Overseas: Chatsworth

SHIPS LOG: Racing leather-clad bikers up and down Derbyshires twisty-turny roads, A arrives at a period drama staple, Chatsworth a.k.a. Pemberley. The day before my birthday my aunts friends took us to Chatsworth, one of the stateliest stately homes in England. That first glimpse of the manor from the rise of a hill is breathtakingly gorgeous, all gently rolling hills dotted with ewes and baby lambs and the susurrus of a stream meandering its way across a valley.Having lived in a big city all my life, I spent as much time on the grounds and gardens as I could. I walked through bluebell woods (Diana Wynne Jones Castle in the Air!) and a hedge maze (Jerome K. Jeromes Three Men in a Boat!), and it felt awfully, awfully good to finally understand a Jerusalem in Englands green and pleasant land.Sorry for all the geekery! Its just that I always wanted to visit the United Kingdom to see what all my favourite authors and poets cared so much for (or little, in Byrons case). Im so amazed that what I consider the worlds greatest literature came from one tiny island.The dress is from New Look, on sale for GBP 6.00 and I just had to snap it up. It fits a little oddly on me because I found it under the Tall section and Im five-foot-four, not gargantuan by any standard, so Ill probably have to alter it a bit. The three turrets among the trees is a hunting lodge that you can actually rent for the holidays (and there goes #89 on the bucket list . . . ) unless the current Dukes nephew has got his pockets to let. :PChatsworth is one of the most well-known stately homes in the world, Baroque ceilings and hallways filled with china figurines and Egyptian statues, but I couldnt help thinking it was just like any other house. When you go to a friends house all their family photos and slightly tacky souvenirs are laid out for your perusal. Its almost exactly the same experience, looking through Chatsworth, only your friends family is very, very old and very, very rich. So you have the cross-stitched samplers of countless aunts, the well-loved and rather bald rocking horse, the chipped tea sets, and paintings by artistic relatives. Weird and slightly voyeuristic, I felt.Who wouldnt want this library?!Afterwards, we drove down to Beeley where I had a lovely almost-birthday dinner at a local pub with a big slab of fried fish on mushy peas, better than anything I had in London. And, best of all, I had my first glass of pear cider! It was brilliant, neither bitter nor dry, and light on the ethyl alcohol taste. Never was a beer or ale girl, so not a surprise it turns out I was born for cider.So, Chatsworth the inspiration behind Mr Darcys estate?Jane Austen wrote in Pride & Prejudice: "The eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of the valley into which the road into some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned."I think it is certainly a great contender. The grounds are wondrous and green, but I dont think Jane would have thought much of the slightly pompous interior. But if youd like to see the paintings and wallpaper that I liked at Chatsworth, click here. The 6th Duke of Devonshire chose some lovely mint and Japanese-inspired prints. A wears New Look dress, mothers cardigan, dime store tights, and Hush Puppies.