I travelled from North Kent to visit Houghton Lodge Gardens. 2 hours in sweltering heat to reach this fantastic house and gardens on the bank of the River Test. I joined a long queue of people at the entrance, some had prepaid to include a bbq, a first for these popular garden visits but it was possible to pay on the door for just a garden visit (I actually managed to buy one of a few spare bbq tickets too!). So grateful to get to the changing area and get rid of the restrictive clothing I was in following a previous event near home.

The gardens are magnificent and the lawns drop down to the quietness of the River Test, with swans gliding by. The only sound were the sounds of nature. Perfect. Around the grounds were a series of sculptures, part of a temporary exhibition. If you wanted you could join in the Treasure Hunt Maddie had devised. I had taken the opportunity for a glass of chilled rose in the surroundings of the more formal gardens, beautiful colours surrounding.

In the middle was a long table under a cover, ready for the delicious bbq that rounded off the evening. Post-drink I wandered round the peaceful setting with the sun, still powerful at 7.30pm

There were over 70 people attending, a fantastic turnout.

I finally left the site at 9pm with the temperature still registering 23 degrees where it remained for most of my journey back to Kent.

What a glorious evening! Thanks to our host Sophie and her son for the cooking - he even joined in the dress code but with suitable apron protection from the heat of the bbq, and thanks to @Geoffrey Ryder and Maddie for their organisation.

"Let's do it again this summer" we heard. So we arranged the next visit for Wednesday August 13th. Sadly we are unable to arrange a BBQ for this one but we have put in a request of a repeat of the weather (we can but hope). Details will be on the calendar very soon!