Last weekend we travelled to Tring to stay with Donna and Patrick. It was lovely to see them after our seven weeks away. The weather was also glorious. What more can one wish for.
On Sunday we decided to visit Waddesdon Manor, which is a country house in the village of Waddesdon, in Buckinghamshire. Some country house! We thought we were in the Loire Valley. Then I found out that the house was built in 1874-89, in the Neo-Renaissance style of a French chateau. The owner, a man called Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, used the house to display his outstanding collection of art treasures and to entertain the fashionable world. Lots of money!
The house and gardens now belong to the National Trust, but as we had Poppy, the dog, with us we decided to just visit the gardens. But it turned out that dogs were not allowed in the gardens, so poor Patrick had to walk up and down the road, while we had a quick look at the gardens. Welcome back to England.
Donna and I posing in front of the fountain.
And again in the summer house, by the bird aviary.
The artistic display of flowers and plants was quite remarkable.
There were even living sculptures, bird shapes covered in plants, sedges I think.
I loved the lace effect in this garden bed, which was created by using curry plants.
A group of gardeners were cutting and gathering the grass, using traditional methods. Fascinating.
A shady refuge, where many people were having picnics. No dogs of course.
And then it was off to a town that was more realistic, more down to earth, and very tatty around the edges, Aylesbury. Aylesbury has plenty of history, but during the 1960s it was selected as an overspill town for Londoners and a massive housing expansion took place. At the same time, the centre of Aylesbury was extensively renovated and modernised, unfortunately not with a lot of imagination. But I would still like to take the Heritage Walk, as the history is very interesting.
Last weekend there was much activity in the market square, with bands, and activities and rides for the children. We had a very good cup of coffee at a cafe in the square. Always a good start.
On Saturday evening we sat on the new patio and enjoyed a delicious barbeque dinner. Patrick had spent most of the day building the wooden deck, and we were very impressed with the result. Well done Patrick. Top marks.
We left unwillingly on Sunday afternoon, and travelled back on an empty motorway, while Murray successfully played in the tennis finals at Wimbledon. I think everyone was at home, watching the match. Well timed journey.
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