Q&A: Books

Before I begin today's post, I do have to apologise to The Pampered Sparrow,who posted the below quiz on her favourite books and reading habits. The rules state that you must tag people to take up the challenge, but, well, she didn't tag me - no, I saw this and thought it was such a good idea, I'd join in, too, so I hope she doesn't mind! I enjoyed reading The Pampered Sparrow's answers, and I'm always interested to hear what other people are reading. So, here are the rules of the game, and my answers below:

1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of your favourite book cover.
3. Answer the questions below.
4. Tag a few people to answer them, too.
5. Go to their blog/Twitter and tell them you've tagged them.
6. Make sure you tell the person who tagged you that you've taken part!

Part of a beautiful complete set of Jane Austen's books - a brilliant Christmas present from my parents.

What are you reading right now?

 

The Rose Garden, by Susanna Kearsley

Do you have any idea what you’ll read when you’re done with that?

 

I’ve got A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century, by Barbara Tuchman lined up and waiting. It’s rare for a book classed as a narrative history to be praised by academic historians, but this book was recommended to me by a professor at university, and it’s been on my shelf ever since. Covering war, uprising, famine and plague, Tuchman makes easy and enjoyable reading of some heavy material.

What 5 books have you always wanted to read but haven’t got round to?

 

Sepulchre, by Kate Mosse

The Uses and Abuses of History, by Margaret Macmillan

The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins

Parrot and Olivier in America, by Peter Carey

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

What magazines do you have in your bathroom/lounge right now?

Elle, InStyle, The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, National Geographic.

What’s the worst book you've ever read?

 

The Silmarillion, by J.R.R Tolkien and Christopher Tolkien. See below for my thoughts on The Lord of the Rings, then multiply the dry and heavy feeling mentioned below by a hundred to imagine the soporific effect The Silmarillion had on me.

What book seems really popular but you actually hated?

 

The Lord of the Rings – technically a trilogy, but they are often lumped together in one volume, and I’m afraid that’s how I found the whole experience of reading it: lumpy. Now, The Hobbit, I love -Tolkien wrote it for his children, and it’s a magical story with everything I loved to read about as a child – dragons, dwarves, elves, giant spiders, wizards, spells, a creepy cave-dwelling creature, and lots of descriptions of fantastic meals.The Lord of the Rings, however, for me, is stilted and as dry and heavy as a month old cake. I once read that poor Tolkien got so fed up with writing the trilogy, that he took several years off before completing it. It was much the same when I read it, too. In the end I think it took me about a year to get through, and it felt like a really hard slog. Never again.

What’s the one book you always recommend to just about everyone?

 

Silent in the Grave, by Deanna Raybourn. It’s the first in a series, set in the late Victorian period, and centred on the adventures of Lady Julia Grey. The first book opens with the grisly death of Lady Julia’s husband, and follows the investigation from start to finish. It’s pacey, twisted and dark, but with elegant comic touches. I’ve virtually vacuumed up all of her books so far, and it also helps that I know her to be a thoroughly lovely and gracious lady, too.

What are your 3 favourite poems?

 

Sonnet 116, by William Shakespeare – the most beautiful testament to enduring love.

If, by Rudyard Kipling – a favourite of my Dad’s, and hearing him recite this regularly (and loudly) has ingrained my appreciation of it!

Stanzas For Music, by Byron – hopelessly romantic, but with a lovely rhythm as you read it, too.

Where do you usually get your books?

Lots of places – online at Amazon and The Book Depository, out and about at Waterstones and WH Smith, and at the countless independent bookshops I wander into.

Where do you usually read your books?

Anywhere with a comfortable chair.

When you were little, did you have any particular reading habits?

If reading anything and everything at top speed can be classed as a habit, then yes!

What’s the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn’t put it down? 

This will make me sound very dull, but these days sleep usually wins any fight I have to stay awake when reading at night.

Have you ever “faked” reading a book?

No way. It leaves you wide open to looking like a complete fool if someone tries to start an in-depth discussion with you about it!

Have you ever bought a book just because you liked the cover?

I know cover-art these days is meticulously thought out by marketing wizards, and I’m a sucker for an interesting cover, but of course, what appeals to my eye doesn’t necessarily appeal to someone else’s. There are some beautiful and eye-catching covers out there, and if I’m in a book shop and see something I like the look of, I’ll stop, pick it up and read the blurb on the back. Sometimes I even have a cheeky flick through the pages -but never break the spine. That’s an unforgiveable act on an un-purchased book, and a privilege expressly reserved for the owner – So, in summary after all that rambling, no, a cover alone will not persuade me to a book, but it’ll certainly hook me on the line.

What was your favourite book when you were a child?

I had too many to single out, but some have stayed with me into adulthood, I love them that much. The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Tom’s Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce, and all of Roald Dahl’s children’s books are still on my shelves today.

What book changed your life?

There haven’t been any single earth-shattering, dramatic changes in my life as a result of reading one certain book, but great words have the power to pass on knowledge, change a mood, and inspire thoughts (and sometimes actions), both large and small.

What is your favourite passage from a book?

If pressed to choose, it would be Captain Wentworth’s love-letter to Anne Eliot in Jane Austen’s Persuasion,

“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice when they would be lost on others. Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice, indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating, in

 

F. W.

 

I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.” 

What are your top five favourite authors?

Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Tracy Chevalier, Deanna Raybourn, Philip Pullman.

What book has no one heard about but should read?

I’d never go so far as to say I’ve read a book that nobody else on the planet has (or appreciates), but Charlotte Bronte’s Vilette is a book largely overshadowed by Jane Eyre (another favourite), and yet just as good, I think. It doesn’t have the same intense drama or epic love story, but like its heroine, Lucy Snowe, its quietness is its best virtue. She travels to the fictional city of Vilette in Belgium, to teach at a girls’ school. It traces the story of Lucy’s experiences at the school, and the various characters she meets there. Deeply shy and self-contained, Lucy is also troubled – leading to many encounters and visions in Bronte’s gothic style. It’s a strange, unusual and bittersweet story.

What 3 books are you an “evangelist” for?

The Woman in White, by Wilkie Collins, (This is cheating slightly, but still) The ‘His Dark Materials’ Trilogy, by Philip Pullman, The Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier.

What are your favourite books by a first-time author?

Wall & Piece, by Banksy - Some people think Banksy is a street-artist, others think he’s a vandal. I fall into the first camp, and love flicking through this first compilation of Banksy’s graffiti-art – subversive, clever, funny and brilliant.

My Last Duchess, by Daisy Goodwin - The story of a wealthy American heiress during the 1890s, who marries an English aristocrat - the brilliantly named main character, Cora Cash, must contend with an overbearing mother, hostile in-laws, a beautiful but rickety mansion and a secretive husband if she is to make a success of her new life in England.

What is your favourite classic book?

It has to be Pride & Prejudice, by Jane Austen.

Five other notable mentions?

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman, Green Darkness, by Anya Seton, Notes From a Small Island, by Bill Bryson, Lady Audley’s Secret, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, and lastly, one none-fiction – Marie Antoinette: The Journey, by Antonia Fraser.

Lastly, I won't tag specific people to take part in this Q&A, but if you feel like sharing, please do - and please let me know!

Shakespeare & St. George

It's an oft-remarked upon oddity here in England, that more fuss is made of Ireland's national party day - St. Patrick's Day, than that of our own dragon-slaying patron saint, St. George. I love a St. Patrick's Day party, but I do find the lack of English celebration a little sad. The Welsh have St. David and the Scots have St. Andrew, and, along with the Irish, their patron saints and their distinct identities are fiercely and resoundingly celebrated on their respective days. 

Today is St. George's Day, and beautifully coinciding with it is the birthday of William Shakespeare. So, what could be more fitting than a Shakespeare quote about England? Well, nothing - except for maybe a few English photos to go with it.

Happy St. George's Day, and Happy Birthday, Bill!

"This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars...

...This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself...

...Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world...

...This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall...

...Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,--

...This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England."

King Richard II, Act 2, Scene I

Photos: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire; The Peak District National Park, Derbyshire; The Bullring, Birmingham; Charlestown, Cornwall; York Minster, York; Lichfield, Staffordshire. All taken by me. 

The Staffordshire Hoard, Archaeology and Me

Decorative Stylised Seahorse

This isn't the first blog post I've devoted to the subject of The Staffordshire Hoard (see here...and here), so you could say that I'm something of a fan. And I'm certainly not the only one to be smitten by the astonishing discovery of over 3,500 items of Anglo-Saxon gold in a Staffordshire field in 2009. Initially unearthed by one man and his metal detector (Terry Herbert), a thorough excavation was then undertaken by archaeologists. Cleaned and spruced up, the first wave of jaw-dropping artefacts went on display in Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham to an unprecedented number of visitors. The hoard (and the mystery surrounding it) has completely captured public imagination - and mine.

Zoomorphic Mount

This coming Saturday, the 22nd April, sees a series of talks about the Staffordshire Hoard kick off at its permanent home, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. This Sunday, Dr Kevin Leahy will speak about The Finding of the Hoard - The Early Days, between 2 and 3pm. Just under a month later, on the 20th May, Dr David Symons and Deborah Magnoler will give a talk on Conservation of the Staffordshire Hoard. On the 22nd July, Warfare & Violence - The Making of Mercia will be the subject of a talk given by Dr Morn Capper, and finally, on August 19th, Prof. Nicholas Brooks will be speaking on The Hoard as a Window onto England in the Age of the Conversion to Christianity.

Gold, Cloisonné and Glass Sword Pyramid

The Hoard has recently crossed the Atlantic, firstly on display in the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C, and then on a tour of the US, attracting more than 50,000 visitors. These remarkable golden items have become a global phenomenon, and while everyone has their own reasons for being so taken with the Hoard, here are mine (and a little background, too).

I studied History and Archaeology as an undergraduate at university. I loved it, and had the fantastic good fortune to study and live in North Wales; an area of the UK famous for its incomparable natural beauty, and its rich archaeology. Happily ensconced between the mountains and lakes of Snowdonia National Park and the tiny, windswept island of Anglesey, studying archaeology in context came as no difficulty. There were the Medieval castles - Conwy, Caenarfon and Beaumaris. There were Roman forts - Segontium and Caer Gybi - and there were Neolithic burial chambers like Lligwy. There was (and is) so much archaeology to experience, you could walk in any direction and trip over a historic site. Add to this the fact that Ireland is a short trip from Holyhead, Angelsey on a high-speed catamaran, and you'll hopefully see just how lucky I was. I've stood in horizontal rain and gale-force winds, on mountains, hills, cliffs and beaches; I've scraped and brushed my way around excavations, spent hours staring at aerial photographs, scratching my head over radar surveys and carefully handwriting catalogue numbers onto pot-sherds. Science, combined with solid historical research and an open mind can unlock the secrets of the past. Mysteries can, and have been solved, but it takes time and patience to put together the jumbled up jigsaw pieces archaeology presents us with.

Zoomorphic Helmet Cheek Piece

Then we come to something that completely puzzles and confounds; a Hoard. And that's one of the reasons the Staffordshire Hoard holds me captive, because, try as they might, experts cannot conclusively answer the question of why the Hoard came into being. A Hoard, as the very name tells us, is a sizeable stash of precious metal, and the possible reasons behind their existence usually centre on the Hoard being a votive or ritual offering. This is considered to be the meaning behind a deposit of Iron Age metalwork at Llyn Cerrig Bach, a small lake on the island of Anglesey. Pieces, including swords, horse harnesses and slave chains were analysed and found to have been deliberately broken before being deposited, and thus interpreted as having a religious or symbolic significance.

Gold and Garnet Pectoral Cross

Even so, the exact meaning behind the Llyn Cerrig Bach Hoard is still murky - as with the Staffordshire Hoard. A striking feature of the artefacts found in Staffordshire is that they have a strong connection to warfare. They were items made for battle - sword and helmet fittings, shield bosses and horse harnesses. In his early interpretation of the finds, Dr Kevin Leahy wrote,

"This is not simply loot – swords were being singled out for special treatment. If it was just gold they were after, there would have been the rich fittings from sword belts...It looks like a collection of trophies, but it is impossible to say if the hoard was the spoils from a single battle, or a long and highly successful military career. We also cannot say who the original, or the final, owners were, who took it from them, why they buried it or when."

Seax (Sword) Hilt Plate

Dr Leahy also writes that "This will be debated for decades," and I agree. While expert analysis and interpretation can cause the past to give up long-dead secrets, there are some cases still remaining stubbornly enigmatic. Those jigsaw pieces don't always slot neatly into place. We might get a near fit, but we'll never know for sure. There are those who would sniff at this, but for me, this makes the Staffordshire Hoard all the more amazing - and completely enchanting.

For more information on The Staffordshire Hoard, visit the website here.
To book any of the talks listed above, click here.  

Images courtesy of The Staffordshire Hoard website. 

Flower Power: Laura Ashley & Orla Kiely for Uniqlo

What do you get when you cross Japanese super-brand Uniqlo with the heritage of two of Britain and Ireland's best established print designers, Laura Ashley and Orla Kiely? Answer - two limited edition collections at Uniqlo, combining their sleek, modern shapes with two very different twists on Spring's most popular motif: flowers.

 Laura Ashley Limited Archive Collection for Uniqlo

A staple on the British High Street, womenswear label Laura Ashley was established by husband and wife team Laura and Bernard Ashley in London, 1953. Armed with a few home-made print screens, fabric and dye, they set about designing prints for headscarves. This small venture literally blossomed into the brand we know today. Floral designs in a country garden style are now synonymous with the company, found on everything from dresses to home furnishings. 

Laura Ashley for Uniqlo

Such a long, well established design history has left a sizeable archive; an archive the team at Uniqlo were able to make use of when choosing prints for their collection of t-shirts, tops and scarves.

Orla Kiely for Unique

Where the Laura Ashley collection showcases delicate florals and a muted pastel palette, the Orla Kiely collection is bold and graphic. Kiely studied textile design at the National College of Art & Design in Dublin before moving onto postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Art, London in 1993. Department store Harrods were so impressed with her graduation show, they commissioned her to design a range of hats. From then on, Kiely went on to consult for and work with a number of British High Street stalwarts like Marks & Spencer and Debenhams. Her own solo collections were next to follow, thus establishing her label worldwide.

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo

As with the Laura Ashley collaboration, Kiely and the team at Uniqlo dipped into the designer's print archive to find inspiration. The result is a vibrant collection of t-shirts, shirts and scarves, adorned with Kiely's signature retro flowers and fruits. 

Floral prints are a popular and familiar sight in Spring fashion collections from designer to High Street, helping to cast of the winter gloom and revel in the promise of light and colour. Uniqlo's clever partnerships are well-timed and perfectly pitched for the time of year, combining their minimalist, unfussy silhouettes with pretty floral prints and bold graphics. Collaborations like these are great for bringing established designers and labels to a whole new audience - variations on a tried-and-tested theme, these blossoms will bloom in the Springtime and beyond - into Summer.

Images courtesy of Laura Ashley & Uniqlo

Two Years Old

On the 2nd March, this blog celebrated its second birthday. It was a quiet, understated affair - given that its author was away from her computer at the time. But life wouldn't be half as much fun without celebrating; even the little things that make you smile and feel glad, and the personal victories and small triumphs that make a day complete.

There are many things this blog is not. It is not prolific, it doesn't boast a massive following, and references to my personal life (while certainly present in some posts) do not make up the true substance of my writing here. But that's not to say this blog is not a personal journey, because it is.

The Beau Monde Gallery is a window into what really inspires me, what gets me thinking and what fires me up. Thoughts, feelings, flashes and sparks of inspiration culminate here into posts dealing with anything from history to photography, fashion, art, food, film and much more. I only write about what truly interests me - what grabs me by the shoulders, shakes me and pulls me in. My greatest wish when sitting down to begin a post is that this passion is evident in what I write. 

One day soon, I hope to make a career from writing. While I'm trying to make that happen, I continue to write with honesty, not only in ensuring the integrity of the subject matter, but also with heart.

Thank you to everybody who reads and follows this blog; those I have met and those I haven't...those who stay awhile and those who pass through. My inspiration is gathered from those of you around me (and you know who you are), and for that I can never thank you enough.

Just like last year's birthday post, here's another retrospective in pictures to celebrate a very Happy Second Birthday!

Smiley Beach Art, Cricceith, North Wales

Bright Beach Huts at Llanbedrog, North Wales

Manchester Tart at The Teacup on Thomas Street, Manchester

At the launch of Flux: Stoke-on-Trent - exciting, 100% Stoke made ceramics

Admiring the view - Spain

Beautiful Thoresby Hall Hotel, Nottinghamshire

Flying to Canada for Christmas

Spring Time in the Garden

Wightwick Manor, near Wolverhampton

Massive Lemon Meringue Pie. I ate it all.

Cart-Wheels captured on Black-and-White Film

A Sleeping Beauty in the gardens at Alton Towers, Staffordshire.

 All photos by me.

Downton Abbey Style: The Only Way is Up

Downton Abbey, Series 2 aired in the UK a few months back, and following on from its success came a feature-length Christmas special, which I finally caught up with thanks to the joys of ITV's Internet player a little while ago. It's had me unashamedly gripped, and the Christmas special was a piece of pure, magical escapism, not least of all for the costumes.

After the first season finale left viewers on the eve of the First World War, Series 2 picks up again in 1916, and the hemlines of Downton's younger leading ladies have become noticeably shorter. It is to this subject that I want to devote today's post; to exploring the reasons for and why, as well as debunking some popular myths surrounding this fashion revolution.

Inching Upwards: Ladies Edith, Sybil & Mary - Downton Abbey Series 2

For hundreds of years, womens' legs were kept firmly hidden from view. Despite a myriad of changes in shape and silhouette, one essential remained: a long skirt that all but covered the feet, and if not, most certainly the ankles. An accidental (or deliberate) flashing of leg could cause more of a stir than a low-cut neckline. 

Rising hemlines, pre-war: Silk Skirt & Jacket by Lucile, 1913, V&A

Yet even before the outbreak of the First World War, hemlines were beginning to creep upwards. This trend can be attributed to the leading couturiers of the day - Paul Poiret and Lucile. Lucile's creations were draped affairs with fullness at the hips, tapering to a narrow column of a skirt which ended at the calf. Poiret's Ballet Russes inspired designs were more avant-garde, and in the opinion of some, grotesquely vulgar. His muses were unfettered by corsets, cut their hair short and favoured vibrant colours. Ahead of their time, they were not afraid of strong shapes and harder lines when softness in all forms was thought to be the epitome of feminine grace. Some of Poiret's most famous designs from this period have bold, exotic influences and eyebrow-raising hemlines. It's interesting to note that despite this, however, the basic shape of a woman's skirt kept essentially the same shape as its longer predecessor. Gathered tightly at the bottom and secured to restrict movement to small, dainty steps, the new style was essentially a shorter version of a hobble-skirt.

Poiret-inspired exotic silk, net & taffeta dress, c.1914-16, V&A

The Great War, therefore, did not (as is often thought) bring about the sudden liberation of a woman's legs, but was a change already set in motion by high fashion couturiers, which then began to filter through the ranks of society. Costume Historian Aileen Ribeiro has also argued that the craze for more energetic styles of dance gave rise to a simple need for shorter skirts, and the replacement of the stiff corset with the brassiere.

Perhaps more importantly too, increasing numbers of women were entering the workforce from 1915 onwards. As men were drafted to the front lines of battle, women moved in to fill their places at work, as well as going to work in munitions factories, as nurses and in the auxiliary corps of the armed forces. This called for a new kind of practicality in dress. While skirts were still relatively narrow in shape, for everyday wear, the constricting hobble-skirt all but disappeared (along with several inches of fabric). Women could therefore move and work with more ease and efficiency; some women even went as far as wearing trousers and overalls. To a modern eye, nothing seems out of place about a woman wearing a pair of trousers, and yet in the mid-late 1900s, trousers brought about a whole new set of issues: it could be plainly seen that the female wearer had two, very well-defined legs. Of course, everyone knew this already, but trousers showed of a woman's body to a greater degree than ever seen before.

Lady Sybil's Nursing Uniform

A New Practicality: Lady Edith's Work Attire

These trousers and overalls were a whole world away from Paul Poiret's exotic harem trousers (as seen on Lady Sybil in Series 1 of Downton Abbey). While Poiret's designs didn't take off in a huge way, the wartime necessity for trouser-wear would set about a shift in attitude that would see them become a staple item in a woman's wardrobe from the 1920's onwards.

Poiret's Bejewelled Exoticism,1911, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Lady Sybil's Harem Trousers, Downton Abbey, Series 1

Another common misconception is that skirts became shorter because of a shortage of fabric, brought about by the rigours of war. Clothing rationing, however, was not enforced during the First World War, and although the press urged women to shun lavish decoration and ostentation in favour of plainer dress (to reflect the seriousness of the time), those who could afford to dress luxuriously still did so. As seen in Downton Abbey, the evening dress of the wealthy was as elaborately trimmed and dramatic as ever - if not more so.

Noticeably Shorter: Silk & Net Evening Dress, c.1914-16, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The stronger, darker colours pioneered by Paul Poiret and his muses found increasing favour, as corsets were routinely abandoned by younger women, to be replaced by brassieres and corselettes (a kind of bra-corset hybrid) which would, by the mid-1920s, signal the era of the true Flapper Girl; complete with boyish silhouette and haircut, and relatively acres of hitherto unseen leg.

For Downton's Christmas Special - set in 1919 - hemlines shrunk even further

There can be no single attribution to the revolutionary changes in female fashion during the mid-to-late 1900s. Cataclysmic world events acted as a catalyst to a change already occurring not only at surface level, but also in the prevailing attitudes of the time. A shift towards more secular ideals and a move away from (in many quarters) religious moralising in many areas of peoples' lives could only mean one thing - change.

Downton Abbey images and stills courtesy of The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, The Guardian & Modeknit.

Hello!

I should begin this blog post by saying the following things, and in this order:

Happy Christmas! (Did you have a restful, food-filled time?) Happy New Year! (Here's hoping this year is all that you would wish) And finally (and most recently) Happy Valentine's Day.

It was the 1st of December when I last sat down in front of this familiar screen with the blinking of a cursor before my eyes, and lots of things have happened since then. I should rephrase that, reasons for neglecting my blog, as they go hand in hand. Firstly, there was a trip to Canada for Christmas and New Year. After which came much feverish packing, followed by a house-move. We had known it would be happening prior to leaving for Christmas, but it was as busy and as messy as all house-moves are, and inevitably left us with too many boxes and, until a few days ago, no internet and phone.

So, now all connections with the outside world have been restored and the pile of boxes dwindling steadily, I can (hurray!) reconnect to the blogging world I enjoy so much.

Hello everybody, I'm back!

View from the plane, somewhere over the Atlantic

A beautiful, amazing snow-covered Newfoundland

Toronto by night

The Good Stuff!

This is as close as I get to the CN Tower...thanks, Vertigo!

Escaping packing for a weekend getaway here: Thoresby Hall Hotel, Nottinghamshire

The gardens and estate at Thoresby on a frosty day

Sunset on my way home from work

All photos by me.