If you came to Bromley- and why wouldn’t you?- to visit me, you’d be in good company. Obviously the people that have come to visit me so far have been friends and bloggers and I have generally entertained them at home, but if you wanted to get a sense of the area, of why I love living in Bromley, then let me tell you where I would take you.
We’d drop the Girls at school- you could stand bemused at the edge of a circle of Mother’s banging on about all kinds of things that may or may not mean anything to you. You would get a sense of the chaos of parking outside school during the rush hour, the rush we are all in to get the children in, do whatever things we need to do before rushing back to pick up our little darlings. You would experience the madness that is driving around before 8am, the speed, the frustration of idiot drivers, people cutting you up.
And then we would park up and get out of the car, walk past a row of lavender and in a purple door and all of that insanity- the fast pace, the rushed conversation, the mad driving- would vanish, forgotten. The most pressing concern would be cake- the pretty sprinkle-covered cake pops, or the big fat Red Velvet cake? The croissants or the pastry? The fat wedges of plum and almond or a pretty cupcake laden with a pyramid of swirled icing.
We would sit in chairs waiting for our drinks, soft music piping round the room, smoothing ruffled feathers. If it were dry we may be sitting in the garden under the shade of the pergola, watching other children play on the climbing frame, cries of joy punctuating our conversation. We’d wallow in good service, friendly faces and pay no attention to the clock. We’d dig into our cakes silently, not thinking once about the calories but about the soothing effect it will have on our souls. We will sip foamy coffee from vast cups as we watch the world go by. We may even forget that the other person is there, sitting opposite us, whilst the hot fluid lubricates throats and softens voices.
And then we would walk out, braced with caffeine and sugar, to join the rush once more.
That my friend, is the Lavender House. My local cafe and haven.
Submitted to The American Resident’s where you live link.
Oh I love it there! I haven’t been able to pop in as much as I’d like lately but it doesn’t matter because the owner, niki always remembers my name! It’s like “cheers” but with hot chocolate 🙂 my kids love that climbing frame!
It is the BEST place @emma, isn’t it?
Life often leads me very near to Bromley, sometimes I escape and spend time in Zara in the glades. I know exactly where this cafe is, my Grandad lived just around the corner and my mum was in a nursing home just over the roundabout at the bottom.
Somehow I have failed to get into the Lavender cafe! how!!!! it is now on my MUST DO list. thank you x
no worries. Glad I could help.And next time you are in Bromley, let me know!
My tummy is rumbling!
Mine too @Becky. Time for lunch.
I would love to have a beautiful cafe within walking distance and I think I found my local haven this weekend but it is a drive. Next time I’m in Bromley I’ll know where to go x
I am grateful it’s not within walking distance @DamsonLane. I’d live there. And be the size of a bus.
That sounds completely lovely! Let me know when you’re free! 😉
I am always free @bavariansojourn!
Oh GOODNESS! I shouldn’t have read this before breakfast, I’m now dying for a large slice of cake and a frothy coffee. We all need a little oasis don’t we – even if you can only escape the hustle and bustle for twenty minutes – sounds like you have found a perfect one x
Cake works well at every time of day @Dorky Mum
I am now craving CAKE. And this sounds like the perfect place to have some. You’ve described one of my favourite things to do with friends, actually–find a little calm and just sit and relax. So yes, definitely I would love to do that on a visit!!
Thank you very much for joining in this new Linky! x
It’s just the perfect place @Michelle!