A long weekend away (yes - there was Shakespeare!)

It was our 10th wedding anniversary this weekend, so we went down to stay with my parents and A & I had a night in the hotel in Stratford-on-Avon where we had our wedding reception, while K & M stayed with Granny and Big Grandad.  It would have been better if we'd both felt less grotty from nasty coughs, but it was lovely all the same.
Of course, since we were in that part of the country, we also did some Shakespeare-ing.  After a swim first thing, we spent the rest of the day at Mary Arden's Farm. 

K swimming

Of all of the Shakespeare Trust properties, it's the most extensive, with the most variety and with the most to do and also in my opinion the most interesting!  So we watched a falconry display and talk.

European Eagle Owl

K, M & I had a go at writing with a quill pen - tricky!  We also had a go at archery.  Rather different from the bows that you can see this week being used at the Olympics!

The girls loved the petting corner, particularly a little rabbit called Alice.

M with Velvet (not Alice)

K & Velvet (not Alice)

We had a go at dressing up as Tudors too.

M as a Tudor girl

K as a Tudor girl

And listened and talked to some Tudor characters and heard about lots of expressions that come from Tudor times, such as 'giving the cold shoulder', 'bed and board' and 'turning the tables', as well as specifically Shakespearean words and phrases 'assasination' and 'bedroom' for example.

A Tudor Woodsman

There were plenty of animals to see too, from cows and pigs and rabbits to guinea pigs.  We also had a good walk around the fields and through wooded areas with willow tunnels, which were greatly appreciated.  Another place we will be returning to and getting our money's worth from the 12 month tickets.

Speaking of a place we will returning to, we also went back to Shakespeare's Birthplace and again spent plenty of time watching the fantastic Shakespeare Aloud and chatting to them (although sadly Jen, who we spent so much time with last time wasn't there to give our thank you card to - it was to all of them but she was the only one we knew the name of so it was addressed to her and her 'fellow players').  As with our previous visit we went twice in one day and will no doubt be back again!

 The final visit of the trip was the only one of the five Shakespeare properties that we had yet to visit:  Anne Hathaway's Cottage.  Much has changed in the 15 plus years since I last visited and all for the better.  If I recall correctly there was little or no furniture inside when I was last there, but it's now

The cottage

There is also a new woodland walk, complete with Fairies, tiny trolls and clues to find a secret password for the Mid-Summer Night's Ball, on an activity sheet for children, which K & M both really enjoyed doing.

The end of the fairy Mid-Summer Night's Dream treasure trail, complete with Bottom!