It’s the penultimate day for our honeymoon blog!!!

Good morning everyone!!! I was woken up by my 6.30am alarm, Nisha was still fast asleep!!! I think I was right, she needs a chocolate pastry as soon as she wakes up!!!🤣🤣🤣

I had a diy haircut, the shaver plug was close enough to the shower for my trimmer. Showered, bags packed and decision made to load the car after breakfast, we went in search for the restaurant. It wasn’t in the bar area but luckily the housekeeper guided us through a couple of doors to where breakfast was being served. This place looked suspiciously like their function hall who was split in half by a table kitted out with juices (tasted like carton rather than fresh), cereals, yoghurts and what looked like grapefruit segments from a can. Several tables were occupied and a few empty so we had a choice. Nisha selected a table while I got us orange juice. There were two waiters rushing around and we hoped that one of them had spotted us. Yep, one came over and took our order. True to form, I had porridge with honey, Nisha selected the same, followed by scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Whole meal toast, tea and decaf coffee was also ordered.

The toast turned up first, quickly followed by tea and coffee. We started eating the toast and soon enough the porridge arrived with a small pot of honey on the side. Once the honey was mixed in, time for a photo before we started eating…

After experiencing dinner yesterday, we hoped the same chef was on shift this morning…lucky for us it appeared they were!!!

Rating for breakfast 9 / 10. The porridge was a lovely consistency, not overpowering at all!!!

Breakfast eaten, we returned to our room, collected our luggage and loaded our car, everything was put into the boot!!! Once we made everything fit, the car was locked and off to reception to check out. As part of good customer service feedback, our dinner experience just had to be mentioned and just as well it was because the lasagne was removed from the final bill!!! Job done!!!

Our next stop was Leeds, the time was just past 9am, the journey time was just over two hours and we didn’t need to arrive before 1pm…so, from the hotel we headed to Derwent Water where on arrival, parking was easy, but it was cold. Jackets and walking boots were put on and off we headed to the large lake. After an hour and a quick chat to another tourist, we side stepped the influx of tourists and headed towards the car, changed our footwear to something comfy while in the car. Sat nav was programmed to Leeds…A66, A1M and M1 was our route. During our drive, rain came down hard, sun shone brightly but there was no rainbow…!!! What’s going on???

This journey was uneventful and straight forward but we met a numpty just before the A1M turning who didn’t want us to overtake him and decided to brake sharply as we approached them. Rather than take the bait, I undertook them and continued. As we approached the traffic lights, the numpty held back and didn’t even come close to us…some people!!!

Eventually Leeds arrived and we needed diesel. Navigator Nisha remarked ‘I know where to get diesel…but then she looked around and said hasn’t it changed around here…’…me ‘probably but we need diesel!!!’ Nisha ‘oh yeah…but look at all of these new stores…’, me ‘yeah but we need diesel!!!’, Nisha ‘oh yeah…the Tesco station is past where we’re going’. That’s Navigator Nisha!!! I decided we’d stop at the filling station after visiting Nisha’s friend.

Now, we hadn’t seen Mina and family since our wedding and sadly we only had a couple of hours with everyone before we had to set off and meet Kris, Vikki, Ann, Graham and J and O. This time flew by and we just can’t wait to return. Mina, Sam and kids…we love you all and thank you for entertaining and feeding us on our quick visit!!!

Mina, as usual, you got soo much food!!!

The time flew by and soon we were back on the road…Tesco first, then on the road…car needed coolant and water…no way was I going to pay for water at a filling station…what’s that all about??? Diesel was loaded to full capacity and the sat nav led us towards the M1…

100 miles before we’d get to the A14…motorway driving is sooo boring…especially when the person in the passenger seat - Nisha falls asleep!!! When she woke up, I’m not even going to repeat what she said!!! Vijay/Ranjana…I’m ashamed!!! 🤣🤣🤣

We eventually pulled into The Ritz car park, and waiting for us were Vikki, Ann and J and O. Much like a dodgy deal in a car park, Vikki handed us a key card and sneakily ushered us into the building, showed us our room and then waited for us in the car while we freshened up. As we left the building, we looked left and right, up and down to make sure we weren’t being watched as we locked the door and rushed into the waiting car…GO GO GO was our call from the back 🤣🤣🤣. Getaway driver Vikki put the car in gear and wheel spun out of the car park 🤣🤣🤣. Oh ok…calm down Kris, we locked the venue door, made our way to the car and Vikki slowly pulled away 🤣🤣🤣.

15 minutes later and our Uber, oops, I mean Vikki pulled up at the restaurant. 🤣🤣🤣

The restaurant does lovely Nepalese cuisine. On entry, we could hear Kris and Graham. The waiter didn’t need to show us the table 🤣🤣🤣. It was lovely to meet everyone!!!

The food was lovely and tasty. Wine was a fab Argentina Malbec…For starters, Nisha and I shared a seafood platter…

Main course for me was spicy monkfish, Nisha ordered a king prawn biriyani, we both had chappatis with our mains… with another glass of Malbec…

For dessert, I had vanilla and chocolate ice cream, sadly gulab jaman was not available so Nisha had a sulk and instead ordered a liquor coffee. Just to entertain her, I ordered the same…😜😜🤣🤣

Rating for the food and drink was an easy 9 / 10!!!

I was amazed at how quick Uber drivers respond in this part of the UK, and talk about posh cars!!! Only thing you have to be aware of is that you have to share the journey with two other families!!! Suppose that’s called multi tasking up here 🤣🤣🤣

Vikki, thanks for the lift back. It was lovely to get together again…loved the evening Kris, Vikki, Ann, Graham and J and O!!! ❤️

We raided the fridge for water and headed to our room (my old room from yesteryear!!!).

Nisha and I finally get to lie-in tomorrow morning. I think we’re both physically, mentally and emotionally knackered!!! Thank you to everyone we’ve met today!!! All family to us!!!❤️

We bid you a relaxing good night and…I can’t believe I’m saying this but breakfast might not consist of porridge…!!! I’m still coming to terms with it 🤣😜🤣😜🤣😜.