Warwick Castle

“I have completely forgotten what I was going to say”.  

Months of planning. Weeks of subterfuge. Talks of a “Halloween Party” which didn’t exist, all led to Mike taking a (deliberate) “wrong turning” en-route to see our friends in Leicestershire for the weekend. 

Every time we passed the brown signs on the motorway heading North, Catherine would remark “Warwick Castle – I'd love to go there one day”. So, whilst heading up to the Midlands for this entirely fabricated Halloween party, Mike took a “wrong turning” off a roundabout. 

Then, looking for somewhere to turn around, we happened upon the entrance to Warwick Castle and... parked up. An “Early Birthday present” was the surprise for Catherine before the party that evening. We even phoned our friends, Mark and Kirsty to let them know we would be a little bit later than planned.  

We walked into the grounds and Mike seemed rather keen to visit the cafe for a cup of coffee “before it gets crowded”. Of course, walking through the gardens towards the cafe, we came across an area where there were heart pendants suspended from the trees, a picnic blanket and several cameras all pointing at the spot under the trees 

Mike dropped to one knee and popped THE question.  After completely forgetting everything that he had been planning to say for months and saying something he now can’t remember, Catherine (fortunately!) said “Yes”. 

Our friends Mark and Kirsty were, of course, entirely in on the plan and had very kindly arrived about an hour before we did, setting up the aforementioned picnic blanket, hearts, Prosecco and cameras, and we had a lovely day at the castle together. Time to go on to the “party” 

We all kept up the ruse about this Halloween Party (although Catherine didn’t know it was a ruse!) and Kirsty suggested we follow her home rather than follow the Sat Nav. On the way, she thought we could pop into the Coombe Abbey hotel to “show Catherine where Kirsty and Mark got married”. 

Of course, Mike went to reception and checked into the room, resplendent with a four-poster bed and a “Claw-top, roll-foot bath” (according to Catherine!)  which he had booked for the night.