After a busy morning taking my mum for a booster jab and to pick up some plants for her garden pots there was one last thing left to do, call in at the butchers for our weekly supply.  It was lunch time so we decided to have lunch in Kinch’s Bistro in the butcher’s before purchasing our meat. I loved the option of picking my own toastie fillings and chose turkey and apple sauce. The sandwich was delicious and to my delight my favourite tipple, Elderflower Presse was available.

In the afternoon we had reason for a brief visit to  Ironbridge.  Brief visit concluded, I had a small window of opportunity for a short walk before it was time to get ready for an 80th birthday celebration meal.

Before I set of on my walk I dusted off my ‘old’ Tilley for the sunny afternoon adventure. I have missed her.

Today was the first outing for my new (reversible) skirt from Skirt Fanatic. I was all dressed up to visit my mum for a fish and chip supper for her birthday. I am looking forward to wearing it with its detachable pocket and sandals on summer walks.

My skirt was a joy to unwrap, it arrived beautifully packed with love and attention to detail.

The day when I should have been packing for my twice (due to lockdowns) postponed holiday in celebration of my significant birthday last November was busier than planned.

In the morning I attended one of my former WW leaders’ coaching sessions. After being made redundant in late 2020 she has set up her own business as a weight loss coach. On the way home I called in at a local garden centre for an anniversary card but ended up with a new pair of shoes for my holiday.

This holiday was now due to coincide with our anniversary and we had extended it from four to seven nights. I had not dared to look forward to the holiday in case it was postponed again so I was totally disorganised and without a plan for what I needed to pack. I managed to get everything organised but not entirely packed before it was time for a late afternoon visit to my in laws to celebrate our anniversary with them.

Later we were invited to dinner in a local eatery by a couple of family members for a belated birthday meal. This celebratory meal meant that now I had officially reached the age of my significant birthday. We had an evening of laughter and I ordered what turned out to be a whale of a cod.

When we returned home we had a nightcap on the patio looking forward to our holiday as the sun set.

Mr C woke up at 7.17, precisely two minutes after the alarm was due to go off! When we opened the curtains sunshine blazed through the windows and the Malvern hills were layered in soft mist. Breakfast was freshly cooked to order and lived up to our expectations.

We settled our bill and, before departing took a walk around the hotel’s garden which was delightful in the sunshine. We had hoped to visit the nearby Grade I listed St. Leonard’s Church to see the frescoes. However when we arrived the church was closed and there was no indication of opening times. So we headed off in the direction of Croome where the Shutterchance meetup was taking place later in the day.

On the way, we stopped off at a viewpoint showing the positions of the the armies during the battle of Worcester. Trees were obscuring some of the locations making them difficult to see. We got to Croome early so we took a slight detour down country lanes to Defford before returning.

At Croome our first port of call was a drink in the cafe before venturing into the grounds. The sunny weather showed off the grounds in a favourable light unlike our previous visit when it poured down. The field in front of the house contained several large hay bales which enhanced the scene.

We returned to the cafe for lunch and to find some of the Shutterchancers had arrived so we joined them for a chat until the rest of the group arrived. We all headed off into the grounds, cameras at the ready.

At the house we were able to join one of the attic guided tours which was very interesting because the attic is being used to store items until the property’s various rooms are sufficiently restored to be able to display them. We were shown paintings of former owners and residents of the house and given a brief history about them. Some of the rooms also held restored and partially restored furniture.

In one of the rooms the guide pointed out some markings on the floor that had mostly been covered over with shelving (for now) partially protecting them. The guide advised that this was the place where exorcisms took place when the hall was the headquarters for The International Society for Krishna Consciousness in the late 70s and early 80s.

After the tour, we made our way back to the cafe where everyone was congregating to celebrate a 70th birthday. Yes, there was cake and very colourful it was too. All too soon it was time for us to begin our journey home.

On arrival at Kitchen W8 we were offered an aperitif, perhaps we would like champagne? A perfect option to celebrate the birthday of a gentleman reaching a certain age. The food was delicious, the waiter attentive and always asking before pouring more wine. A perfect end to our stay in London.

His Choices:

Her Choices: