Life is like a Butterfly

I had climbed up a bank to take some pics of the butterflies - about 100 feasting on the flowers, in a superb terraced garden adjoining the fine house.

Are you sure this is a public area said J ? Of course it is said I - that family over there are tourists like us. And those two dogs running over rather aggressively, as if they own the place - er, hello, nice doggies - are just being curious.

The two adults and child walked past. Can I have some of those berries to eat said the child - no, we make it into jam, she said. And then turning to me - are you enjoying your visit ? Er - yes, thank you, lovely place.

So, that was Lord Edward Manners and his wife (and son, I presume), as the very nicely presented brochure we had bought proved. Haddon Hall is well worth a visit, one of the best surviving medieval/tudor halls in the country, simply splendid. Helped by the fact that it was left empty for over 200 years until the early part of the 20th century, so no "improvements" were made from the mid 17th century onwards whilst the Dukes of Rutland focussed on Belvoir Castle.