Friday 8 May 2009

A Special Day


Some of the very best days out are those that come together at the very last minute don't you think? No great plans, just 'wouldn't it be a good idea to...?' and a happy agreement between friends. At work on Wednesday, four of us decided that we didn't want to spend Thursday shopping, ironing, cooking, cleaning. Instead, we quickly planned a girls day out, just for ourselves. No men, no children, no deadlines. Just four people who have known each other for many years deciding to play hookey for a whole day. After a panic and a dash to meet one friend at the railway station we took a leisurely twenty minute train journey to meet another companion waiting to drive us to our destination...Coughton Court. In the car we chatted, put the world to rights, oohed and aahed at the pretty Warwickshire cottages we passed on the way and relaxed in a way that we don't get to do very often. We met up with the fourth member of our party at Coughton, our little group ready to leave our cares behind to enjoy the glorious sunshine in a magical place.




We took advantage of an introductory talk about the house and wandered round the house at our leisure, delighting in its serene beauty.








By the time we had finished walking around the house we all felt we deserved some lunch in the tea room. There was much carrot cake, cheesecake and coffee and walnut cake consumed, along with several pots of tea drained and continued chatter and laughter. Once we had rested we then took a long walk across the fields to explore the bluebell wood - it was so worth it. Just look at the mass of colour here. The photographs really don't do it justice.







Then it was back to the main area of the house to walk discover Lady Throckmorton's private gardens. It was just my favourite sort of garden, with a series of walled gardens, each with a different theme. It was wonderful to grasp the lavender between our fingers and smell its glorious scent.







Before we came home there was time to talk a sedate walk around the lake, watching the wildlife and the sun glistening on the water.







Then of course it was time to begin a weary journey home, a little less chatter this time. Probably because we were thinking of all that shopping, ironing, cooking, cleaning...waiting for us today.

20 comments:

Sarah said...

That sounds great! I think we spend far too much time thinking about all the things we should be doing rather than just taking some time out every now and then!
Have a great wkend

...Nina Nixon... said...

Such beautiful pictures and what a lovely place.

Playing hooky is good especially if your with friends!

Have a lovely weekend,

Nina x

Simone said...

How lovely to have friends with a common interest. The photos are lovely especially the bluebells. Here I am again reading blogs and procrastinating about what to do! I tend to put things off until the last minute and then get a speed up. I think I will whizz around with the hoover in a minute! Have a lovely weekend.x

Debbies-English-Treasures said...

SO MANY GREAT PHOTOS...
THANKS FOR SHARING!
WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
DEBBIE MOSS

{Love, Love, Love} said...

What a beautiful place x

Beki said...

WOW! What a lovely day you had, all the more better for playing hooky 'hehe'.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs
Beki xxx

Pipany said...

Ahh, that was lovely thank you. Gorgeous pictures as ever and a great way to spend the day. I really need to do something similar. Have a lovely weekend x

Sal said...

That was a delightful trip..thank you! Gorgeous pics!
Have a lovely weekend ;-)

Louise said...

What a great idea. I enjoyed the tour around the gardens, in the bluebell woods and around the lake, and imagining those cakes in the teashop! You must have been very tired after this grand day out. x

jo said...

My Mom always says they don't give medals for house work! It's true. So glad to see you all enjoyed your day off.

TAPESTRIESOFNATURE said...

YOU SHARED SOME BEAUTIFUL PICS OF YOUR LOVELY DAY. IT'S GREAT TO "STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES," SO TO SPEAK. YOUR POST MADE ME WANT TO BE THERE! AND I WILL IN JUST 18 MORE DAYS! YEH!

kate said...

Thanks for taking us on your wonderful day trip!!! I miss visiting all the National Trust Homes, it was great to see Spring in the UK....
Best to you
kate

Country Cottage Chic said...

How nice to have a spontaneous day out!

Thank you for the get well wishes!
Jayne

Yvonne Temple said...

Such good therapy... thanks for sharing your special day. Hope you've had a good weekend

Yvonne x

Ali @ Betty and Violet said...

Sounds like a perfect day out and it looks as if the weather was kind to you too! The carpet of bluebells looks so beautiful...

Poppy said...

WOW, that looks like my kind of day out!
Beautiful pictures!
Love Lou xxx

Anonymous said...

Such a beutiful place.
I have really enjoyed this lovely long read from you with all the gorgeous photos!
Sounds like you had a wonderful day out :o)

Have a lovely week
x
Sumea

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

It is so important to have time out and I love sponteneity (wish I could spell it though) and rarely manage to do anything on impulse.

Hope this re-charged your batteries!

Love
Michele xx

Shabby Chick said...

That sounds like a truly special day, sometimes something spontaneous is just the best! Beautiful pictures.

Love the idea of the boat with the wooden spoons for oars, I must give that a go :)

Mel xxx

Anonymous said...

What a fab place and a super day for the group of you. I want a house that big! Glad to hear you had such a nice time.