A most uncynical day and place, full of the eccentricities of England and therefore BRILLIANT!
The beautiful, rolling South Downs a perfect backdrop to the 'Howard's End' cottage in that grey. Ooodles of doodles and books and paintings and well, everything Tom and I could ask for on a day out. Garden bursting with colour and sweet natured people just mosing about. Women of a certain age clinging to their books and eccentric dress sense, looking like Telegraph cartoons (I mean this, warmly) and lovely tea and a buzzz about the place. A bust of Lytton Strachey; Vanessa Bell's wonderful paintings (a la Cezanne and Bonnard); Sickert's chair in THE studio that is still alive with light; Carrington's bob-cut; Virginia's room of one's own; the little nowhere station at Southease and a WHITE heron flying like a stork overhead. Another great adventure!
Now, to that decorating - boheme style!..hx
Charleston Farmhouse
