Monday, October 12, 2009

Pumpkins, Steam Trains and a bit of Mime

The Mime artist above was helping to encourage people into the new L'Occitane shop at Trentham Gardens retail outlet. I didn't need much encouragement but he escorted me into the shop anyway. I love L'Occitane perfumes and was bought their 'Eau de 4 Reines' for my birthday this year. For those of you who know Trentham, L'Occitane is in the unit where the Emma Bridgewater shop used to be - next door to the Yankee Candle Shop. The mime artist had a friend playing suitable French music on an accordian - all very entertaining.

Meanwhile, in the Trentham Garden Centre they are getting into the mood for Halloween with loads of witchy, batty and spidery displays inside whilst outside we found these lovely displays of pumpkins and gourds.

It was Steam Train weekend at the Churnet Valley Railway and after our long Sunday morning walk we stopped by on the way home to watch the 2p.m. train leave Froghall for Cheddleton.

Froghall is a lovely station and very well kept by the volunteers who help run this railway.

The sounds and smells of the train as it left the platform brought back some childhood memories of travelling on the railways.

Woosh - it was gone in a puff of smoke under the road bridge and on its way to Cheddleton.

12 comments:

  1. What beautiful photos. I love the old steam train and the displays of pumkins. I like L'Occitane too. I love their lavendar hand wash.

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  2. I am a big fan of L'Occitane too! A little of Provence in my own home! You do visit some lovely places Rosie. I love the pumpkin display and watching the train chugging off on its way!

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  3. Hi Rosie! The steam train is so fascinating! I was wondering what is the difference between a pumpkin and a gourd?! We call both them "zucca" and specify the variety!
    Have a good week! :)

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  4. Michela - not sure what the difference is other than that Pumkins are edible and lots of gourds aren't - I think they are all squashes though. I like the name 'zucca':)

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  5. So nice to read all of your posts I missed while being in Portugal..its good to back..there is no place like home..and there is no blog like yours..I wish you happy autumn days..

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  6. Gosh, that was enjoyable!

    My eyes widened when I saw "Yankee Candle Shop", though I really shouldn't have been surprised. Guess it just sounds so American and your photos are so quintessentially English.

    Love the old trains and the picturesque little depot.

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  7. Ive never been to Trentham but it looks as if its the sort of place I would never be away from if I lived near it!! I love the mime artist! I'm off to real France in a couple of weeks time - part of my biggy birthday treat - so you have put me in the mood!!

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  8. What a great bunch of photographs! The display of pumpkins looked so charming and I especially love the photographs of the steam engine.

    Gillian

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  9. I used to adore the L'Occitane vanilla fragrance, and the honeysuckle. Unfortunately they discontinued those scents here. Ah well. Loved your village outing. Froghall. Sounds very Wind in the Willows, doesn't it?

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  10. Hi Rosie!
    Thank you for your explanation! So pumpkins are edible and gourds just for ornamental purposes.

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  11. Another delightful journey, Rosie. I enjoyed your wonderful photos of the train and market.

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  12. This is the sort of day out I could do with at the moment. I've just popped over to the L'Occitane website and fancy a treat! One of my favourites is Verbena. I hope to get out and about a little more next week and may go in search of pumpkins, and all things spooky. Lucky you managed to catch a bit of the Steam Train weekend too. x

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