It had been very cold overnight, but there was no sign of frost out the front of the house. The Orangery roof, however, was white with the fractal patterns of ice crystals that form so readily on glass. We enjoyed a quiet breakfast and then prepared for a day out.
With Jaspers food-timers set, we hit the highways. The sky was blue, with the occasional daub of cloud to give depth to the picture. Traffic was light and we had a delightful drive up to Odiham to see Jan and John. It was still bright when we arrived, but there was more cloud hovering over North East Hampshire. We settled down for a coffee and some biscuits and started the usual organ recital and news update. It was good to hear that John was feeling a lot better and felt as if he had turned a corner in his recovery.
At lunchtime, we hopped into the car and drove to Hazeley Heath (near the Police College, at Hartly Wintney). We parked up and claimed our pre-booked table at "The Mutton", a gastro-pub that has just been the recipient of a prestigious award for dining in Hampshire. Being Sunday, we concentrated on the "roasts"; Diane and John both chose the lamb, and I had the beef. Jan decided on fish and chips. The food was delightful, and the service was exceptional. Whether it was worth the final total might be up for debate, but it was worth the opportunity to try it.
We returned to Jan and John's and sat back down with a cup of tea and some apple pie. We chatted for the rest of the afternoon, predominantly about family news. We left around 17:30 and, again, had a lovely and uneventful drive home.
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