Lavender Fields and an exhibition

Mayfields Lavender Fields

Last week was a scorcher, and had I not already had tickets for things, I wouldn't have gone out. Then again they were good days.

My first visit was to Mayfield Lavender Farm in Banstead. Lavender is one of my favourite plants. I love the colour and its perfume. Lavender also attracts bees, and this visit did not disappoint with its rows of beautiful colour. There were bees everywhere enjoying themselves, as well as butterflies. The field had photographic opportunities such as an old red telephone box and a tractor. We found shelter under a lovely tree away from the sun, and there is a little train you can pay for to take you around the field. There is also a shop, and a small cafe. The portaloos aren't much to write home about, though.

Mayfields also own another shop and cafe just outside Epsom, and we stopped off there too. The cafe was huge and boiling, despite ceiling fans going. One outside area was also too hot to sit in, but on the opposite side we found tables which were shady and we gratefully bagged one and ordered tea. 

Afterwards we walked around the shop, which is much bigger than the one at the field, and it sells a large range of goods as well as their own products. We'd already sampled the lavender and lemonade drink (glass bottle, not plastic), so I bought one to take home, along with some bars of soap and a little book for my granddaughter.

I don't think my photos do justice to the colour of the lavender field. The sun was so strong and at its height (not always the best time to take photos), but then being somewhere like that is always better than a photograph.

Barbara Hepworth sculpture

One Thursday I headed into stifling London to meet a friend to view the Hepworth in Colour exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery. Both of us are fans of the artist, and though the exhibition was small, we both enjoyed it. This was all about colour, those odd points of blue or red, primary colours that just add a certain something. There were pre-sculpture drawings, drafts I guess as well as other drawings.

We were particularly intrigued by the use of strings in Hepworth's pieces of sculpture. Her forms are very mathematical and well executed, and I love their tactile smoothness. I so want to touch one!

The gallery also holds a small room of Bloomsbury Group works, which we just had to see, but overall I found the gallery quite small and not what I expected. The shop, which is in the basement, is brilliant (expensive!) and the cafe is nice, though really hot.

On the stairwell of the 3rd floor

Vansessa Bell (Bloomsbury Group)

Painted lampshades in the shop

I came back via the District Line, which thankfully has air conditioning, but I did have to catch a bus home, and that was dreadful. Even though the bus had air conditioning, people will open the windows, and then the aircon doesn't work.