Mr C was up bright and early, waking me from my slumbers. This meant my bag was packed before it was time for breakfast.
The breakfast was good and hearty but not quite as exquisite as the evening meal. I chose hot smoked salmon with scrambled egg and Mr C, as usual, chose the full English without the beans. While we were awaiting our breakfast, we were served an amuse-bouche; a mixed fruit juice boost, mini pastry with ham and cheese and a mini fruit scone.
A couple sitting next to us noticed that one of the paintings looked a little strange, it had some googly eyes. This was not part of the painting but we learned that the eyes had been placed there by someone who likes to do this as a joke. Thankfully the painting was covered with glass so was not damaged.
In the moment it was funny but, on another level, I didn’t find it at all funny.
Straight after breakfast we collected our bags and checked out of the Bear. November is always a difficult time of year to find places of interest that are open to visit. I had done my research and settled on Bramall Hall near Stockport. We had visited once before and I remembered enjoying the Tudor timbered building with many of its original features, including a suspected priest hole.
We decided to take the scenic route there which meant the hall would have opened by the time we arrived. The journey was misty and atmospheric bringing back memories from other times when we have travelled that route when visiting my aunt.
The hall was as lovely as I remembered it. It was decked out for Christmas which compensated for its lovely wall paintings being covered over due to recent roof renovations.
I don’t normally enjoy Christmas decorations so early but they were an artwork that complimented the hall. In addition to the decorations there was a well thought out Elf Trail with cute elves and elf doors to explore.
Before leaving we had lunch in the café where once again I chose quiche and Mr C opted for cauliflower cheese soup accompanied by cheese on toast.
It was too early to go home so we detoured to Bridgemere garden centre where we visited Hobbycraft and the garden centre. Due to a one-way route, the latter involved walking through the Christmas grotto which included a scene of animated yetis singing in barbershop harmony. As the yetis started to sing a Christmas song in mellow tones a dog started barking. We shortly realised the dog wasn’t barking, it was singing (barking in tune) along with the yetis. Initially I thought the sound was part of the display and went to investigate and found a Bedlington Terrier enthusiastically wagging its tail much to the joy of everyone around.
Suitably entertained, it was time to return home and complete our mini break with relaxing meal at home.
