More from Stoneleigh

Given the popularity of the photos posted yesterday here are some more...

A weekend at Stoneleigh Abbey

A small selection of Terry Morris's wonderful photos from last weekend...

A weekend in the country

To Parrox Hall for a fabulous weekend with Harold, Rebecca and a host of other interesting people. This bit of Lancashire has a windswept beauty of big skies, black soil and ancient villages. Parrox, Harold's ancestral home, is an unspoilt house complete with its Jacobean furniture, panelling and flags. Even the country house uber-snob Hugh Massingbeard praised its intactness. One or other of the four poster bed, damson gin or the Parrox ghosts delivered me to some of the best sleep I have had in ages. Much needed.

The weekend passed with roaring fires, a little roaring drunken-ness, good dinners, a bracing shoot and fine company. Apart from an unfortunate duck, the wildlife of North Lancashire remained relatively unscathed by my gun. Honour was served all round.

Economical with the Werrity?

In many ways Liam Fox has played a blinder -- he is still there toughing it out and sounding both contrite and outraged at the same time. He was good in the House yesterday. At the weekend Tories I was speaking to gave him until Tuesday, today in other words. He hasn't gone yet (11.00am).

Do not let discussions of his -- up till now excellent -- performances, however, obscure some of the quite amazing revelations. The 40 meetings, including 18 overseas trips; the warnings; the business card; the sudden transformation of Mr Werrity's expertise from health policy to defence; the lack of business success in Mr Werrity's enterprises; the decision of a well-to-do politician to take in a lodger in his Parliamentary expenses-supported flat; the chance meeting in Dubai that needed such careful planning; and of course the twists and turns in explanations of all the above.

The ultimate question usually comes down to being one of judgement rather than misdeed. That is the one that really does make me wonder.

And finally, Mrs Liam Fox appears to have disappeared. Where is his loyal Tory wife when he needs her?

Steve Jobs RIP

It seems to be rarer and rarer to find individuals who really make a difference -- here's one who did.

Truffles

To Abergavenny food festival yesterday with Frances, Elisabeth and new friend Nancy Durham. Lovely day heavy rain and strong sunshine. Lots of old food festival friends like wine supremo Floyd Mills  and some great new ones like the wonderful Gower brownie makers.

Best of all was finding a supply of fresh truffles straight from Italy. Drove home intoxicated with truffle aroma and, as Elisabeth says in her classic book on these black diamonds, blessed with a racing heartbeat and an enlivened libido.

A great night

Tuesday evening to the Albert Hall for a truly memorable prom. Manfred Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony performing Mahler's 5th and a bit of Wagner and -- for the critics -- Anne Sophie Mutter playing Rimh's Gesungene Zeit.

The music was fantastic, as really I had expected, but somehow going to the Proms adds an extra whizz to the evening. We are so lucky that all these marvelous musicians come from all over the world to entertain us so royally.

Santa and his CRB

Apologies for coming over all Daily Mail, but read this plea from a Museum Organiser...

"Santa is returning to our museum in December but we are unsure whether he needs a CRB check or not. We will have two freelance team members playing the role in a Santa’s Grotto based in a family-friendly museum. The children attending the grotto must be accompanied by an adult at all times and there will be other members of staff present throughout each session. Santa will only be in the museum at weekends and the week before Christmas.

We asked the CRB people and they said:

If an individual is working or volunteering as Father Christmas in a specified setting e.g. schools; childcare premises including nurseries; residential homes for children in care; children’s hospitals; children’s detention centres, and is undertaking that work frequently (once a week) or intensively (4 or more occasions in one month) then they will be eligible for an Enhanced CRB check.

This scenario is not intended to cover a Father Christmas who might be employed in a department store or shopping centre as they are not listed in the SVGA 2006 as specified settings.

I called the helpline number to clarify whether a museum was a specified setting but was advised to google it and see what came up. That wasn’t that helpful so instead I am appealing to anyone out there who knows the answer."

So not only do we have hopeless laws but hopeless people paid to administer them...