Waddesdon Manor

I am doing a catch up of blog posts this morning.  This is our day at Waddesdon Manor, Sunday of last weekend.  A stunning Loire Valley style chateaux built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in 1883.  It was a house made for serious parties, Great Gatsby style.  Stunning gardens.  I think we need to go back for a second visit ... after looking at the website again now I can see that we missed a fair bit.  We have learnt that it pays to go easy on the historical aspects of outings like this - the kids can only tolerate so many hours of audio guide, Gainsborough's and French Tapestries ... and did I mention the National Trust volunteers guarding every square inch of these properties.  Boy are they stern (read cranky) and sticklers for the rules. Heaven help you if exit for the loo without a return pass! Hysterical, really.

rain rain go away

On Saturday afternoon we headed off to the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre to see the Sound of Music.  The forecast was for rain but we were looking on the bright side - the forecast isn't always accurate right?  Well this time it was spot on. Thank the Lord for disposable ponchos!! We get to use our tickets for another show in the next 2 years!

a tour of the palace

Today we toured through the state rooms at Buckingham Palace, viewing an exhibition to celebrate 60 years since coronation.  We saw the Queens Coronation gown and those of her ladies in waiting.  We also saw the outfits worn by Prince Charles (age 4) and Princess Anne (age 2) - very cute indeed. The pics above are of us in Lizzies backyard!!  Charlotte adopted a royal corgie and we had lunch in the garden cafe which Bella thought looked very Mag Square !!!

a visit to Downton Abbey

This will interest the Downton Abbey fans.  Yesterday we set off for Newbury around 12.30pm (west of London), arriving at Highclere Castle around 2.00pm.  The pre booked tickets have sold out for the entire summer season but we were lucky enough to get "walk up" tickets at 2.00pm.  After following the show for the last few seasons it was fabulous to have a good look around.  I was very keen to go below stairs to the kitchen but it turns out the kitchen is a film set at the studio.  Still we saw Countess Grantham's room and the bedrooms of Lady Sybil and Lady Edith.

In other news the girls are horse riding everyday this week and Ed is doing  a Tennis clinic.  Happy days!