I had this post almost ready to publish way back in June before I disappeared ‘off air’ for a while – so I thought I may as well carry on and publish it now.
Last weekend we spent with my mum near Yarm. Saturday was such a lovely day we decided to go back to Eggleston Hall near Barnard Castle now one of our firm favourites after our visit last year. On the way we saw a sign for Laurels cafe and turned off the A67 into the village of Gainford. We stopped here for coffee and crumpets – the owner was so welcoming and the food delicious we were sorry that we were not having lunch here too – but we will make a note for another day. The reason for the name Laurels Cafe is because Stan Laurel was a pupil here when the house was a private school. Afterwards we had a walk around the pretty village and then went on to Eggleston.
I bought a stunning Clematis from the nursery in pale lilac which is now growing strong in my garden at home and contrasts well with the deep velvety purple of a smaller flowered variety called Guiding Promise growing beside it. The Hydrangea Paniculata I bought from them last year survived the flood at the cottage and has flowered so profusely I have had to prop each of the heavy heads up with canes.
where the journey takes me 