Mitford Mania

Hello. Blighty and I did our bit for International Relations and met and actioned a road trip on a freezing cold day to Swinbrook in the Cotswolds to see where the Mitford sisters grew up and were buried.

We loved this mole (vole?) on Nancy's headstone. Here's Unity:

and Diana

Here's Blighty striding purposefully through the bitterly cold church yard searching for the headstones

This is what the inside of the church looked like. It was actually colder inside than outside.

I know there are 2 of the same photos but I'm on a foreign computer so I can't figure out how to remove it.

A hot lunch was in order so we went round the corner to the Swan at the Old Mill House (owned by Debo Duchess of Devonshire)

I bought a book

It was so warm and toasty inside after the Artic freezingness of the churchyard and frosty church.

There are lot of Mitford family snaps on the walls as well. Debo is appearing in person for a book signing on 8 December if you're keen to see her in the flesh. Run Don't Walk!

Here I am in my new Hermes Kelly scarf whatsy and about 4 layers of cashmere

Then, strangely, we found ourselves part of an American pheasant shooting party where a convoy of tweed wearing Americans in range rovers were getting ready to shoot these pheasants (run pheasants run!). They waved to me and Blighty in a jolly fashion. Maybe they thought we were locals.

We found Asthall the former home of the Mitfords and the model for Alconleigh. It's owned by Rosie Taylor nee Pearson now. Google her.

It was gorgeous. I had the best day ever. Thankyou so much Blighty for getting Your People to arrange everything so perfectly. And thank you for being Designated Driver and making me laugh so much (Blighty is very funny)

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode where Blighty and I channel the whippersnappers from Brideshead Revisited and go to Oxford.