Warwick - 15th - 17th May

16th May.

Tina has a poor nights sleep but we are both in good spirits and after showers and breakfast walk into town and visit Lord Leycester's hospital, http://www.lordleycester.com/which isn't, but was set up as a charitable foundation to house the elderly.

On the way in Tina stumbles and falls on a slippery cobble and is quite shaken but uninjured but a bit bruised.

The buildings are quite amazing as was the Brethren's kitchen which serves some fantastic homemade cakes - I have a lemon drizzle cake and Tina has Victoria sponge.

Attached to the building is a knot garden and the master's garden - both very impressive and include a pineapple house.

We then head for the castle having avoided the earlier shower and a procession of Town Criers, who are having a competition, which we stumble on later in the day - oh yeah, oh yeah!

Arrive at the castle and do the 'Royal Weekend Party, the State Rooms, Kingmaker, Gaol, the parapet and towers - 537 steps, in the rain - even Tina, against her better judgement does it.

We also watch the bird's of prey exhibition - see photo's.

Pretty tired and slightly wet as we cannot avoid all the showers and head back to the campsite and read the papers and Tina has a short nap.

Then get ready to go out and take a taxi to the Cellar restaurant and have a grown up evening starting off with G&T's, a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio, olives, Chef's appetiser: ham hock, then game terrine, ling, and six cheeses - me and asparagus, belly pork and trio of brulee's - Tina. I even indulge in a glass of Port with my cheese. Then it's a taxi back feeling quite stuffed.

Bad nights sleep again - next door motor home watching Eurovision very loudly and then at one 'o' clock are woken by a noisy couple in a caravan opposite talking very noisily and then proceeding to have a very loud phone conversation with Leah, who seems to be threatening to take an overdose - all in all not very conducive to sleeping well. (Bloody tuggers) We also get pretty short shrift from the wardens when we mention it in the morning, who were really unsympathetic!

Wake up the next morning at 08:00 to go and see the doggies.