Mystery day

Today is my birthday. For my present, Mr hazelh planned a 'Mystery day' for me.

When we left the house this morning at 09:30 I had no idea where we were going, what we would be doing, nor when we would return. The only clue was that Mr hazelh asked me to add a book to his rucksack in case we had to wait at any point during the day.

First of all Mr hazelh took me to the Hidden gems exhibition at the City Art Centre. Then we enjoyed tea/coffee and a scone in the gallery café. When we crossed the road afterwards to enter Waverley station I suspected that the morning activities were over and that we were now taking the short cut home for lunch. I was wrong. Mr hazelh led the way to the ticket machine: we were going on a train ride!

We caught the 11:56 to Tweedbank. It's been a beautiful day so the views from the train window were fabulous: blue skies, fluffy clouds, daffodils, and lambs!

Along the route I considered what could await me at the other end. Lunch in Melrose? A return visit to the donkey sanctuary (which was so much fun last time)? A walk with Petrina and Stephen? A meet-up with my north Northumbrian cousins? My not-so-little sister (currently on Holy Island)?

I was both astonished and very impressed to see my parents on the platform at Tweedbank (as blipped). In recent months they have barely left their hamlet, but today undertook a four hour round trip by car to take us to the Teviot Water Smokery and Watergardens for lunch. What an amazing birthday surprise from Mr hazelh and my parents :-)

Exercise today: post-surgery exercises and walking (9743 steps).