I wake this morning to an unusually sunny English summer day, I can hear the Castle starting to wake with cars, horse hoofs and the sound of voices echoing from the kitchen area. No good morning would start without a hot cappuccino so I make my way downstairs to the tea rooms before I have to join the queue behind our lovely visitors who tend to arrive ever earlier. Luis our Banqueting Manager and his team are turning on the machines and collecting the fresh baguettes and sandwiches from the kitchen, reminding me to speak to Paul our Head Chef about trying to sneak an egg sandwich this morning for my breakfast instead of porridge. Coffee in hand, I make my way to the Saloon passing the huge painting of the 4th Countess of Carnarvon and wondering if she would be jealous of my coffee machine. I hear click click on the wooden floor of the Saloon, which means the lovely Les, walking stick in hand is on the move, 35 years on, he is still doing his same morning round. The Guides are starting to take their places in the rooms and after ten cheery “Good Morning’s” I am at the front door. Key unlocked, bolts down, door open…..
If you would like to visit Highclere Castle or find out more please visit www.highclerecastle.co.uk
How wonderful that you’ve started a blog! Just saw about this on twitter 🙂 I study Heritage at University and have wanted to visit Highclere for such a long time, hopefully I’ll get the chance soon. It’s great to get an insight into the goings on of the estate- I can’t wait to hear more! x
Which university- I hope to give some talks about Heritage at Highclere. I never tire of the views and sense of history.
A life most of us can only dream of, but getting a glimpse of your typical morning start was fun indeed!
Thank you Lady Carnarvon. I look forward to hearing about life at Highclere Castle. Don’t forget to add some lovely photo’s to go along with your post entry’s, now and again somthing that looks little and insignificant could just make my Day. Living in Australia i have NO idea WHEN i could get the chance to visit and have a tour, so your blog will be the next best thing 🙂 thank you again, i cant wait to read more..xxT
Thank you for sharing. I don’t foresee EVER visiting your home, but it’s so nice to see it through your eyes.
Welcome online!
I’ve visited Highclere Castle last year, and – well – I’m still daydreaming about it…!
I’m sure I’m not the first to say it, but really, walking in your gardens is like being in Heaven… Probably it was my favourite day of my holidays!
So, I’ll follow your blog with great pleasure, as a sort of thanks for having open your doors for us 🙂
Such a lovely word-picture of this morning, Lady Carnarvon, – THANK-YOU for “painting” it for all of the world.
Katey in OHIO
Beautiful…more inspiration for the day here in NY (upstate) those who know me…know I love Anything and Everything British…I must have been British in another life :o) Cheers!
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for starting this blog. I look forward to reading about the working and behind the scenes of Highclere Castle.
Good Morning to you,
Brenda
I’m going to enjoy having a look in on your day at Highclere with my daily coffee in Oregon.
Sounds fun!
I expected a slightly better story from a Lady! Drizzle! OHIO
Hello there! I just wanted to thank you for opening your beautiful home. My mother was a huge fan of Downton Abbey and I was able to take her for a visit in April – coming from Washington, DC. We had a wonderful time. She was very ill with breast cancer and passed away in June. I will treasure the lovely memories we had together visiting Highclere and I am so glad we were able to have that special time.
I am so sorry for you – I am glad to think the spreading cedars and lawns rolling into the distance can give a sense of the cycle of life.
My cousin shared this site with me and I shared your book with her! I very much enjoyed reading Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey and am looking forward to your book about Lady Catherine. Thank you for sharing your home and your stories…
I was at Highclere last September and I so excited that you have started this blog! I will look forward to reading it every morning as I drink my coffee in New Jersey.
Thank you in anticipation of Everything Highclere!
Hubby and I visited the castle in June. First thing we did when we arrived to London from Paris. I loved every part of it, wish I had more time to explore every detail in the castle and outdoor areas. It was lovely to hear your welcoming chat with us. I loved the little shop as well and bought some souvenirs there that I treasure. I loved your book and look forward to any new stories from the earlier Earls and Countesses. Congratulations on keeping the estate and preserving the castle’s history. Greetings from California.
Dear Lady Carnarvon
I am so glad you started a blog! Thank you so much! I visited England many years ago and loved it. If I ever get back again (which I hope to) the first place I am coming to is Highclere Castle. Hope maybe I could meet you someday while I’m there!
Have a lovely morning and a great day!
Mary
In a world where civility seems passe, it is reassuring to know that somewhere there exsists a place as beautifully traditional as your lovely home…I dream that one day my husband and I will have the resources to “cross the pond” and see this wonderful place for ouselves!
My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Highclere last month on our trip to England. It was every bit as beautiful as we had anticipated, and we enjoyed seeing some of the rooms that I get to see on Downton Abbey. My only regret is not seeing more of the gardens. I guess we’ll just have to come back very soon!
Thank you for your comments – I do love the Gardens, I am just working on some plant orders now, inspired by this lovely autumn. I want to see if I can group some grasses and yellow and terracotta colours to catch the light in the Wood of Goodwill as the sun sinks lower and the light lengthens and changes. Mind you it never quite works out according to plan! Hope you do come back. best wishes Lady Carnarvon
It is evening here in Louisville,KY and I was as usual going through my facebook and since I am linked to Highclere – I saw your note on your blog. Your book was lovely and I will now look forward to your blog – with my evening cup of decaf.
Thanks so much for inviting us into your life. I look forward to anything you have to share about Highclere. I love everything British. My dad was in the US Air Force and was stationed in England in 1958-1960. I was 4-6 years old at the time. We lived at Lilford Hall, which had been divided up into apartments and rented out to American officers and their families. I will never forget that experience. We kids had tons of fun playing on the grounds and exploring parts of the house that were “off limits”. Naughty children! I think that time in the lovely English countryside sealed my fate as an Anglophile. I’m looking forward to reading about your experiences. Much luck to you as you build your heritage into a 21st century success. Again, thanks so much for sharing. Evelyn in Mississippi, USA
I have been researching the American troops stationed near here for a book I have just finished writing. Sadly some of the planes crashed here during WW2 but it has been very worthwhile to find out why and who. I would like to create a memorial to them.
Lady Carnarvon, lovely description of a Sunny English Morning. I most likely will never make it abroad to see such places as Highclere, so I look forward to following your blog as the best next thing.
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for starting your blog, and giving us a glimpse into your life. I will enjoy reading it before or after my chores at my little horse farm here in Illinois. My husband and I started watching Downton Abbey because of the setting. Your home is truly beautiful, and it is so cool that it is still creating jobs on every level!
What a great treat to read your blog. I visited Highclere Castle a couple of weeks ago and found the grounds and buildings magnificent, just as I had hoped (even better really). I will be reading your blog from Maryland, USA. Thank you for blogging. 🙂
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I look forward to your blogging as I am a newcomer to Highclere and Downton Abbey. My husband and I fell in love with the 3rd Season and looking with anticipation to the 4th and final season in January. I did purchase all three seasons and a couple of the books. Next year I am hoping to visit Highclere, the date is unknown at this time. Hoping we have the chance to meet…..thank you Lady Carnarvon.
As many have already stated, many of us can only dream of living in your home. So we thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us. I shall also start my morning here in Ohio with a cup of coffee and seeing what is going on at Highclere. It will be the perfect start of my day.
Thank you for sharing. You do live a life most of us dream of. I am looking forward to peeking inside and reading your perspective on life at Highclere.
Patty in California
Thank you – although in many ways it is very similar, from walking dogs, to clearing up, list making, encouraging all who work here, mending things, painting things, and trying to get on with people!
Lovely first post in what could be a very interesting blog. Am so looking forward to visiting Highclere Castle tomorrow. Fingers crossed that the sun shines for us, I will look out for you in the tearoom!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
This blog is interesting, Highclere Castle is beautiful.
Regards
Kasia in Polish
Thank you, Lady Carnarvon for sharing your lovely home and daily life with us. I hope in the future I shall be able to visit Highclere, until then I shall look forward to hearing your daily activities. Thank you, again.
Dear Lady Carnarvon, Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Castle with us. I look forward to hearing about your daily life. I hope in the future, I can come visit. Until then I shall share your blog with you. thank you, again.
Having just read in the Sunday Times the article re place settings I could not resist in contacting you as, no doubt you have the information I need at your finger tips!
I live in Spain and one of the discussions over the dinner tables is the correct way to place your knife and fork whilst eating and when finished.
In Spain (Menorca) – I am talking about a “refined table!!”, they say they should be placed at 5.0 clock (though here there are contradictions!!) where as the good English education is (please correct me if wrong) is at 6.0clock.
As my friends are all Downton fans and watch it , god forbid dubbed!! maybe they will listen to you as the final voice!!!!
Thank you in advance!
Susi
Traditionally if your knife and fork are left open, like a triangle, then you haven’t finished and if they are together pointing straight up the plate at 12 o’clock then you have finished. It is a very useful ” morse code” so you are not disturbed and continually asked if you have finished – most traditional practices usually have a useful purpose! Europeans – given that Britain seems to remain on the edge of Europe in many ways – may well do things differently….
Good Evening Lady Carnarvon, I noted your remarks on August 21st regarding American troops. I’ve just emailed the office at the castle to discuss the possibility of a private tour and tea for a group of the United States Visiting Forces stationed in the UK. I work as the Community Relations Advisor at an RAF base in Cambridgeshire and we have over 6000 of them stationed here so I am hoping that we will be able to sort something out.
MY DEAR LADY CARNARVON,
GOOD MORNING FROM BRAZIL,
MILADY, HAPPY 9 YEARS OF YOUR BLOG ,CONGRATULATIONS.
VILLA ALEMÃ
RIO CLARO – SP
BRAZIL
You are right – My first blog was form my heart and written by our little chapel remembering my own father – a poem and perhaps an unexpected place to start..but I have just found it
FATHER’S PARTING
The fragile skin parched over familiar hands
Faint eyes and ears moving to their new land
What voices, sounds and music can he hear?
In our Father’s house there are many rooms,
We read and bear our strength from fear
Now long and endless passages lead through earth to tombs
We all take turns to read God eternal, Credo in unum Deum,
Pray for him, help us we are so young, we are not ready.
Fingers now released it is the end
Forlorn bereft in a strange world left for us now to fend
A complex man and simply a man
Our father now left our life for heaven
Time and eternity instantly kiss
And his shadow flees from us in a darkling mist.