What are you all up to
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Today was spent going around the House itself. I have to say that the quality of the items on display was some of the best I've seen in any house. A few examples follow.
This mosaic doesn't look much but it's from 39 AD. Nearly 2,000 years old!
We all enjoyed the day. The house guides were knowledgeable and friendly.
Friends went home happy. We're starting to head home tomorrow.
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Great achievement by Sophie and her team @Oneputt and a lovely photo of her with the trophy.
Burghley is a grand place to visit @Wherenext we recognise much of what you have shown in your super photos. Lots of room through the estate for a decent walk too.Have a safe journey home tomorrow.
Enjoy your stay over the North East @Francis
Thanks for the hint of using Nectar point to lower the fuel price at Sainsbury's @marchie just have to find one of their fuel stations on our travels.
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It has stayed dry and quite sunny today. We visited Drum Castle
After a walk through the estate in the morning we had a guided tour of the Castle after lunch. There are still Daffodils and Narcissus in flower but what caught our eye the most was this carpet of multicloured Bluebells
There was an exhibition of furniture entitled Ash Dieback. These two pieces stood put for me.
And I thought specifically of @KjellNN when I saw these.
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Hoi Pithoi, if I remember from my Ancient Greek O Level in 1969, are the Pitchers; so difficult to find an opportunity to use the term in everyday conversation, but so was much of the knowledge that was stuffed into our heads in days of yore 😁. To be fair to my former school, Mr Macfarlane, the woodwork teacher, did banish me to the chisel sharpening machine throughout the woodwork course after he despaired at my ineptitude, and Roger Conibear suggested that I abandon Physics in favour of Ancient Greek because I would be wasting the Examiner's time by taking Physics at O Level [his exact words!]
Steve
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We love Burghley House and grounds @Wherenext The house has some wonderful treasures in it and also some of the best paintings that we have ever seen. Great photos. Your meal venue sounds 'interesting'. I would love to know where it was sometime. Safe journey home.
Also great photos from @nelliethehooker especially the bluebellls. Ours in this area are practically over now.
Congratulations to your grand-daughter and her team @Oneputt Such a great photo. You must be very proud.
We have The Archbishop of Canterbury coming to Peterborough Cathedral this afternoon so we shall be on our best behaviour!
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@milliehull exciting! I am certain she will be so impressed with what goes on at Peterborough Cathedral, I cannot think of another Cathedral we have visited that hosts so many events and community projects. Lovely people around helping as well😁
Classic car show for us today. Supposed to have been dry all day, but of course mid afternoon the heaven’s opened. We weren’t too bothered, but some of the concourse stuff was taken home early, and lots of leathering off going on. Hundreds of vehicles exhibiting, some very old, some very unusual, some very rare, some very modified. A lovely setting though, and a nice afternoon…
our Wrangler TJ, not looking too bad, with the big house in the background.
Storm clouds overhead, plenty of stuff putting up folding tops, heading off home.
Post downpour, these two were my favourites today, a fabulous Gull wing Mercedes and a lovely old Ferrari.
If you zoom in and look over the top of the group of people in the centre of the photo, you might be able to spot the red deer.
Some nice camper vans there as well today, old and more modern.
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@Takethedogalong that Mercedes would be my dream car but they go for mad money would probably need to be a multi multi millionaire to get one of those. Glad you had a nice day I love going to the car shows
Lovely day here today sunny and warm had a relaxing morning then headed out to Seaton Carew had a lovely walk along the shore front done around 3 miles they have part of the beach fenced off for nesting birds got talking to someone working there keeping an eye on things and it was fascinating to hear about the work they do and the habits of the birds they breed here then head off to Africa. Had a drink in the beer garden of pub near the site then went back to the van and cooked on the Cadac again for dinner. Currently sitting out in the awning still warm site still busy considering it’s a Sunday night.
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Yes, those Gull Wings are something else. My OH has actually had a ride in one, he was 11 years old, and already mad about cars. His sister was married to a millionaire’s chauffeur, and he had another chauffeur friend who looked after and drove another millionaire around in one, in London. A childhood dream ride.
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Last Friday was a holiday here and all the talk about cars on here we had rather a lot of motorbikes first going past then around 6 to 8 cars every 10 minutes going pass for about 45 minutes not all old classic but very fast cars I heard them more than looking at them as I was doing chores inside, but we do get classic car runs about twice a year when weather drier and warmer mostly old French classics even had English Triumph sports cars all sorts some old MG's even had some Morgan cars nothing big like 4x4s though which OH would like.
We are having a quiet day today as we had Shingles Shingrix jabs yesterday morning I had 1st one and OH had 2nd one and we were both very tired last night and very sore arms a bit easier today and it is my left arm and I sleep on that side not so last night so hope better tonight as got some chores and gardening to do in the next few days before it get too hot upto 30C by Friday, OH has a blood test early Tuesday morning and Thursday another medical checkup at Cahors hospital in the afternoon.
Great photos folks.
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Busy day in the garden again. Spreading more new chippings onto the paths, glad it all done now as heavy and tiring work. Weeding in the front garden and my mobile rang, it was one of our granddaughters calling accidentally, she and her boyfriend are spending their first weekend at our caravan. Bad connection so she couldn’t hear me, all I could hear was water and them calling to each other with things like, ‘thats making it worse, I’m getting so wet,’ it sounded like general panic. My first thought was that the shower had ‘exploded’ and flooded, it has happened before. So I was concerned. Anyway, I then rang her back and it seemed that they had hired a rowing boat in Stratford and they had got caught in a torrential downpour and were trying to get the boat back to the boat yard, and neither of them were very good at rowing. I did laugh. She called me again later saying she had never been so wet. I’m a dreadful Gran as I laughed again. Just so glad it wasn’t something in the caravan.
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Good to read folks news and see the lovely photos.
We've had rain, not enough, but my waterbutts are full. My carrots seeds germinated after the proper rain 😀, my beetroot is reluctant and I'll re-sow if there's no sign in a couple of days. My runner beans have germinated and I've planted some actual plants.
I helped at a fund raising plant sale Saturday, and I was very restrained. Trade was incredibly brisk, apparently folks were queuing before the 0900 opening. Most stuff, and there was lots and lots, was sold by 1030 and we'd re-stocked with the remaining plants! Last time I helped it raised over £1,000.
Today we visited Hinchingbrook House gardens under the NGS and as a bonus were offered a tour of the house for further reasonable fee. First time the gardens have been opend. Fascinating house history, its now the 6th form of a school. Given to Thomas Cromwell after the reformation as it was a Benedictine Nunnery. Then owned by the Montagu family - Earls of Sandwich. Remodelled in the early 1800's after a fire. Then sold to Huntingdon council in the 1960's. The garden is being restored. Lovely refreshments too 😉
I like this aspect, although I think the grass has been cut to within an inch of its life 😉 and thats after rain earlier in the week. The steps down are the Samuel Pepys steps, mentioned in his diaries. He was secretary to an Earl of Sandwich.
Tudor brickwork on the nunnery foundations
Beautifully sunny evening.
OH has cataract op Wednesday, hospital for 0800 😱🤣🤣🤣🤣. Wish me luck!
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That looks a very interesting property, glad you got a tour of the house as well as the gardens @Bakers2. Hope all goes well with your OH's cataract operation.
Your granddaughter's escapade made me smile @DEBSC glad it was not a problem with your caravan.
Super photos of some lovely vehicles @Takethedogalong pleased to hear that you had a good day out.
Hope all went to plan with the Archbishop's visit @milliehull
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We had a rather upsetting night last night, as Fltye had some sort of panic attack around midnight and it took quote a whole for him to settle down. Thankfully it seems that he is back to his normal self today. We only took him on short walks from the van but he was keen enough to go. We have had a few short but heavy showers including some hail. The Deeside Railway was operating today so we were entertained watching it going back and forth.
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Yesterday, 17th May, was Norwegian Constitution Day, which is celebrated by the children processing with flags, in Oslo they go past the Palace where the King waves to them all. In Edinburgh there is a large student and expat Norwegian population, so they also organise a procession. This year DD and the boys went over to join in, I was to go too, but my sore ankle prevented that…too much walking.
They had a great time, fortunately the weather was a bit better there than here, we had several heavy downpours, but short ones so not that much water involved. Just after 13.00 DD had a panicked phone call from her husband to say that the garden was flooding, with pictures. Seems there was a blocked drain in the street, just outside their back garden, a huge puddle developed, the water ran over the pavement and into their garden, which is slightly lower than the pavement at that point.
So they had water over some of their new slabbed area, where their garden furniture sits, and half of their lawn. It drained away eventually, but has left a mess of mud and “debris” of unknown composition. It looks like vegetation, but these are old drains that serve both sewage and rainwater collection, so she is not sure how she should deal with the mess. Incident has been reported to the council, there have been previous incidents, one where water came up in a toilet but fortunately not over the rim, but that involved a drain further along the street and flooded the driveway.
OH has suggested they contact Environmental Health for advice, as well as complaining yet again to the council. And look into building a low wall or laying some concrete edging to help keep water at bay in future as there is no proper edging between the pavement and the garden.
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Hoping Flyte is a lot better Nellie, a worrying night for you all.🤞
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Likewise @nelliethehooker - hate to think of him being unwell - he's such a lovely dog.
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Since what happened a year ago we have built up an increasing list of household maintenance routine jobs and over the last couple of weeks I have been trying to catch up. Last week we had the boiler serviced by BG and whilst they were here they also serviced the gas fire we have in the lounge but has not been used for several years, fortunately both OK. Today was the turn of our security alarm which needed a new battery. Tomorrow Openreach are coming to install our FTTP fibre broadband (previously had FTTC through Plusnet.) Because we want to keep our landline we needed a supplier that does VOIP so we can use the phone via the internet. We are transferring to EE which is also part of BT which allows me to keep a longstanding btinternet.com email address. The front garden is also a bit of a mess but the lady we use as a cleaner suggested that she her husband come over to tidy it up. Sounded like a good plan and it now looks a lot tidier although I may have lost a few plants in the enthusiasm to clear it up! However the gravel is looking much better. We may need to think about a less labour intensive front garden but that is something for the future? Next we are thinking of having a new garage door, probably a roller shutter as the current door is very heavy and we need something lighter.
David
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Suggest you investigate a remote control electric garage door, David. They seem to be better suited to the roller type doors and aren’t horrendously expensive.
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@DavidKlyne Our garage door was a manually operated up and over type, but as it’s a double garage door I couldn’t even move it, let alone lift it! We had an electric opener fitted, with remote control, which transformed its usability. The remote has been a godsend and wouldn’t be without one now. It might be worth investigating as it maybe cheaper than a whole new door?
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We have 2 single garage doors, the garage holds up part of the house so the opening could not be as large as we would have needed for a double door. One is fitted with a Henderson electric opener (quite possibly no longer around as it is over 38 years old), the other with a Hormann opener, they are still around. We find having the remote control openers very convenient, even though we no longer use the garage for the cars. It has been taken over as my “workshop”.
We have had more heavy rain today, again only short downpours, but DD has not had any more flooding. Both the Council and Scottish Water have responded to her report and say they will send someone out “soon”, so at least they are taking it seriously.1 -
We have done some “age proofing” last few years around our home and garden. I have had lots of experience on things to think about, as I have spent the last 14 years getting stuff done to Mum and Dad’s house. Little things we have done are double banisters on stairs (one is a rope, which is ok at the moment, but might need something more robust later.) Rebuilding steps wider and less steep into house, and putting up nice rails, we need to do back of house and steps down into garden next. Bathroom has a new low threshold shower, as it was previously quite high. We really need a downstairs wet room though, but are reluctant to add onto building, as planning permission might mean getting the house re rated🤔☹️ I won’t baulk at getting a gardener (a proper one) in to do the heavy stuff at some point either. We have a lot less lawn than we used to have, but a lot of herbaceous borders and flower areas. We might have to cut back on vehicles and bicycles at some point as well, but if it goes as well as getting OH to part with some books, it may take a while🤭
I’m definitely going to employ a cleaner as well!
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Our hovel in France [sold in Sep 2024] was just inside the north-eastern edge of the Vendee, about 3/4 up a steep hill where the wind blew constantly, and sand/dust flurries were well nigh continual too. We solved the problem by naming the hovel 'Chez Poussiere' [Dust House]. Cost of cleaner saved, because 30 seconds after the door was opened, it looked like the place hadn't been cleaned in a decade … 😁
Steve
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Excellent day today was up earlish and I went out a cycle then this afternoon we went to the train museum at Shildon was excellent free entry although we did give a donation but well worth it an excellent collection of trains ranging from steam up to modern diesel and electric ones great place we spent three hours wandering around the collection definitely recommend a visit to anyone who is in this area. Weather nice so had dinner in the pub just near to the site tonight saves cooking now sitting out in the awning having a drink still warm as we picked a pitch that we knew would get the sun .
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@DavidKlyne - following MiLs Stroke 2 years ago we had the garage door canged to a remote operated one. It really wasn't that expensive. Somewhere in the region of £700 for us. It's a Godsend. We keep her outdoor Rollator in the garage so if we aren't here for whatever reason she has access to it.
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We stopped off at a CL not far from Stoke-on-Trent last night. No-one else on site and despite the vociferous welcome from the 5 White Geese in a paddock we had a wonderful night sleep, the best of the holiday. We were woken by a Hailstorm quickly followed by a Thunderstorm but after that the day turned sunny with a breeze and we rolled home by lunchtime, unpacked and had lunch.
Once everything put away or in the wash we went to see MiL, who still has 1 more night in the Care home. She took so much stuff that we needed to bring the dirty clothes back, although they do have a laundry , plus one of her Rollators. The Staff have described her as a bit of a Character but in a nice way. I think they get a lot of easy to please Nonagenarians as clientele. So she was probably a breath of fresh air and a challenge. Luckily for us they are more than willing to have her back. We haven't asked her opinion yet!🤣 Both of us feel very refreshed in a knackered sort of way.😂 The break was great, the only downside is that we didn't get out on the bikes. We did however meet up with @milliehull and her OH which was a treat and both ourselves and our friends had a great 24 hours meet up.
Hard work starts soon with lots of washing and cleaning and appointments to keep. I have a new medical problem to take up with my kidney people so the holiday will soon be a blur, but glad we did it and glad we were given a chance to.
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@Takethedogalong adding an extension won't immediately impact of the Council Tax band because re-rating of houses now only takes place on the sale of the property. This is a bit of sore point for me as when we had our extension in 1989 you were re-rated and we went up a band, Our neighbour had a large extension(much larger than ours) after the rules changed with no increase in tax band and I reckon that in the years that followed I have paided thousands more in Council Tax😔
David
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Thanks for the advice re the garage door. I did have in mind a roller shutter door, ideally with an electric motor. I don't think there would be any problem with fitting one they only question mark is the electrics as the garage is remote from the house (at the bottom of our garden) I installed a supply via a fused spur from the utility room many years ag but whether that meets current regs I am not sure? Having said that whatever company I use will no doubt take that into account which might mean extra cost although that wouldn't particularly impact on the decision.
Dvid
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Dentist this morning (....thankfully just a check-up). Hospital this afternoon (to have a 72 hr heart monitor 'fitted'). Then I've eventually booked a site for a few days next week - forgot it was half term. Most CAMC sites are full for the days we wanted, but managed to get at serviced pitch down at Littlehampton. Haven't been down that way for a while.
David
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....some lovely photos, btw. Thanks to all for sharing.
Hope you manage to get the garage door sorted @DavidKlyne ..... and hope you got over the geese, @Wherenext.... and the rather changeable weather. Your geese story has just reminded me that our daughter (who lives in the Outer Hebrides), has just hatched about half a dozen ducks, and had had 9 toddlers visit this morning to see the ducks!! 😀😀
David
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