Today we went to Kew Gardens.  We took the train to Victoria and rode for twelve stops on the tube.  Twelve stops takes about 24 minutes.  The calculation always works out!

When we drew into the station Malia confided,

“I thought it was ‘Q’!”

“Not cue, as in a stage cue, or queue, as in wait in a line?”  I asked redundantly.

“No, Q, as in the letter Q!”

I had set out to take her to a palace today.  At the ticket counter I asked for two tickets to include Kew Palace and the lady sold me an adult and a student ticket, handed over a booklet and my receipt and wished us a good visit.  We walked through a gateway and there we were , in a world famous botanical garden that Malia said looked like The Arboretum in Dallas.  Way to burst a bubble!

Kew Gardens though are amazing, most of the trees have been left to spread, as they would do naturally, resulting in branches trailing the ground and beautiful secret hiding places nestled beneath the unchecked growth.

We went into all the buildings and wandered through the wooded parklands and took a photograph of an old and beautiful sweet chestnut that was used as a model for the Whomping Willow in the Harry Potter films.

When we got to the palace, King George III’s family home, we were disappointed to find there was an additional cost. Since I could not justify another ten pounds on this mid week excursion to a park, allbeit a famous one, we passed and satisfied ourselves with an outdoor view of the miniature royal dwelling and a stroll through the kitchen gardens, nosegay and flower beds.

Once we had explored the land for as many hours as we deemed suitable for the price we’d paid we left for a cup of coffee.

This we found at a delightful street cafe on the square adjacent to Kew Station.  When we approached the counter we sensed that we were disturbing the three waitresses having a chat and a laugh despite their customers.  We took two steps in and then decided to look at a menu strategically place in the entry way.  We settled on a cream tea and a cappuccino.  We ventured forth again to place our order and the looks we received were worthy of Basil Fawlty! Undaunted, I am English and know how these things are, I said authoritatively,

“One cappuccino and a cream tea please.”

The closest girl scribbled something on a pad and said, “I’ll bring it to you,” before hastily returning to her interrupted conversation.

“We’ll be outside,”  I added helpfully.  No-one looked at me.  We found a secluded spot on the pavement surrounded by hanging baskets of flowers and large potted palms.

Surprisingly our order arrived quickly and we tucked in.  Malia had no idea how to tackle the food before her.  Under my careful tutelege she experienced her first ever scone with butter, strawberry jam and clotted cream.  It was,

“Pure heaven.  My taste buds love me!”  her eyes closed in ecstasy.  After a few more bites she offered me some,

“Quick because I’m not going to get fed up with this!”

Halfway through her second half she reluctantly admitted,

“This is getting awfully rich…” and had me take the final bite.

“Dad would be having several heart attacks over this…” she said laughing as she popped the last morsel into her mouth.

Cream tea huh?  I could make her cream teas at home!

“You can buy clotted cream?” she asked.

“Oh yes, we’ll get some the next time we’re in Sainsbury’s!”

Look out Hubs the arteries are hardening as I speak!