Dungroamin 2025
The holiday that smells but has no taste
Friday 6th June
The chosen destination for this year's trip was Shrewsbury, somewhere over near Wales.
The optional stopping off point for the journey there was Shugborough Hall between Rugeley and Stafford.
Apart from the Dungroamin Management team, Geraint was the only other Dungroamer to take up this optional extra to the weekend programme (not that one was in existence at that point in time).
According to the National Trust, it is "A Staffordshire paradise: a rich blend of landscape, monuments, gardens and architecture, shaped by exploration and global encounters". Translated this means:- Staffordshire isn't very exciting, there's loads of different stuff, some damaged by members of the younger generation and if you're lucky you'll meet some aliens!
Geraint tries to escape the photographer at the front of the Hall.
Another part of the Hall.
The main hall.
The Hall was for a period, the home of Patrick Lichfield, the royal photographer. Items of note in his study were some wall calendars of his travels around the exotic places in the world photographing models for such clients as Playboy and Pirelli. What a way of life!
Having moved onto Shrewsbury and our accommodation at the Holiday Inn Express, we joined up with the rest of the Dungroamers.
Our evening meal had been booked at the Two Henrys pub, a short drive away. This was notable when some of our party tried to order the Salmon only to be told there was none left. Later, when Geraint arrived (surely not late), he managed to succesfully order the Salmon, much to the confusion of those denied. Something fishy going on!
When the time came to pay the bill, Brian managed to negotiate a 15% discount, which was welcomed by all.
The Shrewsbury Holiday Inn Express. Not sure if the guys hanging around outside were asylum seekers.
Our evening eating venue.