An unexpected day

We started out mid-morning for a trip to one of our regular garden centres for the customary cup of coffee. However no sooner had we hit the M25 when we were slap bang in the middle of the traffic jam which appeared to go on for ever. So I detoured off onto the M20, only to find the next junction meant we headed rather further into Kent than originally intended!

Heading back we ended up in Sevenoakes and by now I for one really wanted my cup of coffee. Neither of us really wanted to 'go round a house', but being by Knoll Park, could we visit the coffee shop etc without paying for a full visit? It seemed we could and a few minutes later were enjoying half a slice of homemade bread pudding and drinks in the pleasant surroundings of one of the several courtyards in this large 500 year old house.

Before leaving home I had had the foresight to pack some lunch so we picnicked in front of the house and had fun 'people watching'. All of a sudden some of the ancient herd of deer which live in the park appeared nearby and remained long enough for a few shots.

We stayed in the park for the rest of the afternoon enjoying the the first sunny day with temperatures in the mid twenties for weeks, if not months.

As for our original destination, we finally passed it some 6 hrs later on the way home!!