Birthday Boy

November 4th is my husband’s birthday. As it was a lovely sunny day – a rarity in November – we went out to lunch. We drove via Dunster and Wheddon Cross to Exford. No sign of any hunting and very little of the season’s falling of leaves. There are two hotels in Exford but we tend to favour the Crown with its charming water garden.

We both chose grilled chicken with ‘champ mash’. I love any mash and this turned out to be champignon and was surrounded by delicious gravy. Afterwards My husband had B & B pudding with custard, and I had a dainty crème brulee with fruit compote ‘cos I’m a lady. We wandered round the village and marvelled at hardy souls at the other pub eating out by the river in shirt sleeves – the temperature
just above freezing. The village green is the greenest green you’ve ever seen.

We drove back over Exmoor – saw ponies and something in the channel which could have been a dredger. Then we saw a pony galloping hell for leather along the coast. What was he late for one wondered? Dropping down Porlock Hill I caught a glimpse of a sign saying Porlock was twinned with somewhere in Belgium. I will try to find out where – as I know the Belgian connection will be avid to know.

We called at a nursery and I got a beautiful scarlet cyclamen plant for a poorly neighbour. I couldn’t understand why the flowers were so big – apparently because it was in indoor one. It was beautifully gift wrapped and incredibly priced at £3.49. Sorry Judy – I should have taken a photo but I have delivered it already. Another year – another dollar!