Stonehenge, Babington House and Pit Cue

Stonehenge from the car window
(spot the mini people on the left)

What a wonderful relaxing time at Babington House. Was so lovely! We ended up taking a few wrong turns on the way, and although it took longer than planned, Greg and I were quite happy as we got to see Stonehenge as a bonus! Yes, we may have only seen it out the car window, but was pretty amazing. Impossible to imagine how they got those massive stones in place.

Arriving at Babington House we were pretty impressed by the gorgeous buildings. Our room wasn't quite ready, so we started off the experience well with a bottle of champagne in the bar. The timing was quite impeccable too, as our rooms were ready just after the complimentary afternoon tea was set out, so we got a couple of delicious cakes to take to our room. Our rooms were lovely! Such comfy couches, perfect bathrooms, and a little staircase to the bedroom upstairs.

Babington House in the morning sun

Greg with the oysters and champagne

Sibyl and I treated ourselves to a massage (which was awesome) while the boys relaxed, then we had some chill out time before dinner. Greg and I went for a swim in the pool. It was a little cold, but so refreshing. And of course, being Gremma, we had to order another bottle of bubbles to drink while in the pool.

We had dinner in the Orangery, which is this pretty room with sky lights, and loads of windows looking out on to the manicured grounds. Greg had grouse which was pretty grouse, and I ordered a steak for once which was delicious (I never order steak!).

Greg and I woke up pretty early, so went for a walk through the English countryside to the pretty little village, then went for another swim (again a little chilly, and this time no bubbles!) before breakfast. The loungers were all calling for us to lie on them in the sunshine, but unfortunately even though the rain had stopped there wasn't a lot sun.

Breakfast was super yummy - lots of deli delights, and Greg had kippers ("can we have kippers for breakfast, mummy dear, mummy dear" has been in my head all day!), then after another relax in our beautiful rooms and a last stroll around the grounds, it was back in the car for the drive back to London.

On the way Greg and I decided we'd get dropped off in town to do a spot of shopping and have dinner out as Sam had work to do (seems funny to call central London "town"). We got Greg his jacket he's going to need for a couple of our dinners on the trip, and I also got some "so ugly they are awesome" new basketball shoes - looking forward to playing in them when I get back!

After shopping we headed to an oyster bar for oysters and champagne (of course!) and then to Pit Cue Co for dinner. Sam did all the designs for Pit Cue Co and had sent us the book a while back, and we've been wanting to go since. The cocktails are all bourbon based, and are delicious! I had a couple of sours type ones while we waited for our table, and of course Greg went for the super strong bourbon tasting ones. We each agreed our own was the best, which is the perfect way for it to be!

Dinner was delicious! We started with a couple of "extras" - jowl scrumpets (pig jowl smoked, pulled and deep fried) and loaded skins (potato skins with all sorts of yumminess inside), followed by pulled pork, ox cheek on trencher with bone marrow and parsley butter, bone marrow mash and charred cabbage. All washed down with really good house red. So so good! And so so full now!

We caught the tube home in time to get packed and have a fairly early night. We're off to Munich tomorrow!

Hay fields on our walk