Late Sunday afternoon just after dark the doorbell rang and I could see through the glass that it was a policeman. I knew the children were OK as I had just talked to them on the phone.The things that go through ones mind in those few seconds.
As I opened the door he was halfway down my hall before he had finished asking if he could search my back garden. Apparently a neighbour had reported seeing 2 guys jumping fences between gardens. The Police were taking this seriously as apparently there has been a lot of burglary's in my area (first I had heard)and they were entering properties from the back gardens just after dark and looking for all those extras in houses due to Christmas, particularly jewellery. We will be keeping the back door locked as soon as it gets dark from now on.
Interestingly we had a similar situation some years ago when someone had been stabbed in a fight and the back gardens were used as an escape route. My next door neighbour opened her back door to be confronted by a man covered in blood.We are normally a pretty quiet neighbourhood where the most annoying things are car and house alarms and sometimes late night/early morning parties!
And now I have a confession to make - I have joined Facebook. Always said I would not but not wanting to miss the videos posted by a particular friend in the US I took the plunge. Apart from being amazed at the number of people I know, and may not have seen for decades, there are all my nephews and neices from Australia whom I have never seen, and their children plus other distant relatives. However much this interests me I really do not want my blog to suffer as a result.
So what else is new this December? Saturday 19th we are celebrating our Golden Wedding. When I think of it I have to say that it sounds silly, Golden Wedding - that's 50 years! And yes it is, but where did all those years go. Those years have been very full and interesting, exciting and traumatic and everything in between but looking back they seem to have flown by.
The wonderful part about our celebration is that all we have to do is attend, my daughter Janie is planning it all and both she and our son Peter are paying for it.How fantastic is that!
Monday, 7 December 2009
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Audley End House and Gardens
Looking back to September which seems ages ago now you are welcome to accompany me on a trip to Audley End House in Essex and just an hours drive from home.
These first two photographs of the Hall and Drawing Room are from the website as it is not possible to take photographs inside the house.
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Audley End takes its name from Sir Thomas Audley, Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor who, after 1538, adapted the extensive buildings of suppressed Walden Abbey as his mansion. His grandson Thomas Howard, first Earl of Suffolk, rebuilt the house on a massive scale between 1603 and 1614. Known as 'the Palace of Audley End', this Jacobean 'prodigy house' was three times its present size, and one of the largest mansions in England. But in 1618 Suffolk fell from favour and into massive debt, and his great house went into decline.
Charles II bought Audley End in 1668 as a base for attending Newmarket races: his Queen Catherine of Braganza held court here that Autumn.
Repairs were carried out by Sir Christopher Wren, but their cost proved ruinous, and in 1701 William III returned Audley End to the Suffolk family.
The witty and accomplished Henrietta Howard lived here, before leaving her 'obstinate, drunken and brutal' husband, the 9th Earl, for a royal lover and her new Thames-side mansion, Marble Hill House.
When the Suffolk line died out in 1745, Audley was bought by the Countess of Portsmouth for her nephew and heir, Sir John Griffin Griffin, later the first Baron Braybrooke. He made extensive changes to the house, adding a suite of neo-Classical rooms designed by Robert Adam and a Gothic chapel. His refurbishments included a rare set of English Soho tapestries, now conserved and displayed in the Tapestry Room: this has also been redecorated to depict the room as it would have appeared when the tapestries were first installed there in 1767. Meanwhile, 'Capability' Brown was employed to remodel the grounds.
Today the house's interior largely represents the taste of the third Baron Braybrooke, who during the 1820s redecorated many of its rooms in the Jacobean style.
Doors and windows
Tea House Bridge
Entrance to the extensive organic kitchen gardens
This is how it would once have been
Audley End is a mansion with a difference and we can tour the newly restored service wing where one can get a 'peep' at a "parallel world" where armies of servants laboured to ensure the smooth running of this great mansion.
I bet the men did not do the washing up in those days!
The Creamery
The Laundry
And finally The Housekeepers office
These first two photographs of the Hall and Drawing Room are from the website as it is not possible to take photographs inside the house.
. Audley End takes its name from Sir Thomas Audley, Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor who, after 1538, adapted the extensive buildings of suppressed Walden Abbey as his mansion. His grandson Thomas Howard, first Earl of Suffolk, rebuilt the house on a massive scale between 1603 and 1614. Known as 'the Palace of Audley End', this Jacobean 'prodigy house' was three times its present size, and one of the largest mansions in England. But in 1618 Suffolk fell from favour and into massive debt, and his great house went into decline.
Charles II bought Audley End in 1668 as a base for attending Newmarket races: his Queen Catherine of Braganza held court here that Autumn.
Repairs were carried out by Sir Christopher Wren, but their cost proved ruinous, and in 1701 William III returned Audley End to the Suffolk family.
The witty and accomplished Henrietta Howard lived here, before leaving her 'obstinate, drunken and brutal' husband, the 9th Earl, for a royal lover and her new Thames-side mansion, Marble Hill House.
When the Suffolk line died out in 1745, Audley was bought by the Countess of Portsmouth for her nephew and heir, Sir John Griffin Griffin, later the first Baron Braybrooke. He made extensive changes to the house, adding a suite of neo-Classical rooms designed by Robert Adam and a Gothic chapel. His refurbishments included a rare set of English Soho tapestries, now conserved and displayed in the Tapestry Room: this has also been redecorated to depict the room as it would have appeared when the tapestries were first installed there in 1767. Meanwhile, 'Capability' Brown was employed to remodel the grounds.
Today the house's interior largely represents the taste of the third Baron Braybrooke, who during the 1820s redecorated many of its rooms in the Jacobean style.
Doors and windows
Tea House Bridge
Entrance to the extensive organic kitchen gardens
This is how it would once have been
Audley End is a mansion with a difference and we can tour the newly restored service wing where one can get a 'peep' at a "parallel world" where armies of servants laboured to ensure the smooth running of this great mansion.
I bet the men did not do the washing up in those days!
The Creamery
The Laundry
And finally The Housekeepers office
Hope you enjoyed your visit
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
The Secret Scripture and More
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This is a novel that I think worth mentioning. I know that everybody's tastes are different but this book really impacted me. I normally only read novels in bed so it takes me quite some weeks to get through one.During the day my reading is more things like biographies, travel, spiritual, informative etc., etc. However I could not put this book down and read it in less than a week. Alan read it in 3 days and when it comes to reading he is hard to please.
Although a novel it felt real while reading and I got so emotionally involved with Roseanne, and the author's ability to have one see into the mind of an isolated 100 year old that I could feel it physically. She brings out a simlicity of life that is unimaginable these days. Although painful reading at times, it was also a testimony to the power of the human spirit and very uplifting and I did not want it to end. Added to that the story is based in the history of Southern Ireland which makes it all so much more real. The following is the cover promotion.
"The mental hospital where psychiatrist Dr. Greene works is about to shut down, and he sets about investigating the history of his patient Roseanne. She was committed there as a young woman and now - her records long lost - is nearing her hundredth birthday. At the same time, Roseanne is looking back on the tragedies and passions of her life through a secret journal: her turbulent childhood in rural 1930's Ireland, and the subsequent marriage which she believed would finally bring her hapiness. When Dr Greene finally uncovers the circumstances of her arrival at the hospital, it leads to a secret that will shock them both"
Now for a little update on life here. We have for the last week or so been experiencing some severe rain storms with gales and even higher wind gusts. Yesterday afternoon looking out of the window was like sitting in a car wash! Overnight the wind gusts are forecast for 70 m.p.h. Not so pleasant as the dark days necessitate having the lights on indoors all day. However compared with the weather in Cumbria (Lake District), we are very fortunate and have nothing to complain about.
The flooding there is causing great distress among the population whose homes and businesses are wrecked. Ten feet of flood water at its worst and bridges collapsed making everyday travel difficult. Our prayers go out to these people.
For something entirely different exciting things are happening here. Well not exciting in the general scheme of things but I am pleased. During Alan's working life as an Engineer Surveyor he was based at home and used what was originally a small 5th bedroom as an office. About 30 years ago we decided to turn this room into another bathroom and Alan moved his 'office' into our integral garage which had only ever been a store room and 'house overflow'.
At the time he placed a large formica counter on top of a filing cabinet and storage draws to use as a desk with plans to fit it properly and turn it into a long desk the length of the wall.
Did it ever happen? Well yes, a week ago and almost 30 years later! Of course having been retired now for 16 years it has made a nice working and extra storage area. So much easier to clean under too. I wonder if this is a record or do other bloggers have similar stories?
For some reason blogger is not allowing paragraphs here!
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Sherborne House,Gloucestershire
First Family Owner
Family group, including Mr & Mrs James Lenox Dutton. Their son, James Lenox Dutton, afterwards first Lord Sherborne and their youngest daughter, Jane Dutton who married Thomas Coke, afterwards Earl of Leicester.This is a post I have been going to do for a long time and all that has stopped me is making the effort to scan these photos into my computer.
It's 1988 and I have driven a missionary friend to speak at a Bible study in Mississippii. Before leaving, the owner of the house and leader of the group told me that he was taking his Bible study group over to England in a few months to stay at his Father's country home there. He asked if Alan and I would like to join them for a holiday. Having consulted with Alan on the telephone we said yes.
A few months later we had the priviledge of having the group at our home for a day while they were in London seeing
Les Miserables. The following day we were meeting up with them again at the country house in The Cotswolds.
Come Monday we were driving West wondering what this house would be like and assuming it was a reasonable size as there were going to be 14 of us. When we arrived we were surprised to say the least. This is what we found.
Sherborne House from the air
The front of the house with it's church to the left ( beautiful acoustics I might add when we sang in there)
The house had been turned into 19 apartments, some large and some smaller where 'my friend' let's call him John for ease of writing was able to entertain and offer English holidays to his friends and family.We had a wonderful week with our daughter and friend joining us for the last few days.
Alan on the right in the stable courtyard which was now John's Fathers personal holiday retreat.
The back yard, the Rolls Royce on the right was used to take us ladies out to dinner at a private restaurant.
The bikes we used to tour the local Cotswolds
A swim and a sauna before bed was much enjoyed
Meeting in one of the apartments for an evening Bible study
Afternoon tea in the apartment of the other owner (who actually had one wing of the house)
Real English afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches, cakes and biscuits and tea served in a silver teapot.
The owners wife was a concert pianist and here she is playing for us
Another of the apartments with Jane and her friend (Jane on the left). They were actually staying with us in our apartment but visiting with the couple allocated this apartment. As a result of getting to know the couple during the week, Jane spent the following Summer (while on her university break) working as a Nanny for them in Mississippi.
It's 1988 and I have driven a missionary friend to speak at a Bible study in Mississippii. Before leaving, the owner of the house and leader of the group told me that he was taking his Bible study group over to England in a few months to stay at his Father's country home there. He asked if Alan and I would like to join them for a holiday. Having consulted with Alan on the telephone we said yes.
A few months later we had the priviledge of having the group at our home for a day while they were in London seeing
Les Miserables. The following day we were meeting up with them again at the country house in The Cotswolds.
Come Monday we were driving West wondering what this house would be like and assuming it was a reasonable size as there were going to be 14 of us. When we arrived we were surprised to say the least. This is what we found.
Sherborne House from the air
The front of the house with it's church to the left ( beautiful acoustics I might add when we sang in there)
Sherborne House holds much history which would be far too complicated to go into here (I have a whole book on it) but suffice to say that this house was built on the site of a monastry and in the original Abbey Grange, Queen Elizabeth I stayed twice - in 1574 and 1592 for six days on both occasions.
Thomas Dutton was the first family owner of Sherborne
(1507-1582). Suffice to say in bringing the tale up to the present time, the last Lord Sherborne died without an heir and the estate was bought privately by 2 wealthy Americans, one of them being the Father of 'my new friend'.
The house had been turned into 19 apartments, some large and some smaller where 'my friend' let's call him John for ease of writing was able to entertain and offer English holidays to his friends and family.We had a wonderful week with our daughter and friend joining us for the last few days.
Alan on the right in the stable courtyard which was now John's Fathers personal holiday retreat.
The back yard, the Rolls Royce on the right was used to take us ladies out to dinner at a private restaurant.
The bikes we used to tour the local Cotswolds
A swim and a sauna before bed was much enjoyed
Meeting in one of the apartments for an evening Bible study
Afternoon tea in the apartment of the other owner (who actually had one wing of the house)
Real English afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches, cakes and biscuits and tea served in a silver teapot.
The owners wife was a concert pianist and here she is playing for us
Another of the apartments with Jane and her friend (Jane on the left). They were actually staying with us in our apartment but visiting with the couple allocated this apartment. As a result of getting to know the couple during the week, Jane spent the following Summer (while on her university break) working as a Nanny for them in Mississippi.
This fireplace was one of the main features of the house and this room was originally a hall with a spiral staircase at the end leading up to another hall above, all now making a lovely and spacious apartment.
The other end of the room
The sitting room of our apartment. When we arrived the maid had been in and stocked the fridge with all sorts of goodies including a cooked chicken and a bottle of wine.
Our dining room
A book on the history of Sherborne given to us by John's Father as a parting gift.
There were empty pages where we all wrote messages to each other before leaving
And now I want to say what a small world it is. All this was 21 years ago and in that time John's parents had to sell the place due to ill health and it is now a very smart and expensive hotel/holiday complex. I was amazed a year ago to find out that one of my regular bloggers Linda had recently stayed here in an apartment that at the time belonged to a friend of hers. Linda is an American living in France who posts on some beautiful places in France, particularly Provence. Certainly a small world.
The other end of the room
The sitting room of our apartment. When we arrived the maid had been in and stocked the fridge with all sorts of goodies including a cooked chicken and a bottle of wine.
Our dining room
A book on the history of Sherborne given to us by John's Father as a parting gift.
There were empty pages where we all wrote messages to each other before leaving
And now I want to say what a small world it is. All this was 21 years ago and in that time John's parents had to sell the place due to ill health and it is now a very smart and expensive hotel/holiday complex. I was amazed a year ago to find out that one of my regular bloggers Linda had recently stayed here in an apartment that at the time belonged to a friend of hers. Linda is an American living in France who posts on some beautiful places in France, particularly Provence. Certainly a small world.
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