The Hon Peregrin Widdrington. What a guy!

While taking a short break in Lancashire at the weekend we came across the lovely medieval church of Mitton near Clitheroe. There were a number of memorial stones within the church but this one particularly caught my eye.It is a eulogy to the Hon Peregrin Widdrington who died in 1743. It is so gushing that I wish I could have met him. If anybody writes anything like it in my memory I will be reet chuffed (the weekend in rural Lancashire is rubbing off). At least I would be if I was around to read it. Here it is in full

"The Hon Peregrin Widdrington was of so amiable a disposition and so ingageing that He was belov'd and esteemed by all who had the honour and happiness of his Acquaintance being ever ready to oblige and to act the Friendly part on all occasions Firm and Steadfast in all his Principles which was delicately fine as Good as could be with'd in any Man, he was both sincere and agreeable in life and Conversation"





We stayed at the award winning The Ashton in Lancaster. Positioned just below the famous Ashton Memorial, this excellent small hotel offered an outstanding level of comfort and the host James was charming, attentive and a very good cook. We went with friends who were celebrating a wedding anniversary and a very pleasant time was had by all. Check out The Ashton here. You won't be disappointed.



And, thanks to host James, instead of driving around aimlessly on Sunday, we went to this beautiful garden on his recommendation. The garden of Gresgarth Hall opens just six days every year but, to our good fortune, yesterday was one of them. It is the home of garden designer and writer Arabella Lennox-Boyd and it is quite magnificent. The WI were serving home made cakes (very Jam and Jerusalem) and the whole event was so quintessentially English that it would have been no surprise if Miss Marple had wandered into view. The Head Gardeners are looking for volunteer gardeners and Marion was keen to enlist.



I am delighted with the interest in our Sous Vide equipment. We may not have sold many yet but enquiries are flooding in and we are stepping up production in anticipation of turning the enquiries into firm orders.

I'll finish today with a Polish Yeti. Why? Why not!

The Sun Has Got His Hat On

I know, I know. It's hardly earth shattering news that the sun is shining today here in Southport but after several dreary, wet and dull weeks it feels like it is. So here is Instanta with not a cloud in sight. I had to photograph it as goodness knows when we will get another day like this this year.



Let's hope it's tomorrow as we've been invited to join some friends for a wedding anniversary celebration and plan to have a trip to the Trough of Bowland followed by a night at The Ashton near Lancaster. It got a great review in the Guardian so we are looking forward to it.



I spent all morning discussing our pensions. It's not easy at 55 is it? Especially with interest rates as low as they are at the moment. We talked over all the options and came up with............nothing!




If you are in our Guardian Pick The Score League, don't forget that, after a week off it's back this week. Usually when this happens there's someone who forgets.It's early days yet and nobody has broken clear of the pack just yet.


Channel Four is devoting an hour to Derren Brown's explanation of his lottery trick tonight. An hour! Here it is in under a minute. Have a good weekend.