A Good Read

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight
Litigation lawyer and harried single mother Kate Baron is stunned when her daughter's exclusive private school, Grace Hall, in Brooklyn, calls with disturbing news: her intelligent, high-achieving fifteen-year-old daughter, Amelia, has been caught cheating. Kate can't believe that Amelia, an ambitious, levelheaded girl who's never been in trouble would do something like that. But by the time she arrives at Grace Hall, Kate's faced with far more devastating news. Amelia is dead. Seemingly unable to cope with what she'd done, a despondent Amelia has jumped from the school's roof in an act of "spontaneous" suicide. At least that's the story Grace Hall and the police tell Kate. And overwhelmed as she is by her own guilt and shattered by grief, it is the story that Kate believes until she gets the anonymous text: She didn't jump. Sifting through Amelia's emails, text messages, social media postings, and cell phone logs, Kate is determined to learn the heartbreaking truth about why Amelia was on Grace Hall's roof that day-and why she died. 
Told in alternating voices, Reconstructing Amelia is a story of secrets and lies, of love and betrayal, of trusted friends and vicious bullies. It's about how well a parent ever really knows a child and how far one mother will go to vindicate the memory of a daughter whose life she could not save. An absorbing read, thoroughly enjoyed it.

A History of Dog Collars

As well as a beautiful castle and stunning flower displays there was even more to enjoy at Leeds Castle – lovely gardens, an exhibition of dog collars through the ages, a brilliant maze and lots of excellent

activities for children.  

On arrival at the castle the weather looked ominous,
but it soon brightened up to be a lovely warm day. 

After lunch I went to have a look at some dog collars.

Dog Collars Through the Ages

The oldest collars in this collection come from the Tudor period (1485 -1603).

These iron spiked collars were used to prevent the wearer's throat from attack by wolves and other wild animals while hunting or guarding flocks.
At this time dogs were primarily used for herding livestock, hunting and for brutal sports such as wolf and bear baiting. Hunting was a favourite pastime of King Henry VIII, he spent many hours each day engaged in the sport. His favourite hunting dogs were spaniels and greyhounds - considered to be a particularly noble breed. He gave hundreds of dogs as gifts, including some to the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of France, all "garnished with a good iron collar". Henry's own dogs wore sumptuous velvet and leather collars, embellished with silver and gold spikes, pearls or the royal crest.

The Renaissance Period

Leaving the Tudor period the collars begin to look less brutal and more elaborate. Hunting remained a popular sporting activity for the aristocrats of the 17th century whilst smaller breeds brought in from overseas became increasingly popular as domestic pets.

A collar for a pampered favourite had a purely decorative function, and a handsome collar was an important way of demonstrating personal wealth. Some breeds such as the Italian Greyhound were viewed as luxury objects among the ruling European families of the time and were dressed as lavishly as their owners. 

In Germany and southern European countries leather or iron collars were often decorated with large brass initials, coats of arms and decorative scalloped hinges. Spikes still appeared on some collars but only for decorative purposes.

From the 18th century onwards the ownership of dogs,

cats and birds extended out into a wider society.

The most common form of collar at the time was a plain brass circle with either a rolled or serrated edge and stamped with the name and location of the owner. Silver collars were also popular but more expensive which probably explains why most of the the silver collars in this collection appear to be designed for the smaller breeds. Collars were enhanced with soft leather linings, trimmed with bells, secured with padlocks and decorated with engraved pictures or patterns.

Into the 20th Century

The 20th century saw a much greater variety of canine collar fashions than had been seen before. 
A new range of materials were now in use, plastic, wool, felt, 
beads and modern textiles such as polyester.

Several of these collars had been donated by people with fascinating stories to tell about the dogs who wore them, from prizewinning puppies to canine heroes from both World Wars.

 

I think either one of these would look quite fetching on Rufus :-)

 

And maybe this one for Buster, red suits him.

When the dog collar collection first arrived at Leeds Castle in 1979 
it quickly became one of the castle's most popular attractions.
Within a few short years many more collars had been donated to the Leeds Castle Foundation. 
Decades later dozens of enquiries and offers of collars arrive each year from across the globe.

The grounds and gardens were beautiful, in summer they would be stunning.

I don't think I’ve ever seen a female peacock before, she was the proud mum of four babies

and must be used to people, she was very relaxed with me sitting on the bench next to her.

If you zoom in you can see the eggs this swan is incubating.

I finished my wonderful day in this amazing maze. With just over an hour to go before returning I was confident that I would have plenty of time to get to the centre, and then a 20 minute stroll back to the coach. 
I started by trying to visualise which way to go, mmm that was a dismal failure so I did what any respectable pensioner would have done - followed some school children!  some of their fellow students had already made it and were guiding them, but after seemingly going round in circles I suspected the students in the centre were having a bit of fun with their friends. Some ladies asked if I knew which way to go, I was only able to reply "not that way" I was well and truly lost, no high tech satnav or smartphone could help me here. I wasn't panicking but I could sense anxiety creeping in and just then a man's voice behind me asked "Would you like some help madam?"  he was a maze guide, I was so relieved. "Follow me" he said, which I gladly did. After a few turns he directed me which way to go and said "stay right" In no time at all I was in the centre. That's the lovely man there behind the hedge. The way out was through an underground grotto. Plenty of time left for a leisurely stroll back, and an ice cream before boarding the coach. 
It's the best maze I have been in.
I really wanted to do it without help and if time hadn't been limited I would have kept trying. 

I thoroughly recommend a trip to Leeds Castle, there's something for everyone,
allow plenty of time to enjoy it all.

A Castle continued

Now where were we...oh yes we had just left the yellow bedroom.

The flower display in the Seminar Room was stunning

 The room was a bedroom for Lady Baillie’s son Gawaine, but was turned into a meeting room in 1978.

 

Lady Baillie's Dressing Room and Bathroom 

Every bath in the castle has a bell next to it, to ring for a servant.  

Entry wasn't allowed into the bathroom but the strategically placed mirrors gave an idea of what it was like.

Lady Baille's Bedroom
follows the French regency style of the 18th century.
The Louis Vuitton trunk was just as fashionable then as it is today.
I liked this room, I could see myself happily flitting around or lounging in one of those lovely chairs! 

Catherine of Aragon Room

I also liked this room but wasn't so keen on the flower display. 
I love the idea of having a bedroom that's like a lounge with chairs and a sofa.

The dressing table, made by Franck and Co. of Paris in the 1930's is covered in shark skin!


The Yellow Drawing Room
The walls are covered in silk instead of wallpaper

The piano is over 150 years old and is sometimes played by volunteers

Thorpe Hall Drawing Room

The wooden panelling on the walls comes from Thorpe Hall in Cambridgeshire. They were sold to Lady Baillie in 1927. So the walls are 200 years older than the room, they had to alter the room to fit the panels.

I wonder which famous bottoms have graced this lovely embroidered velvet Queen Anne chair, Lady Baille's favourite; or these chairs on the right, whilst playing backgammon!

This spiral staircase was made in Paris in 1927 and re-assembled on site by French carpenters. The wood was wire-brushed to make it look old. The central pillar is made from a single tree-trunk and carved with a mythical salamader, a symbol of French royalty.
At the stop of the staircase is a laughing crusader with his dog.

The Inner Hall
The 16th century horseman is carved from oak and is the oldest horse statue in England. 
The knight holds a battle hammer.

The Outer Hall

Coming soon: A history of dog collars