A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
A morning at Cliveden – 14 August 2013
Having heard about the renovation work on the South Terrace at Cliveden and the installation of a giant slide to help visitors get down to the ground level from the terrace, we decided to get up early and take a look.
Accordingly we made our way over and were one of the first visitors to arrive at 10am, when the grounds opened.
The fountain in the summer sunshine
Looking out over the back terrace
First view of the slide
The slide from ground level
A closer shot of the slide
The stairs and brickwork have been photographed and printed lifesize on hoardings while the building work goes on
With the children keen to try the slide while it was quiet and no sign of anyone to ask, I resorted to Social Media to find out when it would be open.
While we waited for a reply, we walked down the back lawn to the statue.
View of the back of Cliveden
Summer blooms
Rebekah, Holly and Emily
The house from the statue
Pink flowers
More floral displays
By the time we got back to the house, it was clear that things were happening and members of staff seemed to be appearing. Before long we were allowed through the doors and climbed aloft up temporary steps to reach the top of the slide.
Looking up the slide
Ready for our first slide
Leading the way with Emily
Arriving at the bottom…
…only to be passed by Rebekah
Holly losing her hat
…and again
The slide is great fun, although Emily was a little unsure. After we’d had a couple of goes, Sarah took a turn with Emily.
Sarah and a nervous Emily
A nervous Sarah leading the way
It’s good fun really!
Rebekah
Rebekah offered to take some photos of Sarah and I having a turn, before she and Holly had a couple of final rides.
Sarah and me
Approaching the bottom
Rebekah and Holly
We walked back through the gardens to the children’s play area.
Summer border
Golden rod
Scaffolding in the Water Garden
Holly and Emily
Emily
Holly and Rebekah
With the day warming up and the crowds increasing, it was time to bid farewell to Cliveden and head home for lunch.
We really enjoyed our morning on the slide and look forward to returning again while it is still in place.
August walk to Cookham Dean – 11 August 2013
Rebekah and I managed to get the whole family to join us for our August walk to Cookham Dean.
The wheat had recently been harvested and the girls enjoyed gathering up the leftovers.
Below are a few photos from a warm summer afternoon:
The recently harvested field
Rebekah
Three girls
Four girls
Holly
Emily
Battling through the grasses
Heading out across the field
Gathering the leftover wheat
Holly
A sunny afternoon on Ray Mill Island – 10 August 2013
We decided to make the most of a sunny afternoon with a visit to Ray Mill Island.
The fountains
All the family
Holly and Emily
The three girls
Girls and ducks
Visiting the Jubilee Fountain in Windsor – 4 August 2013
On a sunny summer afternoon, we popped over to Windsor and ended up visiting the Jubilee Fountain which opened last year.
Given the warmth of the day, it was inevitable that the girls would end up getting slightly wet!
Holly in the Jubilee Fountain
Three damp girls
Holly
Rebekah
Water jets
Detail of part of the fountain
More jets
Spray from the fountain
Water and sunshine
Final view of the fountain
A Few Ramblings... 