Normally we go down to Chatsworth on Anne’s Birthday but she decided a change was in order so we went up to Harewood House (www.harewood.org). They don’t normally open in the winter and they’d decorated some of the state rooms, though the most interesting part was a collection of Royal Christmas cards sent to them and from the family over a lot of years, fascinating.

We also had a wander around the lake, fussed some Huskies, had a coffee and cake, wandered around the shops and gardens and walked across the fields to the old church.

The weather was cloudy to start with but then the sun came out for a pretty mild, but breezy day. Most enjoyable!