Back from our first holiday since the stroke. over three months after the dreadful deed. Unusually, Denise arranged it all, booking us into the Flitwick Manor for three nights DB&B, which was nicely situated for both the English Heritage and secretive world of the codebreakers.
The manor was an excellent surprise. It can’t be often that we have booked a room with our own conservatory, bit that’s exactly what we got this time. Very pleasant, although it is clearly in need of some TLC and a little maintenance. The hotel was the epitome of old fashioned elegance and just what the doctor ordered, superbly rounded off with an excellent kitchen, where I passed the first test by coping with at least two courses on each of the three nights. Wrest Park, the English Heritage property, with its largely unfurnished ground floor and Capability Brown designed gardens was a delight, helped immeasurably by the bright and sunny weather, which continued throughout the visit.
Bletchley Park was another that had long been on our radar and it didn’t disappoint. Very informative, with the added interest of a ‘replica’ codebreaking session in Block C taking place with the cooperation of their German University counterparts – solved while we were actually talking to one of the volunteers. On the Saturday morning, we took a detour on our way home to visit the ruined Houghton House which, despite the description, was well worth a short diversion. All in all, a good break, not least because it proved I could last a day without unduly wearing myself out.
Of course, when we returned we were subject to the usual “reckless, incompetence and downright pig ignorance of our can’t do, won’t do even though we can prove they’ve already accomplished it before ” of our doctor’s practice. It beggars belief to such an extent that I can’t even be bothered to document their self-serving selfishness on this blog.