Today the rain has cleared and we are back with the beautiful Autumn days again so Mum and I went to have coffee with an old friend.

She lives at Swallowfield Park.

Built in 1689, and designed by architect William Talman, a student of Sir Christopher Wren, Swallowfield Park is the classic example of an English stately home.

We had a lovely time being shown around.  This is the front hall.

The horse statues are bronze replicas of the Chevaux de Marly by Guillaume Coustou the Elder in Paris.

We were shown a very well stocked and comfortable library.

There was even an “invisible” door.  Very Harry Potter!

The sitting room was perfect, complete with a good grand piano and ancestors.

These fire “dogs” are actually dragons and allegedly originally from Brighton Pavilion.  This may be myth rather than actual fact.

They are very special (and highly coveted by me, and my mother!)

The original front doorway was moved many years ago.

The view outside was complete with a pretty water feature.

Then along to the Servants’ Quarters.

Outside to a stunning brickwork stableblock.

The octagonal dovecote is from the mid-18^th century.

The gardens are carefully landscaped and were laid out around the house within the estate.

We walked along to the walled gardens complete with fruit trees.

Swallowfield Park is a beautiful house set in the quintessential English countryside.

A perfect Sunday morning.

It has been raining and getting steadily colder all day and, while Mum’s garden breathes a huge sigh of relief, we all stayed indoors looking at old family photos, which I found fascinating.

I managed to dig up the family tree that I have been working on for many years which made the photos even more interesting.   I could see both my daughters’, Daisy and Flossie, features in many of my relatives.

So these are my parents in 1959 just before their wedding.

Me and my mother. I have an elder sister. She wouldn’t thank me for plastering her baby photos all over t’net!

And lastly “Winston Churchill” as a baby (or probably me).

There has also been a bit more sheeple building today plus some landscaping and possible birds.  Even mum has been surprised by my creating abilities and, from her, that is a huge compliment.

Mum and I ventured out today.  We drove to a superb pick-your-own vegetable place that also has a farm shop.

I kept thinking that I should have been working at Turriefield this week as I measured ourselves a portion of carrots, spinach and sweet corn, all freshly picked.

Afterwards we went exploring to a local craft village and bought some supplies for my animation venture – mostly felt and glue and we have been making flowers all afternoon.

Before we went home, we dropped in at the next door garden centre where Christmas seems to have arrived.

I was quite shocked, to be honest. I mean it is only the beginning of October for crying out loud.

Having said that, it was quite an impressive display with some nice animated animals with no carols playing in the background, which was encouraging, though I did feel sorry for the dying fauns (I think they just weren’t plugged in).

My mother is a sculptor. Her medium is porcelain, perhaps not cotton wool, wire and pipe-cleaners!

So today she showed me how to make sheep for my animation projects.

This is her creation.  We also practised making sheep heads.

It was interesting “crafting”:  not something I do if I can help it as I have absolutely no artistic talent at all.  Mum is much better than me at it and she managed to rescue my rather lumpy efforts and turn it into something respectable.

I made the sheep on the right. He is slightly bigger and has Lambie’s stripes legs (well that’s what I wanted to achieve).

So that’s what we did today. We made sheeple.  Once dried, we will paint them, I think.

My new little flock of sheep.

South is very different from north. The sun shines, there is not a cloud in the sky and I am back wearing my summer clothes.  Most odd. I am not used to this outside warmth.

Teddy, my mother’s little dog is wonderful and very similar to Her Maj, BeAnne.  They could be related.  Luckily they’re not. Sometime I think I should bring her with me but in my heart I know she would hate the trip and then probably hate Teddy too.  These days she is not sociable.

Mum’s garden looks beautiful in the Autumn light.

There are lots of trees so the changing colours are stunning.

There are a few flowers are about.  The roses are just about over now.

Mum is busy putting the garden to bed in time for winter.

I just popped out onto the surrounding golfcourse to watch the sun set behind the trees and I saw two roe deer quietly grazing totally oblivious to either myself or two oncoming golfers.  Most extraordinary.  They are unphased by people.

I imagine all my animals here and then I quickly stop as I realise Lambie wouldn’t like Wokingham High Street and then I panic thinking about the Minions eating Mum’s beautiful garden!