(Birth)Days Out

A couple of weeks off, and in between gardening and other things, took a trip out East again for a birthday family visit - with a stopover in Ludlow along the way . . .

Time for a wander, a beer / cider or two, and a curry - the sun even shone for us.

Moved on the next day in time to cook up a frangipane for Dad's birthday, while melting in the heat of the kitchen.

Why is it always so much hotter in East Anglia than it is in Wales?   

Were glad of the opportunity to cool off in the hotel pool a couple of times over the visit!

Day out to Oxborough Hall - this time with the roof mended - beautiful day, although some flying creature took a bite out of my arm (just hoping it wasn't a horsefly).

The flower borders were particularly stunning, although I spent far too much time stressing over passing insects, worrying if anything else was going to bite me :(

Finished the day with a family dinner out that evening - very nice :)

Time before we left to help out with a bit of gardening -  then we were on the road back to a somewhat greyer Wales.  Hopefully we'll see a bit more sunshine before it's time to go back to work again.

May Days

A few days off and a trip to Ludlow, calling in at Craven Arms and the Ludlow Food Centre on the way (egg custard tart - to die for!). 

Beautiful sunny afternoon in town, had a wander, a pint or two, and dinner, before the half hour or so walk back to the travelodge (with bottle of wine!).


The following day we re-visited Croft Castle - not the most memorable property, but nice grounds (even a vineyard) and with some Hafod connections.











Got back to Ludlow to find the fair had hit town in a big way - had seen some lorries arriving the evening before - it must have taken some really careful driving to squeeze those trailers through Ludlow's narrow roads to the market square!


Interesting that on our walk back to the travelodge we spotted this window where someone was celebrating the fair's arrival in model form :)

All in all a nice couple of days away - good food, a lot of walking, and a historic property or two!

Archive Girls Back on Tour

Finally got our act together for a repeat of our 2015 meet-up - very much a repeat, as we ended up back in the same place on more or less the same weekend of the year!

Went Gruffalo hunting (with the little people) while two of our party did the Parkrun, revisited Ludlow, ate cake, commented (at length) on Strictly, and drank some wine (although most people were in bed and asleep by 10.30pm, so can't say it was a wild weekend!).



On Sunday morning we had a somewhat bizarre visit to the Gobbett Old Breeds Farm, complete with many varieties of feathered fowl, and some very cute goats.  Much enjoyed by our smallest companion!


After a bite of lunch at the Ludlow Food Centre, it was time to say final goodbyes - date already set for next year!

Archive Girls on Tour

Another 'reunion' weekend, this time with the 'girls' from my archive course (and next generation!).


Got ourselves a cottage in a village near Ludlow for a couple of nights and had a good catch-up.

Cake was eaten, small people (babies to age 4) were kept amused, and some wine was drunk (but perhaps not in the quantities of days gone by).




Had a nice day out in Ludlow on the Saturday, and finished the weekend with a walk round the village, and lunch out in a local pub.

Good to see everyone, and meet the little ones - looking forward to the next time!

Shropshire in the Sun

A Friday in early October and after work we headed off for a sunny weekend in Ludlow:


On the Saturday, we walked in from our B&B just outside the town, and followed the 'Bread Walk' alongside the River Teme to Dinham Bridge below Ludlow Castle.


Spent the afternoon wandering round Ludlow (although didn't actually make it into the Castle), took in the market and shops, had a couple of drinks and dinner out, before heading back to the B&B .


Woke up on Sunday to another lovely sunny day, and headed home via the extremely picturesque Stokesay Castle - a fortified medieval manor house, with a timber-framed gatehouse, great hall, and a more castle-like tower.

Enjoyed the sunshine in the grassy courtyard and moat walk, before heading on our way home - losing the sunshine as we left Shropshire behind.