Hughenden - A great day out.

Today we went here!  

This is the house that Benjamin Disraeli lived for the last thirty years of his life.

We listened to a VERY good talk about Benjamin Disraeli and his life.  The speaker knew just how long to make it, paced it well and injected the right amount of humour and interest.

We were really interested to go into Disraeli's study after hearing that Queen Victoria spent some time in here in quiet contemplation after his death...from a poor impression when she first met him, she eventually came to hold him in very high regard.

It was a really lovely study and if I was to become a Prime Minister, or even a country estate owner, I want a study just like this one!

We also heard a talk about the activities at the house during World War Two: Operation Hillside...I have to admit this talk wasn't as well given...as Mum said, less could have been said and it would have proved to have been more.  Not really sure what she meant by that...but I think she meant that he needed to be a bit more concise and not um, well waffle quite so much.  It was interesting though to hear about what happened here.  In the basement were displays of that period in time.

The basement looks like it must have been fortified...there were walls within the walls.

Mum said it looked like I was in jail here!

Peggy Sue came with us today and she was actually good company.  We were interested in the old uniforms, but the helmet and clothes were too big for us.

We looked at the different machines used to transmit messages in code.

In the bunk room we played with the cards.

There was a room recreated like the sitting room of the two children that lived on site during the war years.

We were fascinated by the Children's Newspaper.

Next we ventured outside to look at the gardens.

Very impressive they were as well.

I thought this was a bit rood. rude, but it made Peggy Sue giggle.

Imitating art.

Peggy Sue liked the flowers.

I liked the little baby rabbit that was in the garden soaking up the warmth.

Of course no outing is complete without a spot of tree climbing...

Mum nearly left me behind here!

Peggy Sue found what she called a 'Tree Throne'

There were fabulous views of the surrounding countryside.

Although as Mum pointed out, sadly marred by the sound of traffic.

Inspecting a giant grasshopper.

Wow, this bug hotel was really impressive.  We want to build one in our garden now!

We are sure we could...we have a lot of stuff just like the things that were used in here.

We discuss just the place we would put it.

A pretty flower for Mum

A scarecrow for Dad (Teehee hee)

Even I have to admit these roses were very bright and colourful.

A grand day out indeed, the weather was perfect, the talks were interesting as was the house and gardens.  Still much more to explore walk wise, so we may go back one day with Percy.