Playmobil Antarctic Explorations.

 The children got 'Polar explorers for kids' for Christmas, and I had decided we'd start using it when it snowed.

 

  In 1772-1775 Captain James Cook got within 100 miles of Antarctica.

On his second voyage, Cook became the first explorer to cross the Antarctic circle. In 1775 Cook headed home disappointed that he had not found Antarctica, and in his report wondered if it really existed.

By 1880 ships travelled to the seas around the Antarctic to capture and kill the thousands of seals that Cook had described. The first man to set foot on the Antarctic was a seal hunter.

1820 Bellinghausen, Smith, Bransfield and Palmer all see different parts of Antarctica on separate expeditions.

1839 James Clark Ross voyages to find magnetic south.

 Robert Scott and Roald Amundsen race to the South Pole 1910-1912

Every country wanted to lay claim to as much of Antarctica's land as possible.

We retold the story of the race between Scott and Amundsen using Playmobil, with great success!

James Cook was the first person to cross the Antarctic circle.

I then set up two teams of playmobil figures, one team representing Scott's British team, the other  Amundsen's Norwegian team.
We compared each team, before we read the story of each man's expedition.

 This is Scott's team.

Although Scott knew nothing of Amundsen's plans to the South Pole, Scott had to rush his preparations, because other countries were also preparing to explorations to the South pole.

• Didn't have time to train his men how to ski.
• Failed to select the best dogs.
• Selected both ponies and dogs.
• took motorised sledges (which had never been tested in extreme conditions).
• Large team of 65 men.

 

 This is Amundsen's team

He kept his plan to be the first to the South pole a secret and raised funds for his journey, by telling people he was off to the North pole.

BRODSWORTH HALL IN TIME OF WAR

During the Summer months a series of events were staged telling the story of Brodsworth Hall during the second world war.

'A succession of army units came to Brodsworth during the war, many of which were part of the larger 1 corps, Home forces, whose headquarters was at nearby Hickleton Hall. Brodsworth was first used as the headquarters of the 44th Home Counties Infantry Division, commanded by General Percival. The division was responsible for the defence against a potential German invasion of an area stretching to the coast.'

 The gardens were filled with army tents and vehicles.

 

 An american soldier,

 and his posessions.

Pear Day, Cannon Hall, Barnsley

 I've been wanting to go to the annual Pear Day at Cannon Hall for years. 

We always somehow manage to forget it or be away on the day.

 

 But this year we managed it!

 The historic walled garden adjacent to the main hall dates from the 1760s. 

The annual Pear day celebrates the pear trees, 

which were established there in the early eighteenth century.

 

 However, they had given out all the free samples of pears

 and completely sold out of pears too.

There looked to be plenty still on the trees, but those were not yet ripe!

Although the pears were gone, there were lots of other things to do...

We had a very interesting chat with a bee keeper.

 Had a walk around the walled gardens.

Rosanna and I went into this old greenhouse, not normally open to the public. The greenhouse is home to the 200 year old Cannon Hall vine, which was grown from a seed brought back by John Spencer-Stanhope from the continent in 1802. A cutting of the vine was exported to Australia, cultivated, I was told by the gardener that its descendants produce today's fine Australian wines.

 We enjoyed the sunshine.

Inside the hall there were Victorian cookery demonstrations,

 on the old range.

 A quick glance into the pantry.

 Eating sugar mice in the servants dining room.

We were really surprised by the size of this room. 

Compared to Downton Abbey, Cannon Hall is tiny. 

But Downton's servants hall appears much smaller than the room above!

Upstairs, Reuben and Geoff had gone off to listen to excerpts from the operas. 

The girls and I got there just as it finished!

Up one more flight of stairs to try on the 'Downton Abbey clothes'.

 Carson

 Anna

And finally I got to dress my little boy into a sailor suit!