A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JULIE MONTAGU AT MAPPERTON
7.30am
We’re dressed and ready early. Luke’s phone soon starts ringing, as he’s chief troubleshooter, so he’ll be off to sort out the card machine in the café or to check on the rare White Park horned cattle we’ve just introduced. After tea and a light breakfast, I’ll check on the café, visitor tours and any leaks. We include as much of our homegrown produce as possible and the venison pasties are legendary.
1pm
We don’t have a chef of our own so if we have a business lunch, it will be me chopping up salads or making soup with foraged ingredients, such as elder and nettles. Otherwise, I’ll grab some me-time to practise yoga, then have a snack on the hoof.
2.30pm
My afternoons are spent filming for our Youtube channel or checking in with Luke about the glamping side of things. Like me, Luke is permanently on the go, so if we want to see each other, it’s usually on a Zoom call! We both often go to London for meetings and to see our son, who’s at school there, so we often wave at each other as we pass on the A303!
7.30pm
We have a family dinner whenever possible. Our youngest is passionate about animal rights and a naturalist, and has convinced us to stop the commercial shoot and to rewild parts of the estate instead. He and I are pescatarian and the rest eat a little meat, so Luke, who’s a great cook, will rustle up something, like fish, to suit all.
9pm
Downtime to watch a movie or football, though often, I’ll research what other owners of historic houses are doing to make ends meet.
10.30pm
Our bedroom is not a showroom, but it has been renovated recently and is lovely and comfortable. Sleep is much needed before the Mapperton machine starts up again! PS Please, God, no leaks…