Afternoon tea at the Rectory

I think it's this way

Every year, sometime in February when the time is just right.

the Old Rectory in the village of Strumpshaw opens it's gates

to the hoi polloi so that everyone can come and enjoy their

magnificent display of snowdrops

And us locals end up benefiting twice over as we not only get

to see those beautiful flowers in their woodland setting but also

because all the proceeds are fed back into the community through

donations to local charities, so it's win :win all round.

The rectory itself is a charming Georgian property and there's

nothing nicer than to come in from the cold and to be greeted with

bowls of steaming hot, homemade soup served by members of

the village WI. 

 And if you've got any room left after that then

there's plenty of choice in the cake and scone department

with oodles of jam and cream of course.

Be still my heaving bosom.  No Alice it wasn't all that cream that made me heave.

As I sat contentedly in a big old leather armchair in front of their

roaring fire I could almost see Mr Darcy striding up the drive

after a quick swim.  How perfect would that be?