Forest Hill & Dulwich Picture Gallery

Skipping out into the drizzly morning, we decide to hop on the P4 bus heading to Dulwich (dull-itch) Village.  Our short trip highlights a visit with Norma, a friend who volunteers as a Street Pastor in Lewisham -- inspiring work on the city streets after 10 pm.

Turns out she reads this blog and asks where we are heading for breakfast! 

Aware from a Google search that  Dulwich Village lacks a breakfast cafe, we disembark at Forest Hill and find the familiar "Cafe Open" sign at  BB & Friend Cafe celebrating its 35th anniversary!    

When we ask the proprietor if he's the original owner, he laughs and announces he's barely 35 years old! He had been head chef at the Peckham Cafe which was also owned by the previous owner, and 1 1/2 years ago he bought him out.  

It's a step above a regular cafe with printed menus,table service and seats for 64.  A bowl of shiny fruit on the counter makes it almost posh!  Five pen and ink sketches of Forest Hill High Street (2006 by Sivokorn, the artist)  and an oversize antique guild framed mirror provide tasteful decor.

But BB's is full of locals, and the tea is hot!  To top off a good experience, seeing us waver between wholemeal and crusty bread, the proprietor kindly offers us a slice of each. 

We meander through Forest Hill, past the new aqua centre and refurbished Victorian library, down Havelock Walk -- a series of artist's studios stretching down a side street.

Next stop Dulwich Village home to prestigious Dulwich College (frist grade through high school) started in the early 1600's as Alleyn's College of God's Gift by Edward Alleyn an actor and "theatrical entrepreneur."  The surrounding bustle of the city seems lightyears away from this quaint quiet village.  The Church of England primary school  (connected to the College) and the original hall of Dulwich's "College of God's Gift" remind the visitor of the prominence of education here.

Our attraction to Dulwich is the Dulwich Picture Gallery,the oldest public art gallery in London started with the collection bequeathed to Dulwich College by its founder in 1626.  We gaze upon Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens and more now housed in a building specifically designed by Sir John Soane 1811.  A treasure indeed.  One favourite, we don't remember ever seeing before in art books -- "A girl at a window" by Rembrandt.
So, if you're in London and craving country life, drop in on Dulwich Village to step back in time, to slow down, and to enjoy a stroll among the masters.

Another brilliant Breakfast in Britain!
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Regency Cafe, London - and a walk through Pimlico & Chelsea

A gem in Pimlico...suggested to us a couple years ago by our young friends from Australia. Truth be told, we expected the Regency to be posh, but surprise! surprise!  It's a classic cafe unchanged by time and fashion from it's original look of 1946.

Red-checked cafe curtains provide the colour theme, and the shiny tile walls provide the backdrop for a gallery of iconic cafe art and framed moments-of-acclaim for the Regency Cafe -- ads from Vogue and LK Bennett highlighting the cafe and numerous notable personalities enjoying their cuppa in front of the red-checked curtains. 

This is definitely a favourite London spot for photo shoots.  And a favourite spot for breakfast!  The queue snakes through the cafe packed with tables for 50.  This morning it's an all-male clientèle, many donned in business attire, others sporting reflector vests.

46-year-old owner, Marco Shiavetta serves a tasty meal -- no extra grease, everything cooked just right.  The day's fresh potatos are being peeled and piled by a diligent worker behind the counter.  Another focuses on the task of smacking minced beef into sausages and patties.

 Happy Husband enjoys the Full English Breakfast, while I stick to my standard -- 2 eggs on toast.  We welcome the absence of background music and TV, but the megaphone-voice from behind the counter calling out the orders (no table service) takes a bit of getting used to.

After our leisurely meal, we meander through Pimlico -- passing picturesque strips of terrace housing and overarching trees.

To our delight, we discover a gem in St James the Less church, hidden behind other buildings.  The ornate chancel glows in the morning light.  Musical instruments create a crucified Jesus -- clarinets, piano keys, flutes -- the death of music and joy, perhaps?  Makes me want to shake educators reminding them how important music is for children!  Don't eliminate joy from the curriculum!
To one side, there's an inviting children's area, a place children surely anticipate populating on a Sunday morning.  Just how welcoming are our churches to children? to families?  Where is their space in the church to which they clamour with glee?

On we go toward Royal Chelsea Hospital, the last resting place of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and home to retired soldiers. They are gathering for a VE Day photo decked out in full regalia.

My thoughts go to my father, an American Vet about the same age as many of those assembled here today.  While the cronies in his photos are Veterans for Peace, nonetheless he would have enjoyed being here today.





We pop into their chapel and dining room for a quick peek -- magnificent, as one might expect.  Amazing to realize that the retired men and women who call this home are here out of need, not out of entitlement.

London never lets us down!  Another wonderful Breakfast in Britain!

Even in Windsor!

"Where can we find a cafe for eggs and toast?"  we ask the proprietor of the news agent.
"Not in Windsor," comes the confident reply.

Here we are in the small town of Windsor, in the shadow of Windsor Castle, residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.  We have been walking up and down the streets glancing in the windows of posh hat and shoe shops.
With Ascot race track only 15 minutes away, hats fill the shops -- finely woven straw creations in rainbow brilliance dangle price tags up to £190.  At Daniel's, a milliner "by appointment of the Queen," feathery fascinators (a headpiece connected to a thin headband), many at £95, line a wall.  But when it comes to a greasy spoon for breakfast..."Not in Windsor" is the verdict.

Ah, but luck will have it...we spot a construction worker in a bright yellow reflector vest.  Bingo! "People head to the Bite Cafe," he explains, and we are directed a bit beyond the beaten track.

Happy Husband enjoys a full English breakfast.No complaints -- and the mug of tea comes hot.  Movable chairs and wooden tables keep the decor nearing posh, suitable for the Queen's local diner. Bright art work on a Mexican theme provides bursts of colour throughout.

This being our second trip to Windsor this year, the train trip from London's Paddington Station seems almost routine.  While I love visiting a new place, I also appreciate the familiarity of a repeat visit (especially when there's a re-usable entry ticket). Originally we came on New Year's Day -- best day to see a castle (if it's open) as tourists are few and locals are at home.  No queues. No school groups.  This visit we're accompanying hundreds more visitors, but not like the busy-ness one might expect in the summer.

And then of course there is the castle -- the real McCoy -- high on the hill.  Enshrined within are the tombs of Henry VIII and his favoured wife, Jane Seymour, the memorial chapel for the recently deceased Queen Mother and Queen Mary's dollhouse.

My sister-in-law has urged me to visit, knowing my interest in miniatures and dollhouses.  Queen Mary's dollhouse far supasses my expectations: even the wine in the tiny bottles is real!  Everything is in working order, gifts from the manufacturers, inventors and promoters.  Impressive.  My father would have loved the cars in the garage -- a row of them!

Windsor Castle was never bombed in WW2, protected -- so the story goes-- by Hitler's desire to claim it as his own and his plan to move in and set up house after his victory.

This visit we not only enjoy the view from the castle but head down to the river, and cross for a walk though Eton, the home of Eton College. Shops offer school ties and blazers, and dashing suits for that weekend visit to Aunt Fiona's.

Daffodils colour the fields.

There's time for a leisurely stroll around the college perimeter along the river, and finally a cup of tea at the riverside before our evening train back to London.

Another breakfast only Britain could provide.  Another amazing Breakfast in Britain.

Behind the Broadway Theatre in Catford

A walk through quiet streets and parks --Hilly Fields and Ladywell Park -- to Catford. We discover the Stage Door Cafe nestled on the alley-lane behind the Broadway Theatre and the Town Hall and Civic Suite for the Borough of Lewisham.

Sir Steve Bullock serves as Mayor of the Borough.  We're proud of him for supporting the Living Wage Campaign and making the entire Borough a Living Wage employer, and he keeps the pothole repair crews busy.  We attend the Mayor's annual Valentine's Day Lavender Fund Fundraiser dinner.  This year we even took the rellies along!

Back to Catford ...I love the giant cat mascot slinking over the entrance to the shopping arcade -- source of great discussion and controversy.

Back to the Stage Door Cafe...classy enough for white collar workers and open early enough for blue collar workers, or should I say reflector-glo workers. A comfy place for early rising pensioners, too.


Pleasant decor: highlighting a set of framed theatre-themed super-size posters including the Chicago Theater by Wrigley Tower, Moulin Rouge dancers, and two Broadway New York scenes. Nice feel to the place and the friendly, animated wait staff, actually seem pleased for our custom.

Upscale calligraphied menu boards, comic font all caps -- quite posh.

Posted signs, "Customers are advised that during busy periods you may be required to share your table." Probably gets an overflow lunch crowd.

As for our brekky...we're happy with our 2x2 eggs and brown toast and enjoy our hot mug of builders tea --strong enough for the spoon to stay standing!  Not sure how I forgot a food photo -- must have just enjoyed it!

This place gets a "We'll be back." 
Another delightful Breakfast in Britain