Hello Again from Southampton!

Our second day in Southampton dawned a little bit cloudy but luckily the weather was with us and our day was beautiful from the moment we stepped out the door.  And that moment came shortly after another delicious cooked to order breakfast at the Blue Keys.  Our goal is to go to the Isle of Wight today.  That is the main reason we booked two nights here before the cruise.   

We boarded the Red Jet just before 10 a.m.  It was the first non rush hour Red Jet since so many islanders commute daily and main-landers also go to work on the Isle of Wight.

We took a 9:30 taxi to the Red Jet Ferry.  Carol very nicely treated to the tickets.  She wasn’t going to go with us, history is not her thing.  But, because we chose the Hydrofoil, she was excited to go along.  The boat left just before ten and our 23 minute trip was smooth as if on glass. The passenger ferry is a little over an hour.

There were many people sailing in the Solent this day but since it is so late in the season I was quite surprised.  I am sure many boat owners wanted once last chance to get to work on their own or maybe just were out for fun or fishing.  There were way  more boats already in storage.

Once we reached Cowes we found a taxi to take us to Osbourne House.  Elva is practically obsessed with two things British: Downton Abbey and Victoria!  We never manage to be in England when Highclere Castle, filming location for the show and movie, is available for touring.  So I did some research and found that Osbourne House is open most of the time.  None of the touring companies go there after September or early October so I said that if the weather was good we would go on our own and take the bus from the ferry.  Since we now taxi places it was quite a comfortable and convenient trip.  A taxi can take you right to the entrance whereas a bus cannot.  From the bus stop it is a good distance up a pebbly road and then across the parking area then up the walk so probably better for all to be taxi deposited!

The grounds are, without a doubt, beautiful but not particularly fancy.  The ticket hall / café building is long and not too wide.  The stone is similar to the house.  The rest rooms are in a cottage across the entry walk.  There is a sweet garden shop which was nearing the end of the season.  I expect in spring people from nearby buy things there and it is good that it doesn’t require an entrance ticket to visit that part of the site.

We then walk down the path and up the lane through the woods until we came to the lawn.  The house was built by Albert on grounds where an existing cottage stood.  It would not have been enough space for their large family and for all the attendant staff required.  Albert was very bright and definitely needed to be kept busy.  He always had projects going.

First Glimpse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAAT is welcoming us!

Ii hope his Dad is not threatening him.  He wasn't, I am sure.  The little boy even kissed it!

I will tell you some of the things I remember but for more history of Osbourne House this link will help.  It is quite interesting to me.  Prince Albert was a man of science.  The house had steam heat that ran thought the spaces in the walls all the way to the third floor!  Hot and cold running water was surely not usual even for a large home built in the mid-19^th century!  So many details are directly attributed to the mind of the Prince and his personal architect, Thomas Cubitt. 

One of the more fascinating things for me was how Prince Albert resolved the issue prompted by his wife’s complaint that although the house was close to the se she could not view it from anywhere comfortable.  It is briefly mentioned in this second record of Osbourne House by a travel company that a view was made by scooping out tons and tons of earth to create a valley view of the Solent!  Some people think the house is somewhat pedestrian but most all agree that Prince Albert had a real knack for landscape design!  There is even a tree important from distant California!  And one planted by Queen Victoria herself.  If you never plan to visit, nor have an opportunity to, I think we can all relate to making our homes special to our hearts!

On this grey day the sea almost blends into the sky from this distance.  But in person it was quite visible.

There were particular displays in the house of gifts given and received by the family, especially for birthdays and Christmas.
 

This 'tray' table top, which is reflected in the display mirror must look very familiar to you all, especially if you love tennis.  It is the design model for the Wimbledon Trophy.

There were so many beautiful things on display in so many rooms restored to their original grand simplicity.   Shortly after the death of Queen Victoria the house was 'given to the people.'  It is part of the English Heritage trust.  The furnishings and most items are property of the royal family, however, and were not given over but are on loan from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

There were green chairs placed in most rooms and at the top and bottom of every staircase.  These were for the comfort of the guest who might want to rest a few minutes.  Elva sat here but the docent told her not to worry but to remain comfortable.  The English are so polite.  It was, however, not meant for use as it is part of the treasures of the home.

Another beautiful, original ceiling.  I love ceilings!  Not at all like ours now-a-days!

I love the Noah's Ark on the Nursery floor.  Victoria and Albert were possibly the last monarchs that were so evidently involved with the upbringing of their children.

The family's less formal dining room included those children old enough to be unattended by the Nurses.  Sometimes a few guest would join them so the children did need to be old enough to have charming manners.  And, oh!  That ceiling!

And, yes.  That is a canon in the front hall.  It is aimed directly at the wide double door front entry.  I guess you better not drop by uninvited!

We stopped back into the welcome terrace to have a bite to eat.  For me it was a Victoria Sponge and was very delicious.  And, of course, Earl Grey very hot tea.  We then took the mini bus to the Swiss Cottage, the learning gardens, and the museum and fort where the children played
 

Prince Albert wanted his children to appreciate the hard work that went on around them.  Also to develop some actual real life skills.  He built the Swiss Cottage reminiscent of his own upbringing and the children could spend time there.  It was a school of life,so to speak.  They worked in the vegetable and flower gardens, learned to cook and bake.  They sometimes invited their parents or nursemaids for tea.  They would prepare and serve it waiting on the the adults.

We played with the toys and admired the children's artwork.  Painting skills were taught to the girls by Victoria and they inherited her talent.

I love this window in the Swiss Cottage.

Back at the bus stop we switched to the beach bus.  I did walk on the sand itself and had a quiet moment of reflection.  We looked at the simplicity of the Bathing Wagon.  I wish the doors could be open so we could have seen the fittings.

Time was running out so we caught the last minivan back to the center and asked for a cab to be called.  It was going to be about a 40 minute wait so we took a seat in the now nearly empty café.  Took turns making final potty stops, and waited.  Carol then went out to make sure the taxi would not be missed.  We joined her after a bit and waited a little more.

Our taxi driver was Jenny.  She was delightful.  Her job had been and is still cleaning rooms at a hotel in the evenings.  Not sure how that works as usually it is morning work. Carol asked her how long she had been doing this.  She replied, “Do you want the truth?”  Carol said yes and Jenny giggled and said, “Just today!”  It was her first day.  She then told us how the only requirement was the famous London drivers test, ‘The Knowledge.’  But of course for Wight.  They asked Jenny was a very good driver! Phew! Very excited about her new job.  She said for years she had been taking her friends everywhere because she loves to drive so decided to make some money doing it!  She likes it way better than cleaning and maybe will only drive pretty soon.

Back on the Red Jet Ferry it was a quick and comfortable ride and then a quick 4 GBP taxi ride to the Blue Keys.  We had neglected to make a dinner reservation so had to wait a bit as the Rotary Club meets there on Wednesday evening.  Dinner was again but great food but, sadly, I had no room for the black coconut ice cream!  We also made our getaway plans for tomorrow.

Carol and I wanted to go to the Titanic Museum in the morning, which opened at ten, before going to the ship.  Matthew was going to come back and let us pick up our stored bags if he was not on site as he lives only five minutes away.  Elva did not want to go to the museum.  Matthew offered to let her stay in the room until noon, two hours past checkout and then wait in the lobby for us to return.  She wasn’t happy about that and adamantly refused to go to the museum or the adjacent art museum or library so Carol and I decided we would take the offer of an 11 a.m. check out and go straight to the ship and wait there together.  It was just easier.  I am disappointed to not have visited that museum because as much as Elva likes art museums this was one I really wanted to see each time we have been here.

Dinner was excellent and we have now met several couples, other than Bob and Robin, who are also going to the ship.  It will be a great cruise, lots of fun people.

 

We went up to our rooms after our slightly later dinner and some already fond farewells.  Elva and I made sure our bags were packed with the things we may not need again on the bottom of the bags.  I showered and read for awhile and dreamt of my return to the Motherland.  I hope I will not be away too long.