As weekends go, this one will always be right “up there” in the memories when we’re old and doddery. It starts pretty tame, although early, with a chemist and supermarket run to Penistone and by 11:00 we are ready to hit the road proper to attend our first wedding quite a few years.
Our route would ordinarily be via the Woodhead Pass but we know from recent crossings how badly this is snarled up at present, so we decide on the M62, but don’t even get to the first turnoff before roadworks cause delays - the car suggests using the M621 instead and for the most-part we are happy this is the lesser of all the evils we have as options. Maybe via Huddersfield could have worked better but we’ll never know.
Roof off, we have a delightful Pennine crossing to Red Rose Land with only five minutes of torrential rain which doesn’t matter at 73 mph because the windshield protects us, and finally find our hotel, the Preston Marriott in plenty of time. An early check-in is welcome, so we can then drive the five miles to the nearby village of Bartle and specifically Bartle Hall Hotel to join the wedding party.
It’s so special to us because it’s our first gay wedding, discounting the obvious, and we are honoured to be attending Pete and Tom’s day. Whilst Dr Pete is a relative newcomer, Dr Tom has been in our life forever and, tempting as it is, I won’t post any dodgy early photos here, well except this one from our wedding sixteen years ago.
We catch up with some dear friends, indeed extended family, until it’s time to move to the chapel. The ceremony is delightful, so many emotions for us, and we are so proud, both to be here and to be associated with these amazing young men.
The day is a wonderful success but as oldies we’re not planning to stay too long, and leaving the car, enjoy a fabulous twilight walk back to the Marriott, and settle in the garden for a final nightcap, not that we’ve deprived ourselves during the day.
Sunday morning we reverse the journey and walk back to Bartle to pick up the car, and return this time via Huddersfield to avoid the worst of the road closures. Our village is a bottleneck and it takes ages to get to our drive - not unexpected as it’s Open Gardens weekend.
Every two years Cawthorne Open Gardens is a fabulous spectacle showcasing the village’s keen gardeners, those who not only have the time, but also the patience to then show off their hard work. We’ve been asked, but have resisted the idea of opening up our garden, maybe the new custodians of Hi-Lo will be tempted to do this, who knows?
The stream from which our address and email address is derived.
At only fifteen exhibitors this year, around half the usual number, there are some exceeding good shows and below is a selection from around the village.
Gardens apart, we are privileged to boast a restaurant, two churches, three hostelries, village hall and a museum, all with plenty of photo-opportunities.
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