What's next after a trip to Jane Austen's home? An Austentacious afternoon tea at Birmingham's Next!

BTS presents an Austentacious Tea at Next

This week BTS (Barb G. and Pam B.) served up a Jane Austen tea talk at Birmingham's Next at the invitation of Program Planner, Pam Hall. It had been almost a year to the day that we were last at Next presenting "Afternoon Tea and Etiquette", but less than a month since my husband, Chris, and I journeyed across the pond for a trip to England which included a three-day visit to Bath and a two-night stay at one of the Austen homes.  Of course, we had to share highlights of the recent sojourn - and to a most wonderful group of guests assembled in the meeting room/tearoom at Next.

Pam B. and Program Planner, Pam Hall

Along with past trips to Austen homes, we talked about other significant places to Jane in London, Winchester and Bath. The latter included Sydney Gardens, the Pump Room and the Jane Austen Center. 

BTS shared their visit to Bath this month

We were thrilled to see some familiar faces and meet new friends as well. Great BTS supporter and awesome lady, Carol W. joined us for another JA tea and we chatted with a few JASNA members as well as having a great visit with so many delightful ladies, including Jennifer and Anita.

Carol W. (right) at another BTS JA tea!

 

 

Jennifer, Barb, and Anita

Guests were encouraged to wear their favorite hats. Although, this time, I didn't don one of my fascinators, this tea did provide me the opportunity to accessorize with a special scarf purchased during our latest trip in the UK. While in Edinburgh, I bought a Princess Diana memorial tartan scarf (a portion of sales goes to the Diana Award charitable organization).

"Tearoom" at Next, tables set with colorful plates and fresh flowers

Next provided tea and tea treats and all the tables were decorated with brightly colored serving ware and fresh flowers.

An excellent turnout at Next's "tearoom"

Wonderful guests at Next!

Another amazing time at Next. And, yes, we are certainly excited about our next visit here!

St. Andrews, Scotland: Teas, tees and Celebri-ties

Enjoying a pot of Earl Grey at vintage hotel overlooking the Old Course at St. Andrews

"The rain seemed to never go away this past weekend in Scotland, which shortened the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship to a 54-hole event." (SB.Nation, October 10, 2023).

We know this personally to be true - we were there and we were drenched. But, it was not a complete "washout".  While getting soaked by torrential rain, we also soaked in the history and aura of the oldest golf course in the world, St. Andrews.

Chris at the 18th hole of St. Andrew's Old Course. Pro-Am tournament delayed.

Soggy, but undeterred, we not only trod on the historic grounds of the Old Course, but spotted a celebrity whizzing by as a VIP passenger on a fast-moving golf cart.  Then, we capped off the afternoon inside the Rusacks dining room enjoying pots of Earl Grey with spectacular views of the legendary links. 

Chris on the border of St. Andrews - North Sea and Golf Museum in the background

Our journey began at the Golf Museum that borders the North Sea and St. Andrews. Here we learned that the original stick-and-ball game became popular in Scotland in the 15th century. Two versions evolved:  the first, a short game played in enclosed streets and churchyards using home-made clubs and balls; the second, a long game played by the gentry that used elegant (and expensive) equipment suited for playing in open parklands or coastal links. While the former died out, the latter continued to grow and flourish with the enthusiasm and support of politicians and elites.

Scottish royals played golf, but banned their subjects from playing. It was felt that the game distracted them from practicing their long bow skills, which were much needed for battle. It would be a few more centuries before company golf leagues replaced the archers needed to defend headquarters. 

Early golf balls made of stitched leather filled with feathers

On display at the museum were some of the very early versions of golf balls. They were made of stitched leather filled with feathers. They flew about 200 yards, but were easily damaged and went soft in the rain. (They'd wouldn't have had a chance the weekend of our visit.)

Chris takes the putting challenge.

The pressure is real.

An added interactive attraction at the museum is the Championship Putt challenge. The stage is set for an uphill putt, but with the simulated pressure (via video countdown and crowd bellows) of the championship at stake, one gets to hit the ball with choice of putter, ranging from ancient to modern (Chris selected an "in between") and await the results. Chris sunk the ball and the crowd cheered. (Thankfully, no virtual reality rain or wind gusts accompanied the experience).

Success and the crowd cheers!

From the museum, we walked the border of the Old Course, in brutal slanting rain and wind. Not only was the liquid sunshine pelting down, but gale winds were so fierce, our umbrellas were inverting and it was a struggle to walk forward. It was also a challenge to stop and take pictures without getting hit with a purse strap or wrist-tethered bumpershoot. 

In this climate, not surprisingly, the famed Alfred Dunhill Links Championship was delayed during our visit. This tournament is a Pro-Am challenge, so we were on the lookout for celebrities in the midst of unrelenting rain. On the treacherous trek to the Pro Shop to pick up a few souvenirs, in a passing, speeding golf cart, I saw a familiar, cheerful face framed with wildly flying white hair. Bill Murray! I was positive it was him, but by the time I got my phone out to snap a photo, the cart was too far away to capture the evidence.

Bill Murray in the golf cart way down the path???

However, once inside the Pro Shop, I mentioned to the manager, who was ringing up our assortment of logo loot, that I thought I saw Bill Murray a few minutes ago. He only responded with a polite "oh?" But one of the young clerks comically poked her head around the counter, clearly out of her boss' peripheral vision, and shook her head "yes" to affirm my celebrity sighting. I knew it!

Rusacks overlooking the Old Course

Earl Grey never tasted so good.

What was left to do after fighting all the elements and catching a passing glimpse of Bill Murray? It had to be tea time, of course. We found refuge at Rusacks, a charming 19th-cenutry hotel on the edge of the Old Course. We scored a lovely table overlooking the links, and ordered two pots of tea. Truly, Earl Grey never tasted better or was more welcomed. 

Despite the weather, a great tea and tee experience.

To the timeless saying, "into every life, some rain must fall" we add: while it may delay a tournament, it needn't hamper tea time or tee time history. . . or a close encounter with Nick the Lounge Singer. 

 

A UK road trip from Southampton to St. Andrews includes all our favorites: Tea and tee times, Jane Austen, Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, Castles and Family!

A UK road trip from Southampton to St. Andrews, 40 years in the making

We just wrapped up a two-week road trip in the U.K. that, one might say, was forty years in the making. This month, my husband, Chris, and I, celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary driving over 1,400 miles around England and Scotland, stopping at "wish list" destinations and, the icing on the cake, (or as we prefer  to say here at BTS, the clotted cream upon the scone), meeting up with family for a few days in middle of our stay for even more celebration.

But, how best to describe all the highlights? Well, as one of our tour guides in Bath told us, with the appropriate amount of condescension, Americans tend to say the same three words: awesome, interesting and really? Maybe I fall prey to such stereotypes, as I can tell you all, this two-week UK vacation WAS awesome and interesting. Really!

First stop, Windsor Castle

In future blogs, I'll detail some of the castles, tearooms, tours, restaurants and other historic venues we visited, but for today, just a smattering of our road trip adventures.

As noted, we'd been planning this trip for some time. Chris and I had both been to England four times before, three times together. Chris first came to England with his buddy back in 1975 and they biked across the country for two months. Fast forward to 2011, I accompanied our daughter Rachel to London a week before her six-week study-abroad (through MSU) started. 

"Becky's Cottage" in Crawley, where Chris and fellow biker, stayed a few nights in 1975

Along the way, with family and friends, we have hit many of the "must-see" places like The Tower of London, Stonehenge and Harrods, but this year, we wanted to explore more via rental car and cozy inns. Chris had his set of desired stops, as did I, and then there was a hefty overlap in our Venn diagram of venues.  Actually, I think we'd agree, most fell into the latter category.

But before I list off the premium choices, a few words to the wise who may be planning a similar sojourn. First, the driving takes a little getting used to -  the Brits using the other side of both the road and car. My husband mastered the roundabouts quickly, but the parking lots are a whole new set of treachery. They are tiny, narrow and places of cutthroat competition. Pack your patience along with your suitcases.

Driving on the other side, narrow roads

Driving side where passengers sit in US.

The other item worth noting, if you are taller than me (just shy of 5'5") and staying outside standard Hilton or Holiday Inn accommodations, watch your head.  Chris has a few battle scars atop from a couple of unforgiving low-beamed ceilings. Many of the pubs and inns were built several centuries ago, when being my height would have been viewed as "statuesque".  

Watch your head if you are taller than me. Some beams do have some protective cushioning.

So, with keys in hand, and a loosely structured itinerary, we hit the "other side of the road" with a quick stop at Windsor Castle before heading to Southampton. Here we located the small village of Crawley and the charming cottage, with a William Thackery connection, that Chris and his buddy stayed in for a few nights back in 1975. 

Staying at Austen home in Bath

Tea at the Pump Room

After that, we were onward to Bath for three days of Jane Austen/Bridgerton immersion. And, speaking of abodes with literary connections, Chris and I stayed at No. 4 Sydney Place, a one-time residence of the Austen family. We also had tea at the Pump Room and had a Bridgerton tour of filming locations where I, without the appropriate amount of humility, am excited to report, won first place in the Bridgerton Triva Quiz. (I summoned up a ton on the ton). 😉

Bridgerton Tour 

From Bath, we headed to the Peak District, staying at a working farm, and taking a walk to town in true Lizzy Bennet form (a mile in muddy terrain, leaving the hems of my garments rather unbecoming). 

Peak district, B & B on working farm

Walk to down, messy but like Lizzy B.

But, the peak of the trip was not just in the countryside.  We met up with our New York couple, son and partner, Matt and Jenna, in the lake district. The sole purpose of this location was to dine at a three star Michelin restaurant, featured in a movie we saw in 2010. It was -well, okay, it really was- awesome.

Meeting up with our NY family at fancy restaurant in the Lake District.

Next up, was Edinburgh with our favorite New Yorkers, where we stayed for two nights just off the Royal Mile. We began with a 17th century underground city tour and ended with a visit to the castle on the hill, hitting as many fashionable woolen merchants and Scottish pubs as possible, treating ourselves to haggis and my newly acquired three favorite words: sticky toffee pudding. Oh, and one incredible tea room (more on that to come!).

Two days of shops, tours and sticky toffee pudding!

We then dropped off Matt and Jenna at the Edinburgh airport (as they were concluding their two week stay in Europe as well), and drove north to St. Andrews, for, yes, you guessed it, tea and tee times.

Elegant afternoon tea in Edinburgh

Unfortunately, weather did not permit us to walk much of the "old course" once we arrived at the famed golf venue. The celebrity golf tournament scheduled that weekend was delayed for a few days, but I did spot one on a passing golf cart.  However, tea time was not to be postponed. We found a vintage hotel dining room that overlooked the golf course, and we had a tasty, and very welcomed, pot of piping hot Earl Grey.

St. Andrews, rain and wind on 18

Tea time not delayed 

Leaving the rain and wind behind, we headed back to England, this time to explore areas in Yorkshire. We found two villages where Chris' ancestors lived, learned about the "mouse man" furniture maker from Kilburn (and purchased a tea trivet with his signature trademark) and made the trek to Harewood House. The latter was the home of Princess Mary with a bit of Downton Abbey ties (and a few surprises we'll be sharing in our future DA tea talks!).

Store and museum near our B & B in Kilburn with "mouse man" furniture

In our final few days in the UK, we parked in London and shopped and dined, and revisited a favorite "must see", Harrods, getting in one last cream tea before our flight home. Back to the land of appropriately-sized doorways and spacious parking lots, but, sadly, the mushrooming of roundabouts, which I think should stay across the pond. 

Harewood House, once home of Princess Mary with Downton Abbey ties

Aside from the few challenges, which truly didn't take much navigating, this trip, forty years in the making was, to shed some tired American descriptors and borrow from the land of our recent stay, positively brilliant! 

Our last cream tea at Harrods before returning home.

Another string of words we are fond of at BTS is "stay tuned". We'll be featuring different UK adventures worthy of their own blog story in upcoming blog stories.