Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 24 December 2023

I have had a lovely day, which sort of got made up as it went along. A friend and I had planned a day out, probably to the coast, but the forecast was very heavy rain so we decided the coast probably wasn't a good idea. We went to a National Trust property in Sevenoaks, Knole. When we got there it was raining - so we had a hot drink in the car (always prepared, me!!) and by the time we had finished the rain had stopped. Had a long walk in the grounds - although I've been to Knole many times, we found places I had never seen before. As we got towards the end the rain started again. So we decided to go up the tower - 77 circular stone steps, which certainly got the lungs working! We looked at the views for a while, then made our way down, via a couple of 'tower rooms', one a music room. Apparently they had managed to get a baby grand piano up there in the past - up those spiral steps? How?!?!? We then looked at the conservation room - fascinating. Then back to the car for a picnic lunch, and a mince pie. Then the drive home, via Bough Beech reservoir - never seen it so full, but no birds ... too much wind and too much water! A really lovely day, and a few unused muscles have made themselves known! The high winds are certainly happening, but I'm now tucked up warm and dry with no intention of going anywhere until the morning.