I am writing this blog in Room 1. The door leading the the staff quarters is next to our door and, to be honest, I would like it to be somewhere else. Room 1 is classed as a "standard" room. I think pets are allowed in the hotel, at the discretion of the management, but it wouldn't have been a good idea to bring one of our moggies with us: there is not enough space in our room to swing it properly. I am probably being a little unfair here, as I really am enjoying my self. I'm just letting my feelings flow.
Room 1 has all you could reasonably expect: a television, dresser with mirror, a stool and a chair, a small en-suite (with bath), tea making facilities, a short wardrobe to hang your clothes, twin beds pushed together, bedside cabinets at each side and an alarm radio. The central heating radiator doesn't work, but there are sufficient hot water pipes running under the floorboards to take the chill out of the air. There is also a 20 mm a cold water pipe positioned 150 mm off the ceiling and running the full length of the room; I mention this, not because it's a problem, but because it's there. I suppose it adds to the character of the room; just like the real oak beam that runs in the other direction.
The view from our window is idyllic. We look out onto what can be described as a mowed meadow. A trout stream flows through the middle of this vast green expanse, and numerous fully grown weeping willows border its banks. There are many mature and very attractive plants, bushes and shrubs to look at as well. The gardens are really very well maintained and it all adds to the general ambiance.
I suppose it says a lot, having stayed in most of the rooms, that I am not unhappy staying in the smallest and cheapest of them.
On this occasion we arrived here on 19th October, at around 7 pm. The whole outside of the hotel is soaked in that orange floodlit glow that seems to be the norm these days. I suppose it's intended to promote a welcoming glow and a feeling of warmth in the heart of a weary traveller - it seems to work, too; particularly on a dark cold Friday evening in October.
We ate a very pleasant dinner with a nice fruity Chenin Blanc, my wife's favourite. We have used this hotel for many years and have experienced the inevitable changes; the changes never seem to be for the good, in retrospect. The food portions seem to get smaller, little economies reduce the attractiveness of the aperitifs; I suppose it's a "sign of the times ", as they say.
Next morning, at breakfast, my wife complained that the bed was not very comfortable and that she wasn't able sleep all night: the reason she didn't sleep well was more likely due to my finger prodding her throughout the night in a vain attempt to stop her snoring - lets hope she doesn't read this, eh!.
After breakfast we decided to drive to Stow. Just as we were setting off I noticed a low tyre pressure warning light lit up on the dashboard. Assuming it was due to the cold weather lowering the tyre pressure a little, I drove off. The car soon began making strange noises and the handling was not what it should be: I assumed, with a heavy heart and a little irritation, a puncture. I remembered seeing a tyre fitting business in Chipping Norton, so I slowly made our way there to get the puncture sorted. It turned out that the tyre warning light was due only to slight under inflation pressure. The noise and poor handling, on the other hand, was due to my forgetting to release the handbrake properly: my lame excuse was that it was my wife's car and I'm not used to driving it.
The restaurant is very adequate, comfortable and personal. The tables are not too close together, the service is good and the staff try to please. The table d' hote and the a la carte menus are adequate, too; it's nouvelle cuisine, but I have always left the restaurant satisfied. I'm not a food freak, but I do like good wholesome grub and reasonably attentive service.
Unfortunately, the loo blocked towards the end of our stay; I hope we were not to blame, but just to be sure, when I am booking a room at this hotel again, I will ask not to be assigned to Room 1
On the whole, I don't have any serious criticism. I think we will be back here again when our brains and bodies need a short rest.
