St. Georges Day

Saint George's Day is the feast day of Saint George. Saint George's Day is celebrated on 23 April in England and additionally other countries in Europe too; Cyprus, Greece, Bosnia to name but a few. The day is the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303.

In the 15^th Century, celebration of St. Georges day was on a par to Christmas, but by the 18^th Century enthusiasm waned, and today you are lucky to see a couple of cars with their England football flags flying on them.  Perhaps there is a lack of identity with this Saint in England, unlike when we were in Switzerland, the Swiss confederation is still celebrated in big style with fireworks and breakfasts on farms all over the country on August the 1^st.  Everyone comes together and has a great time.  Perhaps England needs a William Tell figure to celebrate, perhaps St. George, a Roman Christian soldier that was born in Turkey (unlikely to have ever visited England…) has less relevance in modern England….?

We decided to go to a National Trust free weekend at the Vyne, a large country house close to Basingstoke.  The National Trust woods to the back of the property; Morgaston Woods,  had an orienteering course to complete, but the beautiful bluebells were also out in force.  Admittedly, I did think it a little early for them, but no.  So I took a few pics whilst I was out.  There were also Wood anenomes and pale yellow primroses dotting the woodland floor too.

We gained free entry for the whole family to the house and the St. Georges Day event they had laid on. Arrival was just in time for lunch, a lovely free range pork hog roast.  Wholemeal bap, apple sauce, pork, watercress, crackling and some stuffing, just divine.  I could have eaten another straight after :-).

.......was very tasty even more so as it was a cold day!

Alice soon wolfed hers down too!

The walled garden at the Vyne is  being cultivated by a group of gardeners who use it as therapy away from coping with their disabilities.  They have apple trees espaliered along the walls, and succulent plants and a nursery in the greenhouse.  They had planted some broad beans, but they looked like they had become lunch for the birds!  Rhubarb was certainly on its way up ready to pick. 

Succulent in the greenhouse

Look carefully inside the hen, is a real live brown one, a hen in a hen!

  There was a thatcher showing how they build up the thatch on a roof, wood turning, and the girls even donned safety glasses to try out a little stone masonry!  They carved their initials into a chunk of slate with a mallet and chisel. 

Laura tries stone masonry

There were also a group of morris dancers who seemed to be having a great time, not taking themselves too seriously, dancing with umbrellas at times.  At one point they did abandon dancing due to a downpour, but in the normal English spirit went back out as soon as the shower stopped.  They performed some traditional handkerchief and stick dances.

The Kennet Morrismen

The Vyne also made it more interesting for the younger children, trying to spot 15 toy baby rats they had hidden around the house.  Alice had a great time spotting them. 

Beautiful moulded ceiling at the Vyne

Got back to the car just in time for the heavens to open once more, and the sky to go quite black….

...welcome rain, as we have had hosepipe bans in place since the beginning of April here in Berkshire.