Two square sundials outside Packwood House. One shows the morning times and the other shows the afternoon times.
For more of this weeks PhotoHunt pictures check out tnchick.
…for a Royal Wedding.
I hadn’t intended watching the Wedding because I don’t like all the commentary that goes with such occasions, but things changed. When I logged onto my computer to check my email I had received one that directed me to the Royal YouTube Channel. Out of curiosity I checked it out and found the events were being broadcast live, courtesy of the BBC, but without the additional commentary. I really enjoyed watching the occasion and, afterwards, decided that going out for lunch was a must 
I set off to one of my favourite places, for coffee and walnut cake; it was a special occasion after all. When I arrived, I realised that I was in for an additional treat. The bluebells are now in full flower and some of you know how much I love to walk through bluebell woods. It was a lovely afternoon and a lovely walk, which was topped off by bumping into a couple of friends I hadn’t seen for ages. This was another of those little coincidences; we had been in touch earlier in the week to arrange a meal out together because it had been so long since we had seen each other.
Also it was nice to see that some neighbours had organised a ‘front garden party’ with a barbecue to celebrate the Royal event. I think everyone was invited which was nice. I will bear that in mind for the Diamond Jubilee next year 
10 Comments CherryPie on Apr 29th 2011
I was quite convinced that Easter would have taken it’s toll after various meals out and that I would have gained 1lb. I was quite happy with the results on the scales when the told me I have stayed the same as last week.
6 Comments CherryPie on Apr 28th 2011
Archaeologists unearthed one of the largest statues found to date of a powerful ancient Egyptian pharaoh at his mortuary temple in the southern city of Luxor, the country’s antiquities authority announced Tuesday.
The 13 meter (42 foot) tall statue of Amenhotep III was one of a pair that flanked the northern entrance to the grand funerary temple on the west bank of the Nile that is currently the focus of a major excavation.
The statue consists of seven large quartzite blocks and still lacks a head and was actually first discovered in the 1928 and then rehidden, according to the press release from the country’s antiquities authority. Archaeologists expect to find its twin in the next digging season.
Full story can be viewed here.
4 Comments CherryPie on Apr 28th 2011
Edward Ferrers was responsible for creating this ‘court garden’ by 1722 as part of his improvements to the house. It is an enclosed and formal area of grass, in the centre of which a sundial has recently been reinstated.*
The National Trust has planted apple trees of historical nature along the lawn.
*Information from the Baddesley Clinton guide book.
13 Comments CherryPie on Apr 27th 2011
Baddesley Clinton is a medieval manor house that was the home of the Ferrers family for over 500 years after passing into their family in 1517. The house, most of which was built in the fifteenth century has a complex building history. It has been extended and altered over the years but it is still essentially medieval.
The gatehouse (entrance range) consists of a bridge, moat and crenellated gatehouse. The stonework and windows are from several different periods. The two ground-floor windows to the right of the gatehouse were probably inserted in the 1630s. The left hand end of the range was built to harmonise with the rest in the 1790s.
The family range (not pictured) is essentially fifteenth-century although the non arched windows were added at a later date. The slits just above the water level are there to ventilated the medieval sewer. The central ground-floor projection was also added at a later date.
The garden range was rebuilt in 1564 to 1586 to contain the new Great Hall. It was clad in good quality brick in the eighteenth-century to match the eighteenth-century walled garden which it overlooks. The lower left corner is part of the fifteenth-century construction. *
*Information taken from the Baddesley Clinton guidebook.
18 Comments CherryPie on Apr 26th 2011
I had a very relaxing day yesterday pottering around the countryside. The weather was glorious and surprisingly for a bank holiday it seemed quite quiet. I took in the mere at Ellesmere, Whittington Castle and Chirk aqueduct.
I then went home to freshen up and visit Mum for an evening meal of slow roasted lamb. It was delicious. I had to do a slight detour on the way because I had forgotten to take a picture of the decorated cross outside the parish church. The lighting wasn’t quite right and in hindsight I should have used fill in flash.
12 Comments CherryPie on Apr 25th 2011
