"Only dead fish swim with the stream"

When we were at the Alnwick Garden last week, we noticed a new book available about the making of the Garden. Karen balked at the £25 cover price but I noticed it was only £17.50 on Amazon. (I’ve read it now and posted a four star review).

Not only does it have a photo of the Pump room, but it reveals a cheeky secret.

At the start of the bamboo maze is the phrase at the top of the blogpost, representing the Duchess’ struggle with unhelpful conservatism that seriously got in the way of making the garden what it is today.

When you complete the maze, there is a Latin inscription in the centre. It reads:

Omnia, hospites, vidistis.
Vobis gratias agimus.
Nunc, fortuito mingite.

The real translation is NOT what is officially on their website podcast. This schools teacher guide PDF is closer…

I anticipate one of the highly educated Blogpower people with a classical education may be able to get close. (Or Colin Campbell will find an English Latin translator online).

Postscript: The translators I have tried are Cak at it.