Visited Waddesdon to see the Snowdrops. Many had been planted. There were some near to the aviary, and others on Baron’s walk. The Snow drops were not that impressive, the Baron’s walk the better ones. It is sometime since we visited, the temporary path from the car park has now been made permanent. A small ticket checking office was being erected on this route. This is replacing the small cabins which have been used in the past.
Waddesdon Manor Christmas Lights
We visited Waddesdon Manor to see the lights. Because of Covid 19, the house was not open and everyone was encouraged to walk up to the manor instead of taking the bus. The encouragement was a financial incentive. Unfortunately, it was a damp evening with a light drizzle. As the daylight dimmed, the lights grew brighter.
There was the Christmas market set up in front of the house. I didn’t visit the area, instead, I walked around the lights before and after dark.
We both were a little underwhelmed by the light effects. There have been better. I particularly liked the Bruce Munroe lights back in 2015. We both thought Waddesdon Manor was allowing far too many people onto the site. There was a large queue of people trying to get in with their timed tickets. Around some of the lights, social distancing seems to have been thrown out of the window. Some limitations on the number of people viewing the lights at one time should have been in place. No wonder Buckinghamshire is heading to Tier 3. (update on 19 December it entered Tier 3).
The walk down to the Stables needs to be planned, I would not recommend taking the path through the playground. It is narrow and there is two-way traffic. Instead walk down the road, dodging the busses. It remains to be seen whether this event becomes a Christmas superspreader.
The main set was a 3 minute light show set to the music of Handel Water Music: Hornpipe. On the loop around the grounds, there were several other areas laid out with light effects. Some elephants standing by the pathway were pretty cool. I am not sure about the lighting of the house, this didn’t seem as spectacular as usual. Normally the trees to the side of the driveway are lit up. This year they were not, possibly because of the Christmas market.
Visited Waddesdon Manor to see the rooms dressed for Christmas. There was a small competition where you had to write down the rooms in which you found the items from the Christmas song about Swans, turtle doves and gold rings.
Needless to say we missed one object so failed to get entry for the draw.
There was also a Christmas food fare taking place in the old dairy, where there was some very nice items to be purchased.
Not sure what was going on, but around the fountain were parked several porsche cars. Maybe it was a day out for a porsche owners club?
This weekend has been a mixture. Saturday, lots of showers. Some preparation for the wedding, i.e flowers, and making final preparations for the meal and bar.
We paid a quick visit to Waddesdon for tea. Got caught in torrential rain as we left. We pity the people who bought tickets for the outside music show which was going to be played there. The weather was really quite miserable, and didn’t get any better in the evening.
Sunday was a better day, managed to mow the lawn, (first time for three weeks), strim and mow some of the field. Have to get the place into shape before all the outlaws arrive.
While England were playing Sweden, we went to Waddesdon Manor to see the Golden Jubilee crowns. These were two spectacular plant crowns on both sides of the drive way to the house.