Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Silver Pavilion, The Philosopher's Path and a side of scones and pizza

23.10.2012 - 23.10.2012 -13 °C

After last night's disappointing fire based shinanigans it was almost a relief to wake up to rain. If the fire was a downer, surely a rainy day could offer a much needed pick-me-up.

Admittedly, there was a false start with a dodgy milk that tasted like really runny yoghurt- not very nice on cereal apparently. But geared up with our most appropriate attire (so not entirely appropriate then) we headed out with a loose plan and a map.

A brisk walk in the rain brought us to Second House Cake Works. We opened up the menu in search of coffee but tripped up at the baked goods. Rainy day= pizza/scones and coffee with cream.

Intent on a trip to the Silver Pavilion, we got back on the road only to be diverted again by some head turning shops. If the price is right, we're there!

We probably made more stops than a local bus but managed to arrive at the Silver Pavilion in the end. We weren't expecting this to knock our socks off but trekking around the stone gardens and lush greenery in the rain was spectacular. In all honesty, we're not entirely sure why we loved it so much but it fit the bill perfectly today.

Next, we wandered on to the Path of the Philosophy. We dandied along by a small river, admiring the delightful bushes and other captivating shrubbery.

One of the lesser known sights we stumbled upon that wasn't on the map was the pussy wagon driven by a goose.

I don't know where they were headed but they weren't going anywhere fast.

We ditched those fellas and carried on towards the end of the path. Last stop on the cards today: The Tea Ceremony. This is one of Japan's traditional cultural practices which derives from Zen Buddhism. In an awkward silence we sat with a group of strangers watching the long process of spoon rubbing, whisking and pouring before we had the chance to have a go for ourselves. I think the short period of silence sent Emma barmy because in a whisking frenzy she fired a dozen inappropriate questions to the group of tea makers about fish, tea and smells. This was largely to the group's bemused silence and to Ashton's complete hysteria. In all the excitement we have discovered that the art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony is Emma's new talent. Watch this space- Britain's Got Talent here she comes!