As the taxi weaved through the grounds of Doxford Hall, a inner smile came across my face an yet with anticipation to whether or not our friends would enjoy themselves as much as we do when we go.
Kerrie the taxi driver was amazing along with the Concierge Lee. We were taking to the Georgian room after a couple of signatures at reception with the really welcoming member of staff. That is the best thig about this hotel, the staff are really so wonderful. Not fussy but the most helpful I have ever come across anywhere and as you know, I have been all around the world and stayed in hundreds of hotels. The staff at Doxford Hall are as if your own soul, they seem to know your needs and requirements and deliver a service in such a professional an yet friendly way.
We were served tea, coffee and freshly made biscuits by the adorable Joanne. Gosh I could feel myself unwinding already. There were some people in the room just reading the newspapers, some ordering afternoon tea which is served on a cake stand with sandwiches, scones and cakes. Oh, I was excited. What would our cottage be like? I know the hotel rooms are lovely, they are all named after Castles in the area as there are many and famous local people too. If you ever go to this area, a couple of places that are a must to visit are the stunning Alnwick water gardens which grounds host the castle where by Harry Potter was filmed, and the beautiful water gardens are fantastic along with the poison garden that you will be intrigued by. Try your skills on the wobbly rope bridges and avoid the squirting water from the lion’s mouth. If your bank balance is comfortable why not visit the Treehouse café? All in one huge bit of land. The other place I would recommend is Barter books, if you go to admire the architecture, or have a tea or coffee next to the roaring fire. Barter books is known to be the British Library of second hand books and was the towns old railway station. The last time I was there, there was a model train that ran around the walls. There is something very special about the place.
I could write pages on what there is to do if you can see, or if you have a sighted guide, but we can’t and we didn’t. What we do have is friendship that is worth more than any tourist sights. So, our call to go to our cottage, oh, what will it be like? LF was great, guided Hub perfectly well through the grounds. Like and Trix used their white canes and me, haha, I had the trusty Waggatail…..
And Lee!
Gosh the air, is so clean. Please God never allow that to get built up and polluted? The birds sang us a welcome song as the geese flew over and the tall ancient trees bowed to say hello. Well, in my mind’s eye they did. They may have been waving us goodbye? Smile.
At first I thought, heck, we will never find our way back to the hotel from here? Then there was our turn off. Down steps up them and across the lawn with its narrow path. A game of guess the key and in we went. It was very warm and cosy in there but far from small. On the left was the big bathroom, right into the kitchen and through to the dining room then to the bottom of the stairs which I was to learn would be very interesting and into the really comfortable lounge. Priorities first, how to work the TV? Lee showed me and the remote was placed on an unusual small table near the vast sofas. Lee left assuring us he would come for us for dinner. How very kind, bless him. I didn’t scare him by asking him to show me the fire, I wanted to take matches but Hub was against it… Why? Chicken… Like made us laugh as he went back to boy scout days rubbing two stones together to try to create a spark for the fire. Oh, Little Fella of Hubs dog had to steal the show by proudly bringing Hub something. Already he was on a mission to see what he could blooming put in his mouth. It was a log from the fire. The little monkey. Wags was a little unsure of the place and was quite clingy. Now to let our dogs do their business? Easy, right? They had a long train journey along with two longish taxi journeys. Well LF was great, he did his doggy doodles on the leash. So, Hub knew where to clean up. Waggatail? Oh no, life could not be that easy. No way she was going to do anything whilst on her lead. So, I brought her in, she grumbled crying obviously needed to go to the toilet. Nothing, tried and tried again. I presumed because whenever I have taken her to our town, a place she hates, she freely does her business. But I never knew it was a thing they do or don’t, or are trained to do. Train, my Waggs? Haha, in another life time.
In the end to stop her being in pain or showing us up as we walked to the hotel, I had to do the inevitable. Let her off the lead. Oh, she didn’t want to move from my leg I had to throw my hands forward to tell her to go. She went. Where? Nightmare. I died with shame to think this huge garden there was Waggatail mess and no way we could find this. At home, they have a small run where they go and it’s easy to find because it’s a small enclosure, so with disposable gloves and bags we manage. Here? Sorry gardener. I really am…
Having dogs the next stage was to find a vacuum. Hmm. In a cupboard, there were all of the attachments, but no blooming machine. Well, just chill Fifi you are on your annual break. For two days in a year, it’s time to forget reality.
We all head off to investigate the cottage. Hub bless him found the kettle and made us all a cupper. Trix and I unpacked and we all laughed at what we had discovered in the house. We ate biscuits and crisps and just did what our besties and us both do best. Laughed as we joked and just were, well, you know, us.
The dogs were great, really well behaved. Just lay down. And then it was time to go to dinner. We decided to wait for Lee outside in the garden, just to soak up the air. Here the night time birds and sounds of silence.
He came to us but seem to come from a different direction to the steps. He had come in a way that had no steps so showed us where that was, now, would we remember it?
Laura, Joanne and the rest of the staff in the restaurant were brilliant, they read the menu to us, not even did they need to wait for us to ask them to do so. You may think it would be obvious to people? No, most times we go for a meal, if it’s just Hub and myself, though the staff know we are blind, they even hand us a menu. So again, we felt normal. As normal goes. There was no awkwardness. The staff were stunning. Everything they brought to the table they let us know what it was and where it was. They even served the large dishes for us. Our dogs lay under the table so still and we just had the most amazing food.
We did joke beforehand saying because I’m a vegetarian, it would be blooming horrible goats cheese something, and goats cheese something it was. Oh, I hate goat’s chees. But again, they accommodated for me. I always say that my love and Like are so alike, and the meals proved they were. They ordered the same dishes.
We ate three courses but there was a plate brought to us all with three little tasters on. And we drank good old tap water, we bathed in it taking advantage of the pure water of Northumberland.
The girl on reception kindly took us to our cottage, forgive me if I have her name wrong, but I think she was called Clair? I know the other girl is Hannah. She had to use a torch. Hahaha. LF could see though and guided Hub of course in front of us. He took Hub to the stair way though, bless him, he was right, it was us who wanted to change things by going through the door way so there were no steps.
We thanked the girl and off she went, bless her it could be a bit spooky through the trees in the pitch black. I hoped she was OK?
We went to bed about midnight. We opened the window and slept with the night owls singing us a lullaby.
Next morning up ready for our huuuuuuuge
Breakfast. Not until we had a shower though, heck, that took some doing, but I found out how to work it in the end. Shock hung over us as we realised that we thought the bathroom window was not frosted. Haha. Well down went the blind, but not sure if we managed to shock anyone in the meanwhile. Any bird watchers out that day may have seen more than they hoped for.
Oh, breakfast was my favourite meal and the vegetarian sausages were the best. Mushrooms, fried bread, baked beans, eggs and the others had bacon with their meat sausages. But then there was fruit salad and toasts and hub had four, yes four huge croissants. He said they were the best. We had loads of tea and coffee and just drank in the atmosphere of the house which has the most beautiful feel about it. It’s five star but it’s homely and I don’t know how they manage to get that affect. Long may it last.
We had a great day, playing board games. Hahahaha. Oh, what a story that is… But may be for another blog? I’m still cringing with shame about it. But as I promised a real Fifi moment occurred. As we were leaving the hotel reception at one point, I kept asking if the other three were OK as I was guided by Lee bless him, they followed well there were chairs and things in the way but the others did so well. As long as they heard my voice…. Stop it?
I just said every couple of minutes “Alright guys?””
Well regular Bloggets will remember that I have written before when blind people go anywhere, we are an attraction. People stop what they are doing and stare. Well, as we passed through the quiet empty day room. I turned to my left and said the words alright guys.
To my horror, a rather large gathering of people replied. Fine, yes, we are just admiring your dogs. Hahahahahaa. Oh gosh, no. Get me out of there? They thought I was talking to them. Oh no, this wasn’t the place you would say guys? I mean, how do you do perhaps? Nonononononononoooooooooo.
Red faced Fi. How did I know they were gawping? Hahaha. Of course, the others thought that was so funny.
And I didn’t stop to chat to the people and explain I wasn’t talking to them.
Now that is enough shame without telling you about the board game story. So onwards and upwards.
The little table in the lounge of our cottage had four sides to lift up with handles carved into the sides. As I lifted them to create a box, it was clever Like who said it was a card table.
Sadly, our last day, Hub and I emptied the bins in the house and cleaned the work tops and Hub did impressions of a heart monitor as the beep beeping of the dishwasher could be heard. Like asked him if he knew what he was doing? Answer no. But hey, we heard water start to fill so was good, right? Em. Well the water kept coming and coming and oh boy. What happened next? I don’t know as we had to leave the lovely cottage with four cups and four glasses in the dishwasher.
Lee the day before showed us where the bins were. Hmm. Nice, but we forgot where he said? Hahaha. So, we had to leave the rubbish in a bag near the back door. At least we tried our best. We skipped breakfast on our last day and did Sunday dinner instead. Gosh, the Yorkshire puddings were incredible. They were the size of plant pots. Kerrie picked us up and off to the station we headed. The train journey was sad but we will see each other again very soon and I hope we will do Doxford Hall again together.
http://www.yournorthumberland.co.uk/area-guides/alnwick/alnwick-s-attractions
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