A Welcome Break

Every family has it's ups and downs doesn't it and 

mine is no different especially recently,

so Mr T  and I were  looking 

forward to the short break 

we'd booked a few months ago.

We'd booked a country house hotel in the

 Nottinghamshire countryside.

Coming from a west country family I have very rarely

travelled northwards on holiday, mine were  usually

family visits  South West so this was to some extent a 

a new experience. 

The weather left some thing to be desired but

the surroundings certainly made up for it.

Our room looked out over the grounds which

I would love to walk around properly

 --when it isn't raining.

But as you can see from these pictures it was a trifle damp

and so were we by the time we got back to our room after

a short stroll to stretch our legs.

Never mind the G&T in the old library before dinner

soon raised our spirits again.

The hot stone massage in the Spa the

following morning got rid any remaining stress.

It was my first massage  done this way

and I loved it so it won't be 

my last.

With lovely bright blue sky but a cold wind

it was time to explore the area a little.

A while back one of the lovely ladies that I follow in Blogland

wrote about Newstead Abbey, so when I realised this was close to where we

 were staying  it had to be visited.

The castle had been owned by the Bryon family, those of

Lord Bryon fame, at one time and

The Fifth Lord was apparently rather eccentric.

He had

little castles built either side of the large lake at the top of the 

gardens (near the car park)

and had mock sea battles with his staff in boats on the lake

with him firing at them from the castles and sinking the boats.

How bizarre is that and not to mention just a bit dangerous.

Unfortunately the house is only open at weekends

but the grounds and the cafe were both very nice.

There were several noisy peacocks strutting around

as well as guinea fowl and geese. 

This lovely old tunnel leads you in to the formal spanish garden

Then into what I assume was the walled kitchen garden 

at one stage although the gardeners there now don't seem to be

working very hard.  

 Aren't they fantastic, it looked liked

they were made out of chicken wire.

The japanese garden at the bottom of the hill looked

 as though it had been flooded during the winter floods

but was still very charming.

The grounds go down hill with waterfalls taking the 

water from the top lake to lower lake.

This one you can get behind and look through

 which was fun although poor Mr T  had to crouch as

it's a bit low for taller people.

Would love to have a go at this making some like this

in textiles.

Back to Thoresby hall to spend the evening relaxing

in the  beautifully restored Great Hall after a wonderful

 dinner in a beautiful dining room with silk on the walls.

We have already booked for next year, 

although for longer this time.

 Hope you have all had a good week and are enjoying your weekend.

We are off to the West country again this week, this time with 

a van full of furniture for eldest daughter who has found herself

in need of it.

See you all again when I get back.

Gillxx