Castle Howard 2019 Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year and Castle Howard certainly dont miss the opportunity to deck their halls, rooms and corridors  with all the jolliments of Christmas. This year it is themed on A Venetian Masquerade.
I was very lucky yet again to be invited to the preview evening and here is a little what it is all about . Nicholas Howard looked very dapper in his Christmas outfit .Santa Claus must have been hitting the sherry bottle as he sang ,jingled and rapped and was on the very best form.
I felt very honoured to speak to Charlotte Lloyd Webber in the Long Gallery before he was called away for question time in the Chapel and met Bretta Gerecke in the ladies loos - well one does doesn't one.  The costumes were truly amazing .I didn't manage to track down Adrain Lillie as I might have tried to rope him into helping with the costumes for the up and coming World Jam festival -Alice in Wonderland characters
The festive tribute runs from 16th November until 5 the Jan 2020 you really must make time to go .

A Christmas Masquerade

 Just to start the celebrations of Christmas here in North Yorkshire .Castle Howard has gone on with the You Tubes I think mine was probably the first ever done to promote there years ago .

The Shambles with Harry Potter and then there is the new Downtown Abbey

This is the Shambles in York in the evening  and a perfect time to get that special photograph without having to wrestle with the crowds of people, who are about during the day .Also The Shambles is where there is now a Harry Potter Shop which delights my grandchildren . I prefer to think of it at the time when ladies wear elegant long dresses and gentlemen walked the streets in top hats and carried walking canes.             

Maybe I have been watching to much Downton Abbey. But what I think is really exciting is that there is going to be a new Downton Abbey film out soon  and some right on our "doorstep". 

I am lucky to have a friend who was part of the cast and so I have the low down on where the new Downton Abbey was filmed . So whether you prefer to go and check the film locations under your own steam or prefer to have an organised tour with your own personal chauffeur ,we can arrange it when you stay with us here at Carr House Farm .

Countryfile Live at Castle Howard

Countryfile Live was held at Castle Howard last week for 4 days. With Thursday looking like the best day I made an early start and as Castle Howard is only 15 minutes from us I was parked up by 6.30am and on to the show field. With wellingtons and my jacket on I was prepared if the weather worsened but it turned out to be a really nice day. There was lots of news about people having to queue up for 3 hours to get in off the A64 but as we dont live in that direction and really if the people had made an early start I am sure there would have been no problem. Our guests went the next 2 days and had no problems at all and thoroughly enjoyed their day out.  I took Jacks 4 x 4 just incase I got stuck but it was effortless and when I did come out about 1.45pm again I had had enough by then and to beat the queues I was straight out.

There was lots of delighted people as the presenters of the show were about all day and having their photos taken with the crowd. I had a quick word with Matt Baker as he had stayed  and Ellie was filmed with us a few years ago when making a programme about sheep and dyeing the yarns.

With getting there early, there was free bacon sandwiches for the first 500 people and shared mine with the girls on the Welcome to Yorkshire stand as they were in for a long day. Thanks to Brian Turner the chef in charge .
 There was so much tastes of gin on offer I could have done with a chauffeur but was only tempt with some marsh mallow Moonshine . The cake from the Wold Cookery School was amazing and you can see it on my Instagram page as I did a little video of it. And I tried every lemon curd going.

My grandchildren went on Sunday  and had a whale of a time been "weather girls" and goodness knows what else . There was plenty of things for them to interact on. Knowing what they are like I imagine they entered it with gusto as they have been on the radio and on film before so are not shy and especially Martha would be asking the presenter all sorts of questions - she is the middle one . She had her birthday 2 weeks ago she was 8 and Emmy was 6 last week .Rubi is 10 in September so they are good company now and time flies how they are getting so grown up. They were pleased to hear that Countryfile Live  is coming back in 2020 .

And lastly thanks to the Daily Mail who had a code in the paper which enabled ourselves and many others to get in for free.

You never know who you might bump into...

I had spent the day in York thank to Visit Britain on a workshop on the growth of overseas visitors . At lunchtime some of us went out for a breathe of fresh air and noticed their was a film being made .  So at the end of the session who should I see .I asked him if I could take a photo as I thought the grandchildren might like to see what their wacky grandmother had been up to and he said it would be a pleasure and summoned his body guard to take the photos .

 Now that is what I call a real gentleman . It was Armand Anthony Assante who is an American actor. Best recognized for playing the role of John Gotti in the HBO miniseries ‘Gotti’. He has appeared in a number of TV films and dramas till date. His TV film credits include 'The Pirate', 'Passion and Paradise', 'The Hunley', 'Kidnapped', 'Blind Justice' and 'Shark Swarm'. As far as his work in television dramas is concerned, the actor has appeared on ‘Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story', 'Jack the Ripper', 'The Odyssey', 'ER', 'NCIS' and 'Chuck'. In addition, Assante has been a part of numerous movies as well. He has acted in popular films like 'Q&A', 'The Road to El Dorado', 'American Gangster', 'The Red Maple Leaf', 'Kids vs Monsters', 'Shadows in Paradise', 'Breaking Point' and 'Confessions of a Pit Fighter'. Coming to his awards and honours, Assante won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Mafia Don John Gotti in the miniseries ‘Gotti’. He has also got a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto. The American star has earned multiple nominations for many prestigious awards like Screen Actors Guild Awards and Golden Globe Awards as well.

The film I was more aware of him starring in was alongside Goldie Hawn in Private Bejamin .

If you ever read this Mr Assente - thank you as you made my day 

In Knareborough

Well worth the visit. Often guests by pass Knaresborough on their way to Harrogate and beyond. Wednesday is market day so a good day to go. 

There is a  tiny chapel of Our Lady of the Crag in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. It dates back to 1408 and was carved by John the Mason, the master mason at Knaresborough Castle. Legend has it that it was created in thanks for the Mason’s son’s miraculous escape from a rock fall. Some say that it was a way for the Mason to show off his skills. 
The knight effigy may be original ,but there again no one can be sure It was certainly there in the time of Wordsworth who mentioned it in one of his poems. 

Coming to Yorkshire ... coming to stay with us

Mother Duck watching her Ducklings

Bees working in the lavender at Carr House Farm Ampleforth

Swans �� just down the road from us

GUNDOG TRAINING - 4 DUMMY RETRIEVE DRILL A Cuckavalda bred Labrador

Within 30 minutes drive from us is


Thornton-le-Dale

A North Yorkshire gem, is as old as it is pretty . Highlights include the village green (complete with ancient stocks), a stunning thatched stone cottage beside the beck you may recognise from chocolate box or biscuit box tops and has been known to be featured in jigsaw. The Grade 2 listed church, overlooking the village and the stream as it travels passed the mill and is a playground for a lots of ducks ,
You can always get a ice cream at Baldersons or a cup fo tea in the tea room there. 
If you are interested in old cars you will be in your element as there are regular auctions in the village and you might just be

How I love -Castle Howard and the Atlas Fountain

What a enjoyable way ...

.. to spend part of my Sunday afternoon at the home of artist Stephen Guyon-Bird who lives with his lovely wife Elaine. How welcoming they were, I could have stopped all day as to see Stephen's work was so fascinating . Also it was a trip down memory lane as I spent many hours playing here as a children and very little seems to have changed.  They live at Coram Cottage in Ampleforth ,former home of Peter Walker who wrote the "Heartbeat "books.
It was Open Studios in North Yorkshire last weekend and this. Let me explain or in Stephens words which are better than mine [ his words are in green below ] My take on them in laymans terms would be some works verged on steam punk with an edge of Cezanne to them .
They are busy,so much detail. Turn Closing Time on its side and the drunk man under the table now  now stands upright as the woman doing handstands on the table immediately turns into the one laid on the floor, it is so clever. The other favourite of mine is The Fall - a modern day Adam and Eve with a plate of apples as if the fowl coming in as if to be fed before in turn are dressed for the table.
 I came away proudly clutching 5 postcards

SG Bird is a full time artist. Narrative allegorical paintings explore the realignment of archetypal imagery in an agnostic and fragmented world. Themes include the tragedy and comedy of village life, paradoxes in the heritage industry, the absurdities of the rural idyll. The work is underpinned by observational drawing as a challenge and alternative to lens based digital imagery and mechanical imitative naturalism. The wish is never to underestimate the interpretive powers of the audience. Life is dark but also funny.

I hope when you come to stay with us you will take time to visit Stephen and his amazing art work.

Around Castle Howard

196 and a half years - 2 legends celebrate

It isn't every day you get invited to a 100th birthday party in fact I have never been as lucky to go to one before but Raymond Whitwell kindly invited my father who is "nor but a spring chicken' compared to Raymond -father is 96 and a half  and myself .There was a card from HM Queen Elizabeth and one from Amber Rudd and another from the forces

Raymond  lives in Malton, marked the occasion with a party for friends and family.  He looked a bobby dazzler with his pink tie and  handkerchief to match. Born in Rillington, Mr Whitwell moved to Scampston when he was a year old. He left school at 15 and got a job as an errand boy at G Longster and Sons in Malton. He was called up to the army in September 1939 at the age of 20 and was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) before moving to Belgium as the German advance began.

Mr Whitwell returned to Malton and opened his own shop in Castlegate as well as running several market stalls until he retired aged 90. I have known him since I was a little girl and my Dad used to sell him holly at Christmas time for making wreaths 

Mr Whitwell said one of his secret to a long life was eating honey. Both Raymond and my Dad tucked into great plates of roast beef and Yorkshire puddings before topping off with puddings too .All too soon it was time to say good bye. 

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The Ripon Hornblower Legend. George Pickles is the legend 3 cheers for George

Always something happening...what was it today .

Life is never dull here .There is always something going on and you  never know what it is going to be . The magic of seeing little baby quail hatching out ,to find wild violets in the hedgerows .

  Today I got to see these 4 silver Roman coins which date back around 2,000 years.  The amazing thing was that all 4 coins have different Emperors heads on so they are now classed as a hoard . So I was quickly out with my metal detector to see if I could find anymore. ...Sorry I forgot to say they were found on our land .

Joanne Harris extract from A Strawberry Thief

Deer �� at Carr House Farm Ampleforth- they are back ..20 yards from the orchard gate

A little piece of prettiness near Rievaulx Abbey just over the hilltop from us

GENTLEMAN JACK Official Trailer Period Dramma -set only 10 miles from us

Only 12 miles from us .We can organise your tickets so making life a little simpler

Anna Lupton winning the Make A Community Difference Award 2019 in the Mi...

Proud to be part of The English National Park Experience Collection

The English National Park Experience Collection

Remember to feed the birds in your garden in winter