Beamish Open Air Museum (27th December)

Hello everyone

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas time.

I had a lovely time with all of my family and friends.

On Boxing Day we went up to stay with my mum's parents for a few days. We came back yesterday and we are all full of colds! 

We had a really great time while we were there though. 

On 27th mum, dad and I all went to Beamish. 

It's was really cold, but I didn't mind as I got to see Santa's reindeer who were having a rest after Christmas.

We also saw lots of buses, trams, engines and all sorts of other things.

I really liked the town and looking around all of the shops. We have a pass that lets us go back as many times as we like in the next year, so I think I'll go back again when it's a bit warmer.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year

Lots of love

Ben

Reindeers :)

At Beamish

On the team (it was a little cold so I put my hat on)

In the bank vault

Merry Christmas everyone

Hello everyone

I hope Santa brought you everything you wanted.

I've spend the day with my family and I got to drive a traction engine so I'm very happy.

To everyone who does, and anyone who doesn't, celebrate Christmas I hope you had a wonderful time.

Seasons greetings

Ben

Osterley Park and mince pies

Hello again everyone

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

So this afternoon mum and I went to Osterley Park and gardens. 

It is a very impressive looking house close to Heathrow airport. Though obviously the airport wasn't there when they originally built it!

The house as it is today was originally commissioned in 1761on the site of the original Manor House dating from the 1570s.

The National Trust first became involved in the property in 1991.

It is a really nice property but because it is winter and everything is being cleaned and restored there wasn't a lot for us to see today inside the house.

The gardens are large and we wandered around for a bit before the house opened at 12. To pass the time I climbed some trees.

In the house we wandered around and even made a Christmas garland!

When we came home we made some mince pies, I've just had one, it was yummy.

I'm not sure what we are up to next week but I'll let you know. 

Lots of love

Ben

Osterley Park House

Climbing trees, it was a long way up!

Christmas decorations in the house

Our Garland!

In the kitchen

In the coal store

Mince pie!!

Ham House and Gardens

Hello everyone 

I hope you have had a good week.

Today mum and I have gone out to look at some National Trust properties, as dad is at the Model Engineering exhibition at Sandown Park (we were all there yesterday).

We've started today at Ham House.

Ham House is a 17th century house near Richmond-upon-Thames and located near the river bank of the Thames itself.

It was built in 1610 by Sir Thomas Vavasour for King James I. 

It's owners have included since then the Duchess of Lauderdale and her husband. 

It is said it is one of the most haunted buildings in the country. I didn't see any ghosts today though.

In 1948 the house and gardens were gifted to the National Trust by the then owner, Sir Lyonel Tollemache (the 4th Baronet of Hanby Hall).

Today we have looked around the gardens (even though it's really cold) and at the 'below stairs' parts of the house as the rest of the house is shut up for winter.

Lots of children have come to see Santa later but we got to see him as he came out of the house on his way to see all the children, he even waved at us.

All the figures in the gardens are wearing Santa hats too. It really brilliant.

We've bought some Christmas decorations in the shop for the Christmas tree and now we are off to another NationalTrust property not far away.

I hope it's a bit warmer by the time we get there.

Speak to you later

Lots of love

Ben 

Ham House

In the gardens

An aeroplane we saw over the cafe

Santa

Below stairs

Christmassy figures

The house as seen from the river Thames

On our way again

Norfolk

Hello everyone

I hope you are all ok. Are you ready for Christmas?

So I came back from a long weekend in Norfolk yesterday. It was really lovely but a little cold. 

We stopped to look at the Bure Valley railway on the way to dad's auntie and uncle's house and had a wander around Wroxham. We didn't go on the railway but it was nice to have a look at the really nice bookshop on the station (I bought quite a few books too).

On Sunday we went to the North Norfolk railway to have a look, then around Sheringham and Cromer; we didn't buy any crabs though!

On the way back on Monday we drove down the coast to Great Yarmouth. The front there is very long and very impressive. It's a shame more shops weren't open on the front but is the winter season. 

After we left Great Yarmouth we stopped off at Bressingham Steam and Gardens to have a look around, there is a huge  locomotive in the car park from Finland there which I got to have a quick sit on. 

We then stopped in Thetford and had a look at the buildings that are still there that were used by Charles Burrell and Sons to build thier traction engines. There aren't many buildings left now and one of the ones we saw is being knocked down and flats being built on the site; it's a shame but the building is crumbling down. It was great to see the buildings where some of my favourite traction engines were built. I hope one day to visit the museum there. 

After all of that at the weekend I'm a little tired so I might pop back to sleep in a bit.

 

It's really looking like Christmas here now with the tree up and decorated and tinsel everywhere. I'm getting very excited about Christmas now.

I hope you all have a lovely week.

Lots of love

Ben

Locomotives at the North Norfolk

Sheringham station

Me at Sheringham station

Cromer pier

Watching rock being made in Great Yarmouth

Some chocolate I bought in Great Yarmouth

At Great Yarmouth pier

At Bressingham in the sunshine

At the Burrell works