Blenheim Palace

We went with Beryl to Blenheim Palace today. We've been to Woodstock previously, to meet Emma and Andy, but never to the house.
 
The building, birth place of Winston Churchill, and home of the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, is very impressive; huge building, huge gardens, huge grounds.  We were worn out by the time we'd walked through the ground floor staterooms and library, ready for a sit down and an ice cream.
 
It was a very hot, sunny day and as we walked through the gardens towards the arboretum and cascades then along the lakeside back to the house, we tried to keep in the shade.

I've thrown in a couple of 'extras' one of the water garden and a sculpture we passed on our walk.
 
A pleasant surprise was the fact that we could exchange our day ticket for a twelve month pass free of charge allowing us to come back whenever we wanted during the year.
 
Then it was back home for curry and risotto rice, I'd run out of basmati, in the garden washed down with a refreshing bottle of white wine.
 
Now catching up with Murray who seems to be in control.