I've been taking days off here and there during the University's Summer break. Come October I will swamped with work. That's the only downside about working in the University system. I am not allowed to take holidays during term time, which is a 10 week period and we have three terms in one academic year.
Anyway, last Friday Peter and I visited Longleat www.longleat.co.uk in Wiltshire. Back in the ‘60s the Marquess of Bath (Lord Bath) decided to transform his 100 acre land into a safari park. He was very big in conservation as well. Anyway, the animals flourished and he now has the biggest safari park outside Africa. The gardens are in immaculate condition as well but the wildlife park was very good. The animals looked healthy. This wasn’t a zoo because the animals roam wild under the watchful eyes of park keepers. People drive past these huge gates—similar to the one in the movie Jurassic Park. People weren’t allowed to leave their vehicles. It took us over an hour to see the different animals. There were rhinos, camels, tigers, lions, wolves, oryx, flamingos, rhesus monkeys (very cheeky!), vultures, wild buffaloes etc.
However, the one thing I enjoyed was Longleat House. It was open to the public but we weren’t allowed to take photos inside. You would have loved it. The place was steep in history complete with armours, ancient tapestry, paintings and the rooms—they were stupendous—even bigger than the ones shown in the movies. The Marquess still lives on site in his private quarters but one wing of the house was open to the public. The house goes back during Charles I. I do love history. Maybe if I was younger I would major in history—English history perhaps.
Peter and I will be spending this weekend in London with my old chum Chicoy. We'll be visiting Kew Gardens www.rgbkew.org.uk and I can't wait!
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