👍 Dara & Ian, my wife Cathie said that you two should get the title of 'you tube royalty' because apart from being such a likeable couple your videos make us appreciate things that we normally would take for granted, your passion for the UK is very clear, thank you for posting. 👍
@@captainsensible8433 I can understand the appeal on both counts! If you have watched my Yorkshire pudding videos you know I am a big fan! I hope she has retained her lovely Scottish accent!
@@MagentaOtterTravels My wife came to England when she was just a young teen some years ago, her accent has all but disappeared now. Yes, we did see your video making Yorkshires, compared to our first attempt yours looked really great, as did your roast dinner .... our message to Gordon Ramsey would be this .... "Gordon, look out, there's a new girl chef about !"😉
It's my BIRTHDAY! So please indulge me in a million "magenta selfies" in this video! I promise there are other interesting parts of the video if you endure those bits. Thank you to the MOT for your continued support!!!
At least the sun is shining for your Birthday, it's a bit grey over here. You can indulge in magenta selfies all the time, it was definitely relevant. Enjoy the rest of your Birthday week 😉❤👍
Wow, thanks so much, Gerry! It was actually a happy coincidence that it fell on today's date. I was so behind on getting started with all my vlogs from the "Northern Expedition". But it was a very fitting video for today. Lots of magenta flowers!
I've been to Cragside a couple of times. Interesting in the house is how few bathrooms there are. There is also information about how badly some of the below stairs staff were treated
Such a beautiful place, thanks for sharing this stunning video with us. I think I need more lives, as my bucket list becomes longer and longer with every video you put up.
My ex lived in a cottage in a tiny Welsh village and in her garden she had a magenta rhododendron. Her neighbour was a very elderly woman who, one summer, was starting to develop dementia which caused her to forget things. During the summer she would come out of her backdoor in the morning and see the rhododendron as though she was seeing it for the very first time, always remarking how beautiful it was.
Exactly! Photos or video can't convey the depth and the vastness... both of the gardens, the home in general, and that FIREPLACE!!! I need to go back again and see the sauna/Turkish bath when the pandemic is over (it was closed for now). And Ian wants to see the formal gardens, which we never even made it to!
Wow! Ian was correct in his admiration! Lord Armstrong was an incredible architect, innovator what a visionary! I’ve never seen such beautiful rhododendrons!!! Another “must do’s” on our list when we visit the UK! Great selfies too 🌺! Awesome video Dara! ~Cara 😊
That, that was awesome. What a magnificent estate. Amazing, and those gardens. A legacy for all to enjoy. Ive enjoyed my visit through your eyes. Thanks to both of you! ❣️🇳🇿🙋🏼♀️🇳🇱
If you ever make it there, definitely try to target late June early July. There's also so much more to see in this area. We were surprised by how interesting and beautiful Northumbria is.
@@ians3586 Maybe next summer, who knows. That would be lovely I am sure. We have an estate where the gardens are full of rhodondendron. I imagined myself walking there for a minute. Loved the editing. 🇳🇱🙋♀️🇳🇿
Thanks! It was a BEAR to edit... and I have been suffering from a cold for two weeks with one symptom being brain fog....which made that edit even more challenging! You can understand my struggle!
@@ians3586 Northumberland is one of my favourite counties. Straight up the M1 and A1M from where I live in South Yorkshire. Will hopefully visit again, maybe next year.
It’s quite embarrassing because you and your husband clearly have a greater appreciation of and quite likely a better knowledge of many of the wonderful jewels we have on our own doorstep. I guess when you grow up with and surrounded by things you see regularly, that you take them for granted. It’s great to see people come all the way from the Lone Star State to appreciate what we have. I’ve been to the US many times, but never to Texas so I intend to return the favour (mostly for my own benefit).
Well, I hope you are not disappointed when you visit Texas! I recommend San Antonio or Austin... those are the most fun places to visit. Don't be embarrassed! We have the luxury of just exploring when we are in Britain... we don't have to spend all our time working or doing the other "regular life" stuff... so we are very spoilt! Thanks for your support. I hope you enjoy our videos! Cheers! XX Dara
Northumberland my birth place, one of if not the most underated county in the UK probably due to its location plus some of the friendlest people I the country
SO many things to love about Northumberland! More castles than any other county in England. Loads of beautiful plants. Endless rolling hills of stunning countryside. Lower housing prices. Friendly people. My love story to Northumberland continues in upcoming videos.... stay tuned to this channel! Thanks for your comment, David. BTW, I have an ex named David Howard!! Have you seen the movie "Galaxy Quest"? Look at the writing credits... I think about that every time you make a comment, haha!
@@MagentaOtterTravels yes I have seen Galaxy Quest very funny movie, will keep an eye out for more of your adventures as for having the same name as an ex of yours it made me smile. I now live in Australia you forget how green the old country is
Thanks so much! I am glad to hear that you have been there as well! It is an amazing place to see. Especially when all those rhododendrons are in bloom!
So beautiful -- you BOTH did a great job. And I always learn so much from your videos! But all the gorgeous flowers (especially the magenta ones!) were especially appropriate for this particular video on your birthday, Dara. So glad you got some amazing selfies surrounded by your magenta flowers! :-)
Thanks, Bobby! I thought it was perfectly timed for my birthday... the timing was actually an accident, but it worked out! BTW, I'm keeping my birthday a secret on my "personal" Facebook page, which is why I hid the bday post you left. But THANKS for the birthday wishes! It has been a great day so far!
Love Cragside. You're so right, it's such a beautiful and unique place. I used to walk my dog around the grounds and gardens as often as I could. Never bored of the place and new paths to discover all the time. Another great video thanks.
Gorgeous Rhododendrons - we have a lot of these beautiful flowers where I grew up, near Sandringham, Norfolk - on the Queen's estate, and surrounding area. Yes, we rub shoulders with royalty! 💜😀
I think Northumberland and this house are hidden gems, off the tourist radar for most locals and overseas visitors, my train arriving into Berwick upon Tweed gave amazing views of the coast line. I like viewing inside all properties from a Glasgow tenement and post-war pre fabs to Buckingham Palace. We don’t often see rhododendrons in Suffolk/Essex the soil where I live is not acid and annual rainfall very low, always amazes me how in a smallish country like Britain the landscape, topography, soil and weather varies so much.
Excellent point! Yes, for a relatively small country, there are extremely varied types of climate and flora and fauna! Honestly, that’s kind of like Texas! Which considers itself “a whole Nother country”😂. We love looking at all kinds of houses as well! For fun, Ian watches videos on RUclips of London apartments for sale! Have you watched the tour of our Flat in Cheltenham? It’s an old video from January 2020…
@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes I saw your interesting flat videos you replied to my comments. I like the YT and tv property programmes, there is an American couple on YT ‘1834 renovation house’ and the property (twin) brothers I used to watch, seems termites eating through timber can be a hidden problem in American houses.
Oh yes, we had a termite problem in a house that we discovered right before we were selling it! What a disaster! Sorry I forgot about the comment. Too many comments to remember 🤪… We watch all kinds of home shows as well. Our favourite are the renovation shows in the UK where people take historic properties and convert them into family homes
Hiya. A 'Bloomer' is a loaf of bread, usually with 4 or 5 slashes across the top, that derives its name from the way it rises in the oven as it bakes. I have a standing order at my Baker's for one every week. I just about make it last. Stay safe. All the best to you.
Thanks for that clarification. You wouldn't guess that my parents were born in the UK and I've spent a huge chunk of my life there based on how little I know about certain things (and the fact that I can't even put on a British accent).
Andy, thanks so much for that! I love that image of the bread blooming like a flower in the oven! And now that I know about your standing bread order I like you even more. But I already liked you a lot. Thanks so much for your continued support. I really appreciate it! Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels There is just something so different about it when compared to some of the other great houses I have seen…..not sure exactly how to describe it. It is huge, but feels more intimate???? Hm……
@@ruthgoebel723 I agree. They didn't have a huge, grand, cavernous dance hall or dining hall. Even the room with the huge fireplace didn't feel like an airplane hangar ;-)
Thanks for this Dara and Ian As with most people it takes foriegn (obviously not you honorary Brits) visitors to show us places in our own countries we need to see. Deffinately going to take Christines MX5 Miata up there to do the drive. Cheers guys. Lee and Christine 💏
Oh my goodness. Beyond amazing! Thank you for capturing and sharing this incredibly interesting and beautiful estate!! This will be a MUST visit stop during my bucket list trip to the UK! Happy birthday, Dara! 💖🎂🎉 Wishing you a magenta-filled day! Love you, my friend.💖
Thanks so much, Summer! My day has been very magenta filled so far! And there is both cheese and pie on the menu later... and more friends to visit. So it will be a good day! Looking forward to celebrating with you next week!!! Hugs ❤
What a gorgeous place to visit! I love Rhododendrons, sadly it's too hot where I live to grow them. So I too, have a few rhododendron selfies from my travels.
It was amazing there! Here in North Texas we can't grow much of anything, I so can relate! I'm glad you have rhodie selfies too! Maybe I'm not totally weird? haha
Stunning and fascinating! Thank you for such an interesting tour of the house and estate. What a superb video tour, helpfully subtitled and featuring both of you again! BTW: I've always associated the word 'bloomer' with a cylindrical loaf of bread sharply tapered at each end and with v-shaped chunks out of the top - a short bloated French stick!
Haha, the bread sounded delicious until you called it "bloated"... LOL! Thanks very much for your compliments of the video. It was a bear to edit, but I'm always so glad to have it done. Nice to have a "video scrapbook" of our travels! So chuffed you enjoyed it!
@@MagentaOtterTravels oh I'm close at 52, but don't look as young as you , so enjoy your adventures, you've seen more of the UK than I have and I live here 🤷🤣x
That house is BEAUTIFUL! I'm so glad you were able to go! When we were in the UK, Northumberland was in lockdown so we didn't get to visit here or Hadrian's Wall like we would have wanted (which is fine, gotta keep everyone safe and we can come back). But now this is very high on my list for the next trip!
I hear you. So many places we missed for covid reasons as well. This trip the infection rates were much better so we were able to go inside some houses... though they still had us wearing masks and distanced and one way system. It was nothing like the USUAL tour of Cragside House. And the big disappointment for me was that due to covid the Turkish bath and sauna area was closed, since the space is too tight for a tour. Too bad, because it looked super cool! But Ian says we are going back to Cragside again in the future, so... next time!
Always such beautiful footage! Wanted to stop by also and personally congratulate you on your 2k success! You and your hubby make amazing content and I am so happy for you and that video of 17k did incredible! So proud of you.
Wow, it's to 17K now?! Just goes to show what happens when you choose a strategic topic AND get lucky! I look forward to when that happens for you as well, Ash! Thanks for your support and wisdom ;-)
I think that the bushes you thought were honeysuckle were actually small flowered deciduous azaleas. Unlike the larger rhododendrons they have a lovely scent. I used to have a slightly larger flowered variety that smelled fabulous.
Also I'm glad I share a surname with two people who clearly had such an incredible vision and passion for nature. I'm going to pretend that we're indeed related. :-)
Oh my! What a big job!! Have you heard any stories about what it was like to work for the Armstrongs? I’ve heard various things… I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Cheers! XX Dara
Yes! Upcoming video! I have thousands of video files waiting to be edited and published.... which is both overwhelming and exciting. But mostly overwhelming! Please stay tuned and watch this space ;-)
You are probably too young to remember Pee Wee's Playhouse. But that is the maturity level of my humour. He used to taste everything and respond accordingly.... if it was soup "Oh, soupy!" or a sandwich, "Yum, sandwichey!" etc.. LOL
Jose Swan design for the first lightbulb was substantially the one used by Thomas Edison nearly 20 years later. Joseph Wilson Swan was born in 1828 at Pallion Hall, Sunderland, County Durham.
Thanks for sharing that historical context! 💡 More points for County Durham!👍👍 By the way, every time I hear Sunderland, I think of our last name … Sandland 😉 Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Sandlin and its variants originated with the Scottish clan Sandilands, a Sept, or sub-clan of the larger Clan Douglas. Clan Sandilands is based in Torphichen Scotland, near Edinburgh. The name itself is taken from the Sandilands (Sandy lands) found in that area of Norway.
amazing vid :) You should try and get to Liverpool for a city break if you can, its an amazing city. Classical buildings not seen on a scale outside of London and of course the night life is pretty famous.
Oh we definitely want to visit both Liverpool and Manchester! That is an area we haven't explored at all yet... my American friends think I'm crazy to go to Britain EVERY summer, but they don't understand that we have and ENDLESS list of places we want to go!
Hello again! That is a great suggestion! I just looked it up, and it's near Heathrow. That would be fun to visit the next time we arrive in Britain... I wonder when they are in bloom there?
@@MagentaOtterTravels If you phone them in late April they will tell you how advanced they are and when the best time is to visit and see them at their best. You will need to keep on checking to get the very best show.
@@ians3586 only 360 miles away, I can stop on the way to see the Angel of the North on the way and the northern branch of my family ( well maybe not the last one )
@@wencireone Rothbury (great place to stay when visiting Cragside), Bamburgh, The Farne Islands, Alnwick, Ford and Etal, Hadrian's Wall, Lindesfarne, Warkworth, miles of unspoilt countryside, you're really spoilt for choice here.
@@ians3586 I remember driving past a lot of old castles up there and nearly went to Lindisfarne but the tide was coming back in, so never made it. Also went to Beamish, the living museum of the North, but haven't been to the North for years
@@wencireone we are now besties with two people who work at the Beamish... we are DEFINITELY going there the first chance we get! And we were so bummed that when we tried going to Lindisfarne we ran out of time. Def need a repeat of our Northern Expedition! Maybe with puffins in 2022?
@@MagentaOtterTravels because I find it amusing that you have a rugeley in Texas....and it wasn't made up...it could only have been inspired by rugeley staffs....which is on the Trent.. News flash ! JOHN Rugeley moved to Caney Creek in Texas in 1840....to do some planting.....and there was me thinking Rugeley Texas would be full of Coal miners..
What a phenomenal place. I think we touched on Armstrong at school re his engineering, scientific works, but don't think his home got a mention. Seems odd considering his many 1st, what an innovator. And those grounds, quite spectacular. That's another location i'll have to add to my visit list :). Re your tour of the house, it seems funny saying he, and his wife lived there. That place must have had a huge staff running it, do you remember seeing anything about that, numbers-wise?. I've just had a quick search but not been able to find anything. I'm just curious. Another great vid, Cheers, and a happy (belated) birthday :) Oh, and re bloomers, seems to be more about the shape. They're large farmhouse style loaves, oval in shape. They have slashes across the top that open during baking, which is traditionally done on the floor of the oven.
Thanks for your comment, John! I don't think they talked about the number of staff... they probably are embarrassed to tell how huge it was because it might be a source of criticism. It must have been immense to run that huge home, cook the meals, keep it clean, care for the fires, maintain the utilities, not to mention those out in the garden to tend to all the plants and ... plant SEVEN MILLION TREES!
A bloomer is a type of loaf. I think... that it has a small circle on top and a bigger one below, then squished down and baked. I THINK that's it anyway?
@@ians3586 I am sure you are British enough. its just that things change names as you move around the Isle. I am sure you have picked up on many, while on your travels.
You ought to visit Trentham Gardens….the ancestral home of the Duke of Sutherland…and their gardens and Mausoleum..he made a great contribution to the population of the Americas..with his master plan called “the clearances”
@@ians3586 he must have made a lot of money out of his business remodel as a lot of old money was spent at trentham gardens.. I think the lake was man made…supplied by the river Trent..
Yes, they were actually late this year. Usually the rhodo's are at their peak at the end of May at Cragside but if you had gone in May this year, they wouldn't have been at their best. Beginning of June is pretty reliable.
@@wencireone there's definitely a distinct climate difference as you go North. I remember one July I was freezing in the Yorkshire Dales. We were heading to London next and I checked the temp there. London was 25 F warmer.
@@ians3586 I would normally go South for summer and for winter, but have been up as far as Edinburgh and stayed at Berwick-upon-Tweed about 25 years ago but had different interests back then
Man, that is a tough contest! I love both of them so much! Cragside is more quirky and interesting. But the stories that go with Chatsworth make it so fun... and the gardens there are my favourite in Britain. I have been there 3 times, but not since becoming a RUclipsr. So I must return again, with camera in hand!
@@MagentaOtterTravels I love Chatsworth as it's not far from where I live and a good day out when it's sunny , but some of the places you've been I love, definitely going to some of them especially as it's a lot of stay vacations under covid 💕
I’ll do my best to translate with my limited Afrikaans (which is similar to Dutch). “Very pretty, but why does he stare to turn the motor”. Ek is jammer, maar ek kan dit nie verduidelik nie.
Oh yes, I like those food cakes too! Ones that look like tacos or hamburgers or whatnot. As a girl we used to visit the "Museum of Science & Industry" in Chicago. They had a huge food display with plastic food, and I've loved it ever since. It's weird, I know...
Cragside is beautiful and about twice the size of any national trust place in England I just don't understand why more people don't go.to..northumbland
I agree! It is a wonderful part of the world! I think most people visiting from abroad don’t know about it. And a lot of other people just don’t want to drive that far! ❤️🏴
Yes, quite long, though, I don't think I'd mind doing that on a daily basis. The drive to the house itself is probably only 1/2 mile. This "drive" is actually one around the forest behind the house.
Rhododendrons are lovely and brightly coloured but unfortunately they are not native to the British Isles (I believe they are Asian?), and even though they are often cultivated in the gardens of grand estates, they are actually considered a weed here - where they have seeded naturally on open moorland, for example, they have taken over and smothered other native plants and have to be kept under control. A bit like the grey squirrel, which was introduced from Canada decades ago and has virtually caused our native red squirrels to become extinct. But I guess that’s just the way of the world 🤷♀️
Wow, what a shame! That explains why we saw rhododendrons growing wild in Northumberland. My favourite magenta flower in California is bougainvillea… also considered a weed. But I didn’t care that it grew along the roadside… my wedding florist was so wonderful she used it to decorate the “tea” table at our reception (nearly 30 years ago!). It is just the most beautiful colour of magenta💖
@@MagentaOtterTravels that sounds lovely! And if you like rhododendrons that much, I recommend you visit the nearby Quantock Hills in West Somerset. They are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the first such designated area in Britain, I believe. The hills are amazingly shaped - more like little mountains, and there are rhododendrons everywhere! The whole region of West Somerset around the Quantocks, including the villages along the Exmoor coast near Porlock) were the haunt of some of the nation’s finest romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron 😃
@@penname5766 we do love that area of Somerset and included Porlock in our “Somerset Villages” video. However, it was filmed in September so, unfortunately, there are no rhododendrons. We’ve visited a good bit of Exmoor but still need to explore the Quantocks. Thank you for the recommendation.
👍 Dara & Ian, my wife Cathie said that you two should get the title of 'you tube royalty' because apart from being such a likeable couple your videos make us appreciate things that we normally would take for granted, your passion for the UK is very clear, thank you for posting. 👍
Thank YOU for your very kind comment and your support! What part of Britain do you call home?
@@MagentaOtterTravels Yorkshire, I was born here but my wife came from Scotland to marry me, she couldn't resist my Yorkshire puddings ! 😉
@@captainsensible8433 I can understand the appeal on both counts! If you have watched my Yorkshire pudding videos you know I am a big fan!
I hope she has retained her lovely Scottish accent!
@@MagentaOtterTravels i wanted Ian’s dad to retain his lovely Birmingham accent..
@@MagentaOtterTravels My wife came to England when she was just a young teen some years ago, her accent has all but disappeared now. Yes, we did see your video making Yorkshires, compared to our first attempt yours looked really great, as did your roast dinner .... our message to Gordon Ramsey would be this .... "Gordon, look out, there's a new girl chef about !"😉
It's my BIRTHDAY! So please indulge me in a million "magenta selfies" in this video! I promise there are other interesting parts of the video if you endure those bits. Thank you to the MOT for your continued support!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARA!!!
At least the sun is shining for your Birthday, it's a bit grey over here. You can indulge in magenta selfies all the time, it was definitely relevant. Enjoy the rest of your Birthday week 😉❤👍
Dara, Happy Happy Happy Birthday
Happy birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday Dara! 💐 Love your magenta selfies!
The walks around the grounds are awesome, & it’s got a 6 mile drive around the grounds too ,,,,
Yes, we enjoyed the drive as well as a long wander through the garden! Such a massive place with so much to see!
@@MagentaOtterTravels you do a great job 🫶📸🫶
@@CrowTails88 aw, cheers mate! XX
I want to be locked up in this library for a whole weekend..... 🥰
That would be perfect! Beautiful art, nice lighting, a cosy fire, and all the books you need!
@@MagentaOtterTravels perfectly for filming my next read with me LOL 😍
Agreed. Libraries are my favorite places to spend time.
Definitely one of your best ever videos. Worthy of saving for your birthday.
So far my favourite NT property.
Wow, thanks so much, Gerry! It was actually a happy coincidence that it fell on today's date. I was so behind on getting started with all my vlogs from the "Northern Expedition". But it was a very fitting video for today. Lots of magenta flowers!
I've been to Cragside a couple of times. Interesting in the house is how few bathrooms there are. There is also information about how badly some of the below stairs staff were treated
We are only at 26sec into the video and Ian has already been strategically placed in front of a MAGENTA flower bush. 💜💜💜
Yeah, I wonder who the Director for this video was!
@@ians3586 well, I am wondering too 😂
Wow beautiful England.
It is a lovely place to explore!
Such a beautiful place, thanks for sharing this stunning video with us. I think I need more lives, as my bucket list becomes longer and longer with every video you put up.
And more money 😉👍
@@wencireone yes, this might be helpful too 😉
This is why I don't keep a bucket list! haha
Hi Dara you and Ian ,did a a beautiful job putting that video together.Getting better each time .That fire place ,as big as some apartments in UK !!!
That fireplace was amazing. We really didn't do it justice with our video.
Yes! You could fit an entire studio apartment from Manhattan or London in that fireplace!!! Thanks, Dave!
lovely place :) its a slice of bloomer loaf I would guess :) stunning garden and house
It was an incredible place! That fireplace was like none I've ever seen before. And the acres of rhodies! Hope you get to visit someday ;-)
My ex lived in a cottage in a tiny Welsh village and in her garden she had a magenta rhododendron.
Her neighbour was a very elderly woman who, one summer, was starting to develop dementia which caused her to forget things.
During the summer she would come out of her backdoor in the morning and see the rhododendron as though she was seeing it for the very first time, always remarking how beautiful it was.
What a bittersweet story! I'm glad that the "new discovery" was at least a happy one!! Thanks for sharing the memory. ❤
Cheers! XX Dara
I enjoy visiting Cragside whenever I’m visiting family. It truly is something you have to see to really appreciate.
Exactly! Photos or video can't convey the depth and the vastness... both of the gardens, the home in general, and that FIREPLACE!!!
I need to go back again and see the sauna/Turkish bath when the pandemic is over (it was closed for now). And Ian wants to see the formal gardens, which we never even made it to!
Wow! Ian was correct in his admiration! Lord Armstrong was an incredible architect, innovator what a visionary! I’ve never seen such beautiful rhododendrons!!! Another “must do’s” on our list when we visit the UK! Great selfies too 🌺! Awesome video Dara! ~Cara 😊
Thanks, friend! Yes, that place is definitely worth a visit!!!
@@MagentaOtterTravels ❤️
That, that was awesome. What a magnificent estate. Amazing, and those gardens. A legacy for all to enjoy. Ive enjoyed my visit through your eyes. Thanks to both of you! ❣️🇳🇿🙋🏼♀️🇳🇱
If you ever make it there, definitely try to target late June early July. There's also so much more to see in this area. We were surprised by how interesting and beautiful Northumbria is.
@@ians3586 Maybe next summer, who knows. That would be lovely I am sure. We have an estate where the gardens are full of rhodondendron. I imagined myself walking there for a minute. Loved the editing. 🇳🇱🙋♀️🇳🇿
Thanks! It was a BEAR to edit... and I have been suffering from a cold for two weeks with one symptom being brain fog....which made that edit even more challenging! You can understand my struggle!
@@ians3586 Northumberland is one of my favourite counties. Straight up the M1 and A1M from where I live in South Yorkshire. Will hopefully visit again, maybe next year.
It’s quite embarrassing because you and your husband clearly have a greater appreciation of and quite likely a better knowledge of many of the wonderful jewels we have on our own doorstep.
I guess when you grow up with and surrounded by things you see regularly, that you take them for granted.
It’s great to see people come all the way from the Lone Star State to appreciate what we have. I’ve been to the US many times, but never to Texas so I intend to return the favour (mostly for my own benefit).
Well, I hope you are not disappointed when you visit Texas! I recommend San Antonio or Austin... those are the most fun places to visit.
Don't be embarrassed! We have the luxury of just exploring when we are in Britain... we don't have to spend all our time working or doing the other "regular life" stuff... so we are very spoilt!
Thanks for your support. I hope you enjoy our videos! Cheers! XX Dara
Happy birthday!! We enjoyed all your Magenta selfies💕! Gorgeous home!
Thanks so much for a great birthday celebration! 💖
Such beautiful flowers! Wow this place is so peaceful! Great video guys!!
Thanks, friend!
So glad you could explore Cragside too! I think it's our favourite NT property, it's just so fascinating what Lord Armstrong and his wife created.
I agree, it’s an astonishing amount of work, brilliant innovation, and a lasting legacy! Ian says it’s his favourite NT property as well ❤️🇬🇧
Northumberland my birth place, one of if not the most underated county in the UK probably due to its location plus some of the friendlest people I the country
SO many things to love about Northumberland! More castles than any other county in England. Loads of beautiful plants. Endless rolling hills of stunning countryside. Lower housing prices. Friendly people. My love story to Northumberland continues in upcoming videos.... stay tuned to this channel! Thanks for your comment, David. BTW, I have an ex named David Howard!! Have you seen the movie "Galaxy Quest"? Look at the writing credits... I think about that every time you make a comment, haha!
@@MagentaOtterTravels yes I have seen Galaxy Quest very funny movie, will keep an eye out for more of your adventures as for having the same name as an ex of yours it made me smile. I now live in Australia you forget how green the old country is
Wonderful film, I've been to cragside too , what a splendid place 😊
Thanks so much! I am glad to hear that you have been there as well! It is an amazing place to see. Especially when all those rhododendrons are in bloom!
The manor is so beautiful. Looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale. So cool how innovative Lord Armstrong was, too!
So much to admire about him and his wife! They both left an amazing legacy!
“magenta mutant” lol! 😂 what an incredible
property.
Magenta goofball
So beautiful -- you BOTH did a great job. And I always learn so much from your videos! But all the gorgeous flowers (especially the magenta ones!) were especially appropriate for this particular video on your birthday, Dara. So glad you got some amazing selfies surrounded by your magenta flowers! :-)
Thanks, Bobby! I thought it was perfectly timed for my birthday... the timing was actually an accident, but it worked out! BTW, I'm keeping my birthday a secret on my "personal" Facebook page, which is why I hid the bday post you left. But THANKS for the birthday wishes! It has been a great day so far!
Never been but have tandemmed past at 50mph, you guys are so well informed and passionate about the region I love, come stay anytime, NE13.
We do love it! Anxious to visit Northumbria again 💖
Love Cragside. You're so right, it's such a beautiful and unique place. I used to walk my dog around the grounds and gardens as often as I could. Never bored of the place and new paths to discover all the time. Another great video thanks.
Thanks so much, Paul! Getting to walk your dog around Cragside is definitely living your best life! Lucky dog, both of you!! LOL
You got some great selfies, I love the bridges, I could spend all day out there and that kitchen is amazing
It takes all day to walk around there! And yes, it is a beautiful place to just enjoy ❤
Gorgeous Rhododendrons - we have a lot of these beautiful flowers where I grew up, near Sandringham, Norfolk - on the Queen's estate, and surrounding area. Yes, we rub shoulders with royalty! 💜😀
NOW we know why you have such a posh accent!!!!! (inside joke 😂 )
Cor! That's a cracking fireplace!
Literally the most impressive fireplace I’ve seen in my entire life! 😳
I think Northumberland and this house are hidden gems, off the tourist radar for most locals and overseas visitors, my train arriving into Berwick upon Tweed gave amazing views of the coast line. I like viewing inside all properties from a Glasgow tenement and post-war pre fabs to Buckingham Palace. We don’t often see rhododendrons in Suffolk/Essex the soil where I live is not acid and annual rainfall very low, always amazes me how in a smallish country like Britain the landscape, topography, soil and weather varies so much.
Excellent point! Yes, for a relatively small country, there are extremely varied types of climate and flora and fauna! Honestly, that’s kind of like Texas! Which considers itself “a whole Nother country”😂.
We love looking at all kinds of houses as well! For fun, Ian watches videos on RUclips of London apartments for sale!
Have you watched the tour of our Flat in Cheltenham? It’s an old video from January 2020…
@@MagentaOtterTravels Yes I saw your interesting flat videos you replied to my comments. I like the YT and tv property programmes, there is an American couple on YT ‘1834 renovation house’ and the property (twin) brothers I used to watch, seems termites eating through timber can be a hidden problem in American houses.
Oh yes, we had a termite problem in a house that we discovered right before we were selling it! What a disaster!
Sorry I forgot about the comment. Too many comments to remember 🤪…
We watch all kinds of home shows as well. Our favourite are the renovation shows in the UK where people take historic properties and convert them into family homes
Wow, that rock garden is amazing! Haha, a lovely magenta crown for the Lady Dara! 😊💜🌺
I guess on my birthday I get to be queen for a day! haha
Hiya. A 'Bloomer' is a loaf of bread, usually with 4 or 5 slashes across the top, that derives its name from the way it rises in the oven as it bakes. I have a standing order at my Baker's for one every week. I just about make it last. Stay safe. All the best to you.
Thanks for that clarification. You wouldn't guess that my parents were born in the UK and I've spent a huge chunk of my life there based on how little I know about certain things (and the fact that I can't even put on a British accent).
Andy, thanks so much for that! I love that image of the bread blooming like a flower in the oven! And now that I know about your standing bread order I like you even more. But I already liked you a lot. Thanks so much for your continued support. I really appreciate it!
Cheers! XX Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels - You're too kind.
A bloomer loaf is usually oval and not very tall, it's very crusty. I'm not a great fan of bread but love a bloomer loaf
Happy birthday Dara!!!
Thanks, Eliz! I look forward to meeting you in person one day... in the UK, or SLC, or maybe the DFW airport on a layover? ;-)
@@MagentaOtterTravels I'd LOVE that! Maybe we could do a collab video together someday!
What an amazing place! Beautiful gardens, lovely house……it would be very difficult to leave this place. ❤️
It really is a slice of heaven.
It was a stunning place to visit. You would LOVE it!
@@MagentaOtterTravels There is just something so different about it when compared to some of the other great houses I have seen…..not sure exactly how to describe it. It is huge, but feels more intimate???? Hm……
@@ruthgoebel723 I agree. They didn't have a huge, grand, cavernous dance hall or dining hall. Even the room with the huge fireplace didn't feel like an airplane hangar ;-)
What a lovely video of a truly unique and amazing place! Thank you for sharing your adventure! 💕
Why thanks so much! It was a very fun place. You need to come visit us in England so we can visit some gardens together!
Thanks for this Dara and Ian
As with most people it takes foriegn (obviously not you honorary Brits) visitors to show us places in our own countries we need to see.
Deffinately going to take Christines MX5 Miata up there to do the drive.
Cheers guys.
Lee and Christine 💏
Yes you should! Ian’s dad has a Miata too and LOVES it!
What an absolutely fabulous house and gardens! I really enjoyed your tour, and your very interesting commentary. I would dearly love to visit there.
It's a bit of a drive from Norfolk, but perhaps worth a visit next spring after the wedding celebrations? ;-)
Oh my goodness. Beyond amazing! Thank you for capturing and sharing this incredibly interesting and beautiful estate!! This will be a MUST visit stop during my bucket list trip to the UK!
Happy birthday, Dara! 💖🎂🎉 Wishing you a magenta-filled day! Love you, my friend.💖
Thanks so much, Summer! My day has been very magenta filled so far! And there is both cheese and pie on the menu later... and more friends to visit. So it will be a good day! Looking forward to celebrating with you next week!!! Hugs ❤
Interesting good camera work. Enjoyed
Thanks! Always trying to improve my camera and editing skills! 😊
@@MagentaOtterTravels Marvellous camera and editing skills.
Wow this is stunning and fascinating. This is a place I would LOVE to visit!
Thanks for watching, friend! Yes, you would love it! And I bet there are several other gardens (videos forthcoming) you will want to see as well!
Absolutely beautiful. Loved watching your videos! :D The gardens are so beautiful! Loving your vlog style, thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much!
What a gorgeous place to visit! I love Rhododendrons, sadly it's too hot where I live to grow them. So I too, have a few rhododendron selfies from my travels.
It was amazing there! Here in North Texas we can't grow much of anything, I so can relate! I'm glad you have rhodie selfies too! Maybe I'm not totally weird? haha
Stunning and fascinating! Thank you for such an interesting tour of the house and estate. What a superb video tour, helpfully subtitled and featuring both of you again! BTW: I've always associated the word 'bloomer' with a cylindrical loaf of bread sharply tapered at each end and with v-shaped chunks out of the top - a short bloated French stick!
Haha, the bread sounded delicious until you called it "bloated"... LOL!
Thanks very much for your compliments of the video. It was a bear to edit, but I'm always so glad to have it done. Nice to have a "video scrapbook" of our travels! So chuffed you enjoyed it!
Love your videos, I live in the UK and I think you have been more places than I have in the UK , you probably know more than I do 👍💕x
You probably aren't an old retired lady with a chaffeur like I am! LOL
I so appreciate all your comments! I really enjoy hearing from you.
@@MagentaOtterTravels oh I'm close at 52, but don't look as young as you , so enjoy your adventures, you've seen more of the UK than I have and I live here 🤷🤣x
@@glastonbury4304 our job is to explore it all and take the MOT along with us! Lots of people won't be able to get to as many places as we do ;-)
That house is BEAUTIFUL! I'm so glad you were able to go! When we were in the UK, Northumberland was in lockdown so we didn't get to visit here or Hadrian's Wall like we would have wanted (which is fine, gotta keep everyone safe and we can come back). But now this is very high on my list for the next trip!
I hear you. So many places we missed for covid reasons as well. This trip the infection rates were much better so we were able to go inside some houses... though they still had us wearing masks and distanced and one way system. It was nothing like the USUAL tour of Cragside House. And the big disappointment for me was that due to covid the Turkish bath and sauna area was closed, since the space is too tight for a tour. Too bad, because it looked super cool! But Ian says we are going back to Cragside again in the future, so... next time!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Next time for sure, exactly! It was sweet to see how much Ian enjoyed visiting there.
Lady Armstrong did a beautiful job
I agree! A legacy that will live on for many many generations!!!
Always such beautiful footage! Wanted to stop by also and personally congratulate you on your 2k success! You and your hubby make amazing content and I am so happy for you and that video of 17k did incredible! So proud of you.
Wow, it's to 17K now?! Just goes to show what happens when you choose a strategic topic AND get lucky! I look forward to when that happens for you as well, Ash! Thanks for your support and wisdom ;-)
I think that the bushes you thought were honeysuckle were actually small flowered deciduous azaleas. Unlike the larger rhododendrons they have a lovely scent. I used to have a slightly larger flowered variety that smelled fabulous.
Thanks so much! I never know the names of plants, which is frustrating! I need to do a better job learning and REMEBERING! haha
Also I'm glad I share a surname with two people who clearly had such an incredible vision and passion for nature. I'm going to pretend that we're indeed related. :-)
They didn't have children.... so I think you should just call them Uncle Bill and Aunt Maggie ;-)
@Magenta Otter Travels Done and done!
My Grandfather was one of the engineers that maintained all the waterworks on the estate after the 1st world war
Oh my! What a big job!! Have you heard any stories about what it was like to work for the Armstrongs? I’ve heard various things…
I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.
Cheers!
XX
Dara
lovely🥰
Thanks
I hope you also had a look at Bamburgh castle not far from Cragside , it really is well worth a visit
Yes! Upcoming video! I have thousands of video files waiting to be edited and published.... which is both overwhelming and exciting. But mostly overwhelming! Please stay tuned and watch this space ;-)
They should put "flap-jacky" as the description on the menu. 😂
You are probably too young to remember Pee Wee's Playhouse. But that is the maturity level of my humour. He used to taste everything and respond accordingly.... if it was soup "Oh, soupy!" or a sandwich, "Yum, sandwichey!" etc.. LOL
@@MagentaOtterTravels that's hilarious!
SUBBED, so interesting to watch this and love to see you go for videos someday soon ...
Thanks 😊
Jose Swan design for the first lightbulb was substantially the one used by Thomas Edison nearly 20 years later. Joseph Wilson Swan was born in 1828 at Pallion Hall, Sunderland, County Durham.
Thanks for sharing that historical context! 💡
More points for County Durham!👍👍
By the way, every time I hear Sunderland, I think of our last name … Sandland 😉
Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Sandlin and its variants originated with the Scottish clan Sandilands, a Sept, or sub-clan of the larger Clan Douglas.
Clan Sandilands is based in Torphichen Scotland, near Edinburgh.
The name itself is taken from the Sandilands (Sandy lands) found in that area of Norway.
I’ve definitely never known anyone to love plastic food replicas before. 😂 that’s actually kinda awesome.
I’m a serious goofball
😂
amazing vid :) You should try and get to Liverpool for a city break if you can, its an amazing city. Classical buildings not seen on a scale outside of London and of course the night life is pretty famous.
Oh we definitely want to visit both Liverpool and Manchester! That is an area we haven't explored at all yet... my American friends think I'm crazy to go to Britain EVERY summer, but they don't understand that we have and ENDLESS list of places we want to go!
For rhododendrons, if you haven't been, don't miss the display in the Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park.
Hello again! That is a great suggestion! I just looked it up, and it's near Heathrow. That would be fun to visit the next time we arrive in Britain... I wonder when they are in bloom there?
@@MagentaOtterTravels If you phone them in late April they will tell you how advanced they are and when the best time is to visit and see them at their best. You will need to keep on checking to get the very best show.
We didn't even have time to get to the formal gardens. Guess we'll have to make another visit.
Wait, WHAT?!?! There are MORE gardens??!!!!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Yep, on the other side of the river next to the clock tower (which we also didn't see).
@@ians3586 A sequel, or a mini series coming up 👍
@@wencireone I had better live to be 95 and in good health to finish all the visiting and editing of these dang videos I gotta do! LOL
@@MagentaOtterTravels I'll pray for you, you pray for me to live and watch them
What a lovely place, I'll make a note to visit one day 👍
Most definitely. One of the top NT properties to visit. There's also so much more to see in this area.
@@ians3586 only 360 miles away, I can stop on the way to see the Angel of the North on the way and the northern branch of my family ( well maybe not the last one )
@@wencireone Rothbury (great place to stay when visiting Cragside), Bamburgh, The Farne Islands, Alnwick, Ford and Etal, Hadrian's Wall, Lindesfarne, Warkworth, miles of unspoilt countryside, you're really spoilt for choice here.
@@ians3586 I remember driving past a lot of old castles up there and nearly went to Lindisfarne but the tide was coming back in, so never made it. Also went to Beamish, the living museum of the North, but haven't been to the North for years
@@wencireone we are now besties with two people who work at the Beamish... we are DEFINITELY going there the first chance we get! And we were so bummed that when we tried going to Lindisfarne we ran out of time. Def need a repeat of our Northern Expedition! Maybe with puffins in 2022?
How far is Rugeley Texas from Fort Worth ?...
A Bloomer is a very fat Baguette...with several gashes on the top before baking..
Why are you asking me instead of Google Maps, david? I’m too busy to look… baking my birthday pie 🥧 right now! 💖
Thanks for the bloomer answer! 👍
@@MagentaOtterTravels maybe Jill can answer that one.....she appreciated the comment..
@@MagentaOtterTravels because I find it amusing that you have a rugeley in Texas....and it wasn't made up...it could only have been inspired by rugeley staffs....which is on the Trent..
News flash ! JOHN Rugeley moved to Caney Creek in Texas in 1840....to do some planting.....and there was me thinking Rugeley Texas would be full of Coal miners..
What a phenomenal place. I think we touched on Armstrong at school re his engineering, scientific works, but don't think his home got a mention. Seems odd considering his many 1st, what an innovator. And those grounds, quite spectacular. That's another location i'll have to add to my visit list :). Re your tour of the house, it seems funny saying he, and his wife lived there. That place must have had a huge staff running it, do you remember seeing anything about that, numbers-wise?. I've just had a quick search but not been able to find anything. I'm just curious. Another great vid, Cheers, and a happy (belated) birthday :)
Oh, and re bloomers, seems to be more about the shape. They're large farmhouse style loaves, oval in shape. They have slashes across the top that open during baking, which is traditionally done on the floor of the oven.
Thanks for your comment, John! I don't think they talked about the number of staff... they probably are embarrassed to tell how huge it was because it might be a source of criticism. It must have been immense to run that huge home, cook the meals, keep it clean, care for the fires, maintain the utilities, not to mention those out in the garden to tend to all the plants and ... plant SEVEN MILLION TREES!
A bloomer is a type of loaf. I think... that it has a small circle on top and a bigger one below, then squished down and baked. I THINK that's it anyway?
No it isn't. I just Googled. It's loaf.
Apparently it is a special round loaf that "blooms" because of slits on the top. #SubscribersKnowStuff
a Bloomer is a crust loaf, usually hand made in local British bakery's.
Thanks for the clarification. I guess I'm not British enough. There are still a lot of things for me to learn.
@@ians3586 I am sure you are British enough. its just that things change names as you move around the Isle. I am sure you have picked up on many, while on your travels.
Well they are delicious. Look forward to consuming many more!
Happy 40th Dara🍾
Thanks Tony! You are close… just add 17 😉
@@MagentaOtterTravels I’ve ridden 58 donkeys myself.A painful journey at times,wonderful though.💃🌹
Now there is a phrase I must remember!
Dara....are you sure that you are not a descendant of Lord and Lady Armstrong??? Just wondering, when I saw all the magenta rhododendrons.
Very sure. They had no children ;-)
@@MagentaOtterTravels But he had a great-nephew...who knows 😉
You could live in that fireplace, lol
Indeed! Many people live in places that size!
The scented plant looks like Lonicera fragrantissima or Winter honeysuckle.
Good job identifying! We sure love Cragside! Hoping to return this May!
have you been to the cheese shop in Hawes ? loads of free samples of wonderful Wensleydale
I need to go!!!
You ought to visit Trentham Gardens….the ancestral home of the Duke of Sutherland…and their gardens and Mausoleum..he made a great contribution to the population of the Americas..with his master plan called “the clearances”
What does "the clearances" mean? Sounds sinister...
We need to go visit the gardens with my son TRENT and his wife!
@@MagentaOtterTravels the clearances meant losing your home and livelihood to make way for sheep , lots went to the americas because of eviction.
The statue of Perseus at the gardens is worth looking out for..
Trentham is on our lengthy bucket list.
@@ians3586 he must have made a lot of money out of his business remodel as a lot of old money was spent at trentham gardens..
I think the lake was man made…supplied by the river Trent..
Rhododendrons down south, seem to all go over by the end of May
Yes, they were actually late this year. Usually the rhodo's are at their peak at the end of May at Cragside but if you had gone in May this year, they wouldn't have been at their best. Beginning of June is pretty reliable.
@@ians3586 I only have Exbury Gardens as a reference and our own little bush to compare 👍
@@wencireone there's definitely a distinct climate difference as you go North. I remember one July I was freezing in the Yorkshire Dales. We were heading to London next and I checked the temp there. London was 25 F warmer.
@@ians3586 I would normally go South for summer and for winter, but have been up as far as Edinburgh and stayed at Berwick-upon-Tweed about 25 years ago but had different interests back then
Ian carefully timed our Cragside visit based on rhodie blooming!
If you go into the "friendly store in north korea" all the staff wear magenta jackets.....are they subscribing to otter travels?
Probably not, but they should be! I doubt I'll be going into any North Korean stores anytime soon to ask them...
I think that home beats Chatsworth 💕
Man, that is a tough contest! I love both of them so much! Cragside is more quirky and interesting. But the stories that go with Chatsworth make it so fun... and the gardens there are my favourite in Britain. I have been there 3 times, but not since becoming a RUclipsr. So I must return again, with camera in hand!
@@MagentaOtterTravels I love Chatsworth as it's not far from where I live and a good day out when it's sunny , but some of the places you've been I love, definitely going to some of them especially as it's a lot of stay vacations under covid 💕
Definitely! There are SO MANY great places to visit within Britain!
Zeer mooi, maar waarom staar er een motor te draaien
Thanks for the comment! I'm afraid it was a bit confusing in translation...
I’ll do my best to translate with my limited Afrikaans (which is similar to Dutch). “Very pretty, but why does he stare to turn the motor”. Ek is jammer, maar ek kan dit nie verduidelik nie.
I have never seen Magenta honey suckle before
I'm not sure if the pink plant was honeysuckle but it smelled like it!
About the realistic looking food, I have seen what some talented bakers do, cakes that look like food and other objects, all edible.
Oh yes, I like those food cakes too! Ones that look like tacos or hamburgers or whatnot.
As a girl we used to visit the "Museum of Science & Industry" in Chicago. They had a huge food display with plastic food, and I've loved it ever since. It's weird, I know...
Cragside is beautiful and about twice the size of any national trust place in England
I just don't understand why more people don't go.to..northumbland
I agree! It is a wonderful part of the world! I think most people visiting from abroad don’t know about it. And a lot of other people just don’t want to drive that far! ❤️🏴
By the way, I followed the rules and didn't get anywhere near the property with the drone. That's why the drone footage is sub-optimal.
Your drone footage is always lovely. But yes, we did have to film from pretty far away this time!
The first house in the world to get its electricity from hydro power. A 'bloomer' is loaf of crusty bread.
Bloomin delicious bread!
6 mile drive,glad I'm not the postman.
Yes, quite long, though, I don't think I'd mind doing that on a daily basis. The drive to the house itself is probably only 1/2 mile. This "drive" is actually one around the forest behind the house.
Good point!
I'm sure 'back in the day' you would have been upstairs
My parents were pretty poor farmers... I might have been a scullery maid!
@@MagentaOtterTravels Never, distinguished V.I.P. guest from over seas, surely
My family definitely wouldn't have been. I come from very humble stock from the Midlands.
@@ians3586 that’s Birmingham isn’t it Ian ?
@@ians3586 if you get far enough back in Ancestry, I think most of us can claim a dubious link to aristocracy
Rhododendrons are lovely and brightly coloured but unfortunately they are not native to the British Isles (I believe they are Asian?), and even though they are often cultivated in the gardens of grand estates, they are actually considered a weed here - where they have seeded naturally on open moorland, for example, they have taken over and smothered other native plants and have to be kept under control. A bit like the grey squirrel, which was introduced from Canada decades ago and has virtually caused our native red squirrels to become extinct. But I guess that’s just the way of the world 🤷♀️
Wow, what a shame! That explains why we saw rhododendrons growing wild in Northumberland.
My favourite magenta flower in California is bougainvillea… also considered a weed. But I didn’t care that it grew along the roadside… my wedding florist was so wonderful she used it to decorate the “tea” table at our reception (nearly 30 years ago!). It is just the most beautiful colour of magenta💖
@@MagentaOtterTravels that sounds lovely! And if you like rhododendrons that much, I recommend you visit the nearby Quantock Hills in West Somerset. They are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the first such designated area in Britain, I believe. The hills are amazingly shaped - more like little mountains, and there are rhododendrons everywhere! The whole region of West Somerset around the Quantocks, including the villages along the Exmoor coast near Porlock) were the haunt of some of the nation’s finest romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Coleridge and Byron 😃
@@penname5766 we do love that area of Somerset and included Porlock in our “Somerset Villages” video. However, it was filmed in September so, unfortunately, there are no rhododendrons. We’ve visited a good bit of Exmoor but still need to explore the Quantocks. Thank you for the recommendation.
@@ians3586 You’re welcome, Ian! I look forward to checking out your Somerset Villages video 😊
What animal would like to be it you lived at the North pole, I would like to be a little otter ..
Definitely otter!🦦
Hi it's a joke,a little otter means a little hotter,it's cold there Dara ..
In the North we sometimes drop our h sound.regards...
UGH I AM DAFT!!! 🙄🙄🙄
rhododendrons are actulay weeds
I have heard that... so disappointing to know that sometimes beautiful plants are somewhat of a blight on the countryside!
Now you're getting bigger, first
Are you referring to how I look after all the pie I ate yesterday? 🐷
@@MagentaOtterTravels Haha, no you're MOT 2k size, you're slim
Okay, she may be but that's not very nice! The sticky toffee puddings are to blame!
@@ians3586 I don't think you're allowed to agree 😯🤣
@@wencireone true, hopefully that comment will go unnoticed.