The first time I went away with my now-husband, it was a trip I/ we will never forget; ominous as that sounds. We had been seeing each other for six months and decided, as we are both October babies, to go away to the New Forest as a belated celebration. I delegated (all good leaders must delegate) where to stay, hoping he would be seduced by the posh fireplaces and cosy four-posters of the five star hotels; this didn’t happen. We stayed at a modest ‘but it had great reviews on Trip Advisor’ B&B that looked and smelt like the love-child of Albert Square’s Old Vic and a warm hospital. The bed was both uncomfortable and squeaky (ahem, young love) and don’t even get me started on the morning breakfast buffet. The only silver-lining of this trip is that it was finally December and my boyfriend was going to shave off his creepy Mo’vember tache; a moment I had been anticipating for just under a month. The problem with ‘staycations’ is that even though you’re an hour or two from home and haven’t taken-off or landed, they can be extortionate. At this time of year when the romance of dark evenings, roaring fires and walks in the woods make you want to go on an adventure, well, I may know how you cold win a stay but you need to move quickly!
Brit loungewear brand Hamilton & Hare are running a competition where you can win a nights stay at The Rectory Hotel in Wiltshire along with a weekend bag full of luxury prizes/ gifts/ swag including Finlay and Co sunglasses, Miller Harris Vetiver eau de perfum and should I need to mention again, a posh mini-break in the Cotswolds.
Entering is easy: click here and enter your email address – that’s it.
There are however a few T’s and C’s to note, should you win: you have to take me with you to The Rectory Hotel or at the very least give me your Barlow & Barlow candle – good luck!
All photos by Alicia Waite