A weekend away

On Friday, we drove down to Wellington in Somerset, to celebrate with Grace's  family the 40th birthday of Kathryn, one of our nieces. We stayed in The White Hart Hotel in Wyveliscombe, just a few miles from Wellington, going to the party on Saturday afternoon, and taking in a couple of National Trust properties, one on Sunday, and the other on the way home today.

It came as something of a surprise to us that Kathryn was sharing her birthday celebration with her five year-old son, Jake, and three hours of the afternoon were filled with numerous small children and the attendant chaos. The magician/balloon modeller and the bouncy castle were a huge hit!

It was good to see a big chunk of Grace's family, and our three kids drove down to join us all, too. It was a good day.

Barrington Court is a beautiful old Tudor manor, once reduced to dereliction but fully restored in the 1920s by the Lyle family (of Tate & Lyle).

Hidcote Gardens were beautiful, despite the occasional rain and sleet showers. Unfortunately, all of the plants, trees and flowers are three to four weeks late because of the weather of the past months, but there was a lot to enjoy, and the visit made a welcome break in our journey home.

Back on Kantara again now, buffeted by high winds, but under a sunny, clear sky, we're contemplating the list of things to get done, and the cruising we hope to do in the months ahead.