Girls weekend away

For the last 16 years or so we've had a "girls weekend away". Began life as an "allmenarebastards" weekend, but we've progressed. Normally we go in November, but because of various prior commitments, this year we were much earlier. some pros - lots more light at the end of the day, and cons - didn't feel quite as close to Christmas for our festive meal.  But, a great time was had by all!

Met at the station for a coffee, and then set off to Alnmouth on the train - First Class obviously- and had a great communal picnic.  G and T, wine, sandwiches, indian snacks, prawns, chicken - you name it, we ate it on the train.

Taxi to meet us at the other end, and off to our lovely house - huge, lots of rooms, including a games room and conservatory. We'd thought ahead and Sainsbury's delivered the shopping. After unpacking we went for a walk along the river and to the beach. The tide was in and it was misty - very atmospheric. Found a little ferry hut, and lots of boats.

Walked along the beach and then cut up through the town and back along the river where we saw a heron.

Then it was back to house, knitting, snacks, the odd drink followed by dinner of sausage and mash.  After dinner a couple of us ventured out to the local pub which was supposedly haunted.

Saturday was a good big cooked breakfast and off on the bus to Alnwick.  Spent several hours in the Alnwick garden which was very impressive. Water features, formal gardens

and a poison garden which you had to be accompanied into.

 Can't think why...

also saw an amazing shaggy inkcap in the grass

and some real doves in the Dovecote

Then a couple of us went to the castle  - where the first two episodes of Harry Potter were filmed.

Lovely place, but the funniest part was a dark walk through called Dragon Quest which scared both of us to bits and made us scream.

Lovely lunch in a pub, a walk round the shops and back on the bus.

After watching as much of Strictly Come Dancing as we could get away with we walked up the village to an Italian restauarant were we had a lovely meal.

Sunday was another cooked breakfast, and a walk along the beach. The sun was shining, the tide was out, there was sand, rock pools, crabs, and unfortunately and very big dead seal.

Cut inland and walked along the river

to Lesbury for lunch in the Coach Inn,

and then back to Alnmouth by the river where we saw the heron again.

Spent the afternoon cosied up as a group knitting, drinking whisky mac and watching videos we found in the cottage - Peter Kay live and Love Actually!

Sunday night was Christmas dinner  - told you it was early :-)   Chicken and all the trimmings, including Christmas pudding set alight with brandy. And of course we made our traditional soup with all of the left overs. And I mean all.

Monday morning was a light breakfast and a walk to the river estuary, back along the beach

and a coffee.

Some shopping in the village, and lunch of soup before the taxi back to the station for a 2 o'clock train.  we managed to decant all the drink we had left over into plastic bottles, so the journey back was quite fun.

Fab weekend as always - great place, and great company with great girfriends!!