Pantry Tidy Up

This is the start of a new job tonight. In the side room things have kind of piled up a little. The pantry is three doors high and four doors wide, so you can imagine that things have gotten alittle lost and frantic here.

Below is just two of the examples of the doors in the pantry which needs sorting out, really old gross stuff thrown out, inside wiped down with most things needing a wipe down too.

I've spent about three hours so far and made some good progress; and will try to finish up tomorrow and take an after shot.

Leeds Castle

We took advantage of the slight break in the weather to visit one of my favourite stately homes. Though it is a castle, and fortifications have been here since 1080, its more of a very large rambling house .. Well it does have a moat.. Ok.. It has a portcullis as well, and a courtyard.. Damn it.. Ok.. Its a castle..

I digress.. The moat is filled with fish, and the birdlife teaming along its banks.  They have some magnificent swans and gorgeous peacocks strutting about.

We spent our time today in the gardens and at the maze. The kids also took advantage of the chilly weather - and that no-one else brought kids along - to dominate the wooden forts and structures which make up the kids playgrounds.

We have toured the castle inside before, so didn't feel it necessary to do it again today.  As we have year passes, we will attempt to get back here before they run out and spend a warmer day picnicking by the lake.

Leeds Maze

We took advantage of the break in the weather - and the glimpse of the sun and blue sky to have a day at Leeds Castle - but particularly to go to the maze, the best I reckon in the UK.

I have included a panorama shot so you can get an idea of how intricate the maze is. Most people will solve it within half an hour - but I have taken an hour and then needed help in previous visits.

It was planned and planted in the 1980s, with the maze being made from Yew Trees - I think 2000 of them.

The maze is a circular one and meant to confuse people as it winds you in and out and around the whole thing before letting you in.

There is no cheating here. All the walls are sheer and thick, with most of the paths kept at a standard where you can't decide if you have been there or not.

Morgan ditched Lilly and I early on in the piece. However, even Lillys loyalty wore thin and she headed off by herself, leaving me to try to solve it by myself..Little sods.

Ha!! sucks to be the kids... I got to the middle first!!  You are able to climb a vantage point and look over the top of the maze and help others with instructions.. though it doesn't really help much when the lost kids are barely able to make themselves seen and don't know left and right.

What makes this maze even more special is the grotto built underneath it. Once you have solved the maze and have climbed to the top of the lookout, you make your way down into the caves and into the spooky tunnels.

The first is the hermits cave, which is populated by mermaids and the green man - as well as a recording of the Tale of the Ancient Mariner. Its very atmospheric - thought I was surprised that the kids wanted to sit and listen to the poem as it was read out.