Sculpture Gallery

An over-sized floral display.

Is this the red branch Christmas Tree recycled from a previous year?

The sculpture gallery almost always contains my favourite Christmas decorations at Chatsworth. I think it is for the simple reason that the room feels magical, special and about as CHristmassy as you can get!


Somehow, between the stone statues and the coloured lights, you feel bathed in the warmth of Christmas. It truly makes me feel like a child again; I somehow recapture that youthful excitement and freshness.


Contemporary and yet traditional, witty and yet wholesome; a room full of juxtapositions that somehow totally works and really emits that famous Christmas spirit!


A fantastic experience and one I would genuinely recommend if you haven't already experienced it, this room is like no other decor you will see. 

It is now officially the Christmas season...

... Because I have just seen this year's Coca Cola Christmas advert on TV for the first time this year.


Holidays are coming...

O Little Town of Bethlehem

The Chapel at Chatsworth

Fans and/or regular visitors to Chatsworth at Christmas may have noticed the recycling of the centre piece from "A Hans Christian Anderson Fairytale Christmas" in 2009. 

Apparently the family really do eat their Christmas dinner here...

The dining room dressed for Christmas

Chatsworth at Christmas

One of my all time favourite family traditions is going to see the decorations at Chatsworth House. This year's themes was visual Christmas Carols and we had so much fun going around each room trying to guess the carol before bursting into the appropriate song! 


I will upload a number of pictures from Chatsworth over the next few days, see if you can guess the themes!

I didn't even know decorations like this existed anymore!

Hardwick Inn Christmas Decorations

If this doesn't get you in the Christmas mood I don't know what will...

Traditional Turkey?

Is Turkey a Christmas must have?


It is one of the things that normally features at the top of my shopping list and yet I'm not a massive fan of it. Ok so that's not exactly accurate. I like and eat turkey quite a lot; in sandwiches, in stir fries, in curries, the list goes on. 


But that's the problem you see, it doesn't feel special enough for Christmas dinner's main focus. Plus when there is only two of you, is a turkey really an appropriate choice? We'd be eating it for weeks after the main event and there's only so many turkey curry buffets you can cope with. (We've all seen Bridget Jones right?)


So, this week we have taken the decision to part company with turkey and instead we are going to go for a nice joint of beef which we both love, we can get in a small enough size, we don't have to pre-order at the butchers and feels luxurious and special. Plus we get to legitimately eat Yorkshires with our Christmas dinner. Score!


Which leads to the question, what are you having for Christmas dinner and why?

Christmassy Animals

Saltaire Inspired

To see images of last years advent windows before they disappear to make way for this years batch, click on the link below! I was number 2, so simply click on the second thumbnail for a full image of my advent window from 2010. 


I think numbers 19 and 22 were my favourites last year, such clever ideas! See for yourself here: 

http://www.saltaireinspired.org.uk/livingadventcalendar/

Inspiration for this years advent window