In ‘The Scent Of A Squirrel’, I described the aroma of dead rodents. A similar, very mild smell has, over a day or two, emanated from our dressing room. Last night, Jackie discovered a leaking radiator therein. Let us hope that dirty dripping onto the ancient carpet beneath it is the cause of the strange pong.
Our nostrils definitely preferred the perfume of the paint Aaron applied to our landing woodwork this morning.
Some of you may know that Jackie and I breakfast on a 12 cup (4 mug) cafetiere of coffee each morning. After a good thirty years, this container is showing signs of wear. We have been searching unsuccessfully for one for a while. Whilst Christmas shopping in Lyndhurst Jackie had noticed a shop where they were on sale. On this damp, overcast, afternoon with temperatures in double figures centigrade, she drove us there to buy one.
Considered the ‘Capital of The New Forest’, Lyndhurst boasts the Visitor Centre alongside its car park, which leads into
the High Street, where the approaching family managed to shepherd their children
across the traffic island on the corner facing what was my local NatWest Bank branch when we lived in Minstead. It is now an adjunct to
Meridien Modena where you can buy a Maserati among other luxury cars. Lyndhurst, you see, is rather upmarket.
The car showrooms extend alongside The Mailman’s Arms,
itself next to The Stag Hotel, also visible in the High Street shot.
Almost every establishment on this high street caters for the thriving tourist trade, although
Shaw Trust is one of several charity shops.
There is a sweetshop with its goodies in modern plastic jars, the glass versions of which will be familiar to my contemporaries.
The Old Apothecary was probably once a pharmacy, but Goose Green, situated on the road to Emery Down, has, as far as I know, nothing to do with the decisive battle of the 1982 Falklands War.
The Entrance to Pages of Lyndhurst suggests that there would be much more than coffee on sale in this Aladdin’s cave. And, indeed, that is where Jackie found the cafetiere.
They even boast a car showroom to rival Meridien Modena.
Next door to Marina’s Sandwich Shop lies Onomatopoeia, though why an outlet not in the audio business would choose such a name escapes me.
The young ladies outside Pages were aiming for Christopher Stephens jeweller’s in the side window of which Jackie was inspecting further brooches similar to the one we bought there for Becky.
Served with fresh vegetables, the second half of Jackie’s superb steak and mushroom pie was enjoyed for our dinner tonight. I finished the chianti and Jackie drank Hoegaarden.
Great way to start the day. I need one of those cafetiere.
Thank you, Sylvie
I was wondering if a cafetière was the same thing as what we call a French press, so I googled it. It is indeed. And while I was at it I learned several other names for it…cafetteria stantuffo, plunger pot, press pot, as well as the Brand names Melior or Bodum. No matter what it’s called, it makes great coffee!
I THINK here we call it a plunger (not to be confused with the thing of the same name used to dislodge gunk in drain pipes). Re the Shaw Trust shop – how much is that doggie in the window? (The one with the waggly tail).
I do hope that dog is for sale, Bruce
We do call it a plunger and I wouldn’t be without mine! In fact I purchased a new one just last week, courtesy of the post Christmas sales 🙂 Fabulous coffee 🙂
Thanks, Cynthia
Bout time they built that bypass. They were talking about it when we moved there and still they wait. Bloody verderers…! At least I expect they have a finger in the decision…
When looking to buy, we wouldn’t consider anything in Lyndhurst because of the jams
12 cups of coffee – alright you guys, that’s what we drink each day, love it! Lyndhurst is a beautiful village – wonderful walk around with you.
Thank you, Mary
I was wondering what the Old Apothecary sells now – it looks a bit like a boudoir ……
It looks like a gift shop. I’ll check next time we’re there.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful village, Derrick.
Thank you, Jill
What charming shops. I’m glad you found your cafeteire and even happier that Cynthia took the time to look it up, as I had a notion it was a percolator, which folks called a caffettiera.
I was flummoxed a few years ago when I heard people speaking of “French presses”. Those were just plain coffee press pots when I was a child, nothing French about them. (This reminds me of when I gave an English friend the family recipe for zucchini bread and, after I described the vegetable, she said, “I wonder if I could substitute a corgette.” Our mutual friend, a Canadian, laughed at us because we didn’t know we were talking about the same thing.)
We all have different words for the same thing don’t we, J Balconi. Thank you for your comment
I can see why this village is thick with tourists. It looks like what I imagine a quintessentially English town should look like. I have a 1.5 cup French press/cafetiere made by Bodum. It is a double hulled stainless steel number that makes the BEST coffee and it stays hot forever. I can see why you had to go searching. One simply cannot survive w/out this vital item if you’re a coffee drinker.
Thanks, Susanne
Gorgeous stores! Always loved little ones like that! The envy gets stronger haha 🙂
Thanks, Nina
Very busy, lovely photos.
Thanks Ian. It took 20 min to get in – road works on traffic lights
So glad you found your pot! I like coffee presses myself. Another nice tour of your superb neighborhood. Thanks.
Thank you, Lisa
Looks like a lot of fun with lots of things to look at!
Thanks, Weekly
My parents had a percolstor, my ex had a french press, and I have had for years, a drip coffee pot! I pour cold water in and then it heats up and drips over coffee grounds. My Mom has always drunk 5 to 7 cups of coffee a day. I drink about 4 cups over the course of a day, Derrick. Lovely scenery and the shops are really interesting and unique. Smiles, Robin ♡
🙂 Thank you Robin
I feel like I got a little glimpse into an entirely different corner of the world reading your post… All from my cozy share on a snowy night. Thanks for making my world a little bigger (or smaller, depending on how you look at it.). Cheers, Derrick! 🙂
Thanks, Ashley
I always start the day with cafetière coffee. I have an individual one as the rest of the house drink tea.
Thanks, Jenny
Great to see some places still have proper high streets not dominated by chains. I wanted a metal cafeteria but could never find one big enough.
Thanks, Eric. It was quite a search for us
Great photos Derrick. So enjoy following your walk-abouts – quintessentially English!
Many thanks, Rob
Sure looks grey, like it is here today. No snow?
No snow – temperatures 10-13. Thanks, Mary
Our winter temperatures are colder than that.
So are ours normally
What a lovely set of shops. Especially the sweet shops. I’m impressed you drink so much coffee. Thanks for spotting my error on my last post. I’ve changed it. Thanks so much for letting me know 🙂
Thanks, Alex
Another quaint village, love these scenes, Derrick!
Thanks, GP
Great photos, as usual. I just bought a Bodrum teapot which works like a cafetiere, now I’m wondering if a cafetiere would do the same job.
🙂 Thanks, Quercus
And I’m still wondering what Onomatopoeia sells! 🙂
Oho, I got it! Didn’t realise I could enlarge the photo! 🙂
🙂 Anne-Marie
Goose Green, wherever it is and however strereotypically ‘Rural-brand’ it sounds, almost certainly refers to a pasture grazed by geese. Most placenames are utilitarian. There’ll almost certainly be one round Lyndhurst, even if it’s such a localized name it’s not on a map.
Thanks, Paul
We wouldn’t have been able to leave the sweet shop!
Thank you, Mostly