Ma and Pa came up this weekend, it was Mothers birthday and a Bank Holiday, so they could take advantage of a spare room and kip down with us.
Friday was as normal, but just for me, as Sian stayed at home and mowed the lawn and took Kate to the pictures. Not too much had in the pub, and an early night.
Up on Sat and out for a wee cycle, it was windy again, and a little rainy. I took the bike out and as soon as I got on it the rain began, just a “light drizzle” but enough – and that wind, it is never ending. Just a quick 17 miles today – I say I am on a taper, before CarTen next weekend, but in reality I was just tired and lazy. Folks came about 11, and we headed off after waiting for daughter for an hour. Up the M5 to the first sop off, Eastington and a nice place called the Old Bagers Inn. Looks a little dodgy from the outside, but I did my research, and although the car park was packed, it wasn’t and we got a good seat and a couple of lime and soda’s and a decent burger (if a little dry). After nosh it was onward to the main event.
Woodchester Mansion is part of the National Trust, and is in Woodchester, I think. We stopped off before to look at the view, then down a tiny lane to the car park (£3) before walking down the track to the mansion. I had quite good expectations on this place, which were unfortunately largely unfounded. It is a big house that was nt finished, and you are supposed to be able to see how they built it. It was fine, if a little on the expensive side, at £7 each – but you could see stuff. They have “the builders in” which as part of an unfinished mansion gives the impression it is unfinished because the work is still happening. That’s not the case, but with scaffold all over it is a little “hmm whateva”. Toilets out the back, which Sian noted that there was a bloke having a wee with the door open – which turned out to be pops..
We had a mooch, and a tea, which we were overcharged, but pops pushed our refund, then we had a lift back which was “no charge” – which was nice.
Jst a short hop home, and even though we had a big lunch, we managed to get a big, fat Indian down our necks.
Next day mother was booked into the Celtic for afternoon tea, so we went down Chepstow for a look around – which as it was Sunday morning consisted of looking at closed shops and having a tea in the Lime Tree. Then over the normal place for a Sunday – the garden center and farm shop – we made our way back and they headed off for tea. We had arranged for some flowers to be put on their table, which weren’t which is disappointing from the Celtic Manor, we never got an excuse.
Monday was a niceish morning, so I took the last ride before CarTen, and squeezed in a 40 before the May fair, and a couple of Stella’s.
Good Bank Hols all in all…