Our Anniversary (14/41)

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Hi everyone! It’s our Anniversary – thanks for all your cards, texts and social media comments! 👍 😁 😁. 14/41?? As many of you know, we were married (in 2011) and first met (in 1984) both on the same date – 14 December. So it’s our ’14th’ or ’41st’, depending on when you start counting! 🤔

Celebrations started early – yesterday, in fact – as we headed for Oakham and a return to our favourite ‘posh’ Bistro! With our 1pm Table pre-booked, we arrived just in time for a quick wander around the town’s famous Saturday Market. Unusually, for the location itself, AND the obvious proximity to Christmas, it was all very quiet – something that surprised us , as it’s always felt very vibrant during previous trips. Still, that meant there was no queuing required when picking up some flowers for Mrs P! 👍

The Bistro? Absolutely, NO MARKS for originality this year, then! 😉

Yes, we’re back at the ever-reliable (and always delicious) Hitchen’s Barn where we ate for our Anniversary last year. For 2025, it was just us two, whereas last year, we were with good friends, Ralph & Karen, David & Valerie, Nick & Celina to help us celebrate.

Today, on arrival, we received the usual warm welcome from the staff, together with Louise, the co-owner. It was cold in the Oakham air, but toasty-warm inside, and that made us feel even more welcome. They were already busy, but a little like the town itself, it felt less ‘buzzy’ for this time of year 🤔.

Nothing wrong with the food offer though, and because it’s a different menu every day, there’s always something of a surprise in store. Stay tuned for my NEW favourite Dessert! 😋

Whilst Ann opted for Soufflé/Sea Bass/Panna Cotta, I went off-piste for my Dessert choice and sidestepped the Set Lunch options, preferring the yummy combination of White Chocolate AND Rice Pudding. And what a combo that was!! 😋😋😋😋😋😋

Well, the meal, as expected, was delicious, with the service as sharp as ever. I think I’ve also found my new go-to Pudding! Step aside, Sticky Toffee Pudding!

We skipped teas and coffees, settled the bill, then headed home. We were indoors by 3.30, where we did absolutely nothing for the rest of the afternoon! 👍😉

Today’s the Day!

Morning! A rare lie-until about 7.30! 😁. Happy Anniversary to us!!

41/14! 😘😘

Thanks for the fridge magnet, Paul, Sue & Ben! – a look that we’ll never forget (from our pie-making course, back in September – honest! 😯).

We exchanged gifts before getting on with our plans for the day. Anniversary plans? The plan was to have no plans! Perfect!! 👍👍😍.

…apart from an ‘anniversary’ clean of the car! (and they say: ‘romance is dead!”) 😉.

Fillet Steak for lunch by way of celebration, followed a brisk walk in uncharted territory! We took a walk along nearby Sulgrave Street and then headed south into what, three months ago, was just fields. It’s all part of the new houses in the sprawling Bertone Manor development.

Feet up and Foyles War (‘Killing Time’, Series 6, Episode 2) courtesy of Netflix. …and very little else for the rest of the day.

That’s it for this year – I wonder where we’ll be celebrating this time next year? 🤔💖

Previous Celebrations

I’ve been recording our Anniversary celebrations ever since I began blogging back in 2004, and looking back on them all, we’ve certainly clocked up the miles (even though these days, we’re often closer to home).

The list of our previous Anniversary celebrations
is HERE