Wishing all our friends and customers staff and suppliers a very Happy Christmas (don't stop working!) and a prosperous New Year.

Make the most of these fairy tale days of ice and snow, if you can't get to your party come along in January or February. If you live locally bring your sledge or ice skates or a fun afternoon.

Tree survey project 2010 - 2011

The Tree Survey Project.


Louise and Chris working on the tree survey. We have around 1,000 trees to be tagged, measured, and a record made of their condition. The trees probably date from the 18th century to the present day. Many were planted in the 1950s which seems only yesterday to me. Next we plan to dredge the moats and so leave this little estate in good condition to go through to the 22nd century. Meanwhile the walks through the trees is a great pleasure in every season.

Sunday Telegraph Stella supplement 17th October

From the Sunday Telegraph October 17th.

Little black book. Secret addresses from stylish people

Paul Smith on Langar Hall

"I love staying at this hotel, not just because it feels homely and the owner is so hospitable, but also because of the views of the garden and fields from all the rooms. I book in whenever I am working in Nottingham.

Thank You Paul.

On this lovely warm sunny October sunday when guests have been drinking coffee after lunch in the garden it is nice to think about the winter months ahead when Langar looks so pretty in the snow and I escape to the sunshine for a few weeks before coming home for Christmas.

Autumn Winter Events

Ladies Lunch Dates

Three course lunch with a glass of wine £19.75

Thursday October 20^th:

Gentle Jazz; Denny & Mike on guitar and clarinet

Thursday November 18^th

Pippa Rees Winter Style Boutique with ideas and gifts for Christmas.

Thursday December 16^th

Langar Ladies Christmas Lunch party £25

Saturday December 4^th

Dinner Dance party with Roy de Wired £55.00

Christmas Eve

Dinner, jazz & carols, midnight service in the church (optional) port & mince pies £50

Christmas Day Lunch with Father Christmas. (fully booked)

Boxing Day Lunch £50 children half price.

New Year’s Eve (fully booked) We are open every day between Christmas and New Year

Dinner dance: Suliman’s music, fireworks & fun. Dinner bed & breakfast £186 per person

The Rivals

I enjoyed some lovely grumbles with Penelope Keith last week when she and her husband stayed here for The Rivals at Nottingham Theatre Royal. She gave me tickets to see it on thursday. I loved it! Beautiful, funny, a great night out. It is now at Malvern and goes on to London later. Do go and see it on tour or in London if you get the chance.

Keith & Bowles Bring Hall’s Rivals to Haymarket

As previously reported, Peter Hall’s Bath Theatre Royal production of The Rivals will transfer to the West End at the conclusion of its current tour and is now confirmed to open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 23 November 2010 (previews from 10 November), the day before Hall's 80th birthday. It's booking until 26 February 2011

Synopsis:

Restoration comedy about social morals and hypocrisy. Mrs Malaprop, the infamous Queen of the Dictionary, is horrified. Her niece, the rich and beautiful Lydia Languish, is in love and wants to marry the penniless Ensign Beverley. Outraged, Mrs Malaprop demands that Lydia marry the eligible and dashing Captain Absolute who has arrived in Bath to court her. Little do they both know that the Ensign and the Captain are one and the same man...What follows is a delightful tangle of romance, fury and deception, making The Rivals one of the funniest and best loved comedies in the English language.

Who's Who

Author : Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Producer : Theatre Royal Bath

Director : Peter Hall

Performer : Penelope Keith (Mrs Malaprop)

Performer : Peter Bowles

Dates & Times:

Malvern Theatres - Malvern

25 October 2010 to 30 October 2010

£22.50 to £28.50

STILTON BREAD

Photographed on my iphone under the lights in the kitchen does not do justice to this absolutely delicious hot bread we serve at dinner. I just managed to resist it.

10 10 10

Sunday 10.10.10.

Yesterdays party left as the Scottish Civil partnership party arrived in kilts

Sunshine brought the guests out into the garden before the ceremony while this pretty girl played her saxophone. Her music brought the chefs out to see what was going on. They got a nice surprise.

Kilts now dancing to much louder music 10pm. Everyone having a good time.

10.10.10

Ushers going off to a wedding at Nottingham Cathederal.

Historic Houses to visit

Chatsworth house and Haddon Hall, two sensational privately owned houses just 40 minutes up the M1 from Langar. Near them is National Trust's Hardwick Hall...I only know one elderly American lady who visited all three in one day. They are open some days in October when you can visit without the crowds.

You can bid at The Chatsworth Attic Sale auction on line through www.sothebys.com Register 24 hours before you bid.

For information bidnow@sothebys.com or phone 02072935000.

And 'No' I do not have any interest in Sothebys, I just love sales, bidding and memories of those special occasions. Of course you can take advantage of some of our special offers on rooms and stay at Langar Hall where there are a few stuffed birds. I mean real feathered birds in glass cases.

I went to the view with friends and neighbours Kent & Claire from Stubton Hall. Look at their web site www.stubtonhall.com it's one of the best.

Chatsworth House attic sale

Sunday I went to view the Chatworth Atic Sale driving through torrential rain to a village of huge white tents in the park at Chasworth. A fantasy of every think you may dream of finding in the attic of a historic house. Sadly or perhaps fortunately I shall be in France otherwise I would spend all three days at the sale. It takes place tuesday wednesday & thursday this week..

Perfect puddings

Pumpkin waiting for Halloween

Pumpkin grown in the garden by Bill & Harry.

Very late tonight after a long weekend of parties, especially nice guests and all kinds of surprises.

I forgot to edit the Hillman Minx and don't know how to change it . Here is a cheese board that I would tuck into if it was still around.

A really lovely old car brought the owners to lunch to celebrate their Golden wedding anniversayr

THE LODGE

View from the Lodge and walking up the drive to breakfast.

This week we completed the renovations at the Gardener's Lodge making a double bedroom, single bedroom/sitting room and bathroom with shower. It has turned out better than I could have imagined, light, warm, lovely views, quiet, the ideal place to stay if you are working in the are a few days a week for a month or so and tire of city hotels. Walk up the lime tree drive to breakfast, potter in for dinner or off to one of the excellent local pubs.

Alfie with friend Bandon and the pike

Last week, Alfie, my 13 year old grandson, caught this huge pike in Hickling fishing lake. After gutting, skinning, mincing, sieving, adding egg white, cream, seasoning, steaming, it was finally served as a starter with lobster sauce and crayfish tails. Light and delicious it went down a treat. Now we are waiting for Alfie to catch another whopper.

Langar Hall Sikh tea party

You will find many Langar Halls in the Punjab and North India. Every Sikh temple has a Langar Hall where
free food is served to the congregation.

In the 10th century near to this Langar was a place of pilgrimage where, according to Vatican archives, 'great multitudes resort' There is now a Langar Hall at Church street, Lenton Nottingham where the Sikhs are converting the listed old school building. Well, I can't resist the fascinating co incidence of the old Sanskrit word and the Sikh temple. Never mind Richard Hawkins and his God or no God, in the 10th century visitors to Langar were blessed, as I think they are today!!

And more flowers in the house thanks to Ian Buxton & the Olympic team

During the past week there have been the most lovely flower arrangements in every room giving a special experience to people coming to see the exhibition of paintings or to enjoy a good lunch, tea or dinner. Somehow the flowers and paintings have made the last days of August and the first week of September special. Of course this Indian Summer has been wonderful too.

Exhibition of paintings by local artists

Here are two of the paintings by local artists on show around the dining room, sitting room and garden room through September.

We have already sold one or more for each of the 8 exhibitors.

The idea is to give the artists the oportunity to show their work and to encourage patrons to buy original paintings to enjoy in their home.

Sunday August 29th Flower arranging demonstration.

Did you know that we have an English Olympic flower arranging team? They won Gold in Canada earlier this year and Gold in Japan three years ago. Next they go to conquer America.

These photographs, taken on my iphone, do their arrangements no justice.

Ian, Allan and Lee arranged 4 stunning pieces in Langar church. I prepared for an hour of tedium, but the skill & beauty accompanied by amusing banter kept all the assorted audience laughing, sighing, gasping and thoroughly enjoying the whole experience. Amazing!

The other side of a wedding

The Father of the bride works hard calming nerves, carrying cases, answering last minute phone messages and packing up the car before settling the bride in beside him. I wonder if they all tell their daughters that it is not too late to change their mind.

Mine did.

And here is a special bride on the morning after the wedding. She left her overnight bag behind but looked lovely in her new husband's new blue shirt.

Shakespeare in the Garden

This year The Festival Players performed The Tempest. This company have been coming here every year for, must be, 15 years. The last time they did the tempest there was thunder and lightening and finally torrential rain. This year was the perfect day for picnics. A rapt audience of 200 brought their own chairs to watch the lively performant. We sold out of Cornettos in the interval, some people stayed on for supper or enjoyed a bottle of wine in the garden before winding their way home.