It's been another weekend of celebrations here in Worcester..
On Sunday we drove down to Oxford to take my Father in Law out for his birthday.
He was delighted with a 'Jan Original' patchwork cushion
(in colours to match his conservatory furniture...)
Mark and his Dad share a passion for sweets and puddings - especially ice-cream sundaes.
Yesterday I took my parents out to celebrate BOTH their birthdays
(Dad is exactly four years older than Mum)
We went to Upton House - the lovely National Trust Property near Banbury.
After days of gloom and dampness, we were so lucky with the weather...
The gardens looked fabulous, with just a hint of early Autumn colour..
My parents love gardens and enjoyed exploring each of the terraces..
The borders were really pretty..
After lunch we went into the house.
Normally it's presented with a '1930s House Party Theme'.
This year it's been completely transformed to tell the story of it's life during WW2.
The owners were a rich banking family and they decided to move the bank from London to their home pretty much as war broke out. The rooms now capture the bizarre combination of beautiful art and functional wartime food, furniture and crockery. It's really well done...
Everything is designed to prompt memories...
Internal mail envelopes have a drab 1940s colour and
children are encouraged to use the type-writers to create memos..
One of the upstairs bedrooms is given over to a display about Ladies fashions and 'Make Do and Mend'. Then the next room is presented as the Ladies dormitory, with everything from this little Singer sewing machine to reproduction 1940s WC roll.
All the clothes in the wardrobe were made from war time patterns by the volunteers.
It's clear that everyone involved in the house has put an immense amount of energy into this wartime project. It's been carried out with a tremendous eye for detail and I'd really recommend a visit to anyone who's in the area.
Today things are a bit more 'normal' again...
Walking, harp, housework and preparation for our approaching holiday...
I'm popping round to help Mum with Facebook this afternoon..
We're out with friends from the car club this evening..
Can't think how I managed to find time to work!!!
Jx
That looks like a really interesting set up at the house, I do like war time things its the only history era I have an interest in :-)
ReplyDeleteOh I would love a visit there while it's War time themed, I wonder how long it's like that.
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly filling your days. I could quite happily fill my days where as I think D would struggle, he always likes to be on the go and doing something but is not a lover of DIY or anything of that nature. He can never quite understand how I can fill my days reading, crafting or in the kitchen or garden. I'm not quite sure what he'll do when it comes to retirement but then working for himself he may carry on until he has to stop.
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ReplyDeleteWhy did the move the bank to their house? It would be fun to see the house; it would be so interesting to see how people really lived during the war years.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'd find time to go back to work now, even if you wanted to. You do soon get in to a routine when you're at home and it's hard to see how you did it all before. The WWII exhibition looks really well done, I'd find that really interesting.
ReplyDeleteInteresting property, not far from us...............
ReplyDeleteIt's not hard to fill your days with all kinds of lovely things to do! The house looks amazing - just my kind of thing! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible place! Your cushion is beautiful!x
ReplyDeleteYour last statement is so true and I often wonder how I fitted in work around 3 children and a husband who was away a lot of the time. I would just "love" to visit that house with it's WW11 theme,as I'm fascinated by that period of time. Hope both sets of parents enjoyed their birthdays and the cushion is lovely. You're doing well with the sewing bit. Take care.
ReplyDeleteDays do fill up, though being the true owner of your day has to feel wonderful. I would enjoy seeing those rooms in WWII period. Thanks for pictures.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though you are having a great time and really enjoying being a "lady of leisure" - only not so lmeisurely! Exactly how it should be. Continue having lots of fun!!
ReplyDeleteLong time no hear. I hope you're ok. I was in the garden this morning and I suddenly thought of you. X
ReplyDeleteI am so glad your parents are still able to walk around the gardens/museums and castles!!!
ReplyDeleteUpton House has come to my attention via another blog, Where Five Valleys Meet. I would love to visit as I work at the Imperial War Museum and always looking to finding out more. I love the idea that the volunteers made those clothes from wartime patterns.
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