August

 August seemed to be a quiet month but rushed past; part of the time being spend hiding from the heat, part sheltering from rain.

My grandson came to stay for a few days and we decided to sign him up as a (junior) National Trust member so we could take part in their Summer of Play events. These were being held almost everywhere but we just did the rounds of our local Trust properties - Kedleston Hall, Belton Hall, and Calke Abbey. (Technically the last one took place in September, but it was part of the summer holiday vibe so it belongs here). My favourite location was Calke, as the volunteers had turned a huge area into a field of activities. My grandson's favourite activity? Maybe hobby horse racing or just banging on the improvised musical instruments (at Calke a string of poles of differing lengths, at Kedleston a rope of different size and weight metal watering cans)

It was all a lot of fun, and we did get to see a little of the quieter gardens and a very rapid tour of Belton House.

We didn't have any holidays planned for this month but did take some little jaunts locally - to the hydrangeas at Darley Park in Derby, to Carsington Water, and back to Kedleston Hall for a harp and tabla performance by Tala Tareng