Wow! What a wonderful week we had to celebrate my husband's special birthday. There were 22 of us ranging in age from 4 years to 74 years and we all had a whale of a time!
We were warmly welcomed by Chris with Gail's freshly baked chocolate cake and scones, as well as such delights as artisan bread, local cheeses and Prosecco - it was the beginning of a very special time for us all.
The huge table in the centre of the main house was always the focal point in the evening when each family took it in turns to create an enjoyable meal. Afterwards, we would play cards or silly games, often laughing so much our sides ached! Such happy memories.
The pool was a hit with everyone and I particularly enjoyed an early morning swim with some of the grandchildren followed by a relax in the sauna. The barn was an amazing space and we enjoyed playing badminton, table tennis, snooker, rounders, golf and cricket. The weather was particularly kind to us all week and we even managed a BBQ one evening, even though it was early spring.
I loved the attention to detail; each room was individual with beautiful ornaments, comfy beds, luxurious bathrooms and gorgeous smellies. There were fascinating books scattered around on Venice (in our master suite, one of my favourite places, how could they know?), designing gardens, (I love gardening), gin and gin palaces, (I love gin!), timber-framed buildings and hygge, to name but a few. Just not enough time to read everything!
The local pub, The Bull, was a short walk away and we had a couple of lovely meals there. Although we seemed to be in a remote location we were close to Chester and its zoo, not far from Liverpool and the Welsh borders, so we made the most of the opportunity to take the Magical Mystery tour and visit The Cavern Club as well as enjoy a windswept ferry across the Mersey.
What a great week! A very big thank you to Chris and Gail - we were very sad to leave such a relaxing, beautiful place. It felt like a real home from home and was absolutely perfect for such a special celebration.
