Today a man came into work to play the organ, whilst another man did a sound recording of it. All fine and dandy, except all us conservation assistants were shut out of the room and had to keep total silence at all times so as not to upset the sound equipment.

Ever seen Gosford Park?

It was like the scene where Ivor Novello plays the piano. The three of us were like the servants hanging around outside the door (skip to about 1:40). We were sneaking around barefoot, listening at doors, and accidentally stepping onto creaking floorboards and having to run away. We got into the entrance hall and did a passable impression of Regency dancing. It was all terribly good fun until how low you could curtsey became very competitive, and someone landed loudly on their bottom in the middle of the floor. Naturally we left her there and ran off before the curator could catch us.

Turns out that it’s difficult to make a swift exit when you have to double back to get your shoes though.

Someone once told me that the way staff members talk about ‘The Trust’ makes it sound like the British mafia. Not true, unfortunately, but there are certain benefits, and free entry to places like these make you remember how beautiful the UK can be – even on a rainy Friday in Wales.

The gardens were extensive and perfectly maintained. Unfortunately, visiting places like this with Trust staff means that the tour of the Castle involved less admiring of the collection, and more peering about trying to find dust and insects worth tutting at – alas we were sadly disappointed on that score.

These peacocks were wandering around quite happily with the visitors, with two little chicks popping out of the border to say hello.

If I lived here I’d turn the Orangery into a massive den and spend all my time there, in a hammock in the sunshine, reading books. This is apparently in an Alternate Universe where it is sunny in Wales.

This is a holiday cottage you can rent. Gorgeous, but I’m not sure how I’d feel about people staring into my living room window whilst I’m trying to relax on my weekend away. But maybe the location makes up for that.

Who could say no to a view like that?

Oh, and by the way: Don’t blink.

P.S. I’m sure you all know via BookFace that I got a First for my degree. I rule, but you already knew that, right? Right? Right.

I took this at work today. So tempting to just leap inside and make vroom vroom noises, but that wouldn’t be professional now, would it?