Do you wonder how much it cost to maintain a very big property? I mean, you pay real estate taxes annually, the electricity and gas bills ( or air conditioner if it's in warm countries), the ground maintenance (cutting of the grass, maintaining the gardens, etc... etc...). No wonder very rich people in the Philippines who have vast tracts of land and big, palatial mansions can have more than 40 servants (it is a lot but it is true,i.e. the Madrigals, etc..). Really, money is nothing for them and to have 40 or 50 servants are nothing for they made a really vast income unimaginable!
When i took a look at castles, like this one recently --- the Castle Fraser in Inverurie, Scotland,(you know how silly i think sometimes) i am thinking how many servants had they got before? How many gardeners maintaining the over 300 hectares of farmland and open woodland, including a walled garden and two forest trails. And the castle itself, realizing that there is no elevator or lift to bring the servants to and fro the high stairs, it is a tough job(but i am sure it was enjoyable. No wonder the governess of the castle was really so thin in her photograph!).
But anyway, take a look at the huge estate. I just love the big, big, green lawn and the tall, multicolored trees that abound the area. The place is really a great scenery. Castle Fraser has recently been used as a backdrop for some of the scenes shot in the BAFTA, Golden Globe and Academy Award winning film "The Queen", starring Helen Mirren.
I took these photos at the very top of the tower. What a very breathtaking view out there. I can still feel my "conquering spirit" after the climb! 
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Real Property Maintenance
A Baronial Castle: Its Legend
Recently, i had been reading about this grand castle. I found out that there is a legend and it is somehow scary. How i wish they allowed us to take photos inside the castle, but sadly, nope, not allowed. I only got this one dining room photo online, but really no other photos of the room available. There is this Green Room, Pink Room, Red Room, etc, etc,...
Anyway, the legend goes this way...
Legend has it that a young princess was once staying at the castle when she was brutually murdered while asleep in the 'Green Room'. Her body was dragged down the stone stairs, leaving a trail of blood stains. As hard as they tried, the occupants of the castle could not scrub out the stains, and so were forced to cover the steps in wood panelling, which remains today. It is said she still stalks the halls of the castle during the night. Numerous sightings were reported by former Property Manager, Eric Wilkinson, and piano music was said to be frequently heard in the empty castle by its former owner, Lavinia Smiley.
I probably would not go to this castle on the night! hehehehe!
Mom's Day Castle Walk
This grand Renaissance castle , the foundations of which date back from the 1300's is the largest and most elaborate of the Scottish castles. It is not very far from where we live, probably 20 minutes drive. Wow, such a fairylike view!
Our family picture with the castle at the background. We'll be climbing out there, right to the very top! We had been to few castles before so i expect there will be lots of stairs and secret passageways. But this will be Baby Cam's first castle adventure. It might not be sooo exciting for him, but for Prisco, it is...
This is the little knight in a shining armor! hehehehe! Prisco is very excited to wear his battle paraphernalia, ah, just in case there'll be a medieval battle!hehehehe! But since there will be not, he'll just pretend there will be....hehehehe!
These are our preliminary photos. The next entry i will show the greenery around the castle. Isn't it that life sometimes is a fairytale? Ah, i believe it is so, especially in moments like these.
