Day 67

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Woodstock, England

On Day 44 I mentioned that I expereinced a God-incidence.  The beautician who gave me a lip wax in Damascus, Maryland was from Oxford, England.  She suggested that while we in Oxford we visit Blenheim Palace.  Today we did.  I hate to say it, but Blenheim Palace (first picture) makes Highclere Castle look like a shack. : -)

The palace and grounds are so large we booked several “tours” in order to try to take it all in.  Our first tour was of the palace gardens. ( second picture) Our guide informed us that if we had come two days earlier, we might have seen royalty.  Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall (Prince Charles, wife, Camille) dedicated  a Memorial Garden to Sir Winston Churchill at the palace on Tuesday, June 9.  2015 is the 50th anniversary of his death.  Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace and is buried in the church cemetery near the estate.  The palace is owned by the 12th Duke of Marlborough.  His grandfather was Winston Churchill’s uncle.

Our second  “tour” was of the rooms inside the palace.  The art and furnishings were exquisite.  The long solid oak dinnig table was set for a formal dinner.  (fourth picture)  Each room was filled with beauty and art.

Our third “tour” ws the Churchill tour.  Thi s is the place where he played as a boy and visited as a man.  He proposed to his wife, Clementine, on the grounds of Blenheim at the Temple of Diana.  The room where he was born is kept as it was on that day in 1874.  ((third picture)  Although he never lived at the palace, he visited often.  It is fitting that he has a Memorial Garden next to the place where he prospsed to his wife.  There are several rooms that are dedicated to his memory and contain memorabilia. and on the wall are a few of his famous quotes.  I particularly liked this one: ‘My most brilliant achievement was to persuade my wife to marry me.”

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie