Dasmarka Real Estate

We don't know if any of The Children are like Your Mama, but we are riveted–riveted!–by the ongoing saga of Australian journalist and naughty naughty naughty WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The cool-as-a-cucumber seeming Mister Assange has become internationally famous–and infamous depending on your point of view–for posting reams of classified U.S. documents on the internets. Many of the documents already made public by WikiLieaks include unguarded and sensitive communications between folks like Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton and other geo-political operatives and high ranking diplomats from around the world. The document release has angered and embarrassed the United States government as well as many of its allies and enemies.

While we're certain the U.S. government would love nothing more than to shut Mister Assange and his semi-clandestine secret spilling operation down, it was rather different circumstances that brought Mister Assange into the custody of the British authorities last week. Two Swedish women have alleged that Mister Assange sexually assaulted them while visiting the country in August. Assange denies the allegations, natch, calling them, "tabloid crap." The bean spiller was released on bail yesterday with the assistance of controversial American political activist/documentary filmmaker/professional shit stirrer Michael Moore who put up $20,000 towards the £240,000 bail to help spring Mister Assange from the pokey.

Of course, we are not hear to discuss politics and discuss politics we will not. What interests Your Mama is where Mister Assange will be staying while he awaits proceedings in which Sweden will attempt to extradite him for a trial regarding the alleged sex crimes.

After being released from the jail, Mister Assange hightailed it to the English countryside where the whistle blower is holed up at the private and bucolic spread of friend and well-known free speech supporter Captain Vaughan Smith. Mister Smith founded The Frontline Club, an organization whose purpose is "championing independent journalism."

Mister Smith's family has reportedly occupied the 650 acre estate and the 10 bedroom Georgian style mansion for more than 200 years. Little else seems to be known about the house or property that include sustainable farmlands, fruit and vegetable gardens, a pond, pastures with cows, sheep and pigs, several outbuildings and a tennis court. Perhaps one of The Children knows a little sommum sommum more about Ellingham Hall? Give Your Mama a ringy-dingy iffin you do, okay?

At least one report (that includes excellent photos of the property) suggests that in addition to his host the Captain, while on house arrest Mister Assange may wine and dine with celebrity supporters that include film director Ken Loach, human rights fan Bianca Jagger and heiress turned glamorous human right activist (and ex-ladee friend of actor Hugh Grant) Jemima Khan.

photo: The Sydney Morning Herald