Saltram House Photographs

"A magnificent Georgian mansion and tranquil garden lie at the heart of this historic parkland.

Saltram overlooks the River Plym and is set in a rolling landscape park that provides precious green space on the outskirts of Plymouth. Strolling along the riverside or through the woodland, you can almost forget that the city lies so close.

Saltram was home to the Parker family from 1743, when an earlier mansion was remodelled to reflect the family’s increasingly prominent position. It's magnificently decorated, with original contents including Chinese wallpapers and an exceptional collection of paintings (several by Sir Joshua Reynolds). It also has a superb country house library and Robert Adam’s Neo-classical Saloon.

Learn about some of the fascinating characters and family stories, including the correspondence between Frances, the first Countess, and Jane Austen.

The garden is mostly 19th century, with a working 18th-century orangery and follies, beautiful shrubberies and imposing specimen trees providing year-round interest."

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram/

End of 2013 Review!

2013 is coming to an end, but not all is bad. A new year is coming up. A new experience and a new chance. Although my new year is filled with slight sadness for personal reasons, I decided to look back at the positives I have endured through out the year.

God never hands you a lemon without adding tequila. Or so they say.

So this is just a quick post with some positive things 2013 has given me! It would be great to see other posts like this. Even if it's just a couple of things, it's better than nothing.


- I am officially half way through my degree! That went really fast, I am sure the last half will go just as quick... it's been fun and I half want it to end and half don't! It's definitely been an experience!

- I welcomed a new baby hamster into my life! Sev (short for Severus),  has brought me lots of happiness. His fluffy little face lights me up as soon as I look at him. He's also mighty strange. This is awesome. 

- I got to go to HARRY POTTER STUDIO'S. Enough said.

- I met some lovely, lovely people! And become close to some wonderful new friends.

- I navigated London and the London underground with just me and my other half on the trip!

- I got to stay at some wonderful new hotels.

- I got to stay the night in a room which was literally right by the sea!

-  I become a whole year older. As you do every year. But, every year you reach is an achievement in itself that sadly some take for granted.

- I got to decorate my place in my own style and get a new carpet. Feels like home.

- I did things I said I could never, ever do. It may like seem much to other people, but it was a lot for me. I am proud of me. 

- I continued to make plans for the future and think positively 90% of the time.

- I discovered a new love for films and reading, which I had fallen out of love with for a while.

- I sorted out my finances. 



 I hope 2014 brings more adventure, and more positives. 2013 was an experience, a learning curve and definitely not all bad. I have so much to blog about in the New Year, so I hope to gain more readers and hints and tips in the blogging world. In the mean time, find me over at www.twitter.com/londonbuses for daily updates. (Nothing to do with London buses themself, don't ask!)


Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.

I hope you all enjoy whatever life throws at you. And take the bad as an experience.

Much Love. 

A picture I took from a lovely evening at the fair on Plymouth Hoe, for a firework display. 2013.