CARSHALTON'S GRAZIE MILLE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Chairs and tables are properly arranged, the menu is displayed on each table and the door is open wide to welcome its customers.

A busy High Street enlivens by shops occupying decent-sized units and one of these is known for its Italian named, GRAZIE MILLE. It is easy to find as it's close to Carshalton's Post Office and in front of the Bus Stop as well as near the Park Lane Pharmacy.

The Latin word Grazie is a plural form of 'grazia'. The word means 'thank you' or 'thanks'. 'Mille' is also a Latin word which means many. If you combine the two words, the meaning is very evident, 'THANK YOU VERY MUCH'.

This family friendly restaurant is manage by the head of the family. It was established in 2006 and from the very start, it has been bustling with people, many of whom became regular customers. The cordial service they offer and the tasty meals they prepare make this restaurant a popular rendezvous in the village.

This is a homely restaurant and the ambiance of the place is very comforting and warming. Most customers are delighted with Claudio's (the owner) friendly personality, as he is always around to make sure that everyone is looked after well and is attentive to customers' satisfaction. He may sometime sit and talk that will make you feel very cosy.

The restaurant is open 6 days in a week, starting every Tuesday. So, if you live in the vicinity of the High Street or know where to find it, why not stop and visit the restaurant as they are serving fresh foods cooked in their kitchen. And with a SMILE!

SURREY TEASHOP WALK: EPSOM DOWNS

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

We passed the road a few times before, but never had the chance to stop at what is the nearest race course and enjoy seeing the rolling grassy Epsom Downs!

We had a lovely day last week and I think, it was the warmest day ever last month in England. On that day, we planned for a trip- out to take advantage of the feisty weather. We were very prepared I could say, as we had with us the book of Surrey Teashop Walks, which came from our local library. While still in the house, I filled two hand-carry bags with food and drinking liquids before driving to Epsom.

It was just a leisurely 30 minute drive to the car park, where you could view the stunning race course. Perhaps, because it was its clean cut shaven grass at the centre and the white tinted steel fence that encompasses and protects the area that captured our imagination. Both pleased my eyes, why? It showed that the people who managed the racecourse are preserving one of the many enchanting places in the U.K. Aside from the racecourse, the neighbouring wilderness was noticeable because of its tall and strong trees which, from afar, looked like newly-sprouted mushrooms. 

We walked on the green field before reaching the portal that goes into the abyss of the woods!

The 5 hour walk was very challenging for me, particularly, to feel I was lost in the woods made me hysterical and I thought of going back to where we started. We were very certain to pursue the journey but when the soles of my feet started to inflame, we decided not to track down the path shown on the map but to finish the whole walk. We stopped for awhile and ate our food kept in the knapsack. That 10 minutes of resting in the wilderness helped me to walk normal again and not like an injured soldier in the war. I was feeling better and still we didn’t follow the right direction written in the book.

We cut our way through a private road and then found a quaint pub nestled in the woods, where we drank glasses of shandy. Our enquiries at the pub led us to an A road. It was very unexpected to walk along the verges of the highway but prior to that, there were special 'things' we had seen and enjoyed! But this road affords us delightful views of the grassy green downs and some privy detached houses benefiting from that view.

THE MAYFIELD LAVENDER

by:  MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

Gardens are an area where we grow and nurture varieties of plants; flowering and fruit-bearing. Most of the houses in England have their own front and rear garden, usually, the owners grow flowers in front of the house and at the back is the fruit-bearing and vegetable area .

Lavender is one of the 39 species of flowering plants in the mint family. The scent gives fresh fragrance and deters moths. The plant produces flowers which are collected to form a kind of confetti for the bride's special day.
 

Mayfield Lavender is located on the Surrey Downs, at the junction between Croydon Lane and Carshalton Road. This field is less than 15 miles from Central London. It measures 25 acres and is the home of the English Lavender. It is often confused with a small allotment project locally and is often referred as Carshalton Lavender, Mitcham Lavender or Surrey Lavender as it is located in the heart where lavender was grown in the 18th and 19th century.

The 25 acre Lavender field is own by a passionate couple, Brendan and Lorna. The couple's commitment not to use pesticides or herbicides on the plants make it a good source of some of the finest oil. And, nothing but organic matter is used in the field!
 

The fragrant flowers are not just for vases that are placed in the living room, as it is has a few functions too. Its flower has a fresh and relaxing flavour when added to drinking tea. The oil extracted from its buds is an ingredient in many perfumes, balms and cosmetic applications. And, it is also used in making facial and bath soaps that are ideal fragrant gift for your loved-ones or as a keepsake for your friends and visitors. Some people place the soap in their undies draw!

The lavender plant is abundant in the United Kingdom. It grows in April or May as it needs dry and sunny conditions to thrive and produce its fragrant flowers. When it produces flowers, it is a sure sign that summer is underway, and the cold days of Christmas are memories' best forgotten.