Ickworth

[muninnhuginn]

We were going to head for Richer Sounds to look at cheap DVDs and then somehow get to Bury St Edmunds in time to catch the opening of an exhibition of sculpture. We drove past Richer, and there was a queue. So we drove on and headed for BStE via Haverhill. We passed a lot of impressive bikes on the road (and stewards for the Oxfam walk near Chilford). Definitely the day for outings. It was so hot and sunny that by the time we reached the turn for Ickworth, we needed lunch. So we stopped there, paid for Looby Loo to get in, parked up in a car park dominated the a row of Morris Minors (all in beautiful condition, a variety of colours including a very fetching lilac), and got lunch: kiddy box for Looby Loo, broccoli soup and rolls for the grown-ups. Looby Loo ate a lot of soup and little of her own stuff. This proved to be the pattern for the day, although she only shared our apple juice (single variety, russet) and not M's beer.

We wandered round the house, which was very busy--unbenknowst to us there was a costume open day with really pretty recreated costumes based on one of the paintings in the house. So we looked at paintings and curvy walls (the central part of the house is an oval rotunda) and curved floor boards and curved doors. We looked at fans and tiny silver fish reticules. Looby Loo showed far more interest than she has in the past, was rewarded with very helpful attention from various custodians, and behaved much older than five and a half. Her reward was a climb over one of the best play areas we've seen, a walk round the gardens, increasingly burdened with huge pine cones, and an ice cream. We shopped--and bought Ickworth wine (white and red)--for next weekend's trip away and upgraded our NT membership to a family one (not always worthwhile if the family only has the one child).

It was sunny enough, and warm enough out of the wind, for August. We've all come home slightly blissed out by the sun. A shame really: piano practice, kiddy bath and hairwash, supper, bed-time story, washing up, setting up bread machine, and ironing all followed. All we wanted to do was stretch out on fine linen and sleep.

Comments

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Ah, that was the Oxfam walk of which bugshaw, Mater and I were doing the 7 mile section ... during 08:45 to 11:15, anyhow :-)

[muninnhuginn]

We drove past the turn into Linton at about 11.30 and saw only marshalls, and then marshalls packing up and leaving at just gone 5.00. Hope you enjoyed your walk and that it wasn't too hot first thing!