What a week!

Monday

Got married! Managed to share the day with our friends, thanks to rules allowing more than 30 (we had 32) we had a super wedding lunch with those we love. We wish more could have come/been invited, but we are planning a huge party next year. Watch this space. I will upload the wedding photos soon.

After the wedding we drove to The Hyde Dovecote in Kinver. Although Axle was away in Norfolk and Diesel at kennels, we took Chizel with us as he has a problem with his legs and we couldn't leave the poor lad.

Tuesday

The Dovecote

The Dovecote is small, and the wooden staircase proved too much for Chizel so we had plenty of exercise lifting him up and downstairs. After unpacking more, we walked down the river to Kinver, had tea and cakes in the village, and then walked back by the canal. It was a lovely day with mild weather and stunning countryside.  We had lunch in the Vine by the canal and Sheena was most impressed that her favourite cola was just £1.80 a pint (as opposed to £3 back home). We went back to the Vine for supper, but they had finished serving at 8pm. Instead we raced over to Harley's Smoke House and managed to get our order in just before 8.30. We had rushed there so we rushed our meal, which was nice but the salt pot bottom fell off on Sheena's dinner, and there was so much in my plate of nachos that I left half. Good food though, and well distanced tables. 

Wednesday

I popped briefly into Stourbridge for some shopping, struggling with parking and carting shopping down the high street. I forgot half the things I was supposed to get, but did get cheap meat!  We walked down the canal route and spent a lazy day at the Vine, playing Splendor and just relaxing, watching the canal barges and chatting to a man with one arm. Lunch was delicious. The weather was mostly bright, but a bit windy which ruined one of our games as the cards went all over the place! We found a quiet corner and - amazingly - I actually won a game (haven't won for ages).  

Thursday

The sun was shining brightly so we had another quiet day, this time at the Dovecote, with a barbecue for lunch and playing our guitars on the raised patio. We had another walk, and were so full from lunch we just had strawberries and cake for supper.

Friday

We went into Bridgnorth and spent the day in the town, wandering round the castle gardens, sitting by the river eating ice cream and going up and down in the funicular. We also bought a pushchair off Facebook for Chizel who was struggling with the walking.

Friday night we went to a gig! We had been told about it by our hosts, and trotted over to Ashwood Marina at Kingswinford to see the excellent Buzzin Hornets. A lovely evening (with a small audience), and so good to see live music again. Larry, our host, was there with his partner Anni. We swapped music videos of our respective performances, of course!

Saturday

Rock house

Our last day! We visited the rock houses at Kinver Edge and then crossed county lines into Worcestershire for a visit to Witley. It was a beautiful day and we loved the ruined house, the wonderful gardens and the amazing fountain.  We had supper at the Fox, which (after a long wait) was very nice, but it felt a little crowded. Covid restrictions have made us a lot more aware of the space around us.

Sunday

An early start, packup and drive home. When we did get home, the garden had gone mad! Peas were ready for harvest, I had a courgette and a cabbage ready to pick, strawberries and redcurrants, and our flower borders were blooming. It looks wonderful, and we are hoping for lots of produce as the season continues. Thanks to a kind neighbour, all the plants were watered whilst we were away (and the cat fed too).

Monday

We've been married a whole week! I drove to Norfolk to pick up Axle, Sheena picked up Diesel, we visited both mothers and Chizel visited the vet for some x-rays.  Now it's onwards and upwards. We had a lovely week, but it's great to be home here in beautiful Suffolk.

The spectacular fountain

More photos coming soon...