Bye bye Christmas, and on with the New Year

Christmas decorations are down and packed away for another year, and it feels like time to be getting back to normal.

Not in any sort of hurry though. 

Nice and easy is generally my attitude, and at this time of year I slow down even more. I'm embracing the New Year gently - taking the decorations down early to avoid a last minute rush, doing some essential ironing to avoid it overwhelming me, starting one of my new Christmas craft kits. 

To describe my Christmas as a hectic whirl seems a little (lot) over-exaggerating but after busy days with something planned for most of them - seeing family, playing board games, and such - I'm craving peace, quiet, and enjoying the lack of pressure to do anything.

It's not a time to rush headlong into New Year resolutions, or trying to get next year's gardening planned - there'll be time enough for tat soon

 




 

Christmas at Haddon Hall

On a wet dripping day just before Christmas we headed to Haddon. 

I'd intended to go earlier in the month while the Mercatum Christmas fair was taking place, but tickets for it sold out rapidly, and my hopes were dashed. After the Mercatum, the hall closes for a few days then re-opens decorated for Christmas, and this year a few of the stall-holders stayed on. That was enough to persuade me to visit - undoubtedly helped by my early Christmas present to myself of Historic Houses membership which allows free access to Haddon and many other stately homes. ( I intend to make next year one of exploration)

The imposing outer entrance, reached up a steep flight of steps, was once designed to keep people out but now it's a welcoming sight with twinkling lights inside.

Across the courtyard, the main entrance to the hall was again hung with festive decorations, and a most welcome reprieve from the heavy rain.

The great hall itself boasted a magnificent tree, and all the other rooms from kitchen to long gallery were decorated too.

Back outside and heading across the courtyard, my attention was caught by the open drains which captured the rain and fed it through pipes and out beyond the buildings to fall into the river. I've visited many times before but not in wet weather so this was something new! 












 

Kedleston Hall

Compared to other festively-decorated stately homes, Kedleston was a little subdued. The decorations themselves feeling similar to those you might have at home. Perhaps though, when the surroundings are so ostentatious, ornaments don't need to be.

We skipped the outdoor Advent trail this year as the weather was cold and drizzly - not the best connditions in which to explore outdoors.


 

Christmas at Calke - 3 visits!

Three visits to the same National Trust property within a week or so may seem excessive but we went first in an evening to see the illuminated garden trail, back in day-time when the house and garden were open, and back for a final visit with grandson.

I particularly loved the outdoor illumination which seem to have increased since last year. Three sides of the house were illuminated with changing light-shows and accompanying music, among the trees were wild animals and their footprints , a scattering of snow-flakes, and another display of light and sound. Totally magical/

Back at the house, we headed for the tunnels which once made a hidden access between house and service quarters. These too were illuminated, with trees and woodland animals leading the way back to the old brewhouse and modern cafe and shop..

 

Going back to the house in daylight, we found it had been taken over by Calke's knitted Christmas mice, playing in the snow, decorating a tree, and cooking up a seasonal feast. A lovely whimsical take on decorations.

Chatsworth at Christmas

Christmas is always marvelous at Chatsworth - so much so that perhaps it's easy to dismiss it as 'what one expects', and not truly appreciate it.

Like any stately home they have the advantage of huge rooms, high ceilings, and space for decorations that would overwhelm any other space - tall Christmas trees, tunnels of light leading from one room to another - and it's always a spectacular display.

This year's theme was an enchanted forest with frosted trees, fairies, and the massive dining table becoming a frozen lake. My husband complained that it wasn't 'Christmassy' enough but I loved it.

While we'd been inside, night had fallen so it was the ideal time to explore the illuminated garden. I wasn't quite so impressed with the outdoor experience but any outdoor space becomes magical and mysterious when seen lit up after dark.

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