First Visit: The George, Great Oxendon

We took a drive to The George, Great Oxendon today, picking up Paul & Sue along the way. They know it well, but for us, it was our first visit. Wow! First impressions were excellent. The unassuming entrance gave way to a very tasteful interior. It all looked very tasteful without being too over-the-top – …
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First Visit: Shires Inn

It was a drive into unchartered territory for us two today as we headed with neighbours David & Valerie for the village of Peatling Parva (population 181) and The Shires Inn and Restaurant. The occasion? A belated birthday lunch for David and me! It was Ann and my first visit, but our dining companions knew …
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Lunch: Northants Nutters Reassemble at The Olde Victoria

It’s been quite a while since we were last here! Ann and I met the rest of ‘The Northants Nutters’ aka Paul, Sue, Geoff, Rhonda at The Olde Victoria for lunch today. And good to see that the Menu was as enticing as ever! πŸ‘ The food and service, as always, was spot-on, and we …
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Our Anniversary Break 2020 (9/36)

It’s our 9th Anniversary (or 36th, if you’re counting from the day we first met) and we always try and do something special every year to celebrate. This year is no different, but we’ve scaled things back a bit because of… ‘you-know-what’! πŸ™„ 10.50am We’re heading for Norfolk, staying at The Brisley Bell in err, …
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Holiday: Devon in Seven! (Day 2)

Just when you create a title for your blog-post that works perfectly, along comes something to ruin it! After BoJo’s announcement last night, it looks like ‘Lockdown 2.0’ will require us to pack up early here in Totnes, and return home on Wednesday! – two days short!! “Devon in Seven!“ – now, what rhymes with …
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First Visit: The Bell Inn, Finedon

It was our monthly eat-out with neighbours David and Valerie tonight. I say ‘monthly’, but that’s been interrupted of late by you-know-what. …anyway, it was good to get back into the routine! πŸ˜‹ Based on Valerie’s recommendation, which in turn was based on the August 2020 article in the Daily Telegraph by William Sitwell accompanied …
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Return to The Saxon Mill

The Saxon Mill is rapidly becoming our most regular restaurant-of-choice when meeting our friends ‘from the West’ – and today was no exception! (Either there or The Lamport Swan). The last time we met up with ‘the Westerners’ (Ian, Ann, Mags and Alan) for one of our regular three-monthly catch-ups was back in September last …
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First Visit: The Old Pheasant, Glaston

Our first visit tonight to The Old Pheasant in Glaston where where we met up with long-time friends, Mick and Jane for one of our regular catch-ups. We last got together at The Fox back in April, so it’s been a while, and there was plenty of news to catch up with! Tonight, our location-of-choice …
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The Palace and the Pub

Off to visit Apethorpe Palace today with Chris and Gill! The Palace We last visited here back in August 2011 with Nicki, when it was known simply as Apethorpe Hall. Since that time, it’s been sold-off by English Heritage (December 2014) to one Baron von Pfetten, a French anglophile. English Heritage are still responsible for …
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Palmers and Bricklayers

Palmers Reunited A scorcher of a day, as we headed down to Bromley to catch up with Neil, Debbie, Alfie and Frankie. Just to make a change, rather than our normal haunt of ASK, at the top of the high-street, we chose The Bricklayers Arms, just a five-minute walk from Bromley South station. Last time …
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Joseph – And the Pub of Many Burgers

We headed for Kilworth Theatre today to see their latest outdoor production… Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Joseph… Running from 26th May until 5th July 2019, this production was back by popular demand. Given the track record here, we knew we were in for a treat! Starring Jacob Fisher in the titular role; Carole …
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The Weekend – Sponsored by the letter ‘f’

A weekend of fun, friends, fine food, F1 and err, a fone! Friday Ralph and Karen are joining us for the weekend. We haven’t seen each other for a while and there was plenty to catch-up with! Probably the most important task was to begin finalising details for joint trip to China including understanding the …
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Two Locals and Two Towneys

We caught up with Nick and Celina today. After a quick look round their local Garden Centre, we headed off to another local for Lunch – The Black Bull, in nearby Market Overton. Then it was back to theirs for a coffee and to admire how much they’ve done with their Home since we were …
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Leeds, Feeds and Boats

7.50am: A relatively early start today as we planned to catch the 8.51 Train from Peterborough Rail Station heading for its counterpart in Leeds. We’re catching-up with Dennis & Sandra for one of our semi-regular day-outs together. We’re starting to build up quite a history now, as this will be our seventh get-together, having already …
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Birthday Girl 2019

It was a welcome return to The Tollemache Arms in Harrington today. We met David, Valerie and little Evie there – where my natural charm with children took a back-seat and reduced Evie to a mega-sulk for most of the meal! Young children and me? It’s NEVER an easy relationship! πŸ‘ Today was to celebrate …
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Lunch: Return to the Lamport Swan

It was a welcome return today to The Swan at Lamport (or the Lamport Swan as it’s also known). We haven’t been there for about a year (1st February 2018, in fact) and today we were catching-up with Ian & Ann, Alan & Mags for Lunch. And our verdict? An impressive experience all-round! πŸ˜‰ Julie, …
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Laddies (and Ladies) who Lunch – Part 783!

We never need any excuse at all to enjoy a good Pub Lunch – and today was no exception! It was another of our regular gatherings with local friends (and fellow retirees). Step forward then, Geoff, Rhonda, Paul and Sue – and of course, Ann – to sample the delights of The Swan at Braybrooke. …
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