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<p class="has-drop-cap">To celebrate my birthday I travelled down to north Northamptonshire and stayed in an Airbnb for a few nights. This was my first time using Airbnb and it was a complete success. We stayed in a delightful barn conversion. The location gave us access to a number of historic sites that I'd never visited during the 40+ years I lived in the county.</p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">We managed to visit the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rushton-triangular-lodge/" target="_blank">Triangular Lodge</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lyddington-bede-house/" target="_blank">Bede House</a>, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kirby-hall/" target="_blank">Kirby Hall</a> and <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyveden" target="_blank">Lyvden New Bield</a> in one day stopping for lunch in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppingham" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Uppingham</a>. The weather was breezy and we managed to miss the only downpour of the day because we were having lunch but we did experience quite a lot of autumn sunshine.</p>
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<p>My birthday week was completed with a visit from Sue &amp; Graham for a campfire evening. It wasn't too cold and we managed to cook sausages, burger. beans and mushrooms over the fire with baked potatoes and tomatoes being produced from the kitchen. There was sufficient beer and wine to satisfy everyone. Apart from us all smelling smoky at the end of the evening a good time was had by all. </p>
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<p class="has-drop-cap">And to end finish off this very busy time we went to The Stables, Milton Keynes to see <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.nerinapallot.com/" target="_blank">Nerina Pallot</a>. It was a great evening. Pre gig dinner at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thewavendonarms.co.uk/#" target="_blank">The Wavendon Arms</a>; a great performance from Nerina and an overnight stay at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.kentshillpark.com/" target="_blank">Kents Hill Park Hotel</a>.</p>
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<p>It was time for the pace of life to slow down a little but not before we stopped in <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.bullhotelolney.co.uk/" target="_blank">Olney at the Bull</a> for brunch. Delicious poached eggs, mashed avocado on toast and fresh coffee.</p>
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<p>Having been out and about so much it was time for a lateral flow test - negative, thank goodness.</p>
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