Amanda and Graham's Great Pig Adventure

Easter Sunday 5th April

Two days off here, at the usual out of town hotel – a Hilton this time so quite nice! We arrived in the early hours and came in for breakfast. Sunday was a grey day with rain forecast all day so we (and most people) stayed around the hotel. We had an “office day”. We even ate in the hotel in the evening as it was still raining and we didn’t fancy walking off site and getting wet. Excellent crab chowder and really good burgers! Then TV and an early night. Just as we were going to bed we had a message announcing the birth of Graham’s fourth grandchild – Emilia, to Matthew and Majo near Cambridge! (6th April there already!)

Monday 6th April

Better weather today and the first entertainment of the day was an Easter Egg hunt organised by Rob (1st violin) which was very silly and good fun! He had hidden over 300 eggs around the grounds of the hotel! Evie was the winner!

In the afternoon we went into Durham with Lisa and Steve. It seemed rather disappointing at first and everything was closed but we found things of interest as we went on. It was famed for Cigarette production so there are several large factories, now developed into shopping malls and apartments, notably Chesterfield and Lucky Strike. There is a new development, not completed yet, which is lovely with waterways, cafes and bars. Graham bought us a round of cocktails to celebrate the new baby!

We got an Uber back to near the hotel and ate at Cracker Barrel which has “old country style” food. An American experience! Then back to the hotel to pack up, ready for the buses rolling at midnight.