May Day at Audley End House

I don't know about you but all these bank holidays have throw me right out of sync!!! I'm not sure what day of the week it is, although I do seem to have blinked and "poof" another week has gone by!!!

I've tried to make use of some of the time that Tompom has been at nursery, although having Paul at home too seems to make for too many "manana" days. I have managed to do a bit of a tidy up in my workshop so I hoping that next week I may even get some sewing time.

Anyhow back to this week, on May Day we drove over to Audley End House, which is not far from Saffron Walden and part of English Heritage, we have a family membership which is great as we can have great days out for free (well after you've paid your membership but after two trips to Audley End as a family they are all free!).

The May Day event was a Victorian Day with lots of fun activities for the kids...

The Falconry Display was fantastic and Jack went back to watch the second performance too! 

There was music from the Essex Yeomanry Band

Victorian garden games, although I think that Jack should have been a little further away...

Rachel played Guy of Gisbourne in a very funny adaptation of Robing Hood!

 

There was lots of beautiful architecture and gardens to explore

 

And the Huntsman and Hounds led by Lord Braybrooke (whose family originally owned the house) gave a superb display

and enjoyed a well earned drink from the river.
 

All the dogs were extremely friendly

 and we had the chance to find out more about them back at the stables, like the fact that they only use the girls for displays as the boys have a tendency to cock their legs and wee on all and sundry!!! Eurggh!!!
 

Paul and I are hoping that we can pop back on a school day when we are child free and have a lovely wander around the main house, which is something we haven't quite managed to do on our previous visits!!!