They had changed the displays at Osborne House and one could see a little of how the staff there existed, but it was all about the pretentious ostentation of royalty. The Durbar Room was impressive with the tributes from India, the parterre was pretty, all the art objects were worth serious money, but I wondered if royalty enjoyed their birthday tables as much as poorer children would enjoy much cheaper and simpler presents. Perhaps it’s all about what one expects, it’s all relative. We should have had something to keep us going at the cafe by the entrance rather than at the bar by the restaurant which meant us trying avoid sitting outside in too deep puddles. It rained hard last night.

Refueled the car at a garage right outside the entrance to Osborne House but it took much effort to find where to pay! Had to try three times!

We did park in Quarr Abbey’s car park, and walk around a little, but Virginia felt enough was enough. This was her holiday celebrating her 60th birthday.

It started raining enthusiastically during the afternoon and kept raining when we went to the Griffin for our evening meal. You order and pay at the bar which is convenient as you can leave when you’ve finished eating, but feels strange to me to tip before you’ve had then food and service. Virginia finished the meal off with a rhubarb and custard sundae, I wished again that there was a toffee sponge which didn’t include dates or the like. Our return journey to Cherry Lodge was rather like a salmon swimming upstream the way water was flowing down the hill.