I took Alfie out for his by now routine walk around Eaglestone Park and we saw the lady with the white poodle. Alfie saw them first and trotted off to say hello and another lady appeared with a chocolate Labrador and Alfie was in his element as this dog was eager to run around with him. The other little dog didn't want to know. Perhaps he's just no sociable. Anyway, it means that Alfie has another dog to be friendly with, but he insists on running in circles around both dogs. If only he would just stand still. Well, with all his exuberance at least he's getting lots of exercise which is good for him.
We drove out to Claydon House this morning. It was good to get away from the house and Milton Keynes, even if for only a couple of hours. We have been there before, as members of the National Trust we get free entry but it must be at least 4 years since we last visited. We didn't go into the house. They say that you're no more than 20-30 minutes from a National Trust property. I don't know how true that is, but I suppose if pushed, and the traffic isn't too heavy, it's probably 35 or 40 minutes away. Probably the same to Stowe Landscape Gardens. Waddesdon Manor is probably an hour or so away.
We headed out towards Buckingham on Standing Way. I had the satnav on, the one fitted in the car and it was useful as we couldn't remember exactly how to get to Claydon. The traffic got busy on the road out to Buckingham and then we turned left in Buckingham near Tesco's. We went this way when we took Carol's mum and dad to Waddesdon Manor a couple of months ago when they came up to stay at the hotel in Newport Pagnell. The weather did it's best to stay fine and sunny, but there was a cool breeze and dark, brooding clouds suggested that we could expect a downpour at any moment. But Bank Holidays always have to have rain. It's part of the tradition and it has definitely got to be endured. But all the time we were out it didn't start to pour, fortunately.
As we approached Claydon House we saw notices for 'SK' but we had no idea what it referred to. Then, as we drew up in the carpark we saw tents in a field some way from the main garden and entrance to the house. Some sort of history festival or other. Then, across a field, a gathering of what looked like people dressed in period costume. Then we heart the sound of gunfire. It was a Sealed Knot event, the society that reenacts battles of the English Civil War period. Then, as we walked towards the manor we saw people walking about in 17th century costume. A bit like when I've been on location for television dramas and, if they're period, supporting artistes would be walking about in costume. Somewhat incongruous to see people draw up in a modern van or car, and then get out dressed in 17th century costume.
We had to visit the restaurant, which was new to us. I think when we last visited the restaurant was on the opposite side of the courtyard. There was a group of people in there dressed in 17th century costume. Even more odd seeing them in there as if they'd got lost in time and space and wandered in through a time warp or Doctor Who's Tardis or something equally science fiction related.Perhaps they had and we hadn't noticed and nobody else had thought to ask. I just hope they hadn't sent a Dalek or Cyberman or two along with them for company. But I don't think they looked the sort of people who would have thought it the least bit amusing as I had. Anyway, we ordered the regulation lattes and scones and sat and ate them. Very fine and pleasant. Just what was required and completed our visit perfectly. We had a look in some of the art studios which are within the courtyard. When we were married in 2007 we wanted to have a unique piece of art made and decided on having it created by a potter who was based at Claydon. It was made with a slate base with a hand-crafted flower on top of it and we had it at the house in Crownhill, but it got removed and then destroyed when we had problems with our then landlord. It would be nice if we could have it re-mde but at the moment that would not be possible. When it had been ordered and then made we went to Claydon to collect it and on the journey there from Milton Keynes there was an almighty rain-storm and it was so torrential, we could barely see out of the car and had to stop in a lay-by to wait for the storm to pass. It was like a river bursting it's banks and it wasn't safe to continue the journey so it was best to stay in that lay-by. I'm almost sure that had we got out of the car when it was raining that afternoon we would very likely have been washed away because of the force of the water running down the side of the road. As it was you couldn't see clearly the rain was falling so heavily on the car's windscreen.
So, having seen everything we wanted to at Claydon, we returned to the car and then drove back to Milton Keynes through Buckingham.
As we approached Claydon House we saw notices for 'SK' but we had no idea what it referred to. Then, as we drew up in the carpark we saw tents in a field some way from the main garden and entrance to the house. Some sort of history festival or other. Then, across a field, a gathering of what looked like people dressed in period costume. Then we heart the sound of gunfire. It was a Sealed Knot event, the society that reenacts battles of the English Civil War period. Then, as we walked towards the manor we saw people walking about in 17th century costume. A bit like when I've been on location for television dramas and, if they're period, supporting artistes would be walking about in costume. Somewhat incongruous to see people draw up in a modern van or car, and then get out dressed in 17th century costume.
We had to visit the restaurant, which was new to us. I think when we last visited the restaurant was on the opposite side of the courtyard. There was a group of people in there dressed in 17th century costume. Even more odd seeing them in there as if they'd got lost in time and space and wandered in through a time warp or Doctor Who's Tardis or something equally science fiction related.Perhaps they had and we hadn't noticed and nobody else had thought to ask. I just hope they hadn't sent a Dalek or Cyberman or two along with them for company. But I don't think they looked the sort of people who would have thought it the least bit amusing as I had. Anyway, we ordered the regulation lattes and scones and sat and ate them. Very fine and pleasant. Just what was required and completed our visit perfectly. We had a look in some of the art studios which are within the courtyard. When we were married in 2007 we wanted to have a unique piece of art made and decided on having it created by a potter who was based at Claydon. It was made with a slate base with a hand-crafted flower on top of it and we had it at the house in Crownhill, but it got removed and then destroyed when we had problems with our then landlord. It would be nice if we could have it re-mde but at the moment that would not be possible. When it had been ordered and then made we went to Claydon to collect it and on the journey there from Milton Keynes there was an almighty rain-storm and it was so torrential, we could barely see out of the car and had to stop in a lay-by to wait for the storm to pass. It was like a river bursting it's banks and it wasn't safe to continue the journey so it was best to stay in that lay-by. I'm almost sure that had we got out of the car when it was raining that afternoon we would very likely have been washed away because of the force of the water running down the side of the road. As it was you couldn't see clearly the rain was falling so heavily on the car's windscreen.
So, having seen everything we wanted to at Claydon, we returned to the car and then drove back to Milton Keynes through Buckingham.
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