Col's 40th Family Weekend
When I met Col, he hated birthdays. Hated them. Almost the polar opposite to me, I've always loved them, mine and everyone elses. I love the nostalgia, the time for reflection...and the excuse for a party, cake and gifts.
Over the years we've been together, slowly but surely, I've convinced him that birthdays aren't so bad after all. We take the day off work, wake up with candles, cake then fill our day with our favourite things. Even if we only fancy staying home for a cosy meal on the sofa...the day always ends with fizz.
This year though, my darling 'husband' (still feels so nice saying that!) turned forty, the big 4-0... He wasn't so keen on the sound of that.
Every time someone mentioned that it was approaching, I saw the colour drain from his face.
I needed to pull out all of the stops this time to make sure this birthday was an EXTRA special, memorable occasion, one that he couldn't not love!!
I spent hours and hours researching online. Pondering all of the options. I wanted to do something romantic, but also to make sure we had time to celebrate as a family with the boys, and for our friends not to miss out too.
The idea of going abroad straight after our ski trip felt a little rushed and stressful, so somewhere not too far away would be perfect, maybe a big house where all our family and friends could gather for a weekend. I felt I'd hit the jackpot when I found Fairoaks.
Just a stones throw from the village where we live, on the outskirts of rural Ledbury, Fairoaks is a luxury collection of four holiday barns set on a 150 acre estate. What was once a working farm is now a super stylish 5 star retreat which can be hired exclusively for up to 24 people. Just look at it.....
I honestly have no idea how its taken two years of me living here to find this place...but I've left feeling like I never want to leave. We hired three of the four barns for a weekend and were kindly offered a press discount for our family to stay. The Carthouse, with it's modern country vibe and warm interiors. The Millhouse, which is big bright and airy and made the perfect spot for us all to gather together. Then the Piggery, which is where we stayed, modern scandi-chic in the heart of the countryside...simply gorgeous!!!
Just days before we were due to meet everyone at Fairoaks, as we were traveling back from a ski trip to France, we received the devastating news that my Grandpa had passed away. I was extremly close to him, he was a huge part of my life, and the boys too.
We contemplated cancelling our weekend away, but decided that would be the last thing Gramps would want us to do. He was not your average 91 year old, he was a very special gentleman, the life and soul of the party and his family were everything to him. He would want us to go and celebrate Col and his life too. Turns out it was the very best medicine for all of us.
We excitedly checked in at 4pm on Friday. Halle was able to come with us, so her and the boys set about exploring the Piggery (which is actually really child friendly and set across one floor) while Col and I unpacked the car. I did a huge Waitrose order for plenty of food and drink for the weekend which arrived promptly at 4.30 so we were able to unpack before our family and friends began to arrive from Edinburgh, Cheshire and Wales.
On arrival, we poured them a glass of fizz and showed them straight to their barns. It was a pretty muggy rainy evening but the barns are stunning. Everyone was blown away. We had a little time to unpack before meeting in the largest of the barns The Millhouse for dinner.
A cosy evening
After all the travelling, we were excited and tired so a cosy evening of pizza, homemade lasagne and salad was on the cards.
The drinks flowed, the fire roared and children played so well together before we all toddled off to bed not too late.
After a wonderful peaceful sleep, we woke up to birdsong and a gorgeous mist rising over the surrounding fields. We had so many full length windows in our barn and with the crackling fire and underfloor heating, it made the cosiest start to the day. Archie was with us, and it felt so good to have all of the boys together, and the dog of course.
After a slow start, we got showered and dressed and headed across the courtyard to Millhouse to meet everyone else for breakfast. Col and I (ok, mostly Col) made a delicious hearty breakfast. Bacon, Eggs, Avocado and grilled tomatoes with toast. Plenty of fruit, yogurts and cereals for the kids too. Fairoaks provided highchairs, travel cots, all that sort of thing, which made things an awful lot easier with children.
The boys then headed off to a game of golf I'd booked for them at Alexander Park. This is a local course and while at this time of year its not the prettiest, Col has played there a few times and really enjoyed it. As we had family travelling down by train I thought it was better that they hire their clubs from the golfclub and Alexander Park made that super easy.
Meanwhile, the rest of us back at the barns went for a big dog walk around the grounds. It was fresh and windy and the kids ran free in the country air. If we hadn’t had the toddlers, a walk over Malvern Hills would've been really beautiful, but instead we kept our walk short, then headed for the pool.
Yep there’s a stunning new indoor heated pool at Fairoaks with views of the grounds. Not only is it beautiful, but it provided so much fun for the kids who spent the afternoon splashing about in their arm bands.
One by one, each of us girls slipped off to our barn, where a lovely mobile beauty therapist had transformed our room into a spa. She set up a bed with candles and towels. We had aromatherapy massage and facials....it was bliss!
After my hour long treat, Col and the boys were still of playing golf, so while Rory napped, and Ollie played at the pool with his aunties and cousins, I made a start on the evenings preparations.
I wanted Saturday night to be a real treat for Col, and considered booking one of the brilliant local restaurants like Pensons or Verzon House, but Fairoaks owner Mark suggested we bring the restaurant to us instead. AMAZING IDEA!
He recommended a private chef Richard at Rosette Event Catering, who could come to the barns and cook for all of us with his team. As many of you will know, Col is such a foodie and a brilliant cook, so only a fabulous chef could cook for him on his birthday.
Richard is the loveliest man, and we chatted on the phone about different menu options before deciding on a three course local feast I knew Col would love.
The dining area is just off the Poolhouse and seats up to 24 with an open kitchen and a long banquet table.
I ordered three white flower posies from my favourite girls at Great British Florist and packed some balloons and candlesticks from home. My bestie Jeany and I decorated the room and set the table before the boys returned from golf, to make sure it would all stay a surprise. The kids were SO EXCITED, entertained by everything in their "holiday house" as they called it, running around the table with Daddy's balloons.
The boys stopped off at Verzon House after golf, on their way back to the barns. I pre ordered them a round of beers and some sharing boards, Col is always starving after playing golf.
By the time they got home, the younger kids were winding down for dinner and bedtime, so Colin took over so I could have a nice long shower and do my hair and make up for dinner. Our wonderful babysitter arrived and we tucked them up in bed. Exhausted after a day of swimming and playing with their cousins, they were fast asleep in minutes. Archie stayed up with us though, he seems so grown up now and had the same three course dinner as the rest of us.
While we were getting ready, Richard and his team had arrived and started dinner. It smelled delicious as we walked towards to Poolhouse. The candles were lit, the music played and everyone was waiting to greet the birthday boy. By candle light the table looked really special, and Col looked so overwhelmed. Bless him.
Col's mum had helped me gather pictures from his childhood and teens and then plenty of pictures of his precious boys too. The Mega talented Lagome & Love made the birthday cake for us. It was a jaw dropping dark chocolate, gold peanut butter cake with the most delicious home made macarons.
We had filled the fridges with wine and fizz and the drinks kept on flowing while Richard and his team worked away in the kitchen.
To Start
Seared King Scallops, Slow Roasted Belly Pork and Black Pudding bon-bon.
The Main
Presentation of Hereford Beef with all the trimmings.
To Finish
A trio of desserts.
Richard and his team stayed to clear away everything they could and quietly left the kitchen spotless while we continued to drink, chat and eventually dance until the early hours. The Birthday Boy Loved it!!
I'm so pleased we decided to celebrate with family and friends at Fairoaks, there's something so wonderful about being surrounded by the ones you love most on your birthday. I think we've got him back thinking birthdays are awesome again.
Happy 40 years my darling!
Here's to another 40 with us hand in hand! xxx
PS: A Big thank you to our lovely lovely friend Al, who very cleverly took loads of the photographs you can see here so I had plenty of time to enjoy it all too. Thank you Al xxx
