V A is a long standing and recognised digital creative; her voice resonates with many. In the last ten years, the site has developed into an online destination for fashion, beauty and lifestyle advice. Her sense of style, editorial flair and practical counsel offers an inspired and graceful approach to living.

V A is a long standing and recognised digital creative; her voice resonates with many. In the last ten years, the site has developed into an online destination for fashion, beauty and lifestyle advice. Her sense of style, editorial flair and practical counsel offers an inspired and graceful approach to living.

Edit by: Vicki
Apr 09, 2013

Downton Abbey, aka Highclere: The Best Christmas Present Ever


Let me back track a little.

A month or two before Christmas I received a ‘save the date’ from my daughter.

All her note said was, ‘it’s a surprise’.

 

Fast forward to Christmas morning.

She handed us an envelope.. and said, ‘Happy Christmas’.

Inside was a hand-made card… a collage of characters from Downton Abbey… and of course Highclere Castle… the star of the television series.

With tickets for a tour of the castle and grounds.

If you are a Downton Abbey devotee… you can imagine my joy.

 


Yesterday was the day.

We flew back to London from France on Sunday night and drove to Hampshire early the next morning.


Is Highclere aka Downton Abbey as you imagine?

Yes and No.


Without the characters a house is a house or in this case a castle is a castle.

It is impressive… magnificently situated above rolling English countryside.. the bleating of sheep the only sound for miles.

and it looks just as it appears in Downton Abbey.

I could imagine Carson coming in at any moment and demanding to know what on earth we were doing in the drawing room.




 The very definition of ‘bucolic’.

(i have been waiting to use that word for a very long time)

We toured the house… upstairs and downstairs.

We roamed the gardens and afterwards enjoyed a cream tea…as you do in England.

All in all that daughter of mine is one of the most thoughtful girls I know. We adore Downton Abbey and have watched all the series and Christmas specials together.


It was the perfect day and the perfect gift… xv

Edit by: Vicki
In This Post: Lifestyle