I used to love to come down for weekends at Martindale. I’d try and wangle a ”working from home” afternoon to get the train from Macclesfield to Mortlake and meet up with Hazel and David. I loved that feeling of arriving at their house to a very warm welcome, sitting round the kitchen table and beginning our catchup whilst Hazel, and often David too, putting the meal together. Meals were always wonderful and many of their recipes have found their way into my collection too!! Saturday mornings were usually tennis with Hazel and two more of her tennis pals at Sheen tennis club. It always seemed to be sunny! Other times Hazel and I would go to Leonardo’s for a coffee or two and a good chin wag! In the afternoon we’d all go out somewhere interesting. Sundays were very often spent going for a cycle ride in Richmond Park and an afternoon tea somewhere. Bliss. Then a lift to the station and back home. Always on the return journey I looked forward to my next visit. It never ceased to amaze me how much they could pack into a weekend, and every minute so enjoyable! I shall treasure those memories. There were many mire to follow up at Ecclerigg but that is another huge volume!!