Downton Abbey Destination

There are 20 days left till Christmas, which means there are 20 days left till Downton Abbey Christmas special. If you are a DA's addict and have withdrawal symptoms, treat yourself to Downton Abbey Destination board game.

An award-winning board game Destination London is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Downton Abbey  Destination has been launched in addition to the anniversary edition. It transports players to the glamorous setting of my favourite period drama.

I was just reading the other day how Rachel Lowe, an entrepreneur who created the Destination board game, was turned down by Dragon's Den who slated her - which proves that they are not that smart if they don't see a potential winner.

Back to our board: it includes 1 beautifully illustrated board, 6 playing pieces (plus two spare), 40 Destination cards, 25 Carson cards, 15 letters, a supply of Downton bells plus two dice.

You start from the Servants' Hall, choosing a piece, either a maid or a servant. Pick up 3 Destination cards, but don't show them to the other players.
Some Destination cards are quite hilarious, for example "The Earl is going hunting, collect his boots","Iron the morning papers", "Mr Carson would like to see you" and more.

Players must complete a number of tasks and navigate their way around the corridors and stairs of the Abbey. The dice determines how many moves you can make.

Once you reached your Destination, you are rewarded with Downton bells.
Once all the Destination cards have gone from the pile, you must make your way back to the Servants' Hall. The player with the most Downton Bells wins.

The board itself is a real beauty. If you ever wanted to look at the plan of rooms of Downton Abbey, you can explore to your heart's content. This large foldable board is sturdy, and should last long.
My only regret - there is no Mr Carson's figure in the game, now he might not be needed for the actual game, but it would be fun to have him.

That's my Boxing Day sorted, we'll have great fun, playing Downton Abbey Destination.
With Downton Abbey Compendium of parlour and card games which I have just reviewed the other day, Downton Abbey Destination will make a fantastic Christmas gift for any DA's fan.

Disclosure: I received Downton Abbey Destination for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.

Downton Abbey Compendium of parlour and card games

I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey, I love everything about it, from fabulous sets to amazing outfits, from witty remarks by Dowager Countess to convoluted plots. It is a pure pleasure and an escapism for me. I am such a fan, that I even bought a Lady Mary's hat recently (but that's another story). Imagine my - squeak with pleasure - delight, when I discovered there is a Downton Abbey Compendium of parlour and card games.

The  Compendium comes in a gorgeous sturdy box with a promise of "hours of raucous fun for all the family".
It contains:
2 packs of playing cards
1 pack of Downton Abbey snap cards
1 book of parlour games
1 book of traditional games
2 note pads
1 pad of sticky notelets
4 pencils
1 egg timer
2 blindfolds (wait, this is all quite innocent rather than naughty!)

Downton Abbey snap cards include all the major characters (some of whom were already killed off by Julian Fellows. Mr Fellows, I will never-ever forgive you for ruining Christmas 2012 for me - and for millions of fans - by killing off Matthew).

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An introduction to family card games tells that card games have been around for about 1200 years, originating in China in the 9th C. They later have taken over the world, and in the Victorian era the playing cards became a mainstay of family entertainment.
The booklet describes the rules and objectives to such games as Whist, Cheat, Rummy, Poker and many others.

Collection of parlour games booklet will teach you how to play Blind Man's Buff, Wink Murder, Charades, Forfeits, Pass the Slipper and many more games. An introduction mentions the little trivia for Downton Abbey fans - apparently "the cast of Downton Abbey enjoy nothing more than a game of Wink Murder while they are waiting to make their appearance on the set..."
I confess I haven't heard of Wink Murder, and enjoyed reading about it.

We haven't yet tried playing any games from The Compendium, but the winter season with its long dark evenings is a perfect time for a family get-together and a game or two or three. My boys will have fun playing Pass the Slipper or Who or What am I?

Does you family love playing parlour and card games? This set might be a Christmas gift for the whole family.

Disclosure: I received The Compendium for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.

Lady Edith comes to... Cogges

New Downton Abbey series has started two weeks ago, and already we're enjoying the melodramatic twists and turns of the storylines: melancholic Baxter with her intriguing past (just who exactly is she covering for?!), ice maiden Lady Mary going away for a naughty week with Lord Gillingham, obnoxious teacher Miss Bunting trying to prove her point at dinner (would you really be so rude to your hosts, even if you dislike them immensely, why do you accept an invitation then?!), Earl of Grantham bordering on a caricature with his ideas about the wireless, suffering-like-a-true-martyr Anna buying a contraceptive device for her mistress, brain-dead Lady Rose who thinks the normal life is about dancing, listening to the music and visiting friends (has there ever been a more annoying vacuous character in the series?)... Of course, the usual winners of the drama are incredible outfits, hats and interiors.

Even more thrilling for the locals was spotting the much-loved Cogges manor farm, transformed into Yew Tree Farm, which is a home for Lady Edith's daughter Marigold.

Cogges... aka Yew Tree Farm

My son Eddie in the kitchen at Cogges; scene from Downton Abbey

We, the locals, heard the rumours that they were filming at Cogges which was closed for several days. Mr Drewe, the tenant farmer and his wife, adoptive parents of Marigold, have taken over the farm and the main kitchen, which is my absolute favourite.

Cogges was turned into an early 20C farm, with minor changes. I love a big open kitchen dresser with pretty vintage china and jam jars.

If you're visiting Cogges at the weekend, you might be lucky to see the cooking on the Victorian range in action. The ladies who volunteer at the kitchen, will offer you tasty Welsh cakes and preserves.

It is a fabulous place to stop by, and every time I visit, I admire its space, light from the ancient windows, views over the beautiful garden.

Then there is a back kitchen too, which is less glamorous, but as cozy, with its low beams and old flagstones.

Biscuit tin (four sides)

Plus there is a pantry in the house too. 

So, if you're a fan of Downton Abbey, you might love to come to Cogges. But do hurry, it will close for winter on 2 November.

If you would like to read more about our visits to Cogges, here are a couple of blog posts you might enjoy:

The ABC of Cogges

and

Apple Welsh Cakes (recipe from Cogges Manor Farm)

Adding my post to our new Out & About Linky hosted by Chez Maximka and Dragons and Fairy Dust.

Ahmad tea

Are you a fan of Downton Abbey? Have you been counting the days till the most stylish drama in the world is back on Sunday? As my Sunday evening will be too busy to enjoy my guilty pleasure, I am going to record it, and watch in peaceful solitude on Monday morning after the school run. I already plan to plump the cushions on the sofa, snuggle in with a little cozy rug, and have a small pot of freshly brewed tea ready. Maybe a box of chocolate will finish a perfect arrangement. I will brew a pot of Earl Grey (2 teabags for a small pot), switch on the Freeview box and will be in heaven. There will be more convoluted plots, with a new romance story in the pipeline. Splendid hats and fashions, scenery, marvellous china and breath-taking vistas. Sipping my favourite Earl Grey, I plan to enjoy my "me-time" to the full (especially that I don't often have a chance to do it).

There were lots of tea scenes in the past series, and I wonder which tea did they favour? Were I to entertain the imaginary company from Downton Abbey, I believe I would be prepared to cater for any tea preference or variety. Whenever I buy more tea or get for reviewing, my family laughs "Not more tea surely?" Well, there is never enough tea.

Ahmad Tea, renowned for the quality of its teas, is a UK-based family business. It has a lot of fans throughout the world and is available in 68 countries. How impressive is that?! Whenever I visit one of the Oxford stores, frequented by tourists from all over the world, I see just how popular it is as a brand. Incidentally, Ahmad Tea is very popular in Russia, and I do sincerely hope that all the current embargoes and sanctions won't last very long.

I love tea caddies and tins, and have quite a collection. Ahmad Tea tins are varied in style and design. Earl Grey tea caddy is decorated with a painting "Sunday best" by Peter Szumovski. It is a nostalgic vintage image, in the style of the primitivists, very colourful and absolutely charming. Open the tin, and smell the beautiful unmistakable aroma of bergamot. It is a brisk invigorating brew, not overly strong, very smooth and pleasant. I enjoy my Earl Grey with a slice of lemon and a spoon of sugar (or one sweetener tablet). I know many shops serve it with milk, but I truly don't like how milk disguises the taste of bergamot.

Moving even higher in social structure, from Earl Grey to Royal Blend. This black tea (loose) is a combination of finest Darjeeling and Assam teas from Northern India, scented with bergamot flavouring. This is another aromatic tea, energetic and refreshing. Wonderful with a toast and marmalade.

Only a Royal mug would do for Royal Blend

English Breakfast (teabags) is a "classic blend of teas which characterises the traditional English cup of tea". This trio of tins is an absolute delight for any souvenir hunter. Each tin is a hymn to Britishness. The tea itself is smooth, not overly strong, more of a gentle awakening moment than a kick-you-to-wake-up brew. Easy to drink, with a dash of milk or without. I liked it with a spoonful of honey best.

English Afternoon (loose tea) comes in another adorable tea caddy decorated with Peter Szumowski artwork called "Teachers Outing". This is a combination of Darjeeling and Assam, with a bergamot flavouring. The bergamot here is not as pronounced as in Earl Grey. It is a full-flavoured brew, with more emphasis on Assam than bergamot so it is not a substitute for Earl Grey, but a variation. Nicely balanced, and goes well with a slice of cake.

As I was testing the teas, and styling the props to make the photos a bit different, my younger son couldn't resist a tempting slice of cake. I told him: "Don't touch anything with your hands until I take a photo". And genius that he is, he thought the mouth doesn't count.

For a full range of teas, visit Ahmad Tea.

Disclosure: I received a selection of Ahmad Tea for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.

Daxon's VIP Fashion Bloggers

Are you a Downton Abbey fan? Have you been waiting for the Christmas Special with impatience and have you been left in total shock after the episode ended (I must confess I'm glad I watched it as recorded on the Boxing day, as it would have definitely ruined my Christmas. Julian Fellowes should be put in the stocks). Have you caught a bug for the classic-style clothes that would make you look like Lady Mary? I've been perusing Daxon's website and have found some perfect outfits that would not look amiss in the Scottish mountains stalking a deer with Shrimpie and the Earl of Grantham.
Don't believe me? Have a look at this Ellos ladies tweed blazer jacket.

And I love this Ladies Shorn Velvet Jacket, very elegant, stylish and timeless. This indigo blue outfit would have been approved by Dowager Countess herself, no doubt.

Ellos Ladies Smart 3/4 length blazer jacket is another outift that makes me think of Downton Abbey and its elegant characters. This is just my kind of outfit. I love jackets and blazers. Any of the three jackets I have shown would look good with my Downton hats.

To be honest, until my buddy Cheryl from Madhouse Family Reviews did a blog post on Daxon on her blog, I haven't heard of them before. But I am very curious by nature, and as any girl (of any age, young or young at heart), I love a good sale, and Daxon's prices are rather competitive. I found out that Daxon is part of Redcats, which is the 3rd largest home shopping organisation in the world.

And to win my heart over, not only do they sell clothes for women and men, they also have a range of cooking utensils.
Now, Mrs Pattmore and I would be in agreement, they have some lovely kitchen goodies. I'm particularly tempted by an automatic bottle opener (after breaking two of bottle openers in a row).

If you are a blogger with an interest in fashion, you might consider joining in the Daxon's VIP Fashion Bloggers' appeal and become a part of their blogger network. But you have to hurry up, as the closing day is today.