Baddesley Clinton

Thursday
Today was my niece Lynn's birthday, and my sister usually tries to meet up with her and enjoy a meal together. So we had decided to meet up at the National Trust property of Baddesley Clinton, which is a little northwest of Warwick, very close to where Lynn lives. The day started out fairly bright, but by the time we arrived there about 10.30, it seemed to be following the pattern of the last few days, deteriorating as the day went on. However, we were pleasantly surprised when it later developed into a beautiful afternoon and evening. Baddesley Clinton is a moated manor house, dating back to the 15th century, and was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years. The house and interiors reflect its heyday in the Elizabethan era, when it was a haven for persecuted Catholics - there are three priest's holes. This year they are focusing on the life of a female Victorian artist, Rebecca Derringer, one of the "Quartet", who occupied Baddesley Clinton during Victorian times, and whose lives revolved around writing, art and history. We looked around the interior of the house first, aided by some very helpful and informative volunteers, then went for lunch in the cafe. After lunch we went for a walk in the very attractive grounds. We couldn't stay too long in the afternoon however, as Janet had to get back for a piano pupil, and Lynn was meeting up with someone else later in the afternoon. This evening I went along with Janet and Wispa to agility class, where the handler leads their dog through a variety of obstacles - weaving poles, jumps, a tunnel and a big A frame to go up and over. Janet takes Wispa twice a week, and they have been doing it for quite a while now. The course and the range of obstacles is different each time, so the handlers walk the course first to get it in their heads. Wispa did pretty well this evening, with just one part which she kept going wrong on. It was an interesting evening. Some of them do it at competition level, but Janet doesn't since many, if not most of of the competitions are on Sundays, and that conflicts with church which is a priority for Janet.