Having taken mine along 5 years ago and both of us having a great time I found I didn’t spend as much time stitching as I would have had I gone alone or with a stitching friend. This is not a moan on my part but an honest account of how I found it. I did a couple of local drives with him together with a whole day walk around the area this was what took up some of my stitching time. He was also fortunate that during our time away he had the car to pop around on little jaunts and there was a big sporting event all over the tv and he was able to sit to his hearts content watching as much as he liked whilst I stitched with others in another room.
This time, and only a few weeks ago my stitching partner that has attended the last two retreats with me in Derbyshire, had to pull out at short notice, therefore I had to call on the man of the house to come along with me, him now being retired has its benefits at times like this! We knew in advance that there would be two other men in attendance and that he wouldn’t be alone as before.
What a difference for both of us this was, I spent much more time stitching and he had company for jaunts around and about the local area. The men left mid-morning and we didn’t see them again until late afternoon. I had stitched more than I had the time before when he came along and I spent the whole days in the purpose built sewing room, fully equipped, fantastic views and a goodie drawer of chocolates and biscuits that I tried to forget was there! I had good natters during the stitching as well as silent times when all were concentrating on their stitching in hand. Work created by all from a sewing machine table mat with pockets to many purses, bags and pouches of various shapes and sizes. I was able to get stuck into my hand quilting and pleased to find a project that used up some of my Tilda stash that I had taken along.
He, meanwhile, found his days visiting various villages & towns which included popping in to many a coffee shops, charity shops and book shops together with the other men in attendance. Each evening on his return I would get to hear of his day and how the 3 of them had beelines to head for in the charity shops, he to the books, one looking for train related goods and the other hunting for a very large clock for a wall at work! I’d hear about the ‘fantastic’ cakes/scones they got to eat with their coffee in the little independent cafes they came upon. The places they’d seen, the river side walked and telling me just how much I would have loved the places he had been and seen. Evenings, I was able to sit in the lounge area of the sewing room on a comfy sofa with the other ladies all knitting or crocheting, together with a glass or two of wine or prosecco and the men stayed in the tv room with their books, puzzles and game shows and their chosen tipple.
Where were we for all this, Thirklow Cottage, Derbyshire and all the time being looked after by Esther (creative retreats and courses) and her fantastic culinary delights, where she catered for all out need and that the only time, we helped was during the clearing of the table and loading the dishwasher. Shear bliss for all to do what you want and not even think about your food other than had you had enough or eaten too much!
My 4th visit, twice with a friend and now twice with the husband, would I do it again with him, YES, would he do it again with me, YES. Would we go back to where we have been before, YES.
If you have a partner that is happy with their own company, then this will work and if you have a partner willing to meet and mix with others, this too will work.
As a side note to this, for 7 years now I have been doing a D.I.Y. retreat to Marine Hotel, Paignton, Devon with my quilting group of ladies and over the years it has opened up to others to come along and each year there has been a lot more ladies and the men attending with wives has also grown. These men also tend to go off during the day and then meet back up for mealtimes and join in with the evening hotel entertainment.
If the venue and the location have plenty to offer to your partner then why not both go along and have a break together but separate!!
Responses