It was freezing cold, of course, and one of us had jet lag. But we didn't care! My sister and I were together, this was England, and we would drink it all in with or without central heating.
Our sweet hosts were as British as an American couple can become, and without the least bit of pretense. Their friends and neighbors were British, they cooked British foods, and I do not for a moment think they ever populated a CostCo. Gordon and Eddie were as close as we could get to the uniqueness of the British, with the openness of all good Americans. That their son had married our little sister endeared them even further!
Dorney Court
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77382220@N08/7007781958/
Garden Cottage was on the property of Dorney Court, a Tudor Manor House near Windsor Castle. Have you ever seen it, dear Readers? My sister and I had caught a glimpse as we approached the Cottage, and were wild to see it up close. "Do you think we could, Eddie?"
"Oh, certainly! The Palmers know you are here, and would love to meet you," Eddie answered. "They are as kind as can be, and I am certain they would like for you to see inside the Manor."
We couldn't believe our good fortune as we met the very gracious Lord and Lady of the Manor. We sat with them for coffee in their kitchen. We were offered chocolate cake and listened to them discuss the upkeep of the Manor. We saw the downstairs portions of their home, and the children were mesmerized by suits of armor and fading portraits of long dead ancestors.
And here's something fun: we learned that Dorney Court is a film location for many movies and television series. A few of them are:
- Midsomer Murders
- Agatha Christie
- Inspector Morse
- Great Expectations
- Cranford
- Jeeves and Wooster
- Sense and Sensibility (a favorite)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwinchell/336929287/
One day we were told that an episode of Jeeves and Wooster was being filmed inside the Manor. What!? We crept toward the House, trying to be inconspicuous (but failed). To our delight, we saw the film equipment through an open window. I completely forgot myself, ran up to the window and peered in, near enough to see both Jeeves and Wooster.
I really wanted to stammer out something about an autograph, but there was a sudden shout.
"CUT!! Hey, who is at the window? Stand away, Madam, can't you see we're filming?!"
How mortifying. How completely embarrassing! To be so shouted at in front of both Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. Not that they really cared. To them I was simply one more hapless American fan, creeping up to windows and holding out pens and bits of paper.
An American fan with neither Sense, nor Sensibility. Only nerve. We seem to have lots of that.
See you along the way!
the SconeLady
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/77382220@N08/7007781958/">davebignell1</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a>
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardwinchell/336929287/">richard winchell</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">cc</a>
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