GIRL’S DAY OUT

We were having a jaunt to celebrate Jackie’s birthday (don’t ask!) It was Joy’s turn to drive; so as usual on the birthday trips, only Joy knew where we were going. We have been doing this – regular outings – for twenty odd years and lately we have tended to shorten the drives to make it easier on the driver. We are fortunate to live in a lovely area. Our friendship is not just about days out. The four of us have all been dealt hefty blows over the last two decades but hey, we’re still standing

We drove through the pretty village of Allerford and had coffee in the prettiest car park you could imagine – complete with babbling brook. Then we drove along the narrow road to Porlock and up through the toll road which is more picturesque than the Porlock hill road and is worth the £2.50. I stopped to snap the lovely view and was attacked by horrible buzzing flies, so I snapped and scarpered. Then we were up on the top of Exmoor looking across the Bristol Channel at Wales. Well someone has to.

We stopped at County Gate where Somerset becomes Devon and admired the Devon Combes – very close to Lorna Doone country. As Four Dinners would say – ‘laters!’ This was filling up time as it was still quite early. As we got out of the car there was a definite nip in the air and summer seems to have departed. Lunch was going to be at the Culbone Inn – formerly Stables - which was recently taken over by Minehead’s famous butcher who has won many awards. There was a golden cow outside the inn to prove it.

He himself greeted us and recognising that we were gels of note took a great interest in what we were having and offered to show us round after lunch. The time passed pleasantly enough with good food and wine and our personal guide. The birthday girl always has to absent herself whilst we work out the bill and as Jackie is the maths expert this took rather longer than usual.

On the way home Joy asked if we would like to call in somewhere and I suggested Selworthy as I hadn’t been for years. Its white icing sugar façade of the church is a very useful land mark in the area. There had been a flower festival in the church which Margaret had been to and we were fortunate to see some of it.

As a bonus one of the helpers gave me a punnet of luscious plums she had grown. My friends are all superb gardeners and are never short of home grown fruit and veg.
It was a lovely sun spot so we sat outside the church and chilled for a time. Another successful outing and a chance to catch up on all news and gossip. Joy’s birthday is also August so we’ll have another one soon and see the leaves turning God willing