eXploring Richmond & Kew

Since I arrived 2 years ago, Kathryn has been trying to invite me over to a day out at Kew Gardens but our schedules always clashed for some reason. And so finally 2 summers on, we fixed a date months in advance for our Bel-Kat Kew Day (just to make sure we both are free and have something to look forward to).

Also, after 2 years of hearing about her boyfriend, I finally met the legendary J. It's really funny coz I would ask about him and he would ask about me even though we haven't met before. Kat attributes this to her moaning too much about J to me but I don't think so. They are really a sweet couple! His grandma just turned 90 - yes 90 years old!- and I got to sample a piece of her home made lemon drizzle cake. However being the dear old lady, she is forgetful (which is understandable), so sometimes she forgets certain ingredients in her cakes. heehee so cute! I love sweet old ladies (no grumpy ones please).

House of Choc in Richmond High Street

Richmond is this posh area with massive houses and it's near Kew so we decided to meet there to get stuff for picnic. Guess what.. as this is England, it poured like anything!! :( We were ultra disappointed but we decided not to let the weather dampen our moods. I was reeeeaaally disappointed because I gave up going to Wales with my friends for our Kew escapade. Thankfully both Kat and J were great hosts, we had lunch at their local pub, before they gave me one of their free complimentary passes to get into the massive sprawling gardens and bringing me around. The rain did stop while we were there so at least not all was lost. We just couldn't sit on the ground for a picnic, nor roll on the grass as they promised to make me. hehe

More swans and cygnets! They were really hungry.. they swam towards us when they saw us coming. If we knew we'd have brought some bread for them.

Ironically because of the rain, I love the raindrops on this giant pink rose.

"Hello Mr. Bumblebee!"

I am not sure how many of us still remember our Enid Blyton storybooks from years ago but these pink flowers are foxgloves. I was actually excited to see them because I can still remember a story saying they have some magic in them; if you slip one of them on your finger, some fairy will appear (or something like that!).

There was a special butterflies exhibition where they released many butterflies in this enclosure so we were roaming in a room full of them. Umm.. I have to admit while taking this world class shot of the first butterfly below, I injured a butterfly that was resting on the floor! :/ oops.

They place fruits around for them to feed on.

A 3-in-1 rose?

Up on the tree top walk

Overall it was a lovely day not weather wise definitely but the company was great. Over here, work colleagues are usually not friends after work; they draw a very clear line which is good and bad in itself. Good because there are less politics and gossips flying around in the office, and bad because... where else are you gonna find friends?? I am really glad Kat and I defied the norm here.