Ah well, we trundled off to a local market – a truly bizzare experience – I’m sure half the stock in this place was lifted, but that yet again is a whole other story!!!!!

We couldn’t hang around for long – we needed to get back to Swindon for a Rugby Fest!!!! A nice couple of days! Followed up by some enjoyable rugby!

The biggest decision of the day to be had, was where we would eat tonight, with the threat of heavy snow and that mammoth driveway, we didn’t really want to be too far from the hotel. That left us reallistically with two choices:
1. The Indian, we’d passed it on the way in, gone to investigate in the morning and I’ll be honest on two counts:
a) It looked a little bit pricey!
b) The outside just looked like a house with a huge car park, the front door was, well, a front door! I was convinced that we’d end up in some chap’s front room whilst he watched TV in the kitchen.
2. The pub we’d had lunch in on the day we arrived, a nice place with lots of nooks and crannies and a fantastic menu, it was an innkeepers lodge and had been a bit quiet when we had lunch there the day before.

We opted for the pub, on safety grounds… Had a fantastic meal, and sat next to quite the oddest family, I’d need another entire blog (that’s a whole blog, not just a post!) to discuss them!! Whilst waiting for dinner I taught Em to play Sudoku on my phone – why do I get the feeling that could be the last of my phone I see for some time!

Driving up the gorgeous driveway over the bridge and facing the hall was fantastic, I itched to grab the Nikon out of the boot with immediate effect…. Emma could sense this and promised me a walk once we’d checked in….

Check in, the first saga!

We were rapidly checked in at a very quiet reception, Emma asked about the deal (Winter Special – 2 nights, dinner free on the first night – not rocket science), reception informed us that we’d booked Bed and Breakfast and nothing else – Emma was kind enough to inform them that if we had wanted that we’d have gone to the Hilton and not an unheard of chain!

Eventually they took a copy of our paperwork and promised to ring the room as soon as they’d worked it out, we spent the next 10 minutes in the room, fighting to get onto the Internet – it was a no go other than through our mobiles – so much for free broadband!!

I flipped through the standard “Welcome to our hotel” book, only to find a suggestively rude phrase written at the bottom of the page, now most people will know I’m no prude, but I don’t expect to find that in a hotel room!

We’d probably have ignored it, or dropped it off at reception with a laugh and a giggle – but then the phone rang to tell us that we hadn’t got dinner included and weren’t likely to get it! Emma promptly complained about it (the rude phrase) but the girl didn’t appear to find it offensive, Emma requested a new book and the number of head office. The girl didn’t appear to know where head office was and told us to come and fetch a comments card. Emma refused them and asked them to come and remove the book.

Before we knew it there was a knock at the door. A young girl coming from housekeeping to remove the offending item. Within seconds the phone rang again (I’m still fighting with the Internet ). It’s the head receptionist ringing to ask what the problem is, Emma explains about the offensive book and also the lack of them agreeing to the offer… She offers to investigate and call back.

10 minutes later (I’m still fighting with the Internet) and the phone rings again (it’s like a switchboard in here!), it’s the head receptionist again – there has been a mix-up at reservations and they will include the meal (and a complimentary bottle of wine!), we book it there and then. Emma breathes a sigh of relief, this was supposed to be a nice weekend away to escape the chaos at home….

The door knocks again, the same girl from housekeeping… We’re moving rooms and now…. She assists us with our bags and we move three doors up, over the corridor. We think it’s probably a bit of an over-reaction, however it’s a way of starting again and the psychology of this is quite obvious to us.

I’m on the internet… Woohoo… It works in this room, Emma breathes such a sigh of relief she might just hyper-ventilate in a minute!!!

After a little chat we ring to move the dinner reservation forward (mainly because if we go as late as planned then Emma may not get pudding!!) – this is a task in itself! And trundle off out for a walk – photo’s on Flickr soon! This place is amazing!

After getting back we head to the bar for a drink… Now only this week Glenn and I discussed how much we like the “clinicalness” of hotel bars. Glenn mate, you’d love this one!

I approach the bar, barely a single beer I recognise on tap. I order a Murphy’s and Emma orders a Stella Shandy. The young girl pours my Murphys, holding the glass straight – it looks like an ice-cream soda! The girl questions my order for a Shandy again and starts looking for something in the fridges (I don’t take any notice – assuming she’s looking for Lemonade), she disappears behind me and I hear her asking the restaraunt manager how to put a Shandy through the till. The restaraunt manager calmly explains, half a Stella, half a Lemonade. She’s back, and still looking in the fridge (by now I’ve sussed – she thinks Shandy comes out of the fridge!!?). She disappears again, and this time Anthony (the resteraunt manager) comes back to show her, and eventually correct my Murphy’s. I’m still looking for Basil!

We watch the bar staff – it’s absolute chaos, I come to the conclusion that they haven’t long been taken over – there’s wheeling of tables, all the staff are still in old uniforms.

Sometime later we’re back in the bar waiting to go through for dinner, we loiter, a waitress see’s us, we loiter some more, she sees us again, we loiter and wave – now we’re getting somewhere! We’re shown to our table. Organising the free bottle of wine is somewhat chaotic, but Anthony sorts it out again. The meal was fantastic! Soon afterwards we’re presented with a bill – here we go again!!! Anthony assures us he’ll sort it, as his reservation only said a free bottle of wine – Emma writes as much on the receipt. We’ll see!

Saturday morning arrived and Kate took the tough decision of where to prominently display her racing pass to heart:

After waiting for Gav (no surprises there!) to arrive, the “Stealth Bus” (Nick and Brent’s title I believe!) departed Swindon – with the form guide at the ready several people started to work their bets out – including Darren’s accumulator (more on that later!!).

The racecourse was busy when we arrived, and worryingly the clouds beckoned:

We weren’t going to let a little thing like rain dampen our spirits (largely by sticking to beer and not spirits – and holding our hands over the glasses!). Stuart went on to ask for a Fosters at a bar that only served Fosters (personally I’d have told him “we haven’t got any sir!”.

Everyone proceeded to get in to the spirit of things, with some early wins and a few beers despite the rain!

Even the youngsters were having fun!

Those that weren’t drinking resorted to Ice Cream!!

After some minor losses, a few wins and Darren cursing as the final horse in his six race accumulator didn’t come in. We boarded the bus back to Sunny Swindon… And all that excitement had tired some people out!!

It was only when we got to the Mexican that we learnt we’d got a stowaway aboard (Rich had brought a bird!).

We had a fantastic meal, and played pass the hat!

A very full bunch of people then headed off to The Spot, for more drinking, dancing and playing “Name that Tune!”

After nursing mutual hangovers this morning, we met for lunch and a chat before everyone went their seperate ways home! We’ve had a fantastic weekend, thank you all for coming!

Keiron & Emma

Then after a few Guinesses we wandered up to watch the band at the Dolphin in Swindon. Nick, Simon and the likely lads from the Early Daze band (website) put on a great perfomance getting lots of the pub up dancing and nearly causing a riot! A very keen regular had Dillon concerned for his safety as he bounced around.

On the way home we got absolutley soaked in a downpour, that will teach us for not taking an umbrella!