What we did on her 50th

Hunstrete House - the venue for the Bath version of The Pig restaurant and hotel. I think there are three Pigs, one of which I have been to for another birthday lunch. That was H.I.'s. This was her daughter's 50th.

The Daughter discovered that a friend of hers was brought up in this house. It would be a great place to be brought up. With its cosy interior it is both grand and homely, surrounded by lovely countryside (most of which is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall) and only 9 miles from Bath. Wells is about 20 miles further on, and Glastonbury 5 miles further still.

There was a small monastery on this site which used to be under the auspices of Glastonbury Abbey. The carp pond for it still exists and is stocked by some monstrously large fish which occasionally leap out of the water like inelegant dolphins. There is a large sign on the bank reminding Polish anglers that all fish must be returned to the water once hooked. Poles love to eat carp, but I can think of better Christmas dinners.

Most of the land stretching between Glastonbury and Bath Abbey (over 30 miles) used to be owned by the monks of Glastonbury, and now most of it belongs to the Duchy. The farms are all neat and tidy as a result of Prince Charles's stewardship. The Duchy of Cornwall (Charles and advisors) meet for their A.G.M. every year at Bath's Guildhall. I am always alerted to their meetings by the massive police presence around our house. A rare thing these days.

Where was I? Oh yes, The Pig. The food is delicious here, but I am no restaurant critic. I had a starter of roast potatoes on their own. I just fancied a bowl of roasties and knew that my teeth could not cope with the pork crackling strips everyone else ordered. Then it was venison meat balls in a sauce which seemed to be flavoured with star anise. They farm their own deer and chickens but if they also keep pigs they wisely keep them well away from the guests.

The Studland Bay Pig sells cigars and has a smoking room for them too, in honour of Winston Churchill who often stayed in the house. I like that idea, even though I no longer smoke cigars. I would like to spend a night or two in any of them, but I've seen the prices.