We finished packing so that after breakfast we could just collect our luggage and check out. After my previous days breakfast experience, I opted for the safer option of the coconut toast with pineapple that I had enjoyed on the first day. Sadly, the safe option didn’t live up to expectation, the toast and the pineapple were cold and Mr C’s cooked breakfast was also distinctly sub-standard.

After checking out from the hotel we found that a car was parked in a non-parking space in such a way that Mr C couldn’t get out of his parking space. The lady in the passenger seat explained that her husband had nipped to the shop. I took some photos of the hotel but by the time I had finished, her husband had still not returned. She got out of the car, put a lead on her dog and was about to go in search of her husband when he appeared from around the corner with takeaway breakfast items. Soon after, they were on their way and so were we.

Our destination of the day was Althorp, the ancestral home of the Spencer family. We visited the house first. It being several years since our previous visit, I had forgotten a lot about the house and was reacquainted with the picture gallery and the amazing staircase with its balcony space above. The house is home to a collection of over 300 paintings including many by famous grand masters.

We finished the tour of the house just in time for lunch. Suitably refreshed we walked to the oval lake which is in a beautiful setting. Beside the lake, is a memorial to Diana Spencer with her tomb resting in a peaceful setting on the island located in the middle of the lake. Before leaving the estate I purchased a couple of books and the updated guidebook.

On our way home we purchased the ingredients for lemon salmon with leek and potato mash. We had hoped to dine on the patio but a hail and rain shower changed our minds but at least it freshened the air making the temperature much more bearable.

The bed was nice and comfy but I kept waking up due to the heat and lack of air in the room. The breakfast menu was comprehensive and had some unusual options to choose from. I selected coconut French toast with pineapple, honey and yoghurt which made for an interesting change.

After breakfast we collected our bags from our room and walked the short distance to Blenheim Palace. We walked round the grounds in the morning sunshine before it got hot later in the day. There is currently a dinosaur exhibition taking place in the formal gardens but when we found them, we thought that they were a bit something and nothing.

We arrived back at the café area just in time for lunch. After lunch we visited the Palace, chapel and exhibitions. We didn’t remember much of it from our previous visit which was several years ago. The are a few rooms on display in the Palace that are family rooms where photography is not allowed. After leaving this part of the tour there is a big notice to inform the visitor that photography is allowed from this point onwards.

I was taking a photo of an element of the gilded ceiling when a voice piped up in my ear; ‘photography is not allowed in here’. I initially thought it was a room guide but as I turned towards the voice, I realised it came from a visitor. I replied ‘Oh! I thought it was’ and pointed to the sign. After a bit of mumbling and ‘knowledgably’ informing her companions that photography was allowed, she promptly got her camera out without so much as an apology.

By the time we had finished our sightseeing, the cafés had closed so we made our way to the nearest watering hole, The Star, where I had a J20 rather than a cup of tea. As we walked there it was becoming increasingly more overcast. Just as we were about to sit outside the heavens opened causing us to retreat inside where Mr C made a new doggy friend. The dog tried its best to climb on to Mr C’s lap but its legs were just a little to short to manage it.

Back at the hotel, we freshened up before having a pre-dinner drink in the hotel bar area. We dined in the Punch Bowl where I chose a truffle crispy chicken burger. Strangely for a pub with rooms, it closed at 9.30pm so we returned to The King’s Head for a nightcap.

We set off for Woodstock in glorious sunshine, stopping in Leamington Spa. We found a suitable place to park the car and stepped out in search of a suitable place for lunch. Café Royal with its Mexican twist tempted us inside. It was popular so we had to wait outside for a few minutes until a table became available. Mr C chose a panini which when it arrived was quite different to what is usually served. I chose cherry pancakes which turned out to be sweeter than I was expecting.

Before leaving Leamington Spa, we enjoyed browsing around the books in Waterstones, which had a refreshingly different selection of books than usual. I also dealt with a missed call about a problem with a hospital appointment that mum was supposed to have attended that morning. It hadn’t happened, hospital transport had left without her! I missed the person I needed to speak to and needed to call back later in the week to speak to him.

We continued on our journey to Woodstock and booked into the King’s Head, a Fullers Inn. I unpacked my bag whilst Mr C went on a recce of the town. He wasn’t gone long even though he went round the town twice.

Our room was up in the eves with a small window light and a fan that wasn’t working properly. It didn’t rotate so the air in the room was static and warm reflecting the humidity and heat of the air outside. There was nothing for it, we had to ’slum it’ in the bar downstairs with a cool refreshing drink, although much to Mr C’s disgust London Pride (in a Fullers pub) was off the menu. Whilst chilling in the bar I enjoyed colouring in one of my colouring books.

We went back to our room to freshen up, which was difficult in the heat, before dining in the Inn’s restaurant. I chose salmon with orzo, samphire and tomatoes and Mr C elected for pie and chips. Both dishes were delicious. After chatting at the table for a while, we took the remaining wine and sat outside in the warm, refreshing air.