Writing and crafting were not the only things which took a hit last year. One of the things we discovered in our first year as home-owners is that weekends usually fill with House Jobs. Sorting the Garden. DIY shops. Useful Things.

Not, having fun and Making Memories by going off to explore places. Or, you know, returning to favourite haunts in different seasons.

We’ve been National Trust members for about five years now. Last year, we did not make as much use of it as we had done previously, having pushed such outings to the bottom of the list of priorities for weekends and days off, because, you know, House.

However, over the fortnight we had for Christmas, we did manage to squeeze in four trips, which probably made the membership of the year worth it.

Only one new place, Dyrham Park near Bath, and three favourite haunts: Tredegar, near Cardiff; Tyntesfield, near Bristol; and Dinefwr near Llandeilo. But Dyrham will be added to that list.

Obviously, all the houses were decked out for Christmas with variations on Christmas Through The Ages, although Tyntesfield had a fairy-tale theme. Lots of beautifully decorated trees, and Dyrham offered the jarring thought that the turn of the millennium counts as Through The Ages, with a display for Christmas ‘99. It was only the other year, right?!

We were lucky with the weather for Tyntesfield and Dyrham. On the other hand, Tredegar is always a hit with Tiny in rainy weather: the puddle-jumper comes out and the BEST puddles are found. Deep and muddy. Dinefwr had fewer puddles, but lots of leaves to throw and stick dens for hide and seek.

Tyntesfield and Dyrham have playparks to make up for the lack of puddles.

Anyway, another goal for 2026 is making better use of said National Trust membership. Maybe even adventuring further afield for new-to-us places.