Ian and I decided that we should have another go at lawn bowls just to prove to the other two opponents that the thrashing we gave them the other day was not a fluke. And yes, Doug was up to form, again. That is twice in my life for the game. Ian muttered something about 'well done', and my opponent said that he had finished offering advice to me. I think that is about all I will get in the way of acclamation from these English Gentlemen.
We were rained out before the game ended, but we were well away to another lop-sided victory. So much for my lawn bowling record, and career.
Meanwhile Fellette was also drenched in the time it took to get from the garden to the house, therefore all outside activity came to an end.
After lunch, the sun came out and Ian decided we needed some history lessons so we four trundled off to Hughenden Manor, the home of Benjamin Disraeli, the dashing Prime Minister in the middle 1800's.
He had an interesting life, which I will not even attempt to illustrate here, it was very complicated and almost bizaare. The home, or Manor as it is called, is merely a very large home, fully and lovingly furnished as it was, or just about, during Disraeli's political heydays.
Disraeli bought the home in 1848 as part of his plan to acquire the credibility to move up the 'greasy pole'. That is how he described the trappings and wherewithal necessary to be acceptable to the lofty position of Prime Minister of Britain.
He had married a wealthy widow, 12 years his senior, also to move up the 'pole'. They eventually became fiercely in love and she made him what he became: less a Dandy and more a statesman.
The home is quite liveable, large and grand but not ostentatious. There was no photography allowed inside, unfortunately, so, once again you will have to judge by the outside shots. Sorry for the absence of good photos, they do not properly convey the feel of the place, which is very homey, believe it or not.
Disraeli died in 1881; his older wife had predeceased him by some years. Years later many of his possessions were sold by Christies, the auctioneers. The Manor was turned over to the National Trust in 1947, and since then, the trust has tracked many of the goods sold and acquired most of them, about 80%, we were told.
During WWII the Manor was used as a map-making facility for the RAF. Printing presses were installed in the home and it was a somewhat high secret facility that was essential to the successful bombings of Germany. [If bombings can ever be called successful.] The manor was targeted by the German air force but never hit, however the nearby church was damaged.
This is one of many, many glorious Homes, Manor, Castles, Garden and Palaces that citizens have turned over to The National Trust to maintain and made available to the public.
Visiting these historic sites is a national pastime and a wonderful way to see a part of British history, with all it's good points and it's bad as well.
It was an interesting and varied day for us, and a nice way to wind down, prior to attempting to put all our possessions back into suitcases!
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