I decided to make use of me new National Trust membership and took a drive up to Barnstaple to Arlington Court
Arlington Court
They had a peacock
He was a flash little git and kept me entertained for a while
I started off in the grounds with a short walk with the mutts
Due to the fact it was also the childrens easter egg hunt in the grounds, I cut it pretty short. Homer is no easter bunny
Arlington House was proper period drama stuff
Liking the personal touch, every visitor has to ring the bell and the door is answered personally (probably a ruse to filter out undesirables from getting in but they let me in anyway)
Once inside it was the usual tapestry, faded velvet and ornaments.
Cabinet full of car boot stuff
And the mandatory haunted childs bedroom...
A visit to the batcave....evidently the cellar is full of them (although it could be a total wind up and it is just a video)
Finally a visit to the carriage museum 
All a bit creepy as its very Jack the Ripper. There is a also a gold royal coach you arent allowed to take pictures of (yes I was going to but there is cctv cameras everywhere)
Tom Thumb looked a bit of a perve
And whoever decided to put a bell with 'press me' on this model, obviously had a warped sense of humour
Me again!
Finished the walled gardens, the conservatory garden, the open garden and was gardenned out, so went back to the van
Steve my OH, joined us that evening. So the next few days involved walking on the beaches with the mutts. 
this little mutt was particularly amusing. He walked off after digging his hole and getting his pebble. Then 2 women started taking pictures of Homer swimming in the rock pools. And she reversed to take the pic....and went arse over tit in the hole, into a heap on the ground...
...mooching round the shops, making Steve try on every sad cardigan going...
Then it was a drive back to Plymouth as we had booked the nice little Italian Restaurant we went to over the New Year. I did ask the restaurant owner for recommendations of places to visit in Rome. We got the rather strange answer, he didn't really know Italy....as he was from Poland...?! So why the Italian accent?...'An Italian taught me english....'
And onto another National Trust visit (yes yes I have got to get my moneys worth. We even used the NT carpark at Sandymouth just to get another £3 saving)
So the group of us (me, Steve, my daughter Christie and her fella Matt) took a drive to Sticklepath for the next educational extravaganza
Quick walk round the grounds...
This is a new one on me...?! Poor Billy Green must be covered in the stuff...
Unless the dogs in the area have their own football team
Dogs safely tucked into the car and me and Christie went ahead to the museum. And locked the door and hid...amused us for 10 minutes watching them trying to get in...
And then we found the 'Dress yourself as a Foundry worker box'...!
Shoes and hoodies flying off, we grabbed everything and were soon kitted out
Christie lost it totally....
at Steves various stages of dress...
cmon Steve we've got to go now....
5 mins late but we got to the foundry demo
Next was a quick visit to check out the 'secret campsite' for a fellow camper....lovely solo pitch...but no dogs allowed :(
Pretty much everything we did, except eat and drink a lot.
Although I did drive home via the Wye Valley and Gruffalo Trail...
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