We set off almost as planned after a slight delay. Our neighbours were leaving the house as Mr C was loading the car. They were concerned about his health issues and stopped for a chat.

We drove through the morning’s hazy fog and stunning autumnal tree colours enjoying Mr C’s new car which is really comfortable to sit in and the drive is smooth.

We stopped for lunch at Norton Canes services for a cup of tea and were reminded of how lovely it is to be able to take a leisurely drive without any worries.

Later, after continuing on our journey, we stopped at Bolsover for lunch at ‘The Pump House’, another teashop recommended in ‘The Extra Mile’ guidebook. The venue was lovely, welcoming and cosy. The menu is extensive and then there was the specials board from which I chose sweet chilli chicken panini. Mr C chose a roast beef cob with gravy and roast potatoes.

As we approached Harrogate, we were treated to the sight of red kites flying on the thermals before another brief stop for a leg stretch. We arrived in Harrogate and checked into our hotel, The Yorkshire. We took our luggage to our room and headed into town where I purchased a few makeup items from Boots because I had forgotten to pack my makeup bag. This wasn’t a major problem as some makeup items were packed separately in my washbag (which I had packed). I just needed eyebrow powder and brush plus some lippy. A lovely shop assistant helped me with the eyebrow brush.

We found the Italian restaurant we were hoping to dine in that evening and were able to book in. We then enjoyed a mooch around the boardgame shop, Games Crusade. Mr C spotted a couple of games that he thought might be mildly diverting and I spotted a rather intriguing two player game that uses asymmetric gameplay.

We returned to the hotel to relax and chill out with a cup of tea before dining in Vivido. The food was delicious; I chose pasta parcels whilst Mr C chose chicken with sautéed potatoes.

After dining we retired to the hotel for a nightcap. The hotel was buzzing due to a ‘Beer Club Night’ which involved a set meal accompanied with beers to complement each course meal.

Much to Mr C’s dismay, the hotel no longer sells draught beers leaving him with unsatisfactory choices. On the plus side for me, the hotel still serves nice wines including my favourite, dry rose.

Normal seats were not available which meant we had to perch (uncomfortably) on high level seats with people crowding around us. We retired to our room where I could enjoy my wine in peace. Just in case you are wondering… I am not antisocial, I just don’t enjoy crowds.

The sunshine was glorious as we set off on our journey to Harrogate. On the way we stopped off at Woodhall services to purchase sandwiches for an in car picnic. Afterwards we passed through some lovely autumnal areas and saw a red kite riding the thermals. We arrived in Harrogate in the early afternoon and checked into the the Yorkshire hotel which was a quirky experience. We had to move the car to a space that wasn’t already allocated.

After unloading the car we walked into town. It was rather chilly compared to home and we soon headed back to the hotel to enjoy the champagne and chocolates that Mr C had secretly arranged.

Whilst sipping the bubbly, I took the opportunity to do some colouring in my ‘World of Flowers’ book. I am taking part in Johanna Basford’s ‘30 Days of Creativity’ to coincide with the publication of her new book. Unfortunately my copy of the book didn’t arrive in time for day one so I had to improvise.

In the bar before dinner, we were told that our card should have been registered on arrival at the hotel. Mr C headed to reception to sort it out and came back with a birthday card from the hotel.  The receptionist that showed us to our car parking space had asked how long we were staying for and was it a special occasion.

For dinner I chose ‘ultimate chicken Kiev’ with German potato salad and dressed leaves. The food was excellent and the staff friendly and attentive. The bar area had a comfortable atmosphere and I enjoyed watching the bar staff mixing cocktails as people came and went.