Monday, October 12, 2009

A weekend in Harrogate

'Don't do it kids' we say, 'How d'ya know that the cyber chums you've chatted with over the months won't turn out to be axe murderers and/or perverts?' After all, tales of sweet young things being beguiled by horny old geezers off the internet are the stuff of legend.

We've all warned our children and yet here we are, not heeding our own advice.....

'Here' was Harrogate, for a weekend with a group of intelligent, witty and kind fellow bloggers who turn out to be as good company as anticipated. We are by no means strangers, having blogged about most things over the past 3 years - homes and families, the happy, the sad, the tragic and the embarrassing. Some of us have met already and have fitted faces and real names to avatars and blog titles but there are still some surprises; the little blond lady who should be tall and dark and the brunette I envisaged as a slinky blonde. No matter. Those names now have real faces and personalities.

There was a morning for shopping and an afternoon strolling through the gardens at RHS Harlow Carr where the the autumn colours were rich and glowing. (I resolved to try harder in my own garden.) So much to see, so much to do and so much left undone. I am now a Harrogate fan.

The wonderful Betty's Tea Room drew us like a magnet. SBS and I drank tea on arrival and drooled over the patisserie and Halloween treats in the window. We had tea and cakes at Betty's Tea House at Harlow Carr and finally, on Sunday morning back in Harrogate, indulged in a big Betty's breakfast accompanied by a tinkling piano. How very, very civilised.
Then all too soon it was time to zip back to Shropshire which basked in a gloriously sunny afternoon. Back in the reality of home it was as if the weekend had never been - as if it had existed only in the vague-ness of cyber-space.

Did it really happen? Was I really there? Well yes, and I have the little felt bracelet to prove it.

15 comments:

muddyboots said...

glad you all had a great time & the weather was kind too!

Maggie Christie said...

Full of envy here - I so wanted to come! It sounds as if you had a lovely time.

Annie said...

You sound to have had a great time. Just what days should be full of.
A x

Fred said...

Crikey, that was quick!

Pam said...

What a fabulous thing to do!
I know what you mean about misconceptions too. I have got to know a few bloggers a bit more intimately by way of Facebook and I've thought - "OH! I expected you to look tall and organised and immaculately dressed and you look just like me!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

It was fun wasn't it? Loved Harlow Carr and great to see you again.

rachel said...

Sounds like a lovely day out, and by the look of those hands, not an axe murderer or pervert amongst you.

Chris Stovell said...

I was very sorry not to be part of it - houw could it not have been anything but fabulous?

Elizabethd said...

So glad you had fun meeting up with people.

patsy said...

And I had wondered if "Mountainear" would turn up equipped with ropes and climbing gear... Delighted to have met you, M !

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

Oh, those little felt bracelets are just gorgeous. So glad to hear it all went swimmingly. Next stop Bath.

her at home said...

Ah I wonder which hand belongs to whom? Sounds like jolly good fun!

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Chocolate, wine & cigarettes? Id have gone for the wine myself! Sounds like you had a good time... I've met a few bloggers and cyber-people in my time... I even bumped into one in a village hall and at my work... How bizarre! :D

Bluestocking Mum said...

How lovely for you all. It sounds like you had a fab time. I thought about you lots.
xx

Tattieweasle said...

Yes without the felt bracelet we might just have dreamed it! Glad you enjoyed it all - feel very full after polishing off the last slice of the Betty's Pumpkin I bought for the family - yum!