The hat was a valentine’s day prezzie from Mr C.

I am wondering if I should have been worried about the monster lurking behind me in the sky?

We were supposed to be on a mini break but due to a family medical complication this had to be postponed. Instead we enjoyed ‘Fine Dining’ at Chez Nous.

We are all booked up for a mini adventure for Valentines Day. The mini break includes a very belated 2022 Christmas gift from me to Mr C. At long last there is a RSC performance that captures his imagination.

Midsummer Night’s Dream and Edward Moon here we come…

Valentines menus in local restaurants did not inspire Mr C and I. Instead we opted for fine dining in Chez Nous.

Starter – Melba toast with smoked salmon and cream cheese

Main – Melt in the middle fish cakes

Dessert – Warmed apricots with honey, yogurt and toasted almonds

We had a good night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, after which we were treated to an excellent breakfast; fruit juices, cereals, fruit and jams from the buffet and a choice of items from the full cooked breakfast menu that were all cooked to order.

The morning was crisp and misty. Our car needed demisting before we could set off on our journey for the day. The demisting caused a spectacular display of steam to rise from the car, an unusual sight. Whilst the car was being sorted out, I took the opportunity to take a few photos in the early morning sunshine.

We set off towards Leeds and the Royal Armouries. As we approached Leeds we could see a layer of mist above which was a brown foggy mug of pollution. I am so glad that I don’t live in a city!

The Royal Armouries has many interesting exhibits. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Mughal elephant armour dating around 1600. I found the armour fascinating. Another display, showing how guns and knives are used in street crime in the UK along with personal stories, left me feeling disturbed.

When we had finished our tour of the Royal Armouries we set of toward Halifax, intending to visit the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment Museum. The traffic was so bad we realised that once again we would be too late to visit the museum so we flexed the plan. We headed into Halifax to see the architecture of the Peace Hall. We walked around the Peace Hall and the nearby streets, stopping for an afternoon refreshment along the way and headed back to Shibden Mill Inn.

Whilst I was considering an indulgent soak in the bath, the fire alarm went off. Mr C and I exited through the nearest door (leading onto the room’s patio area). Mr C quipped, it is fortunate that you were not in the bath. Everywhere else seemed calm and the fire alarm stopped sounding so we returned to our room. Mr C went to collect some milk for a cup of tea and found out that the fire alarm had gone off when to a fire being lit in the grate caused more smoke than expected!

After the false alarm I had a nice relaxing bath before it was time for us to enjoy an aperitif in the bar. We enjoyed the Valentine’s Day special menu in the room above the bar. It goes without saying that we sampled an after dinner drink before retiring for the night.

Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?

And he answered saying:
You were born together,
and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings
of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the
silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another, but make not a bond of love.

Let it rather be a moving sea between
the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous,
but let each of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone
though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together.
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress
grow not in each other’s shadow.

On Marriage, from The Prophet.
Kahlil Gibran