Why I love The National Trust

Why I love the National Trust so much is many !!

I live with easy access to 2 properties Calke Abbey and Kedleston Hall , Calke Abbey is the nearer of the 2 properties and they've both been a source of many a family picnic , visit and adventure over the years.

I love the feeling of a National Trust being my own , it's a if I'm a protector of a time gone by and without it the protection of the Natiional Trust many a beautiful building and way of life would be lost forever . Many of the National Trust properties were handed over them in lieu death tax , many properties that didn't have the luxury of the help of the National Trust have been lost forever resulting in many being pulled down.

It is always a joy to wander round the garden at Calke  ; pure bliss as it's a mobile phone black spot Bermuda triangle and you know what it's heavenly , the need to be connected has been thrust upon us and like the Matrix we've got to pull the plug and break free . We need to see the world with our own eyes instead of through a laptop of computer screen all the time. That's not to say that technology and the past can't live in harmony as indeed they can . Wandering around various National Trust properties there are many ways in which technology is used to say perhaps show you how a restoration was undertaken.

Walking round the garden the previous Sunday I heard a grandparent retelling the beloved story of Peter Rabbit , a kitchen garden of a lovely grand stately home is an ideal story setting. Also this week is  #NationalGardeningWeek and being a member of the National Trust offers us the space and great expanse of garden we've not got at home.

I would love to live in a stately home ! but without having to clean it , the conservation of National Trust properties is an immense task through paid staff and the wonderful army of volunteers. 

My son is studying A level History in 6 th form and the properties provide such a valuable extra resource to his learning , I'm so pleased we are members. The National Trust provide such all round family fun.

Go join and explore the time gone by.

Spring Bursting Through

Ever Wondered Why ?

Ever wondered why I take so many pictures ? 

It helps me in my depression and anxiety journey .

I was proud to stand up for myself when challenged as a burglar dressed in a bright pink coat ! I was told " you've lots of pairs of eyes on you "

I said " Good it pays to be vigilant !" 

They weren't keen on me taking pictures of the houses down the lane .I explained who I was , where I worked and lived . Then  went home got my school id to go back and show them . I explained my breakdown 2 years ago and how walking and pictures helped me . They seemed to accept what I was saying . 

You know what I'm going to continue taking pictures and nothing will stop me . I stay within the law and I'll jolly will keep taking pictures of the lane . If their houses are in the pictures then so be it as as I'm not trespassing as I'm on the public path footpath. 

I'll empower myself and keep doing it !!!

And living near the countryside I fully understand why people are so sensitive about people taking pictures. Burglary is horrible I've been victim of an attempted burglary myself and friends and family have been burgulared themselves and it can deverstate your whole world.

It's my #depression #anxiety journey

And I'll be out later taking pictures with my bigger camera ....

I'll leave my bag marked SWAG at home 

Review Of The Crackin Egg Company

I was sent 2 packs of eggs from The Crackin Egg Company - in an egg shell they're boiled eggs which last a month . They're brightly coloured which is part of the protective process to keep them fresh.

The eggs I were sent came with 2 sets of seasonings : salt and pepper and Chilli . the 2 pack ones retail at £1.59 . 

I tried the salt and Pepper ones which were OK , the salt and pepper seasoning was quite powdery and I did sneeze. I think personally they're begging out for some sort of Artisan mayonnaise along side them The eggs last 4 weeks compared to the others on the market which last a week .

Overall it was only the seasonings I had an issue which and the eggs themselves were of a great flavour. In fact I do think the eggs were that tasty they'd be lovely in a Scotch egg.

Mr T was not keen at all on them neither was I myself really but you know what someone will pay for them and you've got to applause entrepreneurs. And they did pitch on Dragons Den and even though it didn't work out for them here they are selling in Ocado. I can see them going down a storm at Henley regatta and the Oxford and Cambridge boat race etc.

Disclosure I was sent 2 packs of the eggs for review , the company didn't have to shell out any money on this review . Brian and his harem of chickens worked for free on this photo shoot .

Spring Budget Busting

 

I'm approaching that time in my life when I need to pull in the family budget with my son going to university . There's going to be an inevitable cost - IE parental contribution  . 

First cost to get looked into is the SKY cost , I know you can get other services but it is case of sticking to what you know . I know there are cheaper options but for the moment it's giving movies the heave ho etc . We've huge Sports fans here so the men folk want to keep the sport and it keeps them quiet so a win win really .

Everyone approaches budget busting in their own way and you might think budget busting can be akin too herding cats . The little and often approach truely is working for me.

Holidays and short breaks is another area which can bring you to your knees , last year we were really lucky in going to Washington DC 

Washington DC is a trip of a lifetime and there is so much to do family wise for free which is brilliant for frugal souls like myself. Also we were able to go Berlin 

due to a comping win and that was so welcome . This Easter saw us going to feed tigers at Woburn Safari park , go on a private jeep safari . Then we were able to round the safari park at our own leisure. I'll not lie I was extremely worried feeding the lions they are magnificent creatures. Such holidays , short breaks and treats have been achieved through comping , cash back sites such as Quidco and Top Cashback ( this is a referral link to Topcashback if you rather not use my referral link then please use this link to Topcashback which is referral free ). The Cashback sites give you cash back on things and products you normally buy from your food shopping to your insurance.

And of course everything stops for tea , this was something else I didn't have to pay for as I won it along with the trip to Woburn Safari Park.

Did you know that the afternoon tea was thought of by Duchess Anna Maria in the 1840's  as she thought the time between luncheon and dinner was to long and some sort of substance was needed, what a forefront thinking lady !

The Woburn Hotel is certainly a hotel we'd love to come back to for a special occasion coughs perhaps in 7 years when I'm 25 ;-) . The afternoon tea was exquisite and I can see that making lunch boxes will see me perhaps having to cut the crusts off sandwiches , this tea did  included various five of your day , strawberry , cress etc ...

You'll probably still wondering why there is a picture of glorious Yorkshire Puddings at the top of this post ?! well that will be because I actually made my own Yorkshire Puddings , I'm really sorry but I've put Aunt B in a very nice care house home where I'll sure she'll make instant friends!

The recipe I followed on this was Mary Berry  s and I think the trick to the success of the mighty rise is the extra egg , though my Nan could make anything rise ( gosh doesn't that sound so very Frankie Howard?!) 

So this will certainly be a budget busting recipe for when he is had university ! And of course I'm sure he will be making my recipe from the other day Sticky Noodles with Beef.