We have had the most wonderful few days celebrating family in all sorts of ways. In between we have been to Mount Stewart, which had gorgeous gardens, and despite the fact that the National Trust have the place all packed up because it is being renovated, it was really interesting to see the processes involved in storing,cleaning, restoring everything from chandeliers to silk curtains. They aim to save as much original material as possible, rather than replace wi...

.....the photo is of peonies in the garden at Sissinghurst Castle, the one time home of Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson. I have always wanted to go there since I read Vita's biography, and it was so worth going. The garden will be more beautiful when spring is truly sprung, but it was exquisite nonetheless. We also trundled on to Chartwell, Winston Churchill's country residence. It tied in nicely with our visit to the Cabinet War Rooms and the Churchill ...

A final wander through the area the Clark/Harrington families came from before they headed for London. Firstly to Coggeshall where there was an amazingly intact house from the 1500s belonging originally to Mr Paycocke. Amazingly detailed carvings and all higgledly piggledly rooms and stairs with a delightful garden. There was also an enormous barn, or Grange, from the 12th century, preserved and restored. It was a winnowing barn originally. Then we finished off t...

We are actually staying with my cousin in Romford and seeing lots of things, but this photo is of the cloisters around Canterbury Cathedral. We have also explored Greenwich, with its Royal Observatory and Maritime museum, Queen's Chapel and Painted room, and then happened upon the Thames underpass walkway, so we of course had to do that too. Canterbury was an amazing place, and whilst the cathedral was impressive, the alms house that provided a place for the poor...

This was taken at Jane Austen's front door, at Chawton. It has been our only wet day so far, despite the dire predictions of forecasters, so we consider ourselves very fortunate. Not that we want to cause a drought or anything, but a bit of dry weather will be gratefully received. After visiting the Austen residence, which was very well put together, we went on to Winchester, which, despite the pouring rain, was really impressive. The Great Hall is all that is le...