20th April, 2017.....Furness Abbey and a Grim's Dyke birthday!

Well....we made it to London for the Harrow Weald wedding, and it was LOVELY! Interesting venue too...the Grim's Dyke Hotel was named after a nearby prehistoric earthwork-Grim's Ditch- and was the country home of Lord Gilbert, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame! I think Best Western Hotels took it over in 1982, but it still retains its gothic/historic feel, with woodland walks, Lady Gilbert's orchard and the restaurant (former billiard room) where the body of Lord Gilbert was laid out after he drowned in his own lake!!! It was certainly a lovely venue for the much awaited and longed-for wedding of our good friend...and here she is....looking lovely, as always!

Ahhhh...best wishes to them......hope they are still together after 35 years!!!!

We headed back up north at 6.30am on the Hillman birthday morning, and were tucking into a hearty breakfast at 10.30am at Chandlers.....how different that would have been 24 hours later when the M6 was gridlocked!!

We did take a little detour en-route....to visit Upper Heyford again-perhaps for the last time?!

After an Easter full of weddings, we finally managed a walk to Furness Abbey, which is looking lovely and tranquil in the calm spring weather.....

Poor Abbey Mill's Jackie is no better though....

...but still doing a brilliant 'morning tea'!

Early spring flowers blooming at the moment down here......certainly worth a weekend walk!

In other news, our daughter is finally mobile!!!

Can you tell that's not a SteveHillman photo!!!