A Wondrous Weekend...

Last weekend was filled with the most fun & joy I could possibly experience without Paul being there! In fact, I'm only now coming back to earth..

You may remember that a year ago, I took a week long residential food writing course at Totleigh Barton in Devon, run by the Arvon Foundation . The course changed my life in many ways...it gave me the confidence to realise that I could write, and it introduced me to some wonderful new friends who all love food, cooking and writing about it as much as I do! The course was such a special experience that one of us suggested having a reunion weekend...and so, after much juggling of dates and busy schedules and e-mails back & forth, almost everyone who attended the original course met back in Devon last Friday for a weekend of food, talk,food, ping pong, food... & much laughter!

I booked the most beautiful place to stay...Silverton Park Stables, which is owned by the Landmark Trust...an amazing organisation which buys historic buildings (often in terrible, delapidated states) & restores them to their true beauty before renting them out so that everyone can enjoy their magic. I've long wanted to stay in one...and it was every bit as wonderful as I'd hoped.

After stacking the car with as much food, drink and kitchenalia as I could cram in, I headed down the motorway...through torrential rain & the odd hold-up...before arriving at Tiverton Parkway station to pick the lovely Judy up (she'd flown in from Dublin that morning...the efforts that everyone made to be there is testament to how much the reunion meant to all of us!) before winding down the narrow, flower-edged Devon lanes to Silverton.

Barbara was there before us, so we three had the delight of exploring the building first...like unwrapping a huge present with extra surprises in between every layer of wrapping paper!

It really had been the huge stable block to a long-gone stately home...so there was an equine theme to much of the decoration...and it's now been transformed into a beautiful, cosy, luxurious place for 14 people to stay in absolute comfort...

The living areas were so gorgeous that I was a little overcome for a while....

Bedrooms were a mixture of singles, twins, doubles...I shared the huge and elegant room above with my lovely friend Emma...

the stables are set in parkland...laden apple & pear trees were the first things we saw after arriving...and the views from all the rooms were tranquil and green...shutters were fitted to most of the windows (we couldn't help imagining what a fabulous place to spend Christmas or another wintry break...)

I loved the Cecil Aldin coaching pictures in our bathroom...he is one of my favourite artists, especially his wonderful drawings of dogs...

The 3 men on the trip shared this converted tackroom...with so many original features...just lovely!

As we were all obsessive foodies, cooking and eating was a major activity...and the kitchen was very important. Luckily, it was just as perfect as the rest of the house! I loved the view from the window...washing up was a pleasure!

Mealtimes were very special...Holly's birthday was on Friday, so we had a huge chocolate cake and champagne to toast her...

and Huxley, the 8 month old very cute Sprolly, kept us all entertained by luring us to chase him around the courtyard after our shoes, which he'd 'borrowed'! We really didn't have any planned activities...the weekend was all about being together and relaxing...but if you'd like to read more about the food, you can find lots more on my other blog, Baking Brownies for Mozart .
On Sunday, the farmer made hay in the meadow outside our bedroom window...

which sent the scent of mown grass and flowers wafting through the huge open windows...
An idyllic few days...so hard to say our goodbyes as we all went back to our busy lives...

I stripped the beautiful brass bed on Monday morning...

and felt quite sad to leave although it was good to see Paul & Alice. We all had such a good time that we're already planning next year's reunion reunion!

I will remember those few golden days always...filled with sunshine, food, wine, laughter and friendship. Just a few of my very favourite things...

                                                                         xoxo