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Fantastic Visit to Houghton Lodge Gardens

I travelled from North Kent to visit Houghton Lodge Gardens. 2 hours in sweltering heat to reach this fantastic house and gardens on the bank of the River Test. I joined a long queue of people at the entrance, some had prepaid to include a bbq, a first for these popular garden visits but it was possible to pay on the door for just a garden visit (I actually managed to buy one of a few spare bbq tickets too!). So grateful to get to the changing area and get rid of the restrictive clothing I was in following a previous event near home.
The gardens are magnificent and the lawns drop down to the quietness of the River Test, with swans gliding by. The only sound were the sounds of nature. Perfect. Around the grounds were a series of sculptures, part of a temporary exhibition. If you wanted you could join in the Treasure Hunt Maddie had devised. I had taken the opportunity for a glass of chilled rose in the surroundings of the more formal gardens, beautiful colours surrounding.
In the middle was a long table under a cover, ready for the delicious bbq that rounded off the evening. Post-drink I wandered round the peaceful setting with the sun, still powerful at 7.30pm
There were over 70 people attending, a fantastic turnout.
I finally left the site at 9pm with the temperature still registering 23 degrees where it remained for most of my journey back to Kent.
What a glorious evening! Thanks to our host Sophie and her son for the cooking - he even joined in the dress code but with suitable apron protection from the heat of the bbq, and thanks to @Geoffrey Ryder and Maddie for their organisation.
"Let's do it again this summer" we heard. So we arranged the next visit for Wednesday August 13th. Sadly we are unable to arrange a BBQ for this one but we have put in a request of a repeat of the weather (we can but hope). Details will be on the calendar very soon!


We are back at Petersfield for a series of 3 swimming evenings as part of their Great British Skinny Dip involvement in June and August.
The pool is heated to 27 degrees C, there is a café on site for hot & cold drinks and snacks and a BBQ especially for us.
is a large public car park or if coming via public transport, the pool is located a 10 minute walk from the station. 
The Great British Skinny Dip is raising funds for the British Heart Foundation. Please consider purchasing a ticket with an extra £2 donated to BHF. Alternatively we will have collecting buckets for any cash donations on the night.
Swims will be held on 28 June, 1st and 22nd August at the Petersfield Open Air Swimming Pool
Ticket prices:
BN Member £9.50
BN Non Member £12.50
BN member plus £2 donation to BHF £11.50
Non BN member plus donation £14.50
See our calendar link for our first swim on 28 June for details and booking
I'm really sorry but we have had to amalgamate the two sessions on Sunday as we didn't sell enough tickets for session 2. If you have a ticket for the second session we would love it if you could make the first session that starts at 11am. I have emailed all those who bought tickets for that session but thought it best to publicise this as much as I can in case people don't check their emails. Please let me know if this affects you and you can't make it for 11am and I'll organise a refund.
Once again huge apologies. I have tried hard via social media, newsletters and this website to sell tickets and had hoped there would be more response closer to the day. Perhaps the good weather forecast has on this occasion worked against me!
For those booked for 11am nothing has changed.
A quick update on the pottery event in Shepperton South West London on June 1st. We have sold out the first session and still have some tickets left for the second session which starts at 2.30 although there will be a social session for both groups at 1.30 (coffee, tea and biscuits). The session runs till 5pm. Julia will be giving tuition in making a piece but if anyone has experience and wants a go on the wheel unassisted they are welcome.
Here's the link if you'd like to book:
Pottery tickets link
In case anyone has missed the announcement by Andrew Welch London now has its own swim again. It's on Sundays 8pm to 10pm at The Circle Gym and Spa, Queen Elizabeth Street, London, SE1 2JE. This is near Tower Bridge.
The club has a 17-metre indoor pool, with two lanes. One lane will be for swimming and the other for chats and relaxation. You’ll also have full access to the club’s steam room, sauna, and spa pool.
To see the full news release from Andrew click on:
London Swim
To book a space email
hello@thecirclegymandspa.co.uk


Valerian Sun Club on the Isle of Wight  is holding an Open Day on May 4th. It's a lovely place set in 6 acres of protected woodland. They have a clubhouse and camping facilities with electric hook up. There will be coffee and cake on the day and Mike of BN Quiz fame will be there to welcome you with a smile!! The club is on the outskirts of Havenstreet and is within walking distance of the Steam Railway Centre. 
 
I'm negotiating at the moment to hold a naked theatre night at the Vaults in Waterloo, London. We have been there twice in the past and it's been very successful. This one is a comedy based on Pride and Prejudice. Apparently the cast of the show are up for it (they loved it the last time we had a clothes optional night there). What I need to know now is how many people would be interested? 
They are selling tickets at £19 but that might need adjusting if I can't guarantee a full house. The show would be some time in the next two months... please let me know below if it's a strong possibility for you.
I've been in touch with the Village Pottery near Twickenham today and we can have two pottery lessons for 12 people at a time. It would be on a Sunday afternoon sometime between May 20th and June 20th. The idea is that there will be a 40 minute gap between sessions so the first group can socialise with the second one. It's a case of bring your own refreshments. Julie the owner and tutor has already had one naturist group as can be seen 27 minutes into the great film linked below. Tickets will go in sale as soon as I'm confident we can sell enough at £35 each. Could you please comment below if you're really interested.. with no obligation at this point. There is a nearby railway station (1 mile). Patti and myself will be going so that leaves 22 tickets... or just 10 if we can only get enough for one session.
 

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