National Trust Day - Wimpole Hall

Another gorgeous day weatherwise. Blue sky, nice and hot but not oppressive, just a hint of a breeze. In fact a proper english summer day. Plenty of leg-room in the coach. The driver was Chris again and he was his usual witty, charming self. McEwans, the coach-company had 11 coaches vandalised over the weekend, windscreens and side windows smashed. Other local coach companies had helped out with spare vehicles and we were exceptionally lucky. Ours was an actual McEwans coach which had been on a holiday trip in France over the weekend and escaped in consequence.

The reason for the picture of the healthy crop of motorway Ragwort taking precedence over Wimpole Hall, is that it was less boring The hall started life in the 17th century and housed the Earl of Hardwicke. As is usual with National Trust houses photography inside wasn't permitted. And quite honestly, it didn't matter! The furniture was tasteless. Most of the portraits looked as if their subjects were no strangers to the bottle. There were hundreds of depictions of horses and carriages, terribly drawn, and a large oil painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds with hands so badly depicted that I feel sure Bungus could have done better. A lot better! At least he can draw.

By far the best picture is Mrs Radiogandy standing by the side of a tree which I hope some reader will identify. As you will see, if you click to enlarge, it has large ginkco type leaves but I'm fairly sure it isn't one. And there wasn't anyone to ask. The guide who boarded the coach to welcome us, read her script from some typed notes, painstakingly but falteringly. The stewards in the rooms couldn't answer simple straightforward questions.

And outside, as the notices every few yards told one, it was a 'Keep off the grass' type of place. It was badly signposted and unhelpful. I won't bore you with examples.

Having said all that, we enjoyed an excellent lunch in the restaurant, and later a pot of tea. Maybe more tomorrow but I'm 'bloggered'.