Bateman’s has not been immune to the current severe weather and has closed to visitors on two recent occasions principally due to the risk of flying debris injuring visitors.The grounds are very much a winter vista, hellebores providing a rare hint of colour. The newly planted Old Sussex varieties of apple trees are prospering in the meadow facing the front of the house and the grass will be mowed in the summer, hopefully by a team of shire horses. Nothing flamboyant about the NT!The mill is awaiting further repairs, this time to the central wooden post driven by the water wheel. We are still hopeful that the sale of the flour will be authorised soon, once the process is made bat-proof. The mills of bureaucracy grind much more slowly than the nearly 300-year-old mill.The Christmas decorations were a huge success, attracting many visitors to admire them, this year themed on ‘A Jungle book Christmas’. Many of the visitors tour the local NT properties to compare the seasonal offerings and establish an informal league table. The time devoted to Christmas decorations grows exponentially and indeed has already commenced for this year. The final display involves a huge amount of work.The event of the year will take place in late February when the refurbished Memorial Room will open to the public. The concept is to give a broad view of Kipling’s life and achievements with more striking display panels and better presentation of artefacts. John will receive a new prominence and new items, currently in store, as well as objects transferred from other rooms will now make a more vibrant and interesting experience.It was something of a surprise to learn that the current distribution of the upper rooms is by no means sacrosanct, and the designation is often based on custom rather than fact. Scrutiny of guest correspondence has suggested that ‘John’s Room’ was in fact the Kiplings’ bedroom and that John normally used the West Bedroom. This is now reflected in a reorganisation, with the Elizabethan bed (which apparently was not the original left with the house but one acquired by the Kiplings) being transferred to the former ‘John’s’ room and the West bedroom being reorganised as a tribute to John. Moving the bed is causing sleepless nights for the staff, as although the bed is large, the doorways are not.If winter comes, can Spring be far behind.Bateman’s report for Kipling Society meeting 5 Feb 2025David Forsyth