Packwood +2

I can't believe it has been two whole years since Packwood opened its new visitors facilities. Packwood was a little favourite for us even when there was a tiny gift shop with a vending machine and portacabin toilets! We are quite easy to please! But when they opened their literally AMAZING visitors centre in 2013, our visits to Packwood increased. In the first week of its opening, we visited twice :o !

Louie and I feel so at home at this gorgeous place, the staff are always friendly and go the extra mile for you. One time, they even baked me my own birthday cake! (Chocolate and raspberry, it was delicious!) 

But this time, we visited with Anna, Isaac and Alistair as we needed to evacuate our house! Surprise decorating was on Pappy's to do list ;)

So, the story began when Pappy told us to go out early. We arranged to meet the Stephenson's at 10:30 but we were out the house at 8:55. Someone forgot the boot socks. After a quick hop in to a random kids clothes shop in the local village of Knowle, fluffy socks were purchased (with a 30% discount, score!) and the day was well and truly saved. Fluffy socks were very needed!

We started our day with coffee and flapjack, snuggled on wingbacks in front of the fire reading books. I mean, what more could you ask for?

Next on the bill was a wander around the Kitchen Garden.  Kiddo's played in the Pottering Shed, Mama's took photos. It was a little slice of heaven.

After a quick pit stop, we found our way to the meeting room and spent a long time making paper chains. Louie's grew rather speedily and we met a gorgeous little boy who liked to stick the papers to his chin to make a beard, that child was a legend!

Then it was time for lunch. As usual, someone wanted to sit on their own and he was a little star. After he finished eating, colouring ensued, including high levels of concentration with the Storer tongue, well and truly out.

Of course its not a real visit to Packwood without getting covered in mud and of course, the welly walk didn't disappoint (though it wasn't as muddy as it has been previously, no wellies were harmed in the making of this blog...). The rain came down and we learnt the hard way that stick dens don't really provide much cover and Louie and I fell in love with a rope swing which provided everyone with some wholesome entertainment!

We worked up quite a thirst which deserved hot chocolates all around, spot on.

Now someone had such a good time, that they may have protested so much all the way home, that we may have to visit again tomorrow... we shall have to see!

Thanks again Packwood, you were great, thanks for being awesome!

The King Richard III Cortége

Today we were lucky enough to have the remains of King Richard III travel through our little village on its way from neighbouring Market Bosworth (and Bosworth Field) to its final resting place at Leicester Cathedral.

It was a special day in the history of Leicester so of course we were ready to celebrate! We visited our local farmers market in Bosworth for our monthly breakfast of Pick's breakfast rolls and stocked up from our favourite butcher. Thanks to my new love affair with Ocado, it was only a little shop at the farmers market this month.
We enjoyed all of the festivities, with the beautiful decorations all around the village. There were people in medieval dress and music playing through loud speakers, it was lovely and atmospheric and made for a lovely morning.

 In the afternoon, we made our way to the local village green for the medieval party. We saw birds of prey (not ready for their photo finish unfortunately!), ladies spinning wool the old fashioned way and Louie even sweet talked a gentleman in to letting him have a go at archery as I wasn't able. It was lovely to have all of this literally on our doorstep. The village was decorated beautifully and it was evident that everyone had made such a wonderful effort.

 We retreated home to keep up to date with where the cortége was on the TV before nipping to the end of the street to watch him drive past! Unfortunately we were expecting a bit more of a spectacle, everyone did seem a little dissapointed but at least we were there for this momentus day in history.

Christmas at Calke

 Apologies for the absence, preparing for Christmas this year has taken its toll and something had to give, unfortunatley that has been blogging! I have been incredibly busy just about every single day of December so far and now I have finished work and Mr Bee has finished school, I am very much looking forward to some quiet time to actually enjoy the festivities!

 This afternoon we made our annual visit to the Calke Christmas event. Our third year in succession, it seems to have become a tradition. I think this year has been the busiest it has ever been and the atmosphere was fantastic! We had a delicious lunch and roamed around the Fine Food Fair, we were very pleased with our artisan fudge purchase!

We made our visit to see Father Christmas, it was the longest we have had to wait (an hour!) but as always, he was fantastic and truly worth the wait in the bitter cold.

Louie had fun amusing himself in the queue, playing on the mounting block, watching the man with the music box and having a turn on the adorable old fashioned carousel, whilst Pappy got well and truly blown away, his hair was a picture!

Mr Bee and Father Christmas got on like a house on fire! Louie warned Santa  not to eat too many mince pies and they had a good old giggle together, it was absolutely adorable.

After another warm cup of tea and a play on the  heaving play park, we headed in to the gardens for the lights and labrynths trail starting from the church and ending in the house. We bumped in to one of Louie's school friends which made the day even more magical for him, as they ran together giggling along the way.
St Giles' was lit up in full glory and was a beautiful place to stand and watch the sun settle behind the trees on the shortest day of the year (whilst Louie spent aaaaages climbing a conifer...)

Another magical day spent at our lovely Calke, stunning as ever.