I'm so glad Sophie was off to a prison today and didn't leave early to go to the gym, as the roads near us were very icy indeed and we had rain falling onto the frozen surfaces and making them lethal. I followed Keith and Sophie into the village and I could feel that the tyres weren't making great contact with the road. Up ahead, one car was going really slowly and I think we were all in danger of not making it up the slight incline!
Keith and Sophie went off to Thrapston while I gingerly made my way to work, using the A43 all the way this morning! I later found out two cars had ended up in the hedge just outside the village and the Facebook boards were full of warnings of the black ice!
Work was OK and I was very glad to get out at 3pm and head home. Sophie had been to a sex offenders prison today and had finished early so when I arrived home she was already there, which was a bonus! Keith had asked her to help him measure up for the carpet and we made the snap decision to go to Whilton Locks carpets to see what they had to offer. More importantly, they had some good reviews!
It's a fair trek over to Whilton, as it's near Daventry and as we made our way there, the weather turned misty and grey. We used a road I'd hardly ever been on before and which skirts the Althorp estate. I suggested that on the way home we call into the Althorp Coaching Inn for a drink, an idea that went down very well!
Whilton Locks carpets had hundreds of choices on offer but we finally picked out a carpet and also some vinyl flooring which we want to put down in the hallway, the cloakroom and the study. The carpet will go down in the living room, the stairs and the landing. We arranged for someone to come out next week to measure up properly and took two books of samples home with us to see if they will suit our rooms.
When we emerged it was properly dark and misty and we somehow managed to find Great Brington by going along a dark and narrow road. I recognised the area from when Sophie and I had attended a literary festival at the house so we weren't completely lost!
The pub is, to me, one of our perfect country hostelries with very dim lighting, a huge fireplace, stone-flagged floors and lots of nooks and crannies lit by candlelight. This evening it had the air of a private members club as there were quite a few men occupying the tables and the conversation was low. There was no music blaring out and it was cosy and warm. We took a table by the fire and settled down with a glass of wine and a beer for Keith.
After a while a shooting party came in, which livened up the atmosphere a little and I couldn't help staring at the mens' socks and breeches! They were friendly enough, though!
We had a couple of drinks and made the decision to go to the Royal Oak for fish and chips. None of us fancied gammon steaks as we had planned, so we drove back over to home and took another table by the fire...this one was electric, though!
We ate a mammoth plate of cod and chips and then made our way home, feeling full. Mike had declined to come out with us earlier, even though we had hinted we might stay out for a meal but had seen a friend. The rest of the evening was spent collapsed in front of the television, digesting our supper!
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