#coppedhall

Wasp-spittle_5077 by Peter Warne-Epping Forest Wasps make their nests from a mixture of wood and their saliva. Here's proof of the spittle techniques as this wasp seeks to repair damage to the nest. https://flic.kr/p/2jcaheZ

After a fantastic afternoon with friends at #Coppedhall Albie and I had a personal Cup of Costa Coffee to finish the day. #thanksmum (at Funky Towers of Cruise FM)

#30AwesomeThings #25 - Visit Spooky House - Possibly one of my biggest 'things' on the list in terms of anticipation. "Spooky House" I spotted when I was very small whilst in the car, with my parents, travelling around the M25 visiting my Grandparents in Kent. For anyone that knows the route from Hertfordshire, you'll know that the road goes under two tunnels, one under Epping Forest - I used to think it was 'A Pink Forest'. On your left hand side as you go between the tunnels there is a Manor House stood solitarily in the middle of a field, boarded up and looking burnt out. It looked like a haunted house to me, but not in a really scary way, in a Famous Five - let's go and investigate - way! A few years ago we passed it again and I decided to look it up and find out what it was called. I discovered it wasn't called Spooky House, much to my disappointment, it was called Copped Hall. The basic website I came across told me that it had in fact been derelict, but that a number of dedicated volunteers were painstakingly restoring the house and gardens to their former glory. It became one of those things that we 'must visit sometime' and on the odd occasion we almost did, but never quite made it. So when it came to compiling my list it just had to go on there. We almost didn't make it again on this occasion, time was running out to complete the list and the house and gardens are only open certain weekends...and of course there is also British weather to contend with. But you'll have already established from the pictures above that we did make it...and the weather held out...AND it didn't disappoint. We managed to make a garden open day, though technically I have been inside to the bookshop. For a nominal fee we explored the vast grounds that had been lovingly planted and maintained. Of course this was a playground for the Munchkin who again ran up and down hills and steps, under bridges and through rockeries. We had no idea this oasis was a short car ride away. To our delight cream teas were on offer so we fuelled ourselves for the walk. We even saw a grass snake swimming in the pond...the first snake I've ever seen in the UK. Some lovely memories were made with Munchkin and the pup loved it too...we're certainly coming back!

Not underground but underwater