Drained

After spending a lot of time outdoors in cold weather yesterday, I slept well and didn't feel like heading up into the hills on what is forecast to be the last day of the spell of fine weather. So I headed to the depths of the Estate. We first visited the Ramsay Obelisk (see extra) and then I decided that it might still be a good time to visit the Hurley Pond. It's surrounded by beech trees and, unfortunately, most had lost their leaves, but what was worse was to see that the Estate has drained it - by digging away its earth dam. Hence, of its three "ponds", two have been drained and one is closed due to public pressure on the bank where it drains. They may cry "maintenance", but it looks a lot as if they are continuing to make the Estate unappealing to visit - while they develop it for paying guests. 

Back home, I relaxed, shopped for groceries, did a wash and cooked apple crumble and beef Bolognese - that I shall eat (separately) over the coming days.