straight down to house business, because that's what I'm here for..... business. Wink.
Before I tell you about my magical day, I thought I'd share a beautiful house with you, that I passed walking on my way from the village to my lodgings this afternoon.
It looks old, probably because it is...but it is also a very recent renovation of 'old'. I saw the tradesmen packing up their tools so I hid under a tree and waited for them to leave so I could take these photos.
Porch swing. There's one on the other side too. Lots of symmetry.
Just love the detail.
So around the corner to the left of the front porch is a lovely portico which had a gorgeous lantern all lit up, in the day.....as you do...
So I stuck my iPhone through the gate, hoping I wouldn't lose it on the other side forever....and while I was sneaking photos, I heard the sound of children laughing....behind the back garden hedges. The children of the house were playing in their beautiful estate. The yard went on forever so I couldn't see anything...but the sound of their giggles and happy little voices made me cry. There's those jet lag tears again! Only symptoms..tears and no appetite.
These photos have not captured the beauty of this place due to the lighting but I wanted to record my experience here, to remind me of the emotions evoked hearing the children play, imagining what it would be like to be living their lives in this beautiful town.
Ok, way over my word and image limit so 25 words or less....the rest of my day.... I kid...as if I can stick to less than 25!
I caught the Jitney bus up from NYC with a bunch of quiet, frowny folk. Very serious and not engaging at all...so as there was free Wi Fi on the bus and the Long Island expressway was pretty boring, I chatted to my loyal instagram friends and answered emails via my iPad.
Can you tell he was a real Butler in a previous life?!
I was collected at the station by the delightful owner of the B&B where I am staying (photos and details to come) and taken on a surprise tour of Sourhampton! I tell you, there is only one place to stay in Southampton, and I'm staying in it! The hospitality is beyond measure and it started before I left our shores! Chris drove me down all the streets that I will be investigating on my bike tomorrow...showed me where to find all the mansions (yeah, like everywhere)...and even took me to 2 beaches so I know how to find my way there tomorrow.
Zoom on the iPhone! I was miles away!
Pretty damn good even if I say so myself.
I even got to frolick on one beach and snap a couple of photos. I was pinching myself, looking up that beach, dotted with sprawling mansions. I was in one of my inspiration pictures that I keep as a screen saver! It was so beautiful as the wind was picking up for a storm. I felt like Dianne Keaton on the beach in Something's Gotta Give!
I asked Chris to drop me in the village and I spent the afternoon with my mouth open, photographing like every shop....
...and lane way!
The Ralph Lauren store in Southampton deserves a post all of its own.
Stay tuned tomorrow morning...well, tonight for you!
I stopped for a bite to eat at this dear little bistro advertising Lobster Salad (on my bucket list - Lobster Salad in The Hamptons).
There was one single table outside set for one. I waltzed in and asked if they were still serving lunch and if I could have that table. It was like they had set it just for me and it was waiting for me! I had my beautiful salad and made sure everyone who stopped to look at the menu went inside to eat. My story was that I had flown 24 hours from Australia just to sit at that table and eat that Lobster Salad. The owner actually came out and thanked me for sending customers in and said I should be on the payroll. I wished he was serious!
Lobster and 'shrimp!....the vocab!...shrimp not prawns .....must remember they're flip flops and not thongs. Not thongs.
So tomorrow I explore this beautiful village by bike. I will be having a later start than usual, as breakfast is served at a very civilised 9.30am, in the English country garden, at this establishment........after tea and the papers being served at 7am. Probably will do me good to take it easy for a morning.
This beautiful place also deserves a post of it's own so I will treat you to that when I am back in New York. I am staying here only 2 nights so I will have to get my skates on tomorrow to get up to the Hampton Designer Showhouse in Millport too. Going by bike. Hope they welcome windswept, hillbilly Aussies on bikes!
I must sleep! The words on this page are blurry. My eyes are sliding off my face.
Sweet dreams! Mine are. First time in years! Sweet as.
A-M xx
Oh and PS, I publish a lot of instagram photos during each day when I can find free Wi Fi ..... so head on over to 'thehouseambuilt' to catch more photos of this heavenly place!
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