Killerton Dressed For Christmas Nutcracker Theme Part 1

The visit to Killerton was on a very warm sunny November day first visit of the day was with a walk outside with Beau our doggie so much time & effort has gone in to making the visit a real visitors treat not only are the ground decorated but the church in the grounds as well, which would have been the church to the house, the Christmas trees had been decorated by local school children, Womens Institute (WI) local crafts people one tree was all knitted decorations! This is only part one of the day please see the rest cannot put it into words how much time and effort had gone in by the volunteers. It was such a wonderful treat and they started work in February! 

Killerton Dressed For Christmas Nutcracker Theme Part 2

 Clara asleep under the tree

 Prince & the rat

 Arabian room

 Russia

China

Every  year some National Trust houses are dressed for Christmas and it is really a great way to build up to Christmas viewing the houses.  Killerton for the past three years has done a theme the only NT house to do a theme. The theme for this year 2014 is Nutcracker and we were not disappointed. You start off in the hall were you see Clara  asleep under the Christmas tree dreaming about her Prince you then go into a room where you see the prince dueling with  king rat through the Arabian room then onto the Russian room followed but the Chinese room before finishing off in the land of flowers. A fabulous story and theme with a massive amount of work from the volunteers. 

Killerton Dressed For Christmas Nutcracker Theme Part 3

Photos of the house decorated around the theme such a lot of work & effort gone in to make it spectacular.

RAF Defford at Croome Court November 2014

After the visit to Croome Court you walk back into what used to be used during WW2 by RAF Defford whilst reading my blog you will see blue links which will give you more information. From the last time we visited this is a new addition very well laid out full of interest and as a radio ham interesting read with the electronics used and what they did for the war effort.

Croome Court a revisit November 2014

 Parked outside the old RAF buildings

 Close Up

 Doors now on the Orangery 

 Looking over the lake

 Serenity 

Fairy Grotto 

During the very busy week stay in Colwall did manage one day to ourselves at Croome Court when we lived in Malvern we saw from the beginning the restoration of the garden and now the house always a pleasure seeing how the house is coming along. It was a very windy day and was pleased to get back into the warm at the RAF museum (which is another blog posting) on the way back to Colwall stopped off in Upton on Severn had a mooch around a couple of antique shops brought home with us a Royal Worcester figure called ISIS made in 1890 she is one of a pair and the other is Sabrina and the pair recently sold at Bonhams We were thrilled with the purchase now to looking out for Sabrina. 

Lower Brockhampton Court with Malvern Hills and Ledbury

 Lower Brockhampton Court

 House & Lake

 On top of the hills

 Panoramic View from the hills

 Ledbury

Damn that bloke walking into my photo!

Sunday was another busy but very enjoyable day. Had arranged to see my good friend Steve G4ZWY a radio ham like myself.  We were a little early so it was a quick visit to Lower Brockhampton court but did not realise it had opened up more rooms which used to be used by a tenant so now the house is back to how it would have looked when it was a family home but this made me late to see Steve who had not had his Sunday dinner! Steve and I used to chase stateside stations when I lived in Worcester. I sadly sold the tower & beam when I moved to Malvern due to antenna restriction plus I did not have the garden. Steve has gone on to great things and now in the top ten operators in the world for chasing DX (meaning distance worked) his shack is the best ever I have visited he is such a slick dedicated operator sadly only had a short time with Steve could have stayed there all week with him! We had to leave early had a invite to Tenbury Wells for a meal with old friends who recently moved from Redditch to their new/very old Elizabethan house which they have been working on so much and we were not disappointed it was a stunning house and great meal. Could not stop too late in the night the fog came down thick and fast and it was a long drive back to the bungalow in Colwall.

The photo of Ledbury was taken on the Saturday before the trip home always enjoyed visiting Ledbury when we lived in Malvern as our old doggie Biggles was not walking to good Ledbury is on the flat and was much easier for him to walk. This walk also brought back loads of happy memories.

During the stay in Colwall I had no phone signal and no WI-FI but I did have signals on my Baofeng hand held radio, so the joy for me every morning was listening on 2 metres to the Cheltenham net at 8am then the Hereford net at 9am both on every morning. 

Back to Worcester

 In Rose gardens Malvern

 Love it or hate it!

 Top of the hills

 British Camp

 Looking over to Worcester

 Beau admiring the view

 Priory Church

 Battery operated Gas Lamp

 Modern Replica

 View from parking area of house with gas lamp

Colwall Station Platform

During November a week had been booked for a stay in Colwall the visit was to see my mum also visit the graves and see friends. My mum has alzheimer's which is a horrible disease sadly she had deteriorated so much. Was good to see my next eldest brother who is looking after mum, I asked if he could sort out family photos which made the day more sad, it was seeing the family all much younger and in good health. Did bring home some photos and negatives so I can scan them into my computer. My eldest brother was supposed to come over from Evesham for all the brothers to meet up but he had a foot problem and was unable to make it. During the very busy week saw other friends and family members and managed a nice meal out with friends. Found out that there was a railway station in Colwall all the years we lived in Worcester and Malvern never knew there was a station. Was shocked to see the old Schweppes factory knocked down such great history lost for ever and no more Malvern water! During the walk in Malvern came across a modern version of the gas lamp which was very nicely done. Malvern is famous for original still working gas street lamps and Sir Edward Elgar! The walk on the hills pulled the heart strings with so many happy memories walking with our other dogs and being back in the area. If Malvern had sea near by we would have never left. Visited Malvern from Worcester for over 28 years and lived in Malvern for 12 years . We now love living by the sea Beau loves his run on the beach when we got back into North Devon on the way back home first stop was a run on Instow beach for Beau.