Down for breakfast, very nice too. Service and food good except they cook their bacon funny here, not like back home that’s for sure.  No beef sausages for Kel, only pork and chicken, so he’s not a happy boy!

Came back to room and repacked the bags for a better distribution and easier pull up at the places we are staying in case they have the narrow stairs again, this time we only have to take the one small case with us.

Off to Swindon Old Town for a look around, wow some old houses and buildings around the place.  Lot of new development and housing estates going up as well which seems to be swamping the area.  We went off to Sainsbury’s in search of the fold up grocery bags we got when we were here last time, but apparently they don’t make them any more which is a shame.  We will keep looking as they are great for the car.  Kel needed shaving gear so off to Boots to have a look, found the shaving sticks there so he got six just in case he can’t get any more, told him they’ll last him years!  Then we decided to check out Marks & Spencer’s, we shouldn’t have!!!!!!  We ended up finding the puffer coat I wanted and a light jumper for the nights, along with a couple of pairs of trousers for Kel that he wanted, so much for not filling up the cases.   Kel tells me he bought gear with him he is throwing away before going back home to Oz.  We will see.

Off to Lydiard Park and House to have a look around.  What an amazing place it is.  The manor house, known as Lydiard House or Lydiard Park, has medieval origins and was remodelled in the 17th century and the 1740s, when the south and east fronts were reworked in Palladian style, probably by Roger Morris. The house was designated as Grade I listed in 1955.  Surviving features from the 18th century include a semi-underground ice house and a walled garden, with a bronze sundial at its centre.

Immediately north of the house stands the parish church of St Mary, which is all that remains of the medieval village. The church has 13th-century origins and was refurbished and enlarged in the 15th and 17th centuries; it is Grade I listed.  Unfortunately we couldn’t get into the chapel because it is under going renovations at this time.  We headed off for the park to have a look at the horses, similar to Clydesdale horses that are on the property.  The children's play area, Cafe & Tea Rooms, events and education programmes make a great destination for a family day out and there were lots of families with their dogs in tow looking around today despite the cold weather.  There are also BBQs available to hire in the summer and lots of picnic spots, some of which were being used despite the cold

It has turned out to be a lovely sunny day today but very cool with it.