March Photos ~ Day 9

I had to go to Totnes again today, (oh the joy!) with Lucy. As it was absolutely pouring with rain there were less people about, which meant I could take unobstructed photographs.

Then we went to my favourite tea rooms a few doors away.

I'm sure people must have wondered why this woman was taking photos of her toasted teacake, but they serve it under on a silver-domed dish. Lovely. It was then I realised what my 'perfect' job would be. Being a 'Tea Room Critic', which would mean travelling all over the country and then writing 'The Good Tea Room Guide.'  Lucy and I discussed this over a second cup of tea (made with loose leaves and brewed in a silver tea pot, naturally) and then it was time to go back out into the wet street.

Comments

[Clover Yard]

That does it. I'm moving to Totnes. See you at the Tea Room!
Carol x

[Binny]

I think I've died and gone to heaven..

[carolyn]

"silver domed dishes" and vintage china too I see -perfect.

[Deb]

What a perfect mother/daughter day out! Shopping and tea & cakes :-} just lovely.

[Marisa]

What a perfect day, pure bliss! Love those cakes but deciding which to have would be a problem - do you think a bit of everything is being greedy!!! (excuse while i wipe that chocolate off my chin!!)

[morning]

Oh, the yearning for a British tearoom! Ours are rubbish American-inspired take-away cafes for the most part.

[Alison]

You're giving NZ a serious run for its money. Perhaps I should have moved to Totnes instead.

[Miss Jean]

What lovley stores! I wish I could come there and have tea with you. Tea rooms are my favorite places to visit but we don't have as many in my part of the world as you do. My favorite is in Victoria, British Columbia. Not the Empress Hotel, but the James Bay Tea Room.

Enjoy!

[Joy]

How English is that!!!!!!!!! And all those gorgeous Cath Kidston thingies and beautiful bags, etc.etc....even the weather, little olde worlde tea shops, oh, I've just got to save the money and go back. It's nearly 2 years since we visited....much too long.
Joy

[Christi from Charm & Grace]

What a lovely post about such a lovely day. The tearoom was so inviting... and I quite agree with you about the perfect job! What fabulous fabrics and patterns and colors in all those displays. Delightful.

Blessings,
Christi

[Susan M.]

Jane, I love it when you show pictures of your "Cath" finds! I wish that she would get her on-line website for the U.S. up and running. I ordered from her at Christmas time, but the postage was so expensive. One of my dreams is to actually get to step inside a Cath Kidston shop. That would be such bliss!!
Enjoy your Sunday!

[Sabine]

All the nice pictures...I can´t decide which one ist the best. And the shop with all these wonderful CK and green gate things.
Wish I could see all the things in real!!
Alles Liebe,
Sabine

[Tante Tee]

aahhhh, that looks like heaven!!! We we had shops like that here in holland....

[Jess]

My firned and I had exactly the same thought about writing 'The Good Tea Room Guide' a while ago, sadly it was under less pleasant circumstances when we were in a less than delightful tea room and discussed how many cups we would award their tea and how many slices of cake we'd award their baked goods! Great minds must think alike!

[Jess]

I apologise for the abominable spelling of 'friend' i shouldn't be trying to comment blogs with a headache!

[Sal]

Hubby and I did that last week and we had the teacakes too!
Pure bliss!Sal;-)

[inge Bekaert]

what a "yummy" photo's !

You make me want to come to England ( this summer we come to Londen , but that's not really the countryside of England...) ànd I think I start baking something for myself and the kids this afternoon...

greetings
inge (from Belgium)

[French Knots]

I know where we'll be going for our summer hols this year! I could mooch about it that lovely shop for ages then test the cakes in the tearoom. Perfect!

[kim]

This has brought back very fond memories of Totnes for me, thank you! Do you think you might ever need a companion on your tea room travels?
Kimx

[Bobbie Lynn Duran]

What a wonderful day the both of you had and thank you for sharing.

[Natalie]

Those cakes look scrummy and the shop too - I've said it before, but I will have to find time to visit Totnes! - Natalie x

[paula luckhurst]

Such lovely things. You had a good time. Pitty I was not there.

[Sarah Smith]

I like the look of Gazebo's and Greys dinning room. I think my family and I will be visiting both when we come down there for our holidays in the summer. Can't wait.

Sarah

[Kathy]

Oh Jane, I'm salivating and practically slobbering with envy. The Gazebo looks like the kind of shop that would give me the vapors at first site....and Greys...I could barely contain myself when I started scrolling down the page. The interior, the display case, the scones, the ivy china...be still my heart! I'll bet you enjoyed real clotted cream too. Oh to be in England! and visit a real English tearoom. Whoever said the American version is rubbish was correct; and I've been to most of them. We used to have a proper tearoom in Palo Alto, Ca. many years ago owned and operated by a British ex-pat. It was called "The London House". They had Robert Burns dinners every year and a Pantomine every Christmas. It was the best! Thank you so much for the beautiful photos and allowing me to be an armchair traveler today.
xxKathy

[Kathy]

P.S. Your picture of Greys reminds me of Maids of Honor in Kew. You would really enjoy it as well.
Kathy

[Molly]

What a lovely posting--and such beautiful photos. Since I've been a fan of your blog for a while, I am sorry to do this, but, I am TAGGING you (I was recently tagged, so I am just going along with the "rules").

Here are the rules:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

[prettyshabby]

Oh my goodness, I think I would start hyperventilating if I went into a shop with all that gorgeousness!! Totnes sounds like a very lovely place indeed!

[fitty]

gosh.. just look at all the yummylicious pictures of yours!.. wish we got that kind of shop here and am sure will stuck there for all hours I want!.. lol

[nanette]

Such great color. Great photos. I wish I was there with you, it looks like such fun. Oh to get lost in Totnes.

[iSew]

Ahhhhhhh, Cath Kidston. One thing I really miss about living in the UK.

[Lucy]

Oh what a lovely delicious day out. Your photos as ever are beautiful Jane...tell me, do you ask permission when you photograpgh in shops or do you do it in "secret" lol?? I always get too nervous to get my camera out but have been in some gorgeous shops lately that I would love to phpotograph - any tips?!
xx

[Sanctuary]

So perfect! Wish I was there :)

[Nonnie]

Can I be a tea room critic with you please Jane?! Teashops are some of my favourite places. I could easily spend an afternoon every day of the week in a different one. Love the look of that scrumptious shop too!

[crazy jane]

OOOOOOH! I love Totnes, my parents live in Dartmouth, so when we go to visit we take a boat trip up river, drop 'the lads' at the pub at the bottom of the hill and work our way up the high street. it is a lovely town, such nice photos,

[Diane]

My husband and I (as they say in royal circles) decided when we last went to Totnes, that when we retire, we shall start out gastronomic tour of the UK in Totnes - the Bun shops are just how we remember them. Thank you for posting them. Love your blog

[Marilyn]

This is exactly how I envision England - warm, cozy, and very inviting. Your photos are wonderful!

I know I would adore Totnes and gladly accompany you to any Tea Rooms you would care to visit. :-)

It sounds like you had a wonderful day!

Marilyn (in Dallas)

[Stephanie]

I love these photos! I have been fortunate enough to be able to visit Great Britain twice. Your photos are enchanting. They make me wish for another trip.

[Stephanie]

I love these photos! I have been fortunate enough to be able to visit Great Britain twice. Your photos are enchanting. They make me wish for another trip.

[Zia Meadows]

Now i have to go in the kitchen and bake for at least 10 hours to overcome my jealousy for those cakes! We made a tiny cafe in our playroom for my daughter(with Cath Kidston strawberry fabric for the tablecloth) so we play cafes regularly without going out- its great to see my 9 year old son drinking tea from a rose print china cup!

[Vanessa]

If I visited that shop i would of thought I had died and gone to heaven! It would be a tough decision what to leave in the shop! The tea room looks so old fashioned and wonderful!