Wednesday 30 December 2015

Between the Storms...

... Mum, Dad, M-I-L, Mark and I visited the lovely National Trust moated manor house at Badesley Clinton.  We were really lucky to see just a hint of blue skies on Boxing Day afternoon.
 
 
I first visited this house when I was a student at Birmingham university in the mid-80s.
In those days NT properties were always closed through most of the winter months.
I love the way many of the properties now stay open and have been specially 'dressed' for the Christmas period.

 
This year Badesley Clinton was full of natural and traditional decorations.
This was the wreath on the ancient door below the gate-house..

 
This is a little detail from the dining room table.
(I'm a huge fan of blue and white and would love to be able to replicate this on our own Christmas table!!)

 
The whole house was full of dried fruit, berries and evergreens.
This is a detail from the library window..

 
Here's our Christmas table, just before everyone sat down for our main meal on Christmas Day.  You can see my beloved blue and white china (Royal Worcester clearance in the mid-90s) but I've got a long way to go before my presentation looks anywhere near as glamorous!

 
Happy New Year to everyone who reads this post
and sincere Best Wishes for 2016 to regular readers who have become my 'bloggy friends'
Jx 

17 comments:

  1. We haven't got out over the festive period half as much as we usually do what with the weather being as it has been. Glad you managed to venture out, and your Christmas table looks lovely. Wishing you and yours a happy new year and all the very best for 2016.

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  2. Happy New Year to you! I am hoping to pop over to Baddesley tomorrow, I love the Christmas decor.

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  3. Just discovered your blog through a blog hop. Happy New year to you. That looks a great place to visit. You have set a very nice table.

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  4. Your table looks so inviting Jan....I do love a well dressed table and the china...what can I say!!! :-)

    keep well

    Amanda xx

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  5. I love National Trust properties too and visit whilst in UK when we can, though we are planning to join over here, which gives us reciprocal for some other countries too. Lovely to have a day out amongst all your bad weather and the house looked very festive. Happy New Year and take care.

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  6. Your table is the best of both worlds. It is luxurious and special, yet homey and inviting to those fortunate to have you as friend or family. I too have a fondness for blue, and love how it looks with the sparkle of gold and silver. Keep safe in the rain. Was it two years ago that the flooding of the Thames was so bad? I saw a few pictures this year and looks like some parts of the UK were hit pretty heavily, just like our south. Happy New Year!

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  7. Happy new year Jan. I love old buildings like that. Finding it hard to blog at the moment but I'll get back into it soon.(fingers crossed) Tx

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  8. I used to love visiting NT properties. I think Speke Hall in Liverpool is still one of my favourites. It's quite small and intimate.

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  9. It's ages since I saw Baddesley Clinton! I, too, love Speke Hall. .. perhaps because it's only 15 minutes away!

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  10. Happy New Year to you too and here's hoping 2016 brings you more new experiences and the good health to enjoy them! :) x

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  11. Happy New Year Jan...What a fabulous place to visit. Wonderful photos. Debbie x

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  12. Hello and a happy new year to you too!!!x

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  13. I love your Christmas table. Happy New Year!

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  14. What a beautiful property - I love the blue glass too - shades of blues are my favourites - have a peaceful New Year and a peaceful and blessed 2016.

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  15. I've always wanted to see a real moat and walk over the bridge. It's amazing that the water hasn't damaged the building in all these years.

    I love the greenery inside. Did it smell good too?

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  16. Happy New Year, Jan. My best china is blue and white, too, and I did have 6 lovely blue glasses...now reduced to 3! I guess that's the risk I took when I let somebody else wash up. x

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  17. Baddesley Clinton is one of my favourites too. Your table looks very inviting but isn't that blue crystal stunning!

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