Five Gold Rings

The thing about the Rings in Haddington is that since 2004 it has been a home from home for us.  It is a large house in the Lincolnshire countryside that has extended family welcome written all over it.  George and Sal Dimitriou are outstanding hosts and we always relax even when busy

We arrived at about 1130 on Monday morning to find the home uninhabited but even that is not unusual as Sal would no doubt be going about business and to be fair we had probably arrived slightly ahead of schedule (if there is such a thing). 

 

A short time later we were in and settling into a routine that was to stand us in good stead through the week until Friday.

 

 

We lunched on Pate, Cheeses, Pies and Ploughman’s Fayre in general.  We walked the dogs in the surrounding fields and woodland.  We swam in the pool, and then leaked profusely in the steam room before taking another dip in the cold pool water.  We showered, dressed and again settled in the Kitchen to chatter and natter.  This on each day was to be the order of things and very relaxing it was.  I quite liked the look of the pantry shelves on the left.....

Breakfast did not get a mention but toast and crumpets did the trick all week. 

Monday to Friday was just Kim, Sal and I with mass arrival over the weekend expected with Dimi, Stef, Thea, George, Marcus, Reece and Emma expected.  Friday morning I travelled down to Northampton and the Wharf to collect Marcus; so much simpler than Marcus having to train down to London and then back up to Newark and so much cheaper.

 

I’ve cheated on the Blog for the weekdays here at the Rings because the ‘day to day’ save some small variations were much the same.  No less enjoyable but to repeat here would be to try the reader.  The Five Gold Rings refers to Monday to Friday in this extended version.

The Rings is an experience.  Reece, Marcus and Samantha have been here.  My Sister Debbie and Nathan have been here.  For my family Burnt House Farm in Sussex and the home of Grandad Frank was Boxing Day for over a decade.  The Rings took on that mantle from 2004 until we immigrated to Canada in 2009.  This is Hunt Country, Shoot Country, Horse Country, Chicken Country, the land of Hedgerows and a wonderful array of birds and wildlife in general.  It is also the home of Desmond and Deirdre a pair of Mallard Ducks who fly circuits and bumps morning and night.  I have yet to catch them in the camera lens but will persevere.

Tuesday and ASDA took a hit as Sal and Kim filled a trolley; the same occurred on Friday in preparation for the onslaught.  I made a Cottage Pie for the evening meal and this lasted Wednesday night as well.  This is my only opportunity to cook using an Aga, love it; every cook should have a go; ovens everywhere and permanent heat ready for pans.

 

Wednesday we drove to what was once RAF Swinderby so that I could take a trip down memory lane.  It was nostalgic but also sad.  The only relics of a bygone age the two large Hangars on the periphery of the airfield.  Where I spent time being barked at and marching up and down there now sat new housing and business development.  I got a real sense of graveyard and spirits; being part of another time in this space.  The derelict buildings now demolished and cleared are in this you tube video.  The floors could do with bulling methinks! Check out this video on You Tube which tours the buildings before destruction  I had no idea until I researched, that RAF Swinderby provided the set for large chunks of the movie Full Metal Jacket.

Thursday night and we dined at the Royal Oak in Aubourn.  We had two Lamb Shanks for the girls and a Royal Oak Grill for me.  A dustbin lid sized plate barely enough to contain the monstrosity. Weston’s Old Rosie Scrumpy Cider @ 7.3% for me and a bottle of white for the ladies with coffee to finish completed the night.   

 

 

So back to Friday.  Marcus and I arrived back at the Rings by 1130 after stopping off at the Forest Gump Services in Leicester by the A46 turn off.  Traditional English AGAIN and fine Starbucks Coffee.

An empty house greeted us but using extreme cunning we were able to affect an entry.  Marcus marvelled at the pool and we naturally swam quickly.  We then raided the fridge for a beer and sat in the conservatory waiting for ASDA’s finest to return fully laden.  They did in due course.

So with fully stocked fridges, freezers, and wine cellar it was time for another walk for the dogs.  Not mentioned to this point in time has been the impending arrival of Coco’s Pups.  Due any day we have watched her get progressively slower and slower.  It can only be a matter of hours now before a litter of toy poodles arrives.  I’ll keep you posted.  Dad is Ozzie, Mum Coco and I have been researching fair price ranges for pups in the breed.  I have also copied the pedigree lineage for both sides gobsmacked at the names people conjure up for their pooches.  We are actually running a competition during the weekend to find aristocratic names to add to the lineage charts for both Coco and Ozzie.  T’will be fun.  We are also running another competition alongside to find a business name more appealing than The Rings Small Animal Boarding for Sal’s new business doing exactly what it says on the tin.  I thought Lords of the Rings briefly but to be fair that’s a bit crass.  Results coming soon.

 

Family arrived in stages; Dimi and Thea at around 6pm and George and Stef at about 8.30.  Dimi, Marcus and I squeezed in a good swim and general muck about plus steam room in between arrivals and the tenor was set for the weekend.  I’ll report on progress before Sunday closes out.

So Friday night, an evening meal with a giant sized Macaroni Cheese, family huddled around the kitchen table and chatter and chunter until eyelids were falling and fatigue taking over.  Then in unison we rose to head off to the land of Nod.  Tomorrow another day with Reece and Emma arriving; roast pork and crackling and an evening of fun and family.  I have fantastic family on both sides; so lucky.