Nostell Priory And Parkland

Today we met up with grandma and grandpa (mam-ma and pam-pa) at Nostell Priory and Parkland, a National Trust property that happens to be pretty much exactly halfway in between our two houses. I didn't take that pic, it's courtesy of the National Trust website. :)

The weather was a bit iffy but we decided to brave it and just make the best of it. Luckily the showers blew over pretty quickly so we didn't really get wet. We started out by exploring the parkland. Their was lots to look at and climb on and plenty to keep us on our toes (electric fences, deep lakes and slippy tree trunks) but it was great fun chasing round, playing hide-and-seek and a quick game of football.

After our exploration, we indulged in a very yummy picnic provided by grandma and grandpa. I think we were rather spoiled by it - homemade soup (using veg from their garden), sarnies, fruit, cake, pork pies, crisps . . . Beth wolfed down two cups of soup along with copious amounts of crisps! Of course Toby was present, here he is hanging out with dad.

With lunch finished, we headed into the gardens - we gave the house a miss (with the exception of climbing up and down the steps) as it prides itself on having a fantastic collection of Chippendale furniture, not something that mixes well with an energetic two-year old. The grounds were very nice with lots of trees to clamber on and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

There was also a merry-go-round, not something we would normally have Beth go on but grandma indulged her (what's that saying . . . when mum and dad say no, ask grandma!) and she had a blast. Unfortunately she was not impressed when only allowed one go. After a relaxing cuppa in the tea room (very British!), we headed home. Beth has only just dropped off (9pm), I think her mind was spinning with the activities of the day, she obviously had a fab day as just before she settled down, she asked to do it again tomorrow.