Days out with Culture!

So what to do with my last full day as Lesley on my hols?

Didn’t fancy doing anymore retail therapy, spent quite enough on myself already, but wanted to get out again, for a nice full day, had a look in the National Trust handbook, to find there were a couple of places near to where I was staying, a house,  Lytes Cary Manor, and a garden, Tintinhull, both looked quite interesting so started to get myself ready, started with the usual shower and shave, and then selected my outfit for today, pink top and pink skirt (looked better than it sounds!) over black opaque tights, and black boots, decided on my suede jacket, too warm for a coat, sorted my make up, and thought I would try some new hair, had this one for about a month and was still undecided, looks ok, but just doesn’t feel right, still looked ok on, so decided to try it for the morning, and bring my brunette style with me.

Took my time over make up as always, got to look and feel right, struggled with my eyebrows today but got them ok in the end, had a look in the mirror, yes looked ok, and off I went. As it was on the way I decided to start with morning coffee at Clarkes village again, (and another chance to browse around) so drove over there, and went in, earlier than I had been yesterday so quieter, wandered around a bit looking here and there, and then found my way to Café Nero, bought myself a cheese twist and a latte and sat down at a table, few people about, so quiet, and got the laptop running to pick up my mail.

Right, now on to Lytes Cary, put the satnav on, but there as a diversion, never mind found my way there, passing some interesting woods on the way, made a note to stop there on the way back for some photos. Parked the car, and a final look in the mirror, still not sure about the hair, but, nothing ventured, so walked in, as B and I hold  family membership in the National Trust, I always present her card, not had any problems so far, the lady in the ticket office was very chatty, told me she had one of these “Gorilla Grip” tripods, and weren’t they good, couldnd do without hers I chatted away to her too, and she told me all about the place, where the café and ladies was, and where to go in.

Good start then, hair cant be too bad, walked down to the house, very chatty room guides, but also a few rooms that were empty so good photo opportunities went around the house, loved its feel although it was old and furnished in a period way, it felt nice and cosy, had a chat with a couple of the room stewards, and really enjoyed it, went u into the chapel, and got a few pics in there too, and then the garden, really nice, and much bigger and varied than I had thought, lots of people about now, nice lady talked to me about good positions for camera shots of the house, hadn’t the heart to tell her that unless Lesley was in it, wasn’t a photo as far as I was concerned. Anyway had a lovely time there, very relaxing and peaceful, and felt nice.

Decided not to use the café there, but to go on to Tintinhull, tricky to find, but the sat nav got me there ok, I had bought a change of clothes with me, so changed in the car, tan tights, now with brown boots, under the summer skirt I had bought on Monday , also changed my hair. Walked down the path and crossed the road, and went in, all the staff were having lunch in the forecourt, but a lovely lady came across, and welcomed me, asked if I had been before took my card, told me about the place, apologised for her being at lunch, she was really nice to me and made me feel at home, it really brings it home at times like this how good most people are.

I decided on loo first, then through the couple of rooms open in the house, and then the garden, used the ladies, (took a few sneaky pics in there) and then a look into the house, must have been a lovely place to live, big airy light rooms, that were laid out nicely, and then into the garden, really liked it here, very peaceful, and open, even though it was only spring, loads of plants in flower, and I liked the differences between the formal garden, and the wilder parts, surprisingly big as well, the trust write up, made the garden sound rather small, but I loved it there, found a swing from a tree in the wild bit and couldn’t resist swinging on it, the wind blowing my skirt up a bit, and felt very nice and relaxed again there.

Spent a very happy hour or so there, and decided on coffee and cake in the tiny café, lady served me without blinking an eyelid, asked me if I had liked the garden. I took my coffee outside as it was such a lovely afternoon, sat there basking in the sunshine, looking through my haul of pictures, and eating and drinking. I was sad that my week was coming to an end, but had had such a nice relaxing time, that I felt good.

Getting on a bit, where does the time go? Drove back to the cottage, but on the way passed the little woods I had seen on the way, nice and quiet, ideal for a few woodland pics, changed back into my black boots and slipped on a black miniskirt, followed the path and found a perfect spot for some pictures.

Back at the cottage, it was time to tidy up and pack, love unpacking, but never keen on packing up, sad, but had to be done, I had decided to celebrate my last night with a take away Chinese and a bottle of wine, so once al the packing was done, changed into a flowery top, and black skirt, and drove to Wells, where I ordered my meal, then popped into Tescos for some cash, and my wine, before returning to pick up the meal, nice young chap there to busy to pay much attention to me, then back to the cottage for my final evening.