Picture, if you will, the scene:

Glorious sunshine in a brilliant blue sky with the merest wisps of cloud floating overhead; the gentle strains of traditional music playing in the background; and the company of good friends, all set against the idyllic backdrop of an English stately home nestling in the quiet beauty of the Cotswolds.  What better way to spend the May Day bank holiday than this?

And, in all truth, the reality didn’t differ too much from this perfect setting.  So, we might have experienced some moments of bitter winds interchanged with the glorious sunshine and the sky might have more frequently been grey than blue.  It’s also true that the music may have been drowned out on occasion by the non-stop giggling and high-pitched squeals of my terrible two and their companions; but the day was fantastic.

We celebrated May Day in a traditional Victorian manner at the amazingly beautiful Sudeley Castle and it encompassed everything your quintessential English May Day should; after all, where else in the world could you combine Morris dancing, chimney sweeps, Punch & Judy, Penny Farthings, Maypole dancing and cups of tea in such a seamless way?  We spent the day visiting with G’s wonderful godmother, C and her fantastic family and enjoying everything Sudeley had to offer.

Who knew that M would prove to be quite so adept at dancing round the Maypole, astounding and delighting the Morris dancers, who couldn’t quite believe he’d never done it before: and we couldn’t have picked a better place to visit for G, who was enthralled with the Tudor history as it’s her topic for the term.

We enjoyed a peaceful and amazing day discovering this hidden treasure and wouldn’t hesitate to make a return visit when we’re next in the area.