B2B Day 19 Sunday: A Day of Rest

Tongues of fire--Pentecost

Today was a day of rest in Holt. We went to the service at St. Katharine's in Holt. It was Pentecost Sunday, and the service was lively with good singing. We both felt encouraged and strengthened during and after the service, and we enjoyed meeting people. 

We went to Courts Garden at around 12:30, and decided we should eat lunch first. We went to the cafe there, which was highly recommended. The cakes on display looked amazing, so we used our "Lincoln stratagem"--order a sandwich to share, and a piece of cake each to share. (We did this at Batty's in Lincoln, and it worked wonderfully, so that we could enjoy lots of cake but actually have something savory as well). We got a piece of chocolate raspberry torte and a strawberry cream cake which was basically Victoria sandwich.

The cakes!

We decided to take advantage of its not raining early in the afternoon, knowing that it was going to rain later, to walk to Great Chalfield Manor. We arrived around 2:00, and bought tickets for the 3:00 tour. The family still live in the house, so there are a limited number of timed tours and we were glad we could get in. Sara enjoyed wandering the gardens beforehand and visiting the church.

The bees just loved the gardens, particularly these flowers

Sara enjoying the gardens

Ken particularly liked the yew houses that had been created in the garden. They did look magical--people would suddenly appear and disappear in and out of the "doors" in the trees.

One of the yew houses

The house tour was interesting, and our guide was good. We couldn't take photos while inside, but we bought a guide book to remember it. The one thing Sara would have taken a photo of was a large old fashioned stone fireplace with a small toy stuffed ram on the mantlepiece. It was surprising and whimsical.

The rear of Great Chalfield Manor

The church and one of the yew gardens

The front of Great Chalfield House, with gathering clouds

When we emerged after the tour, it had begun to spit a bit of rain. As we walked back through the fields, it was dripping slightly, and became a heavier rain when we got into the village and to the Holt Super Store. We bought our dinner at the store, and spent the rest of the evening dry and indoors.