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Monday 7 March 2022

Basildon Park March 2022


Every year, for Christmas, my Mum gives us National Trust membership. If you aren't in the UK and maybe don't know what that is ... it is an organisation that looks after hundreds of historic properties and estates in the UK. Here's the blurb from their website  ... 

"We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We look after hundreds of houses and close to a million objects, along with vast areas of coastline, countryside and green spaces, for everyone’s benefit. With our staff, members, volunteers and supporters, we’re the biggest conservation charity in Europe."


We are fortunate enough to have at least 6 NT properties within an hour's drive of home, so we get plenty of use from our membership, and we also use it when we go to visit my family in Northern Ireland. For a few years we had a break from it as the children became teenagers and no longer enjoyed the visits, but now they are old enough to leave at home while Mr EC and I plus the dog go and enjoy a lovely walk. It does make me very sad that the teenagers no longer want to come with us, but it is the way of things and I suppose they have to grow up, although I wish it wasn't so! Sometimes Miss 14 comes with us though so I am clinging onto that while it lasts.


Yesterday we paid a visit to Basildon Park, which is our favourite local NT property. I've blogged about it before (here and here) and I feel my photos from yesterday's visit aren't quite up to scratch, but I always find it hard to take pictures when we have the dog with us! I think possibly she pulls us along so I feel I can't take my time.


Basildon Park has 4 mapped out estate walks to follow - we decided to follow the blue route which is a 1.5 hour walk. It's only 2.5 miles but very muddy with a lot of hills so feels longer.


The blue route follows around most of the periphery of the estate, the scenery is very varied; there are lots of rolling fields, woodland areas, tumbling-down walls covered in ivy, and narrow pathways.





You remember I said Miss 14 sometimes comes with us ? Yesterday was one of those days, and she agreed quite happily to come along. Well despite her agreement to come she was in true stroppy teenager mode (no idea why) and insisted on walking a good 50 yards ahead of us at all times. In the photo below you can see her in the distance if you zoom in!


There was lots of evidence of spring about ....





We went off-piste a bit and got a tiny bit lost, but eventually we ended up back at the house...


It was so nice to see some blue sky, and have a dry day with little to no breeze, after a few weeks of rain and storms. And much as we love bringing the dog with us it does mean we can't then visit the cafe afterwards! Boooo! And its still a bit cold for al fresco coffee, so we just headed home.

In crochet news, crochet man is coming along, his limbs are now attached ... 


... and today I started his jumper. I had some Stylecraft Special DK in Meadow left over from a previous project, and I decided to use that. The brief was for a dark green jumper but Meadow was all I had to hand (the fact I have a ridiculous amount of stash in the loft is neither here nor there ....). Anyway the small amount of Meadow is pretty definitely too small, I ended up playing yarn chicken, and then had to stop altogether, to make dinner.


I'm pretty sure I won't have enough Meadow left to finish the other arm, so I had a root around in another cupboard and found this ball of Cypress, which, on reflection, is a much better green for a brief of dark green, so I think tomorrow I'll be making up a whole new jumper and frogging the Meadow one. Oh well! I'll just consider the Meadow one to be a practice version!


Til next time,
Jillxxx

19 comments:

  1. What a wonderful gift from your Mum. And, I remember when our son didn't want anything to do with us or go anywhere with us and now it is the opposite. So, there is hope! Your crochet man looks like a "dammit doll" (google it) - I could use one right about now!!

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  2. That is indeed a fabulous gift! How wonderful to be able to wander around these magnificent properties. It does indeed look as Spring is being to spring there. Aah...teenagers....who knows the why's for how they are feeling any given day. =) It is a possibility when your teenagers grown into adulthood, they will once more discover the thrill and joy of visiting these estates. So glad your crochet little man now has limbs. =)

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  3. Nice to see you back blogging. A great gift from your Mum. You certainly took us on a wonderful tour.

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  4. I love Basildon Park but haven't been walking around the outskirts, looks like there are some great footpaths though.

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  5. That is a lovely gift and if the rest of the NT properties are half as nice, you've got lots of beautiful sites to visit. We've got snowdrops blooming, but the daffodils and hellebores are just starting to poke through the soil in the northeastern US. My two boys went through a period where they didn't want to do anything with us, but now that they are 28 and 30, they happily spend time with us. Keep hope!

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  6. We have National trust membership too and it is wonderful to be able to visit so many wonderful places. We have been to many of the places in the West Midlands and always try and visit somewhere new when we are away on holiday in the UK. It is a lovely gift from your mum.

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  7. Look at all the blooms! Doggo must have really enjoyed the romp.
    Crochet man is looking good. I am not sure why but he's giving me David Bowie vibes from his Black Star videos. Maybe it's those button eyes.

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  8. Super gift and what lovely trails to walk! I remember those "stroppy" days with my daughter--who knew why she got in such a huffy state? Certainly I never did...anyway...it is so great to wee the Spring blooms along your walk...still a ways from our bulbs coming up--very cold and windy days here in SE CT in the States...thanks for sharing your route...hugs, Julierose

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  9. P.S. "see" NOT "wee"--oops!! ;000

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  10. That sounds like a wonderful gift for your mum to do every year, and lovely places to walk! Those teenagers may not want to join in right now, but I bet that will change as they get to be adults. Crochet man is so fun to see! Good luck with his jumper.

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  11. What a beautiful walk! The estate is marvelous! I enjoyed the flowers, too--daffodils, is it helebores and snow drops? I was that kind of teenager===be patient, it will pass.

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  12. Hi Jill! Thank you for visiting me at my blog :) I enjoyed reading about your National Trust property visit--what a great gift from your mom! And so many pretty spring flowers already--lucky you. We will be seeing daffodils in a few weeks I hope, but it is still very cold here in Pennsylvania. Your crochet man is coming along great--enjoy!

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  13. Hi Jill, What a wonderful walk. I have been very interested in the National Trust and hopefully before I come to England again will join. I love the homes and how wonderful there are walks and property to explore as well. We aren't as advanced with spring as you are and it's nice to see those signs! Thank you so much for stopping by Marmelade Gypsy and leaving such a lovely comment. Have a wonderful week. ~ jeanie

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  14. Helloooo Jill!!
    It brings joy to my heart to see you back blogging! The NT is an amazing organization and it's a bucket list plan to visit many of those places one day. Your Spring photos of flowers fills this northwoods snowy soul with sunshine! 😍 And I always love looking at the crafty things you get up to. You're so talented that way Lady. Welcome back to blogland! Hopes to see lots of you. 💕 xoxo

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  15. Hi, I loved the walk and all the flowers. :-)

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  16. We went to Basildon Park a few years ago and loved it. Sadly we didn’t have time for any walks although I do love a good NT sign posted walk. Hang in there with your teenagers they do come round eventually! B x

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  17. Hi, glad you're back to blogging. What a lovely walk and such glorious flowers! I had been to UK around 16 years ago around autumn and loved every second of my stay there.

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  18. What a beautiful walk, even with a stroppy teenager! Give it a few more years and they will be asking to go walking with you.
    It's good to see you blogging again. Xx

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  19. I so love your gorgeous NT properties and am quite envious that you get to explore them. We do have some heritage properties down here in Melbourne Australia but they're mostly over on the other side of the city from where I live. Crochet Man looks super handsome. I can't wait to see him finished! Xox Louise

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Thankyou so much for visiting, and for taking the time to leave me a comment :) I really really love getting little messages, I read and value every single one, so thankyou again, and have a great day :)
Jillxxxxx