Gorgeus weekend...

After a few months of hospitalisation, care and funeral of Marg's Dad we decided to take a long weekend out to relax away from normal routine. We chose Bristol because it wasn't too far and we know quite a few places because it's where I was born and brought up for my first few years. The Avon Gorge Hotel overlooks Brunel's iconic suspension bridge, so we booked a suite. From the information on the website we thought that would be a bedroom and living area in the hotel. When we arrived we were given the key for a huge apartment with its own front door. It included a hall, large dining room with table and six chairs, large lounge, kitchen, huge bathroom with two sinks and a jaccuzi bath and a large bedroom with outlook over a sizeable garden! Everything was well fitted out with subtle lighting and two tv's. This was brilliant because we could come and go as we pleased and had plenty of space to relax and chill. We met up with Adam and Anna on Friday evening and enjoyed a drink and meal at Strada a few minutes walk from the hotel. On Saturday we had booked seats for the touring Sound of Music with Connie Fisher which was exceptional and well worth seeing. Clifton is like a little Notting Hill and on Sunday we wandered round admiring some of the superb Georgian architecture and looking in some of the quirky little shops. Sitting around reading the Sunday papers is something we hardly ever do but it was great for a change. Just for fun we drove around to various places where I had lived and took a few snaps of what they looked like now which triggered several memories. We attempted to find Dyrham Park to look around the house but got a bit lost and ended up in Chippenham - nice drive though - arriving at Dyrham park eventually just as the house closed. Not to waste the trip we just had a drink in the cafe and bought a few things in the shop and then caught the free bus back to the car - not quite as educational as we had intended! Dinner in the hotel restaurant on Sunday evening was 'hearty' food as the waiter described - it must have been because neither of us could manage a dessert!! We had a really good time and even though it was a bit chilly outside, there was an added bonus in the way everything looked with a light layer of snow over it - very seasonal!!