Sunday; Day 13. My last day with Ian and Di before I head to stay with my Aunty Coral. We decide we'll go visit a rather popular attraction for the day called Calke Abby (pronounced Cork) which is this beautiful property and Stately Home in Derbyshire. This place dates back to the 1600's and is quite unique compared to other Stately Homes or historic properties because instead of it being restored to look pretty and appealing for the public, they decided to restore it in a way that would let us still see how it would have been right at the time it was lived in and how it was left when the National Trust took over. Literally everything you see belonged in the house and nothing has been changed; just restored subtly so it doesn't fall down! Ian and Di were telling me all about it on the way down but I could never imagine just how beautiful or intriguing it was really going to be!

As we arrive, I can see what they meant...You drive through these gates into this huge property, of thousands and thousands of acres of green grass and trees with hundreds of sheep and cows just roaming around at their leisure. And it's busy. There are people parked everywhere! As we get out the car, we see deer in the paddock next to us! The most beautiful deer I've ever seen...probably because it's the only deer I've ever seen up close! Unfortunately they are separated from us with a fence but we get take our time to get some good shots on our cameras.

Before heading in for the grand tour of the house and it's attachments, we head on a hike around the woods to enjoy the beauty of the land along with other visitors and families. The path eventually leads us back to the house once I've taken a million photos and climbed a huge tree.

We get our tickets and head first to the stables and trade area of the property where all the servants, black-smiths, carpenters, groomers would have worked along with all the equipment for making, shaking, slaughtering, hanging, drying, preserving and everything in between! Seeing equipment so old is quite odd; it's as if you've just stepped into an old haunted country-style movie! We have a tour guide inform us about the history, what happened where, and how the workers would have lived before we head to the main event, the house.

Keeping in mind this place is like 400 years old and ridiculously huge, it seems rather warm and loved and full of energy when you walk in. Everything is as it was and you can see the natural damage on the ceilings or down the wallpaper. We learn the history of who lived here and for amount of time before it was passed down to the next generation; how the property was altered every century or so; how much of a hoarder one of the owners were (stuffed birds everywhere...like everywhere!); where the servants worked and didn't have permission to go (tunnels were built so they couldn't be seen by the family on the grounds...snobby lot!) and just how the families would have lived back then. It was fascinating! I'm suddenly becoming a history geek!

After a couple of hours walking up, down and around this mansion, we get some lunch and then head for the ground gardens where servants would have grown all the fruit and vegetables for the family. When you think of a veggie patch, you tend to think small. Well, think again! There was probably 3 acres at least of land that is divided into 3 sections and separated by brick walls. The National Trust have kept one of the sections as a veggie patch which is full of every fruit and vegetable you can imagine and it gives you a sense of what it may have been like!

After the garden, we head further up the property to visit the Calke Abby church. Apparently it's quite normal for State houses to have their own church. Thinking the church was a decent size when I see it, I am soon informed that it was originally twice the size! (These people are greedy!) We go inside, being told about the history again and where certain people are buried under the church! (yeh great!!!) and before we know it, it was nearing 5 o'clock and everywhere was starting to close up!

I've never felt so overwhelmed and intrigued about the history of a place and I felt myself having to run my fingers over anything I could to feel the texture and catch a glimpse of what it would have felt like to live in that day. A seriously memorable experience and I'm so glad Ian and Di brought me here!

Back at home Di cooks a true English Sunday roast for us all with lamb, veggies, potatoes and Yorkshire pudding! It was so yummy and such a great. I have enjoyed staying with Ian and Di so much and have felt so loved and welcomed at each house I have stayed at... I am very blessed.

After relaxing for a while, I finally submit to packing my bags as I am heading to my Aunty Corals for the next few nights and she only lives across the road :)