their dance is unrehearsed

[pensnest]

Beast and I have lately been watching George Clarke's National Trust Unlocked, which I think was originally on Channel 4 and is currently available on catch-up.

It's wonderful. With Camp Sparkle, Beast and I have spent holidays in a good range of places around England and Wales—Shropshire, Brighton, North Wales, Portsmouth, Yorkshire, Bath, the New Forest, and Derbyshire, and have visited quite a few Interesting Sites, but there is so much of the National Trust we have not yet explored. (And, of course, other worth-while places which are not part of the NT.)

The programme has George Clarke visiting NT properties while they were, necessarily, closed last year. From stately homes to cave dwellings, fabulous gardens, ruins, coastal walks, even a terraced house where an architect* lived. It was all blessed with glorious weather—we had some really beautiful days during the first lockdown—and the gardens in particular were fantastic.

I recommend the series (6 programmes) to anyone who'd like to get a look at some beautiful places. And, perhaps, like me, be inspired to go round this lovely country of ours visiting some of these places. I would really like to do a series of short breaks, Sable-sitter permitting, maybe next year?

The National Trust has a somewhat highbrow, snobby-middle-class feel to it, very often—probably a hangover, as I don't think it *is* such a thing any longer, if indeed it ever was, but George's cheerful Geordieness and honest delight in what he's seeing goes a long way towards making the places he visits seem as though they really are for everyone.


* with the awesome name of Erno Goldfinger

*/*

I discovered yesterday that my Metformin may be responsible for the, uh, eruptive digestive experiences I've been having of late. Am switching to a slow-release version of the drug from Monday. Any other diabetics in the room, if you've been suffering very unpleasant abdominal pressure, and you take Metformin, that could be the explanation.

Comments

[smallhobbit]

We've enjoyed visiting various National Trust places over the last few years - we have an Art Card, which gives us free entry to a number of them.

[pensnest]

We signed up as members of the NT, and for the last year it has done us no good at all, but at least we're paying towards the upkeep of some of these fabulous places. (And, on one occasion, we were able to go to the loo!)

[turps]

I enjoyed that show, especially when he went to Washington Old Hall which is just up the road from us and somewhere we've visited a few times.

We've kept our NT membership going, even though there are only 3 properties in the area, and one of those is so small once you've seen it it's pointless going back. But, at some point, we'll be able to travel again and will be able to take full advantage.

[pensnest]

There are lots of places of interest that are not NT, as well, so I feel one can just pick a spot and do some planning. It's worked out pretty well with Camp.

[frausorge]

Those sound like lovely places to see, virtually or otherwise!

[pensnest]

Oh, yes indeed! With Camp, we've usually managed to visit a stately home every time, but there are all sorts of interesting smaller places which just look so charming in the programmes!

[turlough]

That sounds like a wonderful programme! The stately homes and assorted gardens we've visited over the years have all been among the highlights of every Camp.

[pensnest]

I don't know if we'll be doing Camp again... maybe next year? it's hard to know. But I'm hoping to be able to invite friends here to explore Norfolk and, perhaps, do a short break elsewhere along the lines of above! Still so much of England left to see.