Nobody likes a show off, and last weekend I got that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put not just one, but two in their place. Did I feel smug? You bet I did.

To set the scene, I was visiting Highclere Castle at the time, which if you’re a fan you’ll recognise as the setting for the TV show Downton Abbey. Luckily for us Oxfordshire fans, it’s only about half-an-hour drive down the A34 near Newbury, and having been the historic home of the Carnarvon family since the 1600s, it’s as you’d expect, quite an impressive place to wander around.

Packed full of artwork, antiques and furniture, a visit feels like you’ve stumbled onto the set of Antiques Roadshow. Sadly minus the expert waiting to reveal you’re the owner of an heirloom worth a small fortune.

Unbeknownst to me until the weekend, this gorgeous building attracts not just us ‘regular tourists’, but also a lot of so-called ‘antiques experts’. Something I only discovered as I wandered through the house in my flip flops surrounded by people who wouldn’t have looked out of place on the cover of Antiques Weekly.

As if I wasn’t feeling out of place enough, just as I was poised to ask one of the helpful attendants a question about the filming of my favourite Sunday night drama, the two fellas beside me enquired if the paintings on the far wall were the work of the 18th century artist Canaletto? Momentarily drawn into the discussion, I looked up and evaluated the paintings in question. Admittedly this didn’t take me too long as I’m not all that familiar his work, or actually.. any… artwork whatsoever.

So as they all debated the paintings in their incredibly posh voices, I wandered around the room, playing on my phone. ‘Have you got any questions my dear’? asked the lovely attendant, ‘Yes I do’, I replied. ‘Have you ever been here when they’ve been filming Downton Abbey’?

What the hell. This was why I’d come to visit the house after all! Undeterred by the blatant snort from across the room I continued to grill the helpful lady with questions about the filming of the show.

Clearly unable to bear any more of this uncultured banter the ‘painting snobs’ apologised for interrupting such an important conversation and asked if they could enquire about Napoleon’s desk in the next room.

Detecting more than a slightly patronising tone I smiled sweetly and replied “Certainly. By the way the paintings aren’t Canaletto’s. The light reflection on the water isn’t of his standard. It’s more likely the work of an artist inspired by him or possibly a student”.

With that I thanked the attendant and exited the room….. Clutching my smart phone whilst silently thanking Google for telling me that little piece of information approximately five minutes before. After all, no one likes a show off.