The House at Green Knowe

Last Sunday I went with friends back to the Manor, Hemingford Grey, which may be better known to you as the house in the Green Knowe books by Lucy M. Boston. It was a classic fenland day, switching suddenly between bright sunshine and heavy cloud. I took some pictures of the house and the gardens, which are here. (If anyone can name the flowers for me, I'd be very grateful!) This time round the garden had some great sculptures made from various odds and ends of metal - the heron's beak is a pair of garden shears!

You're asked not to take photographs inside the house, but there are some online for those who would like a peek into Tolly's bedroom. As well as being a Carnegie Medal winning children's author, Lucy Boston was a remarkable quilter, and the house holds a collection of her work.

Apart from the connection to Lucy Boston, the Manor is one of the oldest continuously inhabited houses in Britain, and has its own, fascinating history. When I've visited with friends who didn't know the books already, they've enjoyed the tour of the house enormously (and gone off with a pile of the books under an arm!). The gardens are extensive and beautiful, and you can visit those without touring the house. Lucy Boston's daughter-in-law lives in the property and gives tours by appointment - the place is kept running on a shoestring, so if you're ever near Cambridge, go and take a look!

More what you'd call guidelines

There were pirates on the Cam yesterday. (Yes, exams have just ended.) Polite pirates too, they only offered to pillage. Sadly, I didn't manage to get a picture of the punt flying the Jolly Roger.

Rome

Oh well, while I'm at it, here are some pictures from our trip to Rome back in March.