The Secret Garden

We visited Barrington Court (National Trust property)  in Somerset this afternoon. It was a lovely drive through many pretty little villages of golden brick and thatched roofs that reminded me very much of the Cotswolds.
We arrived at the reception at about 2 minutes to 3, only to find that they close at 3 pm in the winter. They did say that we could wander around the grounds until it went dark though. There were several walled gardens (which we couldn't enter as we had the dogs with us) and I loved the light streaming through the gates of this one. It reminded me of a favourite childhood book - The Secret Garden  by Frances Hodgson Burnett. There was even a little robin singing away in there, just like the book. A few minutes later these gates were locked. 
We enjoyed our walk, but sadly (for us) the tea rooms there also closed at 3pm. It looks a beautiful place to visit, so we'll just have to go first thing in the morning next time.
We went to collect a small parcel at the sorting office today and had to pay over £21 before they would release it. It was our Christmas presents sent to us by our son and family in Taiwan. That's the first time that we've ever had to pay VAT / import duty on a gift that they have sent to us. I do hope we like the presents...................
We sent our grandsons two Advent Calendars in the post along with their Christmas cards. Average size and quite light in weight (I have to choose all their gifts based on size and weight!) and they cost over £12 to send to them!   I don't begrudge the gifts - it's just the postage and duty that's the sting.