Northcote Manor

Today we are off to Northcote Manor for a night with my parents to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary. It was also my parents anniversary (53 years).

The weather was not looking too good in the morning, so we left it until after lunch to set off - it's only an hour away. We were greeted with drinks in the lounge and then shown to our rooms in the new Garden Lodge - they were fantastic - huge, with every amenity you can imagine. The bathroom was enormous with a massive shower, his and hers double wash-basins, huge bath, heated floor and some lovely toiletries.

We had a stroll around the gardens and past the vegetable patches and homegrown produce were a few areas of more traditional planting with my new favourite plant that attracts the butterflies - buddleia. We were not disappointed - this lovely Red Admiral was really showing off, so I happily obliged and took it's photo! Good job we went out as soon as we arrived as soon afterwards, it really clouded over and the heavens opened.

For the rest of the afternoon, we relaxed with the Olympics before getting ready for our "gourmet" dinner, which was very gourmet. Mind you it's no less than we expected from a Michelin starred restaurant. The dessert was the best bit for me - a Bramley apple cheesecake which was in the shape of an apple, with home grown blackcurrants and blackcurrant sorbet. It was absolutely devine.

It was great celebrating our anniversary with my parents as they too enjoy great food and are good company. Roll on the next 25 years :)