On the Border

After a manic week, in which I failed to get the stocks down from the hall loft for the local community day, I managed to complete the majority of self-imposed deadlines and departed for a break in the tin tent.

As we drove off DH posed the question he always asks at this point in the proceedings..
"What have we forgotten?"
I always reply that I have absolutely no idea, or it wouldn't be forgotten, and that if we have forgotten anything we can replace it, do with out or improvise.

Despite our 'everything-including-the-kitchen-sink' approach to packing (well we do have a caravan) we usually forget something, but not anything too vital. This year it was the beach shoes. Yes, they are still drying out in the airing cupboard... Minorly irritating, but not the end of the world.

We spent the first three nights on the Hampshire Wiltshire border. Several years ago I had visited Mottisfont and had always planned to take Barry and Abi. There was also a bellringing day around Salisbury on the Saturday... We like to take the opportunity to ring at some new towers, especially the rarely available 3's and 4's that are often available on these planned events.

Friday saw us at Mottisfont. I had visited in October, when the garden was not at its best. Since then quite a bit of remodelling has gone on, and it is much more than just a rose garden!











Even on a grey, drizzly day it is still an interesting place to wander around.
















Lots of interesting things to discover...

Knowing the rain was going to get heavier we did as much exploring outside as we could.
















Finally we decided we better brave the chaos of the cafe, which is situated on the lower floor.
We entered by the cellars, which was a tad disconcerting!
I wanted to ask if anyone had seen the salt...













DH disappeared to visit the facilities, meanwhile I acheived the impossible by finding a vacant table in the old kitchen.
The other side of the wall was a waterwheel, which turned the spit. The downside of this was the repetive soundtrack of the waterwheel turning, as we ate.
Above our table was a viewing panel into the inner working of the waterwheel. As it was above my head I failed to notice this, until a succesion of people stopped by our table and stared intently at the wall above our heads...

As anticipated the KHT LOVED the Beano exhibition and intently read each and every cartoon.

The KHT instinctivly interacted with various elements of the exhibition.















There was also an official photo booth.
Some were less keen to take part.
"Dad, you are so lame! I am never going to take photographs of my children!" one pre-teen was heard to proclaim.
"Don't blame us when there are no photographs of you!" was the response of one parent.
The KHT had no such qualms, and immediately went into pose mode with a stink bomb!







Outside the rain was getting heavier and heavier.
We delayed the inevitable with another coffee, but finally admitted deafeat and exited to a car park that was rather emptier than when we arrived!


Mottisfont - a fascinating visit. Gorgeous in October with the autumn colours,  and even lovelier in August.

Perhaps next time we visit it will be a sunny day, when the roses are at their best!