What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
I admire absolute patience that people display in their day to day activities. Not everyone, as not all possess the ability to do so.
Those people who spend time with the elderly, and those with special needs, always willing to give help and advice and not be distracted until the person requiring that assistance is content and has an understanding.
Those people are special, remaining calm and never showing signs of panic, or frustration and remaining level headed throughout.
I must admit I have only ever met a few of these people however they always have my utmost respect and admiration.
What happened along the way that the majority of people lost this ability? What have we done wrong and can we ever get that ability back again? Wouldn’t that be truly wonderful.
Wouldn’t it be a much more pleasant existence if we could all be just that way.
As you may suspect, I haven’t met many people like this lately.
My wife’s best friend is getting married this weekend, so we have ventured away from our place in the East Midlands, down to the smoke on the outskirts of north London.
For 54 years of my life I lived in this area so I know it very well both man and child. Most of my formative years were spent in and around here just doing what kids growing up used to do. But today I’m back here as an adult and things today look so different from when I was younger. However one place looks as serene and beautiful as ever.
And that is Mr. Gilbert’s place.
When I was at my junior school we put on a show called, “The pirates of Penzance”. I remember dressing up and singing many jaunty songs but at the time I never made the connection.
Then one day, playing with my friends we ventured up to Old Redding on the borders of Harrow, Stanmore and Oxhey, where there were woods and cycle tracks and people walking dogs, in avenues of what I now know are rhododendron bushes. There was a small lake, and then when you wandered through the beautiful display of flowers you came upon this beautiful sight.
Grims dyke manor
Speaking with my parents it now became clear that we had stumbled across the former home of the dramatist W.S Gilbert, him of Gilbert and Sullivan fame who’d written that show I was in at school, it all now fell into place.
The manor is now a hotel and that is why my wife and I are here this weekend. The Manor House is steeped in history and is still the HQ of the W.S Gilbert society who regularly stage his shows in the environment in which they were written.
The main lawn and Manor HouseGorgeous views
Now Mr.Gilbert unfortunately saw his demise here at the lake in the grounds. In 1911 he was giving a swimming lesson to two ladies when one of them got into trouble whilst attempting to swim, he dived in to save her but unfortunately had a heart attack and his life ended there.
The lake areaAnother gardenOne of the gardens
The manor went through changes of ownership throughout the years before being taken over by Best Western a few years ago.
The grounds are some of the best maintained that you will ever see in a hotel environment, there is wildlife freely roaming and as we were having a drink just last evening we had the company of some small deer not far from us.
A nice fruit cider in the sunThe view from our roomBees busy at work
It’s hard to believe we are just a few hundred yards from busy main roads, it’s just so quiet. You are guaranteed a peaceful stay here at Mr.Gilberts, it our go to place whenever we are in this part of the world.
If you’re ever in this part of the world just walk through or stay for a while. There are excellent travel links to central London and not many better places than this to have a base. It’s a touch of total tranquility on the outskirts of one of the world’s most manic city environments.
Foxes Den 
You must be logged in to post a comment.