Monday 12 July 2010

The End of Audley

Thank you all so much for my birthday wishes! Yes I am older and none the wiser but happier to have such lovely bloggie friends!

So what did I do? Well yesterday I recuperated from sunburn because on Saturday I decided to visit Audley End House - a stately Jacobean home built around the 17th century and fully restored along with its gardens and stables.

Unfortunately without a car and a very long queue for taxis at Audley End rail station, I resorted to walking the 1 and 3 quarters mile to the house.

Here is the helpful sign for those going by car.


I took this photo standing on the pavement earmarked specially for those walking to the house.

Yes the footpath was along this busy road!

But look what greeted me after 40 minutes walking in 30 degree centigrade heat.


Was it worth it? OH YES!

Charlie says: I hope you stopped frequently to roll around like so!


Have a sunscreen Monday everyone!

23 comments:

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

..Oh what a lovely house...er castle. Wow that must have been a real treat to visit that. I hope you got lots of pictures.

Hi Charlie
purrs
Abby

Brian's Home Blog said...

That really is quite pretty, but Charlie and I will lay in the shade and wait for you next time!

Theresa Milstein said...

Audley looks like a lovely spot. Sorry about the sunburn.

Charlie looks relaxed. We could learn much about relaxing just by observing cats. But I prefer to stretch out on a couch.

Katnip Lounge said...

What a lovely estate! House hunting? Ha ha!

Aloe works well on sunburn...I'm so happy you had a good day!

The kitties would love to thunder across that huge lawn...and eat the grass, no doubt!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

What a wonderful reward for your long, sunny walk! It looks well worth the effort.

Jacqueline said...

Glad you enjoyed such a fun, unique way to celebrate your special day, but sorry to hear about the sunburn!...A great photo of sweet, gorgeous Charlie=he looks very happy!...Hope your week is fabulous, lovely friends (don't let M/J get to you, Jenn-they are sooo not worth it!)...kisses and hugs x3...J, Calle, Halle, Sukki

Plain Jane said...

Where have I been? Your blog looks amazing!! So does that Audley End House. How peaceful those grounds look. I would have joined Charlie rolling around on the grass, for sure.

Ellie Garratt said...

Stunning house/estate/castle! Now if I had a few million. . .

lupie said...

Did you pick catneaps along the way for Charlie???? :)

Happy Birthday Jenn dear - love you loads!

Kea said...

Oh, I just went to the site for the House. Magnificent! I'll have to take a closer look when I have a bit more time. I'd say that was worth it, too!

But never go without a hat and plenty of sunscreen, when walking in heat like that. And I hope you were drinking lots of water.

No wonder you needed to recuperate. And I hope you got to recuperate with birthday cake yesterday. :-)

Smooches to adorable Charlie!

Hannah and Lucy said...

I'd never heard of Audley End House but it looks lovely - can you just go in the grounds or are you able to go into the house as well. That was a long hot walk you had to get there - hope you had plenty of water to drink on your way - did you have to walk back as well?
Charlie you look very relaxed rolling about in the garden.

Ann said...

What an beautiful prospect. As they would say in Austin times. No Darcy diving into the lake?

Marg said...

That sure does look well worth the trip. Sorry to hear you got all sunburned. Maybe if you had rolled around like Charlie, you wouldn't have gotten so sun-burned. LOL. Did you jump in that lovely lake??
What a gorgeous house.
Take care and hope the burn goes away.

Anonymous said...

I really like the look of that house! Another one I would love to visit is Longleat House :)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Audley House looks magnificent! I enjoyed reading about its history on the web site and looking at photos of the beautiful gardens and all the ornamentation of the rooms inside. The videos about the servants and stablemen were very interesting, especially "How to live like a Victorian." I also enjoyed looking at the recipes of one of the last cooks.

It sounds like a wonderful place to spend the day!

Hart Johnson said...

What a gorgeous destination! And I love a nice 40 minute walk, though you're right--along a busy road isn't ideal. Hope the sunburn has turned to a tan by now!

joanne fox said...

It looks a beautiful place to visit. Happy birthday belatedly. x

SASS....Sammy Andy Shelly Sierra said...

MEOWZA!!!!!!!!!! Our mama wishes she could have been with you....that's her kinda thing!!! And we could have kept Charlie company!!!!!!

We are soooooooo sad to hear you got sunburned.....we're purring it won't be painful for very long

Talli Roland said...

Oh, I missed your birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OLD KITTY!

Looks like you had a great one! Fab weather (if a bit on the warm side), anyway.

Anonymous said...

Happy (belated) birthday! What a view. It is like something out of an Austen novel.

notesfromnadir said...

That's a great way to get exercise -- walk around in hot weather!

Actually, Charlie had some great advice about rolling around but somehow I don't think you took it! :)

Jenny Woolf said...

Congratulations! I wouldn't have done the walk in that heat. It's years since I have been to Audley but it was absolutely marvellous. I hope that you managed to find an icecream in the National Trust tea room!

Jackee said...

A gorgeous place. For some reason I feel like reading Pride and Prejudice again... :o)

And happy belated birthday! So glad the day was relaxing as well as fun.