Lanhydrock

Lanhyrock is an enormous house where very rich people used to live. We entered through a very splendid gatehouse.Before we went into the house I noticed some small humans rolling down the grass bank. I decided to have a go…Jolly good fun it was too!I could have happily spent more time playing ‘roly-poly’ but the humans said we needed to visit the house before it closed.The first thing of interest to me was the napkin folding table. I decided to have a go……and made a hat that I though might be good for wearing while cooking.Further along a corridor I came face to face with this chap. I’m sure he moved a little bit while I was watching him so I kept well back just in case….I tried out the typewriter in Lord Robartes’ study. It was quite hard work typing each letter with my paws.In the nursery I spotted a couple of bears playing football and called out “Hello”.Two more bears were on a shelf in the nursery library; they were keeping a close eye on all the visitors looking around the house.The Robartes family must have been very worried that a fire might break out. I discovered this huge hose hung up on one landing….….plus three very impressive red buckets.Lady Robartes’ used to enjoy honey with her afternoon tea in her private sitting room.I was delighted to find a piano with a sign inviting people (and bears) to play. I played my version of Teddy Bear’s Picnic, after which my paws were very tired. On entering the kitchen a large cake caught my eye. A room guide announced that the Victoria sponge was edible, but that it had been on display for a few weeks, so I decided not to try it.In another kitchen room someone was in the middle of shelling peas; I think they must have gone for a tea break (shelling peas is hard work). Scullery maids would have spent all their time washing up pot after pot in this sink without any rubber gloves. I’m glad I’m not a scullery maid.There were joints of meat of all shapes and sizes sat in a big cabinet with wheels on the bottom. I think I could make a good vegetable stew with this lot.Bread was all made in the kitchens of Lanhydrock in this huge oven.Yum yum yum…. I always enjoy a bit of grinding with a pestle and mortar, especially cinnamon which smells almost as good as honey.The tool in this photo is a special device for cutting up giant cones of sugar. In the dairy I tried my hand at making butter. The handle has to be turned round and round and round and round very fast until the cream eventually turns into butter. My paws soon got tired.In another room there was a special table made out of marble with water running all around it. It is for keeping things cool, and setting jelly. The jelly made me feel suddenly very hungry, but I wasn’t allowed to eat it. Karen said I could have a treat later.The treat was very yummy indeed.The gardeners must work very hard; I spent a while admiring this dazzling display of begonias. Away from the formal garden there is a magnificent tree with lots of holes for bears to hide in.There is lots to see at Lanhydrock and I think we probably could have spent longer there but the staff were shutting everything up as they wanted to go home for tea. Perhaps my humans will take me again one day.