Wiveton Hall A Jacobean Manor House

 

The Mr and I visited the wonderful Wiveton Hall in Norfolk last week. Actually it was a tour of the grounds and gardens led by the most eccentric and lovely man, Desmond MacCarthy, whose family have owned the house for several generations. 

He charmed and captivated the large group of about forty people with stories and tales of the past. It felt like he held our collective hands and took us back in time to meet the interesting and characterful folk who share his history with the house and gardens.

An eminent story teller and a deeply kind and authentic man, and as the website says the Hall is a place that is genuinely special, quietly beautiful and entirely itself. I don't think the word magical is too strong.

If you plan on visiting Norfolk please do try and book ahead for one of Desmond's tours. He will delight you and restore your faith in humanity.

Hello and a very warm welcome to Wanda a new follower, thank you muchly for pressing the Follow button.

Current Mood

Bette Davis

 

Summer Solstice Blessings Dear Friends

 

We're off to a Summer Solstice celebration this afternoon. It's being held in the orchard that once belonged to my lovely chum Linda who passed away in 2020. The couple who bought the house invited us last year as well, such a kindness. I might even feel brave enough to go inside the cottage this time.

I'll be making a headdress with flowers from our garden and I'll be wearing a tomato dress. Yes a dress covered in tomatoes! Purhased in the colder months for a snip. It will be it's first outing today.

Bright blessings to you all, enjoy your revels.

My Aunt Is Very Giddy

 Recognise this gorgeous waterfront villa? Well if you're a fan of the Tv programme The Durrells you probably will. I loved every little thing about that programme and I do believe it may be coming back to our screens in some other format soon, fingers crossed.

The villa popped up on a lovely blog I follow written by the talented Pip Lincolne. The villa is available to rent through Whitedream villas Corfu. But you may wish to sit down to hear the price. 3k-4k per night. Yikes!!!!

Back On The Market

 Hello lovely fellow bloggers. Trumpet fanfare...... our house is finally back on the market. We've had three viewings so far and all have been positive. We are awaiting the last viewees (is that a word or am I making up my own language again?) to get back to us. They have told our estate agents they will get back by Thursday afternoon, we are assuming they are viewing another house before that. Please cross everything for us.

In the meantime I have continued to declutter and yes you've guessed it bought a few more things. Nothing extravagant of course, you know me for the thrifty gal I am.

I couldn't resist this delightful butler tray table, which m'dears I obtained by swopping some charity shop purchases for it. So in fact the table cost me very little money.

I also received a little parcel of treats in the post yesterday, all very exciting.

I signed up to the Bonne Maman newsletter a while ago and they sent me an offer I couldn't refuse. This box full of delicious tiny pots of jams will be coming with us to our AirBnb when we visit Norfolk soon. Small things that make the everyday a little bit more special.

Finally

 

I have wanted one of these amazing swing seats for years. I have been saving up and we bought one and installed it last weekend. It's not an exaggeration to say that it calls to me, ha ha. And it's name? The Idler.

 Well I have been a busy bee and should by rights have been blogging profusely, but somehow things got in the way. Sounds like a cue for a song :)

The Mr and I had four glorious days in Athens as we celebrated his birthday. Yes it was warm, yes it was beautiful, but oh my the people were out of this world. I speak a few words of Greek and it seemed to enchant the lovely folk we met. I want to learn more before we return, as return we surely will.

We stayed at The Hotel Grande Bretagne and I have to say it is the best hotel we have ever stayed in. Quite exceptional in every way, with the view of  The Acropolis from the rooftop restaurant to the atmospheric bar and Winter lounge which was in fact a delightful palm court.

Both of us have been very busy in the garden as we prepare the house to put it back on the market, keep your fingers crossed for us that it sells this time.

Today has been a sewing day, reworking vintage linens and filling some pretty fabric hearts with our home grown lavender, harvested last year.

I have this month also signed up for a three year study course with OBOD. The order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. So far so good. I think it will be transformational.

The Harp of Erin by Thomas Buchanan Read.

Maybe not quite as transformational as this but a girl can live in hope.

What A Delight

 A little surprise left on my doorstep Sunday morning, a gift from The Brownies.

How lovely to know that children are being taught kindness, generosity and a love of nature.

Tulip

 

Such a sweet and tender story, a Thumbelina adaption by Andrea Love & Phoebe Wahl. I can't begin to imagine the amount of work this took. Absolutely charming.

Spring Equinox Refresh - Here Comes The Sun

 

Hello Lovely Quaintrelles

 Why have I never heard of this before? Surely all my friends are Quaintrelles?

International Women's Day

 I'm not really sure if I applaud this day of recognition for women, celebrating everything we have and do achieve. Should we have need of a day to celebrate half our species? I'm not sure.

Although once thinking about women who inspire me, or mean something to me and my life, I find filed away in my brain many many many women. Here are a few.

My dearest chum Linda who passed away in 2020.

Brave and Strong Trailblazers

Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun, self portrait in a straw hat c1782.

Delightful painting of Madame Perregaux by the above artist c1789

Joni Mitchell

The divine Linda McCartney

A very warm welcome to my latest follower Gill who took the plunge and clicked on the follow button. Thank you.

I'm Still Here

 Well my 'radio silence' has not been because of anything dreadful or indeed anything wonderfully exciting, simply procrastination. I probably have lots to share but keep mulling over any content I think may be of interest, until I decide no, too mundane, I'll wait for inspiration.

I'm biting the bullet today and posting regardless of the lack of world shattering interesting content.

In a rather nice turn of events the Mr has decided to reduce his working week to three days which means he and I are able to spend more time together. We are aiming to make greater use of our National Trust cards and get out at least once a week for a grand day out. We would also love to visit various interesting spots overnight, the only issue is finding a loving cat sitter to look after our chonky cat Morgana.

Happily a lovely girl I work with has been helping us out with that and she and Morgana have been spending cosy evenings and nights together.

A few weeks ago the Mr and I visited an extraordinary place in Wales called Portmeirion. I feel sure most of you will have heard of it. Designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century, it has Riviera inspired multi coloured houses, huge ornamental gardens and sits on a gorgeous bay. You can actually stay in the 'Village', but it was so early in the season we decided not to on this occasion.

 

Apparently it was a place Brian Epstein visited many times and guess what? My fabulous Guru George Harrison stayed there for his 50th birthday. A magical and mysterious place.

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to my latest follower 'Stitchy Woman'. It pleases me greatly to feel a few more folk are part of my online family. Could I ask that if you visit regularly that you also press the follow button. I seem to get thousands of visits but don't know who you are:)